Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Colours of Home

 

Just a little break from the norm - this post takes me back to the colours that fill my daily life at home. They're also the colours that will always and instantly take my memory back to my home -  Adelaide, that is. I've been back in my teeny tiny Melbourne studio/home since New Year after spending a few relaxing weeks at the family home over Xmas. I've had this post (link-less) sitting around since then, never really getting a chance to tidy it up and publish it. So, here goes a little reflection on my perfect, colour-filled start to the new year...

These flowers are all from dad's garden. It's an incredible haven he takes such care of. It became our morning coffee meeting spot. It's also where dad picks these beautiful blooms to cover every (no exaggeration) bench and table top inside. Daily! It's beautiful - surrounded by the scent of roses and fresh colour filling the home. Stopping to smell the roses became a nice part of my daily routine.
See? Beautiful!

Celebrating with a lamb is just how it goes...any excuse to indulge in the salty, lemon drenched, crispy skin of lamb. Sorry vegans! This is one of my favourite pictures. It's captured that moment pre-lunch feast where everyone claims their space around the spit to pick their treat of crispy skin. Delicious! Oh, and that silk shirt I'm sporting? That's from my mum's going-away outfit from her wedding day. I'm on the far left with the pooch by my side, by the way. I'm loving giving the shirt a second life...

Tucking into a home-cooked meal...pictured above are the colourful stuffed vegetables (yemista) mum made and further above is the grilled snapper and seafood feast my granny prepared. These are the meals a 'studio' lifestyle limits to those visits back home/granny's house.
There's 3 reasons why I love this photo:
1. Ii'm with my dad
2. The photo captures the beautiful light that filled the entire day, smiles and all
3. Dad is sporting an apron I made when I was in home economics (year 9 I think.) This will always make me laugh! My girlfriend and I were completely hopeless at sewing (I hate to admit it.) Everyone in class made shorts or pillows and we could barely piece together an apron. The automatic design which the sewing machine lovingly creates for you was another disaster which has left a hole at the bottom corner...I can never get rid of this apron!
This was taken on the same day as my pic with dad (above.) It was the day of the "blessing of the waters," which is held annually at Adelaide's Henley beach followed by plenty of Greek food, music and dance.
Taken on a Girl's day out...the same day as the two pictures above. Yup! It was one great Sunday. Mum and I kick-started the day with a gorgeous lunch seated at Concubine's window. This restaurant is a must if you're in town - Mod Chinese near Adelaide's Chinatown
Chop-sticking our way at whole fried Barramundi, coconut + kaffir lime prawns and Cantonese fried rice gave mum and I something to smile about!
I added a wardrobe favourite - I think I've raided mum's cupboard pretty well. This was also hers. A linen/silk shift with the sweetest details. I'm not normally a dressy, frou type of gal but it's all I lived in through the summer.
Cuddles and more cuddles from pooch pal Dino. The hot pink PoP of colour from a bougainvillea will always remind me of home. My grandma has had one growing in her yard since I can remember...

And so, as I remember these colour-filled moments, I sit back and think about my holiday and the wonderful time spent with family, the road trips, boxes upon boxes of cherries consumed (mainly by me), and the warmth that only 'home' (family) can provide. Watching the balloons float by, I think how lucky I am to enjoy such a lovely view from my teeny tiny studio/home (Melbourne) as I fill this next chapter in life...this is a 'pinch me now' moment! Waking up to a sky spotted with hot-air balloons, for some reason, sets my day to mode 'perfect.' You can't wipe the smile off my face let alone settle the excitement of getting out into a new day ready for the taking!

2 comments:

  1. I love that you're wearing pure white in all of these photos. There's nothing I love better, but I'm not the kind of girl who can wear white without spilling- if I had a white dress on, I probably would have tripped and landed on that poor lamb! The dress from your mom's cupboard is particularly lovely. I'd love to see the whole thing :)
    xox,
    Cee

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  2. well that's the thing, you just needed time to put your finishing touches on it. sure did deserve it being that the share reps your home and all. well done on completing it and creating such a tribute. beautiful photos and descriptions.

    i think i need to borrow your Dad's green thumb!!! his flowers bloom so beautifully and the fact he's wearing the apron you made is causing a huge swollen love heart right now. all the fam time, food and blessing of the waters are incredible sights. you look gorgeous in your mom's shift, she obvz has impeccable taste.

    i had to refocus on the last photo - hot air balloons, no wonder you needed those pinches...i kinda do now as well. ♥

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