Hello from the South Island, New Zealand....

Just in case you are wondering where I am at the moment....?

I'm galavanting around the South Island of New Zealand.

But I'll be back soon with lots to show you.

Here's a seat...so sit down, relax and take in that view...

See you soon

I've scored a hat trick...whoohoo...

I've always thought that I'm quite lucky...but today it has been confirmed!

Nope, still no lotto win...(well I can't expect to win really can I, especially if I don't buy a ticket!)

Why am I grinning like a Cheshire cat? 

Well, I have received three separate gifts from friends...how special is that?  

And it isn't even my birthday!

Two actually winged their way into my post box today. 

So of course I had to maximize the pleasure...I sat armed with a cuppa and a large white chocolate freckle that I bought at a Chocolatiere over the weekend. 

(More about that on my next post...once I get the photos to co-operate and transfer over...it's a work in progress and it's protesting at the moment...maybe I need to eat more chocolate instead of looking at it?) 

I'm not going to show you the pressies because some things I like to keep to myself...they are special and personal to me. 

Oh okay...you've twisted my arm...

I'll show you just one...

How fantastic are these babies?!?!

 I'm thrilled and excited but terrified all at the same time because I'm now going to have to use them...eek!

I don't want to rush it, so I'll wait until I get back from our next trip.

Oh yes our trips...

Last weekend, we went to the Yarra Valley for wine tasting and the weather was just perfect. 

Quite fantastic for autumn...beautiful warm sunny days and crisp nights.

The wine was incredible and we had a brilliant weekend staying right in the middle of a vineyard. 

I'll share a little of the trip with you soon.

In the meantime, I've got to repack only this time for chilly climes because we're off again tomorrow.
I know...there's no stopping us...and it's a wonder I find my way home. 

I can't believe that even though I've been busy and I missed the APR entry time... I did manage and enjoyed a little doodle in my journal. I don't normally like to show unfinished work but I thought today I'd be brave.

 I couldn't decide if I should zentangle him or not...and then I thought I'd like to try and add those fantastic peacock plumage colours...because let's face it that is what peacocks are renowned for. 

What do you think?

I took a whoosie approach and thought I'd photograph him at this stage, just in case he doesn't make the grade on the next stage...or it all goes pear shaped!

I'm going to add colour because I feel that a peacock's main feature are those amazing colours...plus I love them. I'm just hoping I can reproduce them. Wish me luck!

Why a peacock? Well...peacocks were the topic for last week's APR challenge...so if you'd like to see some more artists work then click here to visit Jenn's Artist Playroom.

I hope to visit the gang myself soon although times flying by and I actually fly out myself tomorrow! 

I hope you have a lucky day too...with lots of surprises....

keep smiling or better still pass it on

The holiday's over....

There's a quiet air about the house this afternoon...Muffin has curled up on a cushion snoozing...in fact snoring like a old trouper if truth be told...not very ladylike at all, but does she care? Nah!

There aren't two pairs of eye's watching my every move...just in case there's a treat on offer.

The toys are all in their basket...looking incredibly tidy after all their drooly exciting daily antics.

So what's behind all of this calmness?

Well...Zac has gone home! ^..^

I think he'll probably appreciate the rest because Mufftypup is a young pest  pup and sometimes she can be a little full on for the 13 year old...although he is extremely sprightly.

Oh we've had a ball and I'm sure he likes me bestest!!! :D

But the holidays over and his Mum came to collect him this morning.

Here are the happy couple having their Easter egg Schmackos hunt.

  

So where breakfast?....What kind of establishment are you running here?

You just can't get the staff!

Nothing like a quick snooze to recharge the batteries...especially when you have a younger pup to keep up with....

Does this pooch look like he's missing his owners?

Hehe...okay so he may well be dreaming of them, but don't disillusion me.

