Macedon Ranges, Victoria.

I think autumn is my favourite season. The cozy jumpers, boots and scarves, glasses of red wine, persimmons at the farmers market, fresh mornings and sunny days, the relief of a warm cup of coffee in chilly hands… Out in the country, autumn really shines; the colourful leaves, the scent of woodfires, even colder noses and chilled fingertips, and the quiet give me such a sense of peace.

It’s beautiful, restorative, reflective… it brings me back into myself. Grounding, perhaps. I think I need to live away from the big city.

A few weekends ago, Rufus and I went on a little road trip to the Macedon Ranges area for some wine tasting and view-admiring. It was incredibly peaceful; we met some awesome people – so passionate about what they do and make and grow – and made friends with some cute animals. The wine was delicious, the farmer’s market was adorable (RedBeard sourdough bread? Ugh, perfection),  one of the wineries had a freaking goat, and it was just so nice to get out of town and breathe in the fresh air.

slices of weekend.

Awesome weekend funtimes!






So, despite being on deaths door last week (maybe a slight exaggeration… I had the flu), this weekend was beyond wonderful. Perfect food at Top Paddock for breakfast on Saturday (these guys own several cafes in Melbourne and are just killing it! My toast with (perfectly blanched) broccoli and sugar snap peas, poached eggs, Heidi raclette, avocado, and roasted almonds was just… beyond); dancing, drinking (rum and ginger beer), eating (GREEN SMOOTHIE!), laughing at the expense of drugged-up festival-goers, and standing on tippy toes to see FKA Twigs at Laneway festival – my favourite Australian music festival by far; and a long beach walk with coffee and cookies.

this may be blurry, but Rufus looks so damn happy, so I don’t care.

#fromwhereImanbun

out of focus, but so beautiful.

I’m growing out my eyebrows… can you tell? (Yes, I know you can.)

I love the ocean. It wasn’t particularly hot on Sunday, so apart from a few dogs and their owners, we had the place to ourselves! We met a trooper of a pup with only three legs, fished through the rock pools for little crabs, watched the pelicans and swans take off in the wake of an energetic kelpie, and climbed on top of all the rocks we could find. Life is good.

How was your weekend?

slices of weekend.

A coffee date with breakfast nachos, a sushi run, our best red wine and my new favourite pizza with the Bestbones (feat. lots of laughter, TV talk, and celebrations of our one-year Melbourneiversary), a SHIELD marathon, and a bushwalk.

“jog on”

the most kookaburras I’d ever seen in one place! this guy had a beetle in his beak.

How was your weekend, guys? Hope 2015 is treating you well.

slices of weekends past.

colourful streets.

a rooftop garden.

brunch with the boy.

poached avocado.

surprise flowers at our Saturday morning post-run coffee-and-croissant stop.

Life is good.

camping.

I don’t know what it is, but lately, I’ve been craving time outdoors. So this Friday after work, Rufus and I bundled up our newly acquired camping gear and set off with my cousin, her boyfriend, and their friend; to the wilderness.






















We had a fire burning the whole time, drank beer, and told spooky stories as we huddled around the fire at night. We toasted marshmallows on sticks, collected firewood, ate egg (and bacon for some) sandwiches every morning, boiled water for coffee in the Billy, and caught yabbies. We went bushwalking and collected quartz, played Uno and ate crisps around our little plastic table, saw a pod of kangaroos, and woke with the sun every morning to the sound of kookaburras laughing. 

We were in the middle of nowhere – no showers, no toilet blocks, no phone reception – just us, and the great outdoors. It was exactly what I needed; and I cannot wait to go again.

slices of weekend.

quiet moments.

beauty in strange places.

growth.

A mini-harvest. Featuring one single pea pod, 3 leaves of rocket, and half an un-ripe kale leaf. Those peas and that rocket blew my mind.

A great one, this week! We experienced a real Spring weekend – I was loathe to be inside, and lots of light beer was consumed. Highlights include after-work drinks in my backyard with a favourite on Friday, a solo beach walk (and coffee consumed while sitting in the sand in my good jeans), lunch at our local, shopping for camping supplies, movie night and sweet potato burgers, a sundrenched walk to the local bric-a-brac (/vintage) market; a coffee table score, and time spent studying (less thankful for the study, more for the peace of mind and clarity it brings).

We also attempted to save a tiny possum that had been hit by a car (carrying him, wrapped in my cardigan, as we walked home, and then straight to the animal hospital), but unfortunately he couldn’t be saved. While it was heart-wrenching, and I may have shed a tear or twelve, it was humbling to be part of this animal’s journey, and reminded me of just how much happiness animals and nature (the whole cycle) bring me.

a solo beach morning.

beach boxes.

Cranberry-coconut-dark chocolate cookie – to get me to the Eftpos minimum. Also because it looked delicious.

perfect.

dat face.

perfection in a huge salad bowl.

