the weak and the strong

I'm having to make decisions about my future at the moment, and so I've been thinking about the privilege of choice.

Someone much wiser than me, the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said something very true on the subject. Something that's currently latched onto my thinking:

It is the nature, and the advantage, of strong people that they can bring out the crucial questions and form a clear opinion about them. The weak always have to decide between alternatives that are not their own. - bonhoeffer

Apparently Macarons are pretty much the thing

I'll tell you, here's a funny trend: Macarons. You know, almondy-meringuey biscuits with a sugary creamy layer in between?

They've become ubiquitous among foodies, and were last months' Daring Baker's Challenge. Locally, patissier Adriano Zumbo's really made them take off. On Friday, he held Macaron Day, to celebrate his birthday, offering something like 60 flavours (of which Steph tried 48!), including black truffle, vegemite sourdough and maple syrup bacon and pancake.

I was pondering their popularity while washing up yesterday. I think it comes down to the extraordinary variety of flavours, the illusion of being not too bad for you (they're small and light), and their Frenchness.

Anyway, they look delicious and I doubt I could ever make one... but I think I might over Christmas.

PS. The top photo is of raspberry and pink peppercorn macarons, from one of my favourite food blogs, Cannelle et Vanille.

Ranunculus again

More beautiful photos of my (current) favourite flower, this time from Once Wed (who I discovered when they were guests on Design Sponge not long ago). They have such character, do these flowers.

Procrastinating

This post is really just an avoidance tool. See, I should be doing the washing up, or cleaning the bathroom, or preparing for my scripture class tomorrow morning.

But I'm not.

Instead, let's look at some fun things here. Like Ben's weekly quiz, which has taken the blog world by storm.

The new Frankie Photo Album.

A sale/giveaway going down at Harrysdesk (I recently adopted two owls: Johannes and Kiira. They have become good friends).

And why not a photo, taken nearly exactly a year ago at the night noodle markets in Hyde park.

Soundtrack to my weekend

If this weekend were a song, it would be The Whitlams' There's No-One. I've had a pretty low-key weekend spent waking late, strolling the shoreline, listening to podcasts, reading, writing, going to church and enjoying solitude.

There's no-one to call from a country town
It's not a bad thing
I don't have anyone lovely to call
And it's not a bad thing

What about you? What would the soundtrack to your weekend be?

photo: Nowra Sept 2008

saturday afternoon in the kitchen

flowers supplied by mum; hand supplied by joanna

I've met someone new...

I picked him up this afternoon.



He was bought on ebay, so we're still unsure what the future holds, but so far so good. I think I got a good price for a second hand machine. Any tips on maintaining it/making a good coffee?