Ange, Catherin & 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 

 

 

Primavera Party 7-10 October 2024

Back from Japan, and still a bit sick (coughing), went to the Ashburton CWA AGM on Thursday night, and then drove to Inglewood afterwards.  Got there around 11.30pm.  Stopped at the Ravenswood petrol station on the way, and the attendant was speaking on the loudspeaker to me - was echo-y, so I couldn't understand what he was saying - turned out I had to pay in advance (before filling up). Well that's a first time.

Anyway, decided to drive up tonight as there was an Arts Trail thankyou morning tea for participants at 10am at the Town Hall, and I wanted to go to that.  Had thought about driving up early on Friday morning - but decided against that (could have got stuck in traffic getting out of Melbourne)

Had a modest breakfast, and went to the morning tea, Rosemary, David, Bradd, Tenar, and some of the artists were there.  Were told that there were over 500 people per day - so at least 1,500-2,000 for the weekend.  Much more successful than last year - yay

Was there for about an hour or so

Rosemary dropped by afterwards for more of a chat

Then I went and scrumped some asparagus from a secret location - lovely

 After this had my hair cut and coloured at 2pm, and then Kirsty dropped in for a drink after 5pm - which was nice

Justin arrived around 7.30, and I made us dinner

I'd bought a couple of wagyu (loved the wagyu in Japan) scotch fillet steaks from the butcher, and so had this with the asparagus, new baby potatoes, fried mushrooms, and a green salad - delicious!      

Saturday, and a lazy start, afterwards I weeded the new beds - as there were quite a few new weeds in them - including some very annoying couch grass.  That said the new plants are growing well

 

Was a bit annoyed that there hadn't been any progress while we were away, and that the leak still seemed to be there, and that there were now some weeds growing in the crushed rock - that's certainly not supposed to happen

Was thrilled to see some kiwi fruit flowers - maybe we'll have some actual fruit this season

I completed weeding 4 of the 5 beds, and then went inside to start making a mushroom and asparagus tart that I would take to Anne's party tonight 

Turned out pretty well I reckon

Justin decided that he didn't want to come to the party was feeling too coldy/coughy - just wanted to stay at home - so he did

I got there around 5.30 or so -  just as Terry, Arlene and June were arriving.  Had a lovely night, was great to catch up with lots of people 

Only took a few photos at the end - when most people had left - whoops

Party finished up around 10 or so - and I drove home - saw 2 kangaroos by the side of the road, but they didn't bother me

Sunday, and another lazy start, then into the garden and weeded that last bed

Had lunch out in the rotunda, and Gordon came to say hello

Left by 3pm, as we had a family dinner with Uncle Michael & Amy down from Sydney

NBN & Fridge moving Mon 14 - Wed 16 October 2024

Hmm, Helen had wanted me to take Xavier to the medical clinic to get hear the results for his MRI on his thumb

Had to pick him up from school first, and then to the Repat Hospital, we had to wait more than 2 hours....(appointment was 1.45, didn't see a doctor til after 4pm) and then they just said healing nicely, come back on 11/11

So dropped him at home, and then onto Inglewood - traffic bad on Bell Street, and then still bad on the Tullamarine and Calder til the Ring Rd exit - as there'd been an accident 

Anyway, got to Inglewood just after 7pm (about a 3 hour trip) ....what a waste of a day!      

So, unpacked, had some dinner and watched some TV

Tuesday, and the NBN guy came pretty early ie just after 8am (they were supposed to text me an hour before he came - oh well)

I was still in bed - doing my Japanese Duo Lingo

Answered the door in my dressing gown - oh well

Got dressed soon enough and went into garden

Saw that Shane had done some work in the orchard - putting irrigation? rings around the trees 

The fig tree also had lots of figs

 

There are also lots of immature bunches of grapes - I wonder if any will actually mature - would be great if they did

Found a little egg shell near here - didn't see the nest though

The NBN guy was up on the back veranda roof

And set it all up in the music room - we apparently have a pretty good line of sight to the tower

And voila, after a few hours it was done, very neatly, and all hooked up.  Let's hope that it gives us better /more stable internet than what we currently have 

However I was starting to feel like I was getting a cold - oh no! Right before our holiday.  Went to the pharmacy and she recommended some immune strengthening pills, plus to gargle with warm water, salt and apple cider vinegar. Let's hope it works

Back to the house, and did some weeding - as some weeds were coming up in the new beds

The roses are all budding also - hope I don't miss them..

