Did you all have a good January? Ours has been a mixed bag - still! waiting for my new spectacles; we've had heatwaves and pouring rain, another trip to the dentist, a dear friend's dad died and it was the first anniversary of our friend Rob's death, and the second anniversary of my brother's death. January is not my fave month!
Still deciding what to do with my brother's and my sister-in-law's ashes. Any suggestions? We're thinking we might go out bush and bury them somewhere. Or throw them into a river or creek. Don't tell anyone!:=) Heheheh - not quite legal, I suspect. Oh for the good old days when you could bury your loved ones in your backyard!
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| Get Digging! (c. G. McKinnon) |
In My Kitchen:
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| friends gave us New Zealand cookies/biscuits after their Christmas break |
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| I bought a beautiful ceramic cup from Rainforest Ceramics |
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| and I made more pickled cucumbers |
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| I bought these - love the Green Goddess; tossed the Chilli & Lime |
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| bought a few things from Oppy's Fruit and Veges in Boonah |
This old-fashioned fruit and veg. shop sits inside the old railway station in Boonah in the Scenic Rim area, about an hour from Brisbane. It's an amazing building, which appears as one storey from the ground but actually has one above and two more below. Sadly the owner is allowing it to fall into ruin. I guess the land is worth more to a developer than the building.
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| this is the "all-year" book for Cookbook Club |
We have a monthly cookbook which we all cook from, and a yearly one that we can also use. So we can make and share photos from this one all year round! I've already made the most delicious mandarin syrup from it. See below.
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| Christmas pressies! |
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| I bought Queensland olive oils on our Murgon trip |
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| my cuz gave me this gorgeous prawn-y platter |
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| and our friend Ms. Atee gave us these |
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| a fishy tea towel from my cuz |
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| mandarin syrup - super delicious |
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| the Worcester! |
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| the curveball - Disco Bob |
I added Disco Bob to my collection of Bobs recently. Our mate Christian (Chainsaw) Newton is the creator of these cute little fellas!
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| c. Sherry M. |
Be a part of our friendly IMK community by adding your post here too - everybody welcome! We'd love to have you visit. Tell us about your kitchen (and kitchen garden) happenings over the past month. Dishes you've cooked, preserves you've made, herbs and veg. in your garden, kitchen gadgets, and goings-on. And one curveball is welcome - whatever you fancy; no need to be kitchen-related.
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You have so much good kitchen stuff this month! And your projects for syrups and the like are impressive. I didn’t do that much or buy/receive that much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping IMK going again!
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
thanks Mae. I do like to preserve and not waste food where I can. Cucumbers seem to be a theme for me this summer :)
DeleteI'm first to comment this month due to the time difference!! Loving your aussie goodies, looking forward to being in Oz again to stock up on things. As for the ashes, I've had a lot of patients tell me about their plans for ashes... so I confirm the scatter in waterways is quite a popular option. Also from tops of cliffs where it can fall with the wind where it will. Another patient was planning for top of the Eiffel tower, but there's security which apparently prevents you from doing that...
ReplyDeleteI think Mae just slipped in before you :) Oh when are you coming to Oz? Yes it's harder than you first think to deal with the ashes. So many issues, not least being the emotional ones. Have a good month.
DeleteI love your site Sherry but do not like that "spider" that keeps appearing. I'm a gardener and have had encounters many times outside with these arachnids. It's a turn off to me on your beautiful blog - sorry - phobia maybe?
ReplyDeletethanks for the feedback Judi. I agree with you. I am just trying to get over my own phobia, but I guess we've all had enough of her now (I call her Shelob). I will let her rest and take photos without her!
DeleteHi Sherry, this is Gerlinde aka Sunnycovechef . I can only comment as anonymous. I hope, February is a better month for you. Mandarin syrup sounds delicious.
ReplyDeletehi Gerlinde. Nice to see you. Yep I think February will be better. The syrup was super delicious!
