Dinners, muffins and wind September 26th - 3 October 2013

Arrived around 7pm on Thursday night, had a simple dinner, and  hunkered down and watched a couple of episodes of Sons of Anarchy - Season 5

Woke to a glorious Friday morning, and went for a walk in the bush.  Was inspired to take some photos of the wild flowers

Inglewood wild flowers

and also of the track that I was walking along.  Although I've never been to the Northern Territory (shame on me) - this is what I think it might look like

Inglewood walking track in the scrub

On the way back, a large bird flew quite close to me, and then did it again which made me realise that it was a magpie, and that it was actually swooping me.

photo from the web

It was quite intimidating, as it dive bombed me from the front and only swerved away at the last minute. Given that it had been cold in the morning, I had worn a jacket, which I had subsequently tied around my waist once I had warmed up.  I now put the jacket around my head for protection and walked away very briskly.  No surprises that I didn't go for a walk there again...

Home for some of my fresh bread for breakfast, and a visit to the ladies at the Op shop where I bought a rather good 2 tier muffin carrier.  This proved quite useful.

muffin carrier similar to the one I bought - photo from the web

and then onto to Denise and Steve's for a natter, to the butchers for a pork chop for dinner  - and then back home into the overalls for some work in the garden.  My plan was to get rid of a lot of weeds in the front garden, and then to cover up with mulch.

Despite Justin and Alex's best efforts last time, the front fence had taken another beating by the wind, and needed further fixing

shonky fence

I also tried to take a photo of the damage done by the corellas up under the roof line.  You can see a dark hole under the eaves, which has been enlarged by those pesky birds

corella hole in eaves

And, given that I had already had a bird incident with the magpie this morning, I spied those corellas a bit later, just laughing at me in the jacaranda.  I must admit I was sorely tempted to throw a stone at them (I didn't), but just clapped loudly - it echoes here, and they eventually flew away.

bloody corellas

 Bird watching #3 were some green parrots on the grass near the town hall, but I couldn't get close enough to take a good (identifying) photo

mystery parrots

Given that I was here by myself for a few days before the others came, I thought that I would socialise a bit in the evenings, and so invited Arlene, David and June around for dinner on Saturday.  This necessitated a trip back to the butchers for some inspiration.  Given that I was already having pork for dinner tonight, I didn't want pork again  tomorrow night despite its excellence.  So, I was mulling over the different meat choices, when Jim suggested dorper lamb which he said was delicious and he didn't get it that often.  I quizzed him as to whether it was fool proof to cook with variable temperatures ie the bbq/pizza oven, and he then very kindly offered to cook it for me, and bring it around 1/2 and hour before my guests arrived.  How's that for customer service?  An offer too good to refuse, so I didn't, and left very happy with some more chicken livers, as I wanted to make another pate.  This time I was able to let them defrost over night - and made the pate on Saturday morning.

So, I gardened pretty much all day, and then went for a leisurely walk with Denise at 5pm - around the town for about an hour.  Was nice to have a longer catch-up - and we went and introduced ourselves to the new owner of the motel - Carol.

Took a few snaps along our walk.  Denise had pointed out the cut step marks of a huge stump

stepped stump

and given that the light was lovely in the gloaming I took a photo of the below gum tree

majestic gum

Back home, the cherry tree was looking lovely in full bloom.  Hopefully some cherries again this year. Harvested a few the first year, but they all shrivelled up last season due to the crippling dry

cherry blossoms

Pork chop - delicious as always for dinner accompanied by salad greens from the garden, and a surprise harvest of peas from the pea straw spread out as mulch in the front garden.  It's ironic really, as I had planted some snow peas in the vegie garden last season, and they did very poorly, maybe got about 3 pods, but we've had plenty of accidental mulch peas.

mulch peas for my dinner

peas on the mulch plant

Given the nice warm weather, I thought I'd make a jelly type dessert for tomorrow's dinner.  I'd remembered an old classic that I used to make - Delia Smith berry terrine in pink champagne.

photo from the internet

Really just fancy fruit in jelly, but it looks great.  Had to ring up Justin for the correct proportions as it required gelatine, rather than store bought jelly.   He read me out the recipe on the phone, and I wrote down the pertinent bits.  I was supposed to leave a little bit of jelly liquid at the end to pour over the terrine once it had been weighed down and set for an hour.  However maybe I left it a bit long/was too cool in the kitchen, as the left over liquid had pretty much solidified also.  Nonetheless, I spooned it over the top, and thought I could make up some more tomorrow if need be.  I'm pretty much a never say die cook, unless it's burnt to a cinder, anything can be pretty much rectified

Another intensive session of Sons of Anarchy before bed, and then another day of gardening on Saturday.

I did however make the pate, some red dip, and a rather good garlic/rosemary loaf of bread in preparation for tonight's dinner.

