this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

Via Soulemama.

Tart For Two

Half a packet of pricey goats cheese left over from this big meal. A couple of leeks in the crisper losing their enthusiasm for life. A bone-chilling winter's day at home with two toddlers and sandwich fatigue. 


Tart for lunch.

Start with the flakiest, shortest pastry. Add a creamy filling and cheesy top. Toss in some virtue with bitter leaves doused in balsamic. Ignore the toddlers and pretend you're eating out.

Leek and Goats Cheese Tart (For Two)

Shortcrust pastry (frozen will do, but I'll give you my recipe next week)

2 leeks

Butter

Olive oil

3 eggs

3/4 cup cream

50g, or thereabouts, of soft goats cheese

Line a 20cm tart tin with pastry. Blind-bake at 180 degrees until cooked. 

Meanwhile, wash leeks thoroughly, halve lengthwise, then chop roughly. Place in a heavy-based saucepan with a nob of butter and a splash of olive oil. Cook over lowest temperature, with the lid on, for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure it doesn't stick. You don't want it to colour at all, if possible. Once soft and succulent, season and set aside.

Reduce oven temperature to 170 degrees.

Whisk eggs and cream until just combined. Add leeks and stir through. Place shortcrust case, still in tin, on a flat baking tray and fill with egg mixture. Dot the top with goats cheese.

Bake for 35-45 minutes or until just set in the centre.

Eat at room temperature with someone lovely. Salad optional. Seconds not.

The perfect lunchtime tart for two...with just a tiny bit left over for a late-night snack for one.

Kid in Blue and a Button Sampler

A chunky knit in blue. Winter warm and easy-wearing for my preschool kid.

I thought it was done, but seeing it on her today I know it's not. The pattern calls for a crocheted edge. That won't happen. What will happen is those sleeves will be ripped back then done over with some shaping and a garter stitch cuff. And it needs a real block on a sunny day, not the rush job I gave it in front of the fire. Perhaps I ought to rip back the bottom too and give it a garter stitch edge.

A sample of big buttons from my favourite button dealer. I like the mix-and-match.

The book failed to make it into the photo again. Still with Alexander McCall Smith.

Ravelry notes here.

Yarn Along here.

Middle Crew

There's a few cousins above them, and a few below. These guys are bang in the middle.

They were born within the space of 10 months - one baby each for my sisters and I. In fact, Jack on the left was present for the birth of my Lola. (That's what happens when you're only a couple of months old and your mum is required for early morning "PUSH!" duty.)

They don't get together very often, but it's fun watching them when they do. The middle crew.

Christmas in June

They came, we gathered, we cosied in front of the fire, we danced, we drank and we ate.

On the menu:

 - Overnight slow-roasted pork. It went into the oven at 2am and stayed there for 12 hours. Worth every minute.

 - Crispy roast potatoes and sweet potatoes

 - Olive oil bread with tomato and parmesan

 - Braised peas with spring onions and lettuce

 - Green beans tossed with garlic and local hazelnuts

 - Roasted beetroot and goats cheese salad

And much, much later...

 - Rhubarb and vanilla apple crumble with ice-cream.

Cheers from the family!

Here's what we ate the last time we gathered for Christmas lunch.

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

Via Soulemama.

Hat, Stockings, Bag

1976

2012

How Now...

Brown cowl.

For me, not she. Though she models it well.

Softest, squishiest organic yarn from Denmark.

Photo by Lola

Ravelry notes here.

Yarn Along here.

Reading this and this. They didn't quite make it into the picture.

Girl Style

Fabric cut on a blissful rainy day back here. Stitching grabbed at in fits and starts. 

Finally, a colourful new top for my colourful girl.

On-sale fabric from Spotlight, her choice. Pattern from the Girls Style Book, Blouse B, my choice.

Smiles all round, five years from the day she was 'due'.

Preparations

You can sense the excitement in the air. They're coming from all directions, making their way steadily from Singapore, country NSW and Melbourne for that most festive of occasions, Christmas in...June. The menu is being planned, champagne being shipped in, impressively large joints ordered from the butcher and chair shortage issues discussed in earnest.

