I should have tidied away the broom. Or painted it black.

Counters, kick and small appliances were always black, but now lower walls and inside upper shelves are too.

basics are important

Utensils are easy to find in black –  tea towels and bar mats were a challenge.

my life to a T: home-grown radish and lemon, and a passionfruit I hope to propagate

Black tray, black and wood cutting boards,  sometimes it is hard to see things black on black!  Plain white plates though.  Black sponges are the next frontier, but no luck so far.

Organize-it had me so excited with an illustration of a plain black dish brush but when it arrived it was piebald, and endless trouble to return (I am still fighting for a full refund).  I am jaded and world-weary enough to get a prickle of satisfaction from a desire I can’t fulfill.  Pass the absinthe.

I use these scales all the time ~

Yes, I planked and colour-blocked the fridge

Thank you Simple Human for my bin

everything JUST fits

First were black scrubbing brush and nail brush, both found among janitor’s equipment and relieved of their offensive logos with a little GoofOff. 

Black Gillette disposable razor.

No black soap, that would be too strange.  For me it’s Pears’ soap all the way.

In United Markets I came across a black pumice stone, so appealing I bought it even though strictly speaking I didn’t need one.  It even has one side rough and one side smooth, and is completely natural.  I luff it. 

Tresemmé is now my shampoo of choice, not because I like it (though it is only shampoo, so who cares?), but it comes in an austere black bottle.  But wait, there’s more!  At CB2 I found black rubber-covered pump dispensers, for dish soap, shampoo, anything!  I can hardly contain myself.

There is no other place for the cat litter, but at least it is in a high sided black washing up bowl (thank you Ikea), and the oversized scoop is black too. 

I swapped out black wire for the baskets which had held my many neatly stacked white face cloths used as guest towels: on the counter for clean ones, on the floor for used. 

Two black jars for cat brushes (black).

Then I combed the internet for a dustpan and brush, but the only ones were amazingly expensive imports.  Rafael Lumber to the rescue!  A lovely big brush and capacious pan for peanuts.

My Mason Pearson hair brush is already black, as are my bathroom scales, bathroom hooks  and loo roll holder etc.  Three out of four orchids are in black containers.  A can of black matt spray paint is standing at the ready.  Style, here I come.

Toss into a food processor:

4 oz wholemeal flour (1 cup)
4 oz oats (1 cup)
two tablespoon demerara sugar
1/2 teaspoon each salt and bicarbonate of soda
juice of a lemon
3 oz butter

Mix to crumb consistency then add:

Buderim crystallised stem ginger
1 fluid ounce milk

until the consistency is manageable but relatively ‘dry’.

Roll out on a floured board, 1/8″ thick, cut into circles and prick all over with a fork. Put them on a greased baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees C, 350 degrees F or Gas Mark 4, until slightly browned. These taste better when they have cooled.

Son of Digestive Biscuit, obviously.

Moosh is shedding: this is the amount of fluff I retrieved from him in one day. I think I should learn to spin…

I am well aware that it borders on stark but I love it this way, it doesn’t fuss at me or flick my fingernails. And it is very comfortable.

This morning I woke to this article by Michelle Slatalla. Remodelista and Gardenista are my favorite on-line reads so it is especially sweet to find myself transformed in Michelle’s wickedly funny prose. I think today is my favorite Monday.

This is adapted from ‘Sloe Gin and Beeswax’ by Jane Newdick.

English Digestive Biscuits

Toss into a food processor

4 oz wholemeal flour
4 oz oats
one tablespoon demerara sugar
1/2 teaspoon each salt and bicarbonate of soda
juice from half a lemon
3 oz butter

Mix to crumb consistency then add:

1 fluid ounce milk

until the consistency is manageable but relatively ‘dry’. (She says half the milk, but it didn’t work for me).

Roll out on a floured board, 1/8″ thick, cut into circles and prick all over with a fork. Put them on a greased baking tray and bake in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees C, 350 degrees F or Gas Mark 4, until very slightly browned. These taste better when they have cooled.