Saturday Seven - Countries you would like to go to

Are you a traveller? Or more of an armchair traveller?

I love to do both! For years while we were raising out family we couldn't travel over the water as it was too expensive (apart from relocating to the US for work one - but that is another story!)
But in the last couple of years we have been lucky enough to travel a bit...and as you may know - a bit is never enough - once you get bitten by the travel bug, you just have to scratch that itch!

So here are some countries I haven't been to, but would very much like to.

 1. Italy - yay! it's happening this year! in September!

2. The Stans - Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan - the heart of the Silk Road, featuring such exotic locations as Tashkent, Bukhara and Kashgar.

3. Chile - mainly to visit the far, far south Patagonia and Tierro del Fuego. I'm sure there is a lot more to Chile and indeed South America than that - but it's a start. ps daughter has just been there and I can't wait to see her photos.

4. New Zealand - it's close, it's next door, but I've never been. It looks fabulous and I know we would love it.....maybe next year....or the year after.

5. Mexico - I regret that when we lived in the US, in Arizona, when we were a stone's throw from Mexico that we never went. But there you are!

6. India - again. I've been trekking in the Indian Himalayas twice and been to the Taj Mahal and stuff, but India is huge and diverse and endlessly fascinating and I'd love to see more.

7. Burma - I'm in love with South-east Asia. We've been to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangkok (and would love to revisit all those places) but Burma is newly accessible and my not be too touristy yet could be very interesting.

How about you?
Where are the travels of your dreams?

images from the web apart from the third one which is by Freia Noss.

Saturday Seven - movies

This may be easy or difficult - sometimes it's just too hard to chose!

These 7 movies can be your favorites, or just 7 that you have seen (or can remember seeing), or 7 that you would like to talk about beacuse they stimulate discussion.

Here are mine:

- Never Let Me Go - so unbearably sad, so poignant, so beautiful (watch with a box of tissues)

-The English Patient - I still love it after all these years, the different threads of the story and the characters, the mystery, Ralph Fiennes...

- The Usual Suspects - a very clever story that delighted and surprised when i first saw it, it still delights me even though I know the ending.

- True Grit or The Big Lebowski or Burn After Reading or Fargo or anything by the Coen Brothers.

- Lord of The Rings - all of them!

- Up ( the most delightful animation of all time).

- Blessed - not the cheeriest movie you will ever see, but very powerful.

It's really hard not to include little gems like Little Miss Sunshine or The Royal Tennenbaums, or something by Woody Allen or something with Robert de Niro in.....but that would be anothe rlist altoghether!

Five Fabulous Friday Faves

I should be packing to go camping on Sunday, but it's pouring with rain and camping is the last thing on my mind!

So here I am sharing some of my latest faves with you.
Enjoy!

retro caravan brooch by Kellie Christie

technicolor infinity scarf by Lovely Squid

rough tourmaline necklace by karensugarmandesigns

morris minor photograph by 3 Paces Photography

jewelry organiser by Rustic Wood Originals

Have a great weekend!

Makin' it Monday - a simple little salad

Even though the weather is a little cooler (and it's bucketing down with rain!) I just felt like concocting a salad, with some warm bits....

I already had cooked some beetroot - I boiled mine but it's also yummy if you roast it.

I cooked some of those little blueish Puy Lentils, they don't need any soaking and only take 20 - 25 minutes to cook.
Just place 1 cup of lentils in a saucepan with 3 cups of water, partially cover the saucepan when the water comes to the boil. Drain off any excess water.
Mix the lentils with a couple of chopped tiny roma tomatoes, or about a half a big tomato, and a 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion. Mix in 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar (or brown balsamic, or cider vinegar) and 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil, plus a couple of tablespoons of fresh herbs (I used oregano and coriander, but you could use parsley, basil, mint or whatever you have) and a bit of ground black pepper.

I  grilled a yellow capsicum until the skin blackened slightly, wrapped it in the foil it was resting on under the grill for a few minutes - this helps you to peel the skin off. Thinly slice the capsicum. (You could use a red or green capsicum if you don't happen to have a yellow one)

This would have been lovely with some blanched asparagus - but sadly there was no asparagus in my fridge, so I blanched some broccolini instead.

I put some baby spinach leaves on the plate, followed by the lentils and some crumbled feta, topped with the capsicum. Garnished with the beetroot and broccolini on the side.
You could eat it like this, but I love salad dressings, so I mixed a quick dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and whole grain mustard and drizzled that over the top.

So colourful! And so yummy!

Saturday Seven #3 - Favorite summertime activities

What do you love to do when it's summertime?

Here are my picks.

1. Going to the beach.
We are about an hour and a half's drive to the beach - so it's do-able in a day.  If the waves are right I love catching the waves on my boogie board.

2. Snorkelling. When the weather is warm and the skies are clear there's nothing so relaxing as floating along above the sealife underneath.

3. Having a BBQ - a true Aussie pastime. It also means that although I normally do the preparation - I don't have to cook!

4. Sitting in a beer garden sipping a boutique beer - or cider!

5. Going for a bike ride. If it's not too hot or there is too much uphill! There are some great dedicated bike paths in Sydney - still more to explore.

6. Eating summer fruits - mangos, nectarines, cherries, apricots, peaches, lychees - yum!

7.Taking advantage of the gorgeous Blue Mountains, where I live. Hanging out in the National Park, walking, swimming in a waterhole or just having a picnic.

I'd love to hear your ideas!
Do you like the hot weather? Or do you try and stay cool?
Get out in the sun? or hide?

I'm sure we are all different and there are many great things to do.

Five Fabulous Friday Faves - Happy Australia Day!

Tomorrow is Australia Day here in the Land Downunder!

So today I'm featuring some of my favorite Aussie artist and designer friends.

tree art print by Lindy Longhurst

teabowl with carved leaves by Black Cockatoo Ceramics

abandoned home photograph by BeadsMe

Nouveau possum coin purse by Pocket Carnival

garden art print by Amelia Herbertson

Have a great weekend!

My creative space - sewing and more sewing

Nothing much to see here folks!

Just sewing and more sewing, trying to finish up with the tshirts over at Boos Tees as I mentioned back in December.

I'll be touting my wares on Sunday at the lovely little Coledale Market just near Wollongong, south of Sydney.
If you are in the area pop in and have a look, there's lots of great handmade stuff and yummy food.

I'm joining in with My Creative Space on Village Voices at Kidspot. If you'd like to see what's happening in other creative spaces or to join in pop on over here and have a look.