To Market To Market!

Okay, so no-one likes the biting winter cold. Waking up freezing and debating whether to get up and brace the cold, or just stay in bed! But Winter does have its charms. For me, there is nothing better to warm me up than a delicious soup, stew, risotto, or any other veggie-laden Winter dish. Surely, this is the season when a day spent indoors cooking up a storm is entirely justified.

All those apple are only $2.50 a kilo, bargain!

With this interest in mind, each Saturday I brace the cold and head out the the Canberra Region Framers Markets, out at Exhibition Park. And I'm not alone! Between 8 and 11am every Saturday the epic centre is a buzz with people buying and selling delicious, local produce. Fruit and vegetable abound - it is very difficult to pick which stall to visit. On top of this, there are loads of different food stands - Asian food, fudge and cake, tea, fresh honey, homemade chutneys and dips - so you can do most of your weekly food shop there. For you fellow caffeine addicts out there, there are two coffee Batista's (which is really the most important thing when you're up that early.)

I bought these to make Esther's grilled vegetable couscous salad

http://petalsmarkedwithspots.blogspot.com/2010/01/grilled-vegetable-couscous-salad.html

The best thing? Well there are two - the price is generally cheaper than supermarkets, and the quality of the fruit and veg cannot be better. You will never buy a supermarket apple again after tasting the one's at the Farmers Markets. And another plus - buying produce at farmers markets - no matter where you live - supports the local industry. So really, its all win-win.

For more info on the markets, check out the website: http://www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au/

Now to make some delicious soup!

Gracie

xx

Violet Songs

It is about this time of year when the you just want to stay indoors, rug up and relax. For fellow uni students, it is also the time of year when a little distraction is just what the doctor ordered. A few weeks ago someone special introduced me to The National's new album 'High Violet', which has proved the perfect winter album.

The American indie rock band has eclipsed their success with this wonderful album. Their 2007 album 'Boxer' a few years ago received critical acclaim, with 'High Violet' the band's much anticipated follow up record. Fans will not be disappointed by the calming yet sombre album the National released last month.

'High Violet' moves in perfect sequence from track to track, taking you on an acoustic journey. Opening with the melancholy 'Terrible Love' and 'Sorrow', the album draws you in to the tales of heartache, fear and sorrow that fill the tracks. My favourite is 'Afraid of Everyone', with its haunting backing vocals making for one beautifully sad song. 'High Violet' is one of those rare albums that compels you to listen to the very end, with each track complementing and seeming inseparable from the whole (I wish more albums were make like this). While a few upbeat tracks are included in the album, the darkness of the work pervades. The band's fifth studio album is one of maturity, both musically and emotionally. The hauntingly distinct vocals of front man Matt Berninger bring the intense tracks to life. The melancholy sound of the album is perfect for those grey Wintry days when you just don't feel like heading outdoors, and need a little distraction.

If you've never listened to The National before, then 'High Violet' is a great place to start.

Gracie

xx

Winter is... cool.

(Snow covered sheep. Hilarious.)

I am a fan of winter. This may have something to do with the fact that summer is not really that great for skiing. But really, I think it's more than this. Here are some of the reasons why I think winter is... cool:

- Legitimately hibernating inside.
- Ice-kingdom frosts on the lawn in the morning.
- Skiing (ok, it was an important reason).
- Deciduous tees look beautiful (in a gothic kind of way) bare-leaved against grey skies
- Clean, sharp tasting air (and, as a bonus you can pretend you're a dragon when you breathe out) (though, currently I get this effect in every room of my house...)
- People start baking (honestly, who wants to bake on a 37 degree February day?)
- Men look sexy in scarves.

Any other reasons for why you think winter is great?

Esther xx

Dachshund U.N.

Honestly, I don't think art gets much better than this.

Perth-based artist Bennett Miller has created an instillation which critiques the dysfunctional nature of the U.N. using, wait for it, dachshunds. 47 of them, one for each member-nation, and a chairperson (or chairdog). 47 dachshunds. How very, very fantastic.

Because I really should continue writing my essay on Alfred, Lord Tennyson (best name ever!) and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, I'm being a bit lazy, and will just give you the ABC's interview with Miller, as he describes what he is trying to convey through the piece:

"I think the UN does a lot of amazing things but it is an inherently difficult idea to pull off. It is hard for all these countries to give up their own sovereign interests to a broader global interest," he said.

