Outfit #89 - Multicoloured Bits

Outfit details:
Skirt: Temt (op shop).  Top: Ambra.  Shoes: Pulp.  Earrings and bracelet: from Jeannie.

I know it's not obviously colourful, but the shoes and bracelet I find so exuberant in their colour mixing.  Which is great if you want to pair them with other colours!  I just had neutrals available today though.

Hair was a bit odd today.  I went for a run this morning, so gave it a quick wash afterwards, which resulted in a bit of ...weirdness... on one side.  Still getting the new haircut compliments (mostly) which is nice though.

After 2 days of wearing heels, I thought a flats day was in order - and I'm so glad I did!  About half my kids were needing to be picked up from various places around the school so I did a lot of walking.  Plus, these shoes make me think Summer.

Pretty bracelet - first outing.  I like bracelets that stay in one place.  If it doesn't stay, it's gone within about 5 minutes of playing.

Today's photo:

Another from the rose garden.  The perfection of this rose hasn't really come through the photo - hopefully I'll remember my camera tomorrow, and hopefully it will still be in a state of perfection.  It's really something.

Outfit #80 - Hello Arms

Outfit details:

Skirt: Jeanswest.  Top: Ambra.  Shoes: Target.  Earrings: ??? Necklace: Mombasa (I think).

I noticed today that a few students were staring at me when I played.  Not at my fingers or bow or anything useful, but at my arms.  I guess they haven't seen them for quite a while.

Today was also my first 'hair out' day for a long long time.  After the weekend in Melbourne (much drier weather, much less exercise, so not as frequent washing), my hair seems to have settled a bit.  Most of the time recently (as in, last month or so), it's looked really goofy if not pulled back.

Today's photo:

When I arrived at school this morning, a gardener was working, and most of the rose garden was in shadow except for this dark pink rose at the front.

Outfit #67 - Minjor Miracles

Outfit details:

Skirt: Sunny Girl (op shop).  Blouse: Witchery.  Top: Avocado (from Jeannie).  Stockings: Ambra.  Shoes: Pulp.  Earrings: made by me.

I actually took photos of this outfit without the top.  I didn't expect it to last.  It is, after all, September in Brisbane.  However, it was a minor miracle that it stayed on all day, and I only felt mildly warm when collecting students in the middle of the day.  Previous wearings of this top have resulted in non-ideal temperature (too hot or too cold), but today was just right.  Win.

A more major miracle (hence - minjor) was the fact that I woke up at my normal time; I watered my plants before breakfast; I had an outfit change; and I had time for outfit photos all before leaving for work.  I hope you're all impressed.  I was rather surprised, myself.

This was an outfit I had merely thought, not tested.  Once I'd put on the skirt, I knew I would be pulling at my clothes all day.  Not a good way to spend a day.  I mused for a bit, and nearly pulled on a dress, then remembered this skirt.  Bingo. 

I have no idea what's with the lines on these stockings.  At first I thought they might just wash out, but that's proving to be wrong.  Any ideas?

Today's photo:

Another school rose garden photo - they are so beautiful right now. 

Outfit #62 - Twentyfive Minutes

Outfit details:

Skirt: Capture (op shop).  Shirt: Miss Shop (from Jeannie).  Shoes: Hot Options.  Earrings: made by me. 

The last 2 days have been not overly cold, but today was forecast for rather warmer than recently.  It took me 25 minutes to find an outfit that would be suitable.  It looks like the summer clothes will be making a reappearance in my wardrobe soon.

I've not worn anything tucked into this skirt before, and it wasn't annoying as I suspected it might be.  Which was a blessing for today.

Today's photo:

There is a rose garden at school which is just beautiful.  This big bloom caught my eye earlier this week and I had a chance to catch it this afternoon after all the children had left.

Reclaiming the Jug

I have quite a suggestible brain.  This has its benefits - jet lag is almost non-existent, for example.  It also has its drawbacks, often in the form of food envy.  With some people, I know I have to find out what they're ordering before I even think about what I want, as I know I'll just end up wanting what they have.  So, the final chapter in the book I just read (One of Our Thursday's is Missing, by Jasper Fforde, in case you're wondering), had a mention of lamb risotto.  What a good idea for the rest of the roast lamb, said my brain.  You'll be please to know, this is the very last of the lamb. 

The roast lamb also came with gravy (well, I had to make it, but you know what I mean).  I don't have a fancy-pants gravy boat, so just used the normal measuring jug.  On several occasions in the last week, I've looked for the jug in the cupboard, then by the sink, then had a 'where on earth is it?' moment before I've remembered it's holding the gravy, in the fridge.  Tonight I had the brilliant idea of using up the leftover gravy in the risotto, thereby reclaiming the jug.  Well, it turned out to be a brilliant idea, but I was a little wary at first. 

