.

Taking a Break

2010-08-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who popped into see what Treechangecallignee was up to. However, I am taking a break for a while but will be back with a new and exciting blog telling all about our new place down by the sea and the adventures we have had moving into the community and renovating our home.

Bye for a while

Maree

Just one last tantallising dessert that made it's way into our home recently.

Chocolate and raspberry mousse.

Spring is Just Around the Corner

2010-08-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

I thought the fish bone ferns pushed into these vases were an effective way of using these sometimes ill thought of fronds.

What's for Dessert

2010-06-29T03:31:00.001-07:00

Pear in Puff Pastry with ice cream

Shopping at old Haunts

2010-06-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

A few years ago my office was just around the corner from High Street Malvern and I loved it being my local shopping haunt. I visited there the other day and found "some things change some stay the same"....

Below: The Antique Market still the same with great old things to buy.

Below: This old book shop used to be a favourite of mine.

Below: New Wheel & Barrow. Somehow I thought this was a store in London so I was pleasantly surprised when it turned up on High Street.

Below: Interior Wheel & Barrow

I bought some baskets, some coffee mugs, a new bowl ( I know I know) and a gadget that shreds unripe mango...whose been watching Luke Nguyens' Vietnam....his Asian cooking show on SBS then????

What's for Dessert

2010-06-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Go Australia
We had friends over to watch the Soccer Aust V. Ghana on the Saturday evening and to pass the time until 11.30pm kick off, they...they... made chocolate muffins. Thanks guys very cute.

What's Been on the Menu No 33

2010-06-22T23:10:00.001-07:00

It's not easy being green...but we don't mind about that.

The food we've been having shows that the vegetable garden is producing lots of greens for us to eat.
Below: Chicken & cashews with home grown broccoli and coriander.

Below: Green Salad with homegrown lettuce and rocket ( the pear of course is not home grown)
Below: Tuna and salad with Yes you guessed homegrown coriander and rocket.

Below: Cutlets with peas and fetta none of which is home grown.

Sunday Lunch Again Except it was Monday

2010-06-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

Queens Birthday Monday, a lovely holiday for all in Australia.

We went to Koonwarra. A very cute little town 2 hours east of Melbourne.

Below: This is a tad confusing as we had previously been to the Organic Cafe where this picture is taken. However that was in summer and yesterday saw us at the cafe over the road where you can see roses on the verandah posts. That one over the road is called the Gourmet Cafe.
Below: The interior of the Gourmet Cafe

Below: Tasting Platter. Includes Venison sausages, goats milk cheese, venison pate,

Below: Bread for the Tasting platter

Below: Showing the variety of chutneys, jams, wines, vinegars, sauces etc available at The Gourmt Cafe.

Further Post to Sunday Lunch Again

2010-06-15T00:55:00.000-07:00

Below: Through the cafe and to outside where you are directed to the Koonwarra Store. This store sells clothes, bags and home decor articles.

Below: Showing the outdoor area for the restaurant. Delightful setting and we can't wait to go there on a nice sunny day.

Below: Showing the gardens. There are many roses, which incidently had been pruned, but which must make a delightful setting when all is in bloom.

Wonderful Paintings

2010-06-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

When we visited the Gallery of NSW it was a pleasure to stand back and look at the great works doing their best to fill us with a sense of what is it ?..wonder at their creation perhaps.

Below: Tom Roberts Bailed Up

Below: Modern Blue

Sunday Yum Cha

2010-06-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday brunch at a Traditional Chinese Restaurant saw us at The Teapot in Springvale.
Yum Cha littorally means tea drinking and so we did drink Chinese tea.
But for those of you who haven't partaken, Yum Cha has also come to mean the eating of a variety of small dishes, steamed or fried in bamboo baskets and these are presented on wheeled trolleys from which you can choose what you want. Its sort of a 'ceremony' if you like.

Below: The Teapot

Below: Interior. You can see the girls with one of the steam trolleys.
Below: Eel wrapped in puff pastry and tied with a spinach ribbon...Yuk and I could still taste the oily fishy flavour hours later

Below: Prawn dumplings

Below: Stuffed Sticky rice wrapped in leaves (not sure what sort of leaf)

We did have other dishes such as the char su (pork) buns which were very nice but on the whole it wasn't one of my favourite dining experiences. Hardly anything green or vegetable like to eat, And I missed out on trying the lotus root.

What's for Dessert at Yum Cha

2010-06-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Follow on from above posting "Sunday Yum Cha"

Chinese desserts tend to be quite bland. There were jellies with little paper umbrellas, which looked colourful and these tended to be taken by the children

Below: A mango creme served with carnation milk
Below: Cremed coconut

No 9 Ward Ave Darlinghurst

2010-05-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

When we were in Sydney an ideal breakfast spot was just nearby. No 9 Ward Ave. Open for coffees, breakfast and lunch. It is tiny inside but makes use of the space with a mezzanine level and tables outside on the footpath.

