{16/365} A red tangled mess

{16/365} A red tangled mess
Originally uploaded by redmag

......this is my day....maybe even my life right now.....this expresses all the emotions I felt when I found out the job I had lined up had fallen through without any apology.....the fury.....the confusion....the gut wrenching emptiness when I realised I was discarded without much thought....the frenzied mental leaps as I trawled through the vacancies.....all to no avail there is no solution to be found on a Saturday.....

....so I sought solace in crafting.... a new project that has been dancing around my head....restoring order to this tangled red mess in order to make something......a little thing for the littlest person.....someone I will miss dearly when all this job nonsense finally gets sorted and we spend much more time apart than we ever had........

{15/365} The bare bones for a comfy spot

{15/365} The bare bones for a comfy spot to watch the year go by
Originally uploaded by redmag

I've always wanted a comfy couch outside to lounge, read and nap on....but somehow i never managed to find the seat to match the spots I've had....until now......
This much abused three-seater was moved down from Canberra with the intention of listing it on ebay for 99cents after I was quoted $900 to have two new cushions made for it.....
...however I've just worked out that it fits perfectly on our back deck and in the past 24 hours....despite only makeshift cushioning its been the focus of family lazy activities.....stories read, pretend naps had, morning coffee in the early morning light consumed.....the couch has redeemed itself....it stays...new cushions to be found and lots of lounging anticipated.

{14/365} Magical peach leaves

{14/365} Magical peach leaves
Originally uploaded by redmag

....ok this photo...well it's not a great shot....and this little peach tree is one of the few plants in my new backyard that I don't feel any love for...not sure why just don't really get the miniture fruit tree thing...plus I am mourning the loss of my apricot tree when it was looking like it might finally pay off after three years of love.....

...this photo is all about the leaves and the fact that we discovered that when added to homemade custard they add an amazing almody flavour to them.....

My sister and I began a new family tradition this past Christmas - we both made trifles that we ate separately on opposite sides of the world for pudding at our respective Christmas feasts....we're working towards making the ultimate trifle....this year mine was a blend between a Margaret Fulton and a Stephanie Alexander recipe....and the best bit was the custard...because of (as suggested by Stephanie) the addition of peach leaves....I know, I know... the mister and I also muttered what wanky crap when we read it out loud in the throws of our last minute cooking frenzy and had we not had the leave so close at hand they would have been ignored....but if you can add them do you won't regret it!

My slightly modified version of the custar in Stephanie Alexander's Peach trifle recipe from the Cook's Companion

1 cup milk
1 cup cream
6 peach leaves washed and dried
8 egg yolks
1/4 cup castor sugar
1 tablespoon plain flor
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bring milk, cream and peach leaves to simmering point in a heavy-based saucepan. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for 15 mins, meanwhile whisk egg yolks with sugar and flour. Remove the peach leans and whisk in the warm milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Put mixture back onto the heatand cook over a moderate heat, stirring constanly with a wooden spoon and the mixture thickens. Remove from the het and add the vanilla. Allow to cool before using.

I'm going to use this in strawberry flan this weekend - given i didn't snap a trifle shot I'll showyou how it turns out.

{11/365} 44C in the shade

{11/365} 44C in the shade
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....while this does beg a say no more description....I just checked and at 22:15 it was still 37C....which does entitle me to a whine...I'd guess it's at least that in every room in my stinkin' uninsulated (sans aircon) house - I'm actually a magnet for houses that do bad in the heat.....which a're usually good for the cold.....BUT given it doesn't snow here I don't think that's much of a special gift....
F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S I'm doing the 1 photo a day thing over on flickr.....the ones that bring me to explain/rage/whine will get a run here....

P.P.S Happy New year.....hope to see you round these parts a bit more this year!