Siblings, sausages and salami 25 - 27 August 2017

Justin's Dad unfortunately died on Thursday morning, so everything was a little up in the air....

However, I had organised to go to Maile's on Friday weeks ago, to another "Old Ladie's movie afternoon, and this time I was prepared - brought my bottle of only cellar cold prosecco, and got there by 1pm.  Two Annes and a Ruth this time, and no photos

Sat around and chatted first (didn't say anything about Justin's dad, didn't want to darken the mood) Maile as always had put out a lovely cheese and biscuit platter

Maile had also promised that I would love the movie, as, or because it was French.  She remembered that I hadn't liked the 1st movie I saw. (the one with Viggo Mortenson in North Africa)

Anyway, the movie was the Belier Family, about a girl who lived with her deaf father, mother and brother in the French countryside.  At school she discovered that she had a lovely singing voice, and the antics went from there.  It was a comedy drama, and had some very funny and also heart felt moments.  Maile was right, I did love it

Stayed and chatted afterwards, had a coffee and cake, and left around 5pm - kangaroo time.  Did see one scampering away in front of me on the Bread and Butter track, but not too close, so all was good.

Went back home and organised the dvds some more, as I had brought up a couple of spindles of  dvds that I'd recorded from tv - ie lots of Grand Designs, BBC dramas etc.

Had some leftovers for dinner, got my hot water bottle and watched some more Monarch of the Glen in bed

Given Justin's dad, we had decided to invite the siblings to Inglewood so that we could work out what was happening/what Penny expected.  We were originally going to Terry's for lunch, but given our additional guests, we invited Terry to our place for lunch instead.

I made some bread and some hearty chicken soup, and my famous peanut chocolate tart for dessert.

I also thought that I would put out an antipasto selection to start.  Brought up our last salami from the cellar, put out home cured olives, my chilli choko chutney, and artichoke stalk pickles, and got some cheeses, chilli mussels, pizza shapes (for Justin) and some other bits and pieces.

Set the table nicely with tablecloth, silver ware etc.  Although the cutlery was all there, Justin (and maybe some of the others) didn't realise there was more to come, and so filled up on the antipasto, not leaving any room for the soup and fresh baked bread

However, Felicity and Claudia being very good guests did join me in having some soup.

I guess by this stage it was getting onto 3pm, and the plan had been to make salami and sausages after lunch at Terry's.  He left quite quickly to organise, and Justin, Claudia and I went a little later.  Alex, Sarah and Felicity elected to stay behind and mind the fire (Nin was in Sydney).  They also went for a walk around town, as Felicity hadn't been there before.

So, onto the sausage making.  I'd already been to the butchers and picked up my ordered meat and fat!   I think about 2 kg of pork for the salami, and the same of beef for the sausages.

We started with the sausages - first mincing the beef, then the fat, then mixing them together in the right quantities - adding wine, garlic, chilli, salt, pepper and other spices

Then we commenced our positions - Terry was threading on the skins, and making sure everything was going well in the filling department, I was on my old job of pushing down the meat plunger, and trying to make sure no air was getting in to make bubbles, and initially Justin and Claudia were playing the guitars. 

 

I then wanted a hand - so Claudia was on replenishment duty transferring the meat mixture from the bowl to the elevated Kenwood plate that I was working from to push down the sausage making "tube"

I had to press down very hard, as there was a lot of resistance, and it was quite tiring.  In fact, I got Justin to do it towards the end, so took some photos.

Given that I had bought a lot more meat this time than last time, it took a lot longer.  And Terry was also putting on a a film at the Church, so we couldn't stay too long.  We decided to call it a night after 5pm.  We'd done my lot of sausages, and some of Terry's also, so thought we'd do the salamis tomorrow.  Drove back to the house, and had soup and other leftovers for a very casual dinner.

And then upstairs for some music - with Alex guest starring on drums - with of course Claudia on lead vocals.  Was of course a fun night.  Claudia did a great rendition of Me and Bobby McGee,

People got up at different times on Sunday morning, just coffee and toast for breakfast.

This time Claudia, Felecity and I went to Terry's at 10am.  Justin remained behind to work on his dad's eulogy.  And Alex and Sarah were content to eat the salamis, but didn't want to see them made.

