Hanging At Number 5

 I went to Number 5 again today - i think this shall be my new haunt. For the uninitiated, Number 5 is a new cafe located at 5 Church Street in Bellingen. Very impressive .... and it does help that friends work there so there will always be someone to chew the straw with.

In any case I went for a coffee but couldn't help, as I do, spying on what other folks had ordered. The milkshake looked particularly impressive with a dusting of cinnamon atop its foamy head. I made an appropriately impressed comment and before I knew it, was presented with a shot glass sampler. The top photo is my proof. Now I figured this would just be a regular milkshake, unworthy of a photo so I drank it before I thought about it.

I was wrong - this was a drop of  heaven - real banana blended with homemade ice cream to create a thick (but not too thick) measure of lip-licking heaven. And as I was still drooling over the dregs of the glass, I was offered a chocolate one as well. Camera was immediately pulled out (bottom photo).

I shall have to investigate how they managed it but this had a real depth and roundness to the chocolate - no cheap syrup was used in its creation. To choose which one was better would require the same effort as choosing which of your children you love more - not impossible but emotionally draining.

I can also highly recommend the homemade chips - fabulous. And don't forget to ask for a serve of their own Church St mayo on the side - a delightful mix of dill and mayonnaise and other secret ingredients.

Stay tuned while I try the rest of the menu :-)

Wow What A Year

It is amazing what can happen to a woman when she stops being a hermit and steps out the front door and into her community!

I am now officially the Secretary of the Northbank Community Garden for a start. I will only do it for a year - they are going through the incorporation process and there is all of the paperwork to get gone - it makes my brain cells tingle with excitement with excitement every time I think of legislation and minutes and the like lol.

Then of course there was the incredible inaugural Bellingen River Festival which surely is one of the most exciting projects I have ever been a part of. The actual day was, as the name suggests, a celebration of our River and there was bands, workshops, guided walks, a program run by our indigenous people, canoe races,a  lantern parade - oh the list goes on - and all for the cost of a gold coin donation ($1 or $2). 

My component was the Storytellers tent (yay!). I have spent the past few weeks running around town interviewing all sorts of people and beginning to collect photos that tell a River Story. I have started a project on ABC Pool to allow them to be used for future projects by others (and they are also all stored in the National Library). And on the day we had poets, people telling stories, a photo display as well as an audio/visual presentation.

I am now looking at pitching a program for ABC's Radio National based on storytelling and using some of the work created for the Festival.

Oh and there is my beloved Foodbox which I am actually stepping back a little - helping out with packing the boxes and other little bits - not for any reason but that I am trying to balance everything out. I was doing a newsletter and recipe development as well as media/public relations but they has been passed on to others.

Oh, and I did a quick trip to WA in July - and will be going again in three or four weeks - and yes it shall be blogged this time lol.

So all in all, 2011 has been one of my best ones yet - and there are still two months to go :-)

The Party Wrap-Up

Yes last night was the night of the party and present - and it was a blast.

There is a lot to be said when there is about 40 (ish) people, most in costume (Circus theme), there is face painting for all; a Lady Gaga birthday cake, spit roast for dinner and glow sticks to wear on various body parts!

I went as a fortune teller and was fortunate enough to have my makeup done by a real makeup professional (including sparkly false eyelashes - bought when I was Miss Weasley on the Sunshine Coast a few years ago). I must admit I felt very girly and pretty :-)

I confess that I left early but I did arrive early too so I am hoping that balances out in the scheme of things. I wasn't drinking but I was so hoping I would go through a RBT on the way home - I would love to admit that whilst I was dressed up all silly, had glow sticks on my earrings - and another around my neck, I had my arms painted with "tattoos", I had stars on my face .... I was stone cold sober lol. It didn't happen but it amused me on the drive anyway.

Yippee and a Dance Dance Dance

Yesterday I was given the details of one of the local Scrabble groups that was looking for a new member. I rang today. A Scrabble group is a bit like a book club - you need to have a combination of people that fit to the overall purpose, group dynamics need to be right. And with some Scrabble groups they play competition rules, others are a bit more flexible. And that is on top of expected standards of play.

This group sounds perfect - they have a mixture of abilities, no one plays for sheep stations, and is social as well as game play. Yay!

The meet on Thursday mornings (yes every Thursday morning) so there is only 2 more sleeps until I get to introduce myself and play Scrabble :-)

Big yippee and a dance dance dance :-)

Image: "Scrabble" by JASONgotSEOUL

I'm Going to Be a Nanna!

Yes in about 5 weeks I will be Nanna Pearl. Not biologically of course, but socially - which I personally think is just as fabulous :-)

Now I only had one living grandmother and she wasn't the best of role models but I think I have got this sorted - don't give baby raising advice unless asked, don't feed the child sugar or red food coloring before sending them home, have fairly consistent rules as those at home (with just a little more spoiling). Well that is my plan at this stage lol.

I do have one particularly positive memory of my grandmother and that was the treat of, when I was little, of being able to play with the lambs that were stored in the entryway cupboard. It was on top of my wish list when she recently moved into a retirement home and, well you can tell by the photo they have made their way to my place.

