tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47637328877156621682024-03-13T09:38:07.561+10:00Linda at BellavistaLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-77630149351743498732011-01-13T21:15:00.002+10:002011-01-13T22:01:41.376+10:00Out comes the sunshine to dry up all the rain !<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Thank you</span> Mariana and Olive for your good wishes, I am still safe and dry but what a stressful few days it has be.<br /><br />Dr K lives in one of the inner city suburbs of Brisbane albeit one that was above the high water level but as a Mum (you are one for life!!!!) I was concerned and quite relieved when the river reached its peak and I knew he was safe at home.<br /><br />The Gorgeous Boy was down in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Caboolture</span> with Mama and the Princess on the day that it flooded there and they had to evacuate temporarily as the creek at the back of the garden started to rise above road level. Its so hard when you are sitting a hundred or so kilometres away and unable to do anything except sit by the phone. I can empathise with friends and family of everyone affected first hand by the floods.<br /><br />Here at the Farm the rains have stopped for a while but we are still waiting for the creeks to subside. They are taking longer than usual to go down. I went out this morning to investigate. A neighbour hitched up his trailer to his tractor and five of us rode down to inspect "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Joes</span> crossing". It was about a 4Km ride but the damage to the road (a dirt road) was quite a depressing sight with washouts in several places. I am sure that it will be a while before it will be built up and graded as there are so many more roads in the shire that will need attention.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Joes</span> crossing is still underwater by about about a half metre of surging muddy water and the debris caught up everywhere is unbelievable. What is one the other side? No one quite knows at the moment because number one crossing (our last bridge to cross on our way out) is still underwater and no one from the village has been able to inspect the roads. Its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">definitely</span> a wait and see game but the GB is impatient to come in and "rescue" me. For my part, I am really looking forward to seeing him again.....it seems to have been such a long time since I last saw him :-(<br /><br />On a brighter note...the sun came out to play and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chooks</span> went out for a scratch around. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tigs</span> was out and about asserting his authority once again by barking at the deer, wallabies and horses and the weeds are coming out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">soooo</span> easily. Once again....life is good :-)<br /><br />It is such a shame Olive that now you have decided to sell up....you are having to wait around for a buyer. What's so great about living close to a "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">stupourmarket</span>"? You can only spend so much time shopping! There is so much more to life than that.....give me life on the Farm any day.<br /><br />Time for bed now. I think that noise I can hear, is the grass growing after all that rain and it may be dry enough to begin mowing tomorrow. If not I am sure there will be another chore waiting for me. ;-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-26422793954727855972011-01-10T20:41:00.002+10:002011-01-10T20:56:56.747+10:00Hi OliveHi Olive....it has been so long since I have been here I didn't get to read you comment from last time. I have another sour dough brewing on the dining room table at the moment....I wont give up on my quest for perfection....yes ...I can relate to frisby like loaves :-) I am sorry to hear that you are thinking of selling up. It is tough to relinquish a dream because the body cann't keep up. I sometimes fear that is what will happen here at Bellavista. You can only take each day as it comes and enjoy every minute of it :-) I love your garden blooms :-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-34616735498334083322011-01-10T19:03:00.007+10:002011-01-10T20:32:50.052+10:00Rain, rain go away, come again another day !!!!!And still it comes ! Will this rain ever end? I think we have had enough this month already! I drove in here on the 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> of December...."Joe's" crossing was over by about six inches but that was OK. I can just about handle that (I am a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">whimp</span> where running water is concerned). Since then I have made a quick dash to the big smoke (the GB took me out) on the Wednesday before Christmas to pick up the turkey and ham I had ordered and do ALL my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">xmas</span> shopping.......I had three hours...I was a girl on a mission! We went in to the village on Christmas day to go to church and I have been here since then. Flooded in .......sometimes by my choice as I am not game to drive through flooded crossings but most times because the water is just too high for anyone to get out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyay84Vu_ncmis8mauymzNrfN4B5QMgEgJqvHRm9pAjGKowo0iF32DW2JCIbBofml0BCwCt48NWvfeiChhcNZRqVA7I6bdjtAlv0e6XOvkvT0Ud2KTVIUpk2Z6nbQlnsdAppQ7OrkhWQw/s1600/Jan+6th+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 437px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyay84Vu_ncmis8mauymzNrfN4B5QMgEgJqvHRm9pAjGKowo0iF32DW2JCIbBofml0BCwCt48NWvfeiChhcNZRqVA7I6bdjtAlv0e6XOvkvT0Ud2KTVIUpk2Z6nbQlnsdAppQ7OrkhWQw/s320/Jan+6th+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560498178591325874" border="0" /></a><br />I don't drive through it when it looks like this!<br /></div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Physically</span> it is no problem, the house is up on a hill and I am "high and dry". I certainly have enough food in the fridge/pantry and veggie garden to keep going for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">loooong</span> time. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chooks</span> are a little bedraggled but still laying enough to keep me going and I am working my way through the backlog of chores BUT I have to say ....I am over it! Is it just the "whinging pom" in me coming out? I think I am not alone. About 28 years ago, I complained to my darling and ever patient Gorgeous husband that "I am sick of blue skies". <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Everyday</span>, I looked out of the window and the sky was blue. (I secretly longed for four seasons!!!)...sigh....I have learnt not to complain! (He took me first to Adelaide and drizzle and then to Jakarta to hot and steamy .....I try to just be grateful for what I have now!!!) I know I am so much luckier than so many people here in Queensland at the moment....at least my home is safe and dry but my neighbour phoned me today for a chat and told me her husband had informed her this could go on until August...talk about scaremongering.....my blood pressure rose in a flash.<br /><br />To leave here I have two creek crossings and six bridges to get over just to get to the closest village.....we live in the next valley to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Borumba</span> Dam and we drive over a crossing that is downstream of the spillway. Yesterday the water coming over the spillway reached over 3 metres.......<span style="font-style: italic;">when....</span> I do get out... will the bridges still be there? How much of the road will be untouched by raging waters?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow_-S8r8dwyHahNqvCLXc7D3sdAiq4pJZTbiegK6DZv_wed5ZRSgdKpGFDV2FnTpd40R-R_ecb3YO7vp1jYSBRyZmYTTdlgU2Jn-6Tjy9xhQCPE7JcygDGWkPXwrTer-cok49kxhh1H0/s1600/Jan+6th+007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow_-S8r8dwyHahNqvCLXc7D3sdAiq4pJZTbiegK6DZv_wed5ZRSgdKpGFDV2FnTpd40R-R_ecb3YO7vp1jYSBRyZmYTTdlgU2Jn-6Tjy9xhQCPE7JcygDGWkPXwrTer-cok49kxhh1H0/s320/Jan+6th+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560499383653493074" border="0" /></a><br />Part of the road that slumped into the creek last week.<br /><br /></div> The village I drive through to get out was flooded in yesterday and possibly still is. I know I am still the lucky one with so much horror on the TV about flood affected areas all around......BUT !!!!<br /><br />Next Sunday is the Princesses 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> birthday......with gifts and parties and all that it entails. I hope not to miss it. We filled the pool (above ground) for her to swim in over the school holidays....she only made it up for 24 hours over Christmas and had to leave before the waters rose again....said pool now has to be emptied daily to avoid overflowing. My favoured footwear is gumboots (what a fashion statement) and the dog refuses to go out in the rain to pee ! On the upside....when I do venture out, the weeds that grow before my eyes do at least pull out easily. We are well into the favoured moon planting time for veggies and I am busily pulling out waterlogged and rotting plants.......pause for breath.........Thankyou......I have had my rant ;-) I think I can get on with it now. Thank you for your patience :-) I feel so much better :-)<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ps</span>. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas...the cards here are still to be posted!!!!! I wish you all the best for a bright and wonderful New Year.<br /><br />With that out of the way.....here's to a new year of blogging :-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-71986417132718159832010-10-12T14:40:00.005+10:002010-10-12T16:01:47.467+10:00My but its been a long time......My but its been a long time since I have been here. So much has been going on in my life that I have had little time to sit and think....let alone put those thoughts into words. So what has been happening!<br /><br />On the garden front, the "Great wall of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bellavista</span>" was finished. We have used the space to grow potatoes, lettuce (mainly used for feeding the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">chooks</span>) and some late cabbages, some eggplants and chillies. There is still work to be done but its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">definitely</span> looking good.<br /><br />All the raised garden beds were finally raised to their final height.....six beds 80cm high and two at 40cm high and we have been reaping the benefits of all that space with a wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">winter crop</span> of root vegetables, onions, leeks and garlic. Cabbages, cauliflower,peas and broad beans and lots and lots of different greens. We have been spoiled for choice.<br /><br />Our current project is boxing up the asparagus bed and making compost bins. With the rain of late it has become somewhat of a quagmire around that area so we are working on laying drier pathways....more to come. My, my....its sounds like such a lot of work but it has been quite a while hasn't it :-)<br /><br />On the social side of things, some of the ladies in the "Valley and I get together every Friday morning for a social get together to sew or knit...what ever the talent. I have been showing them how to patchwork and quilt and we are all currently working together to make a small quilt for Mamas classroom.<br /><br />Which brings me to my belated congratulations to Mama for graduating her post graduate teaching degree. She has been teaching prep full time since mid year. She is doing a wonderful job and seems to be enjoying the work. The Princess is a happy little grade <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">oner</span> and doing extremely well. I go down each week to help out and do school pick ups and drop offs and the Princess and I spend time working on homework together. She is growing up so fast.<br /><br />In the kitchen I have finally begun cheese making. The Gorgeous Boy bought me a cheese making kit for my birthday in August and I have finally started. So far I have made a cheddar, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Parmesan</span>, some blue brie style cheese, some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Camembert</span> and a couple of batches of ricotta. I have managed to find a source of beautiful fresh jersey milk which is so rich its wonderful to work with. I am impatient to taste the cheeses, to see if they have the flavour they promise.<br /><br />My sour dough bread is still a work in progress....I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">disappointed</span> in my efforts so far but refuse to give up. I have just finished making a new "mother" and tried it out yesterday. I even experimented with the "air kneading" method. ( As an aside I do have to say that bit of it was fun.) Of course I "googled" the instructions...where would I be without the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Internet</span>!!!! and watched a you tube clip. What fun...tossing and slapping a lump of decidedly sticky dough on my kitchen bench ;-) That was my workout for the week. It tastes fantastic and the texture is good but it never seems to rise enough. Its OK if you want sliced fingers but not that convenient to make a sandwich. Photos will of course be forth coming but not today.<br /><br />Today I am somewhat at odds with myself. I was due to head off this morning down to the city. After the rain of late I have been watching the creeks. Yesterday the creek at the end of the valley flooded. It was passable but I do hate driving through water.