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Archive for the 'cool things' Category

now to decide if I should grow a tea bush or get a house cow

Published
by
Helen
on February 5, 2012
in cool things, food, home and garden and random life
. 2 Comments

because then my breakfast would be entirely home made.

This was my breakfast this morning. Home made bread and home made apricot jam with a cup of tea and the magazine from the weekend Australian.

This is the Helen size loaf of bread before I cut into it

Oh it is so very nice and I achieved a very nice translucent crumb which is the goal with slow rise breads.

Did you see the table?

It started off life with me looking like this.

 

A thorough sanding, a dose of deck clean, some garden furniture oil, another sand then then two more coats of garden furniture oil and it looks like this now. Yes, those are casalas, I searched high and low for outdoor chairs I liked but in the end casalas won me over. Oh so comfy

One day I’ll get round to stripping and painting the legs but that doesn’t need doing just yet.

Also I went to my first auction on Tuesday night and I bid on one item all night and I won it, it was a touch scary. When I arrived I did a quick case of what else was on show then had a quick look at the Countess before sitting down in a position where I could see if anyone else was looking at it … The bidding was between me and one other lady. Oh hello Royal Doulton Countess, I do love  you so. I finally have bowls (and cups and more plates). I’m really quite happy about this win because I got it for a very good price and it means I don’t have to find a seller on UK Ebay who is happy to send bowls internationally.  I may be known for my love of Figgjo Flint Lotte but I share that love equally with Royal Doulton Countess.

Now though, I must fold the washing and get ready for a short work week since Karl and Kata arrive early Thursday morning :D

 

The day after the Twelfth Day or Epiphany or Three Kings Day

Published
by
Helen
on January 7, 2012
in Christmas, cool things and random life
. 2 Comments

or whatever you wish to call January 6. Le Sigh. Yesterday was all of those so the house was de-Christmased. The living room looks quite bare now.

This little chap has been packed away for another Christmas. Yep we run an Icelandic Christmas straight out of the late 70s here.  Love his little elfish face.

As have these trees (the one on the left was made by Grandmum and the one on the right was made by me with  assistance from Grandmum, it’s made of polystyrene meat trays!) The photo of Grandad stays of course, as does the duck (also made by  my Grandmum.

This tree is packed up as well, oh well only something like 350 days till it can be put up again …

The reverse Advent calendar was packed up as well. I picked it up from a Danish seller on the most glorious marketplace of all. Each day, an ornament was added, Some days though “Santa/Christmas Angel/Christmas someone” would beat me to it and there would be angel hanging on the calendar (see days 15 and 21).

The Royal Doulton Countess has been packed away, waiting for another special meal (If you ever come across Royal Doulton Countess in the green pattern, let me know quick smart, I’m always on the look out for more pieces).

We had a new candle set this year, I picked up the Advent candle holder from a Swede on the above mentioned glorious marketplace. I filled it with spruce twigs, added some walnuts that I painted gold, drop in four candles and hey presto!

Yes, those are peas in a sweets dish. They may look pretty but are a pain to serve from … peas like to escape…

The other way to know that Christmas is over is by this. Yep, holly wreath not so green any more.

The lights are no longer up either, the house looks decidingly less bright.

And that is Christmas 2011/2012. I hope it was well to you all.

links, pictures and oh the most beautiful house

Published
by
Helen
on November 13, 2011
in cool things and random life
. 2 Comments


This photo makes me quite sad. I know it would have been quite a feat for these men to chop down this tree but look at the girth of it. That tree had seen so many years pass as it grew and grew and grew in the forest and then it was felled and turned into various wooden products. Can you imagine seeing a tree that had a trunk that large???


Almedahls made a Figgjo Lotte tablecloth and place mats back in the day. I’ve seen one set of place mats and two tablecloths come up for auction on ebay recently and they all alluded me by a whisper. In my search for more infomation I came across this lovely blog post, unfortunately I’m yet to figure out to enter captcha when it is in Japanese so I’ve not been able to comment.