It is like a little English drawing room with framed portrait and landscape artworks.

I had Eggs Florentine, delicious Hollandaise sauce.

Ian had deconstructed poached eggs, beans and bacon with toast (below)

What's for Dessert

2010-05-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Pear poached in a syrup made with Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry (the Best) with pistachios and cream. The rose Elina is still flowering although we are almost in winter.

Plant Natives in your Garden

2010-05-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

.....and the birds will come.

Eastern Spinebill giving me a look.

Whats been on the Menu No 32

2010-05-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

I have had a few meals out in Restaurants nothing special though.

Met No 1 son at a restaurant in Hampton for Lunch.

He was in Melbourne mainly for a friends birthday which was held at the Otway Lighthouse. He had to drive down there at night and as he lives interstate, he wasn't aware that they were building and had completed the Geelong By- Pass. He mentioned to me that "Geelong's missing....not there anymore" LOL

Below: Ian and I had a quick bite to eat at the local Thai Restaurant

Green Thai chicken Curry Good Value at $10.00 Plus $2.00 for rice

What's Been on the Menu No 31

2010-05-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a month, very sorry about that. When you see my food photo offerings, I'm sure you will be forgiving NOT.

Miserable Sardines on Toast with mind you fresh radishes and coriander from the garden

Boring Fresh Flathead fillets on Eggplant (from the garden)

I guess these garden hints give you an idea of what I've been up to. But that's no excuse, full on blogging here we come.

What's Been on the Menu No30

2010-04-12T21:42:00.001-07:00

Below : Delicious little cupcakes. The red one is called red velvet and is made by adding a huge amount of red food colouring. Talk about hyper after eating.

A red velvet wedding cake is popular in USA completely covered with white icing so upon the cutting of the cake a deep red interior is exposed. Whew!! ... too much symbolism for me.

Below: Steak at a restaurant for Ian

Below: Scallop pie for me at the same restaurant

Below: Easter brunch

Below: Pork chop with gnocchi (again) Guess who cooked.

All at Sea

2010-04-06T18:38:00.001-07:00

We were lucky enough to go out to sea over the Easter break. The weather was perfect, no wind at all. Infact it was an oily calm that saw us out in Corner Inlet east of Wilson's Promentary.

Below: What are you looking at??

Below: Oh that!! Perhaps now isn't the time for a swim!!

Below: Back to civilization

What's been on the Menu 29

2010-03-29T17:32:00.001-07:00

Had a quick lunch with middle son N. who was in Melbourne on business. We went to Laurent in South Yarra and I didn't see that they had macaroons until we were leaving. Next time.
Below: Window of delicious sweets things.

Below: Interior Laurent

Some further ordinary meals we have been having.

Below: Cheese omelette

Below: Roast Lamb with potatoes and mushrooms with onions or mushroom pate as it can be called.

Gates and Fences

2010-03-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Gates and fences attract my eye as I drive to work through Bayside suburbs
Below:
Pristine white, low and verysmart
Below: Again bright white and this time with two beautifully painted pillars

Below: White again with scallops and palings a little more spaced out. ( or maybe this is how I feel somedays ?? you've just got to LOL )

Below: Cream paint and a small pergola over the gate..this style of gate seems very popular of late.

Below: Similar fence and gate this time in green. While it is a very good shade of green it loses some of the impact being in a colour don't you agree.

What's Been on the Menu No 28

2010-03-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

Pork tried the new sous vide way of cooking ....think I should have left it in the water bath for longer than 2 hours as it wasn't especially melt in the mouth. The purple cabbage was a hit.

Below:
I went to Jamie Olivers' cooking show at the HiSense Arena (looking abit tatty) and while I enjoyed it very much I was glad the tickets were a gift as I wouldn't have paid $100 for a seat.

He was his "sorry Luv" as usual but the most hilarious part was when he cooked a meal while playing the drums.... had me in fits of laughter and his sing along song Lamb Curry has a way of lingering in the mind (unfortunately) lol.

Below is his chicken fillet wrapped in prosciutto and filled with parmesan cheese and sprinkle of thyme very easy to do.

Below: My Bruschetta...
chopped tomatoes, red onions (sliced very fine) olives and fetta served on lettuce and a toasted turkish roll and drizzled with french dressing

What's for Dessert

2010-03-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

Delicious cake for a birthday. The cream layer inside was passionfruit.
There's nothing like it, well perhaps the lie down is good too.

The Blue Mountains and Mt Tomah Part 1

2010-02-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

When we were in Sydney a short time ago we confessed to each other that we had never been to the Blue Mountains. So we hired a car and off for the day.