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhJDLsqsg2BGVK9e4UP4KO2Ddn45UR6Un2Pnbzt-3V44JXWdIaOAsDKxzrXOa79MxfHXi_NnRHHxgI0MAE6ysPGeq29Z5YZU-llYY0puKurzcEOafggtNdh4UWRsduBca2TWMRgdekqw/s1600/flood+017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhJDLsqsg2BGVK9e4UP4KO2Ddn45UR6Un2Pnbzt-3V44JXWdIaOAsDKxzrXOa79MxfHXi_NnRHHxgI0MAE6ysPGeq29Z5YZU-llYY0puKurzcEOafggtNdh4UWRsduBca2TWMRgdekqw/s320/flood+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527029944207347026" border="0" /></a><br />This morning it had dropped down and I was confident to head out. All showered and ready to go, I went for a test trip to see if the rest of the creeks were down. This is what met me at the next crossing<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD1jGBj2e9sdavIA4zbejxHOtwzFVWqNhlSvvgpk3eS8INgyiTRRSgowsV6afec4chaNmvxTUWKJ6upDRvTu_nTtCHzTqhhH4q0zJTFsjeyYabv04zPblQI1SLgNp0WdR0PK1qa2byXM/s1600/creek+crossings+010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD1jGBj2e9sdavIA4zbejxHOtwzFVWqNhlSvvgpk3eS8INgyiTRRSgowsV6afec4chaNmvxTUWKJ6upDRvTu_nTtCHzTqhhH4q0zJTFsjeyYabv04zPblQI1SLgNp0WdR0PK1qa2byXM/s320/creek+crossings+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527034073942670706" border="0" /></a><br />Needless to say I returned home ....here I am...changed plans, which is why I finally I have the time to sit and update my blog. LOL. I having been watching the updates of the local creek levels compliments of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">BOM</span> all day. The levels are falling but I don't think I am going to get out today. Might as well go and do some sewing.<br /><br />Thankyou Olive for prompting me this morning...I promise I wont leave it so long again.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-15673609652935509872010-04-19T21:57:00.003+10:002010-04-19T22:36:28.962+10:00I AM BACK...HURRAY :-)I cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted. So much water has flown under the bridge I hardly know where to start. It has been many weeks since I have even had the time to catch up with reading my favourite blogs. How sad is that ! I have only just managed to read a couple but am inspired to tap the keys again. So just a quick note before I go back to catching up with past news.<br /><br />The Gorgeous Boy and I took nine days out over Easter to join a group of friends over on Fraser Island. Most of the men are ultra keen fishermen, so two, three to four hour sessions each day standing in the surf...fishing rod in hand...they were very happy chappies. Me....well,....I slept, then I slept a little more...sigh!!!! Then I read my book ( I have to say I took three books with me in anticipation but only managed part of the first....maybe I wasn't in the mood...maybe I am not a fan of Di <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Morrisey</span>...who knows) but in an attempt to stimulate my fuggy brain I have discovered "sudoku". I am addicted. I took one book with me...only 365 games !!!!! I was well in to my 90<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> on our return.....oh dear this is so much worse than "Days of our Lives" !!!!!!!<br /><br />I am back to reality....I have chores to do...get on with it Linda!<br /><br />Before I go......I just have to show y'all this<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i_wbT3rKl70ayQKNxfDzAgvtoYzGgwwSZuwKq0E2PpgwWuHMYmnSjdwRoa9hJt_4-_BjY7yZrxulcLTCd3gMX8uVgVTVdJH6CaHHNWHOH44QNuKPIeX2F0fpHicZrw8XagDc9hvMJgI/s1600/fraser+011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i_wbT3rKl70ayQKNxfDzAgvtoYzGgwwSZuwKq0E2PpgwWuHMYmnSjdwRoa9hJt_4-_BjY7yZrxulcLTCd3gMX8uVgVTVdJH6CaHHNWHOH44QNuKPIeX2F0fpHicZrw8XagDc9hvMJgI/s320/fraser+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461821098781243506" border="0" /></a><br />What a man, is this man of mine :-) Fisherman extraordinaire :-) They guessed at the weight as being around six kilos...I think they said it was a snub nosed dart. Me....I just said it was delicious ! I missed the catching of this little beauty but I sure didn't get to miss the cooking of it. I think the fight that the GB had to reel it in was a tale to be told for many years to come :-). It took three burners of a four burner <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">barbeque</span> to cook it. Having limited resources, I seasoned it with what I could find. Chopped a little celery, onion and orange zest and laid it on a bed of thinly sliced oranges. and sloshed around a little chardonnay....(that was all I had available!!) wrapped it in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">alfoil</span> and cooked it over a low heat for one a half hours. It was absolutely beautiful. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mmmmmm</span>. It fed eleven of us for dinner (just over one side of it) and I made fish cakes for lunch the next day. I even left about a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">quarter</span> of it behind for snacks as we had to leave the island and come home for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Lolly's</span> Baptism (another story :-)) We were also lucky enough to come home with an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">esky</span> full of fish fillets to last us quite a few weeks. Now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">that's</span> what I call a holiday!Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-5878952577050153252010-02-09T11:54:00.002+10:002010-02-09T11:57:10.921+10:00What the heck!!!!What happens to my computer ....it has a mind of its own. In todays post I wrote about making a boerwurst shaped sausage....the computer obviosly didn't like that and after running spell check it obviously chose its own word to describe the sausage....spot the mistake. I give up !!!!!Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-48874988966820224702010-02-09T10:34:00.013+10:002010-02-09T11:48:13.942+10:00What to do today?I am the first to admit that I am not at my brightest and best first thing in the morning. A night owl who married an early bird in the late 70s you would think that I would have adjusted my body clock by now......not so....but I do try :-)<br /><br />I like to awaken slowly and think about what the day has to hold for me....to make a brief plan before my feet even hit the floorboards. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Some days</span> I achieve what I have planned....on others I am forced to change my direction as the day unfolds and I get feedback from the other family members. I have learnt to be flexible but I NEED to know what is ahead or I would wander around the kitchen in a dream for the larger part of the morning.<br /><br />This morning I awoke to the sun streaming through the windows. After days and days of cloudy skies and showers and several <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">abortive</span> attempts at working in the veggie garden yesterday, a plan began to unfurl........Let the dog out....let the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">chooks</span> out for a run...breakfast and a morning in the garden.....maybe it the breeze is good, the grass will dry enough to mow a little. It is growing at an alarming rate at the moment :-( Then a few kitchen chores after lunch. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">That's</span> enough to think about right know. Time to get up!!!<br /><br />Well I made it as far as breakfast and the first of the showers started...scratch mowing.....I turned on the TV just as the weatherman displayed a very "blue" map of Queensland. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmm</span>, showers all day becoming heavier in the afternoon! I want to go down to the city later today and don't want to get flooded in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">sooooo</span> , lets rethink this.<br /><br />OK...new plan formulating. I have a nice piece of pork in the fridge which I had planned to turn into sausages, so this morning I will have another go at perfecting my homemade sausages :-)<br /><br />The Gorgeous boy and I have had three attempts so far at making the "perfect" sausage. We are getting pretty good at producing a well shaped sausage and the paprika and fennel flavoured ones were lovely but the ratio of fat/lean meat/cereal and liquid and the texture still needs fine tuning..<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGCUbO9q_cb6GMQsiER7RpoMUMdjULDKXNnh1RKoMZ7-2_RyhW6jLBVKR_-62SQyYJn_ISWCby8xbhuPlOGba3MzyM-Jvce9vfMH8iSzqLt3SNSpkga-rSOX9CuqQfG3G_ZzEpvwDQlE/s1600-h/Lollys+bday+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGCUbO9q_cb6GMQsiER7RpoMUMdjULDKXNnh1RKoMZ7-2_RyhW6jLBVKR_-62SQyYJn_ISWCby8xbhuPlOGba3MzyM-Jvce9vfMH8iSzqLt3SNSpkga-rSOX9CuqQfG3G_ZzEpvwDQlE/s320/Lollys+bday+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436045680085159746" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here I have pushed the skin onto the feeder.</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> I have used a protein based synthetic skin here which is very easy to use so long as you keep it dry. It fits on to the small size nozzle. I have also tried natural skins which fit on to the larger sized nozzle<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>.....</span> I still need to work on those as the they are a lot more "stretchy" (if you can use that term) and do not fill as evenly, as easily. Practice, practice, practice! I know :-)<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfI2W6ZYp_rMal-jRMoGH87cgFiofgivymJJolkujNJTYunjmxm8s2lr6c3s6H_YtRTUbPVqyOVPzViDoEJy9iEX2q9mkqHVf5jqiIhSbVSqDzgFTiUawuG_hA1IGe0xXZtB2EMtZiDs/s1600-h/Lollys+bday+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfI2W6ZYp_rMal-jRMoGH87cgFiofgivymJJolkujNJTYunjmxm8s2lr6c3s6H_YtRTUbPVqyOVPzViDoEJy9iEX2q9mkqHVf5jqiIhSbVSqDzgFTiUawuG_hA1IGe0xXZtB2EMtZiDs/s320/Lollys+bday+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436046118295693106" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Easing the skin off as the meat is pushed through.</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The GB normally feeds the beast while I ease the sausage off in one pieces, smoothing out any unevenness.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbWvU8fnLlZ9zJ85luKgswQQ_qGcSBGpNk3Li0ElDwSxYTQJdz7cedISzz13abDNFGqXkdPUMPTrgL74TJ2nJY3UUycD19Vtk8y3AUU6dbDgSL4Rdk9TqALDdskn24pfv1Er1GEbDiAg/s1600-h/Lollys+bday+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbWvU8fnLlZ9zJ85luKgswQQ_qGcSBGpNk3Li0ElDwSxYTQJdz7cedISzz13abDNFGqXkdPUMPTrgL74TJ2nJY3UUycD19Vtk8y3AUU6dbDgSL4Rdk9TqALDdskn24pfv1Er1GEbDiAg/s320/Lollys+bday+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436046579457874338" border="0" /></a>A completed batch of sausages...not bad huh!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly I twist the sausage into small individual serves.<br /><br />When The Great Dane and Gemini came to visit we had a go at making the Danish <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Medisterposter</span> ( Did I spell that right GD?) It is a mild flavoured pork sausage which is coiled around. Very much in shape like a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bequest</span> sausage. Boiled gently until almost cooked and then <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">barbequed</span>. Our first attempt was made with just lean pork meat and seasoning which was very dry. Next attempt saw us including a little cereal. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Todays</span> attempt will be 70% lean pork. 20% pork fat and 10% cereal (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">home baked</span> breadcrumbs) and seasoning with a little stock to make a softer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">consistency</span>. I'll let you know how I go :-) <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-29399893844715754282010-02-08T06:54:00.010+10:002010-02-08T08:23:31.346+10:00Happy New Year :-)Happy New Year :-) I can't believe how long it has been since I last wrote anything here. How time flies. It seems like just yesterday and I was thinking about getting ready early for Christmas.<br /><br />Well, Christmas came and Christmas went, and believe it or not...it went pretty smoothly without the annual panic. Ah, well, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">that's</span> if you don't count the Christmas cards! Sorry guys, they are still in the box. Its not as if we didn't think about you all. We toasted your health (the bottles in the recycling can attest to that) its just that I never seemed to get the time to actually sit down and write them out. I did think about sending them out as a Happy New Year cards...then the days passed and some bright spark suggested I should send them as Chinese New Year cards. I realised that maybe....just maybe....it was a little too late :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKEhdrawF7BoJMX-PF_Sjao5rqKW4TUt1feR-rOdx50b7vZ2JZLRs1OaQ4wy3zQZHeGyuMTK8sUPgMm6uHV0k6SUlJ3RbG4LH_2kgVjvwPAkAIh1etGd0uiHIxzNjuIZZrQbwqG7NSv8/s1600-h/Lollys+bday+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKEhdrawF7BoJMX-PF_Sjao5rqKW4TUt1feR-rOdx50b7vZ2JZLRs1OaQ4wy3zQZHeGyuMTK8sUPgMm6uHV0k6SUlJ3RbG4LH_2kgVjvwPAkAIh1etGd0uiHIxzNjuIZZrQbwqG7NSv8/s320/Lollys+bday+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435613384461517234" border="0" /></a><br />We spent Christmas Eve and Day down in the city with Dr K and Richie. Mama and the Princess came too. It was a lovely relaxing time and the turkey was absolutely delicious...thank you Darling :-). Over to spend Boxing day with Gemini and the Great Dane for their traditional Danish <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">smorgasbord</span>. Wonderful as usual. Unfortunately it may be that last one as Gemini and GD have fallen for the "Cruising Bug" and are planning to spend their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Christmasses</span> afloat in future. I can tell that I will have to learn how to pickle the herrings and make the rice pudding myself. Dare I bring out the last of the Dill Schnapps from the freezer? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hmmmm</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9wlnjTtNnS_QfHTfU78S-7S7qWjngbdQBbp4SAk2OVIGgLMjPbdCjlQ1zXqTxUg5xNMianf5uqMil0iD4aI-r46yy43bLAKAykwm1i3nGl7UgKLHLgrYmZQlLTu4kAROV2MceLm_s7c/s1600-h/Lollys+bday+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9wlnjTtNnS_QfHTfU78S-7S7qWjngbdQBbp4SAk2OVIGgLMjPbdCjlQ1zXqTxUg5xNMianf5uqMil0iD4aI-r46yy43bLAKAykwm1i3nGl7UgKLHLgrYmZQlLTu4kAROV2MceLm_s7c/s320/Lollys+bday+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435612930323401170" border="0" /></a>It may appear from these photos that we did nothing but eat....<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">that's</span> not true...we drank and laughed a lot :-) It is good to have family and friends around.