An island holiday

A few months ago, at the tail end of Winter I went on a spontaneous holiday to Great Keppel Island with friends from down south in chilly Melbourne.  I've had the photos for this post ready for ages, but no words, so I kept waiting for a moment that felt right to write so I could hit publish. On this rainy night at home and in a week where words aren't flowing about the present moment, it felt like a good time to look back over happy holidays snaps, write something and share them with you. 

We spent four days tucked away on our island holiday and spent our days walking barefoot on sand, swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear water, making sandcastles and exploring different parts of the island. Nothing to achieve, nothing to rush towards, just the simple pleasure of living in the moment. 

It was so nice to spend such quality time with Emma, Matt and Finn again. Living miles away from each other we don't get to catch up that often and when we do it's usually only for a few hours or a day at the most. It was delightful to have days instead of hours together.  We didn't have to rush to madly catch up on all the news, instead there was more time to play, and be and laugh whilst conversation flowed.

And of course we spent a great deal of time eating, reading and sleeping. We made simple meals of eggs, fish, tomatoes, leafy greens, rock melon and papaya. It's amazing how good simple, wholesome food is when you slow down to really experience each mouthful. 

Each night after a cup of tea and a few squares of chocolate I curled up in my large tent on a wooden platform with my book and read until the generator was switched off precisely at 10pm and all was dark and quiet again on the island. Bliss!

44 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

A few simple things I'm grateful for that made a week of mostly being stuck in my head, that bit lighter. 

A classic drink on warm days,  water, a good squeeze of lemon and a few sprigs of mint. 

Girls, Season 2 watched, or more accurately, inhaled, over a very short duration of time. 

Morning sunshine on our front verandah. I love sitting at the front door, sun creeping higher in the sky, birds flying from palm to palm,  slowly waking to the day.

Waking on Sunday morning to hear the news that there was a new baby in the world, and he was 8 pounds 8 ounces and named Ruben. Congrats to my beautiful friends Emma p and Matt! And of course to Finn, as he is officially now a big brother. 

A visit to West End markets in Brisbane. What an awesome local market. Stall after stall of good looking fruit and veg, fresh juices, and other foodie delights. It had a real community buzz, people taking time to stop and chat, to smile and draw you in to being a part of the market community.  

 And under the shade of a gorgeous fig tree live music played whilst people enjoyed what I hear is seriously good coffee!

And for my mama and papa and big sister.

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Kylie at Octavia and Vicky.

photos: lemon and mint water / morning sunshine on my verandah taken earlier this year in May. 

42 and 43 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

Serenity and peace in the small town of Mullumbimby.  My sister and I took a quick trip to visit friends on the coast and spend a night in a peaceful abode in nature.

Mullumbimby continues to grow on me each time I visit. It's a beautiful town, but given the choice I've often opted to head to the coast around Byron Bay. Slowly this is changing. I'm noticing the energy and beauty of the surrounding hills and space around Mullumbimby and dig the feeling of the place.   Heck, there aren't that many places where you have a Day Spa right in the middle of town that feels like your far away in a tropical rainforest. The massage was bliss. If you're in the area I suggest you spend a few hours relaxing at The Kiva Spa.

And on to the peaceful abode. Simon and his wife, Susan (who was away in Bali) have a beautiful property with self contained accommodation next to the main house. Simon was welcoming and warm, the place, beautiful and serene and exquisitely decorated.

Simon shared his intentions of the space as a retreat for people to reconnect with themselves and the earth; his love of the natural world; the garden he has spent hours planting and caring for; the kookaburra's and his work as an astrologer.

We drank cups of tea on the verandah, read, ate and crawled into bed. The sound and smell of rain was my companion as I drifted off to sleep.

Before we left Simon shared an image he'd sensed when he first met me. I'm not going to share the exact details (sorry folks!) but it linked in with the incredibly strong feeling I'd had the night before pottering around the kitchen. A feeling of being incredibly grounded and a sense of coming home to myself.

A weekend of people, places and experiences I am very grateful for.

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Kylie at Octavia and Vicky. 

40 and 41 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

Step inside the Happy Cabin. It's warm, cosy and a place where magic happens. October arrived and it really has been a magical month. Queensland at this time of year is divine. Days are warm and nights are balmy, jasmine is in the air and there's a relaxed vibe on the streets.

