I like public holiday long weekends. Particularly when they’re filled to the brim with baking, singing, catching up with old friends, meeting new friends, spending time with family and, last but not least, an inspiring and rejuvenating crafternoon.
During the first long weekend, I squeezed in laughter, life-planning (or life-plan-positing), and smiles with Robert (above-above), Lizzi (above-below) and Jess (below-below), the latter of whom scared the pants off me by mentioning that her boyfriend was “building a nursery out back”.
First, my face skittered. Second, I grabbed Jess’ hand. Third, she stared at me like I was a lunatic for responding so dramatically to her casual statement. Fourth, we figured out that while I thought she was telling me she was pregnant, she was in fact telling me that her boyfriend is a keen gardener. Fifth, Jess wanted to know why I thought she would build a nursery in the backyard away from the main house. Sixth, I responded that perhaps she was keen to follow Sparta’s lead and only keep babies capable of surviving a [Canberran] winter’s night outside.
But I digress. Over the course of the second long weekend, I enjoyed a sunny morning with the SpyMan, and finally experienced the wonderment of Silo Bakery. I have a photo on my phone of Silo’s astounding Blackcurrant, Mint, and Cabernet Tart with its shatteringly crisp and delicious pastry, but alas! I can’t get photos off my phone. (It’s a good photo, though. You would have liked it.) I later treated Jerome, who is quite possibly the bravest and most honest man I know, to herbal tea at Beyond Q, our rendezvous cafe of choice.
And then, on the last Monday before full-time work reared its ugly head again, I caught up with Jenni and pals for a crafternoon. Now, while Jenni is a beacon of jazzy wonderment…
… and her new retro couch with its inbuilt table and gold radio is magnificent…
… the star of the show was our so-good-it-should-be-illegal-but-thank-heavens-it-isn’t-or-I’d-end-up-in-jail-and-surely-become-someone’s-squeezable-teddy-bear Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Coconut Slice.
And again.
Yes. I like public holiday long weekends very much indeed.
{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh how I wish I could’ve been a part of one of these long weekends of yours! Particularly the one involving the chocolate peanut butter caramel slice of melty oozing goodness.
One day you will, you will, you will. (You always are in my heart.)
ooooh how wonderful indeed!
That’s my dream couch!!!
Mine too! I tried to sneak it out under my jacket but it didn’t work. Hmph.
We NEED that recipe! What was the occasion for the second long weekend?
It is such a treat to come here and read about your adventures.
Something like “Family and Community Day”, which is our fake Melbourne Cup holiday day. Or something. ?!
There isn’t an exact recipe because we winged it, but basically take this recipe, use shredded coconut (and maybe more coconut?), and add a heaping lots of crunchy peanut butter to the caramel mixture in the saucepan. Ad lib all the baking times, use more chocolate in the topping that in my recipe, and eat before the chocolate has completely set for maximum addictiveness
That description makes me want the slice even more now!! It probably also has something to do with the fact it is so cold and overcast today. I don’t want ANOTHER rainy weekend!
Thank goodness I have a beautiful Vitammix to play with!!
You’ll have to answer my queries about how to use the Via-Mix soon
P.S. I hope it’s sunshine-y for you! Almost as much as I hope it’s sunshine-y for me
Looks like you had a fab set of weekends, it is the best when you get a chance to catch up with friends at a leisurely pace. I must admit, I’m seriously wondering how I’m going to survive with only a two day weekend and a full 5 day work week next week. I could get used to 4 work days very easily.
I feel exactly the same way. But I’m more concerned about surviving the week of our conference in November, which involves me working six days that week including two 6am -> 6/8pm days. HOLD ME.
Oh yeah, I remember conference weeks. My worst was five days of 6am – 2am days. And people thought my job was glamorous! You will survive and at the end of the week will have an indescribable feeling of elation born of the heady mix that is the achievement of a successful event, mixed with extreme tiredness. Good stuff!
Hoooooly moly! You’re the conference queen! Please, please oh magical all-knowing one, *how* do I survive? Jenni and I had planned to fortify ourselves with pre-conference breakfasts in Adelaide, but I doubt any bakery will be open before 6am!
The best thing is make friends with the catering staff so that they supply you with the good cakes and coffee!!! I also stayed in the conference hotel so they had the restaurant open from 6am which made for a decent breakfast. A couple of days I also got early room service (most places do it from 5am) so I could eat while I got dressed.