Muffy and Zac have a very special relationship...in fact they are like an old married couple....they know each other so well. They have their fun times. Muffy usually gives him a swipe with her paw to instigate playtime, which he usually indulges in but then sometimes (not often I have to admit) Zac will decide she's been nagging him long enough and he'll just put her in her place!

  

Here they are sharing Muffy's bed....now that's friendship!

I've just taken this photo....

Oh I know and she knows that she shouldn't be on my desk...

...I'm supposed to be working but I just thought she might be feeling a little lost!

But then she's going to Zac's soon because don't forget we're off on a little jolly!

Which reminds me...I must pack!!! EEK!

Have a thrilling Thursday, a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Hope to see you again soon ...thanks for stopping by even if you haven't left a comment...

I know you are out there  

Have fun and keep smiling!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ~ Monday 1st April 2013

Outside my window...There's a fresh autumnal feel to the air...I think we may have missed summer silently slipping away. I've felt just that slight chill today which is inconvenient because it's not cold enough to light a fire or turn the heating on, but I feel I need something a little extra to keep me warm. The sun did make a weak pattern on the carpet a short time ago, but it was rather feeble and decided to give up. 

Maybe it's the slight breeze gently touching everything with its cool air that has made it stay away today. The clouds seem heavy but there's no sign of rain. My washing has been in and out like a fiddlers elbow in the last few days, which is very unusual for here but I've decided to give in and let it be for now. 

Plant pots have been emptied and cleaned...they are sitting grouped together like a nursery sale is about to begin. I've noticed our thongs (flip-flops if you are from the UK) are still nestling near the kitchen door but they'll not be needed now probably until next summer. Sad but true.

I heard the crows calling this morning and was reminded of autumn/winters in the country when the crow's calls would resonate across the bare fields. For a second I was transported back.

The garden loungers are stripped bare of their bright coloured cushions like sad skeletons. 

It's a strange time as the season changes...neither one thing or the other but with cold nights arriving the tips of the trees have begun to change colour. Soon all the autumnal display will be a feast for the eyes. 

I noticed one particular tree this morning gently weeping as its leaves drifted to the ground. Have you heard that if you catch a falling leaf and make a wish...it'll come true? I've tried but they always seem to swerve and twist unpredictably as they fall. I suppose making wishes should just be easy everyday occurrences. Not if they are to be special. Our pool must make so many wishes...perhaps to be the size of an Olympic swimming pool one day or to have a water slide because it seems to catch every falling leaf!!!   

This photo was taken last Monday morning...hence a little blue sky peeping through. 

I love clouds especially when the sun is caught behind them. It lights and highlights their edges like they have been hit with electricity! 

I am thinking...that I will include more photos in my Daybook in future, as I'm always taking photos and it seems a shame not to share them.  

Here for instance are my Easter bunnies and the tulip arrangement I made. The tulips are looking a little sorry for themselves now but they were really stunning when the tulips started to open...like golden cups of sunshine! Unfortunately they'll probably be evicted tomorrow...but then I can play once more with some more flowers and greenery.

 

(I'm just a little concerned about mummy bunny having no eyes! I can't help wondering why?)
 

I am thankful...for the technology that brings my daughters voice into the room even though I know she's 12,000 miles away. We can chat whenever we feel like it and that's priceless.

In my kitchen...it's now 1.15am so it's quiet and tidy. I did have an earlier entry for this question but for some reason I pressed a key and whoosh it disappeared and do you know for the life of me I can't remember what I wrote before. I think it was about the ingredients for our meal of belly pork marinated in char siu with fried rice. I'd say that the fried rice would be my screensaver in the recipe department, if I had to pick one recipe. It's always tasty, quick, full of flavour and a family favourite.

Here's a previous post of the recipe if you want to check it out...click here   

I am wearing...before I start I need to explain...I'm a nesh puss and if anyone is going to be cold it's normally me before anyone else! So with that in mind...

