CASTLEMAINE IN AUTUMN.

The colours of autumn. Aren't they something? Some towns do it better than others, and I think Castlemaine does it the best. Located in central Victoria, the historic mining town is full of gorgeous cafes and boho boutiques. This place is a must visit next time you're looking for a country drive on the weekend.

I've had the pleasure of visiting Castlemaine twice in the past two weeks. The orange and golds of the leaves left me breathless when I first drove in. The chill in the air complimented the warm glow from the sunshine. Because my first visit was child-free, I enjoyed a rustic minestrone from Origini and one of the best clothes experiences I've had for a long time.

The second visit was with my family and a good friend. For a whole weekend. We spent Saturday outdoors, a typical Autumn Castlemaine day - a fresh morning, complete with sunshine. The afternoon was spent at Vaughan Springs, and Garfield Water Wheel. The view was so photogenic, my memory card was full in less than two hours.

I can't wait for my next visit.

Have you been to Castlemaine before? Where is your favourite autumn town?

HOME.

We are home.

And there's nothing more amazing than walking through your front door after six weeks' away renovating. Perhaps a little perspective has helped, but coming home to a clean(ish), not dust-filled house, with a kitchen that is absolutely huge... It all just made me so very happy.

While we've been home for almost three weeks from our long service leave and renovating our beach cottage in Port Fairy, it was a long time before I was able to have a day at home with no errands to run. A whole day at home besides school drop offs and pick ups.

My newly-turned-four-year-old Noah, my Friday daughter Zoe, and I cooked up a storm. We made choc chip cookies (from Donna Hay's fresh and light), giant ANZAC biscuits, fruity power bars, and apple almond + cranberry bread. We even roasted almonds.

We cleaned out cupboards, sorted through all the toys, collected up rubbish that's been cluttering up the house, and rearranged rooms. It's kind of like nesting without a baby due. The most cleansing thing you can do for your space and mind.

There's been new couch covers and rearranging of pillows in the living room, the purchase of new flannelette sheets for our bedroom (so cozy!) and other small additions, to make us ready for winter, and settled again until our next bracket of leave/renovating.

 How do you settle back into your home after some time away?

21/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Noah: You turned 4 this week.

Madison: You turned 7 this week.

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel.

FANCY PANTS [REUNION WEEKEND]

How does a weekend sans children and husband sound? How about a weekend put aside just to socialise, catch up with some of your favourite people, and even finish conversations? For me, last weekend was all these things.

20/52

 

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Madison: That tooth fairy is visiting here quite a LOT lately!

Noah: Two bread rolls are surely enough to fill that little tummy?

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel.

FOOD CLUB: A MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL.

It was Food Club time in my corner of the world. If you've heard of Food Club around here before, you'll know that it's one of my favourite times of the month. The theme on the weekend was Mother's Day. So fitting seeing it was Mother's Day on Sunday. We decided to make our mothers' favourite recipes, or something that reminded us of our mothers. The menu included:

DRINKS
Iced tea punch

ENTREE
Mini leek, gruyere + rocket frittatas

SOUP
Curried pumpkin soup

MAINS
Invidual pumpkin pies
Vol au vents
Watermelon salad with feta + mint
Orange salad
Jamie Oliver’s roast potatoes with sage + orange
Wood-fired roasted vegetables

DESSERT
Passionfruit sponge
Sago cream puddings
Mini golden syrup dumplings

Our host for this month was Julie, who set the most gorgeous table complete with her mum's embroidered tablecloth made in the late 30s, and all the vintage bits and pieces she could find. She also prepared gifts of homemade quince jam for us to take home. Her mother's sponge recipe has got to be the nicest cake I've ever had the pleasure of tasting (see picture below). I've decided that every salad must have fruit in it, and that you're never too old to change your mind about something you didn't like before. Turns out that sago is good. Nothing like the classics done to perfection.

For more about Food Club, you can visit previous photographs and events here.

FANCY PANTS [FRESH CITRUS]

There is nothing more fresh than the colours of citrus. I love the blend of oranges, neutrals, and whites. I think the combination is almost good enough to eat.

Speaking of eating, I've eaten my way through Mother's Day weekend starting with Food Club (pictures here on Tuesday), a friend's surprise 40th at Billy Goat Hill Brasserie (see instagram for the amazing food!), plus breakfast in bed this morning made by my favourite men. Oh yes, I'll be on rations for the rest of the week to make up for it all. Oh, and did I mention that I'll be eating my way through next weekend too? On Friday afternoon, I fly to Adelaide for my school reunion on Saturday night, Sunday morning 5km fun run (which will make me hungry), brunch with friends, and afternoon tea with family before flying back to Melbourne. So you can see why the rations, right?

To all present, past, wannabe and future mums, foster mums, step mums, and full time dads who are mums too - Happy Mothers Days! How did you spend this weekend?

SINGLET + KNIT, Witchery.
SKIRT, Thrifted.
SHOES, Zu.
BAG, Eb & Ive.
PERSONALISED RING SET, c/o Small Business Mum (these rings are DIVINE!).
COCKTAIL RING + NECKLACES, Diva. .

19/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Noah: Peek-a-boo! Hide and seek is so much fun.

Madison: Absorbed in Lego world.

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel.