shhh wild animals a foot

Christmas sewing happening in these parts. Letting the house ...ahem slip a bit.

Guess what came in the post??!!

This was part of the autumn home made swap- Guusje you are a star!!! I so completely love the hat and scarf you made me and yes, I will be using it!!!Thank you Thank you!! It's beautiful, soft cozy and I love the colours you chose!!!

Counting down the days

Advent time, this is the middle picture of a three part advent calendar we brought back from Germany, really like this artist's style (Binette Schroeder).

Other happenings in these parts, that post graduate teaching course (madness) of last year is completed, graduation was last night. Yippy!  Bit of champagne and donned the gown. Rain and christmas sewing projects in the wings now.

A smile for the everyday

Nothing like a blushing pear, of course you make me smile.

Today I picked up my official Maltese citizenship, so guess what..as of today I am Maltese !

(and American) can finally join the rest of my family in the EU passport line.

Told you I was charmed, here are just a few more... admit I am a fan of the palat in Munich .. a lot of natural earth tones... did come to the conclusion that mustard yellow and this kind of orange seem to be  the city's signature colours.

Chocolate and jewlery shop...not a bad combo.

 Yes Schmuck is Jewlery, (it's not how my mother used it growing up).

The coolest paper store I have ever seen, I walked in and thought that just maybe I had died and gone to heaven... the walls were covered in the most exquisite papers, (three rooms worth, floor to ceiling)..

A seriously dangerous for a person such as myself.... I think I looked as if I was seeing god.... mouth open in a daze of disbelief.

Pictures can not do it justice. I did come out with a blank book to add recipes too.

Wish I had taken some shots of their Japanese paper section... it was very inspiring. Such beauty.

See, we caught fall!!!  Just at the end of her golden exit.

And back we are to Malta... weekend stroll in the countryside with friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Childhood home

 Am missing the smell of a cooking turkey and the zesty tang of cranberries and orange zest bubbling on the stovetop. Then  there is the busy whirr of tidying the house, polishing the silver, finding the good linen and usually borrowing extra chairs from neighbours. Someone vacuuming, someone playing old Marvin gay albums and some combinations of the sisters beginning on the evenings sweets while drinking tea or wine and chittering like birds. Digging up grandma's stained hand written recipe for pumpkin muffins, or opening the heavy volume of Joy of cooking looking for just the right gravy tips. Brothers trudging off in the snow for the last minute forgotten items.
The temperature in Wisconsin would usually start to have that sharp cold edge and occasionally with the darkening afternoon light came the quiet entrance of snow. I come from a big family and during the Thanksgiving meal it always multiplies to include old family friends, new partners, new children and any visitors who happen to be in town that day.
Am thankful today for good friends close and far and family in all the spread out places you are, and for having a home, and being able to cook food for the ones i love (even if they complain). My heart goes out to those who are far away from loved ones and those that may not be living in safety and warmth.

* Here in Malta its 80 degrees, sunny and just like any other day. A work day, a school day a hang out the laundry and run to the shops for milk day but I am baking some pumpkin for a pie.

Hello again!

Been away- sorry the silence.

First was knocked down with a cold and a two year old who decided it was high time to act the part in all the frustrating determined will-power ways she can.

Second was a birthday (this time my own) so no party favours to make.

And hey hey a trip- minus children!!

I love my children, every inch of their teeny grubby (did I say that?!) little bodies but a three day break with the Mr. was absolutely grand. First time we have been alone together in five years (for more than a night)- amazing that it's been so long!! The sheer delight of simply checking ones bags in at the air port and strolling (safely and calmly through duty free bottles of expensive alcohol (usually this is a continuation of high stress due to the three free ranging sets of hands running in usually three different directions ensues).

So even that first hour alone together waiting for our gate to be posted was like the honeymoon we never had! To meander our way through a new city, no time schedule, good beers to try, nice wholesome dark bread around every corner and so many nice cafes!! Best of all was to lie in bed, reading the paper or talking - UNINTERRUPTED...so am  feeling revived and wanting to relocate to  Germany.

rather fancy this as my house.....

A few pics of Munich- a truly delightful city!!

 I even got a small taste of fall!!! The smell and crunch of some autumn leaves... love love loved it!

Hope you all have been well!

p.s. I may have to post a few more Germany pictures, was mighty charmed by our visit!

Meet Mims

After seeing how happy little D has been with her soft monkey toy (posted earlier about), I decided to make a soft toy for a friends daughter who just had her second birthday. Mims is 20 inches long and made of cotton. I made up the pattern and am now thinking I would like to try sewing a few more, and some little clothes.

She may well be off to the mountains soon.

Happy Feast of St. Martin!

 I  believe that it is actually on November 11th (as noted over at Appletarte) but it is celebrated here today. One local Maltese  tradition for St. Martin which is still carried on here is giving children small cloth bags full of nuts, dried fruit and fresh fruit. My husband's parents however remember walking through the small streets here as children carrying lanterns made of pumpkins and singing. Mostly they remember fondly the shadows of the lanterns cast on the walls.

Today I made a traditional Maltese St. Martines Cake (it is delicious) and has become a favourite for runner for the start of the Christmas holidays in our house.

It tastes lovely and makes the house smell  of christmas, cinnamon, oranges and cloves... !

Here is the Recipe

Maltese St. Martins Cake

250 grams dates chopped
200 ml boiling water
125 grams self raising flour
(if you live where there is no self raising flour then use one cup white flour and 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp baking powder).
200 grams toasted hazelnuts or walnuts
100 grams dried figs chopped
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
zest and juice of one whole orange

First let the chopped dates soak in the boiling water for at least one hour. then add in the other ingredients (setting aside a handful of the nuts to sprinkle on top), lightly stir and bake at 350 F or 180 C for 30 min.
Simple as that and so good next to a hot cup or tea or coffee.

*Note it is not a very sweet cake so if you like you can add a tablespoon or two of brown sugar but really the dried fruit and orange juice sweeten it just fine.

Bit a South London ...bit a Brooklyn

ok some new music has gotten under my skin....feel the urge to share, these are the XX - listen (twice if you can.. the second time round and it starts to sound really quite good). Maybe it's me- Brighton- bit of Electrolane... who knows...let me know what you think!

also of note is this good looking childrens book- listed among the New York Times best illustrated new childrens books... like the bizarreness...amid normal every day...(perhaps this is also evidence of the fact that I  have a house full of deep sea appreciators.)... oh sorry this book  (TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA ) says it is meant for 12 year olds... darn. .. 

but this (All The World)  looks good too! 

ok- some more melancholy type music- for your rainy day ears... Sharon Van Etten

...oh Brooklyn,  home to so many gifted artists!!

Confessions

Um... so  some months ago I bemoaned organized parties, favors, etc. and well I now need to do some confessing ... I crossed over - I went deep into the party favor realm,

 but tried with every inch  NOT to give in to plastic crap and too much sugar-in-wrapping... so after some thought and late night sewing and painting sessions I came up with these for my littl rock collecter girl child (aka too often lost in the middle child).

In truth this was really her first 'party' complete with friends from 'school', written (and enveloped) invitations, games and party favours!

She (now four year old), enjoyed every tiny bit of it (specially dragging round her extremely quiet yet devoted big brown eyed boy who she adores). There was musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel.  The chocolate cake came out better than anticipated and kids went home sugard up and  tired out, clutching small cloth bags filled with home made tid bits. One local Maltese mom commented to me when she saw the gift bags"..well you certainly must have a lot of time on your hands...." how can I possibly say... are you off your rocker... this is pure and simple nutty somewhat guilty mum slash/crafter... nonconformist who can not sit by and let Disney make profits on plastic s#$! from china speaking. Sorry I am usually not very aggressive but ... this comment took me off guard, naturally I smiled politely and shrugged my shoulders.
  

The earlier mentioned shy boy (notice the heart on his crown) made by hers truly, rock collector Madame.

Aside from the airplane addicted boy who went into run around- zip up mode from the get go (he isn't so good at handling excitement or change in routine..thus.... we often refer to this fellow as our spirited child).  Meanwhile little D. proved she was not only a star greeter and host  but a dancer and a champ at particpating in every activity - she nearly won at musical chairs to everyone's disbelief!

We may have a few years of quiet picnics in the park now ... till I build up to a joint girl party in full glory (no nothing pink).... will give it a year or so....

p.s. It is my lovely mother in laws house featured in most of these photos- this is where the party was held (logistics I won't get into here).

relief

As autumn storms rumble overhead and flashes of lighting light up the windows, the house falls quiet again. Another day ending...the children all bathed and tucked into bed.

A short while ago from between the requests, whines, spills, homework spread, cooling chocolate cakes and bubbling vegetable soup came the memory of a song.. a song that from first hearing it got under my skin and enchanted me, and now I turn to hear the soaring voices again... cascades of melody melancholy dark depths and soaring hights... (if you haven't seen it, in my humble opinion it is well worth  taking the the time to find)  The Chorus, a French film.

Here is a bit of what I am talking about. this is a fancy version of the particular song that swooped in and pulled me out of feeling defeated amid the mess, ticking clock and long list of things I did not manage to get done today.

*funny thing was when I did find it and play a few songs, all three children stood completely still, oddly transfixed.. in particular little Destructo who at the end started trying to sing with it.

unassuming beauty .....Gidra

Not sure what it is called in English but after a small mix up at the vegetable stall I ended up with this (had asked for beetroot greens).  I was so struck by the beauty of it that I decided to take it home with me.

So thought/challenge of the day, find something of beauty in a place you don't normally expect to find it.

Happy Friday

With the smells of orange blossoms filling even our little dusty stone ally, am inspired to put pen to paper and write a letter- (one of my goals this year has been to stay in touch with old friends by post and not just through the screen). So of course stationary is an important question (will embark on stamp making one of these days but more birthday parties to prepare for in these parts) so till then.... isn't this nice?

Take a look at what else is in their etsy shop here at paper pastries

or this

or something like this at http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilhouetteBlue

.

daily pleasures

I came round the corner this morning and under our list of things to buy and meal ideas for the week was this drawing, my middle child - the very nearly four year old had just finished, she explained it was a caterpillar holding balloons (and yes those are doors all over it's body). very time I look at it, I can't help but chuckle. kids are funny.

Nice quiet moments - busy on the day's masterpieces... or is it rock painting day again?

New life- the seeds have woken and every day the children rush out in their stocking feet to see how the little sweet peas have grown (we planted them a week or so ago). Small moments of joy, for them and for A. and I watching.

Christmas books on the mind today...

A moonlit hour restless and what a discovery (thank you internet), I can't wait to get this book for the children for christmas.

 and then there is this one, which I remember reading as a child.... (is it obvious I had hippie parents with a name like Juniper and books like this).

and ohhh and a new illustrator discovery that I must share-

Lizbeth Zwerger (new to me) but I do think I may have seen the cover of her thumbelina at the library in Brighton. Love her style of drawing.

breath

As I got down our laundry flapping away in the wind and drizzle I captured a view from the rooftop this morning.

Oh glorious rain (it seems to be sunny and bright 49 of 50 days here, so today I am loving the dark grey stormy sky today and the chance to have some cozy time with the kids (school holidays at the moment).  So it's potato stamps, playdough and some all together baking lined up (and maybe some sewing for me).

Must say we have had a great weekend here, largely filled with cooking, eating and socialising. Can say in all honesty we have been cooking up a storm in this little house, from five course dinners for a dinner party on Friday to six (each different, large French savoury tarts for a Sunday birthday gathering), and sweets wise a sour cream mace tort, a chocolate mousse with a fig and honey whip cream side, and a plum upside down cake. Some of the mains included pumpkin, feta, toasted walnut and mint fatyer, a greek cypriot beef stew and a roasted cumin and beetroot soup (looked nice with the intense red drizzle of yogurt and fresh parsley garnish but I had no clean hands to grab my camera).  I found the beets so striking (featured above) that I took this photo. Sadly that is the only food photo I had a moment to capture over the weekend. Juggling cooking and three smalls means you are on the move at all times.

It's been a feast of smells and colours here, always seems to bring my husband and I closer together, which is always nice,  we both love cooking.  The flip side of when the kitchen and food take up priority is the effect it has on the rest of the house.... the piles of laundry and scattering of toys, crayons and papers seemed to have gobbled up the rest of the house so we, ok 'I'  am digging my way out today. Strong cup of coffee at my side and the intention to blast some music. Am ready for the day.

Hope you are too.

Oh and guess who has joined our family!

Little Pepito the monkey (made by talented Elise over at My Funny Valentine).

Check out that cool tail!

Destructo is one lucky lady!

film time

Last weekend I went to see the film Julie and Julia, and loved it. So so enjoyed it. Could be because i am missing the states just a little bit (the Halloween/Thanksgiving season can do that). It may be partly to the fact that I could relate a bit with the blogger story line (bar the fame part)  but probably has more to do with the fact that I have always been a fan f Julia Child and I do think that Meryl Streep did a fantastic job. If you are debating seeing this film- just go- see it, it's good. Good food, good music and a little window on a particularly sweet marriage.

Oddly enough, after not seeing a film in what feels like ages and ages I actually managed to see two last weekend.  The other was our first family film outing, we went  to see UP (popcorn and all) and enjoyed that too...  Really made us smile ( the Mr. and I ) kids all liked it too.  So there you have it - two film recommendations right here from the epicentre of culture and class, miracle alley,  malta!
 BTW That seriously is the name of our street.

Birthday

Candles, cakes and balloons! Little D (also known as Stella) had a bumper time, I think she just couldn't get over that the songs, presents and the cake were all for her (who me.??!! seemed to be the look on her face throughout the day). This was followed by sheer glee and delight- chocolate cake I can put my hands into!?! Presents that at last I can unwrap with abandon??!!  Yes it was I think perhaps far more fun than having my own birthday, getting to see how happy she was throughout the day. Needles to say it was a three ring circus come dinner time (with family and friends round) so I did not manage to take any photos but we did take a few at breakfast, featured above.

signages

I was inspired by Melissa over at  Tigerlily Tinkering some weeks ago, loved the idea of taking note of local fonts found in signs in her area. So in her honour I have taken a few photos of my own. There certainly are some local sign treasures to be found in the small streets of Malta! This time the fonts are the focus, to follow will be some of the actual names (hairdressers salons here are particularly funny I find). 

oh and guess what desctructo is two today!!! Cake to bake and child to indulge!  

Time for a coffee....

....this cafe is a new favourite, a perfect spot for a good latte and croissant while in Valletta, especially when I am in the company of sweet little destructo who (it must be said) loves nothing better than chasing after the pigeons and saying hello to every moving thing within sight. This newly refurbished old cafe which is just next to the library is perfect, an inside outside place with ample room to run and very friendly patient staff. Did I mention they also have both almond and apricot croissants, something not so easy to find here in Malta.  

May your week be starting smoothly with warm milk and strong coffee at your side.

Pumpkin carving time!

the smalls drew the faces and I did the cutting.

Honest Scrap

Have been awarded with an Honest award... thank you Return to Bohemia.
Her parents post is awesome go have a peak.

As a recipient I am instructed to do the following -

first

Thank and link to the person who nominated you.

second

Include their Honest Truths, and here are hers

• Like my dainty pal the Townhouselady, I too burp like a dude. My husband is constantly amazed, and when he tries to do it, he judges his own attempts "weak efforts."
• I always think I talk too much. But I have a lot to say and hardly anyone ever tells me to stop.
• I wish more people would act excited about life. I feel stupid sometimes by how much I enjoy little things. People look at me funny.
• I love Bruce Springsteen endlessly. If you tell me you don't, I judge you in ways you wouldn't like.
• I have way too much jewelry. I love it all. I can tell you about every single bit of it. I sold some of the really good stuff on ebay. I wish now I wouldn't have done that.
• I'm a smell freak. (and occasionally a smelly freak) If someone within 7 blocks of me has eaten garlic, I carry on about it.
• My biggest pet peeve is gum chewing. I think it's disgusting. Why not just chew all your food all day long, pop it, blow it into bubbles, stick it under chairs. What the hell's the difference.
• I was a Guiding Light watcher-- since 1978, and I was sad it went off the air. I know the names of the actors. I follow one or two of them on twitter.
• I stopped drinking 8 years ago. I didn't have one of those finding myself in the gutter moments, I just did it. When some people find out I don't drink, they look at me suspiciously and seem to be thinking, "Wow, she must have been really bad," and probably feel much better about themselves.
• I quit smoking too. I'd love one right now, however.

third) include 10 truths about yourself
So here are some truths about me...

• I think I may like brownie batter better then the cooked final thing.
• I somehow find putting the children's books all in place calming, even if the rest of the room still has toys and pillow strewn around, somehow its the books being cared for that brings a kind of odd satisfaction. 
• I think Northern Exposure and  Mad Men may well be the best two series I have seen thus far.
• I am an oatmeal fan . 
• I am a maple syrup snob, I just don't see the point in eating a good waffle or pancake with out the real thing, would rather go yogurt and honey if there is no proper maple syrup on hand. 
• I long to return to Nepal one day. 
• I love almonds, lemons, and very dark chocolate (not all together).
• It irritates me to no end when my husband farts (loudly) next to me in the morning (how can a person enjoy their latte and toast after that)??! I mean really.
• I can get sucked into a book or a film almost to the point where if the phone rings I can forget who and where I actually am. 
• I love the smell of a carpenters shop, wood shavings and so on (not the varnish sprays).  

five) The final step is to present this award to at least 4 others blogs you find brilliant in design/content or who have encouraged you.

My nominations go to 
Guusje's Appeltaart - oh what a positive woman, her blog always brings a smile to my face, quite the creative misses, and full of good ideas. 
Une Envie Del Sel - her blog is always a visual feast, and she is a able to express so eloquently the sweet magic of motherhood/childhood in such a way that it makes you stop and take note of your own life and children and the adventures that exist in the everyday (also a talented painter) with a good eye for style. 
MUS- ah if only I could read Dutch fluently! Her blog is stunning and here too a clever creative spirit with such good ideas! 
Last but not least a new discovery, The Plum Tree, where  I of late have been wandering to instead of a book, she writes so well. A small trip to India, I find her blog to have a very poetic sensibility, quite a delight. 

Persimmons you say

Discovery

(for me anyway but probably the rest of you out there knew all about it). 

I spotted this at the little fruit and veg stall down our road today and enquired about it to be told

 'it is a Kaki and is very good, don't eat the skin'. 

I tried it today and wonders of wonders... it is divine! So subtle and sweet, really am a convert and upon further research I discovered it is called a persimmon in English (have always loved the word but never knew what it was). Am now contemplating naming our house that (houses have names here), and ours doesn't have one yet. 

We do have quite a few bits of orange about the place. 

Apparently this one is from Spain (wouldn't it be cool to see them hanging on trees)!

Am thinking I may need to make an orange flan so that I can use the little stars as garnish.

(Am a bit of a flan - creme caramel addict)

Couldn't resist

While running a few errands in Valletta yesterday, I stopped to buy some good quality cocoa from a particular little old baking shop. While there I spotted a little display of maybe 15 different varieties of these and couldn't resist. I think they are little liquors that one could use to flavor cakes and things but am not entirely sure. No one in the shop could tell me, nor could they tell me exactly what the different types were in English (the box is entirely in Italian). I loved the size and nifty packaging, so chose a few (may be making chocolate truffles come christmas time you see). Wonder what Sassolino is?  Am guessing that the Prunella one I bought is some kind of prune liquor? and why the old witch looking lady?

(I included the cup to give you a sense of the size)

Monday morning wanderings

Gifts from our summer visitors
included the sharing of these photos,

(Morocco)

oh to travel as these two did!

Every couple I suppose knows another couple they admire in some way or other and these two are ours, good friends, travellers, fellow food lovers and always a joy to spend time with. True appreciators of life, the gritty parts, the unassuming wonders and the spectacular. Aren't good friends one of the sweetest parts of life. So glad they made it to our small island to visit. Here are a few glimpses from their most recent adventures if you want to see more look to their page here.

Cienfuegos, Cuba

Malta

Uruguay

Oh blessed Friday

POMEGRANATE AND WALNUT SALAD

A bit of a hectic week here, agreed to filling in for a science and Math teacher at a local private school, so full days of trying to bring forth all I had learned about plant and animal cells, the periodic table, algebra, the human musculature system and throw in gym and a music class and I was really pushing the extent of my natural abilities (am a big appreciator of music but singing myself oh my no).

But it is the end of the week and a little window of time today allowed me to make a salad (and write a post). This is a salad I haven't made for years- it is a Turkish recipe from a Mediterranean cookbook of ours.    A great use for pomegranate when they are in season, a nice side to lamb or a soup.

The recipe is as follows

1 cup walnuts chopped

half cup olive oil ( I used a bit less)

1  1/2 Tablespoons pomegranate syrup (but if you don't have it still would taste good I think)

1/2 chili flakes

1 cup pomegranate seeds

2 cups green olives chopped

1 large red onion chopped

1 cup plat leaf parsley chopped

I toasted the walnuts, then chopped them, added the rest of the ingredients and mixed the olive oil. chili flakes, and pomegranate syrup together with some salt and pepper, and added that last. Handy tip is that you can take out the pomegranate seeds under water and the seeds sink and the white bits float. Makes it so easy (usually the seeds often go flying cross the room).

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Rain or shine I am looking forward to mine.

Musings of Aunt Epp

Of late I have taken to washing up the kitchen before bed and listening to one radio podcast or another and one of my favourites is Woman's Hour (BBC Radio 4),  today I heard a bit about a book called Aunt Epp’s Guide for Life – From chastity to copper kettles, musings of a Victorian Lady by Elspeth Marr . Am most intrigued by it,  would be rather pleased I think this winter to curl up a bit with some witty words from a different era. You never know when a book may change your life right?  (must once again plug This American Life (NPR), a few weeks ago they had a whole show on this topic, how a book can change you.  

Give me 15 minutes

Calamari on the fly

One thing I have learned since moving here to Malta is how easy it is to create a whole fresh tasting meal using fish you froze some weeks or months ago! We needed to make space in our freezer and remembered the squid, a few hours after taking it out and my husband had whipped up some delicious and very fresh tasting calamari! He just cut it, fried it in garlic and oil for around ten minutes till it changed colour and the juices come out and thickened, set it aside and added some fresh chopped parsley, squeeze of lemon juice,  salt and pepper.  You can toss it with some fresh pasta or over a salad, such an easy and tasty meal. Growing up in the midwest, I thought Calamari was suppose to be like rubber but ahh no, it is tender and so delicious when cooked properly!

(Kid comments while watching their papa cut the squid included- "....but really where is it's nose?  how does it eat? Is that plastic inside?  "

It's not yet fall weather here, mdina strolls for ice cream, rooftop barbecues and trips to the sea side are all still happening (but probably not for much longer).

Cup of tea anyone?

Seriously considering a present to myself, who would not feel complete with one of these to greet you in the morning. Found here.

Morning stroll

Maltese Doors

A few, just to wet your appetite (for those that appreciate doors).

School Days

Feels like we really are back in the school year  here, maybe it's me or my memory but I swear I don't remember having so many notebooks when I was a kid, last night we were up til late covering (I counted) 16 little notebooks (thats just for the 5 year old). I really don't think I had Math homework when I was five (little Mr. T has 5 notebooks worth and three large workbooks just for math). Maybe he has a 'special' kind of teacher this year.

She certainly is specific, the Maltese notebook has to be covered in red plastic, the Science green, English blue etc. . The other thing was all the labels!!!! From paint brushes to glue sticks to folders (even his own little box of tissues was instructed to be labelled) , have schools lost the art of teaching sharing to kids?  I realised that I wrote my sons entire name (which is no short name) 32 times on these various labels. There is a good chance I may sign his name next time I go to the bank.

A loss

I heard today that Mercedes Sosa died, the Argentinean singer, at age 74. Since first hearing her music while at University I have been taken with the power and emotion in her voice (and the beauty of the lyrics). She has been in some ways one of the  'themes' of this last year as little destructo has become addicted to hearing the ' ah ha' (as she refers to it song) ,  which is the song Maria Maria... she will not stop requesting it until she has heard it, I can safely say that I have heard this song well over 100 times over the last six months . I do however still like it.  Am saddened by the news of her death, and think I shall take some time today to hear her other songs.

(by the way ignore the video that goes with this song, it was the best sounding version I could find online)

Nice weekend of picnics and country walks here. Hope you all enjoyed the weekend too.

Quiet

So we begin, it is still here, a soft calm after a night of raging winds, rain and lightening. I am alone with my little Stella and school days have started in earnest for the older two. The small still moments, of coffee hopeful thoughts of plans for the day and soon a view from the rooftop (laundry to hang while the sun peeks through). May you all be having some moments of peace and daydreams as you make your way through Friday. - J  

Or Perhaps Paris?

Oh the joys of FIP, I so love the utter randomness of this station. Today I came across this song and oh like a good cup of tea or glass of wine it is a pleasure. Her name is La Fiancee sadly she is not coming to Malta to perform any time soon, hmmm maybe we just need to go to Paris. If you want to hear some of her other songs go here.