I'm wearing trainers, socks, jeans, long sleeved t-shirt, jumper, pashmina AND a quilted sleeveless waistcoat! I know and it's hardly autumn yet. But I've checked the temperature and it's only 12C degrees....remember I've mentioned before that I'm just not a happy bunny when the temperature is under 16C! I think the fire may be light tonight and I'm thinking of going in search of our winter quilt. Well best be prepared I say!

I am creating...an unusual drawing but if I showed you here I'd have to explain why I'm doing what I'm doing and I'm not sure I want to divulge that information just yet. Maybe later who knows? 

It's a line drawing using the Micron pens and I'm pleased with it. 

I'm also looking at the next Artist Play Room challenge...this week it's peacocks so my artistic side better get a wriggle on if I'm to enter by the close of business on Friday! 

I am going...away at the weekend for one of our trips...so just pack a small travel bag. It's only for a long weekend but I did say I'll take you along. I won't say where just yet...oh I do like to keep you all in suspense don't I?

I am wondering...whilst I recognise that I'm truly blessed right now...I am aware that quite a few people I know are having a tough time at the moment for various reasons. I'm hoping that things improve for them.

I'm reading...nothing! (Gasp) yes I know that was a shock for me too, but I only just finished a book this afternoon and I haven't had time to chose my next one yet. I've read the two books I needed to for my book club so the next one will be whatever I decide. There's quite a few waiting in the wings but it's just after 1am here, so I'm not going to pick one now. I'll have that pleasure tomorrow. Do you find this as exciting as I do...deciding what to read next!
If you have any suggestions then please just drop me a line...I'd love to hear what you've been reading or if you have a recommendation.

I am hoping...that Samuel Johnson gets to keep his promise to his sister Connie to:

1. Raise a million dollars for Breast Cancer research
2. Raise awareness of the disease that’s killing her
3. Break the Guinness World Record for the longest journey on a unicycle.  

Samuel and Connie were born a year apart, so they’ve always been close. Growing up they played together, explored the neighbourhood together... and fought cancer together.
Connie has fought cancer three times in her life and Samuel has been with her every step of the way. This time things are different. Connie is dying and she doesn’t have much time left.
Faced with the fight of her life, she set Samuel the toughest challenge she could think of. It started as a joke in the kitchen. It turned into a promise.
The goal? To set a new Guinness World Record for the most distance travelled on a unicycle, raise $1 million and spread Connie’s message of breast cancer awareness.
Samuel has consulted all the experts, taken none of their advice and he’s setting off on the challenge of a lifetime. He made a promise and is determined to keep it!
Samuel left Melbourne on Friday February 15 and is out there as I type.

No matter which way you look at it...riding 15,000km zig zagging around Australia on a unicycle is an epic journey and an inspiration one to us all.

Take a look at their story here there's some amazing clips, info and photos about the journey that both Samuel and Connie are undertaking. 

I wish them success and maybe you might feel the same and make a donation too via their website. ;D

I am looking forward to...both my weekend away but also another trip that's planned soon. You'll need a bigger case for this trip.

I'm also looking forward to all the autumn colours...the trees dressed in their beautiful colours. 

Around the house...there are two boys (well I use the term boy rather loosely for one of them) and two dogs. Its Easter Monday here and both boys are off from work. One boy is rustling through what seems like huge treasure maps but happens to be architectural plans for our house and the other is upstairs in his part of the house with the music playing and heaven knows what! It's an area I try to stay clear of at all costs!

The dogs (Zac is staying with us just now) are having a rough and tumble with lots of gruffs and growls...all harmless and obviously they love it by their look and body language. 

Here they are waiting for me to produce their breakfast...obviously not quick enough...you just can't get the staff....

The atlas is open wide on the coffee table indicating where our forthcoming trip will take us...don't look...you'll spoil the surprise! 

The Easter eggs have mysteriously disappeared, which is a great shame but my waistband sighs with relieved. I was thinking I'd have to head into the elasticated slacks but we may just have everted that cataclysmic tragedy!  Not that I have any elasticated waisted slacks you must understand...phewph...just wanted to make that clear!

