Hercule Poirot has class

 

I had a lovely day off work today  (Dad was going into hospital so I had arranged it, but he went in at 7.15am so my day was free anyway).  I drove the,kids to school, bought groceries, cleaned the fridge and  freezer, made soup, casserole, biscuit dough, cooked apples for crumble (all to go in the oven tonight), did 2 loads of washing, washed the car – all by coffee time at 10.30am.

A bit of time for ebay, and then some TV and ironing.  Enter Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot on ABC.

As well as using those “little grey cells” and solving mysteries, he is so suave, and so well dressed.  The costumes are beautiful , the buildings gorgeous, the accessories accurate and the cars sublime. 

I mean look at that sugar bowl! And the moustache of course.

And some lovely clothes and hats. All very 1930s rather than 50s, but so beautiful.

Ah….time to hop in my Nissan Micra and pick the kids up from school…..xx

Cookies

I have just made the most delicious biscuits without a recipe.  Well, now there’s one, but you know what I mean!

I had the oven on for cauliflower cheese and roast veg to go with the corned beef for dinner (first time – yummy!), and didn’t want to waste it.  There were no eggs or butter, so desert was a peach fool – pureed tin of peaches mixed with whipped cream and bit of yoghurt, but we still needed something for school lunches. 

Making treats at home is more 50s and cheaper and healthier than buying pre-made, so I do try!  Luckily I buy my oil by the tin – 4 litres at a time, – so there was still a cup left. 

Here is my recipe for ‘but I really need another cookie too mum even if it is bath time’ pantry cookies:

1/2 cup oil

1 cup sugar (it makes anything taste good)

1 cup plain flour

1/2 cup chopped nuts (any, but I had cashews)

1/2 cup dried fruit (my children hate sultanas, so I used goji berries)

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup  of liquid ( I used the syrup from the tinned peaches at dessert)

Mix together and put tablespoons full on a greased baking tray.  Place in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes.

The result?

  Yummy!

Vintage Mama Vintage and Retro

 

I have been selling things on ebay on and off for about five years now.  It’s time to get serious.  My collection of clothes, books and bits and pieces has grown, and grows every week as I hit the thrift shops, so I have decided to open a shop on ebay.  This way I hope to make a little money, and bring the idea of vintage to more people, affordably.

You can view my store here.  Oh, it’s called Vintage Mama Vintage and Retro.

Saturday is my thrift store day and my finds today were these:

A table cloth that actually fits my table, and a glass jug with six matching glasses (that blend nicely in to the cloth I know!)– just perfect for us when my elder son is at uni and there are six of us!  Cost - glassware $7 and cloth $4.

I also bought this cloth that is a bit small, but looks cute on an angle:

I love the earthy colours, even though I am really into red and blacks, so I might have to keep it.  And I know my dining set is not 50s, but trying to buy 50s furniture in Mackay (middle of Queensland) is difficult.  Our population is growing so quickly that there isn’t that much second hand furniture that is affordable, around.  But I keep looking. I did pick this gorgeous couch up a few weeks ago at a thrift shop ($45 inc delivery) – late 50s early 60s I think, and only a little crack in the vinyl on one arm.  It actually has pale green cushion covers on the seat, and matching arm protectors, but I am into red, so just covered it all with some red fabric.  I’ll make covers one day.

I found this sweet tray today too, but as I really have to many now I will definitely put it in the ebay shop.

I have finally worked out that clothes look better when modelled rather than flat, so I have roped in my teenage daughter for some modelling ( not that she was really happy about it, but I did promise money for the movies, and I promised not to show her face!). Here she is modelling a cute leopard print lined jacket (it’s a bit big, as she is an 8 to 10), and her lovely friend Alana who just happed to drop by (and is a perfect size 12) in a lovely 80s dress.

  

I am sure practice with photographing  headless girls will make me better – I have spent years trying not to do just that!.

Have a lovely weekend – I have to go for a bike ride with the children now……