Which House Would You Choose

Things have been a little quiet on the Jazz and Brett Blog…

I (Jazz) have started a new job so been consumed with that…

Of course I am totally stoked that The Block is on 5 days a week – last year I was over the moon that it was back on once a week – so you can imagine how happy I am now….

So my fav couple of The Block is Katrina & Amie! I have been following Katrina’s Blog (http://www.katrinaleechambers.com/) for over a year and she has a personality on the show, which I love…..

How about that singing in the first challenge, not to mention the “what is I wa” line from the song Pump Up The Jam LOL I was in stitches…

Anyone that read my blog last year would know I am not a Chez fan…. And to my surprise she turns up on this year’s series to help one of the couples…. hmmmmmmm

I am a little disappointed the girls didn’t pick House 4….


The façade of House 4 for me is it!!! I just hope Rob and Tania do it justice.

So which house would you pick?



House 4 (MY PICK)









House 3







House 2





House 1

If you missed the show you can view full Eps online at http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/theblock

Shedding Around

Sorry that we haven't posted much - been a very busy time for me (work wise).

Here is the shed that was assembled over the Easter break.

Here is the shed flat packed.





Base in place.





Byron & Brett getting things done.





Looking good





End result!





- Posted by Jazz's iPhone

Horizontal Slat Side Panel

Brett, Byron & Josh put this panel up.

It has turned out great - exactly the look we were wanting!

Thanks boys!









- Posted by Jazz's iPhone

Mulching

The Developers of the estate have started on stage 2 and 3 and have heaps of mulch.

They gave us this mulch to use in the gardens (its nice when the developers of your estate are your neighbours and great people).

So here is Brett getting busy in the Mulch.

Final results:

Book - Judgment Calls

With all the public holidays I have been going through books very quickly!

I ordered some Alafair Burke books after stumbling onto her when I read City of Lies.

This was a good book. Smart twists & turns.

I love the way the main females characters in het books are strong females!

I think if your into Law & Order you will like this book!




Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid walks into her office in Portland's Drug and Vice Division one Monday morning to find the sergeant of the police bureau's vice unit waiting for her. A thirteen-year-old girl has been brutally attacked and left for dead on the city's outskirts. Given the lack of evidence, most lawyers would settle for an assault charge; Samantha, unnerved by the viciousness of the crime, decides to go for attempted murder. But as she prepares for the trial, she uncovers a dangerous trail leading to a high-profile death penalty case, a prostitution ring of underage girls, and a possible serial killer. And she finds her judgment -- not only in matters of the law but in her personal life -- called into question.

In Samantha Kincaid, Alafair Burke has created a complex, appealing character -- a woman consumed by a sense of justice, who is also tough enough to take on a man's world. Seamlessly juxtaposing courtroom scenes with those of criminal investigation, Judgment Calls reveals not only an insider's knowledge of the criminal justice system but a fresh new voice in the world of crime writing.

- Posted by Jazz's iPhone

Royal Wedding

Well today is the day Wills and Kate tie the knot!

Will you be watching?

Asparagus and Chicken Casserole

Wanted to share this quick and easy recipe I saw last year on Matthew Hayden’s Home Ground (Lifestyle Channel).

This quick, easy dinner recipe from Matthew’s wife Kellie will be a winner with the whole family. Serve with steamed vegetables and steamed basmati rice.

Although I have added a few more ingredients:
- Bacon

- Asparagus Cuts (tinned)
- Champion Mushrooms
- Frozen Peas

Original Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breast or thigh fillets
- ½ cup plain flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3 leaves purple sage
- 3 leaves sage
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 x 400g cans cream of asparagus soup
- Salt and pepper

I also put mine into the slow cooker after browning the chicken and onion.

http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/12656/kells-asparagus-and-chicken-casserole

Porch Area Reveal Completed

Here is the final result of our rather large porch area!

















Before:

Book - All Together Now

This week I am back on the Monica McInerney band wagon.

This book is a collection of short stories.

Really enjoyed this book, although I would have liked to have more to the stories - but I guess its a book of short stories....

A group of friends on an unconventional diet learn some important life lessons, a fashion-challenged grandmother weaves some magic in a dusty charity shop, a grieving young mother takes a healing journey, and a shy woman from a family of high-achievers learns to follow her dreams.

From one Australia's most loved authors comes All Together Now, a collection of Monica McInerney's short fiction gathered between two covers for the first time. Including her popular novella, Odd One Out, this is a book to inspire and delight fans of all ages.

Family relationships, sibling rivalry, love lost and love found – these stories touch on the popular themes of Monica McInerney's hugely successful novels, and are brimming with her trademark colour, warmth and humour.

- Posted by Jazz's iPhone

Outdoor Art Re-vamp

I got these (4) metal artworks from Target last year during all the sales (half price I might add).




I love the detail - but white wasn't going to fly.

So we sprayed them (guess what colour).....black!




Brett is a great spray painter!







Here is the final product:





- Posted by Jazz's iPhone

Book - Shopaholic and Sister

This week I am back into the Shopaholic Series...... Shopaholic and Sister.

Great book and a good laugh - 2 sisters that are like chalk and cheese.

My fav part is when she goes mountain climbing in kitten heels LOL!

Becky Bloomwood, shopaholic extraordinaire, is back. She and her new husband, Luke Brandon, have been on a whirlwind ten-month honeymoon that's taken them all around the world, but both are itching to get back to London. When they do return, Becky is disturbed to discover that her best friend has a new good buddy, and Becky's parents are acting strangely. It turns out that they've just learned that her dad fathered a child a few years before he met her mother. Becky is thrilled to learn she has a half-sister, until she meets Jess. Jess is nothing like Becky: her clothes aren't fashionable, she prefers dank caves to shoe stores, and she is incredibly frugal. After an awkward weekend together, the sisters part company on bad terms. To make matters worse, Becky's gotten herself into a pickle with a purchase that could put a strain on her marriage. Like the previous installments, Shopaholic & Sister is hilarious fun for Prada and Gucci aficionados. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

- Posted by Jazz's iPhone

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

What does Easter look like at your place?


We hope the Easter Bunny made a visit last night!

Good Friday Deluge

Here in Brisbane we had Thunder Storm on Good Friday.

The rain was coming in horizontally!!!

Brett was out mowing before it hit!

Coming in.....



Eeeeekkkk pouring down!

A usual sight..... the retaining wall waterfall!



Lets hope the BBQ doesn't float away!

Right side of the h0use - drain working over time!


Left side - nothing.....


We had a river running past our house on the street!






The water coming from behind and along our neighbours place - talking about running water!



Here is why we have a retaining waterfall.....


As our neighbours are away we were keeping an eye on the place....

Was surprised so see this!

The pit drain is block - Brett unblocked it but there is no suction happening - so that is what the water can't get away.


The water is coming from up the side of these other houses - those neighbours were also out and about as they are having flooding issues.

By the time we got back from next door our side of the house was clear of water - so at least our drainage is working.

The thing I am a bit worried about is that today (Easter Saturday) we are putting a shed in where the retaining wall waterfall is.....