A favourite quote for today...Nothing is more highly to be prized than the value of each day

~ Johann von Goethe    

One of my favourite things...well it happens to be a BIG thing...it's Muffin of course. Our mini shuh tzu dog. I don't think I've included her in my favourite things before because anyone who visits here regularly will already know this. It's the same and family and friends...it's kind of obvious really. 
Mufftypup is with me every day...she's like my shadow. I know her so well and she knows me. But of course she can manipulate me very easily with a look or the quiet way she gruffs to make a point (which by the way can drive you insane if you try to ignore it...it's impossible) She makes me walk out the door every morning no matter what, even when I don't feel like it but once I'm walking it's such a special time. 
She's had quite a life so far with being an expat and has even flown half way around the world....probably business class knowing her! She's only 9 years old but I have moments when I wonder just how will manage when she has to leave us. She's the cutest, cuddliest, fun loving, playful, funny pup I've ever known but then I may be a tad biased.  

  

A few plans for the rest of the week:  At this point I normally say.....Work, rest and play but not necessarily in that order...it still seems appropriate! : D

A peek into my day... well actually it was a day or should I say evening last week. The photo was taken whilst we strolled along the South Bank of the Yarra Valley here in Melbourne. 
We had a beautiful meal in one of the many fabulous restaurants to choose from and enjoyed one of the last (possibly) warm evenings. Two Black swans were out enjoying the evening too.  

 The building on the other side of the river is the famous Flinders Street Train Station which is an iconic building here in Melbourne. It opened in 1910 and is the oldest station in Australia.

 So that's it for this week; I hope you enjoyed your visit and if it's your first time reading my daybook entry, I hope you enjoyed it.

Don't forget to pop over to The Simple Womans Daybook and check out the other day book entries

I hope you've had an eggciting Easter and hopefully the sun will shine for you....keep smiling!

I hope to see you again soon...

Have a wonderful week everyone. 
Bye for now 

p.s. just a little note...it's now 1.30am so if there are any errors above please just turn a blind eye and forgive me...I need to sleep ZZzzzzZZZzzz zz x

APR ~ Time is flying by...

Life is certainly flying by just now...with Easter already upon us. 

My friends have already been and gone, but we have some lovely memories to look back on until our next meeting later in the year.

So if I say today was the first time that I got a chance to look online or to check what's been happening out there in t'internet land....375 emails later, I finally got around to see what this week's theme was for Jenn's Artist Play Room. You'll know just how late I am...(I know nothing new here) but this time 

I'm REALLY late.

As you may have guessed (well the title kind of gives it away) the topic this week is 'Flight' or 'things that Fly'...so you can imagine how thrilled I was that a few weeks ago I drew up this little owl in my journal. 

 He wasn't going to see the light of day, but Jenn drew him out of me and so here he is for you all to see! 

A little cheat having a stand-in ready in the wings (HA... get it!) but otherwise I wouldn't have made it in time...

I'll be back soon but in the meantime why don't you nip over to the Artists Playroom and check out some really talented artist and their entries this week.

Happy Easter to you all.

Have a wonderful time and remember any chocolate eaten on Sunday has no calories...

I read that somewhere...or did I dream it?!!??!

Artist Play Room ~ What do you overlook?

Okay so here's the deal...I've just been reliably informed by Mo over at Twinkletoes2day that if I'm surfing blog land, doodling, drawing or painting then I'm not wasting time as long as I'm enjoying myself...Yay! That's just what I needed to hear. I mean who doesn't enjoy doing those things?

Phewph...that made me feel so much better because trust me there's so much I should be attending right now, but I decided to give myself a little break and enter into Jenn's Artist Play Room.
This week's challenge is 'what do you overlook' so brace yourself....I could really dive in here...but then I thought you don't deserve that...you've done nothing to harm me.
I mean I could tell you about how plants have been tortured and subsequently died over the summer months, whilst I was away having fun in the snow...or the mountain of laundry that seems to have taken up constant residence in a dark corner of the house. I mean really would you like to see my laundry? Not my dirty laundry of course, but boring enough to have you fall off your chair yawning!

