Quick visit and more weeding Sunday 19- Tuesday 21 December 2021

 Drove up late Sunday afternoon, and got to Inglewood around 7pm.  

It had obviously been hot in our absence, as some of the plants looked quite droopy ie the kiwi fruit

The grape vines were going gangbusters though, one of them now reaching the veranda roof

 Gave everything a water, and tried to program the watering computer - as it was suspiciously turned off  Managed to work it out via the internet, so was quite pleased with myself

And the mulberries are ripening, ate a few, but they should be a bit riper for optimum taste and sweetness.

Monday, and I did some ringing around to see if I could match some etched glass for the bathroom windows - a glass place in Bendigo has some - so we'll probably get it from there

I had also texted Vic to see when he wanted to start on the plastering - in the New Year, and he said he could replace the window panes also.

Had a morning coffee with Denise at Charlie's, and coincidentally saw Vic there also.

And then back to the garden, and more weeding and trimming.

Listened to a talking book called a Gentleman in Moscow Gentleman (which Matt D had recommended)

 

I also planted some succulents that I had brought from Melbourne

Lastly, I did a plan of the front garden sprinkler positions - to give to Shane, s they are not really working properly, and I'd like him to fix them up

Terry dropped by on Monday late afternoon, so we had a pleasant G&T in the dining room

Tuesday, and more of the same....

Went home via Castlemaine and dropped in on Carolyn and she gave me a delicious dinner - duck breast on bean mash and rocket

 

Gardening and scratched arms Saturday 4 - Tuesday 7 December 2021

 Arrived in Inglewood around 4pm on Saturday and started weeding...

The front had been neglected for months, and there were mountains of weeds that needed to be pulled out

Alex had suggested that I just poison them with the weed wand that he got me a while back.  That might have worked some months ago - but these weeds had seeds - so I needed them out

It was a mammoth task

Here are a before and after shot

I was disappointed to see that all of the cherries - minus one split and ant covered one had been eaten and were gone.  You can't really see the ants all over that cherry, as my mobile phone  focussed on the netting

And the reason was that the netting was open at the back - what a pity, the birds could easily get in and out.  However this cherry tree must now be on the bird map, as I saw another cherry tree in the main street - lots of lovely red cherries and no netting at all.  The birds haven't discovered it yet - luckily for that owner

But, back to the weeding. which I did for a few hours, then showered and had a quick leftover dinner

Then up to Kingower for the first Saturday get together 

It was sunny when I left, and still sunny when I got there, but the wind was up, and it became a bit cool

Terry had the brazier going so that provided some heat, but because it was windy - at the end of the night my hair and clothes smelled of smoke.

Was a good night though - I stayed til close to midnight

Sunday, and what can I say - more weeding - still out the front

My arms were getting all scratched up, but at least I had gloves on.  It was also getting warm

While weeding I listened to Shuggie Bain on a talking book - set in Glasgow in the 1980s

Arlene and June came and visited around 5.30 on Sunday afternoon to see our renovation progress.  they made all the right noises, and we had a G&T out in the rotunda

Monday, and before weeding, I went and had a coffee with Denise at Charlie's.

Whilst there, Charlie introduced me to a mate of his - Vic who has done a lot of restoration work.  We chatted for a while, and I invited him to come over and have a look.  Thought he might be able to do the plastering on the stairway landing.  Anyway, we'll see - could be good, as Stuart has been hard to get hold of to come back.

After the coffee, back to the weeding 

Before

After

In the later afternoon, I made an onion tart for our Inglewood Town Hall Hub Asset Committee meeting - the last one of the year. (this is the reason that I came up on Saturday, and stayed through til Tuesday)

It was ready around 4, and I was going to go back out and do some more weeding.  However it started spitting, and then raining more decidedly, so I didn't go back out. If I'd known I would have gardened more, and then made the tart later - oh well.  But as least I had finished off out the front.  I felt a great sense of achievement. 

Anyway, walked across to the Town Hall just before 7pm, and we had our meeting, and then some nibbles and a few drinks afterwards

One of the items discussed was the old theatre chairs currently housed under the stage- we might take some, as they would be great for our outside movies.  Just depends if 2 rows of 4 would fit in our little shed, and then how heavy would they be - to move them - as they have cast iron ends  

Tuesday, and more weeding/trimming etc, this time inside our property.  I must admit that I feel like getting the council to supply mulch, or do the weeding out the front, or even just make the garden area smaller, as I takes me hours and hours - and its not even our garden. 