<br /><br />We have had visitors here at the Farm almost every weekend since well before Christmas....it has been wonderful but busy, busy. This past weekend was the first in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">looooong</span> time that it has just been the Gorgeous Boy and myself here...oh I'm including you too <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tiggy</span> :-) It is time to get serious about finishing the Great Wall and the raised garden beds but as luck would have it....it rained......and rained....and rained. Complaining? Me? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Nooooo</span>. It would just be kinda nice to have it spread out a little more evenly. We seem to go from rock hard dry soil and "crunchy" grass to boggy puddles, red clay on the boots and the question of "will we be flooded in this time?" But any rain is better than no rain and everything in the garden is flourishing.<br /><br />We have survived the summer well in the vegetable garden...never running short of vegetables and this year has been the year for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">mangos</span>. We have three mango trees of varying vintage. All of them have produced exceptionally well. At one point we were cropping two huge bucket fulls a day. I have dehydrated tray after tray of mango slices and have an entire freezer drawer packed "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">chocka</span> block" full of boxes of puree. I only have one fruit leather tray so was limited in what I could make but am about to order more and use some of the frozen puree to make fruit leather.<br /><br />I have been experimenting with my ice cream machine and have found a delicious recipe...which is basically an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">anglaise</span> custard of 375ml milk, warmed up with a vanilla bean, poured over six egg yolks and 160g of sugar and cooked in a double boiler until it coats the back of the spoon. Chilled and then mixed with 375ml of cream and churned. Absolutely delicious served as a "soft serve" with mango puree over the top but the best feature of all is that when frozen it doesn't seem to freeze as hard as other recipes that I have used and is easy to serve. I even had an attempt to make imitation Weiss bars (The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Gbs</span> favourite ice cream) by freezing a layer of pureed mango on a baking tray and then freezing a layer of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ice cream</span> on the top. Then... cutting it into bars. Two problems.....a) since the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ice cream</span> doesn't set as rock hard as it does with the usual recipes. It melts rather quickly which means that you can't savour it... :-) and b) the puree would perhaps be improved by adding a little of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ice cream</span> to it to make it a little more creamy and a little less <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">icy</span>!!!! But on the whole...yummy....sorry no photos...all the little bars are cut up and wrapped in baking paper for easy access.<br /><br />Cherry sent me a recipe for Chicken and Mango salad that I will try this week. It sounds delicious and I will not be wasting one Mango. It makes me furious when I see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Mangos</span> in the supermarket at $2.90 each and we are in the midst of a glut here. Someone, somewhere is ripping off the general public and you can bet your life it is not the poor farmers. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Grrrrr</span>.<br /><br />Well time to call it a day for now...hope to get back here soon to tell of my "sausage making" success. But that a whole other story :-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-85724262202382191082009-12-01T19:44:00.004+10:002009-12-01T21:07:30.523+10:00Christmas is coming.What a wonderful weekend we had here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bellavista</span>. We worked through the heat on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to complete the final structure of the Great Wall. Now its just a case of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">back filling</span> and preparing the beds for planting. With the heat that we have had of late I am in no rush to plant but the next few weeks will be spent preparing the soil. No photos as yet. Its too dark and wet right now.<br /><br />Yes, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that's</span> right....wet !!!!! It has been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sooooo</span> long since we have seen rain up here but the last three days have brought afternoon storms with accompanying rain. Only about 7 or 8 ml each time but at least I don't have to water and I am sure that the plants thrive better on rain than on any watering that I do.<br /><br />Sunday and Monday, the winds that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">preceded</span> the storms brought with them swarms of flying bugs. Huge beetle like insects. I was not quick enough to get out the camera but I doubt whether any photo that I took would have done them justice. On Sunday night, after the storm had passed, the Gorgeous Boy and I had to go out and remove a fallen branch from the electric fence and found the branches coated with the bugs....all making merry! I guess after surviving the strong winds and heavy rain, procreation was the next thing on their minds.... you never know if you will survive the next storm!!!!!! ;-)<br /><br />Today, I began my preparations for Christmas. Since I moved to Australia over thirty years ago, I have never enjoyed Christmas in the way that I used to in England. My mind still cannot adjust to a hot Christmas. I yearn for crisp cold weather....where fairy lights sparkle in the night sky and you rug up to venture out Xmas shopping. Hot spiced wine with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mince pies</span>......oh, I could go on forever. Its just not the same. My Darling Husband is truly one of the best. One year he humoured me and lit a log fire in the fire place of our old house....while the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">airconditioner</span> belted out cold air. Bless your heart Sweetheart ....it just wasn't quite the same.<br /><br />The fact that Christmas has become so commercial and is being pushed down our throats by the shopping centres and the media from October onwards is also such a turn off. The spirit has gone.<br /><br />For more years than I can remember I have switched off to Christmas....trying to ignore it until the last possible moment and then rushing around at the last moment to make it up to my family. The Christmas decorations were never put up until just a few days before the day, cards to family and friends barely got sent out before December 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span>. Bah humbug. The lions Club always helped me out with their ever reliable Christmas cake. Yes...every year I promised I would make my own but would inevitably put it off until it was too late. Then Christmas day would arrive.......the feeling of love for all...peace on earth, would come to me. But <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">crickey</span>....forcing those roast Turkey dinners down were hard work while the sweat dripped off me. (I don't do...hot...very well!!!!)<br /><br />Well.......I have done some serious thinking this year. Maybe, just maybe, I have been going about it all wrong. So..........<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBDGdNuWX5sb9sOlqQpVT27NffW93cuf-CVVkImTKy_UAWgiqxB5GzP3MOPCl9DhtS0-cmRdwOiBZ2Xsp2tephUwpGL0viuxAtnlHRkLr7jKgjoFvyzeFcomnucLI-6btrReq_zUQ87g/s1600/xmas+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBDGdNuWX5sb9sOlqQpVT27NffW93cuf-CVVkImTKy_UAWgiqxB5GzP3MOPCl9DhtS0-cmRdwOiBZ2Xsp2tephUwpGL0viuxAtnlHRkLr7jKgjoFvyzeFcomnucLI-6btrReq_zUQ87g/s320/xmas+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410212266050751842" border="0" /></a><br />Its December 1st and my Christmas tree is up and decorated. I will go out this week and gather bits and pieces to make some table decorations. I have my Christmas cards ready (many purchased years ago and they never made it out the boxes!) and over the next week I will write out our family news letter and send Christmas greetings to all our friends and loved ones. I think I may even have some nice Christmas music to play to get me in the mood. I may even start doing some Christmas cooking. Mmmmm.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iJwsZtHWwMrPPdrNTvR7-NAW-PDI8oxdMBoWqaxlwJWJjFQ9cuku-qFED0jytDCc2jdBqRSgiBniO0Kz8_CbexPzJt5rIviMXDH8RP7dFqboGEWCf9AbrGLMU7i-AlI8MNP6RhrudLI/s1600/xmas+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iJwsZtHWwMrPPdrNTvR7-NAW-PDI8oxdMBoWqaxlwJWJjFQ9cuku-qFED0jytDCc2jdBqRSgiBniO0Kz8_CbexPzJt5rIviMXDH8RP7dFqboGEWCf9AbrGLMU7i-AlI8MNP6RhrudLI/s320/xmas+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410217893620433218" border="0" /></a><br />and......look what I have found today. I began this quilt over five years ago while I was living in Malaysia. It was a mystery quilt put that I together with the quilting group that I belonged to. Most of the hard work is done. All it needs now is to be machine quilted (if I attempt to hand quilt it....it could take another five years!!!!) and then I will bind it. <br /><br />YES....its beginning to feel at lot like Christmas :-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-89887724472234448762009-11-19T16:18:00.002+10:002009-11-19T17:33:03.840+10:00A moment to reflect.Its been a busy couple of months. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">can't</span> believe how fast it has flown. A time full of family and friends, a time of ill health, jobs completed, some still to finish. It has been hectic to say the least but now it is time to slip back into a comfortable routine. Even the dog is exhausted with it all :-) He is laying under the desk as I take the time to catch up on all my favourite blogs. It feels as if I have been catching up with family news as I read back posts of my favourite blogs and see what everyone else has been up to. One common thread is that everyone else has also been busy with "life" and not as regular with writing so I don't feel altogether slack.<br /><br />Mama completed her five weeks of teaching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">prac</span>. and achieved <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">excellent</span> results. Well done darling....you worked hard for it. While she was teaching The Princess and I came down with the most awful virus with hacking coughs and no energy. Three weeks later I still cannot seem to shake of the exhaustion. As an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">asthmatic</span> we were very worried about The Princess but with plenty of rest she was lucky to avoid another trip to hospital. Into the second week of being unwell, Mama and the gorgeous Boy also <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">succumbed</span> to the virus. I am not sure what our neighbours were thinking but the sounds coming from our house must have been awful. Still.....it is a thing of the past and we are all on the road to recovery.<br /><br />During the past couple of months we were fortunate to have plenty of visitors to the Farm. Nods and Cherry and Lauren came to visit ( luckily before we became sick) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">dr</span> K, Richie and his Mum came up for a weekend. My girlfriend of forty seven years came over from France and stayed for a week.<br /><br />Gilli and I met when I started senior school and we have been friends ever since. She has been one of the family, to me, my brother and my parents. The sister I never had. She is a true and loyal friend. Months can go by and I hear nothing from her......years go by and I don't get to see her and then our paths cross and it is as if we were together yesterday. Mind you I think I kinda blotted my copy book this time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">LOL</span>. I drove down to meet her at the airport......I hadn't seen her for around five years. As she got off the plane and walked towards me I was taken back with her resemblance to her late mother. The first words out of my mouth (and sometimes I have NO control of my mouth....it just works of its own accord ;-) )were "my God you look just like your Mum" Now I guess that isn't what every girl wants to hear and actually it wasn't quite true. She still looks like Gilli but it was that hint of something that I was not expecting. You know that as the years pass we will all age and change a little. When you see people regularly, you don't get to notice the change but it is still there. Your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">subconscious</span> expects them to look as they did last time you saw them. It is that split second when your mind adjusts to the change. As I said ....my brain and my mouth are not always in sync. <br /><br />It has been a wonderful week catching up with all that has happened to her and her extended family over the past five years. I have enjoyed the time so much....each day was as if I had seen her every day of my life and as I dropped her off at the airport to continue her trip down south there was no sadness, just the knowledge that when we next get together it will be as if she had climbed back into my car.......we will continue our trip through life !<br /><br />While she was here, Gemini and the Great Dane also came to stay for the weekend. They have returned from their "round the world" cruise and I was keen to hear their news. With so many tales to tell I think we barely scratched the surface. I am sure there will be many more wonderful memories that we will get to hear about.<br /><br />I am down in the city at the moment. Killing a little time while the Gorgeous Boy is at a business meeting. As soon as he returns.....around 7.30pm we will put <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Tiggy</span> in the car and head up to the farm. We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">can't</span> wait until the morning....we just want to go home. To wake up to the birds singing. No sounds of traffic and civilisation. Time to slow down again and smell the roses.