The joys

Little Destructo

of parenthood sometimes are beyond measure, there are some lows however and today (which should have been my sons first day of  'big kid school' ) was one of those not so joyous days. He and my little destructo are sick with a cold/flu type thing, not pleasant I admit, but I had to go out and do a few errands with them (bread, milk, Medicine and garlic).  Mr. T (who is our most dramatic family member) decided that a small crowded pharmacy would be the best place to stage his dying moment, hands on his throat he gets on his knees and starts yelling- ohhhh I feel a like  I am going to ...BURP, NO NO  I think i am going to THROW UP!!!! I rolled my eyes and tried to have my cash ready to go, being next in line (having seen him 5 min earlier begging to go on the swings and asking for a crackers) I had a sneaking suspicion he was NOT going to throw up (he had also been saying this for the last two hours). Meanwhile little destructo had reached out of her pushchiar and was one by one pulling the bottles of hair conditioners off the shelf, reaching down in a flurry to gather them back up I then turn in time to hand the woman behind the counter the doctors prescription, and ask to buy some hand sanitizer..(maybe it's time to start carrying this in my purse) Bird flu seems to be on everyone's lips lately here. As the pharmacist  is reaching over with it I see the womans face go a little stiff, (this is mind you a minute after my sons throwing up declaration while splayed out on the floor occurred)  to the annoyance and alarm of customers in the que behind me. Just then I look down to see she-who-lives-for-sweets  L. (3) quietly running her mouth (open) along the  counter... so much for keeping the kids free of germs with hand sanitizers! Who knows how long she had been doing this before I noticed her. Yes- we were a spectacle no doubt about it. Never a graceful exist either with three,  trying to reverse a pushchair in a small glass shelved crowded space with a kids holding on to either side, and no one leaning forward to help with the door. I won't bore you with the further adventures of our walk into town but there were many.

p.s. Needless to say little Mr. T never did throw up and today (wed) his fever has gone AND he lost his first tooth! The school will not allow him back without a doctors letter however so back to the pharmacy we go (thats where doctors do their private hours), won't they be happy to see us again!

Wistful wanderings

Maybe it's fall setting in a bit here, maybe it's having had visitors from Germany these last two weeks, but (Mostly Berlin)  has me yearning to travel, to bring a book and wander through Berlin.. visiting some of the cafe's this blog has written about. I still have that tiny residue of Seattle with me I suppose, the love of a really really good latte, playful decor and a cafe that takes it's barista with total seriousness.

Post colour week : bit of blue

As suggested by Not Only in Thailand, a post colours of fall day- weekend blue.  It's Sunday here and we have just returned from five days in the North of Malta, in a small flat by the sea. 

The first picture is a bowl of peeled prickly pears ready to eat.  Am impressed with the shades of magenta, yellow, orange and green you find on the insides.

The sky skapes on Thursday and Friday were quiet spectacular, as the thunder storms rolled in.

Last beach days I think, the children had a blast. School begins here on Monday. May be time to put the buckets and spades away. It's been a good long summer.

Colours of Fall: Day Five

PLUM

Not sure if it totally counts but there are some nice shades of purple in this fabric by Heather Ross, and how sweet a name, Underwater Sisters (but really it's the octopuses that are the clincher for me) . This Fabric can be found on Etsy here at Uberstich.

Colours of Fall: Day four

BROWN

Not the most creative am afraid, we are at a flat by the sea right now, it's all blues, grey and big skyskapes of storm clouds. Decided to share this pillow, captures a bit of the feel of autumn for me.

Fall Colours : Day Three

YELLOW

What girl goes without a bright yellow pair of shoes right?!  I think Malta must be having an effect on me, am going for bolder colours these days.

Here is day three of Elsie Marley's colours of fall week.

They are quiet a lovely mustard colour in real life but appear lighter in the photos.

Colours of Fall: Day two

BURNT SIENNA
Certainly makes me want to get on a train and travel off into the sunset.

Not feeling totally satisfied with this, I looked back at some old photos and realised that for me

fall makes me think of my daughters, for they were both born during this season and I connect it to 

those last days of being pregnant and then the settling into winter with a new born. 

This is a photo from my older daughters birth, she was born at home, in Malta

(we were renting an old house in a place called Zebbug which means olives). 

This was our bedroom, the early afternoon light had an unusual effect on the room. This was one of my favourite things about this house.

Autumn Colours Day One

I am joining the colours of fall week suggested over at Elsie Marley and today is the start. In ode to the colours of fall I am missing, here is a picture of a fabric I am taken with and what comes to mind when I think of fall... a comforting cup of tea.

Changing seasons - Rummien

They say here with the September rains, it's the sound of the thunder that cracks the pomegranates open and then you know it's time, they are ready. While passing under it's tree on our walk today, we spotted our first cracked open one.

It's the small things sometimes

Like today, I set aside all major projects, cleaning tasks and to do list of errands and took all three children on a long walk to Birgu (equipped with a stroller and a picnic lunch). We had such a good time, trying out some unknown side paths, spotting not three but six little salamanders (or so they call them), test flying Tano's little paper model plane, going up and down on the see saw, the children were so good, with all the walking, heat and tricky streets to cross they did not complain once (not usually the case). One of those days you so enjoy being a parent and getting to spend time with your children. I wish this was true every day.

The pictures, while A. was away in Portugal last week and I was on my own with the kids, the Zabbar feast was in full swing. I took the kids through the crowded streets, to the band marchs, fire works, little stalls (am not normally much of a crowd person) but I managed and this was one of my favorite parts.... strolling round a familar little piazza to find an angel, or rather a tall painted wooden statue of some angel, they suddenly appear all over the city during the week of the feast. There is something uplifting to me me about turning a corner and seeing an angels wing or the bare foot of a temporary statue. Here are some close ups.

2 minutes

I stepped away for a moment, just a minute... and whalaa two cups of milk added to the playdough...nice. Needless to say that was the end of the playdough, which perhaps was good timing- it was all looking the colour of a dirty toad. As much of a pain as playdough is (the tiny bits you find squashed on the floor, in carpets, on shoe bottoms, hidden inside legos weeks later) it does certainly keep my gang very occupied.. I would go as far to say an hour.. which is an eternity with my lot. Am sure there is some flour based make it yourself recipe out there I can find on line. I hope!

Till the next posting, a song that off and on gets stuck in my head -Don't Fence Me In by Cole Porter , (only ok sounding version I can find at the moment) the horse bit is a little creepy.