Got to Terry's and he made us one of his fab coffees and also fried up a couple of little sausages that he had made yesterday, cut them into small pieces then gave us toothpicks to try some. Delicious!!! Very tasty, no need for tomato sauce at all

And then onto the making.  I hadn't realised, but Terry had another batch of sausages to make, and then we started on the salamis - with Felicity on tying duty

By the end we had made 13 of our salamis and maybe half as much of Terry's salamis.  It really was a sausage factory!  I'd suggested to Terry that we also have a dolmade making day (I'd served some yesterday which I'd bought, but much easier to make if you have a ready supply of vine leaves which you would in Kingower), and also tomato sauce making day.

So, left before lunchtime, and went home and strung up the salamis in the cellar.  They look great.  Also took the 2kg? of beef sausages that we'd made, and divided them into portions to freeze for later eating

It was still quite a cold day, so off to the pub for lunch - roast of the day and vegies - very nice.  The others started heading off after this.  I did a little bit in the garden and watered my new plants - which were still looking ok - as I was worried about frost damage.

More furniture movement and dvds 17-19 August 2017

Had thought I'd drive up to Inglewood straight after work, on the Thursday night, but changed my mind, exercised, had some dinner, and then drove up around 8pm - that way I could just go to bed when I arrived, and watch an episode of Monarch of the Glen in warmth - with a hot water bottle.

Was a windy night, something was knocking outside my window, but I managed to fall asleep without too much difficulty

Had a bit of a sleep in on Friday - almost 8am! Read the Age on line for a little while, then ventured out into the cold diningroom and had some porridge and a coffee

  

And then took the furniture in from the car

Bedside tables for the bedroom on top of the kitchen (previously known as the Garden room and the study)

And also 3 (out of 5 chairs) that we bought for the manor table upstairs

Also organised the rest of the dvds including some recorded ones that I had made up.  Divided them into movies, tv series - drama/documentary - with most of the docos being house type programs ie Grand Designs, Country House Rescue, Restoration Man etc

Had a coffee and catch-up with Denise at the Empire, and ordered the meat and fat for the salami/sausage making next weekend - Jim spoke about the Bridgewater caravan park again - asked if Justin had a boat licence, said we could take out the party boat.  Back home for a quick lunch, and then my haircut with Michelle at 2pm - went a bit dark red this time

Finished up around 4pm ,and went to Sharps, as Steve had said that Bernie could cut glass (long shed louvres).  He was there, and saw me coming ie knew that I was there for glass cutting (Steve had told him earlier). He said he'd be glad to do it.  So I toddled off home, and got the 2 x long louvre windows and the right size one from the shed, and dropped them off

Home via the IGA and saw Noi on the way back - she gave me some nice fresh parsley and coriander.

Back upstairs for more dvd organising, and then Terry came by after 6pm - I'd called him earlier to see if he'd like dinner at the pub.

He came bearing gifts and a couple of jars of nice looking olives which he'd produced

Had a red, and some dips and crackers in the kitchen, and then off to the pub

Despite having made a booking with Dionne earlier (when I had a coffee with Denise), there was no reserved table.  There were plenty of empty tables though.  There was a new chef - advertised on the outside board, along with a new menu. new chef was there, new menu wasn't.

I had crumbed cutlets, and Terry had the steak - not bad

Barb was there with a large table - Grant, Francine, their grown up kids and others.  Her partner, (Grant's father) had just died the day before.  I offered my condolences.

Terry and I stayed chatting till well after everyone else in the dining room had left.  Said that he was thinking of moving from Kingower -- which very much suprised me.  Would still stay in the general vicinity ie Bendigo/Harcourt etc. I would be very sorry to see him leave, as over the years, we've become good friends

I guess we left around 10.30, (there were still a few people left in the bar) and walked back to the house.  Terry left for his place, and I watched another episode of Monarch of the Glen with my trusty hot water bottle.

Fell asleep before it ended though

Rained during the night, and was a bit grey and cold in the early morning

Did become sunny and nice later on, so I took a few photos of the early Spring blossoms - almonds and jonquils etc

The trees that I'd ordered from the Hub fruit tree drive (lemon, cumquat, mandarin, pecan, fuji apple, cherry and persimmon must have been dropped off by Kim (bless her cotton socks) - so I planted them, moved the rogue artichoke from the vegie garden path, and pulled out the 2 x rogue plum trees from the vegie garden to take back, and plant in Melbourne

Also did a bit of weeding/trimmimg

Picked up the glass from Sharps - no charge!  How nice was that, and walked past the newest shop which had been Catherine's from ages ago

Stuck my head in, and met Ben (and saw his son Charlie sanding down a chair).  Had quite a long chat, he's from Castlemaine, and had done a lot of renovation work in the past - might be able to help us with ours ie restumping.plastering etc

Then back home to fit the louvre windows, tidy up and then back to Melbourne to see Fraser go to his Year 12 formal..  As it was, the route to Melbourne from the Calder alternative was closed (and will be closed for 3 months), so I went via the Maldon detour.

