Hello and welcome to the I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. My favourite post from last week was My Brown Paper Packages guide to sustainable living. The farm gets a mixed score card: solar power: tick pod coffee machine: cross food scraps to chooks: tick too many appliances: cross. Not only was Malinda's post a great list of changes we can make in our homes, it reacquainted ...
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an open letter to Katie Hopkins: ginger babies are not harder to love
Dear Katie Hopkins, I’d not heard of you until this morning, so I can’t be certain of what you’re famous for. Based on your comments this morning I’m going to assume that you’re the candidate for the Legalise Marijuana Party in Jacqui Lambert’s Tasmanian electorate. I make this assumption because you appear to be high. you both seem to have a penchant for mouthing off on subjects on ...
grace for kids
Last month I discovered that the Big Sister can recite the Lord's Prayer. I had no idea she could do it. When she finished I told her how fabulous I think it is that she'd learned such a long prayer. Then I asked her to do it again, just to be certain. The second time confirmed it. Her version goes Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be my name. I started to think about the prayers I ...
Griefworld, dogs and roller coasters: for Eden on Cam’s first anniversary
The following post has been classified M. It contains strong coarse language. I recommend that it is not suitable for viewers under 15 years, Nanna and anyone with an aversion to the F bomb. Not long after David died someone approached me and offered their condolences, I know just how you feel …. I put my dog down last week. How I controlled my fury I do not know. Maybe I was numbed ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Hello and welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. My favourite post from last week was Mrs D plus 3's tips for staying sun smart. Robyn's timing with her tips was perfect, summer has come early here. While we're talking about being sun smart, I wanted to pass on a few tips on my own to my readers. A few months ago I attended a Look Good Feel Better workshop to support ...
pear wedges with zesty yoghurt in the Tefal Actifry 2-in-1
This post is brought to you by Tefal. My approach to healthy eating is everything in moderation. Unfortunately sometime over the school holidays I forgot the moderation part and my diet became everything in moderation! I’m in the process of paring back the damage (or more correctly, thinking that I should do something about it). Dessert probably isn't part of most weight loss plans, but I find ...
strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting
I've been promising the Big Sister that I’d take her strawberry picking all year. The Glass House region is so filled with strawberry farms, that we pass two on the school run every morning. She’d ask me four out of five mornings. The conversation always ends in me sounding like that old Dreamworld ad (which mercifully she hasn’t heard) ….. don’t say one day, that day will never come …. Lucky ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Hello and welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. I'm mixing it up this week and bring you four cracking products I found on Pinterest. Back to business..... last week's I'm Pinning Around Party saw tips for decluttering linked side by side with homemade granola: truly something for everyone! If you joined in last week, don't forget to pop back and pin ...
what to do in Southern Queensland Country
This is the final instalment of three posts I’m bringing you about my time exploring Southern Queensland Country as a guest of Tourism Queensland and Southern Queensland Country Tourism. If you're headed to the Southern Downs, check out my picks of where to eat and stay. Love abounds every where you look at Queen Mary Falls. We’d barely made it to the carpark, when we discovered this ...
sand crab linguine
It’s been a good while since I posted a recipe. There’s been travel stories, entirely fabricated love stories and even a bedtime prayer, but no food. As the time between recipes dragged on, I began waiting for a heckler to stand up in the back and shout “Shut up and cook something!” Well, non-existent-figment-of-my-imagination protestor, this one’s for you..... Sand Crab Linguine We were ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Hi! How are the school holidays treating you? Have you done anything fun? Made anything special? I've loom knitted two cowl scarves, which is quite an achievement for a woman who claims to loathe craft! My motives for taking up knitting weren't entirely pure though - I was just trying to keep my hands busy and distract myself from the constant stream of food that was on offer while we were ...
the Poona Camping Women’s Association
Last week the Cooker clan headed to Poona for our annual visit. It's no accident that our visit coincided with the annual general meeting of the Poona CWA (Camping Women's Association). There was a lot of sitting and talking: a productive meeting by any committee's standards. The meeting was called to order at morning tea time. Absentees were noted. There was no agenda. Someone moved that ...
where to eat in Southern Queensland Country
There were a few places we visited in Southern Queensland Country that didn't have any telephone service, so I'm certain the good folk of the region will understand that technical difficulties prevented me from bringing this post to you last Monday. This is the second post of three posts I'm bringing you about my time exploring the Southern Downs as a guest of Southern Queensland Country Tourism ...