DeleteJanuary is a rough month for so many. The green goddess spice sounds really good. I tried a chili and lime spice mix a few weeks ago and I did NOT like it at all either. It had a very 'fake' taste if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed January can be a difficult month for many. I don't know what the story is with that chilli and lime mix but it was just awful! Both hubby and myself hated it so out it went.
DeleteSorry that you had to go through so much during Jan. Now it's a new month and it will be better, Sherry. I love that ceramic cup.
ReplyDeletethanks Angie. Here's to a better month.
DeleteIt does sound like January is the worst… I’m so sorry. Glad February is here for you! I don’t know your laws there (heck, I don’t know ours here!) but it would be nice to have their ashes scattered in a place you will visit… I looked online and found this: “Yes, ashes can be scattered at both private and public beaches and oceans. However, you will need to obtain permission from the local council or governing body before you do this.”
ReplyDeleteLove your syrup, cakes, and Worcestershire sauce. I have a batch of the W-sauce aging now. The fish towel really caught my eye —quite beautiful! Wishing you a GOOD February! David (C&L)
thanks David. February has bloomed into place with a fine day. Yes there are strict laws about ashes but mmm who needs to know? :=) Did you make some worcester yourself? I recommend filtering it for some hours or overnight rather than squishing it out of the cloth by hand. Yes the tea towel is from Portugal. My cuz got it when she did the Camino last year.
DeleteI'm sorry that January often has sad memories for you.
ReplyDeleteThat ceramic cup is beautiful!
thanks Deb. Yes I love that cup too!
DeleteI'd personally love to have my ashes placed somewhere that could enrich the soil...maybe a garden or a forest?
Deleteyes i am thinking of a public garden down the coast where he lived as a young man.
DeleteLooking at buying this book; sadly it's $65 in Canada. I'll need the hardcover. I bought the first one in kindle and I find it irritating to use (maybe because I used to work for a book publisher!).
ReplyDeletehello xoxo. Yes it cost $50 here, so not cheap.
DeleteLove Disco Bob and what I wouldn't do for some of your worcestershire sauce! Sorry that January got you feeling down - hope your February is fab! I still have some of my mum's ashes in a jam jar because I haven't decided what to do with them but I did get some of her ashes made into some really beautiful jewellery and I buried some of them in a beautiful spot in a burial orchard. I hope she approves!
ReplyDeleteI love all my Bobs! My Worcester turned out particularly well this time. I think it's because i used red plums rather than black, and i let the liquid filter thru a cloth rather than squeezing it brutally! Yes ashes are a sad business. Am still thinking on it ...
DeleteI can see no harm in scattering the ashes where you want to, even if it's under a tree in your garden! Love disco Bob. And may February be a better month.
ReplyDeletefrom Tandy I Lavender and Lime https://tandysinclair.com
Yes thanks so far Feb is heading along just fine :) Yep I am still pondering but think we will scatter the ashes down the coast where my brother used to live.
DeleteI’m not very fond of that spider, either… Great stuff, fun food, as always!
ReplyDeleteGlad to know about the spider. She will be retired from photos:=)
DeleteI always love your kitchen posts and there is an especially wonderful selection of things to love here -- a gorgeous cup, that fabulous tea towel, and wonderful tasty things. Happy week!
ReplyDeletethank you Jeanie. Have a great Feb!
DeleteWe scattered my mother's ashes at a cemetery in Alaska. She wanted her remains to be with her first husband's, who died in 1959 and was buried there. I suspect it wasn't entirely legal, but I figure it was a "no harm, no foul" situation. Shhh...don't tell. Here's hoping February is a more joyful month for you!
ReplyDeletethank you Christie. I am definitely planning on a better month :)
DeleteI love your tea cup and the placemat with the fish design. You have shared so many interesting things and got me in the mood to pickle some cucumber slices. Thanks for hosting Sherry.
ReplyDeletethanks Judee. I do love fishy things:) And pickled cukes are a big fave of mine.
