The Secret Keeper....by Kate Morton

I have been wanting to read The Secret Keeper written by Australian Kate Morton for some time and have only just done so and what a wonderful book...first a little about the author, Kate Morton...

Image - Kate Morton

Kate Morton is the eldest of three sisters.  Her family moved several times before settling on Tamborine Mountain where she attended a small country school.  Kate enjoyed reading books from an early age, her favourites being those by Enid Blyton...read more about  Kate here.

Growing up in Tamborine Mountain and spending a great deal of time climbing trees and hiding in them, led Kate to an idea for the beginning of her book The Secret Keeper. This book encompasses mystery, a love story, friendship, trust and loyalty, second chances and the power of love...all the necessities for a good read...I just loved it and an added bonus, it is printed in Australia...here

Image - by  Kate Morton

Here is a glimpse of the story....

"1961: On a sweltering summer's day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, 16 year old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can't wait to seize.  But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.

2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past.  Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history.  A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds, Dorothy, Viven and Jimmy, who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatally entwined......."

It's a fascinating tale and a quite surprising, unpredictable end...I would highly recommend The Secret Keeper by this Australian Author ... also have a listen to a delightful interview with Kate on her website 

.... when you finish The Secret Keeper,  her other best selling novels, The Shifting Fog and The Forgotten Garden have also won worldwide acclaim...read more about them here

Enjoy this excellent book ....Wendy

Phryne Fisher's clothes...where can you see them?

Rippon Lea Image - National Trust

The popular ABC TV series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries will return to Rippon Lea this spring with a major exhibition featuring the sumptuous costumes worn by the Hon. Phryne Fisher and her cohorts. The house and gardens, which features in the series as the home of Aunt Prudence, will once again be transformed as the doors open to the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition on the 7th September...here More than 30 outfits worn by the lead cast including Miss Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis), Detective Inspector Jack Robinson (Nathan Page) and Aunt Prudence (Miriam Margolyes) from both series one and the soon to be broadcast series two of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries will be showcased in the exhibition...here

Images - National Trust

Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition

Visitors will be taken on a journey into the creation of the many worlds of Miss Fisher with insight from Kerry Greenwood, the author of the Phryne Fisher mysteries series of books, Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox, producers of the popular ABC TV series and Marion Boyce, the costume designer for the TV series. The mansion will be open throughout the day for visitors to see the exhibition at their leisure. Alternatively there are guided historic tours available for those interested in learning more about the social history of Rippon Lea.  Costumes provided by Every Cloud Productions.  Date and Time: Saturday September 7 2013 to Sunday 27 October 2013 10.30am - 4.30pm Where: Rippon Lea House & Gardens, 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick

Admission:

Adult $15 Concession $12 Child $9 Family $35 (2 adults and 2 children) National Trust Members  $10 Adult $7 Concession  $4 Child  $20 Family (2 Adults and 2 children)

Bookings advised. Book online here. I love this TV series and to see the clothes is an added bonus on a visit to the most beautiful mansion, Rippon Lea.....Wendy

The Spring Graze starts this weekend......put Victoria on your table!

It's on again the wonderful Spring Graze starts this weekend!   Over 50 events throughout Victoria during September...melbournefoodandwine.com.au

