Braving New Territory

New trainers, new walking routine, which just happens to involve rising early (I'm so not a natural early riser type personality) and renewed focus on getting fit and strong.

Plus, and this is big new territory for me...ta da drum roll please...I have conceded defeat and signed up for Facebook, with the help of my daughter otherwise I wouldn't be past first base!
I had made a declaration to never venture into the realms of FB but decided I was scared of taking the plunge and I should just try it out and then form an opinion. The thought is not lost on me that being involved with several forms of social media there is inevitably overlapping of news and photos but I'll feel my way and see where it leads.

A link is installed over on the sidebar and I have to tell you this was set up just this morning and I basically have little idea what I'm doing! Hilarious..kind of.

Never say Never..my new mantra.

Annie xx

New Shoes

Do you approve?
I need to purchase shoes which offer good support and the option of inserting orthotics. No heels for this little black duck I'm afraid. Of course this makes me sad but I have to be sensible nowadays.
On sale which is always attractive, mind you 'On Sale' around these here parts is still expensive compared to other countries.
These new leopard flats were introduced to my shoe collection yesterday and given a hearty welcome.
Happy days!

Annie xx

Pink Slippers and Rumination

Rumination

1. To turn a matter over and over in the mind.

2. To chew cud.

How in the devil's name is this word and it's meaning associated with a photo of pretty pink slippers you ask?

My gorgeous new slippers are the perfect foot attire when sitting in my rocking chair to Ruminate. Mr red roses informs me I ruminate a lot. Maybe chewing some cud might be beneficial although I'll keep that up my sleeve for desperate times.

For several weeks (probably more) I have toyed with the direction of this blog and how I need to proceed. Often I have wavered with throwing in the towel like all bloggers who are finding their own unique path and not because I run dry of ideas but dithering over HOW often do I want/need to post. The direction I'm journeying along has become apparent to me and herein lies a dilemma. My creative side is nudging me to be more prolific with posting with emphasis on a photo to convey my thoughts because I'm no wordsmith. Sure I can string a sentence together but if I'm honest I find composing time consuming and laborious and I truly admire bloggers who write so eloquently (and probably don't do a gazillion drafts with endless checks in the process).

Changing to a different format like Tumblr was considered but my kids and a couple of wise fellow blog friends advised I can still mould my blogger blog into what I desire and I ran the risk of losing my connection with my blog readers which didn't appeal.

A part of my blog journey has been to answer all comments because I appreciate and value the effort my readers take to do this. There are literally thousands of blogs circulating so to capture the dear folk who stop by RRC astounds me. The rapport I've built up with many of you since commencing the blog last August has brought me untold joy and I certainly don't wish to lose this camaraderie.

I guess what I'm trying to say is if I step up my input into this blog I may not have time to answer comments as frequently, sometimes not at all? Also I want/need to find time to follow and comment on my favourite blogs which is important to moi. Truly there just isn't enough hours in a day and I suppose we each need to discover what works best for ourselves.

Even as I waffle here about this issue I'm feeling overly dramatic but I would be sad if any reader felt I had lost interest in what they had to say. Far from it, I read every comment twice before publishing and again after publishing. Your words make my day!

Finding the quirky angle or beauty in a photograph brings me a silly amount of joy and I'm revelling in this. Who knew! 

The Instagram app on my iPhone has become addictive due to the fact it is quick, easy, followers can easily leave a comment or push the Like button. Instant gratification which has lead me to question the merits of blogging for me personally. So much so I find I'm taking photos that could be displayed to perhaps better effect on this blog. I'm no photographer as such..heck my hand-me-down SLR is still on auto, I don't use any whizz bang features or tricks and I still haven't learnt how to crop. *Note to self...Read the Manual Annie.

Finding something to snap helps me focus on the beauty in my life and surroundings plus it's also a great stress reliever and stress is front and centre in my life at the moment. My husbands workplace is going through very turbulent times and I have a health condition I need to get my head around. 

I do feel like I'm waffling now so I hope you get what I'm saying. Basically I'm going to attempt to bombard you with more frequent succinct posts which hopefully are entertaining.

Well that's the plan! I live in hope.

Now if all this talk of Instagram wets your appetite please don't ask me how to set it up to link to your blog from your smart phone because I took the lazy easy option and asked my incredibly smart son to install it! However you can visit here where Beth has written a post on how to set up the gadget-thingamy-whatsit.

For those not familiar with the workings of my Instagram sidebar just place the cursor over a photo and a brief description appears then click on the picture for an enlarged vision. Each day I usually place a couple of pictures of whatever takes my fancy. 

Fun fun fun!

Righto then I'm off to boil the jug for a cuppa and contemplate reorganising my wardrobe. A far bit of cajoling is happening to get my daughter on board to do the deed for me!

Take care one and all...

Annie xx

I Blame it on The Turkey

I blame the brush turkey.... for not posting since last week.

                                                       images.google.com

You see I came to grief on the driveway. On pebbles the turkey flung everywhere while it busied itself scratching around in the garden. On the list of landscaping jobs at the hacienda is to replace these pebbles with rocks to prevent someone having an accident because we foresaw this scenario.
I know.
Could of, should of, had not got around to that job yet!

