Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

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Carol Brodie's back on Hsn with more fabulous jewels.

As usual, I want them all. A day does not go by when I am not wearing at least one Brodie piece. Love the Brodie magic.

The last ring is literally a one of a kind. Juicy pear shaped citrines, a dream come true.

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Sunday

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One of the things I most enjoy is a leisurely breakfast at a posh place. Back in Tampa some friends and I formed the International Breakfast Club. International because we were all born in countries other than the USA. We would gallavant around town visiting all kinds of fancy establishments.

Here in Idaho we found a gorgeous place right on Lake Pend Oreille. Sitting at a table by the window, we were able to enjoy the stunning lake views.

What a lovely way to spend a sunny Sunday morning.

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Last night the moon rising up over the mountains was a spectacular sight. I am constantly taken aback by the sheer beauty of this northern Idaho. Beautiful surrounds and fine dining, what more could I ask for.

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Ground Control to Major Tom

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The new panels for our solar power system have been installed, creating a powerful and efficient energy source. It all looks very space station like to me.

A Propane generator was being used at night to help the solar batteries top up. With the new panels a generator is no longer needed, we are 'cranking' out Amps all day long.

Check out the futuristic looking rig in my backyard. Perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, what can I say I am hyper for hyperbole.

Clean, green and sustainable energy, I like it.

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Spokane

.Today we went off to Spokane to have lunch at P.F. Changs, a chain restaurant that the Colonel and I always enjoy visting.

Spokane is a fun little city. There are lots of old and interesting buildings, but the overall appearance is a little grimy looking.

Seeing such drabness makes me reminisce about Marvelous Melbourne and realise just how beautiful a place it is. Full of gardens and and beautiful, clean buildings. I especially love the juxtaposition of historic old buildings and shining modern ones.

I miss my hometown, but I really enjoy experiencing new places over here. Every place is vastly different but has something unique with which to delight it's visitors.

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One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry." Oscar Wilde

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Valentine's day is upon us yet again.

Personally I don't join in with the whole commercial celebration myself and insisted that the Colonel NOT buy me anything for Valentines Day. Might I add that if I see another pyjama gram or Vermont teddy bear commercial I may have to kick in the telly. Enough already people.

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All love is sweet, given or returned. " Shelley

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"I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand."Leonardo da Vinci

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"God made the country, and man made the town."

William Cowper, The Task

A sublime, sunny Saturday afternoon was spent gadding around the Arcadian surrounds today. We drove up to the Canadian border, only 60 miles away from our home. The entire drive was framed by a picturesque panorama; such a splendid sight. Northern Idaho is by the far the prettiest part of the country that I have seen.

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A sojourn in a bucolic town led to us finding some whimsical little stores.


At a quaint and cozy bookstore, with a resident cat, I purchased "Pere Goriot" by Honore De Balzac, one of my favourite writers.
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We then perused some gift stores finding all manner of pricey trinkets and home wares. One store had a gorgeous coffee lounge at the back with cakes, gelato, brilliant cappuccino and even a substantial lunch menu. With couches and benches it looked very chic and reminded me of something I would find in Brunswick Street, oh so trendy and arty farty. I loved it.

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A trip to a local gunshow was also on the agenda. Normally those shows are a hotbead of subversive types wearing ridiculous quasi military get up, despite being old and fat. This one was quite small and the folk attending were a much more laid back lot. More Kenny Rodgers types with the beards and cowboy hats rather than the G.I Joke cammo wearing freak type. The guns were very different too. Lots of wooden, older style rifles, not a single Uzi in sight, shame!

"Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,

Exhilarate the spirit, and restore

The tone of languid nature."

William Cowper

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Tales from the country

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The Colonel and I went gallavanting around town today.

We window shopped at some stores in town and fossicked through an old railway station that has been converted into a mall. We spent some time in an antique store, if by antique you mean old stuff. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh, not a great fan of clutter you see. Old clutter might be very nostalgic to look at, but at home it just becomes another dust collector.

There were some nice pieces of antique furniture but mostly the stock consisted of kitschy bibelots just crying out to be dusted.

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Personally I prefer more modern furniture. Left to my own devices I would completely furnish the house in the Milanese style. The Colonel however would not approve. Still I plan on slipping in some acrylic chairs one of these days. Love, love, love acrylic furniture.

Hello Gorgeous. I am drooling over this transparent magic.

Some Kitschy finds at the store.

They did have some really pretty things. I purchased a vintage handpainted plate from Austria which was too lovely not to buy.


On the way home we saw some cows doing some gallavanting of their own. We had to stop to take some snaps of the ladies enjoying their afternoon tea.


Arriving home we indulged in some afternoon tea of our own, orange and almond cupcakes I made using dariole moulds. How did they taste? Delicious!!

Going Bananas

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This Banana Cake recipe is simply the moistest, most scrumptious cake ever. The high content of fruit pushes this one over into the ‘health’ food category. Doesn’t it? *wink*

This one was made without passionfruit as they are not in season. Canned passionfruit pulp is not readily available in stores here. The online Australian grocery store sells them so I will have to stock up with my next Aussie order. Passionfruit icing is very popular in Australia but not so in the USA.
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Banana Cake with passionfruit icing

3 medium bananas
125 g butter
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon mixed spice
2 eggs
1 ½ cups self-raising flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1 cup mashed banana
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup milk

Passionfruit Icing

1 ½ cups icing sugar
1 teaspoon soft butter
2 tablespoons passionfruit pulp

Preheat oven to moderate. Grease loaf pan, line with baking paper.

Beat butter and sugar and spice in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs one at a time until combined. Transfer mixture to large bowl, stir in sifted flour and soda with remaining ingredients.

Spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake in moderate oven about 50 minutes. Stand cake in pan 5 minutes; turn onto wire rack to cool spread cold cake with passionfruit icing.

Passionfruit Icing. Place icing sugar in small heatproof bowl, stir in butter and enough pulp to give a firm paste. Stir over hot water until icing is spreadable; do not overheat.


Enjoy!