Eril from Colbinabbin dropped in to say hello around  2pm - we had been texting for years (Peter B, the underpinner had asked me to give him a reference) And we had been meaning to meet up over the years, but never got around to it 

She was lovely, showed her around a bit, and then sat in the kitchen and had some tea.  She also gave me a bottle of wine from her vineyard

She was very nice also, and told me about her trials and tribulations with the old homestead, as well as running a farm and winery full time - very busy.  We'll try and go and see her soon

Went over to Michael's around 4pm to pick up our old fridge which he had been minding in his garage.  

Michael had just had a fancy battery to store excess solar energy put into his garage.  Reckons he's going off the grid - said he only paid $4 for electricity for his last bill (and that was without the battery) - something for us to look into again

Michael, Steve (i called him earlier and asked if he could help) and I loaded it onto the ute 

And then the three of us went back to my place to put it in our garage  - kept the doors open, and it will need a bit of a clean out 

Ended up parking the ute in there also.  Also worked out that when the roller door is fully up, its too tall for me to pull back down - need a step ladder to reach it 

Did some more weeding, and then inside for dinner

Wednesday, and the cold is maybe taking hold, not happy, husky voice, phlegmy throat.  So took it easy, left for Melbourne around 11  

 

Loddon Valley Arts Trail 3rd - 6 October 2024

Whew, this weekend was a blur....

Arrived on Thursday night with Justin - he was working from home in Inglewood on Friday

Had a late dinner, watched some TV, and then bed

Friday, and had a modest breakfast in bed, and then went out and had a quick inspection  of the garden

Shane had mulched the new garden beds and spread some more stone around

He'd also mulched the olives and the kiwi fruit

 And he put the stones up around the garage - so that we should be able to drive in now

 And, I was thrilled to see that there were some tiny pears (from the suspect suckers) 

At least two apricots (first time for this tree)

And some lovely yellow irises

Justin and I also attached the Arts Trail corflute poster upstairs (in addition to the one I'd put up last week on the gate)

Right, and after this it was "action stations"

Kingower Mel's Mum, Dad, brother & Mal  came over at 10.30am to have a look around the house.  They had wanted to book on the Arts trail website, but every session was booked out - so I told them today at 10.30.  That said, I thought I'd told them Saturday morning at 10.30 am, so was surprised when Mel texted me on Thursday saying they were looking forward to tomorrow....And of course I'd told some other people that they could come on Saturday at 10.30 also

That meant that instead of 5 official sessions ie 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday, that we now had 3 each on Friday and Saturday, and still one on Sunday   

So, showed Mel's party around, and also asked the blokes to roll out the carpet in the green parlour as it was still rolled up, and a bit of an eyesore.  

 I was glad that that was done- had been bugging me for a while, and we needed more than 2 people to do it

Right, so they finished up, and then there was the first of many unsolicited door knocks, a couple asking if they could come in for "open house"  I hopefully kindly told them that this was bookings only, and that it was booked out. I guess they left a bit disappointed

The next  knock on the door came soon afterwards, and I gave them the same spiel, except they dejectedly said they had driven 1.5 hours just to see the house - they'd come from Riddels Creek - so softy that I am, I let them in ....and gave them an abridged tour

By the time knock number three came I was more than ready - and just asked them to come back for an official tour, I told them that it didn't matter that it was booked out, but that I would be asking for gold coin donations - for my time.

So the guy got out his waller and put a $100 note into my tarnished silver coffee pot - I was stunned, and told him no it was just supposed to be a gold coin donation - but he insisted - said he was very happy to do it, and was pleased to see what we have done here.  And then he and his partner left, and came back for the 1.30pm tour

Anyway, Justin and I had a quick lunch 

And then they came....

Had about 15 for the first tour, and about 22 for the 2nd tour.  So what with the first lot it was approximately 43 people 

I started in the hallway, explaining how/why we'd purchased the house, then into the very original front parlor (downstairs green room), then into the back hall and the mural, and finally the dining room

Rachel came and helped out a bit, and there were also some relatives of Elsie Parry.  In fact, over the 3 days there were three lots of relatives, and some friends who used to play with Elsie's daughter when she was a child.