<br /><br />No photos today......just reflections. Tomorrow is a new day and I am looking forward to working towards finishing the "Great wall of bellavista"......thats one job that has been going on far too long....sigh<br /><br />Still I gotta say........... "Life is good" :-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-52570683378229311122009-10-18T20:01:00.006+10:002009-10-18T21:03:47.453+10:00I am back !Its been a while since I have found the time to sit down and post. Some days I think that I just don't have the time to write anything.......always have plenty to say though ;-) Today I decided that it is better to be brief than not to write at all.<br /><br />One of the reasons for being so tardy of late is that I am playing Mum/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Nanna</span> full time at the moment. Mama is busy doing her final <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">prac</span> for her post graduate teaching degree and I have offered to take over the reigns of her house to give her the freedom to "give it her all"! Five weeks commitment....two down and three to go.<br /><br />This means that I am spending all week down in the city. The Princess comes over to our little Granny flat when she awakes in the morning and joins us for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">breakfast</span>/showers etc and we head off to school. Then back home to clean both homes and work on the gardens until 2.30pm when its time to pick up the little one.......afternoon tea/ homework/ trips to the park...you know the story. Then dinner to fix for us all....showers and bedtime stories.<br /><br />I am desperately missing my time up at the farm so on Wednesdays after I have drop her off at school I head up here to check on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chooks</span>, water the gardens etc. Three hours driving for two and a half hours here in my little part of paradise. Am I crazy ? Yes.... but its worth it.<br /><br />Friday I hand the reigns back to Mama and scurry up here as fast as I can. So much to do...so little time.<br /><br />The GB and I are STILL working on the great wall. This weekend we have dug out another seven post holes. We always knew that this stage and the next one would be difficult for a few different reasons. One reason was that somewhere in the proximity to which the GB would be drilling with his trusty post hole boring attachment on his tractor was the main power line from the shed to the house. After some discussion with the builder it was decided that since we were only drilling 800cm and the cables were supposedly 900cm underground we would be OK. An added insurance would be the blue tape that covers the said cables. If we proceeded cautiously we would encounter this first. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmmm</span>. I held my breath as he drilled, heart in mouth. Quite rightly so, it would seem.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmicl8vGDl47PogYX_znjS_XltmXvXPh_x9OUhGZQfpNkgf_RpSxvBJCeVZkZYoWW1Kcm9uWMHXc3DfP-CxVg_DiDHvemXmHxnyeCI258ZkcEHcUVtqhyphenhyphenRXSkYANki6rWM53r93cd0ZA/s1600-h/back+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmicl8vGDl47PogYX_znjS_XltmXvXPh_x9OUhGZQfpNkgf_RpSxvBJCeVZkZYoWW1Kcm9uWMHXc3DfP-CxVg_DiDHvemXmHxnyeCI258ZkcEHcUVtqhyphenhyphenRXSkYANki6rWM53r93cd0ZA/s320/back+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393891951263306450" border="0" /></a><br /> The photo that I took shows that on one side of the hole are both the telephone cable (400cm down ) and the power cable (just under 500cm down) and NO BLUE TAPE!!!!! Fortunately the GB was using a smaller auger than was used by Tony the bobcat driver who dug the bulk of our other post holes. He was manually widening the hole when he encountered the cables. This was one of those days when I think we are just so blessed. I shudder when I think of what could have happened.<br /><br />On that note I am off to bed to rest up for another busy week ahead. Hope I can get back here before too long :-) Night all.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-35575702591892908282009-09-28T21:49:00.003+10:002009-09-28T23:05:08.896+10:00Guess what I have been doing today!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBoyEaXjCSd2CJxuTI9g_dyOxu2k5LTJlWvTM2434GEbxQoHBYH9aHaXwhODwINYtvvqD9J5-rKX66IpMps8TLLwgrGuQijbE0Uj2EY2hgGsXIPeem8TTuMlgWgiE08meyFMelEMGPvM/s1600-h/sept+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBoyEaXjCSd2CJxuTI9g_dyOxu2k5LTJlWvTM2434GEbxQoHBYH9aHaXwhODwINYtvvqD9J5-rKX66IpMps8TLLwgrGuQijbE0Uj2EY2hgGsXIPeem8TTuMlgWgiE08meyFMelEMGPvM/s320/sept+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386484516442295410" border="0" /></a>Yup...there are only so many days that you can put this job off before you look in the cupboard and "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ooops</span></span>...not a thing to wear". Its been a busy few weeks, what with one thing and another. I have been able to keep up with the laundry but the ironing!!!!! Well, its just one of those jobs that begs to be deferred. I only iron the bare necessities nowadays but this pile took me most of the day.....there are a lot of tablecloths and napkins hidden in that there pile!!!! Oh...and the pillowcases!!!! Did I really wear all those pairs of trousers? What was I thinking ? Jeans don't need to be ironed....note to self......wear jeans more often. The poor Gorgeous Boy was running very short of business shirts....it had to be done.<br /><br />I managed to do a few loads of laundry (and ironed all of those as well) before I called it a day. Tomorrow I am planning to tackle the "total house clean". After two dust storms in the past week everything....and I mean everything...has a fine coating of orange dust over it. Yikes......I have house guests arriving on Thursday and Wednesday I will be busy running errands and getting the car serviced. Do I feel pressured...sure do :-(<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATMytI7f72zGjTucpRO0L9fXWXAr37rO2SLmnwOZWDm5uzFLXNhDW843FiovQ9INjkf3NifMW51rjuqSfwY_woLQaIoSjJjheupeKRQVz3JK_zf_SoFVp-t5uXZSKRp9RtsQNzqoQd-k/s1600-h/sept+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATMytI7f72zGjTucpRO0L9fXWXAr37rO2SLmnwOZWDm5uzFLXNhDW843FiovQ9INjkf3NifMW51rjuqSfwY_woLQaIoSjJjheupeKRQVz3JK_zf_SoFVp-t5uXZSKRp9RtsQNzqoQd-k/s320/sept+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386488547031432722" border="0" /></a>This is not a very clear picture but I took it on Saturday afternoon as the sun was going down. It was so hazy with the dust in the air that you could look straight at the sun and barely see it.<br /><br />We worked all weekend on the "Great Wall" and I have to say, its looking pretty good. Next step will be back filling it. Will I make it in time to plant the potatoes on the full moon? Who knows, but it wont be from lack of effort!<br /><br />I picked up a the October copy of "Gardening Australia" from the supermarket last week and it came with a free copy of "Choosing Eden". Written by Adrienne <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Langman</span>, it tells of the journey that she and her husband have begun towards self sufficiency in preparation for the aftermath of "Peak Oil". It is a thought provoking book and in my opinion well worth the read. Here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bellavista</span> we are working in the same direction but I do have to say that we have not put half the thought and research in to it that she and her husband Larry have. One thing that I wholeheartedly agree with her is that we do need to skill up. Being a "baby boomer" I still remember how many things were done "in the old days" but there are areas that I need to learn more about. Just as well that my favourite hobby is .....learning new things :-) With this in mind.....I have spied another cheese making course coming up in this area. Tomorrow I will make a few phone calls and see if I can book myself in. Off to bed now. Night all.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-24366306236480248602009-09-22T20:00:00.006+10:002009-09-22T21:10:31.706+10:00Progress report on the Great Wall of Bellavista.I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">can't</span> believe its been so long. I really have been slack. I have so much to say (as always) but not much time to sit down and type at the moment.<br /><br />Firstly.....The Great Wall of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bellavista</span>......is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. It really helped that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dr</span>.K and Richie came up for the weekend and lent a hand. I don't think they realised what they were in for when they suggested coming up but they worked like little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Trojans</span>. The Gorgeous Boy and I had all the posts installed for section one......the longest run of sixty metres. The four of us spent the weekend putting in drainage, levelling off (the GB likes everything to be perfect....ah...so tiring!!!!!!) and laying the first two rows of planks along the entire <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">length</span>. We managed to do about twenty metres of two more rows and work ceased when we ran out of planks AND screws. Still, now I can at least get to work <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">back filling</span> the first twenty metres so that we can plant some more potatoes on the next full moon. My life has become a little Lunar of late....not that I don't run around like a "lunatic" at the best of times <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">LOL</span>!!!!<br /><br />I do think that this latest project has been jinxed by the weather. I suggested to the GB that we begin the Great Wall well before the summer heat really set in. The first week we worked on it, we had a heat wave....hottest spring weather in years!!!!! What happened this weekend....the temperatures soared into the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">thirties</span> again. This time with hot dry winds. What is summer going to be like this year!!!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeZ0MkRFQKH1E2AeNLmP4YjMpEc4cXePjj24yJIdGZRkIvOn6OmIqxSVYGTvUYpmhXxs29rQT0rr6mKyFUIZtFhjFd-R7BvJAJDaXODXQpoUOZzRm8Px_Bng9WcID9bCDm4R8Fqm5tlk/s1600-h/dinner+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeZ0MkRFQKH1E2AeNLmP4YjMpEc4cXePjj24yJIdGZRkIvOn6OmIqxSVYGTvUYpmhXxs29rQT0rr6mKyFUIZtFhjFd-R7BvJAJDaXODXQpoUOZzRm8Px_Bng9WcID9bCDm4R8Fqm5tlk/s320/dinner+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384236426094607426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is where we were at before the weekend......I have not had time to take an updated photo. Tomorrow maybe!<br /><br />Not much work was done last weekend as we went down to Brisbane and joined friends, on the Sunday, at a "street party" of sorts. Part of Albert Street in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">CBD</span> was closed to traffic and set up with tables for a dinner presenting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Stoneleigh</span> Wines. Four or five <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">different</span> restaurants participated and it depended on where you were sitting, what type of food you ate. We were fortunate to have an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Italian</span> based menu. Five different <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Stoneleigh</span> wines were served, each complementing a different course.<br /><br />We had a sparkling champagne style wine with the canapes while street entertainers wandered in our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">midsts</span>. Then we were seated and dinner was served while a band played in the background. Our table was served<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Anti pasta</span> Platter with crusty bread<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Sauvignon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Blanc</span><br /><br />Pasta with Calamari tossed with rocket and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">chilli</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Pinot</span> Gris<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Osso</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Bucco</span> with Mediterranean vegetables<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Pinot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Noir</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Tiramisu</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Oooops</span>...by this time I couldn't remember what the wine was....must have been good!!!!<br /><br />Cheese board comprising of local cheeses with rain berries<br /><br />Some yummy little chocolate coated balls of something <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">delish</span> but it was getting late and the wine was obviously getting the better of me!!!!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The company was wonderful, the weather was fabulous and the entertainment was good. We did take some photos but none that did justice to the evening. Am I not just the slackest blogger!!!! ;-) The event was planned as part of the Spring Festival and I would certainly put my hand up to go again next year. If I am lucky enough to go....I will take notes I promise <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">LOL</span>.<br /><br />Note to self........diet is not progressing well.....question...wonder why!!!!!!