Dust, dogs and desserts

I have been away in Canberra the last three days for work. Returned home today to a dusty and dirty house. Not due to it being neglected while I was away, but rather from the major works still being done under our townhouse, as well as painters spreading plaster-dust everywhere. I don’t think there’s anything worse than dust from concrete and plaster.

Hopefully by the end of tomorrow it will all be finished and we can do a thorough top-to-toe clean to start the weekend and have a sense of normality again without contractors hovering in and out of our space.

What else has happened whilst I was away? Well, my little man Beau decided to go for a wander. He was taken out the front to run around in the little park and decided it was time for him to go on his own adventure. It doesn’t help that he’s a black dog and so gets lost in the shadows of the night, but while I was working on my laptop in my Canberra hotel room, I received a call from an unknown number on my mobile. This was about 6:30pm so it was an unexpected phone call and it was a lovely lady from the Woolworths Northbridge across the road calling to say she had my dog, Beau!! Hamish was straight across the road to collect him and apparently he was fairly sheepish for the rest of the night!

I bailed on touch rugby tonight, which I perhaps should have gone to play, but after a few nights away I am just keen to relax at home. I’ll go for a run at Tunks Park tomorrow with Beau and then I’m playing as well as umpiring netball this Saturday, so that’s still good fitness for me.

Contemplating making Mars Bars Slice and Snickers Slice tomorrow as sweet treats for the weekend ….

Bang, bang, bang

What a way to start today! After a late night to bed (we did a mini roadtrip to Newcastle last night to see Stone Temple Pilots in concert!!), I woke this morning to Hamish’s alarm (with three snoozes!) then the banging of steel beams from the major works they’re doing under our townhouse. This was supposed to be a late rise and a relaxing day off work …

Since there was no use trying to sleep in, it was straight to Tunks Park with Beau for 3.5 roundtrip laps and sit-ups in the still-crisp morning air. Home to shower before venturing out for Brunch. It’s been a little while between visits, but today I returned to Pat’s Cafe in Waverton for his famous $9.90 eggs cooked to your liking with a choice of any two sides and two slices of toast, again of your choice. Strong skim cappuccino on the side and harbour views to boot. Who could complain?!

Beau was ‘happy as larry’ laying in the shade, the sun was dancing at my back and it had become a wonderful day.

Such a lovely day for the outdoors but my mind was ticking at what desserts I could prepare today. Opting for something easy, I settled on Chocolate Crackles and a Lemon Coconut Slice.

The recipe for Chocolate Crackles was sourced from a Kellogg’s Rice Bubbles box and the Lemon Coconut Slice from the Kidspot website.

Tonight is my brother’s house-warming party so I’ve made some extras to take there, as well as to keep enough to satisfy my sweet tooth over the weekend. Surely after my run at the park this morning I must be allowed …

Two beautiful butterflies

A beautiful thing happened to me today. As I was working away at my laptop, I had two butterflies in sync fly in our back door and around my head. It was a little blessing from nature and a welcome distraction from my work for a brief moment. I was fascinated as I watched them float around beside me for a few seconds before they drifted back outside to the flowers in the rear courtyard.

It got me thinking though, about those little moments in time that put a smile on your dial. Later in the afternoon as I was contemplating this, I noticed two insects quite obviously mating on our front gate. We have also had a lovely light orange rose flower in the front garden this morning. What an interesting day!

Early this morning I ran around our townhouse like a madwoman – cleaning the glass doors, mirrors, dusted the living room and re-swept the front and rear courtyards along with our balcony since they were covered with pine needles even since the weekend. All for a routine inspection from our real estate agent that ended up cancelling last minute. We also had an electrician in this morning working for two hours to restore power to our living room, the second bedroom and garage as the power had been cut during building works last week.

Have you ever had one of those days where things seem to be frustrating you, when you feel like you’re chasing your tail and efforts are all made in vain? These little reminders of nature at its best, along with the wind in your face while walking the dog at Tunks Park with a delicious cappuccino from The Laneway cafe in Cammeray will always succeed in perking me up!

2011 is underway!

I am rather excited to find that the walking track at the end of our street leads me to Tunks Park. My dog, Beau, and I decided yesterday that we would go ‘exploring’ and after a quick 15 minute walk, we were at Beau’s favourite doggy play park! We did the same walk again today and found another walking track off the main one, so very happy to have that practically on our back doorstep – means I’ve got no excuse not to get out and go for a walk!

Yes, I made the crumble the other night. My partner convinced me that there was no option in the matter, so I sent him across the road to buy my ingredients and set to work in the kitchen. The crumble is almost always as good uncooked as it is when cooked. It lasted us for dessert the last three nights – brilliant!

Oh and I was rather pleased to see the new edition of House & Garden magazine at my local Woolworths so I picked that up and looking forward to getting into that tomorrow too.

My 2011 goals have now officially been set. I’ve got about half a dozen things on my list that I’m certain I will stick to. They’re my driver for the next 12 months. Some are focused on fitness, others on my personal interests like making sure I play my guitar at least twice a week and my savings plan. Looks like it’s going to be a busy year … full steam ahead!

For now, got to go … Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals is on TV 🙂