While we adults reunited for a very special wedding a few months ago, the offspring haven't been seen in the one room together since way back here in September. This Saturday we'll be seated around a (very long) table once more.

Jingle all the way!

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

Via Soulemama.

Short and Sharp

Thank you for your kind and wise comments on yesterday's post. I'm taking heed, being open to the signs (thanks, Evelyn) and definitely keeping up the chocolate levels, Annie - you need never fear that. While the much-needed early night went missing in action, there was some sunshine today, and a phone call from a new friend inviting us out for a morning at the community garden. What a muddy romp we had. As good as a bracing walk, and far more fun.

I put the dimples aside a few days ago when minus-zero morning temperatures hit and I realised my big girl had nothing but short-sleeved pretty cardigans and cotton hoodies in her wardrobe. She's been patiently waiting for a new mama-knit for a while, so I quickly cast on something I hope will be short and sharp. It's the Raggedy Raglan and I'm using a bulky Spotlight yarn I've had in the stash for a while - cheap and cheerful, so I've no fear about exposing it to the preschool treatment. I'll hopefully be back on dimple duty next week and have something to show for my efforts.


There's a new book on the bedside table this week. Already I'm looking forward to what comes next. And that's always a good sign, isn't it?


Joining in with the Yarn Along.

Tired

I'm not feeling very inspired, I'm sorry. 

It's cold. 

I'm tired.

I've been cooking and knitting and sewing, with not much to show for it.

I want to come to this space and write about it all, but I'm not sure how.

The job I've had for 10 years is changing before my eyes in the hands of a new manager. I'm trying to see it as the push I need to seek out other opportunities. But I've become so comfortable with this steady and stultifying mediocrity.

In so many ways, I'm like my almost-five-year-old, who has yet to learn that not everybody in the world has her best interests at heart. She and I, our first instinct is to assume the good.

What I need is an early night.

A sunny day.

A bracing walk.

this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

Via Soulemama.

Textured

Playing with texture.

Thrilled to have worked out this dimple pattern after seeing it recently and falling in love with it.

Grateful for how easy it is.

Wondering how different it will look with a wash and block.

Reading vintage knitting patterns for inspiration.

Excited by old-fashioned merging with modern.

Trying it out with a new bonnet.

Adapting a pattern from 1965.

Loving this gorgeous chunky Cascade yarn.

Marvelling at how much more I love it than the teeny delicate soft pink 3-ply the pattern called for.

Hoping these girls will have new hats before the week is out.

Readying myself to defend the lack of pink.

Joining in with all the lovely Yarn Along-ers.

A Quiet Hour

I grabbed an hour today, an hour while small people were napping. Outside the rain was beating down and, while the fire roared, coffee was sipped and fabric cut. Oh, for more hours like this.

======================

Some years ago, during a period when I was dabbling in playwriting, I worked with another playwright. Our workplace attracted lots of creative people looking for temporary work to tide them over between gigs. I've met many people who have aspired to a life in theatre, film or television, but this woman was the real thing.

Soon after the birth of my first baby in 2007, I went to see a play she'd written and was performing in at the Belvoir. It was called 'The Seed' and was an incredibly powerful autobiographical piece. I remember being so moved by the story, which seemed fantastical, and yet it was true. I remember also feeling removed from reality, a new mum on her first evening away from her babe.

Last night, I watched Kate tell her story again on the ABC's 'Australian Story'. What a remarkable, brave, humble and beautiful woman. And what an incredible life. You can watch it here.

Miss Maker

I've been tripping over her creations all over the house. They frustrate me and charm me in equal measure. 

- A selection of preschool constructions (made from other people's recycling)

- A coffee tray train with passengers

- One dozen cotton wool eggs

- A box with some fairy fabric and four cotton balls stuck to it. Purpose unknown.

- A birthday present for her dad - an iPhone case with his name on it, backwards.

Happy big 4-0 from her, and all of us, my love. We hope you liked the cake, or what was left of it.