Peony Perfection, Crystal Rose Bowl and New Orleans Fried Chicken!

The first peonies of the season are here and so beautiful they are .... I adore peonies as they have a wildness to them ....  a little bit like Catherine Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights ... exactly what Heathcliffe loved about her!  Wild, beautiful, yet soulful and intense!

I bought these and popped them in front of the fireplace and they look so gorgeous......

Then I have to share with you this gorgeous crystal rose bowl which my beautiful mother has given to me ..... it was a gift to her and now she has bestowed on me the privilege of looking after a piece of history ...... I feel so lucky to have received such a gift .....

Then onto a very exciting topic .... food .... New Orleans style food .......

My gorgeous friend, Karina, gave me this amazing recipe for fried chicken ..... Louisiana style baby!  Karina had met my son, Alexander, in Los Angeles when she was there on business ....  we skyped whilst they were having champagne and I so wished I could be there with them ..... Karina new Alex was a "foodie" and she instantly said "You have to have fried chicken wings by the best chef in New Orleans, Austin Leslie....." 

Karina sent me the recipe and I did my best to do the recipe justice .... it was magnificent!  and I never say that about my cooking .... everyone loved it and it was just perfect ... the right amount of seasoning, the right amount of coating on the chicken and best of all the most amazing story of an incredible New Orleans chef, Austin Leslie ....... Austin passed away after Hurricane Katrina, after he had suffered so much trying to survive .... I believe his legacy will live on ... it has even reached us all the way down here in Australia!

Chicken sizzling ......

Austin Leslie's "Fried Chicken" .... New Orleans style but a little bit by Franny from Down Under .... thank-you Karina, dear friend, it was wonderful!!!!! 

Pretty in Pink ~ Fuschia Pink!

Firstly, I have to apologize for my so lack of posting and commenting ... a great deal of the latter has to do with the fact that I cannot comment on many of your beautiful blogs and for that I am so very sorry!  I am working on the technical side with a professional but somehow I don't think that matters in the blogger world!  I know that also many of you have had similar problems ... I will do my best to reply in some way either through email or posting replies on my blog!

This little tutu above is Georgiana's and it is so gorgeous!  The colour is fabulous .... vibrant, exciting and perfect for an 8 year old!  Georgie is still of an age where she loves fairy costumes, ballet costumes and all the beautiful girly things we all love.  I know that there is not much time until that won't be the case.... so I have had a fabulous photographer who I will tell you about in a later post photograph her for photoart.  We had a fabulous day and Georgiana loved it and I cannot wait to see the beautiful creations and memories .....

I also have been quite busy sourcing new products and found this gorgeous lampbase and shade from Magnolia in Brisbane .... the shade is a Manuel Canovas and just perfect .... see how it reflects the colour in the peaches and also the cravat of the rider in the artwork ...

Last Saturday I had an afternoon tea on the verandah for my family .... mum, aunt, cousin, neices, great nephews, great neices and more!  It was a beautiful day and we had lots and lots and lots of cups of tea from big pots and I talked to my beautiful blue-eyed mother as she held her great-grandson, Oliver.  These are the days to cherish .... look at the moment and savour it!  We had old-fashioned sponge-cake my aunty Colleen made, tiny shortbread and kiss biscuits Mum made, baby quiches and many more delectable treats.

This is my gorgeous Mum holding her great grandson, Oliver Francis ... holding a fuschia pink rose ...... taken and styled by second cousin, Brigid .... (we are Irish say no more!!!!)

Which leads to my next wonderful, exciting discovery ....... two amazing artists, one French and one Australian .......

above is the exquisite work of Laurence Amelie recently featured on the cover of Rachel Ashwell's new book ....

and then above the beautiful, arresting work of Australian artist .....Kerri Shipp.  I had the pleasure of meeting Kerri on my trip to Brisbane and her work took my breath away .... I truly do not know how she does this stunning work with such attention to detail and palette ....

Please enjoy and visit these incredibly talented artists sites ...

http://www.driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/

http://www.laurence-amelie.com/

M.A. the 2nd