Wednesday, 25 December 2024

Kingower Music Night & Enzo's 80th Thur 19th- Sun 21 December 2024

 Drove up on Thursday afternoon, as Justin was going to work from home (Inglewood) on Friday

Was the first time we had seen what Shane and his crew had done with the paths etc - as it had been half finished for ages

We were rather pleased

The plants have grown so much - and there were so many flowers - all the watering systems are in too








And there are 2 new beds near the back door for herbs, and to break up the expanse of crushed rock


Bought a roast chicken for dinner at the IGA and had it with some salad

Friday, and Justin worked, and I pottered in the garden til about 12, pulled out some more weeds, cut back the orange trumpet flower which was out of control over the front gate.  Once again I was very wary of the bees - didn't want to get stung


The cape honeysuckle was likewise overgrown - which I also cut back



And the path was too




It was very hot, was supposed to be 37 degrees, so I followed the shade around, and after lunch - just stayed inside

The rest of the grass area was quite bald - ie lots of dirt on top - will need to re-grass

Gordon dropped in around 5pm or so, and had a Christmas drink with us in the dining room 

Went up to the Village Green in Kingower just before 7pm for the party.  I made the watermelon and whipped fetta canapes - they went down a treat. 

Was very windy once we got to Kingower  - bad bush fire weather, could see smoke from the Grampians in the sunset colours





Once again a very pleasant night 

Saturday, and we slept in, breakfast in bed etc 

Then off to Bunnings in East Bendigo for supplies. Wanted shelving for the garage, a couple of saw horses and also a hoist for the canoe

Dropped in at Bridgewater on the way back - to go to the Nursery, for herbs etc.  Got some strawberries, chives, sage, oregano, chillis, for the new back beds and also some flowers - mixed salvia marigolds, and cosmos 

Had a sandwich for lunch, and Alex & Jane arrived around 2.30pm

Showed them around the garden etc

Got the canoe back from Steve and put it in the garage 

Late afternoon had drinks and some dips and chips in the rotunda




 And then Shane the gardener and his daughter dropped in to explain the gardening system etc 

Went inside and had a simple dinner after this - ie left over roast chicken, ham, vine tomatoes, dips, salad etc - very pleasant   

While we were eating Maile came to the back door and said that Enzo's party had started (It was after 7.30pm). We finished up, got showered and changed and wandered across

There were a lot of people milling around on the grass outside 

   

And a pumping band inside 

Had a great time and stayed til 1am - the others left earlier

Sunday, and a staggered start - unfortunately despite the late night I still woke up very early - around 5.30am - and couldn't really get back to sleep - so felt tired all day

Once everyone was up had a leisurely breakfast - just toast and coffee

Jane left mid morning, and I planted the herbs/flowers that I had bought yesterday (was cooler today) 




Alex helped me move the garden furniture back into position - which pleased me no end 





Justin was cleaning the now garage fridge, setting up the shelving and the canoe hoist






Turns out the pulleys that we bought from Bunnings were too small/canoe too heavy for them, so we'll have to buy some different/more pulleys 

And then we had some lunch in the rotunda with Terry - bought a few more supplies ie pate, cherries etc.  All very pleasant 



Tidied up and left around 3pm, and dropped in on Carolyn on the way home - I had wanted Justin to see her place outside Castlemaine.  Had a sparkling rose and some home made dips with her - and then onto home - where Fraser & Rileigh had a delicious pasta bake waiting for us for dinner


 

 

Monday, 18 November 2024

Ange, Catherine & Colbinabbin 16 & 17 November 2024

Came up to Inglewood on Saturday morning, and started preparing lunch for our guests - Justin's friends/colleagues Ange and Catherine 

It was going to be 35 degrees today - so a home made pizza in the pizza oven was no longer a good idea.

Thought I'd make chicken caesar salad - with potentially some delicious asparagus spears to start

Cooked the chicken, boiled the eggs, made the sauce, washed the cos etc.  Had it all laid out ready to assemble when they arrived.

They got here around 12.40, and we gave them the tour of the house 

Ange had brought a bottle of prosecco and a bottle of white wine, so we had a glass of bubbles as we toured the house

We then sat in the dining room, and had some of my olives and savoury shapes.

I asked if they would be interested in some asparagus and if so how many spears?  They said 3 each, so we had them with some of my caesar salad sauce (I'd made a lot)

Then we went into the kitchen and assembled our own caesar salads. Strangely not everyone likes anchovies or shaved parmesan

Was a lovely relaxing lunch - and we finished it off with a delicious chocolate cake that Catherine had brought - eaten with some cherries that Catherine and I picked from my tree.


They left around 4.30, and Justin and I pottered around, didn't really have much for dinner.  

Sunday, and an early start, as we were going to visit Eril and her homestead in Colbinabbin.  Eril and her husband Daryl were going to leave for Melbourne around 12, so she suggested that we come and visit around 10am

Colbinabbin was just over an hour from Inglewood - went through Elmore and Raywood to get there.  Down some quite narrow roads

Their house was very nice with lots of outbuildings, beautiful trees, a tennis court, and a wine tasting room.  As not only are they farmers - wheat, canola, sheep etc, but they have a winery on the side - Hennings- initially established by Darryl's great (great?) grandfather.

After a look around here - we followed them out to the Colbinabbin Homestead which Eril's parent's had bought in the 1980s.  It was spectacular!!! A lot of work had been down to it, but a lot still had to be down.  Peter B, the underpinner had originally "introduced" me to Eril - as he had wanted me to provide a reference for him so that he could quote on underpinning the homestead.  It was much worse off than our house - huge bloody crack, with one side of the house sort of falling away    (you don't really see it in the photos)






A pair of lions (bought by Eril's parents) guard the entrance



Inside, the main rooms were breathtaking




The hallway was huge - much wider than ours



The stained glass by the front door - stunning







And the detail in the cornicing and pillars - fabulous



Some very ornate fireplace mantles also
 

I have used a lot of superlatives to describe this house, and they are all warranted.

Well, that was a treat, and we then went back to their place where Darryl gave Justin a couple of bottles of wine, and Eril gave me a bag of lemons as she had a tree groaning with them.  I also suggested that they come out for dinner one night, and we make a weekend of it - they seemed to like that idea -0 but will have to be between harvests etc 

Drove home to Inglewood, had some lunch, pottered around

I picked the rest of the cherries from the tree, as birds had already had a go, and if I left them any longer to ripen more fully, they would be gone.  I guess I picked a few kilos worth



The weather was pretty windy, (as was yesterday), and not really that nice, threatening rain, so only stayed outside to pick the cherries   

Did the dishes, tidied up a bit and left for Melbourne around 4.15