October is also my birthday month.   I'm not really a let's make a big fuss over me kind of girl and happy to celebrate in low key style - some good food with good company. Saying this I do also like a party and this year I got the best of both- low key celebrations and a party (that wasn't mine).

Birthday celebrations started on the night before my birthday. A Greek banquet dinner with my mum and sister at a restaurant that has a good reputation and feels more like you're in Melbourne than the Coast. If you've ever eaten good Greek food or been fed by a Greek family you'll know that they don't skimp on quantity or quality.  Feast highlights were melt in your mouth whole lemon snapper, Saganaki cheese, slow cooked lamb and a perfectly simple Greek salad with a whole piece of the creamiest fetta cheese placed on top.

Saturday, the day of my birthday, was a traditional family birthday celebration, a few presents and a cake with a single candle to make a wish. Oh happy days and nights. That evening a friend was having an 'Around the World' themed party, so I got to dress up, dance, eat and laugh but didn't have the fuss or pressure of it being my party!

The party was in full swing by the time we arrived. People and music spilled out into the yard. A yard that resembles a jungle of sorts, wild and untamed. Inside the big, old Queenslander was a place of warmth and life being lived right here right now!- happy party goers, a veggie feast, live music and a room full of crazy costumes. An around the world globe leotard worn with silver and black stripped tights was my personal favourite. Though by the early hours of the morning the leotard seemed tame as costumes were swapped and two tall gents squeezed themselves into genie costumes complete with sequinned crop tops and transparent harem pants. One chose to wear matching blue underwear, the other chose to wear no underwear, and instead improvised with underwear of sorts..a saucepan lid held tightly in place with rope. I'll let you imagine how that worked.

I danced and laughed,  drank a cup of bedtime tea (an unusual choice in the middle of a party!), danced some more before falling asleep as the party continued around me.

It was a beautiful birthday, thanks to my gorgeous family and friends. Thank you for making my heart swell with such joy, love and gratitude x

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Kylie at Octavia and Vicky. 

P.s. Kylie I'm sending you lots of love. 

39 Weeks of Gratitude (Spring at Wild Mountains)

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

"I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery - air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy." Sylvia Plath

I arrived at Wild Mountains, near Rathdowney, QLD late Friday night just as the sun was setting behind the mountains, got out of the car and took a deep breathe in and exhaled slowly. I felt the magic of the place instantly. 

I was on a volunteer weekend joining a crew of about 20 others working on a range of tasks that contribute to this amazing environmental education and conservation centre. 

The weekend was one of the best weekends I've had all years, and was the first time since moving to Qld I felt like I'd found a place and people I connected with. 

So much to be grateful for...

communal living and a kitchen with everything you could want

the joy of the simple and meditative task of weeding to prepare for planting

shared laughter, inspiring folk and good conversation 

fresh, simple, vegetarian fare

plucking edible flowers from the garden for a green lunchtime salad

curry pumpkin soup with pepita and sunflower seeds

noticing the abundance of life and beauty in a tiny space when you are really present in the moment

the crisp night air

spotting a tiny red breasted bird (a Robin perhaps) fluttering from branch to branch

the smell of earth on my hands

the star filled night and a shooting star

that sleepy feeling you get when you spend a day outdoors, getting your hands dirty 

waking up to the breathtaking view, fresh air and the song of birds

going to bed in the the complete darkness of the countryside

feeling the calm of nature seeping into my soul.

I can't wait to return.

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Octavia and Vicky.

36, 37, 38 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

A few thoughts I started last Tuesday night....but didn't quite finish.  I've been a bit quiet on the blog front but with the memory of dirt on my hands and wind in my hair I'm inspired to write again.

I practised yoga this evening and I've a spring in my step, my chest feels open, shoulders are rolled back and I'm holding my head high. I can literally feel energy flowing freely throughout my whole body reaching right down to my toes. I am connected to my body again and I feel so calm and present.

 Recently I've noticed how much I enjoy singing on the way home after yoga. The thing is I don't sing very often. I have a rather terrible singing voice, I always have, and once I became old enough to realise I didn't really sound like the girl in the Annie musical I've too shy to really sing.

Not only have I held back the urge to sing when I'm with others but I've also held back expressing myself from time to time over the years. Our fears are strange beasts!  Health practitioners have often pointed out the link between recurrent sore throats and a repression of expression and emotion. Not speaking up for myself, not expressing myself, not singing often or loud enough!