Are these not the loveliest street shoes you’ve seen? There are some other shoes in the Nike Liberty collection but the above are by far the prettiest. le Sigh, they no longer have my size.

now onto houses.

Here we have a house that is so very Queensland built in the late 70s nearing the end of the Modern design. The listing is here and it’s in Pinjarra Hills if you’re looking for a new house.. That magnificent double height living area with all that glass…

now we step back a few decades and land ourselves in Bundaberg or Bundy as you may prefer to call the town.

When I first came across this listing, oh my heart jumped. Those curves, those windows, that price, the arches, the kitchen cabinetry, the ceiling panels, the mirror above the fireplace, the curve feature stairs. Oh, I could go on and on and on and on. $235k, that’s what they are asking. Gosh, if only I didn’t already have a mortgage. Some one please buy it now and sell it to me in a handful of years please?

I mean look at that house, all it needs is an update to the bathroom and some accent paint on the external features and oh, it would be so lovely. I tell you, you live in that house and you wouldn’t even think you were living in Bundy! In fact that house doesn’t even look it belongs in Bundy!

Smile at the moon, I can’t decide which photo I like most.

Good night.

A very happy find

Published
by
Helen
on October 29, 2011
in cool things and random life
. 3 Comments

Yay!!! Lotte Mugs

At long, long last I now have two of these mugs.

I saw this post on The Old Boathouse last night and said to myself I’m stopping in at WAC on my way to pick up something at Mt Gravatt in the morning. I was at WAC shortly after opening time… I didn’t even look at the pictures properly otherwise I would have known about the mugs before I got to WAC and had to just about pick myself up off the floor when I saw them. I’m very happy. In the online Lotte world, these mugs are pretty darn rare and when they do pop up on the various auction sites they go for a pretty penny. My Lotte collection is just about an entire table setting now as I picked up some tea cups on ebay the other week. I eat off Lotte every day and I smile at every meal time as I look at the designs.

The table at WAC
Lotte at WAC

I was so very tempted by the squat milk jugs but I had to say no this time. Perhaps if they are there next time I visit I will pick one up but I think all that Lotte goodness will be well and truly gone by next WAC visit. I had forgotten how many nice houses there are in the Holland Park/Mt Gravatt area, will have some photos coming soon.

Sun-day

Published
by
Helen
on September 25, 2011
in cool things, photography, random life and Uni
. 1 Comment

I’m about to head off to spend the day at Uni working on a group assignment. I’m hoping though that I’ll be able to meander through the old botanic gardens this afternoon as the spring flowers in there at the moment are divine.

On spring flowers, here are mine. I planted primulas in the front bed and oh it is so lovely to have flowers in the garden again. As a kid we used pick the flowers and spin the stalks round and round between our palms pretending they were Catherine wheels.
Primulas

I didn’t plant the clover but looks almost as pretty.
Clover

When I mowed the lawn, I couldn’t stand the thought of mowing down all those pretty clover flowers so I left a square of flowering clover in the front lawn :)
Clover Square

Now for a collection of links and the likes.

Ten People Who Observe Birthdays on 9/11 – Whilst American based, I can certainly attest to quite a number of statements made.

I can’t stop listening to this cover of Back in Black by Will Shine
Will Shine – Back in Black (AC/DC cover) by the3penguins

The Iceland AFL team recently hosted Norway in the first ever international game in the country, my brother was of course there to capture all the action. I particularry liked how they rigged the goal posts up.

Shiney Flaggy Purse also available with more Union Jack and less stars.

Now I’m off to spend the day with my head buried in the AASBs.

Japan charm kawaiiness

Published
by
Helen
on May 27, 2011
in adventures, cool things and random life
. 3 Comments

charm kawaii'ness

This selection of charms, key chain straps or whatever else you want to call them are some of my favourite things I brought back from Japan. There is an elephant, a hamburger mirror, Hello Kitty doughnut, Mr Green Tea Ice Cream man, edamame, Miffy with Sakura, Madeline, a little tea set etc etc and more. Probably once a week or so, I change round what I’ve got on my hand bag, mobile and uni bag. I get to take some little pieces of Japan with me where ever I go. sigh :)

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