I See Faces...

Wikipedia calls pareidolia "a psychological phenomenon in which the mind responds to a stimulus, usually an image or a sound, by perceiving a familiar pattern where none exists".

I call it my every day.


For I see faces everywhere I look. In trees, in marks on the bathroom mirror, in old gum stuck to the footpath.


I see hearts in lichen, in flower petals, in swirls in a rug.

It's fun.  Like a little game!  My kids and I found these gems while on a bush walk.

For anyone who follows my Instagram, you might have seen my amazing array of coffee art. Like truly amazing, if I do say so myself. Here's a few to whet your appetite.

What do you see?  I got a bunny, a young witch, and the Grinch smoking a joint. Right?!!?

Though at first glance it would seem as if I have an amazing actual skill, the truth is I swish a little milk into coffee, then spin the mug until I find images therein. Yep, those 'images' were just there.  With no help from me at all.  Fun, huh?  So much fun!

I especially love it when people disagree and see something different. And it happens all the time.  Did you see something different in the above? Or nothing at all?

See, fun.

Coffee, tea or something else - what do you choose? - Kandy Shepherd

Recently I shared on social media a photo of a yummy Coffee and Walnut Cake I’d baked. I confessed I don’t actually like coffee as a drink—but I do like the flavour in cakes and ice-cream. I was surprised when I had comments from people who felt the same about coffee.  It’s always nice to meet a fellow non-coffee drinker who, it seems to me, are quite a rare breed.

No coffee or tea for me - but coffee cake will do just fine!

It’s even rarer to meet someone like me who not only doesn’t like tea or coffee but also because I don’t drink alcohol. Not for any religious or health or sobriety reasons—I simply don’t like the taste. Never have, doubt I ever will.

Mmm! I love the aroma, just not the taste of coffee!

 My mother told me I was anti-social because I didn’t drink tea (I come from a family who love their tea). Ordinary tea, herbal tea, iced tea—not for me. While I adore the smell of coffee beans and percolating coffee—I just can’t drink it. 

When I was younger, barmen would see me as a challenge, lining free alcoholic drink after free drink on the bar to find something I’d like. I’d take a sip and pass. Whichever companion I had with me at the time would eventually fall off his barstool as a result of slurping up all the drinks I’d disdained.

I was a challenge to a barman!

Some people think I’m weird because I don’t drink tea, coffee or alcohol in a world where most people do. It doesn’t bother me. I manage quite okay without any of those drinks. And when I meet someone else with the same tastes as I am, we fall upon each other in sudden camaraderie  as it doesn’t happen very often. 

I have to be careful with fruit juices because of the possibility of migraine-inducing preservatives. My choice is freshly squeezed but not all juices advertised as “freshly squeezed” are actually so. 

So what do I drink? Water, lots of water—still, sparkling or from the tap. Fortunately, I really like water! But before you dismiss me as too goody-two-shoes to be true, I also drink Diet Coke—lots  of Diet Coke. No other cola, just that type. Well, lots and lots while I’m on deadline like right now with my next book for Harlequin Romance. Otherwise, aware of the evil reputation of artificial sweeteners and other artificial stuff in a black, no-food-value drink, I try to cut down on it. But oh-how-boring it can be to just drink water!

My tipple of choice.

What about you? What’s your favourite beverage? One you love to hate? If there are any other non-tea or coffee or non-alcohol drinkers, please say hello! I’d love to see your comments.

PS: The cake is a recipe by Nigella Lawson, I made an extra layer. Here's the link:
https://www.nigella.com/recipes/coffee-and-walnut-layer-cake?offset=48

Louisa George's favorite things….

Hello!  It's my turn to talk about the things that make me smile…(obviously not including family and friends...)

My Nana's writing box. My lovely and slightly bonkers Nana lived with us until she died, when I was 17…this is the one thing of hers that I wanted when she was gone. She kept all her envelopes, pens, writing paper etc in here and it was a big event to watch her take it all out and write letters once a week. By the time it got to me it was very scratched and old, but my uncle polished it up and now it sits happily in my guest room.

COFFEE!!!  The first thing I reach for when I get up- I can't imagine a morning ritual without it. When we got the induction oven put in I wasn't sure I'd be able to find a stovetop pot that I could use- but I did and this little darling is used religiously every day infusing the house with its beautiful aroma.

Emma Hick Mott crockery. This was a wedding present from some friends. We don't use it often, so thankfully it has lasted over 20 years without a breakage! Emma Hick Mott used to have a studio in Portobello Market and I'm headed back that way in September, I think I'll look her up and see if she's still around, and has any more of this set left.

TRAVELLING.  Or just holidays! Luckily I married a similar minded man and we're always planning our next adventure. Obviously with finance, work and school commitments we can't go anywhere for long, but we do love to explore new places/cultures/cuisines. Next big adventure…New York and the US Eastern coast (2015, hopefully ;-) )

DANCING! Whether it's watching ballet, late night boogie-ing to Abba, or my thrice weekly zumba classes I absolutely love dancing. There is nothing that makes me feel better than turning the music up loud and shaking some moves! It brings an immediate smile to your face and it's good for you too!
My son has just joined his school Stage Challenge group and he seems to have got the dancing bug as much as I have (although I couldn't imagine him at the ballet somehow!)

GIRLFRIENDS. What would we do without them? They keep us sane, make us smile and take no crap! I've just returned from a weekend away in Queenstown with some great friends…we had a ball wine tasting, touring the amazing area and sampling some local fare. And we laughed and laughed and laughed.





So what are your favorite things to do or to look at or to use? Anyone else got the traveling bug? Anyone likely to join me on the dance floor?!?!?