 Now I'm not dreaming of having a singing career but I am making progress towards finding a way to be more comfortable with expression in many forms and I feel very grateful for the knowledge and self acceptance yoga is teaching me.

It has also been a month of ups and downs, feeling frustrated and still struggling to find a place in my new home as I previously rambled on about here. Thank goodness for yoga! and beautiful words from a good friend. She wrote what I'm calling a love letter to her friends, sharing her thoughts from across the seas whilst she travels on why each friend is important to her. Her words made me laugh, smile and cry. Seeing myself through her words I felt I knew myself again.

I'm grateful for these moments and insights that have kept me feeling sane! Oh and Spring, how could I  not mention the gorgeous bunches of Spring flowers that have been bringing nature into the home.

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Octavia and Vicky.

33, 34 and 35 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

And here it is. The jumbo edition of many weeks of gratitude! Actually I'm going to keep it short and sweet.

I am very grateful and feeling the love from all of you who read and responded to my last post. Thanks for your support and encouraging words. I've found myself re-reading the comments over the last few weeks and loving the wise advice you shared. 

These past weeks I've been continuing to  take action and investing time and energy into my surroundings. I've been putting down roots and spreading my wings at the same time. On the home front I've been creating cosy little spaces and now have a few kitchen shelves just for my tea collection; burning beeswax candles at night and slowly going through my music collection. Out and about I've been exploring more and more, seeking out new places to go, experiences to have and new people to meet. I'm dreaming again and feeling hopeful.

I am grateful for:

The magic of staying on an island with good friends where days stretched out with nothing to do but relax and play. Oh the serenity!

Spending Sunday with Dad on Father's Day.  So whilst my first attempt at baking something from Jude Blereau's new cookbook didn't quite work out (my sponge came out of the oven completely flat!-I'm sure it had more to do with my inexperience than Jude's instructions. I should have known when I had to youtube the 'ribbon' method). A quick trip to the shops to buy a plain sponge cake saved my arse, and I prettied it up as planned.

Mint and parsley on my little balcony herb garden. Getting ready for Summer time.

A haircut that didn't make me want to cry. I love my new hairdresser. 

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Octavia and Vicky. 

Images: Sunset on Great Keppel Island; the Father's Day sponge; minty goodness.

31 and 32 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love.

Crap, has it really been that long? The calendar tells no lies.  I've been holidaying up and down the coast, catching up with friends and it's been so nice to spend quality time doing things I love with people I love. 

On the flip side it's also highlighted a few hard truths. One being, even though I've tried really hard to like the Gold Coast the fact is I don't really like it. It doesn't feel like me. I could go on about why but I won't. There is no simple fix. I've chosen to be here to be close to my family, and that hasn't changed. I love seeing my family re and I still want that. Now to just find a way to like it a bit better!

I do feel a smidgen better already just by coming to the realisation that I don't like it.  Sigh of relief. I can stop pretending now. I've kicked in to action mode and the first thing was to get my home life in better shape, starting with the laundry (always the laundry!) and a quick tidy up of the house this evening. My head feels clearer already with more thinking space and I got a surge of inspiration to sit down and finally share a few moments of gratitude from these past weeks.

 Mountains and windy roads.

The first bunch of fresh flowers in my new home. 

A present from my sister. Gorgeous soap from Melbourne. The scent is divine.

If you've ever found yourself living in a place that's not quite 'you' I'd love to know what you did to settle in and find your place.

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Octavia and Vicky. 

Winter giveaway: Winner(s)

Apologies for the delay and general silence in these parts. Life got very busy all of sudden.  Tonight though I'm home, listening to Sigur Ros, sipping herbal tea, by the beautiful light of a beeswax candle. A very cosy setting indeed to re-read the winter giveaway entries. 

Thanks to everyone who shared their winter rituals,  I've really enjoyed reading each entry. What struck me the most, and what was threaded through all of the entries, was love. And love sure makes all of us feel good! There was one entry in particular that through her words I could feel the warmth and gratitude of having someone else do something for you with love; and the beauty of being able to sit back and witness this morning ritual. 

Congratulations aluminiumgirl, a beautiful parcel is heading your way. 

And because I couldn't stop at one winner I've also got a little surprise (hint hint it's spicy) for Penny, because the image of the little ones eager for their delicious, healthy breakfast was just delightful and warmed my heart.