*Brush turkeys are protected species here and free to roam and rearrange ones garden to their hearts content.

So here is my new designer footwear and please readers, contain your excitement and no jealousy will be tolerated because it's all mine and you can't have one.

Thing is, I've travelled this particular road three years ago with a rather more serious injury and rehabilitation. Same foot. Last weekends effort has aggravated the old injury. Don't worry I won't bore you with the ins and outs of my dodgy ligament. Suffice to say this week saw me have a itsy bitsy pity party oh whoa is me session and ingest a few anti-inflammatory meds.

So I'm thinking maybe I should get creative and bling up this divine apparatus for Christmas. Have you seen those clip-on blingy things one can tart up a plain shoe with? I was work-shopping this idea with the podiatrists and it gave them a giggle. Podiatrists love my ailment by the way because it's an unusual injury.
I aim to please.

Pity party food consists of comforting high calorie salty fare like nachos and sugar laden lollies.
In no particular order.

The moral to this tale people is to never ever take your tootsies for granted.
Or the landscaping ambitions of Queensland's turkey population!

Annie xx

Thai Curry and Preparations

Thought I'd hit you with my colourful and yummy dinner photo first up before I wax lyrical of the soothing properties of devouring Thai food. Involving coconut cream of course.
Thai is my number one comfort food (even when I don't require comforting).

I will not fib...running low or heaven forbid running out of these basic ingredients results in a mini meltdown. The green curry paste has a zesty bite and helps clear out the old sinuses and the massaman paste is milder and super delish. Topped with snipped home-grown coriander.....mmmmm
Oh and must be consumed with the aid of a Splayd.   Remember those retro utensils? Ours belonged to my parents. Purchased in the seventies.

Dead easy and probably the cheats way to cook Thai food but it will do me.
How about you...do you love love love lashings of coconut cream based recipes?

This is a first for RRC. I'm posting a department store fitting room iPhone photo. It's fun to see other bloggers' sharing fitting room reveals so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Yes I need some practice.
This little number is a cotton Esprit dress come long top over leggings that will come in handy when I go a travelling soon.
More to follow on that...

Do you find when planning a trip all of a sudden there is oodles of everyday stuff to hunt and gather eg. new underwear, toiletries, skincare etc. Mr redroses always reminds me that stuff can be purchased at ports of call but I prefer to be hyper-prepared.

 
                                        Honestly the box was so pretty, forget about the skincare!

Now because I should be a good girl and wear supportive footwear due to an injury I will need to gather a pair of sensible clod hoppers or I will be in a sore and sorry state from walking and sight-seeing. Of course I've bought sensible shoes before but never been terribly happy with my choices so the quest for a orthopedic yet stylish (is it possible?) pair is imminent.

But certainly Not like this pair I spied recently in a thrift shop. Am guessing the same vintage as the Splayds.

Hilarious!!

Annie xx

High Heels

Spring has sprung and southern hemisphere bloggers are happy campers and ready to embrace balmy warm days and sunshine in the months ahead.

Kind of puts a spring in our step!

So to celebrate spring I felt some frivolity was in order. To coin a term used by the lovely Faux Fuchsia my whippersnapper twentysomething daughter has an amazing shoe collection and heels are her pride and joy. Darling Daughter is artistic/creative and sees her shoe collection as works of Art. Studying and working in  fashion also feeds the love affair.

Now before anyone worries about her travelling the path of fallen arches and bunions, DD might wear heels once/twice a week when out and about with friends for the evening but pretty little flats are her mainstay.

These boots were made for walking...maybe not? DD sourced these off ebay purely for display and a giggle.

       Love these red Tony Bianco booties. Big sigh from yours truly who can no longer wear high heels

DD is also a bargain hunter and found these for $20. Reduced from $200. Not bad 

                          Vivienne Westwood. DD pounced on these in an adorable op shop in Tokyo.

Last but not least...mandatory footwear for any fashionista whippersnapper attending rock music festivals in the rain. Nothing but leopard print will do.


I know what you are thinking. Yes I worried myself silly when she discovered sky scrapper heels but young women these days have perfected the art of shazaying along without a care in the world.

Do you remember your first pair of heels? Were your parents horrified?!
xx

Ballet flats and Eva

Today these little darlings accompanied me to visit my mother. They were cheap as chips and receive many compliments. Certainly not sturdy shoes to gad around in for hours but great for a little pick-me-up.

Stopped at the supermarket to hunt and gather ingredients for dinner and decided to walk around the block to check out the cut flowers at the fruit shop. Swooped on these beauties. Singapore orchids for $5 a bunch.  I thought that was very reasonable?

I sit with my mum and watch repeats of old classics like Green Acres and have a giggle. It's all dreadfully corny but I absolutely adore Eva/Lisa and watch it to see what she is wearing. Do you agree she was gorgeous? One day I have visions of cooking a meal and looking this superb while in the process.

I live in hope.

Part of the hunting/gathering exercise was buying Tasmanian salmon to bake. The above pic is not my culinary efforts but again I live in hope. Nowadays it seems to be all about the 'plating' of a dish which is fine and dandy but I'm just happy to get it on the plate.

What are you having for dinner?
xx