Pre-dinner munchies

As soon as I walked in the door this evening, I heard the quince cheese I made the other weekend calling me.  I also heard the crackers and the cheese and the pickled onions.

Who am I to resist the pull?  Actually, how am I to resist the pull!  They were calling my name soooo loudly and insistently!

Yes, that is quite a large portion of quince cheese, I know.  But it is so yum it would be sacrilegious to have a slice smaller! 

All that's missing is a glass of wine.

Oh wait, there it is!!!

Happy Saturday evening folks!!

Funny cos it's true!

Some days, heck who am I kidding, most days, this is me...!!!

Saturday afternoons

A bit of a ritual seems to have formed in this house recently.

It tends to happen on a Saturday afternoon around about 5pm (or earlier, depending on the week that's been).

The wine is poured (or scotch depending on your preference), the cushions are pulled out to protect soft bottoms from hard chairs, and the nibbles are gathered, arranged and devoured with gusto.

The venue is the front deck. Protected from street view by the trees in the front yard, the LOML and I then chat about the week that was, the week to be and everything else in between.

I love it. I treasure it. I look forward to it each week.


Happy Saturday afternoons folks!

Have glue gun, will glue

This morning I completed a task that has been 6 years in the making.

Years ago, quite early in our relationship, the LOML and I went on a romantic getaway and visited some wineries near the Queensland/ New South Wales border.  In one of those wineries (I can't remember which one - they're a blur after all that sampling!!!) I saw the Best Cork Board Ever.  That's correct - Best Ever.  It was a board - with wine bottle corks stuck all over it.  How cool!  I totally had to have one for myself!  And so started the planning and preparation to get to this point in time right now where it is made and finished and all mine!  To share the love and so you too can be the proud owner of a Real Cork Cork Board, I've included step-by-step instructions (with photos, because instructions are so much more professional looking with photos!).  

Step One:

Drink wine.  Lots of it.  Champagne too.  Make sure the bottles have corks not screwtops otherwise you're just a wino and you should probably go to a meeting.  Surveying my collection is like looking at a time capsule - I can see periods of Asti Riccadona, Hardy's, Yellow Glen, Brown Brothers, Wolf Blass and a whole lot of un-named varieties!

Step Two:

Save the corks.  I put them in a safe spot so I wouldn't lose them.  Well, actually it was two safe spots because I forgot where the first safe spot was.  Luckily we moved house during Step One so I found the first safe spot again!

Step Three:

Assemble required equipment and ingredients: corks, board (I used an old picture frame that I found kicking around the back shed), hot glue gun.

Step Four:

Start gluing.  You could have a practice layout first to make sure they all fit and get them arranged in some sort of aesthetically pleasing order but I'm too impatient for that.  Luckily for me I had enough corks to fill the board and they all fit together nicely!

Step Five:

Stand back and admire your handiwork.  

I plan on placing my Cork Board in a very prominent position so that all visitors will see it and be in awe of my creativity and competence.   Naaahh - not really - but I have put it on my desk so that when I see it I am reminded that a) I'm very clever and b) it may be time to cut back on the alcohol!

So, what do you reckon about my Cork Board?  (blatant fish for complements here....indulge me!)

Red Wine, Italian Style

Last night the LOML and I had our good friend out for the night (who may also play a part in the asking of the Pertinent Question....).   Twas a good night - delish slow-cooked casserole, fresh bread, partnered with good conversation and lots of laughs.

Anyway, he has just got back from a quick trip to the US, England and Italy.

And this is what he brought back for us.....

A bottle of Castello Do Oliveto Chianti Riserva. 

Just saying the name makes me want to wave my hand in the air and have a good looking waiter bring me pasta carbonara and some bruschetta....!

Of course, this is totally not helpful in any way, shape or form for my pledge to limit my alcohol consumption....!  But hey, it's a gift - cannot be refused!

Now to work out what scrumptious goodie I can whip up to serve with it....and what 'special' occasion warrants popping the seal.....!

The day after the day after

....is the BEST day in the world!

I remember reading somewhere someone saying they felt sorry for those people out there who don't drink at all because when they woke up in the morning, that was the best they would feel all day.

Today, I am feeling GREAT!  I could climb mountains, I could fly to the moon, I could do anything!

Yesterday, not so much.

Completely self-inflicted so no sympathy required, I am still shaking my head at myself for having too much to drink.  Haven't done that for a long while and now I remember why.  Stupid really!

Anyhoo, it was lots of fun at the time and the LOML and I laughed and laughed and talked and laughed some more, and then it was time for bed and I realised as I stood up and tried to walk that the world wasn't wobbly or rotating quicker than normal - it was me.  Bummer.

Nothing that a good night sleep and many litres of water couldn't fix!  Oh, and eating the world (that's right, the WORLD!).  How I still managed to fit dinner in considering the quantity of food I ate yesterday astounds me!

Here's to limiting my alcohol consumption for the next few weeks!  Cheers!

TGIF

Dear Friday,

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday i don't care about you
It's Friday i'm in love
 
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday i'm in love

Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...

I love you Friday. 

I love you so much I'm going to celebrate my ENORMOUS love for you by having a glass of wine. 

Right now. 

That's how much I love you.

Love always (forever and ever),

Me
xxxx



* no matter what time it is, it is 5 o'clock somewhere!

meh

This sums up my mood today.

A whole lot of I can't-be-bothered.

A shame really because I had such great plans, hopes and aspirations for today.

It's the weather's fault.  It's letting me down.

Two days ago it was beautiful - the sun was shining, the breeze was blowing. 

Yesterday it started raining.  That was fine too.  I love the rain.  So does the garden.

Last night the wind started.  Howling, gusting, cold wind.  Makes it feel like winter already.  And I'm not ready for winter yet.

I think I might just go crawl back into bed and ignore it.

Either that or I'm going down the road for a bottle of red.......