Underground Cellar

Next to our bathroom is a little flight of stairs that goes down,

down, down,

to an underground cellar.

Built into the bluestone foundations of the house, the cellar is several degrees cooler than the rest of the house - essential for keeping perishable food cool in the days before refrigeration.

Most people in Adelaide with old houses like this one use their cellars to store wine. I think it would be wonderful for storing preserves, but at the moment it is storing odds and ends that have no other 'home'. Two of my children think the cellar should be a clubhouse for them to play in.

Have you ever had a house with a cellar? What did you use it for?

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Lavender and Rosemary

I was pleased to discover that two of my favourite herbs are adundant in my new garden; lavender and rosemary. (At least, I think lavender is a herb - I know it has medicinal applications and can be used in cooking.)

Although it is autumn, the lavender is still in full bloom. I am planning lavender sachets for under my pillows but so far have done nothing - nothing except enjoy the scent of lavender as I brush past. Which is very lovely on its own.

The rosemary bushes have almost finished flowering but still attracts lots of bees.

I haven't done much in my new garden yet, apart from watch and observe. A garden is like a friend that you have to get to know, rather than rush in gung-ho with changes. But I am developing ideas about things I would like to do: plant a vegetable garden in the spring; underplant some of the roses with herbs; add an extra fruit tree or two. However, at the moment I am happy just to watch and admire from a distance.

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Still Our Red House

When I first moved to Adelaide in 2008 I wondered if I should change the name of my blog. I had named it after our home in Melbourne which was built from red clinker bricks, and sadly, that dear house was my home no more.

Funnily enough, we are living in a red house again. Although the front is a mixture of sandstone and painted bricks, the sides and back are all red bricks, as you can see in the image below.

Underneath the paint, the painted bricks on the front of the house are red. I know this because there are several other houses like this in our street, and many in this part of Adelaide. Sandstone-fronted, red-brick sided cottages are typical of the era (our house was built in 1915).

The garage, while a fairly recent addition, also follows this theme. The front is a sandstone veneer...

but the sides are red brick.

Welcome to our (new) red house.

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French Toast for Breakfast

My beautiful daughter made French toast for breakfast today and it was delicious. This was not a recipe I taught her. Indeed, I think it is the first time I have ever eaten French toast.

The recipe came from an old Woman's Weekly cookbook and we thoroughly recommend it - especially when drizzled with maple syrup.

French Toast

4 thick slices white bread, crusts removed
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp sugar
30g butter
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine egg, water and 2 tsp of the sugar and beat with a fork until combined. Melt butter in a medium frying pan on medium heat. Dip bread rounds quickly in egg mixture, one by one, letting extra mixture run off, then carefully place the bread in the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes until lightly browned underneath, then turn and cook on the other side. Remove from pan. Combine remaing sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over both sides of French toast. Serve hot.

What is your favourite breakfast?

If you would like to share your favourite breakfast recipe, or any breakfast recipe that you have previously published on your blog, please use the McLinky below to link from your blog to mine. I can always use some breakfast inspiration!

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Easter Egg Hunt

After church today we had an impromptu Easter celebration with friends here at our new house. Fortunately I bought enough food for an army at the supermarket yesterday, so lunch for ten rather than six was a breeze. My dear friend contributed jars of her bottled mulberries and pears and some thick cream, which made a fabulous dessert.

After lunch we had an Easter egg hunt for the six kids. As they ranged in age from 4 to 16 we had to hide some in easy-to-find spots and some that were much trickier to find. The two dads did the hiding while I took photos of some of the hiding spots. I think they were quite ingenious.

You knew that the thorns on roses had a purpose, didn't you?

May you have a blessed and joyful Easter with your loved ones!

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Good Friday

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an off'ring far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts

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Pancakes and Playdough - in Pyjamas

"Mum, you haven't made play dough since we lived in Melbourne," said my son last night. And it is true.

The tiny kitchen with barely two feet of bench space in our rental home here in Adelaide did not allow for much kitchen creativity, whereas in Melbourne I often cooked on one side of the kitchen bench while one of my (then) little ones played with play dough or a scrap of ordinary dough on the other.

This morning both play dough and pancakes were promised. My daughter made the pancakes and I the no-cook playdough. And joy of joys there was room for both in the kitchen without crowding.

Have I told you how much I love my new house?

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