It was back to lovely weather

And a very full trailer and more for Gordon

Had a quick lunch, tidied up, and back to Melbourne

  

  

Kingower Music night 26 - 28 November 2021

Justin and I arrived on Friday evening, while Alex decided to work from there for the day, so arrived around 9am

Our other guests - Val and George (and Ziggy the dog) arrived around 5

Given that Justin and I were battling Friday afternoon traffic, we weren't sure if we would arrive before the pub kitchen closed, - so George kindly went to the IGA and bought a couple of bbq chickens and salads etc 

That meant that we didn't have to rush, and we would get fed

Arrived around 7.45, and was surprised by how much the plants had grown in the 2 weeks that we'd been gone

We ate in the dining room, and had a lovely time

Val also gave us a large box of delicious cheeses - some of which we enjoyed after dinner

I had to get up "early" on Saturday as I was helping out with the cooking for the Music night, and had to be at Terry's at 9am.  We normally have these Music Nights in March and September, but because of numerous covid lockdowns  - we had it now in November

George was the only one up when I left, as he had taken Ziggy for a walk

Got to Terry's and had a customary coffee, and then straight into it 

Laid sheets of paper towel on the table, and then put the wet chunks of beef on them (they'd been marinating in red wine overnight), and then more paper towel on top.  Dried the beef

Then browned the beef in batches, in two frying pans (there was a lot) 

Following this we fried up the marinated onions, and added them to the browned beef, then bacon batons, and then cooked up mushrooms in the bacon fat.  Lastly fried up a lot of garlic til it was just this side of golden.

Then fried up the Mediterranean vegies for Val's meal

And peeled the skin off the grilled red capsicum

All of this took a surprisingly long time 

Then made a "red" dip and filled celery sticks with it as a type of appetiser

Had some lunch  - and by this time two of Terry's sons and families had arrived, so it was getting busy

While I was at Terry's Alex sent me a photo of my lovely cherries - and said something was eating them

So he then kindly netted the tree

Was leaving just as Justin and Alex arrived to do a sound check

Got back to the house around 2.30. Pottered around a little and had a bit of a nap

Left for Kingower again around 5.30 and got to the Church, but no one else was there, and it was locked.

Arlene arrived about 10 minutes later, and Terry, June and others soon after that

I was excused from handing out the trays of appetisers - as I was on one crutch

I could however help out at the serving table

First course was a terrine with a side of lettuce and grilled red capsicum.  Both looked and tasted terrific 

Given that we had arrived first, we had the pick of tables (except the front right, which is where Terry sits with the sound desk)

We took the front left table - and had us 5 ie me, Justin, Alex , Val and George, and Maile, David  & Rachel to make it 8

The main course was Beef Bourguignon with mashed potato and sugar snap peas.   Delicious

Terry had wanted us to be finished eating by 8pm, and we were, so the music started then

David and Mark were up together first - and did a great job - starting off with a Spanish sounding instrumental

Next up were Justin and Alex 

They had about 6 songs in their set and also called up Mark and David to help with the chorus in a few of them

I filmed quite a few of the songs with my mobile phone - and they had some good audience participation with some of the songs

Dermott, got up next and belted out some powerful songs - both with and without musical accompaniment

He called up ones of his sons, and Justin, David and Mark to sing the Weller man song all together

And then David and Mark came on again separately 

After this it was time for dessert - a very delicious mulberry cheesecake with strawberry coulis

And then the all star band - playing greatest hits

 Was a great night and everyone very much enjoyed themselves.  We were 37 people this time - which is a respectable turn out, and I was pleased to see Rachel, and also Irene and Neil

And it was quite warm in the Church also, as I said we're not normally in there at that time of the year, we certainly didn't need jackets.

It had been a nice warm day ie in the mid 20s, and the night cooled down a bit with lovely stars

I guess we left around midnight or so (Alex kindly drove).  Val and George had left earlier, but George was still up when we got back, and stayed up and chatted with him for a while

Took a while to fall asleep, and stupidly woke up early, and couldn't get back to sleep, so was a bit tired all day

Had some delicious olive bread toast for breakfast

Got George and Justin to measure the jarrah/mahogany bits of wood that we plan to use for the island bench counter top.  Should be enough, and some left over for the vanity top in the powder room.  Needs to be sanded back a bit

 Not sure when Alex took this photo

Alex and I went up to Terry's  around 11 or so - to get the key for the Church and go and pick up the equipment.  Poor old Justin was working hard in the dining room.

