Music Night 17 & 18 September 2016

Well, it was Music night weekend again, back in the Church as it's still a bit cold in September.

Justin and I came up on Friday night, as I was going to help Terry with some cooking in the morning.

Found a visitor in the kitchen which I moved on into the garden (didn't think Jo or later Karen would appreciate it

huntsman visitor

Also, given all the rain, we had a look in the cellar, and yes, it was flooded, not too bad, maybe 10cm or so.  Up through the soaked ground

flooded cellar

Saturday morning was lovely and sunny and blue, so we had breakfast out in the garden

walking back with the tray

Went up to Terry's around 9am - as did Arlene, June, Chrissie and Dermott.  On entering the house I could smell the most marvellous bolognaise sauce cooking away on the stove, waiting to be assembled into a lasagne.  It must have been simmering away for some hours.

We made a lamb, barley and vegie soup, lasagne (Terry had of course made the  pasta sheets) and some fruit sponges. June and I were not keen on making the sponges as we didn't consider ourselves experts in that field.  I did end up making them with Arlene (under instruction), and they weren't bad.

Terry also gave us a sample of the salami that he'd made a few weeks before our salami making session.  It was very good and tasty, just a bit on the salty side (but not anywhere near as salty as my proscuitto).  I was very impressed, and was given a bit to take home for Justin to sample also.  Given that we had more guests coming, I left after we'd made the food - and had a quick lunch at home.

Started some weeding - the other side of the front fence, as I wanted it to look nice.   The frogs were providing a gloriously noisy chorus again, and I also dug up one.  Luckily didn't hurt it.

Alex and Sarah had stopped for lunch in Kyneton and arrived around 2pm.  Sarah helped me with the weeding also. Told her she didn't need to.  And we just about finished it. (hoorah)

Alex and I were wondering if Justin would notice what we had done ie moved the rugs, changed the the light fittings around.  He noticed that I'd moved that glass cabinet, as it wasn't in the dining room, but he didn't notice anything else for ages. (a bit unfair, I didn't turn the overhead light on in our room last night, just had the bed side lights on). I've also misplaced the stupid key for that cabinet, so it's locked closed without the glass shelves in it.  I remember the woman giving me the key when we bought it, and I put it somewhere nice and safe ie handbag, purse etc.  But given that this was some months ago, I just can't find it now.  Must have put it somewhere else safe for "safe keeping"  I subsequently asked Karen to ask Denise if she had any spare little keys that we might borrow to open the cabinet.  No such luck yet...We'll also check some of ours out.

Now, to change the subject, Justin had to bail out the cellar - luckily we have lots of gum boots.  I also texted Gordon the roof man to see if he can come back soon, as our other Gordon advised that there was going to be a 100ml downpour on Tuesday or Wednesday (there wasn't!)  and we would have had more substantial leaks through the roof, as the gutter box would fill too quickly

Captain Gum boots

 Justin also had lots of of time to practice his music before the music night

Practicing #1

Practicing #2

cowboy boots for tonight

Chris, Jo & Yvonne arrived around 4.30, and brought some well appreciated supplies.  Champagne and cheeses etc which we  enjoyed under the tree.

Off to the Church around 6.30, so that we could help set up.  Surprisingly not that cold in the Church.  Had rugged up in preparation but didn't really need it.

And then the bands came on - first the Kingower Rangers, and Graeme from Passing Clouds also came up and did a bit of spoken word

David, Graeme, Mark #1

David, Graeme, Mark #2

Justin and the city slickers (my name for them) came out around 8.30 for the first set, and then another one around 11.30pm

Another success.  I also called out for them to play Old Paint (by Linda Ronstadt), as Justin had been practicing that one and I liked it.  Chrissie and Maile also took up the call, so they had to sing it. Went down well.

Slow hands Lewis

Chris

The band #1

The band #2

The band #3

The band #4

the end

towards the end of the night #1

Towards the end of the night #2

Breakfast the next morning - bacon, eggs, spinach, mushrooms etc - which Jo had kindly supplied.  Inside, as it had rained overnight, and was a bit dreary and damp still.  Made a morning fire for cosiness,  Justin and Chris cooked up the bacon outside

a breakfast hive of activity

boys and bbqs #1

boys and bbqs #2

breakfast plate

breakfast #1

breakfast #2

breakfast #3

breakfast #4

Given that it was wet, it wasn't really gardening /weeding weather, so we sat inside reading the "papers" on the tablets.

relaxing

Started to get a bit stir crazy, so took Jo, Sarah and Alex for a walk.  Went to where the rusted machinery is, and the dam where Karen and I had once tried to catch yabbies (unsuccessfully).  Last time I was there it was completely dry.  Now it was flooded

dam- hopefully full of yabbies 

This is what it looked like back in May on my Girls weekend #1

This is what it looked like back in May on my Girls weekend #2

This is what it looked like back in May on my Girls weekend #3

a study in rust

unidentified goop on path #1

unidentified goop on path #2

wild flowers #1

wild flowers #2

wild flowers #3

So, went for a nice walk, my favourite circuit, past the dam and "ruins", into the scrub/bush - along a track of course, onto the white gravel road, past the old chook sheds, and then back to the house.

Had been back about 5 minutes when Karen arrived with her new excitable dog - Moby.  Her & Mark (and Moby) stayed a week as their floorboards were being polished back home.