Can I visit?

Although we have bought our old house and are still slowly setting things up here in Malta, I seem to have caught the house design bug and stumbled upon this site the other day DWELL. Without meaning to, a broom and the mop to my side (dinner dishes and the kitchen floor to attend to as A. had bed time honours with the children). I got a bit side tracked and before I knew it a good half hour had passed. Maybe I am missing Grand Designs (admittedly one of the shows I miss from the UK). Here are some pictures of houses I wouldn't mind visiting. The last one is from a section called scrap houses, all made from scraps of material- love it.

That crush

I saw her again, that beauty of a car, wonder if I can talk the old man into selling it. The colour, the details, I just love it. I used to cross paths with this Morris car every now and again while walking my children to school.

This

is a little bit fun -

perhaps he has been around for some time but this is the first I have heard of him- check out the Face Hunter blog. I love seeing people who take on a style of their own. These are a few from his Berlin section (he goes round the world and photos people on the street).

Adjusting

In my tastes anyway, much like the experience of growing to like (love actually) Geit Ost (the brown goatcheese) while living in Norway. I have come to love some Maltese specialities, like Kinnie (the national soft drink) and pickled onions, todays lunch was one of my recent favourites, fresh local bigilla (bought at the market this morning) served on today's bread, parsley and tomatoes. Bigilla is a broad bean spread usually made with Garlic and any combination of spices, no two seem to taste the same.

(One my favourite streets on the walk to the market)

By the way, kids have given the thumbs up on the blue doors and so has A, so I suppose we will stick with it. Funny, now the picture in our kitchen (red and blue print of Obama) is like the cross over from the outside to the inside.

Apologies to your eyes, we seem to have endless red surfaces, this was taken as I joined the kids on their kid table for a picnic lunch. Just realised it too is turquoise and red!

Some days

Things just work and others it all goes horribly wrong in small little ways all day long.

Today was one of those days- I had great hopes of finally painting the hideous tan metal doors in our courtyard. But in two ways this endeavor went awry, the first being that one should not start to paint something (with non water based paint) when young children are a foot.

For at just the point (nearly done and getting a little relaxed and carefree) I looked to see little Mr T. who desperately wanted me to look at his upside down submarine made for trains ... and in that moment, the entire can of paint slipped out of my hand and spilled ALL OVER ME, THE STONE FLOOR AND THE LADDER (borrowed from my in laws). My little guy notice an unusual word coming from my mouth and quickly ran over to help - walking right through the bright blue paint. If I wasn't covered in paint I would have taken a picture, it was a site! Slightly worrying, especially when I had not exactly told my husband that I would be embarking on this little DIY project. So with an hour to go before A. would get back from work and with minutes to go before destructo (my one year old) would wake up from nap (paint splatter and footprints EVERYWHERE), I did what one sometimes needs to do in these situations. LAUGH. Somehow it made it all better, it did take me ages to clean it all up ( I was by the end wreaking of kerosene having managed to spread paint form my hand to my face, as well as my elbow, forearm and knee ). I did clean it up in the end - JUST IN TIME. Then came lesson number two, a small square of colour looks very different on a larger scale! Twas all in vain- you look at the colour and think that you're in a fish tank- not the shade of turquoise I was going for after all. What to do?!

Pretty hideous- especially when one takes into account we have a bright red kitchen (as seen above), wouldn't red out doors have been a bit too much red though?! Back to the drawing board...anyone have any suggestions?! The walls are all old yellow sandstone so bold colours can work. Oddly the colour is already starting to feel normal.

On another note, I did have a good cooking day yesterday and made this caramel ice cream from the lovely Falling Cloudberries cookbook, the result- three very happy children. (Notice the ugly old tan metal door in the back ground).

Well good morning!

A friend spotted this and passed it on to me today-(thank you M) and I just had to share it with you all. Talk about athletic! Am loving it this morning, after a strong cup of coffee and with the kids at their grandparents I feel almost like tap dancing around the place myself. Had to share!

Hope you are all out having a good weekend!

By the way, fancy feet and myself are at last signed up to start tango lessons! Just hope I don't get the giggles, tango seems like some serious business.

For the kids

WATER BABIES

Sometimes you just need five minutes, to jump in the shower, run and grab the laundry off the line, finish the breakfast dishes or make a quick phone call. Am including (because I strangely enjoy making lists) a list of some of my kid's favourite youtube videos, most are 3-5 min long.

I admit I am a bad mother and have used them as bribes, such as "if you two can stop bickering and get your shoes, hats and coats on by the count of ten, you can watch the robot song".

Boy does it work! Better then sweets and I admittedly enjoy hearing them humming the songs throughout the day.

FUNNY BUNNIES

CONSIDER YOURSELF

THE ROBOT SONG (TALK BY COLDPLAY)

MAHNAHMANAH! (MUPPETS)

TALK LIKE YOU(JUNGLE BOOK)

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

OH TRIANGLE

THE BALLOON SONG (AUSTRALIA)

1234 (FEIST ON SESAME STREET)

BARNYARD

ONE WAS JOHNNY

I'D DO ANYTHING

*I have listed the videos as the kids refer to them.

Mysteries

While stopping by my husband's grandmothers old house last week (when I say old I mean more than 400 years, it has closed up stairways connecting to the catacombs under the city leading to the church), a labyrinth of a house, complete with an inner courtyard, an old well and countless rooms. My other half was away so I was asked in his place to stop by and pick out anything I wanted from one of the old upper rooms soon to be renovated, there was not much left in this particular room but two old arm chests (meant for someone else) and some random pieces of furniture (mostly spoken for already). Just before saying good by and thank you I spotted an odd shaped black case in the corner of the room, my husband's aunt had no idea what it was, so we gingerly took it out and carefully unzipped the case to discover a mandolin in perfect condition. She had no idea where it had come from or how long it had been sitting there, neither did any of her brothers or sisters (all seven), she had never seen her father or anyone else in her family ever play such a thing. She has decided to keep the mandolin and hang it on the wall somewhere but I am still puzzled by it, for it seems unlike the Italian Mandolins I have seen and the carved work is so intricate, many little inlayed triangles of mother of pearl, looks far more like something from north Africa.

I did read Captain Corelli's Mandolin many years ago and loved it (never saw the film), but ever since moving here it has drifted in and out of my mind for it's descriptions of the light on the Greek island remind me of what it is like here, and the band clubs where the old men gather, and the dry rocky earth with sparse olive trees....so many small details envoke a similar feel to this island. So this mandolin has for the time being captured my interest. Certain there must be quite a story behind it, one we will probably never know. At the least though I would like to know which country it came from. There is nothing written on it.

oh new books!