Book nerding it up in Byron

Morning sunlight with a cup of tea and one of the best editions of Dumbo Feather.

I'm book nerding it up in Byron for the weekend at the Writer's Festival. I'm super excited to have a date with Peter Carey on Saturday afternoon and a night of what I hope is thigh-slapping comedy with Judith Lucy and others. 

Sunday I'm meeting up with two gorgeous women from blogland, Nikki and Jay.  I love their blogs and I'm looking forward to all those things that make it special when you're actually with people in person... voices, movement, energy, laughter. 

Oh how I love the weekend.  Happy weekend to you xx.

30/52 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More Gratitude. More hope. More love.

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust.

Good friends you've known for years. The kind that still send you mail in the post old school style. That know that a book, a recipe and Peace tea with the tag 'drink tea and help Tibet' are the best kind of parcels. Good friends, you can't beat 'em.

Especially when you're down.

There were a lot of shitty days last week. Mostly small shitty. Though there was the day spent at emergency in intense pain. That was big shitty. (Thankfully it turned out to be a minor problem in the end, phew!)

In the midst of the big shitty day, my sister by my side,  I received a beautiful long email from a friend in France.  It was so good I forgot about the pain for a while. How could I not be happy when there was talk of chickens in the French countryside and working up the road in Claude Monet's garden.

A few days later at the end of another long day, and yep you guessed it, I was feeling shitty, an unexpected parcel arrived in the mail from a friend who writes beautiful handwritten letters I long treasure. Shitty mood gone, and in it's place a happy me sipping tea knowing that even from afar, good old friends are always close. xxx

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Octavia and Vicky. 

A Winter feel good giveaway!

Each year as the weather turns cold my thoughts wander to an image of a cosy bookstore cafe (think Berkelouw or Avid Reader) hands wrapped around a cup of warm tea, with good company surrounded by rows of new and old books. It's one of my favourite 'feel-good' winter rituals that I will never tire of and one I look forward to as the days turn cooler. 

To spread a little Winter goodness around I'm chuffed to share a first giveaway for me; a collection of wintery goodness to add a little extra warmth and spice to your days!  A big thanks to contributors, I love that by sharing what I love doing on this blog connections are made.  And a big thanks to you, the reader, for joining in, and making it such a lovely community.

The Winter Feel Good Giveaway.

The winner of this give-away will receive:

A jar of Sticky Chai 200g. I discovered these 2 lads via the Real Food Projects and loved their story. In their words..handmade by a couple of tea-lovin' dudes who split their time between blending top notch things to steep and brew and planning excursions on long open roads to far away places with wood-fired ovens. We passionately blend luxurious tea, loads of spice and raw honey, so you get all natural, and no funny business!

 2 x Broth of Life jars (1 Beef Bone Broth from grass fed beef & 1 Chicken Broth from free range chicken frames).  Dehydrated broth from Tassie! Well I never! I drink it straight, love it in soup (Healing Chicken and Shitake is good!). If you're new to the benefits of broth it's a long list. Here's a few: rich in vitamins and minerals, heals the gut, builds immunity and easy to digest.

A Bloom Cambodia recycled rice bag of your choice (image an idea of one bag style, lots more to choose from). I lived in Cambodia, almost a decade ago. It's a place I feel in love with. I wanted to continue to support once I left- the poverty is unbelievable  One thing led to another and I found Diana's social enterprise, beautiful recycled bags with good principles. They provide people with skills, training, a fair and decent wage and good working condition ( a rarity in the garment industry in developing countries). I purchased a stack of bags and sold them in Sydney markets for a year until life got a bit busy and I had to put that aside. (P.s Diana also runs Bloom Garden Guest House,  definitely worth checking out if Cambodia is in your sights).

..........................................................................................

To enter simply answer this question in the comments below  (and your name if you don't have a profile) telling us:

What is your favourite Winter 'feel good' ritual.

The winner will be chosen based on the comment that best inspires and warms my heart. Entries close midnight Tuesday 6th August, AEST. The winner will be announced shortly after on the blog. Open to Australian and NZ readers. 

I would love it if you shared this giveaway with your friends on facebook/your blog. Join me on Facebook for inspiration, whole food goodness and updates. If you're new here, welcome! you can follow me on bloglovin' or subscribe via email (over there on the right). 

You gotta be in it to win it. Good luck x 

(Comments now closed).