Judy from the butchers dropped in with a lovely book on Dame Elizabeth Murdoch's Cruden Farm for me to have a look at and be inspired by

Cruden Farm book

Yes, she was inspirational, granted she presumably had pots of money and space to make her garden, but she sounded very hands on, so to a much smaller degree, I'm trying to do what she did - making a garden out of this almost acre plot, experimenting, growing from cuttings, seeing what does well here etc.  I found another few swathes of jonquils in the grass which I hadn't previously dug up, nor been mowed over by Gordon.  I gave some to Judy along with some gazanias, and then for fun I counted the rest that I had dug up, and filled a medium sized pot with. 221!, yep a further 221 jonquils that I dug up, and then replanted around the garden.  I must have 1000's, not to mention all of the irises that I have dug up and replanted also

221 jonquil bulbs

Well, Jim came on the dot of 5.30pm as promised holding aloft a foil covered tray of dorper lamb.  Yum! He also brought his grand daughter  Breanna for a visit, - who is a delightful little girl.  Joked around with her that she could come and help me tomorrow with some more weeding, and she replied that she loved gardening, and of course would come.  Obviously I hadn't expected to be taken up on my request, (how many times have I asked my own children to help?) so I told her that no of course she doesn't have to come and help me.

foil covered dorper lamb

 All was prepared for dinner, I had even put out side plates and napkins, a centre piece of euphorbias, a literal garden salad - with greens just from the garden ie mixed lettuce, baby silver beet, rocket and chives, and the pototoes were roasting in the pizza oven.  Perfect! The only thing that I was slightly iffy about was the wine, after all, what do you serve people with their own winery and excellent wines? When I discussed this with Damien afterwards he suggested clean skins from Dan Murphy, he may have a point there.  I ended up getting out a couple of bottles of Old Loddon - of which we drank one

in readiness for dinner

Nibbles were had out in the "laundry"  so that I could keep an eye on the potatoes.  Was very pleasant.
Once they were done, we trooped back to the kitchen to carve up the lamb.  I invited Arlene to take over the carving as I was making a bit of a mess of it.  There was an attached shank which threw me.  Her carving was difficult also - as the knife was on the blunt side.  Another job for Justin there

Arlene carving #1

Arlene carving  #2

Anyway, the dinner was a great success, conversation and wine flowed in copious amounts (they had brought a selection of Blanche Barkly goodies).  Terry was also originally invited, so I was going to assume head of the table ( I can't normally if Justin is there), but he couldn't come, so I gave up my assumed prime position and seated us two across from two.  The dessert also worked quite well, berries on top with a layer of pineapple and peaches also, accompanied with spiced ricotta (my own invention)

too much wine?

better in focus

dessert

  
Finished up late-ish after 12, so no Sons of Anarchy

More gardening on Sunday, and then a visit to the Blue Eucy Festival.  I debated with myself  as to whether I should change out of my work clothes, to look a bit more respectable, but ended up deciding against changing as I had planned to do more gardening afterwards

festival brochure #1

festival brochure #2

approaching the festival

So, I clomped up there in my steel capped boots, I've decided they're really not walking shoes.  I was delighted to see the wood chop in full swing when I arrived - pun intended.  And you could get closer/see a lot more than at the Rheola show where there were more crowds.  I recognised the same MC and some of the choppers

in full swing

down it comes

and the chips are flying

There was also a nice selection of mystery steam engines

Mystery engine #1

Mystery Engine #2

Mystery Engine #3

And Jim's old butcher car was also proudly displayed

Inglewood Aged Beef advertising car

Once I'd had my fill of the wood chop, I wandered towards the main building, and got talking to a chap about bees - Trevor.  Turns out his father had been a great friend of Jim Secombe's, (the 2nd owner of Nimmitabel).  I asked him if he knew how Elsie Parry ended up with the house, and he told me that Maud (Jim's wife) was an Addlem with multiple siblings, and that Elsie was her niece.  Glad that I had that piece of the puzzle worked out for me.  In fact Trevor stopped by the house the next day and gave me a potted family history on a piece of paper

In the main building I joined the "tour" and watched a short film on the Eucalyptus oil industry, which was followed up with a live demonstration as to how they made eucalyptus oil in the old days.  Filling up the brick chimney with leaves, compressing them, running steam through them and ultimately distilling the oil

practical demonstration

 

behind the scenes

Blue mallee used for Eucalyptus oil

old photos

press clippings #1

press clippings #2

                                                             

press clippings #3

branding

Old cutting tools

 

old pitch forks etc 

After the demonstration, there was a musical interlude, some people from Opera Australia, a local Opera singer, and the Gold Fields choir

Lastly, I went and wandered around the old distillery, and the new demonstration blue eucy plantation

old distillery #1

Old distillery #2

old distillery #3

demonstration plantation

So, while thinking I would only be there 1/2 an hour or so, I ended up being there for about 2 hours, and enjoyed myself immensely.

On the way back I ran into Breanna crossing the road to my house.  She had made me some muffins - what a sweet girl - and had already tried to drop in earlier, but I was out at the festival.  And I used the muffin carrier case that I had bought a few days earlier.

