Mushroom foraging and a 50s experience

We went mushroom foraging in Belangelo State Forest today. It took a little while but we collected a whole basketful of lovely fresh saffron milkcap mushrooms. Ah yum, so yum. We learnt how to collect these fabulous mushrooms this time last year with Diego, he has great information on his website or follow on instagram on @theweedyone,  . Diego was there today, I noticed it wasn't just me saying hello, he has introduced a whole lot of people to the fine art of mushroom hunting. Sadly no one in my family has had this skill to hand down.

Tonight I have cleaned and cooked most of the mushrooms - some sauteed in olive oil with chilli and rock salt, others dipped in egg and breadcrumbs - check my recipe for schnitzels.

We have been happy to pass the skill on to other friends - today we were out there with a group. Diego is a good teacher - we are confident in collecting saffron milkcaps or pine mushrooms, but don't touch anything else. You know the saying - there are old mushroom hunters and bold mushroom hutners but no old, bold mushroom hunters.

After our foraging adventure we stopped off in Moss Vale for a treat at Bernies, a great American style Diner.  At the recommendation of a friend I had a ginger beer float or spider.  Yum so so good.


There is a new vintage clothing shop in Moss Vale - Viva MossVale seems to be a burgeoning vintage scene happening.  Here's a cute Holden wagon - I love the pop of colour.

5 weeks break - day 15 Harper's Mansion, Berrima

I don't know if you ever play the tourist in your own town but I do sometimes and its fun.  A great way to discover new treasures and see your home through fresh eyes.

In Berrima, a small historic village in the Southern Highlands of NSW, there is a splendid grand old home called Harper's Mansion.  It wasn't open to the public when we moved here and when it did open about 6 years ago we'd spend many an hour in the village already so didn't ever go into the house. Until today.

I had a great time!

I was shown around the house by a knowledgeable guide who told me the history of the house from the mid 1830s until 1970 when the last tenant left and the house was a complete ruin. The Southern Highlands chapter of the National Trust own the house and have restored it beautifully. They rely on donations, ticket sales and use of the property for private functions.

From convict beginnings to this grand house in a few short years, sadly James and Mary Harper didn't get to revel in the splendour for long as James died only 9 years after its completion. Situated on top of a hill, the symmetrical two story house has a straightforward charm and would have dominated the village throughout its history.

The extensive gardens are modern but contain many heirloom roses and interesting herbs.

Pineapple sage

The original well from the 1830s

I walked through the maze. My first ever time in a maze. It was so much fun. I went round and round in circles giggling all the time. The other people going through laughed as they kept bumping into people from different directions to the last time they saw them.  The maze is made from Leylandi and it smelt gorgeous, trimmed to perfection. I want to go back and do the maze again.

If you are in the area I recommend a visit: www.harpersmansion.com.au 

5 weeks break - Day 10 rainy day tasks

Phew!

We got all the mulching complete before the rain came in again. Just as well its been pouring.

So plenty other tasks to move on to:

Howard stripped the paint off a vintage metal rocking chair. I found it at the tip shop a few years ago and repainted it but our local weather isn't kind to metal. The fog wraps its tentacles around everything and makes it rust. All our outdoor furniture needs repainting - on the list for my 5 weeks off.  This chair is a particular comfy favourite.

Meanwhile I decided that a change in weather was on the cards and made a big batch of firestarters.  A lot of people round here sneer at the whole concept of firelighters but when your kindling is damp, or the wind is simply blowing in the wrong direction, some days its hard to get the fire lit. And when you've been at work all day and the house is cold a firelighter is a welcome cheat.

Made from empty egg cartons, wood shavings and melted wax these firelighters are fantastic.  My suggestion - make a production line of it and it doesn't take long to make several dozen. 

My prediction - there won't be enough to get through winter, although I'll come close, so I'll need to do another batch in a few months time.

5 week break - Day 8 Burrawang Easter Market

One of our favourite outings of the year we faithfully traipsed off to the Burrawang Easter market this morning in the pouring rain. Wonderful stalls down the length of the main street make this market a must do on the Southern Highlands calendar. It was heavy rain this year - the last couple of years have been fine - but often the autumn rains come just in time.  When you live where we do, if you stayed home because it was raining you'd miss a lot of outings. Boots and coats came out and off we went.

We came home with ewes' milk cheese, olive oil infused with truffles and chilli, fudge and fresh organic almond butter. No antiques captured our eyes this year but they often do.

Its still raining so again, we are seated in front of the fire.  Watching movies, chilling out.  Week 1 is over in a flash and week 2 begins.

5 weeks break - Day 6 driving home

Day 6 driving home and exploring the South Coast of New South Wales

My theme for 2015 is Discovery and whilst that has all sorts of wonderful philosophical meanings it has one very simple explanation - go discover new places.  I spent my trip home visiting some of the lovely little towns along the drive and found some treasures.

First stop Bermagui. 

Strangers in Paradise vintage store.

Mister Jones is a very sweet little coffee shop.

 

Bermagui is famous as a fishing village.

 

Stop 2 Central Tilba

Central Tilba is a gorgeous little heritage village full of charming shops, interesting characters and the famous South Coast Cheese Factory.  Tilba is picture perfect. And the cheese is seriously good if you like vintage cheddar with some bite. Yum.

