Reillys Wines

On Sunday Mark and I went for a drive into the Clare Valley to spend some quality time together. Our first stop was Reillys Wines for lunch. The restaurant is bigger than it first appeared with little rooms tucked away for an intimate and cosy atmosphere with fires going to keep us nice and warm. I failed to get photos of the interiors as we shared our room with a small birthday celebration but the decor was very cosy and cottagey (yes, I know, not a word!)

Wanting a lighter lunch option we ordered bread and olives and a platter - this did not turn out to be a light option and filled us up considerably! The food was good and definitely filling, my only complaint was that some of it was not really suited to a share platter and was very difficult to eat. In the grand scheme of things this is not really a big thing and I would definitely like to go back and try some more of their menu sometime soon! Overall, it was an enjoyable place to have lunch and fit in with what we wanted for the day.

In other news - Hutchinson's test results finally came back and he is in the clear, we will have to keep an eye on the lump incase of further complications but it appears to just be a fatty lump and, at this stage, he won't need surgery.

Stay tuned for an OOTD post, in the next few days, of what I wore out to lunch.
A xx

Life Lately: Why the long break?

It's been well over a week since I posted and I thought it was time for a little update. The reason for my long absence: I took a few days off to celebrate my birthday and then on the night of said birthday I found a lump on Hutchinson's chest. Since then it's been visits to the vet for tests and an anxious wait to find out what it is (the vet thinks it's probably just a fatty lump but samples have been taken to rule out anything worse). I had hoped to update with the news that it was nothing of any consequence however the results are not in so we are still anxiously waiting. In the mean time I've been struggling to concentrate on anything much. Hopefully we get some good news soon and it will be back to regular content! So, Just a quick update:

Watching: Zootopia - it was as good as I hoped it would be.
Reading: The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin.
Listening to: An audio book of Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon (on Overdrive).
Cooking: Very little - I've been relying on dinners out and easy meals while I've been busy worrying.
Feeling: Worried.
Planning: One day at a time.
Loving: My little boy - Mr Hutchinson.
Enjoying: Being on holidays.

Little things of note:

• After spending a few hours last night suffering from a migraine, today has been a lazy one - some house work, some reading, comfy clothes and a warm dog.
• Labelling things makes me disproportionately happy (for someone so disorganised, organisation is very calming!)

I've tried very hard to be honest in this post and, unfortunately, that means it's not the happiest place right now, fingers crossed it's all sorted out soon - I'll keep you all posted.

A xx

10 things that have made me happy this week

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For some reason today words just won't come - don't get me wrong the happy list was surprisingly easy to write this time but trying to come up with an introduction just seems like hard work. Might be  because it's the last day of the term and my brain has switched into holiday mode or it might be the lack of sleep I've had this week (Thanks so much animals!) In any case, I wrote the list first and have been trying to add the words and something to giggle over - blogger is not behaving! If the formatting on the post is strange it's because I've given up... let's see how we go!

1. Planning for the holidays and catching up with lots of my lovely friends.
2. My appointments all falling into place - no awkward clashes, extra days added or long boring waits.
3. A few unexpected days at work this week - so welcome before the holidays.
4. Scully Kisses - she's usually the least affectionate of the bunnies but she showed me some love this week.
5. Cadbury Oreo bars - yum. 
6. Left over pasta for lunch two days in a row.
7. Cooking real meals again - I've been feeling flat and lazy recently but this week I upped my game and it was so good to have real homemade meals again.
8. A birthday card driving in the post from one of my main ladies (Thanks Amy, it really made my day!)
9. The unfettered joy that permeated the school I worked at today - That real end of term feeling.
10. The great pile of books sitting and waiting for me to get stuck into over the holidays.  

*** Happy sharing inspired by Rosie ***

Life lately: Wednesday update

A quick update on what my life consists of during these dreary winter days (someone bring back the sun already!)

Watching: Early episodes of Haven
Reading: Horns by Joe Hill
Listening to: Marina and the Diamonds and Alex Winston
Cooking: Crockpot Quinoa Chili, one of my favourite recipes, looking forward to dinner!
Feeling: Cold, also cautiously optimistic
Planning: Many good things! Including a potential puppy, house and holiday - details to come
Loving: Looking back on all my animals' baby photos for my 'Introducing' posts (if you missed them: Jack, Tribbles, Hutchinson, Daisy)
Enjoying: Endless cups of hot tea on cold afternoons

Little things of note:

• I've been up since 4.30 this morning when Jack decided he didn't feel well and needed cuddles - fuzzy brain caused by lack of sleep made me forget to put dinner on this morning and Mark had to dash home at lunch! He's such a trooper.
• Mark bought Tribbles a laser pointer and whenever we stop playing with her she starts to meow  at us- she know exactly where that dot is coming from!
• Thermal scarves are the best. Hands down. That is all.

