Sunday worship

I have decided I'm a walker and paddler, not a swimmer.  So today I parked at the start of one of the tracks in East Shelly that leads to the cliff top walk to Spring Bay.

Just my sort of day - sky, earth and sea nearly one

I love the sweep of the clouds.

I discovered a new viewing spot with a glimpse of Spring Beach.  I could hear a dog barking and wondered if it was Brodie, one of the swimmers' dogs.

Divine

Getting ready to descend to the beach

via the steps that always make me think of Caerfai.

Only 6 swimmers and Brodie today, 2 swimmers emerging from the water,

3 heading in, and one (off camera) swimming home.

Super heavenly morning.  Did a cuppla jobs around town, got home, had a coffee and phoned Mum all before noon.  Spaghetti marinara for lunch, then out into the garden with the Pharaoh Dog for some more garden shaping and ball throws.  Had a long phone chat with Sandrine who loves her job but is fighting with her builders.  Our builder came last weekend and said he'd start on the deck and ramp in 2 weeks.  Last Wednesday the great Rock Down was announced for Friday night, so now we have no road to Hobart for a few weeks...  I don't think building materials will be getting here any time soon.

Yesterday I found this little chap in the garden adjacent to where I found the moon marble.  More magic.

curious comparisons

I nearly posted this one under 'Odious Comparisons', but 'curious' is much closer to the truth.  I mentioned the moon yesterday which prompted the Floosie to send me the photo she took last night:

And here's a photo of the marble I found in the garden yesterday:

thwarts and all

The good life continues despite set backs! 

Steve has learned how to use the ride-on mower at Georgia's place - seen here in the orchard area.

Last Wednesday His Majesty took the Miss Daisys on a road trip up one side of the Derwent and down the other, crossing at Meadow Bank Dam.  Spectacular, and places I had not been to for over 30 years, I reckon.  The photo above is supposed to spotlight the cute animals in the leadlight window but, of course, Her Majesty upstaged them.

We lunched in The Possum Shed on the Tyenna River.  I had a very healthy roast veg salad while others had sausage rolls and cake.  I loved the babbling river - not a sound I hear often.  It reminded me of the time Spanish Rose and I stayed in a hotel on the Usk just outside of Abergavenny.  We could breakfast and hear the river burbling over the pebble bed (see here for nostalgia hit).

Mrs O Henry and Her Majesty stretch their legs after lunch

The next day, I was preparing food with the school lunch crew.  While we were chatting about future menus

I noticed this rather cooking show tableau.

On Sunday I gathered celery, thyme and garlic from the garden to add to Steve's slow-cooking osso bucco.

Steve caught the ferry to Maria Island on Monday to look for buildings for the 2022 calendar.  Jill PD and I wandered down to meet the ferry on his return.

Marina looking south - mostly fishing and commercial

Marina looking north - yachts and some smaller fishing boats

The ferry hoves into sight

then does a tricky 180 to berth.

the artist emerges

On the home front, I am rethinking some of the magic squares.

Closest to the camera is a carefully curated square of ornamental kale, honesty, wall flowers, garlic and purple podded peas, mostly subterranean still.  Beyond the parsley border is the wild garden, ie self-sown with lettuce, rocket, leeks, orach, radish.  I've scattered cornflower and Welsh poppy seeds but they are so far invisible.   Beyond the marigold border there are still tomatoes.  I'm thinking of putting citrus in pots in this square - so far only the peripatetic cumquat cum guinea pig.

one of my favourite garden views

I think my favourite colour is that of apricot leaves in autumn.

I heard on the 5 o'clock news that the Tasman Highway is to be closed for a number of weeks for fear of falling rocks in the Paradise Gorge, ie we are to be cut off from Hobart while the rocks are removed.

Later Steve and I went to a community meeting under a full moon.  When I came out of the meeting, a half moon!  Very discombobulating.  An eclipse, apparently.

Merry month of maybe not

So many glitches, mistakes, things not going to plan, this month.  Makes me realise what a dream run I have ordinarily.

A big mistake, though  not mine, happened last Wednesday.  Jen of the New White Weatherboard over the Bridge and I caught the bus into town for one of  the Ladies' Lunches to which I'm privileged to be invited by Fran Fashion.  We got into Hobart at 11.45am and proceeded to the restaurant to be unfashionably early.  To our astonishment, Fran leapt out at us as we entered and virtually fell to her knees with apology.  She had booked the restaurant for 8 people and 15 of us were expected.  The restaurant was fully booked but was trying to find a solution.  I nobly volunteered to opt out.  There's a zillion things I can entertain myself with in Hobart, but Fran wouldn't have a bar of it.  All for one and one for all, etc.  Gradually the numbers arrived and, magically, the restaurant converted their meeting room into a dining room for us all.  It worked out rather splendidly.  We had a space to ourselves, far from the madding crowd and attentive, but fun, waiting staff.  An excellent meal:  $35 for 3 courses.  The rub was in the wine prices: $17 per glass.  But the wines were mostly from Tasmanian vineyards that I had never heard of, and my cab sauv was excellent.  The restaurant is https://tesorohobart.com.au/menu at the Mövenpick Hotel.  A treasure indeed.