Kid related tid bit, my other half brought this home for our airplane enthusiast (we so enjoyed his other book, both pictured). Really beautiful illustrations and both have very sweet stories. Ahem someone went to Scotland and someone stayed home. Sometimes your the sail sometimes your the anchor I suppose.

In any case I just had to share...

Monsoon Rains?!

Fig and Ricotta Tart

What a delight to have a bit of rain on Saturday, thunder and lightening to boot! Summer storms are something I miss from my midwestern roots, England at least did provide a good dose of summer rain. The rain brought a smile to my face and a wave of nostalgia, actually more for our quiet days in Winchester when a short stroll through the tiny lanes, past the river, to the Bridge cafe was the perfect morning outing (especially with two toddlers and a new born) complete with fresh croissants. For some reason it is near to impossible to get a croissant here in Malta (at least in Zabbar). There is a wonderful cafe- newly reopened (will have to take a photo) in Valletta, a cafe near the old library called Cafe Premier which does thank god have good fresh croissants. Next post perhaps I will have to highlight some of my favourite cafes here. So yes a bit of rain over the weekend was lovely, the heat however did not subside much, and the humidity seemed only to increase. Back to the beach with the lot of us on Sunday.

I did find some last figs at the local vegetable stall and made this, which turned out suprisingly well! Shame I did not think to do it earlier in the season. Next year I guess.

I am terribly embarrassed about this picture, I am totally rubbish at taking good food pictures, and the grilled figs are a hard thing to capture but I feel compelled to add some kind of visual to the recipe.

Fig and Ricotta Tart

Crust - (makes enough for two)

6 ounces butter or about 3/4 cup (you can use half butter half margarine)

125 grams self raising flour (about a cup)

125 grams plain flour

pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

100 grams almonds

1 egg

filling

250 ricotta

2 eggs

1 1/2 Tbs semolina

5 Tbs sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix Flours, almonds, salt and baking powder together.

Mix in with your fingers the butter till the consistency of cornmeal or wet sand.

Beat one egg with a fork, add in a tablespoon of cold water

Pour egg mixture in and briefly mix together the dough.

Place the dough in the fridge for at least an hour before rolling out.

Blind bake the crust at 180 C for 10 min.

Take out and let cool

Meanwhile mix together the filling and once the crust is cooled off to room temperature pour in the filling and bake for 30 min or till the edges are golden brown at 180 C.

take out and place the quartered figs on the top, brush lightly with heated currant jam and grill for 10 min.

Let cool, tastes best when eaten cold.

Local Talent

No, I did not make this dress, but my dear friend E. over at My Funny Valentine did, what a pleasure to have met such a talented and interesting friend here - she cooks too! What could be better than a French friend who likes to cook?! Lucky me. She has effectively re-lit that fire of desire to sew again, now to find some time alone... may have to wait till school starts again. Till then I could not resist sharing some of E's lovely creations.

It's been a year

The feast of st. Helena,

This last weekend we celebrated the Birkirkara annual feast, (the town from which A. is from) this photo was taken of the statue of St. Helena making her way round the narrow center streets. It has been one year now since we relocated to Malta, a year ago we were in quaratine with three kids all having chickenpox. Seems in a way far longer than just a year. I have to admit that I still do not feel quiet 'settled'here. But I do feel I have adjusted in ways I did not expect, some things I mocked when first settling here I now see the logic of and some things (like pink sequined mispelled clothes for little girls) still get to me. I have quietly 'mislaid' the corset style bright pink top for my three year old more than a few times.. sometimes gifts are tricky things.

I have grown to like our noisy ally, with it's various standby characters and even feel a growing sort of belonging to our noisy side of Zabbar. Everyone seem to adore little destructo in particular, perhaps that is partially due to her daily 'Bonju' or ÇIAO!' which she says to every person she passes, with a huge grin and great gusto.

The older two seem more settled and are looking forward to the start of school (school starts the first week of October here) so still a ways to go!

I am secretly hoping not to find full time work for a few months so that I can have enough time to sew, plant, run, read and finally begin in earnest again with corresponding by pen and paper to old friends.

Nothing like necessity

to make you try something new. Can officially say that I am back on the ice cream kick again, this time its fruit sorbet. We had six kiwis I had forgotten about in the fridge and they were just at that soft sort of mushy point that no one really cares to eat, this combined with the fact that I have not been able to find any fresh cream in the small shops in our area combined with the nagging desire to make some new ice cream. So that's what led me to try out making a kiwi sorbet. I followed a great (Jamie Oliver tip) which he used in a lemon sorbet recipe, that being that once you have dissolved the sugar in the boiling water add in a table spoon or two of marscapone, it slowly dissolves and makes for a very creamy sorbet texture. Am very happy with the result. Really refreshing. Next time I make it I would double the proporions, this made only a small pint of sorbet.

Kiwi Sorbet Recipe

6 kiwis (scoop out the insides and puree)

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

2 Tablespoons Marscapone cheese

A small squeeze of a lemon (to bring out the tang of the kiwis)

First Boil the water and sugar (just enough to dissolve the sugar) then add in the

marscapone, let this cool. Next scoop out the inside of the kiwis and puree, add in the

sugar mixture and about a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Pour into the ice cream

mixer and your done. I am guessing you can do this in a freezer container - stirring it

every few hours for a similar effect but have not tried.

I was on a bit of a it's-hot-and-we-need-some-cool-desert sort of kick and made this second ice cream that we will be taking to Birkirkara today for the St. Helena Feast.

That is a fresh peach and prickly pear (cactus fruit) ice cream. I have been determined to try and make something with the prickly pears, they have an odd texture but have such a nice gentle taste, in the end I ended up using peaches (very ripe and bruised) with some local prickly pear liquor and did this time find some single cream. Here is the recipe (quickly before I forget myself).

Peach Ice Cream

6 very ripe peaches

1/3 cup sugar dissolved in 1/3 cup hot water

250 ml single cream

3-4 tablespoons prickly pear(cactus fruit) liquor pure all together and wirl away in the ice cream machine

Makes a creamy delicate ice cream, like the kiwi sorbet it would go well after Sushi.

Publish Post

Last but not least, a photo of the fig ice cream, recipe featured on a previous post.

