Hydrangea Display

This photo was taken in the garden at Cataract Gorge in Launceston, Tasmania. I was amazed at the way such varied shades of hydrangeas were growing so closely together. I would love to have a potted white hydrangea with its lush green foliage on our patio once the new paving is complete. However, something I read made me think that perhaps hydrangeas were toxic to humans. Has anyone else heard of this? I am hoping I am wrong…

Gift Elephant

Image from here

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. This is probably old news but I just love this site I have recently discovered. Can’t remember what/who led me to it but it is one of the best organizational tools I’ve come across. It’s called Gift Elephant and it helps you keep track of gifts you’ve given to others. More importantly, it helps record the givers of gifts you and your family have received. I wish I’d begun using this earlier. Check it out for yourself here.

Coconut Chicken

Tried out this recipe last night from Real Living’s Summer Cookbook. It was a nice simple meal and didn’t take long to prepare or cook. Has definitely made it into my recipe folder. I served ours with steamed vegetables.


Chicken & Beans with Coconut Sauce (Serves 4)

4 single chicken breast fillets (about 800g total)
Vegetable oil, for brushing
2 tbsp green curry paste
375ml coconut milk
200g green beans, trimmed
½ cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat pan on medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 4 minutes each side or until cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to rest. Meanwhile heat frying pan over medium heat. Brush with oil. Add curry paste and cook, stirring for 30 seconds. Stir in coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add beans and simmer for 5 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Stir in half the coriander. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Divide beans among plates and top with chicken. Spoon over coconut sauce and sprinkle with remaining coriander to serve.

Nursery Spruce Up

Been browsing my inspiration folders for ideas on how to spruce up Grace’s room. Here’s what’s taking my eye so far…

Image source unknown (please let me know if you know)

Image from maliburahcel on Flickr

Image from Helen Rawlinson

I’d love to make some sort of fabric bunting similar to the one in the top photo, perhaps to hang along the bottom of the cot. Shelving to display books and toys like the middle photo has would add some more colour to Grace’s room. Love the alphabet flashcards too. The fabric in the frame above is screen printed by Etsy seller Helen Rawlinson. I’ve ordered some to make a cute cushion for the chair in Grace’s room (or perhaps to stretch over a canvas). Can’t wait for it to arrive in the mail soon…

Latest Renovation Project

Re-paving our patio has finally started! Our bricks have arrived and work is underway this morning. We are re-paving right up to the windows in the photo below which will stop our dog Asha from lying in the sandy patch and traipsing dirt everywhere. The new bricks are also darker and should flow on from our living area floorboards better. The shrub in the photo is our beautiful star jasmine which is covered in hundreds of little white flowers at present. Once it’s all finished I’m planning on putting a few pot plants next to the house and having some sort of centrepiece on the outdoor table.