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Congratulations to aluminium girl - through your words I could feel the warmth and gratitude of having someone else do something for you with love; and the beauty of being able to sit back and witness this morning ritual.

And because I couldn't stop at one winner I've also got a little surprise (hint hint it's spicy) for Penny, because the image of the little ones eager for their delicious, healthy breakfast was just delightful and warmed my heart.

Favourites (26.7.13)

Fresh from the oven

It's been way too long since I've shared a list of my favourite reads and discoveries here. It kind of just dropped off without me realising it.  But lately I've read too many awesome articles, recipes and all kinds of posts to ignore sharing the love. I hope you enjoy these gems x

• Where the f does confidence come from anyway?  No further introduction needed.

• Blog planning Meet Me at Mikes style.

• Petite kitchen's White Chocolate and Raspberry Almond muffins. I've baked these goodies a few times now (pictured) with butter instead of cacao butter, but I've got cacao butter in the pantry for next baking urge.

• Save this one! A quick go to guide on using whole food flours and sweeteners.  Jude Blereau's Baking with Wholefoods: Sweeteners and Flour.

• The best in farm to plate, local, ethical and story behind the food innovative ideas to look out for Real Food Projects, The Bread and Butter Project, The Local Harvest Collective and Arthur Street Kitchen.

• Favourite winter staple Dahl recipe. I used chana dal instead of split red lentils.

• Fascinating article on Why Time Slows Down When We're Afraid, Speeds Up As We Age, and Gets Warped on Vacation.

• The Kale and pumpkin love continues Quinoa and kale salad recipe. 

Image by The Local Harvest Collective

29/52 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love.

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude." A.A Milne, Winnie the Pooh

It was a tough week and to be honest I'm just so happy that we got through it and that we could still find moments to laugh about. Even in tough times there is still so much to feel lucky for. I'm beginning to notice the gradual changes in myself seven months into a regular gratitude practice. It's simple really. Instead of focusing on what I don't have I'm focusing more and more on what I do have. The more I focus on what I do have the bigger it grows. 

I made a commitment to a daily practice of gratitude because it seemed a simple way (I could do it anywhere anytime without any fuss) to enhance my life.  I wanted to feel more like I was really living and appreciating my life every day. There's been much written on the benefits of gratitude and studies show people that are consistently grateful are happier. And it's true, I do feel happier and more content. And by happier I don't mean an unrealistic permanent state of bliss!  I'm finding that even in challenging times it's important to be grateful, and by being grateful for the challenges it's easier to acknowledge emotions, feel acceptance and find healthier ways to move through challenges.  And so it was a week of challenges that I also feel grateful for. 

A week of gratitude for:

 - being close to my family and for being able to rely on each other.

- my dad having his shortest stint in hospital for a very long time. in one day and out the next. hoorah! 

- ABC radio in the car. I've listened to some great interviews whilst on the highway for work these past few months.

- unpacking more boxes and slowly starting to make my new place a home. 

- the warming winter flavours of onion, garlic and ginger. 

-  my joggers. I love the bouncy feel, the extra spring in my step. 

- evening walks along the beach in above mentioned joggers.

- taking my joggers off and feeling the sand beneath my feet.  

- this post from House of Humble on gratitude. A new blog find I'm loving.

- Friday fish and chip night. A treat at the end of a long week. 

- after almost a year untouched, the family Scrabble board came out and we dusted off our tactics and skill of trying for more than a 4-letter word. 

52 Weeks of Grateful linking up with Octavia and Vicky. Kylie is grateful for dreaming big this week.

28/52 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love.

As a teenager I grew up in a mid sized coastal town, and being swept up in surf culture was an inevitable part of life. Hours spent at the beach, swimming, watching the surf (and surfers) and sun-baking (back then I wasn't so big on slip, slop, slap). I never grew out of my love for the ocean (I was happy to leave surf culture behind!) but in recent years I've had a renewed love for watching the surf. The swell and sound of crashing waves. The expansiveness of the ocean. The wild nature that can never be tamed. I walked to the top of South Nobby Headland for the first time on Saturday and the salty breeze and views were magnificent. 

A week of gratidue for:

- the ocean

- sun after the rain

- dancing and feeling energy flowing through my body again ( 5 rhythms - it really is amazing, it shifted my tiredness and my headache vanished).