Stop 3 Mollymook Beach

Mollymook is off the highway from Milton and Ulladulla and I've never taken the time to divert down there. I'm glad I did today, its a lovely beach.

Pop over to my instagram page for a video of the beach.

There's nothing much there but the Beach Hut make the BEST hot chips. I could see myself having a relaxing few days at Mollymook.

 

Stop 4 Milton

Milton is a lovely little village set high on a hill just north of Ulladulla, NSW. Milton has a lovely feel of community despite the busy southern highway blasting through, full of cafes, antiques and home wares shops. Today I stopped at the bakery for the first time and bought sourdough to go with my Tilba cheese and some hot cross buns. 

Stop 5 Home! 

I do like exploring and there are so many lovely places a stones throw for home, hmm I must get out more often and see what wonderful places I can find.

Antiquing at Dirty Jane's Emporium Bowral

We love rummaging around antique shops. Dirty Janes in Bowral, Southern Highlands of NSW is a favourite. He are some highlights this week.




Oh wow I wanted to buy this ticket booth. it is so very beautiful. I can see it in my garden.

Sundowners what a civilised notion after a hard day gardening

New home for my vintage plant stand

My new vintage plant stand has found a new home on my front verandah with pots of ferns and pansies.  Such a cute homespun look.

Vintage furniture salvage from freecycle restoration projects

I was fortunate enough to pick up some gorgeous vintage furniture today. I love great furniture restoration projects.  I have done up several outdoor chairs and tables of various types. I have a couple of old bird cage stands and plant stands but I have left these as found as the patina of peeling paint can look really fantastic.

I saw a post on the local chapter of freecycle yesterday offering furniture.  I spied this wonderful cabinet in a photo promoting another item.  I loved it so quickly replied to ask for it. Howard helped me collect it this morning.  I've never seen another quite like it. It has that gritty industrial look that is so in at the moment. It is a cross between a school locker and a factory desk.

 I am not going to repaint it, just clean the old sticky tape residue off.  The plywood top is covered in contact so we will put some new timber on top. We have some recycled flooring that should fit nicely.

 Look what I found inside the drawer. How groovy! Very shagadelic. I will fight Howard to keep this.

This contact is more worn out but still very laugh in!  I am so excited by this little find.   While we at the house collecting the cupboard we noticed some great outdoor furniture so contacted the owner who said we could go ahead and take this rocking chair.  It will be a great match to one I already have.  The chair I will paint black.

 And this really beautiful plant stand. Its hard to tell in this photo but its pale yellow and really fancy.  I'm not sure if I will paint it. Its really rough but I'll clean it up with a wire brush then see how it looks.

Aren't they great finds.  I keep imagining what they would have cost me in an antique shop around here and am very grateful.

You can see some of my previous projects here, here and here.

Op shop finds: vintage linens

I found some super cute pillow cases and one awesome vintage sheet at an op shop this week. 

I am always rummaging around in the linens. Lets face it I have a seriously great collection of doilies and souvenir tea towels but I never find sheets.

The floral pattern at the back is a single bed sheet in great condition. I think I'll use if as a couch throw rather than cut it up. The pillow cases are pretty nice too. A white one with embroidered detail, vintage flannelette and cotton and some modern, but good quality blue ones. They'll replace some really awful "too much polyester" ones I have.

All washed and ironed now. Good work at 50cents each!

The steam train visited Robertson today

The steam train visited Robertson today. We heard its whistle as it crossed the paddocks beyond our house. On a whim we grabbed cameras, leapt into the car and chased the train. We've lived here close to 10 years and we've never done that before. We have been at the station when it has come in but today we dashed in and out of the car, up and down the line taking snaps and it was FUN!

I took these photos with my digital camera. Howard took along his Spectra Polaroid. I'll share them when they've been scanned.

Its a stunning day, clear sunny. The steam train can only visit in Winter - there's too high a fire risk at other times of year. The heritage rail does run at other times but the old carriages are pulled by a diesel. It was nice to be a tourist in our own town. Nice to see so many people out and about enjoying life: the local kids were playing soccer, the cafes were full and there were a heap of people like us chasing the train.

Vintage update to cheap cardigan

Last week I bought a cheap cardigan. Its soft and comfy and a gorgeous shade of blue. Just the thing to throw over basic black work attire.

This morning I wore it for the first time. On the way to work I folded back the sleeves to a comfortable length. Oops, I noticed a small fault on the sleeve. A pucker and bleach spot.

Not to worry its fixed. A couple of sparkly vintage buttons and no one will ever notice.  One on each cuff - now they are permanently cuffed but the length is just right. I replaced the top button to make sure the cuffs tied in. And besides, now its really mine! It feels less mass produced, less cheap and no one else has one the same. Simple and one of my favourite fixes.

Sydney Harbour, the MCA Zine Fair

I spent a long creative day with friends in Sydney yesterday. Here are some pics from my day. Hard to believe it is so close to the start of Winter. Many people turned out for a stunning day.

Marcelo and Rachael Baez. Marcelo is a great illustrator and Rachael a wonderful Polaroid photographer.

 Stallholders' view of the crowds.

Rachael selling her zine and postcards.

It was great to be surrounded by creativity and beauty.

Last week I promised I'd share how I am re-grouping and re-energising: I haven't delivered yet. I am still working on it and will soon :)