Lyrical Sunday Prompt - Fathers, Dads, Daddies

Celebrate your dad, their dad, a dad, any dad in any way you like. Just link up after the day - gotta keep it secret.

Source: paulstocks91612.blogspot.com via CONNIE on Pinterest

Review: Uncle Sam's - NZ's Online American Grocery Specialist.

Disclaimer: I cheekily asked Broot to ask Uncle Sam's to send me some CoffeeMate in exchange for a review. They sent me CoffeeMate and a tin of Chock Full of Nuts. This is my honest review.

CoffeeMate Coffee Creamer

I decided to play around with their site and it's easy to use and to navigate around. I liked how it was set out and found it easy to do my "pretend" shop. I think their variety is good and they seem open to requests for things that aren't on the site.

The parcel arrived well packed and promptly. If the communication is the same for paying customers as it is for me, you will be very well looked after.

The CoffeeMate I chose was Italian Sweet Creme. It isn't one I've tried before, but it sounded like it would be good. It is so good. I can't pinpoint the flavour - it's creamy, sweet and delicious. I add it to my second coffee of the day and can see it becoming a favourite treat. They are reasonably priced at $9.80 and I have been known to make the last one I got as a gift last 9 months... But now I can buy them in New Zealand!!

I also received a coffee named Chock Full of Nuts. I did warn them that I am particularly fussy about my morning coffee and that I send back second rate coffees at cafes AND that I blacklist baristas. Yet, they sent it... Brave...

 I chose the New York Roast as it was the darkest roast. At first I was disappointed by the depth of flavour, then I read the tin and realised it was for a drip/percolator. I don't have one of those so I improvised and brought it to just under boiling on the stove top.  It made a huge difference and we really enjoyed our morning coffee. I'm going to use my stovetop espresso machine on the weekend to see if that works too.

Uncle Sam's will be a happy home for expats and people like me, who are eagerly wanting to taste the many products mentioned on food blogs from the USA. They are reasonably priced and offer Facebook and Twitter specials!

Lyrical Sunday - Play

The first poem is from Katrina, inspired by playing at Breaker Bay with her little daughter.

Untitled

The rocks are lifting now

 The playdoh years return

 "Help me climb mum"

 The tree is skiting, it beckons me to play too

 Lush growth telling time in an ocean flurry of green

 Like the world blurring into one on the roundabout,
 counting, whirring, stirring, like cookie dough

 "watch me mum"

 Skipping and balancing on planks, chipped with paint
 revealing stories of the past like a multi coloured picture book

 "hold my hand mummy"
 give me your full attention
 "come play"
 come play with me

 Let your imagination snicker and giggle on the time you think you
 could be using for other things
 kiss a tree
 follow a bug

 laugh at the clouds

 look how the bark makes faces
 feel the wind on the swings in the depth of your belly

 (this must be what popping corn feels just before it bursts)

 "come on mum, come play"
 Rescue me from up high with a cuddle and a kiss

 Keep the jaggered rocks at bay mum
 See them in the bay, piercing through the water....
 With waves, kissing them, with gentle foam
 and a soothing roar

(C) Katrina McGuinness

Here's mine: 

For Keeps

“I play for keeps!” she yelled as she jumped from the rocks.
All our lives we play.
The waves crashed, foaming white on grey.
We play at life.
Seagulls screamed, defiant in the wind.
We play at love.
I sank down lashed by the sand.
We play at maturity.
It was then that I realised what she meant.
We play at pretending everything is alright.
That she hadn't been playing.

Lyrical Sunday Prompt - Play

This week I encourage you to play.

Play the fool.  Play a game. Play an instrument. Play a song. Create a play. Be a player. Watch a game. Learn a game. PLAY!

Source: marcjohns.com via yilin on Pinterest

I LOVE PIES - Redraw.

I haven't heard back from the winner and it's been a week... So could Jess B from Just Ordinary Us get in touch with your email address and I'll get the pie vouchers winging their way to you!!

The 20 most-watched TED Talks to date

From happiness to the universe. From mathemagic to orgasms. TED Talks have it all!

The 20 most-watched TED Talks to date

Miles from Linnie

Miles apart. Miles away. Miles. Miles. Miles.

Miles. 

Most of the time, the miles between New Zealand and other countries don't impact. They are there. I am here.

Miles.

This week they do. This week, I am tied to my phone. Sending the only support I can across the miles to my best friend. 

The hugs don't translate over text. The shoulder I could offer is stuck here, the tears are there in the UK. 

The dirty jokes I could tell her to break the tension, don't sound the same without my mischievous smile. 

The coffee, cake and cuddles are wasted on the miles. The flowers fade.

All I have is the miles, and a phone. 

I love you Linnie. I am sorry I am only able to offer you random words. But know that they come from my heart. From me. 

We are family and I am feeling your pain too. 

Lyrical Sunday - Coffee.

Walls of Brick and Bean
Within the walls of brick and bean
Scattered thoughts and words flow
Thick with meaning and caffeine

Within the walls of brick and bean
Solving problems of the heart and mind,
She sits, no longer unseen,

Within the walls of brick and bean
Holding hands against the storm
He listens closely to thoughts obscene

Within the walls of brick and bean
Overheard, a casual word becomes story
Shielding flames of hope, unseen.

They pass the time between
Work and play, night and day,
Within the walls of brick and bean

Within the walls of brick and bean
Exists a belief that life is more, than yoghurt or cream.

© 2012 LatteJunkie

And now for some education -

Source: prdaily.com via LatteJunkie on Pinterest

Lyrical Sunday Prompt - Coffee

Source: lifehackery.com via LatteJunkie on Pinterest

I LOVE PIES Winner!

