wall hanging aren't just for castles anymore

So a little background on this one. When I was in Sri Lanka last June [June 08] on my whirlwind shortened visit [stupid plane delays :( I am still bitter!], my mum was taking me around all the important sights. You know, places like House of Fashion, Fashion Bug, Arpico, Liberty Plaza... and my favourite, Dwellings. I stepped foot into the home fashion and kitchen shop and fell in love. They had everything you could ever want and more. I could easily have lived there, for they had beds and pillows and blankets, cookware and plates, and, of course, a little rotti stand across the street so I wouldn't hunger.
I digress.
While in there, I happened upon this gorgeous wall hanging. I knew before I'd even moved into my house that it would be perfect in the stairwell. Top of the stairs, mirror at the bottom. Beautiful. It was all set out in my mind.
I left without it, but got a lovely surprise at Christmas when my mum and dad bought it for me. How spoiled am I?? It came home with me and I knew it had to go where I'd imagined for months. I bought a wooden dowel and some 'Taxi Cab Yellow' paint, and set to painting the heck out of that dowel.
As you can see, the hanging is NOT at the top of the stairs. The mirror wouldn't reflect it, the stairs were too steep... blah blah blah. So I've put it here and it's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door.

The colours are so vibrant, the patterns so beautiful. I love my little wall-hanging!

A Tale of Two Curtains

My kitchen windows were looking a little bare. I had bought some material when I was in Sri Lanka that I thought would be perfect for these windows.

Of course, it wouldn't fit in my buldging suitcase on the way home, so it had to wait for my parents to come over. Fine by me! Because, as you can see, my Dad was hard at work...

I think they look pretty darn good!

Beautiful bedspread - take two

A Christmas spent in Sri Lanka is the perfect time to get a beautiful gift for the bedroom.

Mum said it was like love at first sight; they were walking down the beach when her and Mom Agnes saw something fluttering in the wind. Closer inspection revealed a hand stitched bedspread. The colours are so vibrant and gorgeous; the gold really stands out beautifully.

The design and technique is so intricate. You can really tell a lot of time and effort was put into making it.

first sri lankan curry

I decided it was high time to get my curry cooking into action. I got everything ready Friday night and set out on an adventure.

On the menu, we had mushroom curry and chicken curry.

To start off, I soaked the mushroom curry mix in tumeric.

Then I started cooking the onions.

Using a coconut spoon that I haven't taken the 20.00Rs sticker off of. Because I'm cool.

Anyways, long story short:

You can see I added coconut milk [that really isn't as good from a can! Note to self: buy a blender and a cocount shredder seat. It was faaaar too sweet!], chopped tomato [also from a can, I know. SHAME! I just didn't think ahead!] and about 2 inches of cinnamon bark.

Cooked and let cool enough to eat.

It's true what they say, it really does taste better with your hands!