a mother’s camping prayer
Now I lay them down to sleep and wash in a bucket before collapsing in a heap. May the tent be not so bright, that we’re awake at very first light. May their midnight toilet requests be few, better still may we coordinate our treks to the loo. May thoughts of mates at neighbouring sites distract them from their itchy bites. Finally may their memories of friends and hugs triumph over rain ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Hello from beautiful Poona, where the the wifi to sandfly ratio is at an all time low! We're having a beaut time, the kids are spending their days getting filthy and running amok and I'm perfecting my crab cooking skills! How are the school holidays treating you? My favourite post from last week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party was Mrs D plus 3's post about blogging etiquette. I chose ...
school holiday rules {free printable}
There are two kind of parents in this world: those that love the school holidays and those that loathe them. I am both of these parents. The first week I'm all 'look at us still wearing our pyjamas at 10am, painting a hundred watercolour unicorns and not leaving the house all day'. By the second week, the bickering and whinging has got to me and I start counting the moments until the school ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Hello from Casa de Cooker, where I'm frantically preparing for our annual camping holiday in the seaside town of Poona. For me, preparing means making lots of lists. There's something calming about a good list. I'm no closer to actually packing anything, but a good list gives me the illusion of control! My favourite post from last week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party was Patchwork ...
where to stay in Southern Queensland Country
In my book, Mondays are good for one thing: planning your next escape. For the next three weeks I’ll be bringing you snippets from my recent waist-expanding visit - where to eat, where to stay, what to do. I expanded my horizons (and my midriff) in Southern Queensland Country as a guest of Southern Queensland Country Tourism & Tourism Queensland. This week's instalment is three beaut ...
Judith loves Robert
Mum and Dad spent Tuesday with us. We visited Chenrezig - a Buddhist institute where Mum and I attempted to learn to calm our shrieking minds after the accident. We’d bought a gold tile in David’s memory during our course, so we visited the Garden of Enlightenment to see it in situ. After we stocked up on Stroganoff supplies, the lure of Lifeline proved too much for Mausie, so we went on a ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
This I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party is brought to you by codeine and champagne. I had my front tooth extracted on Monday and I'm now a card-carrying member of the denture wearing fraternity.* My favourite post from last week was Clare's cacao and peanut granola, because anyone who can work out how to eat chocolate and peanut butter for breakfast legitimately deserves a medal! If you ...
the world is still a good place, the 09/09/14 edition
Today is David’s third anniversary. It seems incredible to me that we have survived three whole years without him. Today I will be unguarded in my sorrow. I've come to learn that if I don't take the time to grieve, it catches up with me at the least convenient times. On Friday I fell through the rabbit hole and into my first blog which I started in 2008. (It's sole focus was distributing baby ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
This week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party is coming to you from home sweet farm. Exploring Southern Queensland Country was fabulous. I've spent the past days over-indulging in loads of good food, so it's probably no surprise that my favourite post of this week is an old-fashioned recipe. You can't beat a good Jam and Cream Sponge and Lauren from Create Bake Make's recipe looks like a ...
the role of unreliable toasters in history
Good Morning from Stanthorpe; where the weather is good, the people friendly, the food fabulous and the waistband of my jeans constricting! There are so many hidden gems in Southern Queensland country. I'm looking forward to telling you all about it (and getting stuck into a diet of celery and air) when we return. Last week I sat down and wrote a post. When it was finished, it was so ...
parbuckling, problogger + snail mucus
On Saturday the Big Sister has been invited to a Frozen Princess Party. The party is to be held in a proper castle. She is, of course, beside herself and has been since she received the invitation. As excited as she is, I think I might just have her licked. This morning I’ve woken up in the beautiful QT on the Gold Coast ready for this year’s Problogger Conference. I’ve been looking forward to ...
four reasons why you’re not getting perfect crackling & how to get it right, every time
Is your crackling a bit hit-and-miss? Not getting perfect crackling every time? Mine was too, until I had a crackling coaching session with a retired butcher. Here are four reasons why you're not getting perfect crackling and how to get it right, every time. 1. not enough surface area The more opportunity you give the salt and heat to penetrate the pork rind, the better the result. You can ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week's pinterest party. My favourite post was Fresh Home Cook's gluten-free chocolate mug cake. Gluten and I are friends, but I know heaps of coeliacs will be weeping tears of joy at the prospect of being about a quick after-dinner mug cake. Her site has also had a little makeover, you should ...