They aren't fancy as such - just made by Grandma from white corduroy with black fabric scraps for the feet and pink for  ears - but they were all the world to me. Now I do remember them being MUCH bigger (about double the size actually) but then I was MUCH smaller so I guess that balances out. And while the embroidered eyes are just fine, they did have silver buttons at one point - but I will have to find exact matches before any changes happen there.

In any case, I was thinking how magic it would be if my first grandchild when he or she is a little bigger also loved playing with the lambs - and I was able to pass them down so that their children might also play with them. Now I do acknowledge that the world has changed and everyone is different, and the child may not be interested in the lambs (I do have other attractions of the fluffy, book or crafty varieties). I just like the thought.

The Best ...

Inspired by Robert Fulgham's quest for "the perfect chicken fried steak from a diner" I spent some time years ago searching for "the perfect sausage roll from a service station". Now Mrs Mac's contribution looks inedible and tastes even worse so she, and all of the commercial brands were soon dismissed - I probably should have had danger money just for trying them!

After literally thousands of kilometres of travel and a lot of so-so sausage rolls I came across an absolute winner - sold by the BP in Williams it was a homemade creation that included delightlfuly flaky pastry wrapping a mixture featuring meat meat and more meat (missing in so many others lol) as well as onions, spices and a few ingredients I will keep secret in case I spoil their market. It was a bonus a year or so later when I could buy them at the roadhouse in Beaufort River.

Now I am not pretending in any way these are a health food, but when one is on holidays calories don't count do they? I got this baby from the Arthur River Roadhouse while waiting for my bus back to Perth.I seriously contemplated having two - I mean who knows when I will get another one but images of Monty Python's restaurant skit (you know the one) put a stop to that.

NYE in Pearl World

The bats have taken to the air, the new neighbors down the back have moved in (along with the smell of freshly sawn wood .... breathing deeply), I am making mango chili chutney, there is a forecast of possible showers - my world is happy. Happy NYE folks :-)

Meet Chelsea

I spent the day with Abz discussing random subjects and generally solving the world's problems. Chelsea is a black Great Dane and one of the most beautiful animals in my life. Abbey is helping Chelsea develop her social skills (or as Abbey phrased it "Chelsea not everyone wants your face in theirs") so Chels periodically stood across the table, rested her head and just looked at me. Who could resist a face like this?

Magic Moments

It has been an interesting week but my Magic Moments would have to be realizing that I am surrounded by friends and family who love and support me.

I do count this particular blessing regularly but the events of the week of made it more apparent than ever.

Photo: "Jump for Joy" by killerkaren

Some Days ...

Some days you just gotta DANCE!!!! Details to follow :-)

Photo: "We Can Walk on Water" by sjames

Magic Moments

Another fabulous week has gone by and I take great pleasure in choosing a MM. My biggest one was finding new things to take photos of while I was out and about with Abz and the lovelies on Thursday. It was only a second here and there in amongst everything else but it made my heart smile.

AND, if I can sneak another one in - I tried a new recipe last night - Macadamia and Herb Crusted Chicken Schnitzel. Dead easy and really good eating. I even reduced the amount of oil that the original idea called for to almost nil. Oh, and I served it with mash and peas. Heaven :-)

Time Flies

Sometimes you breathe, go to work, take and nap ... and well time passes much faster than you ever thought it could. Add to that trying to write a book .... okay I am not overly happy at the moment but I do have very high expectations for myself and who knows, it could still turn around to being something acceptable :-)

And today it is the 4 November ... yes THE day for voting. Only catch is that we are ahead of America (in time zones) and I will need to be patient and now start counting down the hours until a result is available.

And because I missed Sunday's Magic Moment, I will tuck it in here .... coking dinner at work last Monday for the lovelies (a scheduling error left me alone) with Meatloaf playing, I was dancing, singing and cooking. Life is perfect in those moments :-) And it was one of the lovelies that chose Mr Meat, not I, and it wasn't for my specific benefit - not that I let that stop me enjoying the bliss :-)

Magic Moments

No contest this week (although I do have a few to choose from) cooking with the lovelies on Wednesday - great food, funky music, a bit of dancing, lots of laughter. Life was perfect for those moments :-)

And, I hasten to add, I have a pretty good week overall so please don't read this as it was all downhill after Wednesday :-) I have sung, I have danced, I have cooked great, healthy food (at home as well as work), I have caught up with friends, I have had sleep. That's all I want most of the time :-)

Magic Moments

It might sound silly but my Magic Moment for this week was doing an extra 6 hours at work last night.

Now don't get me wrong, I really do love my night-shifts and hope that that never changes, but it was actually fun just hanging with the lovelies. Had a great conversation on ethics/philosophy with one. Got a few laughs out of another. Had the best work meal I have had in a very long time (and no my lovely didn't need any help from me - another of the lovelies had already jumped in the kitchen). I got a few rolled eyes and followed by "oh Pearl" but it was done with a smile on their faces (and I was being silly).