The Spring Graze is a gathering of more than 50 events hosted by industry outside of the Festival in March to welcome spring and the abundance of new-season Victorian produce it brings with it. Here is a small sample of the program for the month of September.....whet your appetite here Lamb is undoubtedly the pièce de résistance of spring time cuisine. There is an array of events proudly featuring lamb as the centrepiece...Here Wine in focus It’s time to shake off that winter coat and sample some fresh and vibrant flavours for the coming months....wine The T'Gallant Experience, La Baracca Trattoria, Mornington Peninsula, 1 - 30 September Regional Winemaker Menu, Craig's Royal Hotel, Goldfields, 1 - 30 September Picnic in the Old Barrel Hall, Seppelt, Grampians, Saturdays in September Petanque, Pies & Pinot, Dominique Portet Winery, Yarra Valley, weekends in September Cabernet Challenge, Armadale Cellars, Armadale, 17 September Pyrenees TEN:2:ONE Speed Graze, Mitchell Harris Wine Bar, Goldfields, 25 September Win a weekend in Kyneton! Through the Melbourne Food and Wine Spring Graze friends at Broadsheet  they are giving away a lavish weekend for two to the picturesque town of Kyneton in the Macedon Ranges valued at $1,500! The weekend includes accommodation, meals at top local restaurants as well as private wine tastings. Click here to enter! So many things to do and see....and taste.....Click here Enjoy the month of September with these wonderful tastings....Wendy Images: The Royal George Hotel, Kyneton & Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Don't miss the latest issue of Styling....Coty Farquhar

Looking back on the last eight months...cotyfarquhar.

So many beautiful pages to enjoy and such pleasureable reading ...Wendy

All images - Coty Farquhar

Willie Wildlife Sculptures......A garden necessity...

Swallows -Birdbath on Stand

Will Wilson is an Australian who does the most amazing sculptures.  Will started doing his sculptures in May 2001 and his following has grown very quickly with these sometimes quirky sculptures that I believe are a must for every garden, small or large as the sculptures come in a myriad of sizes...so many choices

Cockatoo & Galahs

All the sculptures have a sense of fun and aim to make people smile whenever they see them. As Will says, they are designed to add love, charm, character, strength, and style to a garden space. Everyone can relate to the sculptures from children right through to the elderly no matter where in the world they live. Willie Wildlife Sculptures can cross all cultures the same way music and dance can.  Here are some examples of his work and his website has many, many more....here

Lorikeets

Frogs Bowl on Stand

Ringneck Birdbath Bowl

Eagles Birdbath Bowl

Trout with Dragonfly

Brolgas

Giant Snails

Will Wilson was brought up on a farm in Western Victoria and studied at University in Queensland and at Agricultural College west of Sydney before pursuing his passion for wildlife. He spent time working in National Parks in Northern Australia followed by work on a private game reserve in Africa. Will now lives and works in his studio at Ocean Grove in Australia and appointments can be made to view his works...here

A special present...perhaps Father's Day....Enjoy....Wendy!

All images - Willie Wildlife Sculptures

Natural Instinct......do you use these products?

I was told about this range of  Australian made products a month or so ago and have been using a number of their products; moisturiser...non oily, lovely lavender fragrance; the body wash, my daughter describes it as very zesty; hand cream, shampoo and conditioner...and in my opinion, these products are everything they claim....Natural Instinct.... excellent
.  

The products tick all the boxes for me...no artificial colours, harsh detergents, silicones or preservatives..recyclable packaging....the list goes on and on and it's all good.  These natural Australian made products are not only good for you and your family, babies included, but also good for the environment and the best part....the price is realistic and very affordable...Natural Instinct

Over the years I have tried many, many beauty products, some with excellent packaging, but that's where the appeal ended; some with beautiful fragrances but nothing else; and then of course there is the high price end that we pay a lot of money for and the results....I'm not so sure about...however, I am sold on these...Natural Instinct

Natural Instinct  is located in Victoria and is available at a large number of pharmacies, just type in your postcode and you will be surprised how many pharmacies stock the products and they are also available online...here 

Another good thing...I think it is wonderful that a smaller company like Natural Instinct  is prepared to support a worthwhile cause such as "Challenge" supporting kids with cancer....read more about this on their website here

Vegan Friendly

Made in Australia

Not tested on animals

I do hope you will try these excellent products.......Wendy

Fatigue and Food......

I have written before about the excellent site of Helen Mark, www.fructosefriendlyfoodie.com and I thought her latest comments about "Fatigue and Food" were very informative and would recommend a reading of this site...not only if you suffer from fatigue, but forewarned is forearmed, as they say....