<br /></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-80976053950114561022009-09-11T20:58:00.002+10:002009-09-11T21:47:36.088+10:00How time flys.When I sat down on Monday to catch up with reading my favourite blogs and write a new post of my own I saved this photo for the next days post but wow...its Friday again. Where does all the time go? This is one of our new orchids. I don't know its name......I guess for me, its not important to know the name....just to revel in the beauty. Whenever I walk past the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fernery</span> I spy this beautiful yellow bloom sitting right next to an everyday <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pelagonium</span>. To my mind they are both beautiful, one for its delicate blooms and the other for the vibrant colour that just plain cheers me up :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LP-vV9QjsVIfw0D2es3QbWTe9iTSGTHf-mOHfzyyACNqvY1_osnrJ44gyATtf6rYMZjmRh21kyAigfdOqy19cvzPvOmQlEbrXZyImJIYnV-RKfK1Lg1JqIb0ZIhMUjdrcZxiZQiiDZY/s1600-h/orchids+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LP-vV9QjsVIfw0D2es3QbWTe9iTSGTHf-mOHfzyyACNqvY1_osnrJ44gyATtf6rYMZjmRh21kyAigfdOqy19cvzPvOmQlEbrXZyImJIYnV-RKfK1Lg1JqIb0ZIhMUjdrcZxiZQiiDZY/s320/orchids+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380164915196440274" border="0" /></a><br />Tuesday, I went on my computer early to send an email to a friend only to discover that I had been "hijacked" and someone had sent an e mail to all of my contacts....on the face of it they were just promoting an i camera. Was it more sinister than that or are we all just a little paranoid? Who knows, but for someone like me who is not particularly confident with the many uses that the computer has to offer, I was down right annoyed. I changed my password and phoned my "computer guru" down in the big smoke for advice. He suggested that I send another e mail to all contacts to warn them that the first had not been from me so that they could check to see if their computers had been "violated". Well that pretty well blew all morning. Do I have the time to waste cleaning up after someone has been rude enough to a) trespass on my private space on the world wide web and b)impersonate me for their own purposes. NO I DO NOT! Whats with these people? They seriously need to get a life of their own. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Grrrr</span>.<br /><br /> Later, I headed down to the city to babysit the Princess while Mama went to do a workshop and stayed down for a couple of days to get my computer "checked" and run a few errands. Its good to be back home again. Today, the Gorgeous boy and I resumed work on the retaining wall. Six more posts installed today. Hurray! It would have been more but we had to do extra work digging out the holes where rocks had diverted the auger on the bobcat. Poor GB was attacking the subsurface rocks with the crowbar and the sledge hammer. My puny attempts with the crowbar were nowhere near as effective but I do a good line in laying on my belly with my arm down the holes hauling out shattered rock ;-) We make a good team. LOL. I think (hope) that we are over the worst of it as the next holes seem to be quite sandy. We will find out tomorrow !!!!!<br /><br />I had best go to bed to rest this old body 'cos who knows what tomorrow has in store.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-23356597408620310702009-09-07T18:15:00.005+10:002009-09-07T19:37:55.840+10:00The Eye of the Storm.The last couple of weeks have been very busy and today is the eye of the storm. Peace and quiet reigns. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ooooh</span> its lovely but I know there is more to come. The thing is....while its been busy....its been good so I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">can't</span> say I regret a minute of it.<br /><br />The Gorgeous Boy and I have been working on our latest project....the retaining wall. It took a while to line everything up. Measuring, moving fencing, ordering supplies and then the work really began.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHvYR0yrS7C4mTAFmU9vC2saFLN1QO0FaArTMDJ0tMMTxfrBte9EGXMPHqp5UaY3rB8CVK2PB4XhJyAgjssfGu24iS88SjvcG6sylYcvvo1GH6MOlyPmxwMHdhBZ0WSJYZxI_ZjMT-FQ/s1600-h/retaining+wall+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHvYR0yrS7C4mTAFmU9vC2saFLN1QO0FaArTMDJ0tMMTxfrBte9EGXMPHqp5UaY3rB8CVK2PB4XhJyAgjssfGu24iS88SjvcG6sylYcvvo1GH6MOlyPmxwMHdhBZ0WSJYZxI_ZjMT-FQ/s320/retaining+wall+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378637740305975250" border="0" /></a><br />Here he is with the trusty tractor leveling off all the rubble that had washed down the bank in the last couple of years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPqft41tG36XfsmkTdaQGpTVrj9IEhqlTevNzRxZrYaBIiVZqO1eKlV0-E1iz5pBRcxm5J5osf9XIRQQvFQi1OqXivvUA2clBxuLa6QBpw8xWN6hyphenhyphenzg1Lw_0-4Bumhd54xYTS5RjxKaI/s1600-h/retaining+wall+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPqft41tG36XfsmkTdaQGpTVrj9IEhqlTevNzRxZrYaBIiVZqO1eKlV0-E1iz5pBRcxm5J5osf9XIRQQvFQi1OqXivvUA2clBxuLa6QBpw8xWN6hyphenhyphenzg1Lw_0-4Bumhd54xYTS5RjxKaI/s320/retaining+wall+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378638469084536994" border="0" /></a>We had to wait a few days for the bobcat to come in and drill around sixty post holes. It was too tight a squeeze to try and do it with the tractor. Then a day to shovel all that surplus soil back on the bank where possible until my arms became so sore that I found it easier to shovel it into a wheel barrow and barrow it out of the way.<br /><br />The next day the GB levelled off the holes and lined up the posts while I mixed the concrete. We managed to concrete in place twelve posts. Three to four mixes of concrete per hole....it takes a while. Unfortunately work has been put on hold as the Gorgeous Boy had to fly out to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dhabi</span> on business.(or was it just to have a rest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">LOL</span>!!!)<br /><br />I used the time that he was away to spring clean the house as we were expecting a visit from a very dear friend from our days in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kuala</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Lumpur</span>. During that week the bookcase that was being built for us for the lounge room was delivered and installed. Great excitement.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArD5x9cabvtFDElqEo__i_6HV3p7sbjfxSTVjiThajbbKA0XGRkR9oyChrN9DfhDy7WtUpAGQXsOV-vzeQW3ONsprVfvEZ_dT18s6YvJqRB-3sKG03BSNuJTfPMaAxeNMJcIJYs8MkEE/s1600-h/retaining+wall+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArD5x9cabvtFDElqEo__i_6HV3p7sbjfxSTVjiThajbbKA0XGRkR9oyChrN9DfhDy7WtUpAGQXsOV-vzeQW3ONsprVfvEZ_dT18s6YvJqRB-3sKG03BSNuJTfPMaAxeNMJcIJYs8MkEE/s320/retaining+wall+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378648239179772114" border="0" /></a>We are so pleased with it. It has been a long wait. It took me a whole day to bring over the books that had been stored in the shed....clean them up and arrange them on the shelves. We have a few spaces to fill!!!!! We could also do with a little time to sit and read some books !!!! but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">that's</span> a whole other story! Since we plan to be here for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">looooong</span> time....I don't see any problem.<br /><br />I picked up our house guest from the airport on Friday and spent the whole day and half the night chatting and catching up with all that has happened in four years. The Gorgeous Boy arrived home on Saturday. We spent a wonderful weekend taking our guest to visit mutual friends near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Noosa</span> and sight seeing and with more friends dropping in for pizzas yesterday. GB took our guest to the airport this morning to complete her journey to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kalgoolie</span> to visit her daughter and family. So today was a quiet day up here at the farm. I managed to read two weeks of my favourite <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">blogs</span> that I haven't been able to get to and now I'm ready to get back to work.<br /><br />We have had 6ml of rain so far today so I think the first job tomorrow will be fertilizing the vegetable beds and the citrus. Oh....and the retaining wall is waiting for us :-) Time to go and cook dinner. S'all for now.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-56525046896660913482009-08-16T07:29:00.003+10:002009-08-17T22:38:19.014+10:00The good, the bad and the ugly!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1toOxXjbGUmJrYXddmWJv2iwI8ERY8ayZr-Ad_lMps3RjaaOTjmSlXG3oXjOouuPCYo3SoyPCD4FX-ICws-0HOyrUPYsdfUe4Qq4rOSOmf6bu-DnUFpsNHIccjwZe-DWs3dXQPQUD_g/s1600-h/sat+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1toOxXjbGUmJrYXddmWJv2iwI8ERY8ayZr-Ad_lMps3RjaaOTjmSlXG3oXjOouuPCYo3SoyPCD4FX-ICws-0HOyrUPYsdfUe4Qq4rOSOmf6bu-DnUFpsNHIccjwZe-DWs3dXQPQUD_g/s320/sat+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370307356977117122" border="0" /></a><br />Not the most flattering pose on my part but isn't the machine just the star of the show. I couldn't resist showing her off. Its my birthday on Thursday....and yes, this little baby is my birthday present. What more could a girl ask for (she rolls on her back laughing!!!!)<br /><br />On Thursday night we (the family) will all gather together for dinner at our favourite Greek restaurant in West end. We all love Greek food which is good but what is so special is that every one keeps the day free to celebrate together with whoever is having the birthday. That means more to me than anything.......I hope it never changes. Family is so special and I certainly do love mine. I'm one lucky Gal :-)<br /><br />This past week I have been sprouting.....not me personally....remember I'm losing weight albeit slowly. I have two batches growing. alfalfa sprouts and mung beans. The alfalfa is growing just fine on a wet paper towel and I have already harvested some for my lunch today. Its the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mung beans</span>....beansprouts, that are driving me crazy. Periodically I get out my jar and have "another go"! I am ALWAYS <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">disappointed</span>. I really don't know what I am doing wrong. I rinse them daily, drain them, sit them in a dark cupboard but they just don't look good. I have to say...they almost look as bad as the ones in the supermarket. Old and tired.<br /><br />When we lived in KL (Malaysia), twice each week a small truck would drive into our apartment forecourt and an old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Chinese</span> couple would roll up the canvas sides and display their wares for sale. The freshest fruit and vegetables I have ever seen. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Poh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lai</span> and his wife <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hua</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Toh</span> spent the week visiting apartment blocks...their produce was always just perfect, I don't know how they did it but I was just so pleased that they did.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hua</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Toh</span> was always ready to share recipes and cooking hints with me but it was the bean sprouts that won me over. They would be in water, in a white plastic pail with the lid on. She would scoop out whatever I needed, drain them and wrap them in newspaper. They would remain fresh for days in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">refrigerator</span>. I have experienced perfection.....I want it again....and I am just so darned cross that mine are not anywhere near as good. What am I doing wrong?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Grrrrrrrr</span>.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-9630838097569060012009-08-15T20:58:00.003+10:002009-08-15T22:21:47.667+10:00Playing with toys.We unloaded the Log splitter today. What fun :-) I spent an hour or so splitting logs and we are well set up for the next week or so. I have been trying to upload a photograph of the log splitter but seem to have a problem so will try later. It is an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ozzito</span> and works really well. We are very happy with it. Since we had such a good supply of chopped wood the Gorgeous Boy decided to light the wood fired oven. Roast Pork for dinner. Delicious as usual. Thank you Darling :-)<br /><br />With the dry weather lately and the wind the gardens are drying out quite quickly. I'm back to watering which I don't really mind as it is very relaxing (unless I think about all the other things I should be doing.<br /><br />I did take lots of lovely photos of the snow peas and broad beans but I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">can't</span> seem to upload those either. Must just be my night!!!!! Think I may just call it quits for now and try again tomorrow.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-23282343203375343762009-08-13T20:10:00.009+10:002009-08-13T22:21:41.890+10:00Peoples day at the Ekka.Yesterday was Peoples day at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ekka</span>. Apparently, despite the concerns of Swine Flu it was a record day with huge crowds. I guess the good weather has helped this year. I heard this on the radio today....we didn't go there. The Gorgeous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Boy</span> and I are not fond of crowds. Which is probably why we are so happy up here at the Farm....miles from anywhere :-) We were however down staying at our city place.<br /><br />We picked up the Log Splitter on Tuesday night, its still in the back of the car as I need help to lift it out...its <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sooooo</span> heavy. I hope that once we unwrap it, it will be more "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">manhandle able</span>". I'm keen to start playing with it :-) Roll on the weekend.<br /><br />We decided that Wednesday would be a good day to go and visit the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Caboolture</span> Historical Village". I had been there before with Mama and the Princess and was most impressed. I wanted to show the GB around. We decided to take the Princess with us as she had the day off school. It was a great day. We spent nearly four hours wandering around the old buildings and still haven't seen everything.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wood turners</span> were there for a morning workshop so we went in to see what they do. I love wood......it smells so good and it looks beautiful when its worked. In my early twenties I did a woodworking course at the local college. I made a book shelf and a drawing board stand for my brother (a budding architect). I have often thought about doing more. So many things to do...so little time...sigh. I have brought home the application form to do a course in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wood turning</span>. I think it will be great fun. I just have to check to see if I can fit it into my schedule.<br /><br />We went for a ride on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">minature</span> train......