Christmas in July in August 5 & 6th August 2017

A lot of to-ing and fro-ing this morning.

Took Fraser to school for his last hockey game, then to the doctor for a routine blood test, and then back home for some breakfast.

Then onto picking up some chairs for the table in the upstairs room, going to Taits for the shed flooring, (and then deciding not to get it, as they don't cut yellow tongue to size), strapping down the shed pieces to the ute, and finally getting to Inglewood around 2pm

Had a rather late lunch of a pie from the Bakery, and then into the backyard to put the shed up.  Justin and I placed the pieces "just so".  Was starting to rain a little bit, but we finished it that afternoon

And then into the kitchen to start peeling and then slicing the 6kg of potatoes that I'd bought for the Potato Bake for the Christmas in July in August dinner.  Took a lot longer than I thought it would...

Got the potatoes into the oven around 10 to 5, and then off to David's quickly for some eggs.  He only had 1/2 dozen left, but he told me to come back tomorrow afternoon (when he's closed) and ring on the bell.

 Upstairs to listen to Justin play guitar and read the Age online, and then onto to Kingower around 6.20 (we were supposed to be there between  6 and 6.30, with dinner sharp at 7pm).

I hoped that the potatoes were sufficiently cooked through.  I thought the potatoes in the shallower green enamel dish were cooked, but I wasn't sure about the potatoes in the deeper corningware dish. And of course, they were very hot.  Had to put them on the back of the ute on top of wooden chopping boards, and hope they wouldn't slide off - as we had taken the sides off the ute in order to fit the shed pieces.

As it was, when we arrived at St Mary's Church, the pots had half slid off the boards and one of the boards was rather close to the edge of the ute, but it was all good, nothing spilled or broken

Damo and Nicole had outdone themselves, Both dressed up - Damo as Father Christmas, and Nicole as Mrs Claus

The table was set beautifully and Anne had made a LOT of nibbles ie prawn cocktails, pickled eggs, turkey meatballs stuffed with blue cheese and a raspberry sauce, smoked salmon pinwheel sandwiches, trio of dips, pate, cheese, biscuits - too much - but all delicious

There were 20 of us, so we all sat around the one large table.

At 7pm we were invited to grab a plate and come and get served (but we hadn't really started on the nibbles yet)

Damo and Nicole served up the chicken, beef, gravy, mixed veg, my potato bake (from the shallower dish, the other was in the oven) - and it was all very nice

Sat with Maile and David and had a nice chat about our trip to France.

Dessert was also very good, Jan' famous trifle, Terry's famous plum pudding and custard, and my Christmas biscuits - I assembled the star tree, and also had the cinnamon santa and Christmas tree biscuits.  Maile had made litres and litres of egg nog, and there was also mulled wine.

All excellent!

And they played old Christmas records

We stayed pretty much til the end, and then home - no kangaroos on route.  And I took home about 4 kg of my potato bake (in the corning ware dish)- at least my kids love potatoes

Bit of a sleep in on Sunday, and then off to the Bridgewater Pub for a late breakfast.  It's actually the first time that we've eaten there (had tried a few times before hand, but it was closed etc)

We were the only ones there - and had bacon eggs, hashbrowns and a coffee - not bad.  Was also an open fire in the dining room - which provided some additional heat.

Back to the house, via the IGA, where we bought some more mouse poison (as we still have mice, discovered them last time), and we also looked for some shed flooring. Found the below, which might be good - given that the yellow tongue might just be too hard

Justin then painted a couple of cupboards

And I organised the dvds into one of those silver cases.  Took ages, and I still haven't finished, but just want to tidy up

Then back to Brooke Street, where I got more eggs from David (he opened up just for me), and then to Maile and David's where I was invited to pick some lovely kalamata olives.

Stayed till just before 4.30, and then back home