So after much deliberation, I decided that I've been talking about trying to lighten up with my artwork for long enough but not actually doing anything about it...well not today. I just dived straight in. Scary stuff! Can you see the difference to my usual stuff?
Today I decided to draw my perfume bottle (It's not something I would normally draw either so again pushing all the stops out here). I actually have two bottles (spoilt I know) one for daytime and this one for night-time. This particular one is more potent and you have to be careful how much you put on, otherwise everyone in a 20 metre radius starts to either move discreetly away with their hand under their nose or they just keel over! It's not really the reaction that you'd want :-$

I've been talking to Tracey who gave me a few pointers in seeing the lines on the object that you wish to draw. She's brilliant at this and I felt very priviledged to be given a few tips. Bless you Trace :D
I didn't realise until I started to really study this bottle just how many lines there were. I think at this stage I'll just add that I had artistic license to leave some of the zillion lines for another day! Okay?
It's amazing what you actually see when you really look at something. For instance, I didn't know that the name was repeated on the front...in fact I'd seen that something was written there, but didn't bother to really look. How terrible not to use our eyes to their full potential. They are such a gift, we really should appreciate every little detail.

(hate the shading by the way ~ but I'll work on that next time)

As I got to know my perfume (strange but true)...up close and personal, I didn't realise that I'd moved its position on my desk. Note to self: once you start to draw DON'T MOVE IT! (such a numpty)
I couldn't help but have a little squirt too whilst I was there and now my dog thinks we're off somewhere for the afternoon! ^..^ Shame.
As often happens I didn't know whether to finish there or to carry on....yep...I couldn't help myself I decided to try and add some colour. Thankfully, I took a photo of the drawing first before attacking it with the Derwent Inktense pencils. I know...what was I thinking? I don't even like the pencils but I keep trying.
But then I became strict and decided I wouldn't add water to them...I'd just leave them coloured in.

Enough is enough!

I couldn't get the right colours but it's my interpretation isn't it? Can I get away with that do you think?

Which do you prefer?

Whoops I've just noticed the time...yes it just disappears when you're having fun! I've now realised that I feel very sickly too because it's 3.30pm and I've had nothing to eat other than a heavy portion of perfume since breakfast this morning...!
Well that's it folks...I'm done for today. I've got friends coming to stay this weekend and I've really got to get a wriggle on if I'm to be ready to be the hostess with the mostess.
I've three super king cotton bed linen to iron...towels to fold...chocolates to purchase for their pillows. (I bought new ones yesterday...pillows that is and not chocolates...they'd have disappeared by now if it was chocolates...you know me!)

Toodleloo for now peeps...catch up again soon

 ~ enjoy the day...it's a gift use it wisely ~

Steak, Ale and Mushroom Pie...aka St Paddy's Pielets

Well can you believe it? 

I'm going to post a recipe today! 

I know it's been quite some time since I did that...but this recipe was such a winner, that I thought you might like to see it too. 

I was going to try and post it over the weekend because it was perfect for St Patrick's Day, but I was in such a spin trying to get to a party that I didn't manage it ....(yep such a party animal) but I'm here now.

I thought as we head into autumn here and spring hasn't sprung everywhere out there yet, that this recipe is so good to not only be a tasty heart warming meal, but also a really good idea for entertaining. 

It is also brilliant for freezing too, you can either produce little pielets or a family size pie or even just a casserole accompanied with tatties (potatoes) and veggies.

I also have to confess that because I was in a tizzy to get to my St Paddy's Day celebrations, I forgot to take a photo of the final presentation platter. I know...what am I like! 

Before I start I have to tell you that I made a huge casserole dish full and there's still plenty left. 