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiubV_ODqwmjyeUitQndDhAP1gFBQgEMpL-bNxwrUUAVcRUl_GJ8r4QYa97Z_CO1xI0AepoKEtH8cfeJyNe-nILESt4sbMDefEWzw5FjVQ9Xfp8Ky2OhfnKoz46hMRnIO8hemPD8kYa6s/s1600-h/ekka+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiubV_ODqwmjyeUitQndDhAP1gFBQgEMpL-bNxwrUUAVcRUl_GJ8r4QYa97Z_CO1xI0AepoKEtH8cfeJyNe-nILESt4sbMDefEWzw5FjVQ9Xfp8Ky2OhfnKoz46hMRnIO8hemPD8kYa6s/s320/ekka+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369395080194037362" border="0" /></a>Aren't they a gorgeous couple....The princess and her "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Garbie</span>". I, of course, took a back seat. It was a great little ride and the station had all the original ticket office equipment. The Train driver, who is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">volunteer</span>, doubles as the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">conductor</span> and came along and "punched" our tickets.<br /><br />They have an original school house with the Teachers house next door. A hospital, a Police station with the "lock up" out the back. The Printer was there fixing up an old printer which is still used. We saw the Cooper making a small wine barrel which will be sold when it is finished and many, many more old homes and businesses. The funny thing was, that when I saw many of the "old" household items it was like going back to my past (I didn't think I was THAT old but I guess I must be.) Things like the flat iron....I remember my Father pressing his Police uniform with one when I was young. The mincer which was clamped to the bench in one of the old kitchens was just like my Mothers mincer that we used every Christmas to mince the fruit for the Christmas pudding and the kitchen scales are just like the ones that I brought over with me when I came here to live. They have been sandblaster and repainted but sit on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">kitchen</span> bench and are still used whenever I dig out an old recipe calling for pounds and ounces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-90YyXMFptruim-3oCwrWA2XaqiHq_HISsJVrdX-tz9yeQzz5j4czJc3KY2QrgRPELpSjdvFrgYHDUvjPhoHwPw4pKsFQvJmuOj_kPa6VHvEWJ0KbYGdFdZ13pDOixMxA_4DD3XSxXQ/s1600-h/now+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-90YyXMFptruim-3oCwrWA2XaqiHq_HISsJVrdX-tz9yeQzz5j4czJc3KY2QrgRPELpSjdvFrgYHDUvjPhoHwPw4pKsFQvJmuOj_kPa6VHvEWJ0KbYGdFdZ13pDOixMxA_4DD3XSxXQ/s320/now+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369402351404286066" border="0" /></a><br />In between times they serve as a fruit bowl...change tray....general spot for putting all odds and ends. A very useful piece of kitchen equipment :-)<br /><br />We only left because we were getting tired but I will be going back again...<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">that's</span> for sure.<br /><br />Dinner was a low priority after our busy day so I rustled up some corned beef fritters using the last of the corned beef that I had cooked over the weekend. Corned beef was something new to me when I came to Australia. My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">English</span> memories of corned beef was something that came in a tin and was a little mushy/<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">flaky</span> that you mashed up with potatoes and made into a pastie. My Mother in Law regularly served Corned beef for dinner so I found a recipe that I have "tweaked" over the years and every so often cook up a joint. Its good hot, great cold with tomato relish and those last little scraps get chopped up and made into fritters. How versatile is that :-)<br /><br />I have never read a recipe for corned beef fritters so I really don't know how you are supposed to make them. All I can say is that since the first day that I played around with a simple batter and threw in the meat, they have been a great success with my family. There are NEVER any left on the plate regardless of how many I make. I would love to share my recipe with you but you really have to be game to experiment.....I don't know what quantities of ingredients I use. I just keep adding things until it "feels" right and my first fritter is always a test one....do I need to add more milk or more flour?<br /><br />Cooking down in the Granny Flat is always limited. The kitchen there is very, very small, one small work top, a single sink and just a couple of cupboards, hence no room for fancy equipment. There is an electric hob...I hate electric hobs...I'm a gas girl...hot and fast!!!! It suits our needs but any thing more than basic cooking is done up here at the Farm. So....<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Linda's</span> Corned Beef Fritters......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa7doDPPW_pPXaE_pXMWxK_LW87EG-IT0BKJx6WQMnfi7-XowLrwUHKRp2vGnJCgk8FuQ8qMdI8pvXnsdsSH4SYGqtmoln9vDfr8agCkNTFsU2Udd2iPNVT3sjrpk1vEIcbZ5k05nISo/s1600-h/ekka+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa7doDPPW_pPXaE_pXMWxK_LW87EG-IT0BKJx6WQMnfi7-XowLrwUHKRp2vGnJCgk8FuQ8qMdI8pvXnsdsSH4SYGqtmoln9vDfr8agCkNTFsU2Udd2iPNVT3sjrpk1vEIcbZ5k05nISo/s320/ekka+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369410865702151666" border="0" /></a><br />Self Raising flour...a couple of cups or so....seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. I go for more pepper...less salt! Beat in two eggs and enough milk to make a loose batter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZyKQ5-mJNjR8-MSp-_UXhqGF4OMCFBO5vdbzdwqbtgZvc9BHNKryZLyOEa_7M95R76NekF8d-iQXNn6DqDXDXMxJA2gAZiiiY-DaU7kX8B3fMGhLgwNL2d_YtnwG3drG3li-gf8E6oM/s1600-h/ekka+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZyKQ5-mJNjR8-MSp-_UXhqGF4OMCFBO5vdbzdwqbtgZvc9BHNKryZLyOEa_7M95R76NekF8d-iQXNn6DqDXDXMxJA2gAZiiiY-DaU7kX8B3fMGhLgwNL2d_YtnwG3drG3li-gf8E6oM/s320/ekka+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369412198825350338" border="0" /></a>Add chopped corned beef and a chopped onion. The batter should look something like this....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVikThUZOtct7BYHZcZxTQ7AV12fshwaYF-Tm4lTBbkikGg_405Dfehqq_01sSHLRNr1eMFshxsDWGmIfslLtr1SB6rnJAM02HiDlPVjim-t9WNhpRHG4zgV9QWTwdLVBD3ksYMDbvyXQ/s1600-h/ekka+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVikThUZOtct7BYHZcZxTQ7AV12fshwaYF-Tm4lTBbkikGg_405Dfehqq_01sSHLRNr1eMFshxsDWGmIfslLtr1SB6rnJAM02HiDlPVjim-t9WNhpRHG4zgV9QWTwdLVBD3ksYMDbvyXQ/s320/ekka+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369413863246339954" border="0" /></a>As I mentioned...I always do a test fritter. The "taste tester" from this batch was a little heavy and took a long time to cook through so I added more milk to lighten it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2A0_FV4J10uA6Zt7fgn0dDlTZOdORfY6tjETt4UXuLhEJOI_NdANXQCymg_2ECiPWVviaqGV2_Q5_w1zliCNLbucfxrbcVcB0B4Mn2yUVQi5nb9Pqtzq0b0Og5WHxUwCh-fgVg09tn0/s1600-h/ekka+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2A0_FV4J10uA6Zt7fgn0dDlTZOdORfY6tjETt4UXuLhEJOI_NdANXQCymg_2ECiPWVviaqGV2_Q5_w1zliCNLbucfxrbcVcB0B4Mn2yUVQi5nb9Pqtzq0b0Og5WHxUwCh-fgVg09tn0/s320/ekka+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369416712152424946" border="0" /></a>These little babies are just ready to flip out of the pan. Not very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">glamorous</span>, not the most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">nutritious</span> recipe in my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">repertoire</span> by a long shot but quick, easy, absolutely yummy and you can feed a troop for a couple of dollars. They are best eaten hot from the pan so when I make them we don't stand on ceremony. A bowl of tossed salad is put on the table along with a good tomato sauce and they are served straight from the pan to table. I keep cooking until I run out of batter and get to eat the last batch...if I am lucky :-) The above quantity serves four hungry eaters.....I adjust it depending on the crowd or how much meat I have left. I do cook them in olive oil...just enough to give them a good golden colour but not enough to make them "greasy".<br /><br />There you go kids......<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">That's</span> how Mum does it. Isn't it time I stood down and you guys take over ;-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-51801351602231429062009-08-08T21:47:00.003+10:002009-08-08T23:18:48.201+10:00Nothing much to say !!!!Can this be me !!!!! Nothing much to say ! Motor mouth at a loss for words ! I don't think so :-)<br /><br />Its been a busy week but I don't feel that I have done anything "interesting". I did score a couple of points though.<br /><br />Win No 1.<br /><br />I have finally made contact with someone at the Malaysian <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kennel</span> club who knows what they are talking about. Yes, I know it was silly of me to export <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tiggy</span> back here to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Aus</span>. when we left Malaysia 4 years ago without getting "exported" typed on his pedigree. Silly me. I should have thought about that !!!! After more $s than I am about to disclose (don't even want to add it up....he's worth it :-) ) we went through all the rigmarole.... blood tests, airfreight, quarantine here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Aus</span> etc and I didn't get that little word typed on his pedigree. No one told me I had to!<br /><br />We have now decided that the time is right for us to have a "son of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tigs</span>" so we are looking for a girlfriend for him to do the dirty deed with. BUT. We only want one more dog so we are looking for a nice girl who will "play" with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tiggy</span> and let us have the pick of the litter for the pleasure. Not too much to ask for is it?<br /><br />To advertise his many talents I need to register him here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Aus</span>. Problem...cannot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lah</span>! without that little word on his pedigree. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hmmm</span>. contact the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">MKC</span> they say at the Canine Council. Well they have obviously never had contact with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Malaysian</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">bureaucracy</span>!<br /><br />I repeatedly sent e mails to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">MKC</span> for a month or so asking how to remedy my problem...they all bounced back. I phoned them to check the e mail address was correct. " yes Ma'am but send us an e mail to www......." Look I may not be very computer smart but even I know you can't e mail a web site. (I even tried!)<br /><br />I phoned two more times ( I have to admit I procrastinated doing this....I knew I had to be emotionally strong or would become impatient and lose it and be seen as just another irrational expat) First time I told them the postmaster had informed me their inbox was full. "Give me 30 minutes Ma'am and I will empty it" I gave them an hour...bouncing e mails!!! Second time "sorry Ma'am . Maybe your e mail is too large" Too large!!!!! Fortunately I persisted , asking if there was anyone there who could help me. I was passed over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Shanti</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ahh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Shanti</span> ...God Bless you...yes I know I should have told you I wanted to bring him home, yes I realise it would have saved me this problem...what put his "original pedigree" in the mail with 250 Ringgit plus postage and you would type that word on there for me and send it back...Yeah right. I trust the Malaysian postal system as much as I trust a snake in the grass! <br /><br />To cut a long and frustrating story short, I have a very Dear Friend in Victoria who also lived in KL at the same time as us and understands my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">dilemma</span>, who is flying up there next Tuesday on business and has kindly agreed to take the pedigree in to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">MKC</span> office personally, pay the fee and wait for it to be returned to her with the all important word (exported) typed on it...while she waits! She is such a Darling :-) I sent the Pedigree down to her express certified mail...yes I almost trust Australia Post! Now I just have to take the little fellow in for a short back and sides, a shampoo and set and take a sexy photo of him and set him up on a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Doggie</span> Lonely Hearts site. Persevere I say....all that banging you head against a brick wall does pay off with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">perseverance</span>!<br /><br />Win No 2<br /><br />The Gorgeous Boy has finally admitted that we need a "log splitter". Our latest delivery of firewood is beautiful hard wood and burns really well but is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">soooo</span> hard to split. I was here by myself the other night and went out to split some wood for the fire. I couldn't even get the axe to make a mark on it let alone split it. We have been talking about buying one ever since a trip down south to visit friends and I was allowed to play with their electric hydraulic log splitter. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Ooooh</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">loooved</span> it. I know...most girls would love diamonds or perfumes etc. Me, I want a log splitter....you sit yourself on a little stool at the end of it....load up the log....push the button and the log slowly moves forward, splits and falls to the floor....the push of a button I say....oh, the power !!!!!! ;-) After much <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Gooogling</span> (I love Google!) and many phone calls I have found one at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Bunnings</span>. Right on my own doorstep. There was I thinking I wouldn't find one in Queensland....too warm for log fires!!!! They are holding it for me until I can get down there...I am so excited :-) Wood splitting will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">definitely</span> be easier in our house from now on. Its my birthday this month and I am more than happy to accept it as my birthday present.