Oh, that makes me envious! We’re on such a strict budget that I’ll be surprised if, as staff, we’re allowed to eat anything at all
(I’m only partly exaggerating, unfortunately…)
If becoming someone’s squeezable teddy bear is the price to pay to have those slices – I imagine for many its really no price to pay, almost a giveaway
Considering I was using “squeezable teddy bear” as a euphemism, I definitely wouldn’t be trading myself in that way for slices, but each to their own!
LOVE that in-built radio couch!
And can we have the recipe? For the slice I mean, not the couch
Me too! And please excuse the copy-paste from above, but I’m pretty sure my email system only sends you your individual reply…
There isn’t an exact recipe because we winged it, but basically take this recipe, use shredded coconut (and maybe more coconut?), and add a heaping lots of crunchy peanut butter to the caramel mixture in the saucepan. Ad lib all the baking times, use more chocolate in the topping that in my recipe, and eat before the chocolate has completely set for maximum addictiveness
Oh my that couch! How cool is that!? It’s like a window seat slash couch slash radio!
It’s pretty much the best thing in the world. Four people at the shop tried to buy it after Jenni paid for it!
what! no recipe! that is enough to make one contemplate a few illegal activities! Or maybe I am just jealous of your long weekends because we don’t get enough at this time of year. That slice looks amazing, truly amazing! And so is the couch! hard to know what I want more! Did you make crafty stuff? Are you going to share it with us?
Actually, I think it all comes out evenly in the end! We don’t get Melbourne Cup day off, so when you’re having fun that day, I’ll be at work! I’ll copy-paste to you what I’ve written for the other recipe-wanting folk:
There isn’t an exact recipe because we winged it, but basically take this recipe, use shredded coconut (and maybe more coconut?), and add a heaping lots of crunchy peanut butter to the caramel mixture in the saucepan. Ad lib all the baking times, use more chocolate in the topping that in my recipe, and eat before the chocolate has completely set for maximum addictiveness
My “crafty” stuff was the blog. You might remember that I talked about cross-stitch for a while, but unfortunately it exacerbates my RSI to an excruciating degree so I can’t do it anymore
There is so much I want to comment on in this post! So much, in fact, that I’m going to utilise the ever-so-handy numbered list…
1) I think parents would be much happier if nursery’s in the back garden were standard affairs. Granted, the babies not so much.
2) I am oh so glad I’m not the only one who struggles to get photos of their phone. The thing is, I did it once. But now I’ve lost the skill.
3) The retro couch is amazing.
4) That slice is even more amazing!
5) “I’d-end-up-in-jail-and-surely-become-someone’s-squeezable-teddy-bear”? Quite literally laughing my head off at that
6) We have had NO long weekends yet this month. Not one.
Thanks for sharing yours
I like handy lists! I shall reply in like form
1) Who knows? Maybe babies would like hearing the birdsongs and having moths land on their heads?
2) I have no idea where the cord for phone->computer is. I remember there being a lot of cords/plugs when I bought my phone, and I remember having no idea what they all did, and I don’t remember where I put them all. Sigh.
3 and 4) Hurrah!
5) *chuckles*
6) Oh, no! Not even Labor Day? I thought that was Australia-wide!
P.S. You’re welcome
They moved Labor Day to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth
So we are getting it, just late!
That’s what I thought; none of us get more holidays than anyone else, just at different times
so its true canberrians do get a gazillion public holidays
and i’m feeling fat just looking that slice!
That’s silly! You should only feel happy looking at the slice
I don’t think we have any more public holidays than any other state; just at different times?
Lucky you, how I long for a long weekend. I was musing on how lovely all your friends sound but then I saw that slice and all thoughts apart from “OBTAIN SLICE” flew out of my head.
I almost wrote “slice > friends” but then I realised that, well, as good as the slice is, I think I’d rather keep my friends around than eat them.
(That made more sense in my head.)
Now that’s how you spend a weekend! Friends, laughter and my gosh…that goodey slice of peanut goodness
Totally diggin that retro couch
It’s the only proper way to spend a weekend, as I’m sure you know
Sweet couch, although it’s got the weight of the world on its shoulders with those five remotes plopped down on top of it.
I can’t even fathom having so many people to catch up with and enjoy the company of. Maybe if I hadn’t moved across the country away from everyone I had befriended… but no, I still don’t know that many people. If I did, I wouldn’t need Make it or Break it. But I’m happy to live, for the moment, through you and your adventures. Sounds lovely, it really does.
Cuuuuuuutie cutie cute cute cuuute @ the zebra head.
The trials of being a couch in the digital age… Poor thing. Teehee, I had to go search for the zebra head you spoke of! I reckon you’d like my zebra bracelet too
And I must disagree with you about one thing. Copious friends never negates the need for copious almost-good-bad TV
(Except I’ve had to stop watching Gossip Girl again. Far too sickening. Friends over than forever. 
