HUGH SNOWDENS EGYPTIAN DREAM HOME....MIRROR, MIRROR....EASIEST PEACH AND APPLE PIE...BEER COCKTAILS FOR BLOKES...CHEERS AND HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL!!

SANDS OF TIME...ARTIST HUGH SNOWDEN OPENS HIS DOORS TO THE END OF AN ERA

One of the perks of this job is that I get to flick through the many inspiring and glam magazines that we subscribe to.  I wanted to share with you the story and images of Artist Hugh Snowdens home on the west bank of the river Nile....a story I recently stumbled on and was overwhelmed by.

Hugh says he is living at the very end of an era.  The life here has been the same for centuries says Hugh of his remarkable home in the desert on the west bank of the river Nile.  Here at ancient Thebes, the powerful Pharaoh Amenhotep III, grandfather of Tutankhamun established his court during the New Kingdom (1386 - 1349BC......yes...thats BC!)  The huge complex consisted of the kings own palace, the estates of the nobles, temples, military training camps, embassies, schools and the dwellings of the ordinary population involved in trade and commerce.

So, what you see today are the dry foundations with the occasional broken column base and mounds of pottery lining what were once the banks of the royal canal.  Can you imagine living amongst this and being part of such history?  

His home is nestled on fairly hilly ground in a curve of the desert.  It is surrounded by mature palm, fig and desert pine trees.  He came across the home in 2003 and just kept thinking about it.  It was only half built, made of mud bricks and had one one dome.  Then one day he had a phone call from the Egyptian who was building it, and he had heard how much Hugh loved the house.  Due to a lack of finances the home had to be relinquished and after a lot of negotiating, a deal was struck.

"How could I resist living in a mud-brick house built on the site of a pharaoh's palace?"...says Hugh.

Sadly, Hugh's magical place may be under threat with rumblings that the Egyptian authorities have a vision of incorporating some of the remaining pharaonic sites with a theme park for tourists in air-conditioned transporters with tinted windows....a wall would be built, circumnavigating the Theban hills, separating villagers from their livelihoods.  If the development goes ahead, their village life and traditions will become a distant memory and the hamlet of Malkata, including this enchanting house, might disappear.  

We truly hope this is not the case......

MIRROR....MIRROR....

Here's our 'Brag Book' showcasing just some of the gorgeous mirrors that we currently have in stock in the showroom.  All are available right now.  Call or contact us via the blog for more info

OUR FRENCH STYLE ANTIQUE GOLD MIRROR

OUR BEAUTIFUL 'CHABLIS' MIRROR

THE 'GREYSEN'

OUR ANTIQUE TAUPE ARCHED MIRROR

_____________________________________________

PEACH & APPLE PIE

This weeks recipe is the stuff dreams are made of.  Looking for something simple, tasty, quick, inexpensive and most importantly impressive for dessert this week?  Then look no further.  I present to you, the Peach and Apple Pie.  

This pie tastes as good as it looks, and can be whipped up in 10 mins.

Served with cream, ice cream or custard, this light and luscious recipe is a weekend winner!

Enjoy.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 x 410g cans apples, drained and chopped
• 410g peaches in natural juice, drained and chopped
• 35g sultanas
• 1 sheet filo pastry
• oil spray
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease four 1-cup capacity ramekins. Combine apples, peaches and sultanas in a bowl. Divide the mixture between ramekins, leaving a little room at the top of each cup.
2. Tear 1 sheet filo pastry into small pieces and scrunch up each piece roughly. Arrange them over the ramekins and spray the pastry lightly with oil spray.
3. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle a little over each pie. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until golden. Serve hot or warm with custard or cream.

   
   

   
   

IT'S COCKTAIL FRIDAY...AND HERE'S ONE FOR THE BOYS! 

(AND THE GIRLS TOO...JUST HAVE TO MAKE THE BOYS 

FEEL SPECIAL NOW AND THEN...)

My husband Pete the Greek likes sipping cocktails in a Jackie How singlet wearin', 'how's em Broncos', kind of way.  I mean lets face it, boys love cocktails, but also like them to have a bit of a manly look, rather than swanning around the party with something that resembles Carmen Mirandas hat!  And so, this week, due to the Shutzenfest celebrations that are on in Brisbane I was inspired to find recipes for cocktails that incorporated beer in the recipe.  I was pretty surprised with the selection.  And so the arduous task of road-testing these frothy gems came about.  I am not really a beer fan, but these...I liked!  Especially the lime mix....it will be great for summer and I found that one quite refreshing.  

Let me know what you think of the following recipes that we tried, tested and loved.

                                   Lager and lime: Add a dash of lime juice or lime cordial to a light lager.

Red Eye:
Add a shot of tomato juice to any light lager (this cocktail is also known as Tomato Beer or a Red Rooster). If you add a splash of Tabasco, the drink becomes a Ruddy Mary.

Broadway:
Popular in Japan, mixing beer and cola is known as a Broadway.

Note:  All beer cocktails are to be shared with your mates...preferably whilst watching the rugby or other contact sport...cricket is acceptable.
__________________________________________________________




Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much
as your own unguarded thoughts.
'Buddha'

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend...drive safely, treasure family and friends...until next week....