Garden and other confessions

My garden didn't miss me at all while I was in Adelaide.  I came back and it was just doing what I had hoped it would do.  Very satisfying.  Of course, there is still plenty to do.  It's a work in progress.  But at least I can see that the hours put in yield long term results.

I've been inundated with books.  Which is also very satisfying. Inundation naturally makes you think of Venice.  I've never been to Venice and probably never will.  I actually lost the desire to go before Covid because it's reported to always be full of tourists...  Now I live there vicariously in Donna Leon's books.  I love trotting around with Inspector Brunetti, going home to eat with his family and considering his wife's opinions on things.  Another life.

Though I loved this one less because it ventures further from the canals.

Then this fell unexpectedly into my hands.  I didn't know it existed, although I am a great fan of The Lost Man and The Dry, not so much The Survivors even though it's set in Tassie.  Anyway, I romped through this one like watching telly.  The ending was not totally satisfying, bit clichéd and neat, but I enjoyed getting there!

The Floosie (who now wants to call me Mad Meg. Ridiculous!!!!!) gave me the Monty Don while I was in Adelaide.  She also sent me 2 huge garden books for my birthday.  Totally overwhelmed, I've loaned the gardening books to my gardener mate, Rob, until I have time to give them due diligence.  This has allowed me to return to Monty who's been waiting for me in France.  I'm sauntering through France with him.  I love his writing style and the fact that we are contemporaries, more or less.  He's a year younger than I and spent the 70s travelling as I had intended to.  Of course, I've caught up a bit but, again, suspect I will never return to France now.  So this is a joy.  

And it's taking a while, not just because he is such good company, but because I have to research the gardens we visit in this book as we go along.  I've had this one for years but see it with slightly different eyes now and I have been inspired to change a longstanding garden plan a little.  The January 2021 Australian Country Style, which I perused while eating sushi in Sorell the other day, also played a role in this.

I even feel a little French with our own garden produce, and whipped up an apple omelette for lunch today.

And I still have this to look forward to.  Though I'm thinking, as it is a slim, easy to carry volume, I may keep it for my next Adelaide flight in July.

Now I'll have a vin rouge.

Saluté!

Garden magic

but not mine... 

I was doing a casual look-see around Georgia's garden during the week, when I came across these.

Of course, I was beside myself.  And Georgia is pretty excited too.

Today was the Mothers Day Pumpkin Festival at Spring Bay Mill.  Though not technically qualified to attend, I bought a ticket and then worked in my own garden until it was totally in shade.  Quick drive to the Mill where things were coming to a close but with a good atmosphere - lots of groovy young families.  As one of my wax-wrap-making friends said, 'not many locals'.

I went to peruse some of the many pumpkins and was called over by Janice, our gym operator, who I had not seen for some time.  We studied each other carefully because we each have let our very short hair grow and are waiting for the next style idea.  While bemoaning our lack of coiffure inspiration (I blame the demise of InStyle magazine), the Face Painting Lady was packing up for the day but came over to de-drab us.  I expressed a wish for gold eyebrows.

Granted.

Feeling enchanted, and looking like a cross between Gandalf and John Howard, I made my way to Georgia's pine tree cathedral

to live happily ever after.

Big week in Bunna

Saturday saw a lovely Anzac Day service at the RSL grounds.  I was hovering in case I was needed to step forward with the book which the Suicide Prevention Network donates annually.  It wasn't the best spot for photographs but I had a good view of the floral tributes.

dignitaries and choir in the distance

Chris and Ian did the honours for Suicide Prevention Network

I took these photos the night before the much heralded Pink Moon.  It was such a perfect evening (apart from the pterodactyls flying around and the black moon).

I looked out for the Pink Moon the next night and scared myself stupid as a fire apparently broke out on the ridge line of the hills, silhouetting the trees black on orange.  I called out to Steve but then realised it was the rising moon - vibrant orange in our part of the world.

Thursday night saw one of the most moving community events I have ever witnessed.  Our doctor is leaving Triabunna - dodgy circumstances involving council.  There was a flyer in our letterbox urging people to line Melbourne Street to say a last goodbye to him as he and his staff left work.  Steve, Jill PD and I set off at the appointed time.  I thought we would stand a forlorn and lonely trio on the corner.  But no, the street was lined with people waving placards and balloons, all to say goodbye to the good doctor.  We have always thought he is an excellent GP but I had no inkling that he is so loved, or that he had so many patients.  I nearly cried.  On Friday I took Jill PD for a perambulation and noticed that some of the placards had made their way to the school fence.

The same walk had us checking out the wreaths layed on Anzac Day, just out of curiosity.  The native flowers are lasting well.

And then I noticed the sun through smoke.  Some burning-off somewhere, I presume.  Jill and I were walking the route we followed when The Gatehouse was our responsibility.  Jill took it all very seriously and obviously had a lot to check up on.

Another big day today.  Not just May Day and the Tasmanian Lower House election but also the re-opening of Chard, the gifts and homewares shop on Vicary Street.  Mrs O Henry, Her Majesty and I rendezvoused for a look-see.  None of us need a thing but Cheryl decks out the shop so stylishly and just about every female in Triabunna pays tribute, with many purchasing.