It was just a magic place to be on a Saturday night :-)

Photo: "Magic" by arredatore

Magic Moments

Two from me this week - because I had another one just now :-)

We have swapped over to daylights savings (grrr) and I needed to turn my cell phone off and on for the time to be corrected. And guess what ... I remembered my pin number for the first time ever )and it only took two goes). Yippee :-) Actually a double yippee because it occurred to me after I turnd it off that I threw out the phonebook I had written my number on lol.

My other Magic is that the Global Festival has hit Bellingen. That means I can sit on my front porch and listen to the best concerts all weekend. Even as I lay down to sleep, the sounds waft through the window. And on top of that town is PACKED with all sorts of interesting people dressed in all sorts of wild and passionate ways. It is arty and hippy heaven :-) Actually there are people of all backgrounds, ages, shapes, sizes and colors wandering the streets. Gotta love Global weekend :-)

Magic Moments

I can name a few things that made me smile this week but only one had me texting everyone who I thought might care - that was the featuring of one on my photos on Pool.

I know it was only meant to be for one day but I seemed to have snagged the weekend.

It makes my heart do a little flip (and not the sort that puts me in hospital) every time I think of it, or sneak back for a look to see if it is still there :-)

Magic Moments

An easy one this week - I was speaking on the phone to someone who didn't believe it was me - then I laughed and I heard "It IS Pearl!!! I'd know that laugh anywhere".

It cracked me up :-)

It's not quite the first time I have heard that - years ago I went to a movie in a neighboring town - it cracked me up and I had people coming up to me for days afterwards commenting about how much I enjoyed the film. Actually I have quite a few stories like that, makes me laugh just thinking about them all :-)

Magic Moments

I am not even going to pretend to pick a Magic Moment this week - it has been awesome in every way from start to finish.

Monday was another great shopping day - we continue to do it quicker, and under budget. The only problem is I couldn't pick a Shopper of the Month due to some extraordinary performances - so I have two winners (if only all problems were so good).

One of my lovelies asked me come and cook with him on Monday night. He has been working consistently to improve his cooking skills so it was a pleasure to be able to say yes. I forgot the camera which was a big bummer (the plates looked fabulous) but to get the mouth watering we made chicken breasts that had been flattened and then rolled up (like a Swiss Roll) with mascapone, tomato pesto and baby spinach layered inside. These parcels were then wrapped in filo. They were served with a side salad of funky lettuce (new to the lovelies), cherry tomatoes, cucumber and avocado. They were absolutely scrumptious (and about $4 a head so that made me extra happy). And yes I did my usual trick of sitting on one side of the counter and providing advice without actually doing anything so my lovelie and his volunteer actually did it all by themselves. I added an apple tarte tartin (still don't know the French word for apple) for dessert.

On Wednesday we had the usual Wednesday lunch and I do believe this one turned out particularly well. It was topped though with my surprise present of a recipe book display from Miss A and Miss K and a card from the lovelies. I must admit I have spent many happy moments dancing around the kitchen displaying books standing back and admiring, then swapping them, then starting again (hey whatever makes me happy).

Thursday was my actual birthday and, aside from a text as a ridiculously early hour of the morning, I was loved with phone calls and emails coming through to make sure I knew what I meant to others. And I treated myself to just a glass of my favorite wine (okay, on Friday I had another couple and finished it). And it was the start of holidays.

Friday I had my official Olympic bust (had a little one Wednesday but it really was too small to worry about) - but I made it through a week with no relevant Olympic news at all - yes, you got it, no coverage!

And in between it all I have laughed a whole lot, got lots of sleep, eating fabulous food (on a salad kick at the moment). And I still have birthday money to spend. Life is nothing short of perfect :-)

Magic Moments

I had the Magic Moment home and hosed early this week.

I was pruning the lemongrass when my neighbor came out and we had a great chat about nothing I particular. It was she had gone back inside that my neighbor from the other side came bounding out her house, sending me very positive greetings, highlighted by a genuine wave of the hand. There I stood, feeling very much a part of my world and thinking "yep Magic Moment".

That was until Saturday morning rolled around. I finished work and was ready to hit the road. I started the car and began to reverse. You can imagine my surprise when a large grey-and-white rabbit hops out from under the car. Now that puts a smile on a girl's face.

But Magic wasn't done with me yet. I was driving through one of the local towns that had a new banner up. The local Magpies football team had a home game this weekend at the Gravy. Yes I was giggling strongly at this point. It wasn't until my view was less obscured that I could read it properly to discover that they were actually "Home at the Grave Yard". Ok it makes a lot more sense when you read it that way but for me, sorry, but the Magpies play at the Gravy :-)

So I had warm fuzzies, a smile and a laugh to choose from as my Magic Moment. Guess which one won?

Magic Moments

I was lying in bed yesterday morning, almost asleep, listening to the gardening show on ABC Local when I thought about my lemongrass bush - now 12 +feet high and in seed. Should I cut it back? When would I do that? The next question asked on the radio show was about a very big lemongrass that was in seed and the gardener wanted to know if they should cut it back? Co-incidence, karma, synchronicity? Not sure but it made me smile :-)

I have decided to offer Mr Linky to anyone who is doing the Magic Moment thing - share your smiles for the week.