DeleteA number of friends have chosen a beautiful spot in their botanical gardens or park and just quietly scattered their beloveds' ashes amongst the greenery to become part of the scene evermore . . . private choice . . . who knows or is interested . . . best . . .
ReplyDeleteyes I'm thinking a nice park down the coast would be good for the ashes...
DeleteThank you for sharing your February kitchen adventures! It's always interesting to see what's happening in your kitchen and the meaningful items you've collected. The ceramic cup from Rainforest Ceramics looks stunning, and the pickled cucumbers and mandarin syrup sound delicious.
ReplyDeletethanks Raymund. I do try to collect useful and meaningful things. I am enjoying a coffee in my beautiful cup!
DeleteI love all your colorful linens Sherry.
ReplyDeleteAs far as ashes, where were their favorite places? My mother's were buried beside my father, our friend's tossed from the top of a peak in Yosemite. No one needs to know. Ashes are wonderful fertilizer for rose bushes. My sister in law wants all her dog's ashes to be buried beside her.
thanks Liz. Yes my brother wanted their dog's ashes to be with theirs. It's taking me a long time to come to terms with it all but soon I will take the 3 lots of ashes and scatter them. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteHi Sherry, Sorry about your January, what is it about getting older, I think the worry and sadness gets worse somehow, but thank goodness I am well, hope you are too. I'm curious though, why do you need new spectacles when you've had cataracts removed? Lots of interesting things this month, love the mug, and the fishy tea towel, one day I will make your sauce, Disco Bob is cute and your book club book has me intrigued. I'm guessing lots of tips and tricks in that. I hadn't even noticed the spider until I saw the comment. Great month, mine on the way, hopefully. Take care. Pauline x
ReplyDeleteyes there's a fair bit to worry about when you get older. I am doing fine thanks. New specs are great. I was always short-sighted and i still am. Cataract surgery just means a clearer lens in your eye. Have a fine Feb!
DeleteSherry, January has officially passed. here's hoping to a brighter February. Having our loved ones ashes is always leads to interesting conversations on how to lay their ashes to rest. I can remember after my father passed away finding his wife's brother's ashes which she smuggled from Scotland through the airport. She had the best intentions to lay the ashes to rest but died before she got to it. You know where this story is going... I spread my father's ashes and along with him went Robert ( I never met him) I hope they got along well in real life because they were spread together after their passing.
ReplyDeleteAs always, lots of fun things in your kitchen.
Cheers!
Velva
yes onwards and upwards. Wow an ashes smuggler :=) One day I will get my head around it all ...
DeleteSo sorry about your January. I struggle with what I want and what my family wants regarding cremation. I feel like I would want to keep them close but I would also want them to be where they were the most at peace during life.
ReplyDeleteYes it's quite hard deciding what to do with ashes. Esp. when my siblings refuse to get involved!
DeleteOh glad I have found your blog.Thanks for commenting over at mine.
ReplyDeletethanks for dropping by!
DeleteUgh. January. Hang in there, Sherry! February is sure to get better, right?? I do love all of the spices and seasonings you shared in this post. Totally inspiring for getting into the kitchen and playing around. That mandarin syrup sounds really unique...I don't think I've ever seen anything like that around here!
ReplyDeletethanks David. Yes the mandarin syrup was an unexpected delight.
DeleteSorry to hear January is a tough month for you. Love the sound of those pickled cucumbers.
ReplyDeletethanks for dropping by my blog!
DeleteFrom Johanna @ GGGiraffe - Seems like you did well to make it through January - sorry to hear of all the grief you are dealing with. Love your ceramics and your home made preserves - wish I could label as beautifully as you do. I bought some of the T2 melbourne version tins for people in the UK on my current travels and had some good feedback on it. Hope February is kinder to you.
ReplyDeleteOnwards and upwards! Thanks re. the labels. Hubby prints them out for me; I also had a stamp made with my name on it for the labels. Have a good month.
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