I may be turning in to a chipmunk...

[Gorgeous chubby cheeked chipmunk photo from Brian Kushner]

...and I'm not necessarily talking about the chubby cheeks.

It's turned cold here in Seoul, literally overnight.  One minute you couldn't figure out how to dress because it was a little chilly in the morning but beautifully sunny and a tiny bit warm during the day, and then BAM!  It got cold.  Proper my-ears-hurt, I-knew-I-should-have-worn-another-layer, my-nose-feels-like-it-might-fall-off cold.  And I got cooking.

It started with a giant batch of leek and zucchini soup.  Very yummy and so easy to make, and you could make it with pretty much any vegetable combo you wanted.  The key to good flavour is to sweat your veggies first - throw whatever you want in the pot (I used some garlic, a brown onion, and a ton of leeks and zucchinis) with a bit of butter, then put the lid on and let it gently cook on a low heat for 15 minutes or so, giving it a good stir every so often.  After that, add your stock, some fresh herbs (maybe some parsely or oregano or thyme?) and cook for a bit.  Once done, blend to whatever consistency you fancy and freeze.  You can add a bit of milk when you reheat the soup to make it a bit creamy (I did), just make sure the soup doesn't boil.  Easy, huh?

Delicious and nutritious!

Then things really got serious the other day when I made a rather giant batch of bolognese.  Some of it stayed that way, perfect for last minute pasta meals, and some of it got turned in to lasagnas, including a couple of single serve ones in some tiny little Le Creuset pots that I am a bit excited about right now.

Yum!  I want to go reheat one right now...

Does this happen to you too?  When the weather turns chilly do you turn part chipmunk? Are you overcome with a desire to stock your freezer to overflowing?  What are your favourite freezer-friendly recipes?  I'd love to hear them!

[ps. Can you spot Elfi lurking about the stove, hoping a giant pot of bolognese just happens to fall?]

Death by Doxie

Just the hounds, lounging around.  In the, um, lounge.  

[ps. look at Ferdi's sad eyes!  Awwww!]

Happy Sunday!

Have you heard about Softies for Mirabel?  It's organised by the most awesome Pip, from Meet Me At Mikes.  Basically, you make a softie, send it to Pip, and she makes sure it finds it's way to one of the Mirabel kids who need a smile and something to cuddle.  Mirabel do amazing work with kids who have been abandoned or orphaned as a result of their parents drug use.  Softies for Mirabel is a very good thing, and you should definitely get involved - you can get all the details here. 

I sent some softies to Pip last year, but I was still in my sewing infancy and I feel a bit bad because I don't think they were very good.  This year I decided to have a bit of fun, and make something new and sunny and playful and colourful.  So, here's the first of my Softies for Mirabel - do you like her? I'm going to make some more, I think!

And also, today is my sisters birthday!  Life has been a bit crazy this past month, so I am totally disorganised and haven't even sent her a card.  So bad.  Help me feel less bad by going to her blog and wishing her a fabulous birthday, ok?  

Spring!

Yesterday I was feeling a bit flat, but today is a new day people!

Do you remember a little while ago I mentioned the Creative Collective's Spring craft project?  Well, here's my spring inspired piece!  The design is based a little bit on the stylised blossoms you often see featured on kimonos and origami paper.  Do you like it?  I do!

And ps. you have until October 30th to submit your Spring inspired pieces, so it's not too late to join in!

Flat.

I probably shouldn't be blogging today, seeing as the blog is called 'Good Things' and I'm kind of feeling the opposite of that...but it's my blog and I'll be heavy hearted if I want to.  So there.

I had such fun with my Mum in Seoul over the past few days, and I am loving Korea more than ever, but she flew out this morning and the time goes so very fast and I am no good at goodbyes and life gets back to normal so quickly.  So I am feeling a bit flat.  And then seeing her makes me miss the rest of my family heaps - especially my sister and my nephews (that's Ari up there - don't you just want to give him a big squeeze?).  I wonder if Beci could fly Ari over for a quick visit?  Just an hour or two, then I'd be ok?

And then one of my most cherished friends, who I've known forever (almost literally) is dealing with all kinds of heavy hearted things with her dad, and it's looking a bit grim.  And she's been doing this all on her own, because  her siblings are interstate and overseas.  And I'm sitting in Seoul feeling useless and wishing I could do something, anything.  And thinking about my loved ones and wandering what if something happens to them and where will I be?  By their side, I'd hope?

All futile worries, pointless indulgences, floating concerns.  But they do make me feel a bit flat.

So I think I will tell you all that I love you, maybe package up some good things to post to some of you, and then do something simple and reassuring, like make lasagna or sew some felt or talk to my husband or hug my dogs.  Or all of the above.

What do you do, when you're feeling a bit flat?