Tuesday 20 March 2012

Collecting...I love Orange


Hopefully I will be able to post today! I have been having a lot of blogger problems of late,thus the amount of time since the last one...I've tried google chrome quite a few times but the last time it was apparently corrupted & kept shutting my computer down at really annoying times. Enough said...
Last Thursday I wanted to post about 'Say No To Bullying' Day. The day was not about raising money but encourages everyone to wear orange to show their solidarity against bullying & to raise awareness of how prolific bullying is in society, whether in the home, schoolyard, workplace, street or online. Mousie's school encouraged all the kids & parents to wear something orange, decorated the school front gates with orange balloons & streamers & also included lessons, discussions & activities on the subject.

Me, being a big lover of orange, have many things I've collected of that colour around the home...here is my tribute to ORANGE (if blogger allows me to add pictures today ;-))



Stained glass box made by my Dad..& Mr Tickle

My favourite storage boxes & one of my
many vintage craft books.

Mousey's favourite chair...also favoured
by our cat Maximus who is having a Mr. Tickle
massage!

Orange beads in an orange pyrex ramekin.

Orange fish...created & sewn by Mousie.

Some of my collection of orangey fabrics.
Most vintage, some newish.

Mousey in her orange themed skirt
(pattern made & whipped up in
under an hour by Mummy Mouse)
for 'Say No To Bullying' day.

Australian tangellos...unusual orange flowers...in my favourite
op-shopped bowl. Made in Brazil, the bowl has an attached stand
& is 30cm across. I paid $12 for it but have never seen another
even remotely like it...beautiful, & in perfect condition xxx

One very orange sunrise over Ipswich.

One very unusual *shudder* spider type beastie living
in our Macadamia tree!

Bracelet made by me for a friends' birthday.


Vintage Japanese oil & vinegar set.
Cute carafe & glasses which we do tend to use for
apple juice (on the few occasions we have juice)
Orange pyrex.
My favourite Johnsons Brothers pattern 'Poppies'
Vintage sunflower tray.
My vintage, dining room curtains...
another favourite op-shop find.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Jamie Oliver & His Reception in Ipswich...

What a day we had on Saturday the 3rd!! Jamie Oliver...what a larger than life character! He is the most down to earth, passionate (about his beliefs), friendly, tenacious (I could go on) person I have ever had the pleasure of seeing in action!



Welcoming the crowd & talking about the concept behind
the Ministry of Food.


Jamie seems to have immense reserves of stamina! He explained that while it was 1pm here in Ipswich it was only 4am for him (home time). I imagine with all his travels promoting the Ministry of food, his healthy eating programs worldwide plus his learning about the food of different cultures by visiting their countries (he'd just gotten back from Mexico & cooking with the 'Mexican Mummas') he'd have learnt to re-charge his batteries very quickly!
The menu for the morning was:  CHICKEN FAJITAS WITH HOMEMADE GUACAMOLE AND SALSA....Thus the need for coriander...very, very delicious...I think the wonderful food smells would have wafted all over the district ;-) Mmmmm, feeling hungry just thinking about it! I managed or I should say Mousie managed to score a set of the laminated recipe cards (thanks boss!) so I think it will be on the menu at home this weekend...just a pity Daddy Rat isn't a big fan of capsicum...oh well he can just pick it out as usual lol.
I had my big thrill when Jamie used my NinaV grown & potted coriander in his demonstration...yum yum? I hope so, he ate it without pulling any horrified faces! hahaha!


2 of the best pots of NinaV coriander take front stage...Even
have a guard ;-)

Jamie uses the NinaV coriander...YAY...lol
Before the actual cooking started, Jamie did a tour of the audience, to pick out 4 lucky people to add to the group that was partaking in the fajita demonstration. The original group consisted of our State Premier Anna Bligh, our Ipswich Mayor Paul, a few celebs, some people that had completed a cooking course & some lucky people that had won a spot.
My 6yr old Mousie was jumping up & down saying "Can I cook with Jamie...can I cook with Jamie"...I said "No you're too young, he's looking for bigger kids"...Famous last words...he picked a 5yr old boy (Ashton, who has now been in numerous interviews etc)...Oh dear, was I frowned upon ;-(   
Anyway when he got to Mousie & I, he stood right in front of us & I got all tongue tied. So instead of shaking his hand & saying "Hi, I'm one of your volunteers *smile*...I put my camera back up & took his photo...*furious blushing*, *groan*! Oh well...
If you're interested, I was given the choice to work at the event or be in the audience...I decided to be in the audience so I could take Mousie who loves Jamie to bits (a friend had a spare ticket for Mousie & all vollies were given tickets)...I'm very happy with my choice & so is Mousie.



Jamie stands right in front of us...
Bantering with our Ipswich Mayor Paul...

Jamie with Ipswich Mayor  Paul & Qld Premier Anna Bligh
The cooking demonstration was excellent & he managed to teach, tell funny stories, & speak more about the Ministry of Food & his other healthy food endeavors at the same time...I love to see a multi-skilled man in action!




Getting the giggles telling a funny story


At the end of the demo, after he thanked everyone, he invited people to line up to have books signed etc (apparently that wasn't on the timetable...good on you Jamie). Mousie & I went over to talk to some of the other vollies & trainers & Mousie jumped in to give a hand cleaning up...She's such a good girl & was complimented for it :-)








By this stage the heavens opened, so we 2, soaked, but happy girls decided to exit stage left...