<br /><br />Actually, I think the GB is secretly happy as he does get a little worried when I wield the axe.....or the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">brush cutter</span> with the steel blade on......come to think about it he's not real happy when I get the carving knife out to carve the meat. Me...clumsy...nooooo....I know what I'm doing...I'm in control ;-)<br /><br />Enough waffling...time for bed....I plan to do some more brush cutting tomorrow morning...OK. I will use the plastic blades, even though they wear down too fast when I hit the rocks ;-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-68799829606298419232009-08-01T19:25:00.004+10:002009-08-01T21:01:26.198+10:00A new garden visualised.This afternoon, after the Gorgeous Boy and I had finished all the chores, we set to mapping out the new garden beds for the vegetable garden. This will be a major exercise as it involves seventy two metres of retaining walls creating raised garden beds. Since we live on the side of a hill at the beginning of a beautiful valley there are very few true flat areas. A vast slab was cut before the shed was built to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">accommodate</span> the shed and the house. The shed was erected and then, yours truly changed her mind (lets not go there!!!) and the house was built in a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">different</span> area. I have to say, everyone agrees that it was the right decision but it did leave us with a very large flat area. We have utilised this, building our vegetable garden there and the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">chook</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hilton</span>". This had of course left us with a fairly significant bank behind. To ease <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">maintenance</span> of this area, we have decided to build an 800cm retaining wall along the base which will enable us to plant potatoes, melons etc which can sprawl to their hearts delight and slow down the never ending weeds. It will also slow down the flow of water in heavy rains, which tends to temporarily flood the vegetable garden.<br /><br />So, armed with star pickets, a tape measure and some tape we have mapped out the area involved. I needed to "see" it! I can visualise how it will look but I wanted to be sure that everything would fit and there were not going to be any little "surprises" once the work began. A girl can only change her mind so many times!!!!<br /><br />We are very happy with the results of our afternoons work and we both now have a clear idea of how it will look. The next move will involve the Gorgeous Boy and his tractor leveling off the area and drilling holes for the support posts. We are not kidding ourselves that this will be a simple task as we have MANY submerged rocks, which I have no doubt will be just where we want to sink a post! I am hoping that we can get most of the work done before the hot weather comes. A) we need to get the melon seeds in before spring and B) it gets awful hot out there some days. :-)<br /><br />We had a load of wood delivered a few days ago, it should last us through what is left of winter. Hopefully there will be enough left to keep the wood fired oven going for a while.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEER9pdZ1QUfbnBytj84g7ahRuLw5fejIzG270mogStE_NfsLyIUE9bdf3KRu5sDkSB6nyefJJNZZ4VCPmPhxprSBEgFwGJSKkkfWg8IpbXJbGQXLxvQn1wsdYta6JRNlJVhsPEl1XvUk/s1600-h/1st+August.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEER9pdZ1QUfbnBytj84g7ahRuLw5fejIzG270mogStE_NfsLyIUE9bdf3KRu5sDkSB6nyefJJNZZ4VCPmPhxprSBEgFwGJSKkkfWg8IpbXJbGQXLxvQn1wsdYta6JRNlJVhsPEl1XvUk/s320/1st+August.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364936260246800946" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't it lovely.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last night I made two more jars of preserved lemons. The lemons were on "special" at the supermarket when I went grocery shopping. $1.99 per kilo. At that price I couldn't walk past...they all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">whispered</span> to me " preserve me, preserve me" who am I to ignore their call ;-) They look beautiful, so bright and fresh looking. I also pickled a jar of radishes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm3m078cl_Gaq3zfo0L516XgEJpLj4URn_viQQac6la7Ko0X3PZS4pfElp60Fzo2QALbImfuidJe2YWcKsHBdyTXozAqYN3o1pMB29oJFFUeO3V84dweTNsb9nUEB3lKUftE_k0ZfCR0/s1600-h/1st+August+01.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm3m078cl_Gaq3zfo0L516XgEJpLj4URn_viQQac6la7Ko0X3PZS4pfElp60Fzo2QALbImfuidJe2YWcKsHBdyTXozAqYN3o1pMB29oJFFUeO3V84dweTNsb9nUEB3lKUftE_k0ZfCR0/s320/1st+August+01.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364938742732637986" border="0" /></a> I have read a few "random" foodie blogs recently <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">written</span> by American ladies who espoused the simple radish as delicious when pickled. I have never seen or tasted these before but since we love radishes here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bellavista</span> and we have a few growing a little large I decided to have a go.<br /><br />I brewed up a pickling vinegar. 500ml cider vinegar, 500ml good quality white vinegar and 130g of sugar (courtesy of The Great Dane) and poured it over. Aren't they pretty? They are now in the fridge. I think we may need to taste test then next weekend. You never, never know if you never, never go!!!! <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">That's</span> my motto ;-)<br /><br />I am off to bed for an early night tonight. We are heading down to Brisbane early tomorrow morning for a "De-gustation Lunch" at the Restaurant Manx with our wine tasting friends. I have looked at the menu and will definately be juggling my diet plan to accomodate it ;-) So sorry Gemini and the Great Dane will not be there to join us. They certainly seem to be enjoying their cruise.<br /><br />S'all for now.<br /></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-67680542478811199482009-07-31T23:11:00.004+10:002009-07-31T23:59:23.810+10:00AbundanceHow I love our veggie garden. Years ago I would never have raved on about the garden, so what has changed? I am not sure. Is it an age thing? I don't think so. I do remember the first success I had in the garden of our first home. When the children were very small, I gardened...landscaped you could say because it was a brand new house with no established garden. I took pride in that garden and rejoiced in its improvements. Then we began our travels...returning between each posting away and attempting to re-establish the garden. The children got older and in between school runs and afternoon activities the garden became neglected. I lost interest. I never imagined I could find that joy again.<br /><br />When we bought this property about 17 years ago there was much work to be done. Constant mowing and planting the odd tree here or there on our fleeting visits. Now we have finally settled down here...the house is built and the grounds need landscaping. With thirty acres the task is huge but we are slowly starting to make headway. The main task so far has been to establish the veggie garden. Its come a long way in the past twelve months. There has been a lot of hard work (with more to come) but the results are there.<br /><br />Most days I am here I go over there and potter around. Watering, fertilizing, planting, cropping and of course the never ending weeding! I sit to rest on the bench that the Gorgeous Boy has made for me and admire our handiwork. The birds have begun to visit the gardens now and the bees buzz around the flowering peas and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">broadbeans</span>. The chickens have settled in and I can here them scratching around and "chattering" amongst themselves, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tiggy</span> lays nearby basking in the sun and there is an incredible peace. Oh how I love the veggie garden :-)<br /><br />Before I headed down to the city earlier in the week I took my basket and cropped a few things to take down with me,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8z4McG7TI5aw_f1-z3vCLyGxxcDqTEXAvMT7akGreamNDpYMN31af93-AaZ3QslZb3c1oLhxs734OZSkt6_sRiW305ekDz3CVGRummLFufiU6KYkEtU-VvTifXHjmu9H9Zl4Sc69HAo/s1600-h/Jams+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8z4McG7TI5aw_f1-z3vCLyGxxcDqTEXAvMT7akGreamNDpYMN31af93-AaZ3QslZb3c1oLhxs734OZSkt6_sRiW305ekDz3CVGRummLFufiU6KYkEtU-VvTifXHjmu9H9Zl4Sc69HAo/s320/Jams+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364617927355900178" border="0" /></a>it is all so fresh and tasty. What more could you ask for? The rewards are so much more than just a basket of goods. I'm not sure I can put my finger on it....but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">crickey</span>....life sure is good :-)<br /><br />I took the time to photograph the jams that I made last weekend. They are all packed away in the pantry now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfwo8_hj_duB0tAmB1879POB5zZGGTLJhy1_bJI3I0_KZ-PLEdes5KzhgmeBgVOziKQhGrB3mAJwtB0ujz6_JOrCvrVm0dAgMOG2Xi5omqhZnIp1WJPvyQRcIyr1U67eKGeEAQTMUBeA/s1600-h/Jams+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfwo8_hj_duB0tAmB1879POB5zZGGTLJhy1_bJI3I0_KZ-PLEdes5KzhgmeBgVOziKQhGrB3mAJwtB0ujz6_JOrCvrVm0dAgMOG2Xi5omqhZnIp1WJPvyQRcIyr1U67eKGeEAQTMUBeA/s320/Jams+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364620916911279634" border="0" /></a>but that little jonquil in the vase is still on the bench. I have my laptop on the kitchen bench tonight. Its warm in here with the fire . The perfume is so strong, the garden has come inside with me :-)<br /><br />I only just had enough jars for all of the jam. While down in the city I found a glass jar supplier and managed to buy a few more trays of jars. There's no holding me down now LOL. I have been preserving tonight but that's a whole other post.<br /><br />Time for bed now.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-71095137741286795372009-07-26T21:17:00.003+10:002009-07-26T22:14:21.866+10:00Jam making again.Here I am late at night still waiting for my Pie Melon,Ginger and Lemon Jam to set. Been there...done this before. Why did I think it was going to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">different</span> tonight? I loved the last batch that I made so much that I decided to make a second batch. I still have a couple of Pie Melons left and don't see us growing them again, given that they were an unexpected surprise this year!!!<br /><br />I also had a basket of limes that a friend had given to me. We only had two limes on our own tree this year and given the attacks by my "furry friends" we are lucky to have those two :-( So...this morning I rolled up my sleeves and got started making this years batch of Brandy Lime Marmalade. I am so pleased with the results. A perfect set and that lovely tangy taste. I have twenty jars sitting on the bench waiting to be labeled. Sixteen medium sized jars and four smaller ones. Its been a good jam making year and I am quickly running out of jars. I even had to go over to the shed tonight in the dark and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rummage</span> around to scrape up enough jars for the melon jam. I hope I have enough!<br /><br />I woke up this morning with a mental list of all the things that I was going to do today...the best laid plans of mice and men huh! I did finally get around to digging up the last of the ginger. The "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wobblys</span>" had eaten all the tops but I had a pretty good idea where they were and just needed to dig around a little. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">necessity</span> of the job moved to No 1 on the priority list as I needed the ginger for the jam! Sometimes all you need is an incentive ;-) While I was there with the spade in my hand I decided to dig up the turmeric and horseradish which had suffered a similar fate. I was pleased with the amount that I was able to harvest of the turmeric. I think, if I have time, I will slice most of it up and pop it in the dehydrator tomorrow to dry it and grind it up to use later in the year. Sadly I was only able to find a small root of horseradish so I potted it up and will start again from scratch. This time it will join my collection of potted herbs inside the fenced area of the veggie garden.<br /><br />Lunch today was a delight. The "plan"allowed me 80g of smoked salmon with salad.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5MbJjD5MQdxol8sd87mQBXnxY44c9VSqm8P8JWxeN9wkym_4IABuUNDA8h4qQlilgAyI0y3-VfUTfJqHCzVysOdzAvK1K5o1_2IAOBPp-xbfX0PQ1F38z4w8X9bRecuJTQJfEBLAdUk/s1600-h/lunch+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5MbJjD5MQdxol8sd87mQBXnxY44c9VSqm8P8JWxeN9wkym_4IABuUNDA8h4qQlilgAyI0y3-VfUTfJqHCzVysOdzAvK1K5o1_2IAOBPp-xbfX0PQ1F38z4w8X9bRecuJTQJfEBLAdUk/s320/lunch+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362733858793724658" border="0" /></a>Not a very clear picture but you get the idea. Being such a loving, caring wife I am prepared to share my diet with the Gorgeous Boy. Isn't he the lucky one ;-) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Actually</span> he is...he got to eat the bread. My plate was the one with the crackers on !!!! No. Its not sour cream that you can see. I wish!!! Just some of the cheese that I made from pressing some of the the low fat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">greek</span> yogurt that I make. I was "allowed" 3 wholegrain crackers spread with 1 Tb low fat cream cheese. I improvised!!! As an after thought, after I had taken the photo I decided to chop up a little of my preserved lemon that I made a couple of months ago. I sprinkled it on the cheese. Oh yum. It was delicious. I shall <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">definitely</span> do that again.<br /><br />I just went and checked the jam...its finally ready !! I will go and put it in the jars and head off to bed. Tomorrow I will label everything and shuffle things around in the pantry to make room for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">today's</span> cook off.<br /><br />I am limiting the photos that I attach to each post as I am having trouble uploading more than one. Its only a recent problem but my computer is still doing strange things. It seems to have a mind of its own at the moment. I will have to ask Mama or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">dr</span>.K if there is another way of doing it.