Junction View Bush Dance
On the weekend we went to Black Duck Creek to visit my brother Ant and new sister-in-law Felicite. We've been meaning to visit for a while, so when Ant told us the annual Junction View Bush Dance was on we blocked off the dates on the calendar, loaded the car to the hilt and drove up. Black Duck Creek is about forty kilometres south of Gatton. It's a small community of farming families. These ...
an open letter to my identity thief
Dear identity thief, Yes, you. The woman who opened a Telstra mobile account and ran up a bill you intended me to pay. You want to be me and enjoy my clear criminal history and (previously) unblemished credit rating? Well it’s a package deal. You also get this: three separate creditors going under in the past twelve months owing us tens of thousands of dollars. the food detritus left ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week's pinterest party. My favourite post (because I learned so much) was 10 tips to raise adventurous eaters from Boy Eats World. If you joined in last week, don't forget to pop back and pin two posts, thanks. The guidelines for I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party are as ...
wattle & wind
Yesterday driving home from a flying trip to Brisbane, Cootamundra Wattle started playing on my phone. (I'll let that settle for a bit and give the non-country music fans among you time to click away). One stanza stuck with me. It summed up exactly how I've been feeling this past week: my anger at the injustice of the world, my sadness at the violence being perpetrated by humans on other ...
five snagadelic sausage recipes
Last month the most widely shared things on my Facebook page were a recipe for toad in the hole and a story of woe about a bloke who put popping candy on his todger. One of my readers even wrote to me, confiding that her husband loves a thick sausage. Turns out that you lot love a good snag too! If I've learned anything about this blogging caper, it's give the people what they want, so I've ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week's pinterest party. My favourite post was this step-by-step tutorial for making a baby rattle from Zamamabakes. I adore homemade baby gifts and in my experience, they're treasured long after our babies have grown. If you joined in last week, don't forget to pop back and pin two posts, ...
the sixty-four thousand dollar question
Dear Readers, I'm perplexed. Quelle surprise. The nature of my confusion is not of global concern, after all, this blog doesn’t consider existential thought* and the only string theory around here is whether using dyed-string to tie up a roast chicken will end in a Bridget Jone’s style soup disaster. I’m now a simple farm girl but, once upon a lifetime ago, I was a scientist. I had an ...
the proof is in the pickles
The funny thing about looking for recipes on the internet is there’s no guarantee they’re any good. I write recipes, photograph them, put them on the blog, and you just have to take my word for it that they're tasty. Regular readers may have tried a few dishes with some success, so they start to trust me. Others arrive to this site after asking google for something in particular; for them ...
Digital Parents Blog Carnival
I’ve been a member of Digital Parents for a while. Long before the inception of Cooker and a Looker, I wrote a blog to share updates from the farm and photos of our (then) only daugther, the Big Sister. Not willing to reveal my real-life identity, I called myself Glasshouse Girl. Years later, faced with an extraordinarily sad time in our lives, Bearhands encouraged me to focus on my love of ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week's pinterest party. My favourite post was these step-by-step instructions for making an acrobatic paper plane from Your Kids OT. The Big Sister is mad for paper planes, and I can't wait to make some of these with her. If you joined in last week, don't forget to pop back and pin two posts, ...
cheat’s minestrone
The Guinness World Record for most balls juggled is eleven. It was achieved by Alex Barron, an eighteen year old British fellow, who managed 23 consecutive catches in a "qualifying” juggling run on 3 April 2012. On the twenty-fourth catch, he dropped the ball. The moral of the story is even the best juggler in the world cannot continue catching balls. There’s a finite number of things that ...
30 days of reality
My Facebook feed is filled with holidays, date nights, family picnics and goals achieved. It's like the online version of family dinners from my childhood; where Mum would make us go around the table sharing the best thing about our day. I'm thrilled that great things are happening for my friends - they're good people - but I've learned that on days when I spent too much time on social media, ...
five more favourite things
I'm over at My Brown Paper Packages talking about my five favourite things today (spoiler alert: one of them is booze). Writing the list was fun, but deciding what made the final cut was tougher than I'd anticipated. Here are five favourite things that didn't make the cut: This whiteboard-style stick-on calendar from Avery. Our kitchen is the hub of our home; having this stuck on the fridge ...
I’m Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party
Welcome to this week's I'm Pinning Around Pinterest Link Party. Thanks for joining in. I was thrilled to see a few new faces in amongst my favourite bloggers linked up with last week's I'm Pinning Around Party. My favourite post from last week was this recipe for cream cheese pizza dip from TOMFO. I know just by looking at this, that I'm going to make the menfolk in my life very happy with ...