We managed to take 30 pielets along to the party but a few inevitably went missing in the cooling process...well the boys insisted that they should be tested before they made an entrance into the party. ;D

I thought pielets would be the best for easy entertaining. Everyone being able to indulge with the minimum of fuss or hostess participation.  

But I've still got four seperate containers in the freezer that I'll be able to produce at any time...so although the cooking time is rather long initially, it really is worth the time and effort. 

Not wishing to blow my own trumpet...oh well okay then...everyone raved about them!

 

So here is the recipe for Steak, Ale and Mushroom Pielets.

For the Beef Mixture (3 hours cooking time or longer for tender beef)

• small handful dried porcini mushrooms (about 10g) - not essential but definitely very tasty
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1kg braising steak (buy this as a whole piece and cut it into large chunks yourself or ask your butcher)
• 2 large onions, roughly chopped
• 4 large carrots, chopped into chunks
• 2 tsp golden caster sugar
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• 300ml dark ale (I used Guinness but any dark ale will do)
• 2 beef stock cubes mixed with 400ml boiling water ~ or beef stock liquid
• small bunch each thyme, bay leaf and parsley, tied together (can be seperate but remember to remove once cooked.
• 200g smoked bacon lardons, or chopped rashers
• 200g chestnut mushrooms , halved
• A splash of Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 tbsp of Tomato paste
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

(If you need a conversion table then take a look into my sidebar at the bottom) 

Right lets get started....

If you're using the porcini, cover them in boiling water for 20 mins, then squeeze out...put them aside for now, but keep the soaking liquid. This is full of flavour but remember not to empty all of the liquid into the beef mixture later. Discard any grainy bits from the bottom of the soaking dish. 


Next heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/Gas mark 3.
Place beef into a large plastic bag with flour, salt and pepper. Coat every piece of beef with the flour. 

Heat half the oil in a large heavy bottomed casserole dish, brown the meat really well in batches, then set aside. (This is a little painstaking but so worth the time and effort). 
Add the onions and carrots to the pan, adding a drizzle more oil, then cook on a low heat for 5 mins until coloured. 

There will be lots of tasty bits stuck to the bottom of the pan at this stage, but we'll not let them go to waste.
Add the soaked porcini mushrooms, sizzle for 1 min more, then scatter over the sugar and flour, stirring until the flour turns brown. Tip the meat and any juices back into the pan and give it all a good stir. 
Pour over the ale, stock and porcini soaking liquid, don't forget to discard the last few drops. The beautiful tasty bits from the bottom of the pan will come away and add to the flavour of the beef mix.

Add the Worcester sauce and tomato paste.
Season stew with salt and pepper to taste, tuck in the herbs and bring everything to a simmer. 
Cover with a lid and place in the oven for about 2/3 hrs, until the meat is really tender. (I left mine in for 4 hours...the beef was just like butter which is perfect for pielets. You really don't want a large chunk in the little pies).

While the stew is cooking, heat a drop more oil in a frying pan and sizzle the bacon for 3 mins until crisp. Turn up the heat, add the mushrooms and cook for 4 mins until golden. 
Remove from the heat and, when the stew is cooked, stir them through. 
Leave everything to cool completely.
As I mentioned you can also freeze the mixture for up to 3 months and defrost when needed. How good is that? The following photo doesn't really do justice to the delicious mixture...for a start its cold, so therefore doesn't look appetizing....but it is...trust me!
I used my Grandmothers mince pie trays for the pielets which worked brilliantly. Perfect for bite size pies.

For the Pastry

• 650g plain flour , plus extra for dusting
• 250g lard or cold butter (or half of each), diced, plus extra for greasing
• 1 egg yolk , beaten, to glaze 

• Or you could use a frozen packet of puff pastry...but depending on how many or what size of pie you are baking will determine if you need one or two packets of pastry.

You can make the pastry up to 2 days before you want to assemble the pie. 
Crumble the flour and lard, or butter, together with a generous pinch of sea salt until completely combined, then add up to 200ml ice-cold water to make a soft dough. 
This can be done in a food processor if you want. Knead the pastry, then wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 1 hr. The pastry can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept in the fridge or frozen for up to a month. 

