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

 

 

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 

 

 

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