- an insightful post at 52 weeks of now on practicing gratitude "To be able to stop, notice and appreciate what we're grateful for at any given moment, we have to be present, we have to be mindful."

- being reminded of long summer days via pomegranate and seeds. Rebecca's blog is gorgeous and she writes dreamy poetry.

52 Weeks of Grateful link up has a new home at Octavia and Vicky. 

Farmers Market to Table: Vanilla Spiced Baked Rhubarb & Mandarin + A Winter Sandwich

When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree; when drinking water, remember who dug the well. 

Vietnamese proverb

The weekly visit to my local farmers market is one of my most cherished weekly routines. Produce is fresh, seasonal, organic and limited. I like that there isn't an endless amount of choice. It's easier to stay connected with seasonal rhythms this way, to live a little more connected to mother earth. 

Wandering around each stall I don't have a list to get through, or planned meals I want to make. I'm lead by the colours, smells and the abundance of what's in season. As I wander flavours and dishes start to emerge in my mind. Roasted fennel with garlic; a fresh salad of rocket; kale with olive oil, garlic and lemon and it goes on as my excitement increases. Lately my basket has been filled with an abundance of leafy greens, grounding root veges and zingy citrus.

The mandarin season is mighty fine this year and I was curious to see how I could make the most of the mandarin season. Everyone loves stewed and baked fruit in winter so I decided to make a twist on baked rhubarb with orange and use mandarins instead. The result- yum! It adds a nice sweetness to the rhubarbs and goes well with the warming spices.

Another simple but oh so satisfying combination I've been eating a lot of has been this winter sandwich combination. Something about the taste and texture of warming toast topped with the strong and salty taste of anchovies and finished off with crisp greens, makes it melt and zing in your mouth all at once.

Both recipes are great anytime of the day to satisfy winter cravings for warm and comforting food. Enjoy x 

(p.s you may have noticed a few new buttons on the side. You can now follow me on bloglovin' and facebook).

Winter Sandwich

good quality sourdough bread (I love Sol Bread's pumpkin and rice gluten free)

avocado, smashed

anchovies (from a jar)

cucumber, sliced

tomatoes, sliced (small variety, tomatoes not quite seasonal but a local farmer had managed to harvest some!)

rocket, baby spinach, parsley

olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

directions: toast bread and pile ingredients on toast, drizzle with olive oil. season with salt and pepper. yum. 

Vanilla Spiced Baked Rhubarb and Mandarin

3-4 stalks of rhubarb

1 mandarin

juice of 1 mandarin (you could substitute with oranges or lemons)

zest of 1/4 lemon

1/2 teaspoon mixed spice (or cinnamon, star anise and cardamom)

2 inch piece of split and scraped vanilla bean

1 tbsp rice malt syrup

Preheat the oven to 160C. Trim the rhubarb and cut it into short pieces. Place the rhubarb and mandarin into a baking dish in a single layer. Juice the mandarin, I used my hands and squeezed each segment over the mandarin and rhubarb. Add zest, mixed spice and vanilla. Drizzle over the rice malt syrup. Cover with enough water to almost cover the mandarin and rhubarb. Bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes until the rhubarb is soft but still keeps its shape. 

Serve with goat's milk yoghurt, or your favourite yoghurt. 

Serves 2-3

27/52 Weeks of Gratitude

52 Weeks of More gratitude. More hope. More love. 

A week of gratitude for:

- a room of my own.

- waking to the sound of the ocean.

- morning light lightly caressing my face as I wrap fingers around a cup of tea gazing out the window.
- finding my way home from the city after getting terribly lost on my way there. 
- catching up with friends and one super cute toddler.

- staying up late, drinking wine and being fine the next day. When you have ongoing fatigue it's really easy to forget to lighten up and have fun. 

- the new energy I have for life. The move across the road has been very good for me. I feel light and playful. 

- the way things keep falling into place and making sense. 

- not forgetting entirely how to read music and letting my fingers find the keys to play the beginning of für elise.
- winter sunny days. they are the best. 

- sunday afternoon baking. almond, coconut and raspberry muffins.

What's been happening in your world folks? What small and big moments are you grateful for? 

52 Weeks of Grateful link up has a new home at Octavia and Vicky. Thanks Maxabella for hosting at Village Voice for 79 weeks!

P.S I've created a Facebook page for the spaces between (and in the process learnt about social media icons-I had no idea those little buttons had a name).  Join me there for daily bits and pieces.