The winner of a voucher for a pie from I Love Pies is...

Commenter 3 -  

Lusks - I don't live in New Zealand, but my daughter does and I would love to win this as a surP(r)IES for her. Yummy. x

I used the random dice generator but can't figure out how to do a screen shot.

Eminem - Rhythm and Rhyme

I'm listening to Eminem. Loudly. Uncensored. 

He's one of my guilty pleasures, indulged in when little ears aren't around.

His rap is poetry, it has a message and it lingers.

 It's something I can't wait to share with Monkey when he's older and will understand the lyrics. 

A love of rhythm and rhyme is a priceless gift.

 This weekend Captain Awesome shared a video on why Eminem is a Rhyming God...

My wish for you.

May you find someone to talk to about life, love and death. 

May you find someone who will remember when you could both be crazy and not break a hip.

May you find someone who will know you. Understand you and love you. 

May you find someone who will call you on the good days and the worst.

May you find someone who will yell at you when you need it most and cry with you when you need it most.

May you find someone to make you smile, curse and laugh.

May you find someone who will be there for you when I am not.

Lyrical Sunday - Gateway.

I didn't post the prompt this week and I hope you don't all disappear because of that. I should really schedule a month or two in advance.

This is the poem I wrote for the UH Library Poetry Day competition. The theme was Gateway to the Outdoors. If you would like to submit anything this week please do and I will link up on Thursday.

Source: moonlightrainbow.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

Winter whispers

Winter’s breath,

Smoke and fog,

Blurs the evergreens,

Beneath a soft grey.

Within the haze,

White on green,

A whisper

Entreating.

Do not forget me.

I am still here.

The frosted gate,

Opens still.

I remain,

Shrouded in grey,

Disguised in white.

Do not forget me.

Come, find me.

On the hills,

By the river,

In the fields.

My favourite day of the week

Surprisingly it was Monday.

 It brought me a rare chance to catch up (and meet) fellow bloggers. It's a wonderful thing to be able to do, there is very little hesitant small talk. I feel like I already know them, their personalities, from their writing. I had a great time and can't wait for the next catch up.

Thank you to Sarah and Jen for inviting me along.

Catching The Magic, LatteJunkie and Snapshots

I love pies! And a giveaway.

Last Friday was one of those Fridays. The one where I am lost for inspiration when it comes to a quick and easy dinner. The one where I usually settle on rotisserie chook, coleslaw and rolls (ciabatta if I'm fancy). Unfortunately (or fortunately) I couldn't go to my usual store as there were roadworks. I headed out to their opposition and wandered the aisles looking for inspiration.

And there it was.

The pie from heaven. Slightly pricey, but considering the effort it takes to make a proper pie with sour cream pastry, I thought I'd give it a go.

Angus Beef and Caramelised Red Onion. I grabbed some roast veges to go with it and called it a day

I baked it according to the instructions on the wrapper. As the delicious smell filled the kitchen, I noticed that the person who actually made the pie, was listed on the wrapper.  It made me feel like someone special had made it for us. And if it had tasted terrible I could email and moan :P

When we ate dinner, the pie was perfect. It tasted like the special pie my granny used to make when we had visitors. Rich, meaty and the right ratio of meat to onion to gravy.


Monkey raved about it. He's not a huge pie fan, so it isn't light praise. He also commented on the fact that the meat wasn't "chewy" which is his usual complaint about pies - gristle.

Captain Awesome was a bit late for dinner but the pie held up beautifully in the warm oven - better than the roast veges did. He was also very enthusiastic about the flavour and texture.

Now to the point of this entire post.

I emailed Maree at I Love Pies to thank them for making such a delicious pie.

She has offered a voucher for one of their pies to a reader (NZ Only)

So why don't you leave your name and email below and I will randomly get random.org (or Monkey) to pick one lucky winner to get a free pie, and you can let me know what you think. Entries close on 15th August.


Disclaimer - I have not been reimbursed for this review, nor was I gifted a pie. All opinion are mine and my family's and as always had it sucked I would never have asked the people at I Love Pies for a freebie for you.

Lyrical Sunday - Pause

Pause

Thoughts run on unbidden,

Words fall out of synch,

Movements stagger and stumble,

On and on,

Minute after minute,

Hour after hour,

Judgement after assumption,

Hope after downfall,

Until within, a hiatus,

A pause to breathe.

© 2012 LatteJunkie

Reason to pause

She walks,

towards the gate

Shoulders hunched,

feet dragging.

Tears run down her cheek,

as her hands wring.

She walks,

past my car,

As I wait, at the lights,

paused, captive watcher

Every morning

My heart breaks.

As I watch her

Unable to help.

© 2012 LatteJunkie

Lyrical Sunday Prompt

Source: frenchbydesign.blogspot.com via Eris on Pinterest

Disjointed rambling

I'm on edge. Teetering between happy and not.

I have verbal diarrhoea. Anything to stop me thinking

I'm anxious. Breath caught, trapped.

I'm lacking motivation. But I am always doing something.

I'm tired. Bone-tired.

My train of thought is pretty much derailed. 

I'm losing focus. It's fractured, reflecting broken images

I'm feeling disjointed. Like I'm missing something. Lacking.

I feel like I should be hiding from the world. Behind words, actions or laughter. Hidden.

I'm stuck in that place of disbelief, where the voices get louder and drown out everything else.

And I don't think any one knows. Or whether I'm just imagining it.

I wish I did.

Wordless Wednesday - my men