Five Things

I've seen the 'Five things on Friday' deal on blogs before and I always think 'I must try that soon'. Sadly I always see it elsewhere, on a Friday, just after I've posted here, and think I should do that on the next Friday, but then by the time the week rolls around I've forgotten all about it! This week I remembered.

So here we go.

1. Have you noticed that slow cooking is seriously in right now?? For so many years my Mum has tried to make me take one of her many old orange and brown crockpots and for many years I've gracefully rejected all offers, because orange crock pots are ugly and big, and because 'slow cooking' wasn't too fashionable (and because husband has two serious aversions in his life - one is cushions, and one is small appliances - hates both, big time).
But now they are IN.  Masterfoods and Maggie have gone nuts recently producing small sachets of recipe bases for slow cooking that take up almost whole isles, and slowcookers (now silver or white and slick looking) are currently the fastest selling appliance.  Once it was waffle makers and fondue sets, then it was breadmakers and 'George Foreman' syle grills, and now we've come full circle back to slow cookers.  Interesting.

2. The other thing that is more fashionable than it was 10 years ago is tea.  Serving tea in a real pot, having flavoured teas and the whole high tea business is certainly big. Green teas, white teas, chai teas, and brewing it all properly is something that wasn't there ten years ago. Well not as much anyway, maybe it was, and I'm just slow to come to the party.  I might be slow, but I have jumped on the band wagon, and now love to occasionally buy this (partly because of brilliant packaging which gets people like me in the door whether I drink tea or not).

I brew it in my teapot, and serve it in my groovy little red tea cups. A 'cuppa' has changed from what it was back when I was a kid. Then again, so has a coffee...


3. I was in a store the other day and found this.

It's kind of weird, cause I am very rarely drawn to things that aren't practical or usable, and I'm not a big shopper in general, I'm not into stuff that sits, and I'm not into 'cutesy' but man, this little owl kind of stopped me in my tracks! It's only about 15cm or 6" high, and I couldn't stop staring at how cute it was.  I had a moment which I pretty much never have, and had to buy it. Good thing my moment happened when I was looking at a very reasonably priced little thing and not a large item cause with my budget the way it is these days...... any WAY, it's now in my house. I initially bought it for 11 year old even though it very annoyingly has a rattle inside it, because I thought it would look fabulous sitting on her bed or on the shelf.....

BUT she didn't want the little owl! Can you believe that? She's at that age, where I can't predict what she would like any more. So I am considering giving it to my niece for her first birthday in September - it does have a rattle after all!!  For now I'll just stare at it myself for a while.


4.  This year, I have really really got into reading. I have scrapped less, which isn't necessarily a good thing, but have read more, which is a good thing, because I have found I get huge enjoyment out of it. I've always enjoyed reading but having babies and little kids kind of put reading on the back burner for several years, but I have now rediscovered it. My kids seem to be old enough now that I can hide under my quilt for an hour and read a book and they can understand that. I've read lots this year, and these are three recents I want to share with you.

 

Lordy, I loved this book (above). It is historical fiction almost, set in Mississipi in the 1950's. It is about the writing of a book which was a collection of stories of the African American people that worked as 'the Help' for white households. The good stories and the bad.It was very funny, and moving, and fascinating. LOVED it.

This book (above) was sent to me by Sharon and it too is a bit of historical fiction, set just after World War II. It was so gorgeous, it is hard to even explain. The story is told by letters going back and forth and around to all the characters. Very funny, and too, quite moving.  Sharon sent me this book, after a year of so I sent her this book below which was similar in style. It documents the life of two English sisters, one of which has moved to Canada temporarily with her family. The book is made up of the emails that go back and forth between them, and it is seriously hilarious. Have read it twice now. I could so relate to the sister who found herself living in Canada and all the weird and humorous things that entailed for her.  This book is titled 'and God Created the Au Pair' but it has very little to do with the au pair.

I actually got one of these for my past birthday.

It's called a Kindle, and it's like a little hard drive for books. You 'buy' a book on Amazon, and download it straight to your kindle. It's not like a computer screen, it's really like looking at a book. The lighting is different to a computer.  It's great because if you feel like reading something, you jump on to amazon.com, read the ratings and reviews of other people, if it sounds good you download it, and you have a new book to read in 5 minutes in your little hands.  It's also good cause in my little house I don't have a lot of storage so I don't have to store books now. They are stored on my kindle (I have about 14 so far). It's good because kindle books are cheaper than buying the real thing, and some are free and many that I buy are 99c. I always check for good reviews first! The only problem is I can't share the book when I've finished. All I can do is tell you to read something, and that's what I'm doing now, giving you my recommendations.

One more great read was 'The Last Letter' by Kathleen Shoop.  A story set in the times of the early American pioneers settling on the prairies. Again historical fiction (wow quite the recurring pattern here, huh?) and a sad but fascinating story.

5.  I'm really liking the Simple Aussie Girls blog.  If you haven't stopped by yet, get over there. There are a lot of simple scrapping page flyin' around, and with five of us posting, as well as people participating in challenges, there's heaps of inspiration. Go check it out, and let me know what you think.
On a random note, I'm also really liking Red Rock Deli Balsamic Vinegar and rocksalt chips and so is my husband. Big time. We go to the store and buy bread, milk and these chips. Of course we don't share with the kids, they are too precious (the chips that is). We wait for them to go to bed (which is getting later with the big girl...grr) and then we haggle over them.  This has been a serious 'issue' for over 6 months now, and just look out if those goodies are on sale! Stampede in the grocery isle! By us only, that is.

They SAY on the front they 'have up to 75% less fat' but the don't say less fat than what?? We just hurry over that last lingering question and get into them! OMG.

P.S Happy Canada Day to all including my other half. I am wearing red and white as we speak.