Afterwards I suggested a quick detour to the secret asparagus spot. I must admit I was prepared with knives, hats and a bag.

There were plenty of plants and plenty of evidence of harvesting, but we still did manage to pick some - enough for a few spears each at lunch time

So yes, got back and Val and George were preparing lunch, yesterdays chicken, cheeses, dips olives etc.

Ate out in the rotunda and was very pleasant

Alex, and then Val and George left soon after lunch

Justin made sure that the watering systems that the watering systems were on as the last kiwi fruit had shrivelled up 

The grapes were still looking very good though

And one of the mulberry cuttings had more leaves on it, while the little mulberry plant that I had actually bought didn't look that crash hot

There were also flowers on the guava - first time ever, and they looked just like feijoas.  I subsequently found out that they are closely related 

I had thought I would get stuck into the weeding, as it really is quite wild out the front, but it was a bit too  hot and sunny, and we also had guests, so I didn't end up doing anything useful really.

I'll come back later by myself and get down to it 

Our drive back to Melbourne was long....3 lots of roadworks - the worst on the Tullamarine where 4 lanes eventually merged into one before the Bolte Bridge.  Took us over 3 hours to get back

   

 

Birthday weekend 12 Nov - 14 Nov 2021

Well, it was my birthday weekend - so I was going to be spoiled....

Firstly, I wanted to leave on Friday night - so we did so, and had a left over dinner of home made Korean sausage rolls, with kimchi sauce and greens

Feeling decadent, we had a negroni and dinner in bed on trays - watching a rather strange movie called Catfight

In the morning Justin brought me breakfast in bed - avocado on toast, coffee, and birthday bubbles.  I didn't want a big breakast, as Susan and Mark were coming for lunch.

And then it was present time - Justin gave me a lovely necklace that he had bought from Joels

And then brought in a poster tube - but it wasn't a poster, but a portrait of me that Justin had had commissioned from an artist in America

I was flabbergasted.  It was from a photo taken at Queenscliff a few years ago.  We had ridden our bikes on the rail trail  from Drysdale, so my hair was scrappy and in a pony tail.  It was also blonder .  Anyway, I think it's quite fun

So we lazed around and read the digital Age.  Justin also picked some garlic from the garden to prepare the slow cooked lamb

The slow cooker wasn't big enough, so Justin put it in a very low oven 

Cam our builder came around 10.30 to do some further measuring up of the kitchen etc - and I also showed him the wood from Jan & Peter that we might use as a benchtop

Damo and Nicole also dropped in, so we showed them around too, and we also went and checked out the house opposite from the IGA as one of our Melbourne neighbours had asked us to check it out

The roses were lovely

And the house itself was pretty good too

 

Susan and Mark arrived around 1pm - and we showed them our improvements

Susan's reaction to the dining room was fabulous - she was very effusive in her compliments - saying that William Morris would be pleased, this wallpaper was made for a house like this, and that she also loved the dark trim

We thought that Restoration Australia would have loved her response, because although we were pleased, we had chosen the wallpaper, and seen photos, so somewhat knew what to expect.

Susan had also brought some lovely lunch ingredients - smoked salmon, cheeses, olives, dip and bread etc.  We ate out in the rotunda - and of course more birthday bubbles.  

I guess lunch went on til 4 or so, and given that we were in holiday mode, we all went for a late afternoon nap - which made dinner  a bit later.

Got up and Justin and Susan went to the kitchen to prepare the dinner,

 while Mark serenaded me with beautiful violin arias

Then some pre dinner champagne and a few nibbles

 

Dinner was slow cooked lamb, roasted asparagus with pecorino sour dough crumb and roast potatoes. and then apple crumble with cream/icecream - delicious

It was quite cool, so we had the heater on - which once again warmed us very nicely

Was a great night - and Justin got his guitar out and played and sang also

Had a slow start in the morning, and decided to have a slap bang breakfast - with no need for lunch

We had bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, mushrooms, toast, tomato juice, coffee and more bubbles (it was my birthday weekend after all)

I thought we could put the food on the dumb waiter and serve ourselves.  Worked  out well

We also had a game of Pictionary - which was a lot of fun

I also remembered to take photos of my towering roses, healthy kiwi fruit, flowering yucca, and abundant grape vines  that I had forgotten to photograph last time