Finding joy in the everyday

ARTIST: Hong Yi Malaysian (born) artist and architect (Chinese parents) I love food photography as its really hard to do - food art is even better and more fun!!  Here are some wonderful examples of food art by Hong Yi. These were all part of her 31 day "creativity with food" project. Photography is from:  http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/04/artist-hong-yi-plays-with-her-food/  and  http://www.ohiseered.com  (Blog) For those interested, Hong Yi received her Master of Architecture from the University of Melbourne. Here is another examples Hong Yi's work: Aung San Suu Kyi portrait made from white flowers that were placed in dye, the redder the flower the stronger the dye. If you have time, check out how she did this as its really interesting. http://www.ohiseered.com/2013/02/aung-san-suu-kyi-portrait.html The artist with her mother in Milan

Photography by Joluise The other day I replaced all our cutlery. I decided to buy a really nice set for my husband and I. We now have 8 forks, 8 knives, 8 dessert spoons, 8 soup spoons, 8 butter knives, 8 dessert forks and 8 teaspoons.  And I expect to keep all of these with none wandering off to who knows where.  Why did I replace our cutlery? Do you have teenagers? You may know the answer if you do. We (and I recently discovered other families also have this problem) have lost bits and pieces of our cutlery.  Teenagers have a habit of using a spoon and for some strange reason it never makes it back to the kitchen. It is never seen again. I am assuming it goes to the same home that lost socks go to.   But now that my children have left home, the problems should stop - therefore the new cutlery.  I don't mind spending a little more knowing that each piece will be returned to their home at night without any problems.  None will be h...

" F ind a husband on campus before you graduate."   For most of you, the cornerstone of your future and happiness will be inextricably linked to the man you marry, and you will never again have this concentration of men who are worthy of you. "I am the mother of two sons who are both Princetonians. My older son had the good judgment and great fortune to marry a classmate of his, but he could have married anyone. My younger son is a junior and the universe of women he can marry is limitless. Men regularly marry women who are younger, less intelligent, less educated. It's amazing how forgiving men can be about a woman's lack of erudition, if she is exceptionally pretty. Smart women can't (shouldn't) marry men who aren't at least their intellectual equal. As Princeton women, we have almost priced ourselves out of the market. Simply put, there is a very limited population of men who are as smart or smarter than we are. And I say again — you will never ...

I am all for quick evening meals, but they must not (as far as possible) involve opening cans and processed food. This meal fits the bill and its both yummy and healthy.  It is also a recipe that would be perfect for children to help if you are feeling a little tired!  Once again, this is not one of my originals, I found it at The Happy Larder blog and once again I made some very small changes.  Lamb and feta burgers with potato wedges, tzatkhi sauce and salad Mix together the following ingredients, crumbing the feta into small pieces. 500g lamb mince 150g feta (I only use Danish feta) 1 red onion finely chopped (could use brown) 1 egg 3 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley salt and pepper   Make into burgers - size is up to you - big, medium or small. Rest in fridge for 15-30 mins. (you could turn these into meatballs if you wanted to) I made 9 burgers, medium size. Cook in frypan (or the barbecue/gr...

As you can see, there is no Art Friday today. With readership very low at present (I think everyone is busy) and with a combination of my sewing (almost finished my second skirt) and reading a book this week (The Book Thief) I haven't had time to do this weeks segment. And it will hardly be noticed anyway. Just hand sewing the finishing touches But for those few who do pass by, I won't leave you without a painting.  Here is one so famous I doubt I will need to tell the name of the painting or the artist. Here are 10 interesting facts about the Mona Lisa: 1. It was stollen in 1911 in broad daylight and found two years later. And in 1956 it was damaged and it took several years to restore. 2. The painting is considered priceless and can not be insured. 3. It cost around $7 million to build the room and that houses the Mona Lisa - she is the only painting in the room.  It is in a climate controlled room encased in bullet proof glass. Almost everyone of th...

Photography by Joluise There is space on everyone's  bookshelves for books you have outgrown but can't give away. They hold your youth  between their pages,  like flowers pressed on a half-forgotten  Summer's day. Author unknown

Sewing has always been something I wish I could do but never had the time or place to do it. I would set up the sewing machine on the kitchen table, but had to clear it away by the end of the day. It meant I had to hurry through projects and that use to put me off. Now I have my own room (since all our children have left home). This means I can set up a permanent sewing table and sew whenever I feel like it.  This is my "new" room. I only have half the room so far, there is a large 6 foot fish tank on the other wall that needs to be moved at some point in time (when that is removed, bookcases will line the entire wall for my mini library).  As you can see (in this messy shot) I have my computer/work desk and next to me is my new sewing table. It works really well and I feel much more motivated about sewing. My husband put the table together which caused great stress as the instructions were very poor! On Easter Saturday, Spotlight (the store that sells the best ...