South Australia - Traditional

My interest in sea shanties stems from my interest in folk music. Sea shanties are work songs that were sung on sailing ships. The rhythms of the songs would help the sailors time their movements while performing tasks that required synchronous movements from multiple saliors. There are several types of sea shanties that correspond to different jobs, and "South Australia" is a capstan shanty. This song would be sung as the ship was raising its anchor.

"South Australia" has its origins on the London-Australia shipping route, and was sung as a ship was leaving London headed to Australia. Since sailor's couldn't play instruments while working, the songs had to be a capella, thus my entry into the Great So Well Remembered A Capella Battle of 2008.

The Wikipedia entry on Sea Shanties is very informative.

Indulge your inner seafarer

Posted by Adam

My friend went to a wedding last night and I mobbed her for all of the details! After all of the normal questions: What did she wear? What did the bride wear? What were the color schemes? What kind of food was served? WHAT DID THE CAKE LOOK LIKE? .... Apparently they had a very nice wedding but their cake had "funny" cake toppers. They used a fishing bride and groom set. This got me thinking. Traditional cake toppers are beautiful. Especially when they match your theme. In my case... my husband and I have lots of friends and we really aren't very "serious" all of the time. I think a comical cake topper would absolutely round off the ceremony with a touch of our personalities!

This is the set that I had in mind and if you know us you'll totally get it!

Weddingstar Cell Phone Fanatic Mix & Match Cake Topper at Bellacroft

There's something about the interesting shapes and surface patina of old-fashioned cooking utensils that makes them somehow irresistible to lovers of shabby chic. It may be your childhood memories of helping in the kitchen, or simply the feeling that these pastry cutters and jelly moulds are a window into the history of the cooks of bygone years who used them on a daily basis. These days our kitchens are well equipped with food processors, microwaves and any number of other appliances, but somehow these lack the charm of our ancestors' well-worn utensils. If you're creating a vintage style kitchen, it's great if you can find ways to use your collection of tinware items rather than simply have them on display.

You'll notice that many designs are similar to today's items - they haven't changed a great deal since the nineteenth century when baking trays, graters and colanders, to name just a few, were mass produced for Victorian cooks. There's no reason why, when properly cleaned, these items shouldn't form part of your everyday battery de cuisine. They will also look great on display, try hanging spoons, ladles and whisks on a rack above your work surface or next to your cooker to create interesting shapes and a unique talking point.

Obviously all vintage items should be well cleaned before use, but do be particularly careful with vintage copper utensils. Many moulds were made of copper as this metal is an excellent conductor of heat, but beware if the copper has developed tarnish or verdigris. Tarnish can be cleaned by rubbing with half a lemon dipped in salt, and to add an extra shine, polish them with a cloth dipped in vinegar and sprinkled with salt. Don't forget to wear an apron while you're doing this, a [http://www.devonbeardesigns.com/prod1.asp?ID=252]vintage linen one will fit well into your shabby chic kitchen scheme!

Verdigris, which develops when the copper comes into contact with acid and fat, is poisonous if eaten, so it must be completely removed before the item is used in food preparation. The traditional way of removing verdigris is to use a solution of salt and ammonia (1/2 teaspoon salt, splash of ammonia in 1 cup (250 ml) of water). Use this to wipe off the verdigris, then polish with a clean cloth and chalk powder. If you're in any doubt at all, however, do be sure to seek expert advice.

Helen Dickson is the owner of DevonBear Designs. She designs and makes a small range of really practical - and pretty - textile items and stationery all inspired by the wonderful coast and countryside of South Devon, England. Helen is a talented watercolour artist and all DevonBear Designs products feature one of her images. Visit her site at http://www.devonbeardesigns.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Dickson http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Vintage-Kitchen---Using-Your-Collection-Of-Traditional-Tin-Kitchenware&id=1072214

 Roughly translated it means "tenants" and is akin to the Olde English meaning of "cot" or "hut". Think of a clique or better yet, a family living in a wonderful cottage. . . a family deeply devoted to one another.

 From the Thomasville COTERIER collection:  THE BUFFET

The Coterier (pronounced KO-ter-ee) collection offers a twenty first century take on stable traditional  concepts with adaptability galore. We dressed it up with Va-voom on our show room floor! A frame-less, beveled mirror sparkles with other Hollywood Regency accessories - right down to the art deco inspired area rug. Fashion forward, elegant, and wise. BUT -

 A client purchased this piece to display her antique sponge-ware collection inside the lighted buffet, and it couldn't look more at home. She is devoted to more of a "Come right in and have a cup of coffee", country look. No fuss, no muss could be the motto of her clique.

THOMASVILLE says, "Traditional here. Metropolitan there. Fresh and inviting wherever it goes. That's Coterie, with the classical line and statuesque shapes that have endeared generations to traditional. But without the traditional touch-me-not stuffiness. Much like the melting pot nature of America, from where it takes its inspiration, Coterie combines in one unified collection a diverse mix of lineages, giving each piece a "found" look that makes it even more intriguing. Rich, lustrous, dark cherry Cocoa finish. Altogether, an exceptionally beautiful collection."

Can you tell I am excited about this entire collection?

It captivates your interest. It's beautiful. It's today.

Come in, and you be the judge!

Dianne Ross / Interior Designer

Phelan's Interiors

363-9634

there's an interesting story behind the creation of mooncakes. about a chinese rebel who distributed these cakes around with secret messages hidden inside them, to organise a rebellion against the Mongol oppressors. they succeeded of course, and formed the Ming dynasty. quite exciting eh? hahaha, anyway, while buying mooncakes that day, there was this cute guy manning the counter! hahaha. i couldn't keep my eyes off. but i think he's younger than i. he looks around 16? or 17? i dunno. anyway, i don't go for younger guys. hahaha. 

back to mooncakes, my favourite is the traditional ones, baked with a thin crust and containing pure, white lotus paste. there's something about white lotus paste that is so damn good! i dunno what it is, but who cares as long as i get to savour it. snow-skin ones are nice too. the chinese call it Ping Pi. these mooncake skins are made of glutinous rice, giving them a almost transluscent appearance, like ice. they are filled with a bewildering array of fillings. 

so, get your mooncakes asap! before you have to wait another year to eat one. hahahaha.

Title: The Great White Tribe in Filipinia
Author: Paul T. Gilbert