<br /><br />BTW what a stunning sunset we had tonight :-) We are indeed blessed to be here.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-33795990276868226112009-07-25T21:37:00.003+10:002009-07-25T22:46:34.850+10:00Diets...Bah humbug!Yup. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">That's</span> right......I am officially on a diet. Have been for ten days and it sucks :-( Ten days and I have lost 1.5 Kg. Now that may sound OK but we all know that in the first week if you are good, heaps drop off...cos its all water right? Well its not dropping and I know why I hate dieting. Diet food doesn't taste good. I sit here reading my favourite blogs...most of which talk about food!!!!!and I look at my menu plan...meat and salad.....fish and salad...for a bit of excitement you can eat vegetables. Oh and lets not forget. They give you a "treat" if you are good. A low fat dairy dessert. Thanks but no thanks. I don't often eat dessert but when I do, I want it to taste good not plastic.<br /><br />I am on this diet for health reasons. I am past dieting for vanity! This time I gotta stick to it! I have to find a way to eat 1500 calories (in the old measure)a day and have it taste good AND enjoy it. I will not be beaten . Its going to be a challenge.<br /><br />I have been given a "diet plan" to follow and its taken me 10 days to realise that I can be smart about this. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tonight's</span> dinner was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Chilli</span> con <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">carne</span>. I perused the recipe provided.<br /><br />450g lean beef mince<br />1 tbsp canola oil<br />1 onion finely chopped<br />1 teaspoon crushed garlic<br />1/4 cup tomato paste<br />400g can tomatoes in juice<br />1 teaspoon sugar<br />290g can red kidney beans<br />Mexican <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">chilli</span> powder to taste<br />chopped parsley.<br /><br />Served with 1/2 cup rice<br />40g reduced fat cheese and a side salad.<br /><br />Blah..... how bland does that sound! That serves four people so if I cook that up for GB and myself tonight. I have to eat it again another night!!!!! to use the rest up. I don't even know what "Mexican <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chilli</span> powder"is.<br /><br />I have this method of cooking. It may not suit everyone but it suits me. We grow most of our own vegetables up here at the farm. Because of that, we eat seasonally. Its no good me planning to cook asparagus if we don't have any at the moment but do have a glut of mushrooms, right? So I head out to the garden in the morning with a vague idea in my head of what meat we might eat that night. ( I buy in bulk and freeze, as I don't go shopping very often.) I look at what is available and plan my menu around whats there. Simple as that. I would add that I do keep a very good store cupboard of staples and am not afraid to experiment. I also cook from scratch. So if we are going to eat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">chilli</span> I use fresh chillies.<br /><br />I realised that I can tweak this diet to suit me. Tonight I started tweaking. Into the mix went ground coriander, ground cumin, some smoked paprika and a beef stock cube, ground black pepper, extra garlic and three beautiful shiny red fresh chillies. Sit back and taste. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hmmm</span> its getting better. Sprinkle over finely chopped parsley and coriander. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mmmm</span>. I will go with that for today. On to the plate with the rice and just a little under 30g shaved fresh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">parmesan</span> ( <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">equivalent</span> calories as 40g reduced fat plastic cheese) all served with a nice little side salad of fresh mixed lettuce,rocket and cress from the garden, cherry tomatoes and spring onions. Oh and lets not forget, a crisp glass of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">savigion</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">blanc</span> ( I traded 1 plastic dessert and 4 dried dates for that!!!) You know I think I may be able to cope with this. Note to self....if you halve the oil allowed for cooking, you can have a little lemon and oil on your salad ;-)<br /><br />Its only the start but its given me hope :-)<br /><br />Now I need to go read some of those lovely blogs and figure out how I am going to cook the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">yummies</span> I read in less than 1500 calories. Wish me luck!<br /><br />I won't be too long out of bed cos look whose waiting for me<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkBB8e7sQnifrrI7d-6xw05WRfF0puRNOC8mOh6sQoe8u5L66sMGaaLFEdKPGvWu_XQHGBcygJHVs0tgTOx5fKrsVEuWb1zUeA-RhZhlURZlEsotjHJflSpVEWm1vvVfxSKgqKmJrY0k/s1600-h/todays+photos+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkBB8e7sQnifrrI7d-6xw05WRfF0puRNOC8mOh6sQoe8u5L66sMGaaLFEdKPGvWu_XQHGBcygJHVs0tgTOx5fKrsVEuWb1zUeA-RhZhlURZlEsotjHJflSpVEWm1vvVfxSKgqKmJrY0k/s320/todays+photos+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362376250085703266" border="0" /></a> and the Gorgeous boy is there as well ;-)<br /><br />Night all.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-64445286006375030672009-07-24T21:04:00.002+10:002009-07-24T21:55:49.784+10:00Guests at the Hilton.We have some new guests.....a few months ago we commissioned the building of the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chook</span> Hilton" The young man who is renting our old family home had built himself the most beautiful bird cage which I spotted while doing the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">quarterly</span> house inspection. After greatly admiring his handiwork I asked him if he would build me a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">chook</span> pen. It took a while with many design e mails flowing between us but here it is in all its glory :-) With the assistance of a friend they delivered and erected it in April of this year. I was going to wait until spring before I bought any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chooks</span> to live in there. It gets pretty cold and windy up here in the winter and I didn't want to kill off any new babies before they had time to settle in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH5p5QuxQJPOln09awxsQ6hp6Xn7TK6gAZ5NudhZb3abHfH-6iaJtqqvrLNjoK4Bi8g8EZWBo1VtH_Ot6nz_9wUxB-HOx9XtBmuiRjpQFxSLItUR6StGa6axfJz8jpUr3TKIqRon_eJE/s1600-h/chooks+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH5p5QuxQJPOln09awxsQ6hp6Xn7TK6gAZ5NudhZb3abHfH-6iaJtqqvrLNjoK4Bi8g8EZWBo1VtH_Ot6nz_9wUxB-HOx9XtBmuiRjpQFxSLItUR6StGa6axfJz8jpUr3TKIqRon_eJE/s320/chooks+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361981606718946738" border="0" /></a>These lovely ladies belonged to Mama and the Princess. They are about a year old and have been raised from day old chicks. Unfortunately they are the ultimate escape artists. No matter what we tried they would always find a way to escape their run and massacre the garden beds. Originally there were six of them but one "flew the coop" and was never seen again. Their wings were clipped but somehow they always managed to project themselves into the air and over the fences. Somehow I don't see them escaping from "The Hilton".<br /><br />A decision was reached....they would move to the country! I loaded them into the dog carrier which we had used to transport <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tiggy</span> home from Malaysia. Covered them with some hessian and packed them into the trailer for the one and a half hour drive up here. Into "The Hilton" they went with a strict warning to "toe the line". I full expected them to suffer shell shock from the trip and a certain amount of frustration at being restricted. No eggs were expected for a few days. Bless their little fluffy feathers next day there were four eggs and they haven't let me down since. Mind you.....they do live in "The Hilton" AND get great treats daily from the veggie garden. I just like to think that someone knows who is the boss !!!!!<br /><br />We are going to build another tall fence around the run so that they are able to safely free range during the day when we are here and also have the added protection of one extra barrier to protect them from wild dogs (which we unfortunately have in the area) when we are away.<br /><br />The weather has been glorious lately. Crisp and cool and beautifully sunny at the same time. I spent a few hours over in the veggie garden today weeding and generally tidying up the area (pictured behind the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chook</span> pen). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tiggy</span> was sunning himself close by and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">chooks</span> were clucking away in the background.......life is good here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bellavista</span> :-)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763732887715662168.post-51511372439117923602009-07-23T18:08:00.002+10:002009-07-23T19:06:23.591+10:00I am back :-)Its been ages but I am back. It has been such a busy few weeks but now things are slowly getting back to normal. Thank Heavens :-)<br /><br />Hi Olive, Good to see you comment and I am sorry that I haven't replied earlier. We have been most fortunate that since the Wood fire oven was built we have not had a complete fire ban here at the farm. It takes a while to fire up so we generally plan lunch and dinner to be cooked in there to make it worth while. The Gorgeous boy is planning to make a wooden door to fit on the front so that we can bake our bread in there. Just another job on the long list of things to do...LOL...Good job we are going to live forever! I hope that you got around to trying the roasted vegetable tart. I used eggplant, capsicum, onion and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">zucchini</span> with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fetta</span> cheese, a beaten egg and a few olives to give it colour.<br /><br />Hi Mariana, Its good to see you safely back from your trip. I have read part one and two so far and will catch up on the last few days of blogs shortly. It looked like a fantastic experience...these things are not always comfortable ;-) but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that's</span> what memories are made of :-) Yes the fudge was truly decadent but so delicious. If it caused you to raid the cupboards for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chockies</span>...well what can I say, after all the drooling that I do with your blog :-)<br /><br />Here is the recipe for the Roasted Venison from a few weeks ago. I must explain that while I do follow recipes it is not unknown for me to add or delete ingredients that I either especially love or don't have in the pantry. So I will write the recipe as it appears in "The Great Australian Venison Cookery Book" with a few added comments.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">ROASTED VENISON - MARINATED<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">MARINADE<br />2 1/2 cups red wine (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">eg</span> Shiraz Cabernet)<br />1/2 cup oil ( I try to go a little lighter on the oil than normally recommended but in this case I used the full amount)<br />1/2 cup red wine vinegar<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />1 bay leaf ( I probably substituted curry leaves as I love the flavour)<br />1 clove of garlic, crushed ( I would <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">definitely</span> have used at least 3 or 4 cloves...no vampires here!)<br />3 juniper berries ( I used more.....more like 6 or 7)<br />1 onion sliced<br /><br />Mix all ingredients together and pour over the meat.. I then marinated a leg of venison for 24 hours. Remove from marinade and pat dry.<br /><br />The recipe suggested that you rub over 1 dessert spoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of ginger....I missed out this part of the recipe!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Criss</span>-cross 4 streaky bacon rashers over the top of the meat. I also laid a sheet of pork skin over the top of that....the latter was not included in the recipe but I think it made all the difference.<br /><br />Pour over the marinade and cover with foil.<br /><br />The venison was then roasted in a preheated 180 degree oven. They recommend 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mins</span> per 500g plus 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">mins</span> extra. I followed their recommendation but uncovered it for the last 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mins</span>.<br /><br />When the meat is cooked it is removed from the pan and allowed to stand, covered.<br /><br />Mix together I Tb <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">sp</span> of butter with I Tb <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">sp</span> of flour and add to the gravy in the pan. I had to firstly remove the excess fat that came from the pork skin as it was very "greasy". After the gravy was thickened I stirred in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">redcurrent</span> jelly. They suggested I Tb <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">sp</span> of this. I probably used a very generous spoonful.<br /><br />I hope this helps. The verdict is still out as to whether Venison should be cooked a little on the rare side or well done. I had a whole side of Venison to experiment with and am experimenting with different cuts. This roast was very good. I have some steaks to use another time and I think I will try these less well cooked. I will post the results when we use them.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">That's</span> all for tonight...I am going to indulge myself and catch up on all my favourite blogs that I have not had time to read in the past few weeks. I'll be back tomorrow if I don't have square eyes from staring at the computer screen all evening :-)<br /></div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920625648908748173noreply@blogger.com3