Aussie Christmas Fare

Christmas may come 'But Once a Year' but the Celebrations last for as long as you have Family that you have to fit in with. This year, Ours was VERY early!

I sent out a Message to everyone for Requests - 

Didn't have to be Christmassy Just whatever they were craving!

DH - Fruit Platter 

(I am ALL for Outsourcing where possible - Made by our Local Cafe and now features on their Instagram)

DS#1 - Can we have Trifle? 

This one I made a bit different to the traditional, with Tart Cranberry Juice Jelly and Blueberries and I also found Pink Savoiardi (Lady Finger) Biscuits! 

And of course the thing that makes Trifle - Trifle.  No Port this year. 

Tasmanian Cherry Chocolate Whiskey soaked the biscuits.

DD Made an Awesome Pavlova Wreath (didn't last long enough to photograph)

But wanted Greek Yoghurt instead of Cream - Gives a nice tang over all the Sugar! 

Not easy especially with Lactose Free Yoghurt - so (next day) I hung the Yoghurt in a Muslin and drained off the Whey turning a Runny mess into Spoon-able Lactose Free Labneh.

Something to remeber for next time.

Well, after all, There is still Christmas Day!

See you 'round

They have been our Best Ever Neighbours for 45 Years.

But now they are "Looking After their Future Selves"

They have been quietly 'there' through all of what Life has thrown at Us.  

And we for them.

We have watched Our Kids grow up and Marry and have Children of their own

We will miss them greatly - after all...

Who will Bring Our Bin in? and Collect Our Mail when we are away?

So, With Hugs and Tears we said Not 'Goodbye' but 'See You' 

- Looking forward to the promised "Coffee at the New Place."

Parties and Puddles

 

Happy Birthday Little One

May you never Stop Jumping in Puddles !

Shade Garden Re-Build

There was a disaster at my Mother's Home in the form of a VERY old a dilapidated 'Shade House'. 

I can't say WHEN my Father built it but it does feature in my Wedding Photos.

It has to GO - We just need a plan ..

The only way to get Mother to agree to doing something about this was to turn it into a "Big Secret Project" while my DB was away.  We had 4 Weeks.

Demolition: 

Got to break stuff before it can be fixed.

Remove what remained of a Galvanised Water-pipe framework extension.

Remove Shade cloth including Clothesline Wire it was sewn to, as well as remaining Watering system.

Knock down Rotted Timber Framework. 

Make safe all Rubbish.

Privacy Fence Extension:

We 'Think' the infill is Cement Sheet but on the off-chance that it is actually Asbestos - It is Staying.

Work out how to and

Secure the Screen to old Poles

Reattach Shade cloth to Frame.

Lets Paint Stuff...

1 x Tin Colourbond Cream to match the Fence

and the Blue - leftover from Our Garage Reno & Still Good.

Note the 2 Tone to hide the Poles!

Framework Finished:

Needless to say there were many trips back & Forth to Bunnings and a lot of Measure twice Cut once and the inevitable "Why doesn't that fit" moment.

Shade cloth:

Attaching the Shade cloth was going to be the most challenging.

Bearing in mind that there are just DH and Myself doing this we had to come up with a way to tension the fabric and secure it and make sure we weren't short when we got to the other side...

The Overhang:

Do we cut it Off?

Let it drape at the back of the garden?

No - There is enough to attach to the top of the Fence extension... Let's do that - because everything else is too easy!

Part 2 - This Mess:

Sunken Pavers - The result of not waiting or compacting the soil after removing an Ancient Lemon Tree.

A Massive Tripping hazard for anyone let alone my elderly Mother.

Making Safe:

DH thought we could just lift a few pavers and fill underneath.. 

I have laid enough paths to know it was quicker to Lift everything, Level, Compact and Re-lay the pavers.

From Clearing off all the Pots,

Transplanting Cyclamen growing between the Pavers

Lifting and Replacing 120 pavers

and Sweeping Paving Sand in

It took just 3 hrs to do.

Not Quite Finished:

Where we left the last photo - the area was very hot.

Here is where we re-purpose that Artificial Turf from #DS's Garden rebuild.

There was just enough to cover the space.

It's a Wrap:

We returned refurbished Pot plants and installed a couple of Safety items - Handrail on the house wall and Raised planters IF she wants to potter. 

And a "it doesn't matter if it gets wet" Chair.

Did we make it?:

YES!

25 days after we moved the plants out. With a couple of weekends off.

Was #DB Surprised - I think it was more relief that the job had been done.

And Mum?  Well - After 50 years she finally stated that DH "was a Good Bloke."

* * *

Footnote: Incase anyone is interested - 

Final Cost to do this AUD $1,000.00
(not including our time and Coffee)

Extreme Gardening

It's been Five Years since DS bought his Townhouse with the small courtyard Garden bed.  

But it was someone else's Garden.

Now They need to make it Their Own.

So Out Goes the Garden Bed* - 

That wasn't hard, It was Rotting anyway

Then the Fake Turf came up.

This stuff is horrible - can't be recycled due to the different plastics used.  

So best idea is to Re-purpose it.

And then the "Oh My - What have we done moment"

All Good - just move the Soil across to the path, but keep the compressed bed - we need that.

Adding a Crazy Paved Path for some interest and access to the plants.

DIL was delighted to 'Smash the Pavers into Submission"

It also helped when we picked up already broken ones at Bunnings VERY cheaply!

(Once the path was in place the remaining compacted soil could now be lofted.)

