Is it STILL raining in Brisbane right now?

You betcha! Sigh...





Image source: http://vi.sualize.us/

Knowing when not to parent

Because I grew up in such an unstable environment I tend to bend over backwards for my kids hoping that they will never feel the insecurities and heartache that plagued myself and many of my siblings growing up.

“Sometimes being a good parent is knowing when not to parent. You have to step out of the way and let life happen to your kids.”
~*Norah Walker - from the first series of ‘Brothers and Sisters*~

Oh, how this struck a chord with me. We are so busy trying to protect them and yet sometimes we have to let them make their own mistakes and then support them as they try to work their way back. Learning as they go. It is so hard and yet so important. It is the art of letting them go, a little bit at a time. Trusting in both their common sense and what you have managed to instill in them and at the same time letting them know that you are always there for them.

By continually protecting them from the "bad things in life" are we ill preparing them to deal with the dangers of the outside world? Learning how to deal with life’s rougher elements and unpleasantness's developed in me emotional resilience, hardiness, empathy and a talent for serendipity!

I don’t have all the answers sigh! I’m just asking the questions?

Still raining *sigh*

“May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.”

~*Irish Blessing*~


Given the unrelenting torrential rainfall and flooding us Queenslanders are currently enduring here's hoping that spectacular rainbows follow for us all!



*image source http://vi.sualize.us/

Australia Day - Lamingtons

Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, and ANA Day) is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on the 26th of January, the date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.

Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales held in 1818. It is presently an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia and is marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on Australia Day Eve, announcement of the Honours List for the Order of Australia and addresses from the Governor-General and Prime Minister. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies the day is celebrated in large and small communities and cities around the nation. Australia Day has become the biggest annual civic event in Australia.

What better way to celebrate Australia Day tomorrow than with a lamington or two ;]

THE WORLD-FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN CULINARY ICON NAMED AFTER THE GOVERNOR OF QUEENSLAND (MY HOME STATE) - LORD LAMINGTON.

The world-famous Australian lamington was 100 years old on 19 December 2001.Despite some dubious claims from New Zealand, the lamington is as Australian as meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars, ranking alongside the other true Australian icons of the pavlova, peach melba and Vegemite.

This Australian culinary icon, which consists of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and liberally sprinkled with fine desiccated coconut, was created through an accident at work by a maid to Lord Lamington, the thoroughly-British eighth Governor of Queensland. The maid was working at Government House in Brisbane when she accidentally dropped the Governor's favourite sponge cake into some melted chocolate.

Lord Lamington was not a person of wasteful habits and suggested that it be dipped in coconut to cover the chocolate to avoid messy fingers. Lord Lamington devoured this new taste sensation with great delight and the maids error was proclaimed a magnificent success by all!


Homemade Lamingtons



You will need...

190g of unsalted butter - softened
1 cup of caster sugar
2 tsp of vanilla extract
3 free range eggs
2 1/3 cups of self raising flour - sifted
1 cup of milk
220g of dark chocolate
1 cup of thickened cream
1 cup of desiccated or shredded coconut

You then need to...

Preheat your oven to 170C. Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin. Process butter and sugar in a processor for 2 minutes until light. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, pulsing after each until just combined. In 3 alternating batches, add flour and milk, pulsing to combine. Pour into tin and bake for 55-60 minutes until a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes, then turn onto a rack to cool completely. Cut into rectangles or squares.

Meanwhile, stir chocolate, cream and remaining vanilla in a heatproof bowl over simmering water until smooth (don't let the bowl touch the water). Chill for 20 minutes to thicken. Spread the icing over the cake portions, then sprinkle top, sides and bottom with the coconut until evenly coated.

Mmmmm try stopping at one :P

Queensland braced for flash flooding, monsoonal rain in worst weather since 2011 flood disaster

Queensland braced for flash flooding, monsoonal rain in worst weather since 2011 flood disaster.

Rain bucketed down and I mean bucketed down all day yesterday and all night last night and continues to bucket down today. The creek at the rear of our place has risen dramatically and is now raging. Our back yard looks like a child's wading pool and our garage and down stairs area is on the verge of flooding. My tumble dryer exploded in protest yesterday I could almost hear it sigh "oh no not monsoonal rain and flooding again, I'm outta here!!" Clothes on folding airers on our covered veranda are sodden due to the torrential nature the rain. A new tumble dryer sorted but not arriving for another week dammit. Not looking promising for Stu's business that has a stall at the Noosa gourmet foodie farmers market tomorrow and at other locations over the weekend. I am guessing they will be cancelled at this rate. Weather conditions feel very familiar to this time last year when much of Queensland was flooded. God I hope we are not in for a repeat performance. Makes me anxious just thinking about it sigh!

I Promise I Will Love You

Will you sail with me til sunset
To the edge of paradise
Where angels fan our lovers' breeze
And the wings of peace entice
Will you fly with me til midnight
To the moon's alluring smile
To the fringes of the universe
Where we'll linger for a while
Will you walk with me til sunrise
With the milky way's great swirl
With the comets and the asteroids
In heaven's sky unfurled
For if you float with me to ecstasy
To the place where lovers dance
I promise I will love you
On our bed of love's romance

~*Heartpoet*~

I could really use a wish right now

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars?
"I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now."

(BOB "Airplanes" lyrics feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore)


If you could dip into the wish jar pictured above and be granted one wish what would you wish for?