Happy returns

My birthday week may have been routine but this week has brought unexpected delights.  But to go back to my pre-FoTR meeting birthday treat:

this was what we had FYI Fleurieu Floosie.  Total junk food but irresistibly delicious.  Yes, we should have had dipping sauces, cut chili, herbs and leaves for wrapping but, apart from soy sauce, we ate them au naturel.

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I love how yous know me so well.  Every card captures something I love.

The bulbs I ordered, with Christmas money from Mum, arrived.

the quince never falls far from the tree

This is an amazing book.  Who knew the Hawkesbury river system existed before the Blue Mountains?  The information is as gob-smacking as Bill Gammage's The Biggest Estate on Earth but the writing is more spell binding and given with an emphasis on the feminine.  It's a slow read because I have to read a section and then ponder on it while doing house-worky things.

Foraged quinces but spiffing Pippins from my tree.

The quinces were slow-cooked today.

after yesterdays garden clean-out following 2 days of soft rain

Jill PD has taken to sleeping on my bed.  It's like old times with Rosie and Sis.

The descant recorder Steve gave me for my birthday reclines on the bedside washstand.

This is my latest project .

Duly reporting in

Despite my birthday, there is not a lot to report this week.  I have had a Friends of Triabunna Reserves (FoTR) meeting and a Spring Bay Suicide Prevention Network meeting.  TDS School Association meeting next Wednesday.  I have been to the doctor for a repeat prescription, and walked with Her Majesty to 41 Melbourne Street in lieu of tai chi at Mrs O Henry's place.  Mrs O is languishing in hospital after breaking a finger after falling somewhere in Queensland.  This was a much anticipated and postponed visit to her daughter, and has not gone quite to plan.  Fortunately she had got some shopping in, and her new dress was not torn, though the new ring had to be cut off her finger.  In Tribes there was also zumba, yoga and tai chi at Community Health.  So no real excitement for me.

A kookaburra came into the garden (look closely on the fence) which is something that I've not seen happen before.  I have mixed feelings:  one friend feeds generations of a kookaburra family, and another friend shoots them because they are not endemic to Tasmania.  The kookaburra flew away, possibly laughing, while I mulled over this.

There has been some action on the domestic front.  The washing machine has been moved from the laundry into the kitchen - very European, I like to think.  The laundry is now 'dead' and we have a quote for its demolition.  It will be replaced by a deck.  All this has involved having a lot of men around so Jill has been deliriously happy, and I've done a fair bit of tidying up.  We have waited nearly 2 years for these events.  I am now applying the same patience to the ripening of the beurre boscs.

Here are my pride and joy - Cox's Orange Pippins.  There has been some debate whether they are true to type but I don't care.  They taste like the real thing.  I bought a half round of King Island smoked cheddar to eat with them.  I had designated the apple on the extreme right as my birthday treat, so I savoured it with the last piece of cheddar.  I have a blue cheese waiting for the pears.

And for my birthday I gave the car a treat and washed it, and prior to the FoTR meeting Steve and I demolished half a box of Dynasty Banquet.

someone has to do it

Tuesday is zumba.  We work hard, and then, just sometimes, we celebrate hard.  I'm not sure what we were celebrating on Tuesday but we did it well.

But where are the Zumbettes? I hear you ask.

At the bar, of course, waiting for Beth to fix the bubblies.  I always try to eat just the savoury stuff.  Those 'fingers' in the top picture look like an iced slice but they are a salmon, polenta and parmesan creation that go perfectly with bubbles.  Robyn, in the foreground above, made a pear and ginger cake which I had to try.  Unfortunately, it was delicious. And, as you can imagine, there was a lot of leftover food.  So I went home with biscuits, blueberry muffins and the remnant salmon / polenta / parmesan fingers.  I got home to find that Steve had made banana muffins.  I had a somewhat restless night, possibly due to a sugar overload.

However the next day I had to get myself on the 10am bus to Hobart for another culinary adventure.  Jen and I were travelling in together to meet up with a group of Ladies Who Lunch.  I had not been invited before so BIG ADVENTURE.  It felt very NY being frocked up and catching public transport to The City.

And this is where we went.  A rooftop restaurant at the top of a hotel on the top of the Myer building.  Totally thrilling to we provincials.

It felt like being on holiday in a strange city.  I seldom travel to Hobart and had not realised how much it had changed in the 20 years we were away.

It was a magical experience for a girl who loves seeing rooftops.

The group of Lady Lunchers was much into fashion and style, fizzy and a lot of fun.  More bubbles, of course. Jen and I chose a Willow & Stone based on the name only.  I have since discovered this is a British wine. The food consisted of share platters.  We left the choice to the chef and enjoyed small serves of chicken pate adorned with blackberries and sitting on a bed of chia seeds; a seasonal risotto; charcuterie; tomatoes and bocconcini; and other stuff I can't remember.  It was very good and I was astonished when the food bill came to $31.00 each.  I had been thinking $60-70.