Helen has some very interesting recipes, which are not just for fructose malabsorption problems, but can suit most of us, have a read....here

Almond Bread

Klops (Meatloaf)

Cumin Crusted Lamb Racks

Pineapple & Hazlenut Upside down cake

Delicious and very easy recipes......Enjoy....Wendy!

Nicole Kidman..

...Australian beauty photographed for German Vogue for the August edition with photography by Patrick Dermarchellier; styling from the magazine's editor in chief, Christiane Arp; hair by David Babali; make up artist Wendy Rower and nails by Beth Fricke.

These photos were available from Splenderosa, which is a favourite blog of mine;  Marsha has a wonderful array of goodies, particularly beautiful jewellery....Splenderosa

Enjoy these photos they are quite beautiful.....Wendy

Salmon...delicious and healthy recipes...

I have loved Salmon for a long time and I receive recipes from Tassal, an Australian company based in Tasmania, regularly.  Based in Hobart, Tasmania, Tassal are now Australia's largest Atlantic salmon producers and marketers harvesting over 12,000 tonnes of salmon every year, the equivalent of nearly a quarter of the weight of Sydney's Harbor Bridge and 70% of Australia's entire Atlantic salmon production.

Tassal Shop, High Street, Kew....here

Some of the recipes are tried and true, but every now and then I come across one that is unique and a real winner.....Salmon Bon Bons....here is the recipe.....

Salmon Bon Bons

Preparation time:

15 min |

Portions:

12 servings

Ingredients

875g Tassal Tasmanian smoked salmon slices
24 baby Boconcini balls
200g dill pesto
24 chives, blanched 
Sliced lemon to serve
Dill leaves to garnish

Method

Remove Tassal smoked salmon from packaging and separate the slices a couple at a time. Lay slices flat on a board and slice in half. Place a small dollop of pesto into the centre of each slice of smoked salmon, then top with a baby Boconcini cheese. Gather up the edges of the smoked salmon to make a parcel and secure gently with a chive tying off firmly. Trim chive decoratively. Repeat with remaining smoked salmon and cheese. Arrange the smoked salmon bon bon’s on a large serving platter and garnish with sliced lemon and dill leaves.

There are many delicious recipes and the link is here

So healthy and delicious.....enjoy...Wendy

Styling magazine online...beautiful, inspiring...

June issue 

This is one of my favourite blogs...Australian Coty Farquhar is a professional creative director, visual decorator, blogger and photographic stylist whose career began and grew within the Australian Vogue Stable of Magazines.  With a passion for the visual arts, particularly photography, Coty’s design, styling and consequent blog...Styling by Coty Farquhar..has had over 1 million visitors world wide on her blogs ...these are her words for this months's June Issue of...Styling...

"Welcome to the June issue of Styling magazine, 

an issue dedicated to flowers and filled with stories on people 

that emerse themselves into the heart of the flower.   

We travel to the home and workplace of Dimitri Weber, 

perfume expert & designer and good friend of Styling contributor, Christiane de Bièvre, 

then on to Sharon Santoni, from My French Country Home who shares 

with us her friend, Madame de Romilly’s 

Château de Miserey in Normandy. A garden filled with roses 

inspired by hell, purgatory and heaven.  

I know I would like to sit in the heaven part, it’s just beautiful"

Styling Magazine....here

Now after reading those words, who could resist going on to her Styling site and weaving one's way through such beautiful photos with interesting stories and being inspired by what you see...

Coty carries with her more than 28 years experience in journalism, styling, designing and creating events.  Coty has the rare and unique combination of journalistic experience, media, visual art and marketing in the fashion, food & wine, interiors, theatre and event industries...Coty Farquhar

Coty has lived in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales for 20 years with her husband, cabinetmaker and restorer Andrew Farquhar of Farquhar’s Furniture whose extraordinary work is housed in many famous Australian buildings and private home and frequently collaborates with her husband Andrew on many projects and events. 

All images - Coty Farquhar...Styling magazine....here

I'm sure you will spend many delightful hours reading this Australian magazine...enjoy!...Wendy