I'm Experiencing Technical Difficulties on Blogger Today...

I can't post photos on my blog from Picassa today. I don't know why...
Some technical glitches somewhere.
I will be back with my next story as soon as I can.... I hope it's not too long.
Perhaps Blogger will get it sorted...  Today?
Meanwhile... A phone call... An email... From me to them or you to me...
Might get it on the way to being sorted.

What To Have For Dinner?...

In New Zealand we have a franchise of shops called Bin Inn...
I shop at the one in Whangarei often.
These shops have been around for years. They used to stock basic food and cooking ingredients in help yourself bulk bins.
They still do but have vastly improved their range of foodstuffs and specialise in gluten free ingredients and pre-prepared packets and mixes.  They have a good range of nuts and dried fruits, spices and sprouting seeds... A great selection of lollies and are developing a range of Dutch foods.
I lived in Amsterdam for a year so love the  Sauerkraut, Erwtensoep (Pea & Ham soup), the Licorice and Kruid Noten (little spice biscuits)
Every month or so they have a seasonal recipe magazine to give away.
The winter one, pictured above, is full of warming, easy, one-pot meals.

I have been wanting to cook more with lentils - so gave this recipe a try.
It went very thick so added a second tin of tomatoes. I also added some a liberal splash of Fish Sauce, Chilli and a little 'Green Mango Chutney' that I bought at Bin Inn.... It is very hot so a little goes a very long way.
It made a large pan full and fed four people... And was delicious.
I served it over steamed green leek rings and broccoli instead of pasta.
Next time I would put 60-80gr lentils.

The re-cycling in my little sink... This is, of course, where I wash my dishes.
It's tiny but I have got used to it... And it doesn't use too much of my precious water

This is my stove top and gas hobbs where I cook... My little wok and hey presto...

Dinner is ready.

'Mahy Hot Glass Studio'... Handblown Wine Glasses...

 

 I was given some beautiful wine glasses recently... Sadly I broke one so went hunting for another.

They came from this shop... Have a look here... I had a browse... Mine were seconds... But they didn't have any.

 On my seond visit I discovered this hot glass blowing studio which is accessed through Burning Issues...

And lo and behold...

Sitting on their counter was some seconds... I had broken a pink one so wanted another... 

And they also had a turquoise one.

They were willing to sell to me direct...

So now instead of three I have four beautiful hand blown wine glasses...

All seconds, two you can obviously see how the hot glass has folded or become misshapen...

The other two... I'm not sure what is wrong with them...

I use them for candles... Here they are ready for the dinner table and to light the evening...
Or I could light two and drink out of two...

During the day this is where they live... They blend in beautifully with the 'Sea Colours' decor I am developing.

My Last New Cushion... And New Curtains...

Yesterday I got the last of my new cushions...The striped one...
I love it... It reminds me of deck chairs and beach towels.
Also the colours tie all the rest together.
I'm very happy with them all... It was well worth the time and hunt to find the right coloured fabrics.

I shift them around but today I have three on the couch...
Connecting with my yellow orchids.
I have to be careful not to tip anything off the bench
or let water from the dishes run over the edge.

This one I had made for my back when I'm driving. I need it to reach the clutch pedal...
Although I still think I'm developing one leg longer than the other!

These two are on my bed, the two blues seem to suit my quilt colours.
Although they are in different places, my space is so small I can see them all at the same time...
The blend of colours is perfect... Beachy, clean, fresh...

And my new curtains... This is beside my bed and over my tiny 'dressing table' area.
I wanted something soft... This is taffeta, it gathers really finely so could have had them twice as full... But then they would take up too much space when pulled back.
They are light and airy, the light and sun shines through them but they are enough for privacy.
The old ones were a heavier cream cotton with a thermal backing.
These are much nicer... In the mornings when I wake up it's like lying in a light infused cave.

Over the side of my bed... The back window.

And in the bathroom. I had these ones made a little longer. The wind through the open window tended to suck the old ones out. But these being longer, that doesn't happen.
Also they are fuller so create a softer effect.

Movies... Movies... And More Movies!