The tables turned on Thursday when I reported for duty at the school and helped prepare food for the school canteen.

Easy week

I had an easy week last week.  Time to smell the roses

and the Easter Lilies at the Community Health Centre.

The gym got on board with the Sunflower Celebration and I finally remembered to take a photo.

I am monitoring 41 Melbourne to try to ensure the garden doesn't get too out of control before the new, much anticipated, owner arrives.

The Easter Lilies, gorgeous in themselves, have become a symbol of good times ahead for The Easterers, though Easter Dreaming is on hold for us again this year.

Having a camping ground next door brings constant change.  I think this is the first time I've seen a teepee at the end of our garden.

The Green Bean is back with another Botaniko exhibition at The Village.  This one is so beautiful with artworks inspired by flora found by Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) Herbarium at Windsong, just up the road from us.

I had a lovely time catching up, drinking bubbly and eating cucumber sandwiches.  I only looked at a fraction of the works but knew I didn't need to hurry because the works will be on display for 2 months.

We have a Friends of Triabunna Reserves (FoTR) Meeting at The Village next week, which will offer another opportunity for viewing, and remind us of why we work to maintain endemic vegetation.  On Thursday night we had a working bee to remove Canary Broom from the banks of Maclaines Estuary, and also did a Clean Up in anticipation of Clean Up Australia. A couple of us then had dinner at The Spring Bay Hotel - the only option around here for some spicy food.

St David's Day

 While I was in Evandale, Pearl and Her Majesty notified me that St Davids was on Songs of Praise.  If you want to see my beautiful St Davids, here it is https://iview.abc.net.au/show/songs-of-praise-pembrokeshire-2019/video/ZW2252A001S00  I've got a feeling the link will disappear in about a month.  It's a re-run of a 2019 show, but St Davids is timeless.  I must admit it amused me that Katherine Jenkins didn't mention that you have to cross a military base to get to St Govan's Chapel.  It becomes a firing range when the flags are up.

I should, in fairness to Evandale, say that while I did not spend a lot of time at the market, I did wander the town.  It is very beautiful and I felt like being on the set of Pride and Prejudice - a feeling I get near the church in Port Eliott.

St Davids Day marks the first day of autumn in Australia.  It was more like winter here, with good rains, thunder and lightning.  Very exciting.

The garden's abundance is coming to an end,

though Steve's heritage tomatoes keep coming.

The pumpkin was grown by Rob of the Kelly Gang.  I gave him seeds of Turk's Turban pumpkins which I had bought because I've always wanted to grow them.  The seeds I planted came to nothing.  Rob managed to raise a couple and generously gave us one.  It is not as colourful as some I've seen (in books, and the Adelaide Botanical Gardens) but it is rather fascinating.  Will we eat it?

This somewhat marred photo shows a white heron if you look very carefully. This is the estaury at the end of our street.  I was returning from Orford Bird Sanctuary when I spotted the heron as I was nearing home.  The water is very high today.

The last day of summer

 Friday night was the full moon, and also Lantern Festival.  There was no lantern festival in Tribes, as far as I'm aware, but I wish there was!  I can't remember much about Saturday - I think I gardened - except that I got a latish invitation to go to the Tandara for dinner to celebrate Mel's birthday.  I have only eaten at Tandara in its dying days.  Anne of the Posh Shed and I went a cuppla times because they had a good steak cook.  We'd sit in splendid isolation before a huge fire while 2-3 chaps propped up the bar.  Not this time.  There is a cavernous dining room out the back which I didn't know existed.  There were lots of long tables with generations of Triabunnans at each.  Very noisy.  Ordinary pub food menu with huge servings.  Where Anne and I used to dine was heaving with young and youngish things having a very good time while a singer was tucked away in a corner.  I think we can say the Top Pub / The Tandy is back in business.

On Sunday I had a seat on a bus trip to the Evandale Market.  I am very snobby about bus trips and didn't really want to go with a mob of old ladies like me.  But there was one seat left and I was offered it.  I'm so glad I did.  I had a wonderful time and, once again, marvel at the power and willingness of individuals in the community to organise such events.

first stop was Campbell Town to use the amenities

Note the intriguing pumps(?) for electric cars

I haven't been to Evandale for years.  It was a perfect day and being there reminded me of Easter at Port Eliott.

In addition to The Market, there was a Makers Market.  Small but stall holders passionate about their makings.

This shop, Pretty Woman, had some lovely gear including a deep green velvet dress which I would have bought had I been a Size 8.  Little Women, perhaps.  As usual, the blokes milled around outside.  

As the banner says the Glover Prize Exhibition is on.  I, possibly wickedly, ignored the exhibition.  In fact I more or less ignored the market, apart from the opportunity to eat exotic, spicy foods,

and only thought to take a photo as the market was packing up.  It is a very large and good market but there is nothing really that I want to buy.  Above is a statue of John Glover with market being packed up behind him.