"I'm trying to make an accurate imitation of what I see in the UN, or more so what I see is the reputation of the UN. So I had to have elements that were positive and elements that were negative."

"My sculpture is dysfunctional and that is also true of the UN but it is also quite a beautiful scene when you look at all the dogs. I hope that is what people take away from it but I can't control it completely," he said.


The instillation is on at the Museum of Victoria, and has been happening for the last three Saturdays, beginning at 2pm. This Saturday is the final sitting of the Dachshund U.N. If you're in Melbourne, go along. I'm sure it will be a spectacular celebration of the dachshund.

The photo is courtesy of one of my cousins who went and said she almost fainted from the cuteness of the cajilion dogs.

xx Esther

Regina Regina!

Last month I had the privilege of seeing the wonderful Regina Spektor at the Sydney Opera House. She was as amazing as expected! Emerging from the darkness of stage wearing an gorgeous multi-coloured, striped dress, she radiated in front of the adoring crown. The dress was wonderful - even when she was sitting at her piano, she literally shone!

Of course there were the favorites - 'Samson', 'Radio', 'Sailor Song', amongst many others. She even played 'Dance Anthem of the 80s' on electric guitar! Despite claims of inability to play guitar, Regina got crowd going. Most of the songs were from her new album 'Far', with some tracks from 'Begin to Hope' and 'Soviet Kitsch' thrown in the mix.

I have loved Regina's music ever since my dear friend - whom I went to the concert with - brought her into my life a few years ago. Producing three wonderful, diverse albums has established her credentials as a recording artist. But as a performer, she is so endearing! She couldn't believe that the crowd encircled her, as the Opera House stage is positioned in the middle of the audience.

"I can't believe this place is real" she repeatedly stated, with humility and gratitude for the crowd's support. Several giggles and chats to the crowd made us all feel a part of her world, if only for ninety minutes. It wasn't the cliched performer-audience chit chat, Regina was genuinely excited to be at the Opera House (if only for being surrounded by her audience). It was almost like seeing a child at their birthday party - she was just so happy and lovely, but most of all, so wonderful to listen to!

Just when you think that 'real' musicians don't exist anymore, or at least, don't combine success, humility and on-stage charm, Regina is there to give hope!Even the merchandise was Regina-esque - autographed lithographs sold instead of tacky posters. I even picked up a calico bag with a beautiful print of the lithograph on it, and only $15. I like to think That Regina isn't into milking her fans with tacky souvenirs.

If you haven't listen to 'Far' yet, then I suggest you do, especially when need a little distraction from life... I know that I do at the moment!

Gracie

xx

Body Paint, Folk-Pop and a bit of TV

Ok, I admit it. This is, without a doubt, an essay procrastination post.

And, it's also blatant advertising for Air New Zealand - with whom I have no affiliation - I just really like flying with them. One of the reasons behind my Air NZ loyalty is for their AWESOME (and believe me, I don't use caps lock lightly) safety video (by the way, if anyone knows how to embed youtube videos, rather than just giving the hyperlink, please let me know!).

The song in this clip is by Gin Wigmore. It's called "Under Your Skin". Fans of Angus and Julia Stone are likely to enjoy Gin Wigmore's music, though I think there's more "pop" in Wigmore's folk-pop songs than in A & J Stone's music. However, I think her voice sounds quite like Julia Stone's, except less quavery.

I also really like the track "S.O.S" by Wigmore. This song recently appeared at the end of a "Go Girls" episode. (Segue...) I've been loving watching "Go Girls" lately. It's a quality kiwi comedy-drama, with very unique, fresh characters. While I think "Go Girls'" writers tend to rely too heavily on mis-communication for their drama, (a topic for a different post), it's very much still a show worth watching.

Enjoy!

xx Esther

Apologies and the like

Sorry dear blog-readers!

The lovely Miss Grace and I have been of late, drowning under various mountains (like those confused metaphors do ya?) of university work.

So, until Grace deciphers Marxist theories and how they apply to the visual arts and I deduce whether NZ Aid's gender policies are structured within a liberal feminist framework or are simply examples of gender-mainstreaming, please excuse our blogging absence(s)!

As an apology, here are some pretty photos of charming chicken wire fence on Vivian Street (chicken wire fences can be charming, can't they?) that I took back when I still had a functioning camera and an optimistic outlook on the world (many hours in a university library (even one with a stunning view out over a city, hills and harbour like here at Vic) will kill that outlook off, no worries).

Enjoy!

xx Esther