If you are making pielets then grease the tray with butter and sprinkle flour over to prevent sticking. 
Roll out the pastry and using pastry cutters (large for the bases and medium for the tops) then place the bases in the tray. Spoon a small amount of beef mixture into the centre.
Brush around the pastry tops with a little egg yolk, so that they will stick to the bases. 
Gently press together the top to the bottoms. 
Place a small hole in the centre of the pielet, to allow the steam to escape and brush with egg yolk to obtain that golden, crisp, delicious look! 

If you want to bake a large single pie....
Then heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and place a flat baking tray in the oven.
Heavily grease a 24-28cm pie dish and dust well with flour. 
Cut a third off the pastry and set aside. 
Roll out the pastry to a thick-ish round that will easily line the pie dish with an overhang, then line the tin. 
Add the beef to the dish using a slotted spoon so some gravy is left in the container, as you don't want too much sauce in the pie. 
You want the filling to be slightly higher than the rim of the dish. If you have a bit too much, set it aside.  
Roll out the remaining pastry to a thick round big enough to cover the dish. 
Brush the edges of the pastry in the dish with egg yolk, then cover with the pastry lid. 
Trim the edges, crimp the pastry, then re-roll your trimmings to make a decoration, if you like.
Brush the top heavily with egg. Make a few little slits in the centre of the pie, place on the hot baking tray, then bake for 40 mins until golden. 
Leave the pie to rest for 10 mins while you heat up the gravy left in the container. 
Serve the pie at the table with a jug of gravy and a big pile of something green and leafy.  

So here are my pielets....before putting on their party clothes (ie dressed on the platter)

It really is worth the effort to make these little beauties...I promise! 

Oh my...I'm so hungry now! 

It's a good job it's time for dinner. 

See you again soon I hope and don't forget to let me know if you try this recipe. 

I'd love to hear from you...

International Women's Day ~ Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch (APR)

The theme for the Artist Play Room this week is in honour of International Women's Day that took place on the 8th March.  

International Women’s Day recognises the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future and therefore I was determined that I wouldn't miss entering this week...unlike last week.

I gave some serious thought as to what my post would highlight and so many incredible women came to mind but then one in particular stayed with me. 

Her name is Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch AC DBE, previously styled as Lady Murdoch, and she was an Australian philanthropist. Obviously I'm assuming that you've heard the name Murdoch before but I have to admit I'd not heard of Dame Elisabeth until I came to Australia.

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (née Greene; 8 February 1909 – 5 December 2012), was an Australian philanthropist and an incredible woman, wife and mother.
She was the wife of Australian newspaper publisher Sir Keith Murdoch and the mother of international media proprietor Rupert Murdoch. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1963 for her charity work in Australia and overseas.

(Photograph courtesy of The Herald Sun Newspaper )

Born at the time when the horse and cart were still on the streets of Melbourne, she was privately schooled in the grace of giving from the age of 13, when she knitted her first baby singlet for orphaned children.

Her enormous capacity to give and to keep on giving —  to state schools and prisons, to dry-out centres for drug addicts, as well as the ballet and Melbourne's Botanical Gardens or hospitals — has been celebrated across the land.

When Dame Elisabeth died, aged 103, on the 5th of December last year, it marked the last chapter of a great love story and life of philanthropy. Dame Elisabeth — who supported more than 100 charities — died in her sleep at her farm on the outskirts of Melbourne.

It has been said that she's one of the greatest philanthropists Australia has ever seen —  not just in terms of money, but also the time she gave and her dedication to so many causes. 

She was always looking to give back and at no stage in her life did she say, ‘I’ve done enough’, even though she could have said that decades ago. 