Maltese inspired salad

For those of you that have been to Malta and tasted the tuna ftiras then this will probably look very familiar, it's basically a ftira minus the bread. A simple tuna salad- photo shown above.

Maltese inspired Tuna salad

INGREDIENTS

1/2 a small red onion finely chopped

big handful of fresh mint leaves chopped

few sprigs of parsley

spoon full of capers

3-5 green olives chopped

1-2 tomatoes chopped

can of tuna

some olive oil

salt pepper

dash of lemon juice or red wine vinegar

*if you have pickled onion, it can be added as well as a few broad beans

or white butter beans.

if you have it on bread, be sure its the kind with a good hard crust and spread on some tomato conserve and add a dash of olive oil ( as is always done here).

Another newly acquired favourite inspired from living in Malta is fresh ricotta sprinkled with some fresh ground pepper and salt on bread, straight simple and so tasty (especially if you have some good rustic bread).

.

3last thing is that I have to admit to being pretty won over with the preview of the new film Where the wild things are- I soooo loved the book as a kid and my children do as well and it seems they actually made a film that does justice to the book. Still have to see it though.. hope it comes here soon! Here is a link to the trailer I am talking about.

At last

On a random Friday afternoon walk , just the wish-he-were-a-pilot T. and little destructo and myself, down past the old city arch to Birgu to play in the lovely outdated (nice old school metal and wooden playground). On our way we passed the old truck I have been admiring whenever spotting, in the year since we arrived in Malta. The sunrise truck! Had the chance (as I was on foot and in no particular hurry)so took a few pics to share.

I do love the way that people here personalise their vehicles, trucks and buses in particular can be covered in small details. In fact a few months ago I nearly got run over by a huge cement truck (nicely painted blue and red) the drivers apparently not seeing the zebra crossing and myself till the last possible moment, so suddenly I found myself nose to nose with the front fender (yes tall truck) in which in bright yellow paint, were the words in search of gold. Really made me laugh, the possibility that those words could have been my last sight on earth.

Dust and Debris

Found sea side objects .. what a fun idea, am loving my friend's art pieces, so wish I could have been at her opening in England. Here are a few of my favourites.

All created by Elaine Starks

Discovery

Hop Skip

Just when I thought Ide melt into the sandstone here we discovered a small bay within 5 min drive from our house (as opposed to all the other sandy beaches which are in the North of the island and a good 40 min drive away in a small our old un-air-conditioned car). It's called St. Thomas's Bay and is perfect- bit of sandy beach, bit of clear blue water and no hassle with parking (unlike most other parts of Malta).

It's a local, low key place.. not too trendy.. just our style. Kids were in heaven. Think afternoons at the sea side will be the key to our surviving the long hot summers here. Oh yes and the incredible fruit- local plums, grapes and the best peaches I have ever had are in season now (and SO cheap).

First it was CARS

then it was TRUCKS and DIGGERS then was the all consuming TRAINS phase followed briefly by RACE CARS and ROBOTS and now our oldest (five years) has come fully into the latest phase- AIRPLANES!!!!!! It is seriously all he wants to talk about, read, draw or build at the moment. To give you a small sample was this mornings 20 minute drawing session- which resulted in this series. I won’t over do it with a photo of the airport he constructed covering his entire bedroom (using all toys available including, blocks, robots, dolls, cards and books as landing strips). Wonder how long this will last and what will come next?

Returning

Sometimes things do somehow fall into place and you are reminded subtly that you are creating memories that not only your kids will (with luck) recall but yourselves as parents as well. Moments you want to savour, the cheery meandering of conversations, the light, smells and sounds. There were many of these in the last five weeks. On back porches, picnics on rolling midwstern country sides, and near campfires in the northern woods looking out at Lake Superior ….the squeals of kids in the background and the sweet company of old friends. Yes, feeling very revived and refreshed. The course now finished. It’s time for sewing, reading, painting, cooking and running.

The sounds of our neighbours trumpet echoing through the courtyard and fire works from Birgu's Festa pounding in the distance.... sweltering heat.. and the season of feasts. A fine welcome back to Malta. Best of all still fig season! This time a small kind (two inches rather than the earlier dark purple four inch size).... made some ice cream yesterday which came out quiet well. Roughly it was 250 ml fresh cream, 400 grams fresh peeled soft figs and 1/3 cup good quality honey. 

Photo fun

Had to share- watch this! Take a few minutes to see it. I love it.

LURA

Immersed in Madison life, from camping to french music festivals and art fairs on the square we are having full days in Wisconsin and loving it.

I can't help but share a recently recieved gift - a cook book... one I never heard of called Spice, Flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean. My sister made a tasty meal for us entirely from this cook book the other night. Some unique combination that I am keen to recreate soon. The author of the cook book owns a restaurant called Oleana in Boston which I have been hearing grand reviews of for years. On our next visit to the states perhaps.

On the theme of cook books and good food I feel compelled to share my delight in the lovely ambiance of a restraunt near by (Madison East side) called Sardines (featured in the pictures above) we had brunch this morning there out on the back patio overlooking the water. A nice Scandinavian feel to the place. How I miss brunches! They are non existent in Malta!

Lastly we had the double pleasure of A. a night out kid-less and B. getting to see a group from Cape Verde at the local French music festival (free) ...the main singer Lura was really good! Really an excellent performance. Do check her out here if you have a few minutes Lura.

On the Road

Happy to say that school has finished for us all, so very very relieved to have handed in the last of my assignments. By in large I am happy to be returning to my other role as mum of three crazy youngins and a 13 going on 31 year old husband. If anyone is interested here is a link to the website we (my coauthor Brian Gauci) and I created as part of our final project (The Colours of Malta). It's mainly an educational website relating to cultural diversity- a pdf version of the research paper is in the authors page should anyone out there be interested in multiculturalism in Malta.

We have left our wee rock in the Mediterranean on holiday and are now enjoying some Midwestern goodness....local specialities like bratwurst, seasonal beers such as my old favourite spotted Cow or the Solstice wheat beer variety brewed in New Glarus and of course some pride of Wisconsin - ice cream.

Have come across some music to share (after some time) if you like Norah Jones you may like this...Melody Gardot .

Not to be forgotten was a lovely all too short visit to one of my favourite cities- Brighton, (while on route to the states a little over a week ago). It was such a treat, seeing old friends, picnics in the park, almond croissants and Milano cappuccinos at Carluccios and a lunch at Bills (featured above).