A new year

Isn't it great facing the first day of new year; being washed clean of everything that didn't come to fruition exactly how you thought it might and looking at nothing but 365 days of new promises and hope.

I try not to make 'new year resolutions', but I'm always tempted. This year feels like not only the start of a new year, but the start of a new era... Meaning that the past few years have been a fabulous and glamourous blur of weddings, engagements, new babies, parties and holidays. I now own more cocktail dresses than workwear, more party shoes than office heals and more clutches then I really know what to do with! Need an emergency outfit to attend a last minute party? Come on over, I'm your girl!

So I plan to start the new year quietly, tending the garden, taking long scenic nature walks, sitting by the lake with Mr Couture and a good book, feeling the sunshine, smelling the flowers, noticing the little things that glide by and loving the simple things in life.

Happy new year!

Carols by the Christmas tree

Clockwise from left: 1. Santa; 2. Musical tree; 3. Disco bauble; 

4. Football at Christmas time; 5. Macaroni angel.

Photo essay: Melbourne

Clockwise from top left: 1. Planning the day; 2. Mysterious terrace house; 3. Piano busker in Bourke Street Mall (it was raining, so he brought his an umbrella––along with his piano!); 4. Capitol Arcade.

Transit

Christmas tree day

This year we had a couple of helpers.

Courage

"Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. ” 
― Mary Anne Radmacher

Moments of laughter

"Life isn't measured in minutes, but in moments"

–– Jonathan A. Dublin

Nothing beats the feeling or the sound of a good hearty laugh. I love this photo, taken the day before Bestie Couture's wedding. It's pure happiness. 

The best place to be in the morning...

Wedding poem

For Bestie Couture and her soul mate on their wedding day. 

Wedding poem
The sound of his love is the laughter from his lips

The room is dark until the sparkle of her smile

It is time ticking on, yet so peaceful and still

Their love as today, as they pledge to love everyday

With everything

And the promise of everything more. 

The third anniversary is leather

The traditional gift for a third wedding anniversary is leather. Although traditionally Mr Couture and I don't exchange gifts, choosing instead to share delicious food and spectacular wine under an indulgent ambiance––this time on the Wednesday night that our anniversary fell on.

There's something wonderfully outrageous about getting dressed up to have degustation on a Wednesday night, especially when I imagine everyone else going through their regular Wednesday night routine; doing as I normally would have: finishing work, going to gym, heading home for dinner and chores and finally plonking down in front of the telly for the evening.

Instead we were sipping old world wines, reminiscing and making plans for the future. Plans that involved a new leather lounge––it is the traditional gift after all.

The girl's in love playlist

1. Goreki — Lamb
2. Perfect Day — Lou Reed
3. This Old Love — Lior
4. In your Arms — Kina Grannis
5. Stuck on You — Lionel Ritchie
6. Love You –– Maxwell
7. Heat Wave (love is like a) — Martha and the Vandella's
8. The Sweetest Taboo — Sade
9. Love at First Sight — Kylie Minogue
10. Crazy in Love — Beyonce
11. Feel so Close — Calvin Harris
12. Don’t Look Back — Tommie Sunshine & Disco Fries
13. Walking on a Dream — Empire of the Sun

To celebrate love, life and the promise of a lifetime of happiness. For Bestie Couture's wedding to her beloved and amazing soul mate.

Listen to it on YouTube.

Piano recital

Concert time with little niece 

Tea for one

A birthday present for Bestie Couture
Velvet Couture pattern: Tiny cat paw cosy 

Tidying not

I promised Mr Couture that I would tidy up this afternoon. Of course, to me, this meant sorting through and organising my yarn, sewing some buttons on a cardigan that I finished a couple of weeks ago, taking photos of some finished projects with my new camera, picking up a dropped stitch and just doing a 'few' rows to make sure everything was in order, and finishing off a fine pot of tea.

I should tidy up more often.

The cake bet

Coming first place on the footy tipping ladder for six weeks went straight to my head. Sadly, I couldn’t handle the pressure of success and have slid down a few spots. But this doesn’t stop me mouthing off before every round about making a comeback to take the glory of first place at the end of the season. Or making crazy bets with people when our teams play that my team will win.

My team did not win. And I am the loser of the cake bet.

Round 21: Bulldogs V Cowyboys

Chocolate orange cupcakes

A winter hat

In the office I was asking after a colleague who went into hospital unexpectedly for an operation. "I should knit her something..." I remarked without thinking in that off-handed way. "Yeah, she likes hats" was the reply. 

Challenge accepted. 

Pattern source:
The Meret
Woolly Wormhead

A shawl

A lady from work lost her husband recently. I could not express in words my sorrow for her loss and emptiness. I knitted her a shawl so she would know I was thinking of her and sent it with prayers of love and courage.

Pattern from: Soft Sweater Knits & Fibers

The Sunlight Shawl for Sad People

Cake of origin

It's the highlight of the footy season. Although for some it's about a tri-series game.

Red Velvet cupcakes in team colours (and a couple of referees)

Mum's birthday cowl

Modelled by me, given to Mum

Happy 1st birthday little keeper

Another Quick-Knit Hoodie: Very Pink

A little cardigan for a special little lady

Pattern source: In Threes: a Baby Cardigan––Kelly Without a Net

Keeping warm

Warm café, laughs, yarn & cake... the perfect remedy for a cold windy day.

Saturday knitting group, 2pm

Beautiful autumn

Beautiful niece 

Hoodie for little nephew's 1st birthday

Pattern source: Quick-Knit Hoodie: Very Pink

Simple cowl for little niece

Simple 4–rib cowl to keep little necks warm.

Mothers day playlist

1. Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra) – Gotye 

2. Rolling In The Deep – Adele
3. Oh! Hark! – Lisa Mitchell
4. Shake It Out – Florence + the Machine
5. Black Sheep – Gin Wigmore
6. Wild Love – Gossling
7. Met Before – Chairlift
8. Rosebud – The Jezabels
9. Cloudbusting – Kate Bush
10. Breathe Me –  Sia
11. Hold On – Angus & Julia Stone
12. Perfect World - Gossip
13. Creepin' In - Nora Jones (feat. Dolly Parton)
14. Central Reservation (William Orbit remix) – Beth Orton

Perfect for a cold rainy day, mum and seafood paella.

The spirit the ANZACs left behind

The spirit of ANZAC is often spoken of. In its purity it recognises the qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice that were demonstrated at the Gallipoli landing. But to many it means so much more.

In 2001, I spent ANZAC day at Gallipoli. It was so moving, beautiful and so eerie – an experience I will never forget. Atatürk's beautiful tribute to the ANZACs stands proud at ANZAC Cove. It shows the grief and respect shown to all men of the battle.

Those heroes that shed their blood And lost their lives...
 You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
 Therefore, rest in peace.
 There is no difference between the Johnnies
 And the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side,
 Here in this country of ours.
 You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries...
Wipe away your tears. 
Your sons are now lying in our bosom And are in peace.
 After having lost their lives on this land, they have
 Become our sons as well.

M. Kemal Atatürk, 1934

Today I think of the service men and women and their families; their courage, sacrifice and pride. And I think of that ANZAC spirit.

Lest we forget.

Toast: the modern day luxury

In a time where every weekday morning I scoop my muesli into my mouth as if to break the world record for eating the fastest breakfast possible, I look forward to the more leisurely weekend meal of toast and a pot of tea.

Muscle cars

A nice lunchtime outing to the streets...

Bike family

L-R: Mike, Christina, Ruby Belle Charlotte, Mal, Mary-Anne