A VALENTINE

Happy Valentine's Day, dear Reader

Despite the de-cluttering, these heart cushions came out for their annual appearance...

and my little marble 'Si' from Rome...

Mr Cardinal took me out to lunch at the local Garden Centre -

where there is always a selection of sculptural art on display.

We liked these giant leaf-like forms..

A beautiful lunch with all vegetables and herbs grown on site..

Later I made our traditional heart-shaped sponge cake, festooned in pink.

As you do..

The humidity had lessened, after days of record-breaking heat, which allowed the eggs to beat beautifully and the cake to rise to the occasion...

I found these at H&M - a bit Picasso, don't you think?

and a little red velvet bag, because when the temperatures go above 40c, we like to dream of Winter..

Last Sunday, we are told, the Eastern part of Australia was the hottest place on the planet...

It does make normal life difficult to organise..we had a long power blackout, due to the overloading of the State's power grid..

Last night, there was a massive thunder-storm, lots of lightning and thunder although not a lot of rain, but what we had was very welcome for our parched lawn and plants..

Did you like Kate's new floral gown for the BAFTAS?

I loved the bunches of violets all over the skirt, 

and don't these two look like happy little Valentines..

Take care...

XXXX

HEARTS AND HEAT

On Valentine's Day we were greeted by this loving pair of lorikeets, sitting sweetly and forming a heart shape, just for us.

Mr C excelled with a beautiful bunch of blooms.

I made him a heart-shaped sponge cake, but my camera ate the photo...

It looked rustic, something like this, with a few store-bought red sugar roses.

Thank you Mr. Google.

Another heat wave is sweeping over us and it is still 38C -

 as I type at 4.30 pm.

Trying to make the house look cool, 

as the air-con, it seems, cannot be repaired.

Maybe we'll try and ride out the heat. 

Some of us are saving to go to Ireland for a wedding...

Did you watch the BAFTAs?

Our Cate Blanchett looked fabulous in Alexander McQueen.

And I loved Julianne Moore's outfit.  So elegant.

DD says it is -30C at her place in Canada...

Here's the Not So Little Bebe enjoying the scene..

I may dream of snow tonight.

Keep cool, or warm, depending on your hemisphere.

XXXX

A VALENTINE

In our own simple way, we celebrate Valentine's Day 

here in the Red Cardinal Nest...

Back in the days of long ago, we were a classic office romance -

knew each other slightly, from a distance, then Valentine's Day came around.

Young Mr C surprised and charmed me with the sweetest little heart-shaped Valentine card...expressing his interest and hopes....

It worked!!!

I like to decorate the house a little romantically...

Yes, the day is over-commercialised, and yes, the shops sell a heap of trashy products in very poor taste...

but you don't have to buy into that side of it.

This heart dish belonged to my mother, and I have had the earrings for many years...

I make us some sweet treats:  raspberry coconut squares..

and always a sponge cake in my Very Old heart tins.

The uncomfortable hot weather continues, and I made this cool top from white linen and floral left-over fabric.  From my latest bundle of new patterns, it is Vogue V8798.  I'll wear it when we go our for a little Romantic Dinner..

Friday morning I'll amuse myself wearing this el cheapo top from K Mart to choir rehearsal.

And one more thing, Malouf Pharmacies are giving away free samples of my first ever French Perfume, the delicious Joy by Patou...

shown here with my ruby heart earrings a gift from wonderful Mr C on our 40th wedding anniversary.

Happy Valentine's Day, readers one and all...

XXXXX

MOTHER'S DAY - OF COURSE!

Mother's Day 2012 was very special to me.

My beautiful family all made contact and

showered me with love and special attention.

I Loved It!!!

Mr Cardinal gave me the pot of pink double chrysanthemums -

which will of course end up in the garden,

hopefully to bloom again next year.

A cute cupcake tea-cosy arrived from Canada,

and I am reliably informed it was chosen by the Petite Garcon himself

just for Grandma... cute little guy.

The icing on the cupcake was a delightful phone call from his mum,

our dear daughter.

Little Aussie and his Dad sent me these pretty heart soaps and my fave,

dark ginger chocolates.

It is possible some of this chocolate did not survive the day...

Mr Cardinal also gave me these:

Naughty Alice by Vivienne Westwood.

Hmmm - what is he thinking?

Mothers Day really got a go on when our local son and his wife arrived,

took over the kitchen, and turned out their famous Big Breakfast.

Eggs Benedict, salmon, bacon, brown mushrooms, spinach and rosti.

With toasted sourdough bread on the side.

Magnifique!

We have not eaten since...

And on a perfect Brisbane day in the Autumn sunshine,

a special group of friends walked for me,

 in the Annual Mother's Day Classic walk/run for Breast Cancer

Thank you everyone!