 

 Whichever way you look at them...
It's a lot of movies.
A friend who lives on the road was having a clearance sale...
So what an opportunity to add to my collection.
On rainy days and on the longer nights of winter...
I will be able to indulge in one of my passions...
I'm sure you will recognise some of the titles - old favourites and new ones.
A few nights ago I watched 'The Social Network'... I didn't see it when it was on at the theatres.
I loved it... A great story of a very enterprising young man... What a brain...
Now the youngest ever millionaire or billionaire... I'm not sure.
It's interesting having watched that movie to read in the news where Facebook is at now...
On the Public sharemarket... The highest ever IPO... But as people realise they have bought shares in nothing tangible... They are dropping in price!
Last night I watched 'Shooting Dogs'... The 1994 story of the 800,000 Rwandan  people killed in 100 days in the genocidal violence between the  Hutu's and Tutsi's. The film was set in a school that became a refuge centre protected by the French UN who withdrew knowing  the 100's left there would be slaughtered.
It is filmed at the actual location where these events took place and a number of the genocide survivors make up the film's cast and crew... Well worth watching.
Some other movies I have... 'Flashdance' and 'Educating Rita'... A good oldie...
On my tv say 'Wrong Region' but this morning I discovered they will play on my laptop.
Hurray!
They are tonights watch I think...


I have my tv balanced on my books at the end of my bed... so snuggle under my duvet...
With a cup of tea... and it's movie night!

Be Kind to the Environment... And to Yourself

 Washday comes round with monotonous regularity...
I researched these laundry balls as an alternative to the traditional powder wash and 3 rinses...
Too much water and effort in my house bus.
I found these balls at 'Health Post NZ' - look up their web site.
I looked at others but this was my choice...
Even though it was more expensive at $80.
Biowashball is composed of natural cermaics contained in a plastic non-toxic sphere.
When new it is charged for 2 hours in the sun then for 1 hour every month.
It emitts infrared rays which break the hydrogen molecules of water.
This gives the water high penetration capacity.
It emits negative ions which weaken the adherence of dirt on fabrics.
The Biowashball has a pH of 10, equivalent to chemical detergent.
Compared to 'normal' washing it eliminates pathogenic germs, allergic risks, bacteria, and safeguartds from bleaching and oxidation caused by chlorine in soap powders.
It contributes to well-being, saves money and protects nature.
Can be used in machines or hand washing.
No need to rinse, - so a huge saving on water.
The life span... Take note of this...
3 years if doing 4kg of laundry a day. I hardly do that much a week so it might last longer than me.
Look it up http://www.biowash.co.za/
It is made in Switzerland and won 'Well Tech Award' Italy 2009 for the 'Best Environmental Design Product.
I have had my ball for several months now. I use it for all my clothes laundry.
One thing I have noticed is that my black clothes don't get that faded washed out look.
My linen... Sheets, towels, napkins etc I save up for 6 weeks and take a huge load to the laundrette.

Interior Decorating in My Bus... New Cushions...

A friend lent me this book... Full of beautiful photos of beaches and rooms and outdoor areas.
It was exactly what I was looking for... Full of colour... And beach and sea themes.
This book has been my inspiration as I have changed things in my bus to make it 'mine'...
I have white walls, a wooden floor and beige/sand colour seats...
Beige blinds... so the change had to come through accessories.

I have spent ages looking at this book getting ideas... Then ages looking for new cushions.
As I have shown you before I amazingly found my floor mat in the exact colours at Trade Aid...
But cushions were very elusive.

Just look at the blues... And sea greens... and the bit of yellow...

And more blues... A bit of green... White... Sand... I love it.

This page in the book is a change of theme to a bold green and red...
I have incorporated red with my new kettle and red wine glasses...
But I haven't introduced the green yet.



The corner of my kitchen looking through to my bed...

Here are my new cushions...
I was introduced to a lady who sews... She was willing to make me some new cushions...
She even came with me... My book in hand... To a shop with a large range of fabrics...
We fossicked and compared and finally found the colours that are so dominant in the book...
And what I wanted... They also had to go with the floor rug...
There is one more to come... A stripe incorporating all the colours plus an orange/red.

I'm delighted...
They will get shifted around as the mood takes me...
And onto the front seat as I need one to prop me up as I drive

And also to mix and match on my bed... Four different blues and sea greens... All blending..
And yellow for the sun.
Yesterday I bought some cream taffeta... Next thing is new curtains in the bedroom and bathroom...