Breanna and muffins

We put them inside, and then she helped me with a bit of unprompted weeding,  Nicole then dropped in and we all had tea, muffins and some chocolate cake that Nicole had brought up on the veranda.

afternoon tea

Damien joined us after he'd finished off at the bowls club across the road.  Given that we can see the butcher shop from the veranda, we called Jim, and asked to wave out the upstairs window

Jim waving out the upstairs window - of the grey building on the corner

Soon after afternoon tea, I departed for my dinner with Jill Mc at Passing Clouds.  Luckily no kangaroos on the road.  Bumped into Graeme the vintner first

Graeme in photo from the internet

Had a quick tour through Jill's garden again, lots of Flanders poppies, she 'll save me some seeds, and I'll give her some seeds from my pink poppies.

We started off with a civilised sherry, and some of my pate which I'd brought her, followed by Irish Stew and salad, and completed with a baked apple pie.  All very pleasant.

Helen had called earlier and asked if she could come up on Sunday night, rather than Monday as initially planned.  I said of course, but that I would be out for dinner.  Luckily she has her own keys.  She and the kids were in bed by the time I got home around 10.30.

Well, Monday brought in the wild weather.  Sure it had been lovely, blue and bright early in the morning, but by mid morning it was wild and windy.

Despite the weather we did a bit of work together in the garden.  Helen made me a raspberry bed in the front garden - around the pruning cuttings I had planted some time earlier.  And Michaela helped by carrying the bricks over.

breaking the earth

bricks for the raspberry bed

Ros, Enzo's wife also dropped over some large succulent cuttings which I subsequently planted

succulent cuttings

The kids discovered Fraser's old toy fire engine which I had brought up in the ute, and played with it a bit

fire engine play time

They were also thrilled to see a clydesdale horse and cart clop down the street

Clydesdale horse speeding away

Breanna came back to visit, as I'd told her my 5 year old niece was coming and she might like to come for a play.  So she came equipped with a couple of cookies, a yo yo, and a bubble blowing kit.  The kids all had a great time together

blowing bubbles on the veranda

 
    

concentrate on those bubbles

ta-da

Tuesday morning, and double disaster struck.  First I broke off part of a tooth with some bloody muesli (yep, the tooth with the crown that had a crack in it), and then Helen lost part of a new filling which she had only had put in the week before.  I was already eating gingerly on that side of my mouth, now I avoided it entirely.  I ended up having it fixed up on Friday by the fabulous Dr C, was easier and less expensive than dreaded.

Justin and my kids came around lunch time, and the weather had even got worse - wind wise, and the fence had also deteriorated further.  Luckily we had that prunus tree there to support the fallen fence

falling fence

windy and falling fence

looking precarious

Justin and Xavier fixed it.  Xavier was helping with his toy hammer, while Justin wielded a real one

getting that support right without wrecking my garden

not quite an action shot

now an action shot -banging with his hammer

stereo hammer work

Xavier supervising

I think he's lost interest in what Justin is doing now

Anyway, poor old Justin only stayed a couple of hours - had some lunch, fixed the fence, helped me (or rather I helped him) pick up a fridge and freezer from down the road for my new mate Michael from QLD who bought a house in Inglewood.  The white goods vendors had a little wood stove like our old Lux, except in better condition - and green.  Justin then left for Warnambool, leaving the kids and Basil with me and Helen and her kids

lux stove

Mad and Xavier

Wednesday, and my kids surprised me by helping out in the garden.  There was some very long grass/weeds growing next to and between the piles of sand and pebbles.  Given that I thought it could become a potential snake haven, I wanted them removed.  Everyone helped

weeding

flower child

I also took Madeleine for a drive, or rather she took me as a newly minted L plate driver

L plate lessons

I got her to drive up to Blanche Barkly, which is straight up the Inglewood Kingower Road (Verdon Street), and then right into Blanche Barkly.  She did pretty well, but was unaware that you should try and avoid pot holes

On the way back it started to rain a little bit, and the wind picked up again.  A fence had blown down, so the kids and I got some fencing wire, gloves and pliers and fixed it up.  Also threaded wire through other loose panels.  I must say that the kids were pretty good to be out there helping me, as it was raining, and the wind was wild.

wet helpers

that's the way you do it

Thursday, and the weather had luckily improved, as Enzo from the Empire had organised for a 15 second television commercial to be filmed there.

Enzo and Chris being filmed outside Sharp's Bazaar

Michaela and the photographer's daughter in the film van

Michaela and Xavier also wanted to visit the Op shop ladies

Xavier trying out the Op Shop toys

Michaela and Jean

impressive cheque of $300,000 raised by the Op shop (they've raised much more since then)

The kids then helped me with spreading the mulch over the areas that I had weeded.  And yes, Fraser did help, he just wasn't in any of the photos.

gloves on please

now what?

that's right throw it on the garden bed

look where the gloves are now

the finished mulched beds