How was your weekend, friends?

birthday boy.

It was this guy’s birthday last week. To celebrate the day, we ate dumplings and drank wine for dinner after work; because we know how to party. This weekend, the celebrations continued.









Burger crawl! Burgers for breakfast, lunch and dinner (except we gave up after lunch and just ate salad for dinner), many beers, potato chips, new DJ gear, art, and new tattoos. I love weekends like this – holed up in my happy place with boyfie. Happiest of Birthdays Rufus – I love you and your face.

slices of weekend.

Another predominantly cold and blustery weekend in Melbourne. Rufus and I spent our time wandering around markets (the Finders Keepers art market on Saturday; Flour Market on Sunday), watching movies, and celebrating Christmas in July with a big feast, cute stocking stuffers, and kids movies.



Most of the photos we took on Saturday night are too hideous hilarious personal to share, so this dinner table is all I have. Rufus came up with the sweet idea to give ourselves a $15 budget and buy a few small gifts for one another. THAT was fun! In the evening, we got into our pjs and cooked some mulled wine (amazing!); Liam set a pork to roast; I cooked up a vegetarian stuffing, brussels sprouts in garlic butter, and honeyed carrots. We lit some candles and feasted heartily, marvelling non-stop at our cooking skills. We watched children’s movies after dinner, and for dessert; our newly acquired stocking-stuffer treats: Turkish Delight for him, Cherry Ripe for her.







On Sunday morning, we jumped out of bed bright and early to a beautiful day. We quickly drove to the beautiful Fitzroy Town Hall – anticipating the smell of fresh coffee beans, baking bread, and sugary-sweet donuts – for another installment of the Flour Market. It was to start at 9am – we arrived at ten-to. And the line was already snaked around the block (in the first photo of this set, we’d already moved a good 500m and you still can’t see the hall!). Sigh. We reminisced about the lines at Comic Con (1, 2, 3) while we waited. And really? It was worth the wait. We flitted from stall to stall, collecting crumpets, sausage rolls, donuts, croissants, and (naturally) coffee as we went. Then we crossed the road and picnicked in the park.







Winter’s alright sometimes. How was your weekend?

bendigo.

A few weekends ago, I went and stayed with my family in Bendigo (previous trips here, here and here). It was incredibly cold, but my Aunty’s warmly decorated home (along with the fireplace) kept me cozy. I spent time with my cousin, drank red wine and ate vindaloo with my family, reminisced on old photos in the evening, and woke up to pancakes.

In the morning, my Aunty and I donned gumboots, scarves and jackets, and went walking through their 25 acres of land – which I never even knew they had. We saw kangaroos, sheep (both domestic and wild), huge birds, and many-a-foxhole.

spot the kangaroo?

This farmhouse always manages to ground me; return me to myself. I think it’s the quiet.

today.

My head is full of words today, and I haven’t shared in ages, and these photos are not glamorous or well-edited, and my blog still has a terrible layout, and I’m not sure where this post is going to end up or just what I’m going to say, but I know it needs to be said. So I’ll start with today.

Today I’m grateful. I’m overflowing with the good stuff. I’m grateful for the tawny frogmouths I see on my walk from the car to my office, every single morning. I love staring up at the beautiful, big gum trees lining my path and searching for them; without a care for my odd appearance. I’m grateful for big boxes of organic fruits and vegetables; the look of them, the smell, the excitement I feel upon getting home – exhausted, lately – to a big box of goodies, and the meals we make with our produce (Moroccan pumpkin rice with hummus and chilli-sauteed greens, anyone?)… especially I love the little snail that had found his way onto our box last night (I have a soft spot for snails – I popped him back in the garden outside before recycling the cardboard). I’m grateful for friends who make me feel excited and understood – with whom hanging out is NOT a cause for anxiety. I’m grateful for mid-week dinners with such friends; Thai food and good wine and laughing until my face aches and my stomach burns (it must be said – I haven’t laughed that hard in such a long time, and it felt damn good). I’m grateful for the music shared between friends.

fresh, local, organic, delivered.

I’m grateful for friends who make the trip from our hometown to visit us for a weekend. I’m grateful for farmers markets. I’m so grateful that these friends are satisfied with a night of movie watching in front of the TV (not a night out on the town), and that they don’t judge me when I fall asleep on the floor. You make me feel known and understood and accepted. I’m grateful that my Rufus has found a job which makes him happy to get up in the mornings. Where he fits in. Where he sees potential and growth and positivity. That he gets home at night and can’t stop talking. (Maybe just a little bit, I’m also grateful for the freebies he gets; especially tickets to film festivals).

I’m grateful for the leftovers in the fridge, waiting for me to eat them for lunch – chickpea patties, brussels sprouts and carrots cooked in butter, and crackers with avocado spread on top. I’m grateful for a brain that moves quickly. Today, I’m grateful for the sunshine.