The News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch told the scores of dignitaries and community representatives at St Paul's Cathedral here in Melbourne, that his mother's deep love for her husband and children shaped the family from the very start. "However you came to know her, what you remember is her strength of character that defined Elisabeth Murdoch's life," Mr Murdoch said.

"(But) Mum would never forgive me if I did not start by acknowledging a truth she repeated constantly throughout her long life. The most satisfying thing I ever did, she always said, was to marry my husband.

Elisabeth was just 19 years old when she married Keith who was then 42 years old.
All her life, Dame Elisabeth would say that she thought it was a miracle that Sir Keith would fall in love with her as hard and obviously as she had fallen for him. They married on 6th June 1928 and together they had four children. When Sir Keith died in 1952, Elisabeth was just 43 years old. In the midst of her heartbreak, she immersed herself in charity work, instituting, among other things, the world-famous Good Friday Appeal, which would go on to raise tens of millions of dollars for the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
It should be pointed out that Elisabeth was a Dame not because her husband was Sir Keith, but because the Queen personally saw fit to appoint her Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1963, to mark 30 years of service to Victoria's sick children.
  I could write so much about the wonderful work and dedication that Dame Elisabeth's gave to her charity work but that would take some time...if you are interested in all the various charities that have benefited from the Murdoch Institute, then click here....

On their 10th anniversary Keith wrote a note which said, 'It is an amazing piece of luck for me, that you were just you. Because I could not have been happy with anyone else'.

He gave Elisabeth a farm to his teenage bride in 1928 as a wedding present...Cruden Farm.
They remained married for 24 years until his death. Elisabeth was so absolutely in love with her husband.
She never re-married after the death of Sir Keith and never stopped wearing her wedding ring

Cruden Farm has been described as a breath of fresh air in the midst of suburbia, nothing grand but a delightful relaxed place.

From the 1960s she made Cruden Farm available at no charge to local groups, then to organisations large and small for fundraising or celebrations. One memorable late afternoon in 1989, 5162 visitors (excluding children) turned up. In recent years, scarcely a weekend went by without the garden hosting some event or other. Only in late autumn and winter did it take time off to breathe.

Everyone who comes to Cruden Farm finds a favourite place...It continues as inspiration in the couples shared love of nature and appreciation of beauty.

Over eight decades Elisabeth learned as the garden grew. She was it's hands on number one gardener. She worked with space, texture colour and masterfully she created long vistas, secluded nooks and crannies. She grew her own seeds and cuttings yet never stinted on professional attention for her trees. To the end she kept a keen eye on progress and could often be seen perusing amongst the plants.

I feel sad that I never managed to visit the farm whilst she was alive but have it on my list and if I do visit then I hope to bring you some of it's magic. 

She showed such generosity because she loved to share. She felt blessed that she was able to live with a beautiful garden and she did not think it right to keep it to herself.
The task for her descendants is to maintain the property in her spirit and as she would have hoped, while looking as she always did to the future.
 Dame Elisabeth has a rose named after her to which she described it as "tough as old boots just like me!" 

(photograph courtesy of Google Images http://www.pbase.com/image/38119964)

Now before you look at my journal entry today I need to make excuses (cough) explain, I decided due to missing last week's theme that this week I would enter no matter what. I had to create my entry within an hour or two today so here it is.

 (Another excuse coming up...I only have a travel watercolour set, so I couldn't quite get the right colours that I wanted...oh yes and I took this photo quite late on in the afternoon, so I'll have to retake it tomorrow when the light is better.
All that said...I'm so happy that I've managed to enter the APR this week, especially when I can pay tribute to this special lady and her beautiful rose.

 

(photograph courtesy of Google Image ~ www.fara.org.au)

 I can't help but think of my own grandmother when I look at Dame Elisabeth...like Dame Elisabeth she too was an amazing woman who influenced me greatly and I truly miss her...especially when I see a rose.

She too had a wonderful affinity with roses and had a stunning rose garden.
I hope that I can perhaps be such a gracious lady leaving a legacy to be proud of...wouldn't that be wonderful.