I took this photo of my first official tour

Rachel took some photos (and videos)

Marilyn and Lyn came from Bendigo CWA 

Right, so I completed the 2 official Friday sessions (took about an hour, rather than the advertised 1/2 hour) 

Caught my breath, and then Rosemary came and picked me up to go to Tarnagulla around 4.30 - for the Opening night BBQ.  The reason being was that Justin had a soundcheck up in Kingower at 5pm - and so needed his car

Quite a good number there - including Bev and Suzi from St Marys in Inglewood

There was a retro caravan with a duo playing music

And various artworks displayed inside

Had a sausage in bread, and sat down and talked to a couple who had bought the old Tarnagulla Court House years ago, plus a local councillor and Mel another artist

Was very pleasant

Rosemary drove me back, and we passed Justin standing in the street, waiting for his takeaway pizza.  I got out and waited with him, and had a couple of slices with him once we got home

I think that Justin took this rather good photo of a truck, and the pile of David's bricks while waiting for his pizza

Saturday - and it was almost rinse and repeat.

Another modest breakfast in bed, and then up and at em for the unofficial 10.30am session

I took the below photo from the stairs

And the this one by standing on a chair

Had about 30 then - Shaun and Sara arrived during it, and helped corral everyone, did a head count etc

Given that there were so many - after the hallway introduction, I took approximately half the crowd into the green room, while the other half went with Shawn into the back hall and listened to him talk about the mural commission/creative process etc 

Then another 18 or so at 3.30, so about 80 for the Saturday

Alex also arrived sometime during the day - it really was all a blur

And then onto Kingower - Sarah and I went up there around 5.30pm or so - saw some cheeky kangaroos right in the middle of the road 

Nabbed our usual table (front left) - and helped set up.

Irene and Neil from Bendigo were there too - so it was nice to catch up 

There was delicious pate to start with and some cucumber rounds and mini quiches 

People were supposed to get there at 6pm, but Justin, Alex, Shawn and Michelle got there later - as they had waited for Michelle to arrive in Inglewood.

Main course was beef cassoulet and green salad, and then dessert was apricots with custard 

Music started at 8pm

First up the Boozy Brothers  - David, Mark, Justin, Peter & Alex 

Then they did some individual sets, and Dermot came on also

Justin & Alex did one song with Shawn 

And then for the last song which was the crowd pleaser - The Gambler - Justin called up Sara to be on percussion, and then me also to assist with the chorus (no photos of this, will just have to live in our memory)  

And Shawn also sprung up to assist with David - and some Ricky raccoon lyrics

And he also popped up with Dermott

Anyway, another good fun night, and we left around midnight - pretty much the last ones left apart from Terry and Dermott

Sunday, and a modest breakfast

and then I thought I'd be civic minded - and went to visit some of the other exhibitions 

First off Bill up the road, then off to the Goods Shed near the old railway line where I saw Chris E's photos, and had a bit of a chat

Then back home for it all to start again - was only supposed to have one session at 11am, but one sort of rolled straight into the 2nd one - I'm a glutton for punishment

People waiting out the front

In full flight

And some more CWA gals dropped by - this time from Charlton (Cabaritta branch) and Wedderburn

Chris E and the council photographer came for the 1st session and were busy snapping shots from the front door.  we were pretty full.... Shawn counted about 45 across the 2 sessions

So, all up we had approximately 183 people come through the house - almost 4 times what there should have been - ie should have been 5 x 1/2 hour sessions of 10 people max. 

And the visitors had been very generous with their "gold coin" donations - almost $500 worth!  I think I'll buy something for the garden/house with it 

 

Had a quick lunch, and then Alex dropped me at the Eucy Museum to hear Sophie Cunningham (author) and Damien Wright bespoke furniture maker talk about eucalypts.  they were very interesting, and hats off to Rosemary for curating such a great pairing.  I could imagine the same discussion happening at the Wheeler Centre

After the talk it was the end of the trail wrap up party - which was very nice

Justin came to pick me up, and we went back to the house, tidied and packed up

Michelle had left me a lovely plant

David S had dropped off a tasty looking bottle of bubbles

And Shawn's Dad had given us a bottle of wine 

And lastly - the Loddon Herald  did some press