Hope you all had a good Wednesday - only two more days until the weekend!

A xx 

Introducing: Daisy

This is Daisy:

Daisy is the only one of the bunnies that I bought, I had found Hutchinson about 5 months prior to meeting her and, rabbits being such social souls, he seemed a bit lonely. I found Daisy through work, I took part in the Animal Learning Centre at the Gawler Show and she was not only one of the bunnies we had at the show but one of the bunnies we borrowed a few weeks prior to the show to teach the kids how to handle the rabbits. Due to our timetables I ended up babysitting her in my office for the rest of the day - it was clearly love so I organised to buy her after the Show. Here's what you need to know about her:

• Daisy and Hutchinson are a bonded pair meaning they are very much in love and would be depressed if they were separated. 
• Daisy is named after Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby.
• Despite the origins of her name we call her Miss Daisy Darling because I didn't want her to think she should be a beautiful fool, plus she is a darling.
• I was assured by the breeder that she is a dwarf lop but her ears never lopped, they range from standing all the way up to sticking straight out like an aeroplane. 
• The first day I met her she ended up sitting on my lap in my office as I marked maths test - it was the best time I've ever had marking!
• Daisy is definitely the dominant one in her relationship, although she does let Hutchinson get his way occasionally just to keep the peace.
• Daisy's favourite food is the mint flavoured pellets they get for breakfast.

I'll leave you with some photos ranging from that first day in my office through to some quite recent ones.

10 things that have made me happy this week

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This week’s line up of happy things is such a blogger cliché – I don’t know whether that means I’m making it as a blogger or failing dismally! I thought this little image of Sheldon was perfect as winter seems to have really taken hold, we had the first proper frosts of the season this week, which saw us scraping ice off of windscreens at ridiculous o’clock in the morning. I can’t say I’ve been sad to have a few day’s at home this week to focus on my writing from the comfort of my warm little shoebox! All said and done, it was a good week, here’s what made it that way:

1. A bouquet of fresh flowers on the bookshelf – they really brighten up this grey weather.
2. Reading Charlotte’s updates on her little baby girl Olive and Janssen’s sweet post in appreciation of maternity nurses – me, clucky? Never!
3. Eating leftover Easter chocolate that I found in the back corner of the cupboard.
4. Having a hot water bottle on my lap in the early mornings to stave off the chill.
5. Mark bringing me cups of tea to help me relax – He’s a keeper.
6. Finishing watching season 6 of Pretty Little Liars spoiler free.
7. A very productive Tuesday – photos taken and edited, posts planned and layout issues fixed.
8. Getting into the routine of getting up in the mornings, getting ready and then writing – definite progress.
9. Wandering through the Peterborough Library – it’s small but it has a great selection.
10. Snuggles with my favourite bunnies – the cold weather does have some advantages.
11. And a bonus! (Just because this post is up so late) Port Adelaide's much needed win last night - made me grin from ear to ear (and yell and cheer and sing at the top of my lungs) 

*** Happy sharing inspired by Rosie ***

Outfit: Picnic at Hanging Rock

Ok, so I'm not at hanging rock and it was definitely far to cold to picnic but I'm sticking with that title! If you have been reading the last few posts you will know I spent some time last weekend with my family and one stop was the delightful Martindale Hall (If you missed it those posts are here and here). Martindale Hall was used as a location in one of my favourite films Picnic at Hanging Rock, hence the title of the blog post. I thought I would do a little post on the outfit I chose to wear. I started with the tulle skirt as I have been dying to wear it ever since it arrived in the post and I thought this was a wonderful excuse to dress it down with a chunky knit and ankle boots. Overall I was happy with the outfit and think I will get more wear out of this skirt than I first anticipated. I do think I'll give the skirt a little trim before I wear it again though, I'm not a huge fan of the midi on me as I am so petite I think it makes my legs look far too short! What do you think?

Boots, bag and Jumper - Thrifted
Tulle skirt - Ebay
Scarf - Ebay
Hat - Shoeshed
Tights - Big W
** Photos by Mark**

P.S. Sorry about the slightly blurry photos that place is dark!