This weekend was dedicated to Karen and her Dad who came to stay.
I arrived early and did all of the prep work ie bought the groceries and readied the food.
And of course dropped in on the usual suspects in the main street. Denise said she had something for me, which rather intrigued me. It was a business card from a fellow from Wedderburn who was a butler? and wanted to present me with a business plan for the house - so that it can pay its way. I guess something like Country House Rescue. Anyway, I'll give him a call, and see what he has to say. The Op shop ladies also told me that they were surprised to see me, as a lady that I used to work with had dropped in and said I was coming up next weekend. I immediately thought it was Alison, as she 's coming up next weekend, so knew that I obviously would be too, but I checked with her, and it wasn't. So now I'm thinking either Liz or Jo from I-View, or maybe Britta from Aztec? A bit of a mystery...
Once back home, I produced the dough for the garlic herb bread that I was planning to bake in the pizza oven at the same time as scones.
And then in no particular order I par boiled the potatoes, chopped up the pumpkin, onion, garlic, & mushrooms, stewed the apples for the sauce, picked the baby spinach and chives for the salad. Whipped the cream. Made a red dip, and a pear crumble, put the dry ingredients for the scones in a mixing bowl, and measured out the cream and lemonade. I wanted everything as ready as possible before they came.
Karen had said that they would leave around 12.30, so I aimed for afternoon tea at 3pm. Dragged out the pizza oven (we really must do something about those wheels, as I find it a tremendous hassle to navigate it it down the small slope and onto level open ground, and lit the fire around 2.30.
Anyway, everything was under control, and so I retired to the veranda to read the newspaper while I waited for them to arrive. I had thought that I might also get some wallpaper stripping done, but I ran out of time, and couldn't be bothered getting dirty before they came.
They arrived around 2.45, and Karen showed her Dad around as he hadn't been there before, and I mixed in the wet scone ingredients with a knife as per the instructions. Then into the oven on the top shelf, with the bread on the lower shelf
I thought we'd eat in the shade under the hoop pine, as it was pleasant and cool under there. I had anticipated making a nice pot of tea, but Karen had suggested bubbles - so who was I to argue? She hopped off to the IGA to get a cold bottle. In the mean time, Michael and his daughter Gen arrived. They had dropped in earlier to say hello (they're living in Inglewood now, as of 2 days ago) and I invited them to afternoon tea. I had also invited Denise and Steven, but they couldn't make it.
Anyway, the scones worked out a treat, and went surprisingly well with champagne - or should I say sparkling wine. so well in fact that we opened a 2nd bottle which had been chilling in the freezer.
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| Mike (Karen's Dad), Karen, Michael, & Gen |
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| 2 lonely scones |
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| Mike and Karen looking in the window of the Doll museum |
First stop was The Inglewood Emporium, where we fossicked around for a little while, then on towards Lizzies where we ran into Lizzie, Dennis and Cheryl having a chat. Michael and Gen peeled off at this stage to chat with Dennis as he owns the shop that was the local hair dresser, and Michael's wife Michelle (who is still in QLD for a few more days) wants to open up a hairdresser shop there.
Dropped into the pub to say hello to Enzo, but he was busy, and didn't see us. Saw Pat and Jim outside the Royal and congratulated Pat on her award winning lamb koftas. Lastly onto Fusspots, where I commented on Catherine's new glasses. She said I was the only one to notice - so points to me!
By this stage Mike was feeling a bit weary, and probably surprised at me chatting to so many people, so he returned to the house for a lie down.
Karen and I went and sat on the veranda, possibly to read the papers, but then Michael and Gen happened by again, and I invited them up - so we continued chatting for a while longer
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| veranda chatting |
Around 6 or so we realised that we should get the dinner on, so went back downstairs. The fire had unfortunately gone out, but it didn't take much to re-light it.
Karen and Mike came out to join me in the little shed, while we waited for the pork and vegies to cook. Filled in the time with another bottle of champagne, some cheeses, nuts, and the dip I'd made earlier. I've said before, and I will undoubtedly say it again that we will never go hungry (or thirsty) in Inglewood.
I figured the dinner was ready after about an hour, so we trooped inside to the dining room.
I (rather graciously I thought) gave Mike my head of the table carver chair. Justin later said that was his chair, I said it was mine when he wasn't in residence, and he then agreed.
Anyway, the pork as always was melt in the mouth. And the conversation and company excellent!
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| Karen & Mike |
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| Herb Garlic bread baked in the pizza oven |
Leisurely start to Sunday morning, no eggs,as there were no fresh ones to be bought from either David or Ben, and to be honest I couldn't be bothered getting dressed to walk down to the IGA to get some. I was quite comfy in PJs. The others were happy with fresh bread (I'd made a Rye Sour dough loaf over night) and jam.
And then it was onto the wineries, first Kangderaar where both Karen and I bought a mixed dozen for a very reasonable $120.
Then dropped in at Blanche Barkly, but neither David nor Arlene were there. Daniel, their son was and he told us that Arlene was at the house.
Tootled off over there, and Arlene showed us around. She had been working around the garden, so we didn't stay long, and continued onto to Bridgewater where we stopped in at Water Wheel.
We bought some wine here too :- Bendigo Blanc, a rather nice drop of white, and I found out that Bill - the wine maker owns young Joe's house just down the road. Yep, Joe Tivey, son of Joseph Tivey had built the nice looking Victorian house a little while down the road, and yes it also has a blue plaque.
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| Water Wheel dozen |
Got some pies from the Bridgewater Bakery, and then back home to eat them under the Hoop Pine. Karen and Mike left soon after lunch
I hung out the washing, and was rather thrilled that the grass/weeds are starting to green up again. It had rained a little bit over night, and had also rained more substantially a few days before hand. That said, for the first time in a long time, I didn't water the garden!
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| washing over the greening grass |
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| a bit more green |
