Nice Life Reminders Pip-Life

Spaghetti, Nick & Warren, cosy and chilly days

August 10, 2019

I have been a bit quiet here. My day job is on the computer writing, writing, writing – and it’s a bit over 40 hours a week. So sometimes that means that I want to be far from the computer when I’m not working. Actually a lot of the time it means that!

Anyway, here I am and I’m so glad that it’s a rainy morning in Melbourne and that Ari and I did the shopping yesterday because I get to mooch about in my pyjamas instead of making a list and heading into the grocery fray.

Actually we didn’t go to a grocery store/supermarket … we went to the Queen Victoria Market. I don’t normally go on a Friday afternoon, but the weather forecast for the weekend was very ominous and I took the chance to head out when there was a bit of a break in the wind and rain.

Pretty much don’t like going on a Friday afternoon, it turns out! Especially when the weather is a bit crappy. The stallholders are all packing up earlier than the 5pm finish and it takes the shine off shopping when you know people are cold and tired and want to go home. You just sort of want to get what you need and get out of there, so they can! Which we did.

In other exciting news this week the ‘first pages’ of my new – sixth! – book arrived in the mail. These are the pages with all the text typeset and most of the design in place. There is still a bit of wiggle room for changes at this point. But really there is not much that needs to be changed, which is amazing and a testament to my book’s editors and design team.

It’s due out in April at this stage which is bloody exciting. And actually even though it seems so far way, I know that it will creep up super quickly. Life is like that. It whizzes by, doesn’t it?

Do you know who else is about to release a book? Clare Bowditch, that’s who! It’s actually available for preorder, I discovered when I looked it up and it’s called Your Own Kind of Girl.

It’s got some pretty dazzling reviews already, so it’s at the top of my list for Summer reads! I mean if Leigh Sales loves it, what’s not to love?!

This week – despite having 4 blankets on the go already – I started work on a brand new granny square crocheted blanket and I’m kind of addicted to it already. A case of returning to my woolly roots, you might say. So quick and satisfying, especially when you do the join-as-you-go thing. It just grows so speedily, compared to a row-by-row type of blanket.

I will share some photos soon, when it’s a bit bigger, so you can see. (In case you want to see!)

I think it’s good to have lots of projects on the go, to be honest. Then you can choose the one that suits your mood to go on with don’t you think? I’ve had bits of a quilt spread out on my dining table since April so you see I am totally living and breathing this ethos.

Shall we talk about food now? It really would not be a proper chatty blog post if I did not. So … I’ve been cooking spaghetti and homemade chips with aioli and peppery steaks and roast chicken – with crunchy potatoes, baked tomatoes and roasted parsnips – this week.

The spaghetti is the type you cook with all the ingredients and water in just one wide pot. It’s Anna Jones’ recipe and it works and it’s so delicious. I love the lemon-y zing of this recipe. It’s light and good-for-you tasting too!

I also made some scones for my day job. And get this – they are made with creamy soda, cream and self-raising flour. And that’s it. They are so light and delicious especially with golden syrup and whipped cream (although jam and cream is good too!)

Maybe you could make them this weekend, for a treat? If scones are your kind of thing.

Cream soda scones

Speaking of treats, my friend Michelle from Hugo and Elsa is selling her gorgeous home in Tasmania’s Huon Valley. It’s every bit as gorgeous as it looks in the photos (because Michelle let me have a sleepover one time, so I know!) and – as Escape From The City would point out – even has a studio that could be used as an income-earning AirBnB. You can see the listing here.

I’m so excited to be going to see Nick Cave and Warren Ellis with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra today. The moody weather feels like the perfect backdrop and I can’t wait to be tucked inside the Arts Centre and transported to another place. A place that is not North Balwyn (where I live). Not that there is a thing wrong with North Balwyn but the idea of a musical holiday seems like just the ticket right now.

Later this month I’m going back to Venus Bay to have a couple of beachy days in front of an open fire. I can’t wait for that either. I’m trying to remember that it’s important to dot life with little jaunts and surprises and am keeping things as frugal as possible in between those things … to make them possible. I think it’s really worth it!! Who needs another pair of shoes when you can squirrel that money away and have another night in a shack?!

Maud Lewis

I haven’t been watching a huge amount of telly, but I am addicted to The Heights and The Hunting. And last night I watched Maudie (on SBS catch-up) and gosh it was sad. It did make me want to chase up a documentary about Maud Lewis though. There are lots of books too!

Here are some other little glimpses of my wintery life right now. I’ll be back here soon for further chats. In case you fancy that!

Meet Me At Mikes : Pip Lincolne Meet Me At Mikes : Pip Lincolne Meet Me At Mikes : Pip Lincolne Meet Me At Mikes : Pip Lincolne

Gosh it’s bucketing down here now. The garden is lifting its leafy bits up to the clouds in celebration.

Love to you, peach.

Hope you are having a weekend with some little treats or jaunts built in. Cake, even?!

I’ll shush up now.

x pip

PS: Madeira Cake recipe!

PPS: This wine from Aldi is very good and just $6!

 

TOP IMAGE : By Anna Jones

5 Comments

  • Reply Yasmin August 12, 2019 at 3:21 PM

    What a gorgeous post Pip! I hope that Nick Cave was amazing. We left Melbourne two years ago (sob) to move back overseas closer to our families, and I miss it desperately. You’ve transported me back! How I would love to be tucked away in the Arts Centre. And yes, I agree with you that it is important to have little winter escapes planned. I have small children so it feels tricky to get away sometimes, but always worth it. Thanks for your gorgeous writing, it has brought me joy tonight as I plod away in the kitchen cooking dinner for my smalls (who probably won’t eat it anyway!) xoxo

  • Reply Philippa August 12, 2019 at 3:17 PM

    I *love* that Anna Jones pasta. It has been part of my repertoire since 2015. I sometimes add chilli flakes and capers too which is very delicious. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it! 🙂

  • Reply Em August 11, 2019 at 5:51 PM

    Thanks so much for another inspiring post Pip. How amazing was Maudie? Canada’s Mirka Mora? Next to Maudie on SBS was Juliette Binoche in Camille Claudel. Def not uplifting – but gorgeously sparse and good to watch to make us feel extra warm, cozy and homey. Happy Wintering to you.

  • Reply Kate August 11, 2019 at 7:34 AM

    So much nice stuff Pip. Your blog makes me very happy
    Cheers Kate

  • Reply Reannon August 10, 2019 at 12:48 PM

    Pip, I need to know how to join granny squares as you go because while I love making granny square blankets & I bloody hate joining them!!!

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