They added a Timber Screen to the side of the Old Shed.

Now the Fun Part - PLANTING.

The idea is to have a Low Maintenance  Australian Bush Garden using plants that are Indigenous to their Local Area.

All we need now is The Site Supervisors  Approval!

(Maybe he should get a Work safe Hi-Vis Vest!)

*Don't worry - Any and All of the plants that were worth Saving are now resting at Our Place.

And the Turf?

That is the subject of another Post.

August: More Birthdays

 DD:- "Mum, I may need some help with the Birthday Cake...

'Someone' dropped the cast Iron Cookie tray on the Glass door,

So I don't have an Oven."

And that is how I found myself baking multiple cakes at short notice ....

I had Cakes in the Oven and Cakes in the Mixer and only one timer...

Until I realised that I had a Stopwatch - Lap timer on my wrist!

(Worked really well, especially when I remembered to set "GO")

Cakes baked, 

Filled with Strawberry Jam, 

and Iced with Fondant

 

then hand over to DD for her and DGD to decorate.

The finished Cake was a success.

Birthday Girl was Happy

And Lots of Compliments for Beautiful and Tasty Cake.

July Round-up

July 9:

While DS/DDIL#2 went off on a short break to Fitzroy Island with visiting Family from the USA, 

We found ourselves "Fur-Baby" Sitting.

We were wondering just How Spike would cope - but after some initial 'Stern Words' as to Who was Top Cat in the House ...

They settled to an uneasy Truce - 

And as long as no one was watching, they got along quite well.

July 20:

Happy Birthday Little Miss I (DGD#4).

Daddy did a Good Job of making the Iconic Women's Weekly Duck Birthday Cake.

July 30:

I was stunned to discover that TEN post comments, dating back to at least September 2022 were sitting in a SPAM folder that I didn't know existed! 

Happy to 'approve' them - and a belated Thankyou!

The Rest of April

Wouldn't it be nice If the only thing you had to worry about is where the next puddle of Sunshine was?

I think he has forgiven us for going away.

So with that, it is back to whatever passes for Normal around here...

What can we pack into the final 10 days of April?

1.  (DS#2) My new desk has arrived can I get help with assembling it?

It is VERY Beautiful  …

Are you sure this is going to be big enough?

2. (DS#1) The Hedge needs trimming - 

Can you help? 

Oh and Bring the Shredder...

(I still can't work out why he planted Pittosporum down the narrow sideway....)

3.  Between a Rock and a Hard Place. 

How come I can't grow Cyclamen but my Mother can grow them in the path?

4.  Time to check out the 'new' Coffee Shop! - Note to Self...

 Remember not to turn up on Mondays or after 3.00pm !

And here is something I have never tried before... (I hope it works!)

5.  Poor Buster - I know exactly how you feel!

More Work ...

March was mainly spent plodding along with the Repairs at DD's.

An important part of this exercise was allowing the Children to Help. 

Showing GD#1 (Miss A) to paint the wall was something she quickly lost interest in.

But GD#3 (Miss P) was certainly not going to miss out -  2 years old and ready to Pitch in and help.

Encouraging her older Sister by example!

And once the Flooring Contractors were finished - It was decided that Grandpa needed help to measure up for the Skirting boards ...

I am sure DH really didn't need the help of a 6 foot long hand puppet but - Sometimes Memories are more important than Measurements ..

(Especially when you always measure twice!)

Starting Work

Back in May - DD had a problem with a thirsty Rat who caused a considerable amount of  Uninsured damage to her Kitchen. You can see the Original Post Here * What Happened in May

It has been a Nightmare - 

Physically, Emotionally and Financially.

Repairing the mess started with the Pantry Repairs and Re-fit.

(Unfortunately we can't make it any bigger - Just more efficient).

In the meantime the floorboards they have, are no longer available 

SO, instead of a small repair... 

the entire ground floor now has to be replaced.

(Taking the opportunity to remove some truly awful Carpet)

And amid all the mayhem - 

GD#3 made sure that Grandpa got ZERO work done!

Look Mum - No Hands!

I love this Photo - It shows TOTAL TRUST

Life Goes on

Introducing Grand daughter Number 5.

Another impatient lass who obviously wants to see as much of 2025 as possible.

Flora Nadalin

18th January 2025

2 weeks early 

7 lb 5 oz  (3,400 gm)

Little Sister to GD #2 & #4 

(Miss H and Miss I)

(With 5 Little Girls maybe it's time for that Embroidery Machine????)

Christmas came Early

Christmas when we were kids was easy -

You woke up unwrapped Presents, 

Had a very big Lunch

Went to Grandmas via Uncle's Place

and were back home in time for Dinner.

(photo typical of Aussie Christmas c 1965)

Then you got Married. 

In-laws did Boxing Day

You wanted Christmas Day

Your Family wanted....

Then your Kids got Married and ....

Its all very complicated!

So THIS year we decided to Have Christmas Early - Very Early.  

No one else wanted December 8th !

The Table was set 

and the Meal Prepared - 

Allowing for 6 different dietary requirements

and 4 Toddlers

The Christmas Biscuits were NOT deemed too Pretty to eat.

And as far as Little Miss P was concerned 

"If I eat it with my cutlery then it IS my Main Course"

After Lunch -

Gifts were exchanged

And the Children begged to be allowed to "Go to the Park".

Before all clearing off and leaving Us to the Washing Up...

And That is the Way it Should be.

Merry Christmas Everyone !