The aroma - overwhelmingly delicious.  And the richness of flavour - yum.  Not the most appealing photos though...  If you're a foodie you'll probably tell me it's not a true risotto, but it's My Version.  Which is forever changing, but this is the first time I've used gravy as part of the liquid component.

I was about half-way through cooking before I thought of adding the broccoli - it's getting to That Stage in the veggie drawer.  And I like adding sweet potato and pumpkin (in this case, pre-roasted) and getting them to that mushy state.

I made tonight's dinner fairly early, as I had a mariachi rehearsal to attend.  My parents are staying, and assured me when I got home that it had been really delicious - thankfully they had left enough for me to have dinner, and still freeze 2 portions.  My freezer is getting nice and full again.

Today's photo:

Everybody sing, now: raindrops on roses... next, to find a kitten!

The Consolation of Art

For the whole holidays, I've been feeling like I almost have a cold.  Today, it hit.  Which was especially mean, as I was looking forward to some auntie time.  With my ears producing dizziness, blocked-up feelings and pain, I wasn't going to be doing any musical activities.  I thought about doing some paper craft things, but I've been feeling like painting for a little while - especially since watching Frida.  Now, there's a massive square canvas that has been sitting behind the keyboard for some time, and a few students have asked when I will finally paint it, and some friends have commented impatiently also.  But there are 3 canvases I've had for even longer that I thought should be dealt with first.  I had a fiddle around with dimensions and ideas, and then I started painting. 

In the process of inspiration, I turned to the creative site, Redbubble.  I joined it by accident last year and, after spending many hours trawling beautiful images, I now only stop by occasionally.  After looking at a few beautiful images today, I decided to add 3 new photos to my portfolio.  Anyway, I found an artist with paintings that made me want to create something similar, and I started painting.  Of course, as soon as the paint started moving on the canvas, my ideas of what should take shape changed immediately.  Partly, I think, because one of the images I uploaded was from Mt Isa, and the blue seemed to be the same sky blue. 

This painting will replace another largely-blue work, at the top of the stairs.  I think.  At present, that area looks like this:

One of the challenges of this canvas is the dimensions: 15x60 inches.  Most of the ideas I've had look screwy in this dimension, and this is the first time I've attempted this. 

Another challenge today was the paint supply.  Once I knew this was an outback Australian sky I was painting, I wanted to do the ochre of the landscape.  Problem: no large supply of yellow paint, and only small shots of yellow ochre.  Solution:  use up the last of the true red, mixed with green.  Weird, but I'm more pleased with the result than I expected.

So far, it looks like this:

I know it needs a little something, and at this stage I often freeze, not wanting to stuff it up.  I foresee a trip to the paint store so I have plenty of supplies with which to paint over mistakes (or, experiments that don't cut it).  My idea for the middle is looking less and less likely...

Today's photo:

Similar to yesterday's... but this time with sunlight.  We had a few hours of not-totally-overcast in the middle of the day, and the light caught the raindrops like crystals.

Hairstyle (2) and Leftover Lamb (2)

On Saturday, it will be my mariachi debut (check out the website for details, although I don't know exactly when we'll be on).  I'm the only girl, so in one way it makes it easier - I don't have black pants or a white shirt, which caused some distress at first, but I can get away with black skirt and top, and I'll be borrowing a jacket.  They're providing earrings and a rose for my hair, but I need to have my hair pulled back to the side.  Obviously, the side that isn't the same side as the violin.  Today I gave it a test run, and it's more user-friendly than I expected.  Apart from a little pull to the side when I first fixed it, it feels just like my normal hairstyle.  Hairpins are required to keep the not-long-enough bits looking neat, but it's still in place as I write after several hours.

It's hairstyle #2 - so many I could do, I just don't.  The last new one was in February - I'm aiming to do more with my hair, I promise.  I wish my nose wasn't so weird, too.

Tonight was another leftover lamb dinner - this time, pizza with roast lamb, sweet potato and pumpkin.  Bonus - there's enough pizza dough in the freezer now for another pizza in the future.

I confess, I don't use 'strong' flour when doing bread dough.  Maybe that's a New Thing for the future. Coriander was just at hand, so I sprinkled some on top - more for visual appeal... but the pot comes with nutritional know-how so I felt virtuous.

Today's photo:

I only went outside today to go to the gym, and to take out the rubbish.  And to take this photo - raindrops on rose leaves.