Kingower Christmas night 21 & 22 December 2019

Well, a year to the day that Mum died on 21st December - the day after her birthday

We raised a glass to her yesterday, and then again today ( a couple of times)

J and I got to Inglewood around lunch time - and as per our now established routine had a bakery pie for lunch.

I volunteered to go and get them, but was apparently about an hour, as first I'd bought eggs from David who was chatty, the dropped in on Denise and Steven, then up to the IGA to get some cold beer and milk, and then finally the bakery...J was wondering where I was

So, lunch out the back under the tree, and then into the hammock also under the tree to read - thought I'd take it easy until Karen and Tom arrived around 3.30pm

And the garden was still very dry... the stupid watering system still didn't seem to be working properly.

A few of my new citruses were especially badly hit. Below is a very parched cumquat in the front garden

Justin had to fix up the system yet again - not sure if the water pressure is too low, or what.  Granted it had been about 47 degrees on Friday, so even if it was working properly, that would have been heat shock enough.

Of course I had to hand water the effected plants before my hammock reading.

And, we seem to be winning the battle of the ants, as there are far fewer in that big nest outside the orchard.

Karen and Tom arrived around 3.30, and Karen gave Tom a tour of the house, and then the town.  I selfishly remained behind,as I wanted to finish my book

Was G and T time around 5pm, so we arised a glass to Mum then, under the tree.  wasn't that hot today, so maybe we could have been on the veranda, but it was quite windy

Karen went to close the curtains in the red room, and the whole shebang - pelmet and curtains came tumbling down

They therefore took the upstairs green room

Left for Kingower around 6.20, and there were the usual suspects there

Terry had a large portable oven hooked up, where he warmed up a glazed ham, and  also cooked a couple of butterflied lamb legs - delicious, I had brought up an onion tart, and others brought up salads and desserts etc

 

Was still a bit windy, but a lovely night nonetheless

Sunday morning and a very slow start by our guests.....after 10.30, we were getting hungry, so had some breakfast and a cup of coffee before they got up.

I did some more watering too, and J saw to the ants again

After they had breakfast, Karen Tom and I went up to Melville Caves for a look see (Tom hadn't been there before) - sat and admired the view for a while

Then back to Inglewood, and some more bakery pies for lunch

Back from the Ghan 7th and 8th December 2019

Got back from our marvellous Ghan and Darwin trip on Sunday night

And, we haven't been to Inglewood for a month!

Had organised to get there by lunchtime,as we were meeting Karl from Cole Clark (Guitars) to see if he might be interested in our dead Bunya tree for making into guitars

Sadly, he wasn't, as there were too many knots etc - even down the bottom of the trunk

He was an interesting bloke to talk to though, and he stayed a while to chat, but didn't want anything to eat or drink

Had a bit of a lazy Saturday, reading on the hammock etc.

But also had to fix up the watering system AGAIN.  seems to have been turned off AGAIN!, and looks like 3 of the kiwi fruit plants have died, which I'm pretty annoyed about, and the new citrus and other new fruit trees were looking pretty dry also

That said, one of the grape vine cuttings has sprouted by the back deck, so I'm pleased about that

 
The vegie garden was pretty dry also - no more artichokes, just the flowers now.  Lot of bees around and in the flowers

Went up to Kingower around 6.30, for the 1st Saturday in the month get together

The usual suspects were there, and it was very nice to catch up.  Terry had a small bowl of cherries that he'd picked from his tree (his entire harvest) and shared them around - delicious

I then realised that I hadn't seen any cherries on my tree when I'd watered it earlier today - bloody birds!

It was a very pleasant evening, sunny, blue, warm, and still -we stayed til about 7.30, and then back to our place to have a picnic dinner, and watched Always be my Maybe -  an Asian /American rom com, which was quite amusing.

Sunday, and a slow start, and then I went to visit Terry for a coffee.  We'd discussed it last night, as we were going to also brainstorm food for the Christmas get together.  Stayed an hour or more, then dropped off a cd at Arlene's and then dropped off the Wedderburn book at Pauline's - and she invited us to their New Year's party if we were up and not doing anything.  Might just take her up on that!

I'd also called Justin in transit, and suggested that I get us a couple of pies for lunch, so finally got back to the house well after 1pm

After lunch, I thought I should do something, so, given that my poor plants were parched - and probably hungry, I busted out some chicken poo that I'd bought from David some years before hand (would have been well rotted down)

Spread it around most of the fruit trees, and then watered it in

And when I was watering the cherry I noticed a glimpse of red - was thrilled to see 2 x surviving cherries - one pecked at, the other intact - which I promptly ate

I'll have to net them next year

I also planted a geranium cutting that Terry had given - the flower was a glorious crimson colour, and I had admired and commented on it while having my coffee.  Hope it survives

And Justin also attacked the ants again (both on Saturday and Sunday) - this time using termite poison...this time it looks like its working