Luckily Jamie brought his brolly!....BYE Jamie & thankyou!
Contrary to what the media said later on, Jamie continued to sign books & have photos taken, did some media interviews inside & then, ignoring the wind up from his entourage, stuck around to talk to all the workers still waiting to wash all those dishes & finish cleaning up...what a genuinely nice guy! The media tried to say that he only stayed for another 1/2 hour after the demo & then let himself be hustled out by his minders...tut,tut,tut...give the guy a break!
I went in to The ministry of Food yesterday to do my usual volunteering day & what should be on the walls but some lovely messages from Jamie himself...nice one mate ;-)
One last photo from Saturday because I think it's cute...




One tired but happy Mousie at the end of the day flaked out on the lounge straight after dinner. With regards to the rubber duck...*head scratch*...I really have no idea...LOL xxx

Friday 2 March 2012

Jamie Oliver visits Ipswich tomorrow...

Tomorrow Jamie Oliver finally gets to see his first Australian Ministry of Food Cooking school in person. We, the volunteers & the trainers, are excited that he will be able to find out in person what a difference it has made to peoples' lives both in Ipswich & to those that have come from further afield to join the program. I personally love nothing better than to see someone become animated with excitement when they've learnt & put into practice a new skill or discovered a new food or just learnt an interesting nutritional/food fact.  It gets us all excited & inspired & that is priceless! 

Ad borrowed from the local paper...ssssh!

Ipswich will be very crowded tomorrow I imagine with legions of adoring fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite TV chef...or maybe they'll be trying to bribe their way into the ticket holders area...scaling fences even...hahaha, my imagination was getting away from me!
500 lucky people have (free) tickets to watch his cooking demo  close up at 1pm. These tickets were offered online by 'The Goodguys' (sponsors) & they were snapped up in under 15 minutes...luckily, we volunteers all get a ticket each & a lovely friend had a spare ticket for Mousie...thankyou friend ;-)
My interesting contribution for the day is some herbal set dressing. On Tuesday (my volunteering day) I took in a heap of coriander, from my garden, to be planted in the MOF herb garden (recycled wheelbarrow). This wheelbarrow is parked out the front of the centre during the day for people going past to pick/taste/smell. While the bucket of coriander (recycled honey bucket) was sitting on the bench waiting to be planted one of tomorrows organisers asked where it had come from & could we get any more. Pick me, pick me...Apparently it is needed for the cooking set & she wasn't able to get any plants just the right size...she had some pots but no herbs. Yay for me...I won't get to meet him but my herbs will...classic!


All potted up & ready for duty...

The painted (white) pots with saucers are ones we had at the MOF...the browny ones came from ikea (no holes, no saucers...I did say" I could drill some holes but you have no saucers" but was told not to bother...Arrrg....
This morning after careful nurturing & snipping...disaster...

OMG...carked coriander!!!

3 out of the 4 browny, unholey, bloody ikea pots contained pretty well 'carked coriander'...should I dare an "I told you so"? A quick trip to the local nursery (locally owned),  $8  & 2 pots of coriander later...plus a quick dig of the lemon thyme from my garden and....



The day is saved!! Phew! I have asked that instead of reimbursement I get to take the herbs home after the event & give them a good home (again) plus the pots which will feel the bite of my drill bit! *evil laugh aimed at  the browny pots*
I will return tomorrow with news of the event...
For those that are interested it will be live-streamed  online tomorrow from 1pm (non daylight saving Eastern Standard time)  but I couldn't tell you as yet the web address for that.
xxx



Thursday 1 March 2012

Creating...Kev Snuggle Koala

Tada...finally Kevin (brother to Kirsten) Snuggle Koala is finished! After the usual endless interruptions to 'creative time' (I'll have to fire that maid...haha) Kevin is ready for his time in the spotlight... 




Kev the intrepid explorer surveys the
neighbourhood from the Bottlebrush tree...


Of course being the lovable & curious creature that he is...Kevin took a turn around the yard or through the trees should that be, & surveyed the yard for any enemy dogs or cats that given half a chance would rip him to pieces!!


Back inside to pose by the janome...




Back inside again...Kevin poses by the Janome...looking very nonchalant while he munches on his BYO  gum leaves & waits to see who else might venture out...


Kev & Kirsten meet at the Janome Cafe...the hip place to
be seen!




Well hello sister, fancy seeing you here! The janome is now the Janome cafe...the hip place to be seen for Snugglebuddies & their friends ;-)  Kev & Kirsten settle down to have a yarn & share a few gum leaves...hahahaha...


Kevin or Kev is not named for anyone in particular, it's just a fine blokey Aussie name!
Kev is made from the other leg of the recycled 80's ladies trousers (see 'creating...Kirsten...') & various scrap pieces of felt plus a scrap of 2005 ikea material on the belly. He comes with his own supply of gum leaves as he is always hungry (these leaves are a permanent fixture...a bit 'magic pudding'-like!).


Next on the creating agenda (besides lunch *gurgle, gurgle* excuse my tummy) will be some pocket sized snuggle koalas to use up the bum end of the trousers. Not much will go to waste...the zipper & belt buckle will go into the hoarding holding box for future projects & the scraps into the 'scrap' bag...*eye roll*...of course.


See you tomorrow for some Jamie Oliver news that includes your truly ;-)  
xxx