)
P.S. You have me! Move here!
I had to let Gossip Girl drop in the middle of the third season (or was it the end?). The drama exponentially grew, while the show’s quality negative exponentially deteriorated, and I found myself growing restless and bored during my approximate 45 minutes in front of the screen. However, I was probably just longing for girly dramas more fitting to my interests and needs (is gymnastics still a need to me??).
PS I did a backbend last night, almost by myself – not quite. We’re on our way:)
SO. BORED. I skipped a season or so then thought I’d try again, but nope. Which is also how I’m feeling about Glee. How can it be the third season and all the dynamics and conflicts are exactly the same? Also, Mr Shue creeps me out. But I think I’ve digressed…
Ohhhhhh! I want to get on the floor right now and try a backbend, but I’m wearing a rather tight fancy dress and am full to the brim with caramel cheesecake, so I don’t think it would end well. Remind me tomorrow?
P.S. Do you have The Facebook?
Eep! Today finds me in a tight dress as well, but I’m thinking it will help with the stretchy stretchy bendy twisty whee or whatever you labeled it as way back when. It will help more than funnily constricting jeans, at any rate.
P.S. I do not have The Facebook! I think I am the only one, around here at least. It is a bit problematic, but 6 or 7 years on and I find it difficult to cave now. I’m sorry I can’t be your 44th Wayfaring Choc friend, maybe some day?:)
Oh, I love you! I love that you recall my stretchy-stretchy-bendy-twisty-wheeeeeeee! *hugs*
Actually, no, you aren’t the only one! One of my new favourite friends also doesn’t have The Facebook, but she also doesn’t have a computer or TV so, unlike you, she can’t fill in the non-The Facebook hours with Make It or Break It
P.S. I was going to add you to my personal account, not trawl for you as a “fan”
oh my goodness that is just drenched in chocolate. seriously, that is heaven.
Pretty much!
Hi! From Washington DC! I’m so far behind on your blog, but I live a good crafternoon, and a good slice.
You definitely would have loved the crafternoon, and I reckon you would’ve joined the sewing/knitting people rather than the computer “crafting” people
Oh.My.Goodness – I’m sorry Jenni, but I’m going to have to steal your couch. Whilst I am robbing her, I may also steal some of your amazing looking slice – that’s the stuff dreams are made of.
I cracked up as soon as I read the title to your post, love it
*beams* Perhaps I don’t even need to write the posts anymore, just the titles? Particularly if I’m going to cause Jenni’s place to get robbed…
*hugs*
Now they’re what I call weekends.
The parts with you contributed to the magic too
P.S. Skype, woman!
OMG that is an awesome couch!
If Jenni was a real friend she’d give it to me.
What a gorgeous time you’ve had! And the retro couch …
I want a long weekend now. But I usually work stuff on all weekends anyway. At least, I have friends over for a cooking and movie night tomorrow.
Thank you Kath, it’s been a lovely few weekends
I must say, I don’t miss the aspect of the PhD that means you constantly feel like you could/should be working! But it sounds like you’re balancing fun with work – keep it up!! xo
What a gorgeous cake slice!
Thank you Melanie!
The fact that you used the expression ‘crafternoon’ makes me want to be best friends with you! My sister and I have regular crafternoons, and we have one planned for tomorrow
Crafternoons are the best! And yay for wanting to be best friends
Okay, that couch with the in-built table and the slice are both too die for!
Get a load of the couch…. It’s fantastic!!! Glad you had super weekends. Xxx
When I was growing up, one of my best friends had a similar set-up on her bedroom suite.. speakers.. radio etc on the headboard –And she was 10 years old.. I thought she was the coolest, luckiest girl in the world.
I love me a chocolate and peanut butter combo.. Mmmmm.
I remember feeling the same about my best friend in America when I was five, because she had both a Belle *and* a the Prince-post-being-the-Beast barbie doll. And yes, peanut butter + chocolate FTW!
Your friend’s couch is seriously amazing.
Wow. That slice is hot. I’m sorry big yes I just said that. As is that divine retro couch – shut up! & love the Spartan childrearing plan. Totally legit. Hannah, I’m sorry for all the douchy American-esque terms I’ve used in this comment. I think I’m just hungry. I blame the slice.
Heidi xo
Heidi, I think you know that if anyone understand reverting to American slang while hungry and dreaming of American treats, it’s me. Oh, how I wish we could find a time in the future to dance around New York together!
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