In our wanderings we happened upon the Mt Tomah cool climate Botanical Gardens. Couldn't have been better if I'd planned it and Ian, being as wonderful as ever, didn't mind the stroll around to stretch his legs.

Below: The rose garden with Lutyens seat.
Below: Various plantings

Below: More garden beds....these are fascinating to me but perhaps don't hold everyones' attention

Below: Even more garden beds ...I love the raised stone beds and would love to have a go at this one day.

Below: More beds with fairy fishing wands in the foreground.

The Blue Mountains and Mt Tomah Part 2

2010-02-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

Below: Beautiful wooden garden seat around a lovely old tree and yes the lawns were this green.

Below: Lawns and Conifers...gorgeous

Below: one of the spectacular views in the Blue Mountains

Below: This is a familiar photo view of the Blue Mountains but of course wonderful in the flesh so to speak

What's Been on the Menu 27

2010-02-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

Below: An afternoon spent wandering around Melbourne's shops, saw my need for a coffee.
At Roost in Glenferrie Road East Malvern.
Below: Dinner at Wild Fish Restaurant. Stuffed and rolled chicken breast with a camembert cheese sauce.

Below: Dinner out for B's farewell from work. A Middle Eastern banquet dinner. These were lamb meat patties with garlic yoghurt.

Sydney Botanical Gardens

2010-02-08T16:40:00.001-08:00

The Sydney Botanical Gardens were within walking distance from where we stayed in Sydney and I thoroughly enjoyed strolling around them.

Below: Yellow Cannas (thinks..must get some of these)
Below: The herb garden..plenty of Queen Annes Lace always a delight

Below: Bromeliads lush and lovely

Below: One of the Birdbaths

What's Been on the Menu No 26

2010-02-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

I know it's well out of date but I finally got with the Christmas photos so I thought you might like to see our Christmas Table setting with Iceberg roses from the garden. The following food photos are the entree/nibbles we had before the Christmas lunch but unfortunately there are no photos of the actual Turkey meal.

Below: Spanish White fish (not anchovies) my favourite tapas. They are pickled and taste vinegary.

Below: Oysters with wasabi and cranberry jelly

Below: Duck pancakes with hoisin sauce and cranberry sauce.

Visit to the Art Gallery of NSW

2010-01-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

When we were in Sydney over the Christmas holidays we went to the Art Gallery of NSW in the Domain. Isn't it funny how people will go to these places in another city yet they are forgotten in their own towns due no doubt to the hurley burley of mainstream family life.

Below: Interior of one of the Gallerys

Below: I have a thing about Bowls and this one certainly caught my eye... Japanese from 15th Century.

Below: Celadon Ware
Beautiful Colour and my favourite. The below were produced in Southern China in the Song dynasty (960-1279). This era had the most excellent glazes which still have never quite been reproduced.

Below: My favourite Hindu fellow Ganesha. Love elephants.

Below: Thai Buddha entroned under the seven headed naga (serpent)

What's Been on the Menu 25

2010-01-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

I do apologise for being off line for so long.

Below: Great tasting but weird looking tomatoes.

Below: Seafood thingy

Below: Yummy snack...slice of spinach & fetta pie, French cheeses and the first fig of the season.

Below: Eaten at the Manly Ocean Beach House, right on the sand and shady in the afternoon..... bliss. Thai fish cakes

Below: At the same restaurant Fettucine with various good things.

Love Sydney Part 1

2010-01-06T21:24:00.000-08:00

Just back from a sorely needed break in Sydney. Love this city.

Below: Where else?

View of the Opera house and Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Botanical Gardens

Below: The Harbour Bridge at sunset overlooking the Opera Bar...from a distance the noise of all the people sounded like a herd of well, possibly wildebeest!

Below: Circular Quay.... with The World on the right (passenger cruise ship)

Below: Harbour Bridge and Opera House from the Parramatta ferry.

Below: Lunch at Manly beach.

Love Sydney Part 2

2010-01-06T20:12:00.000-08:00

Which fabulous restaurant to go to while in Sydney was a dilema.

However, who can forget the final of Masterchef 2009 when Matt Moran from Aria went to Justine's home and asked her to come train at his restaurant. It obviously pays to do TV because it did sway me to go to his restaurant, and I'm so glad I did.

The location on the edge of Sydney Harbour has you Gasping as you enter. Is the food worth 2 chef's hats from the SMH from 2007-2010.....well it is pretty good.

Below: Interior

Below: Tomato Juice essence free starter (who doesn't love a freebie)...I know there is a word for this I'll try to remember it Edit : Finally remembered the words...amuse bouche

Below: Belly Pork...melt in your mouth meat with crunchy crackling

Below: Vegetables..the most delicious mashed potatoes ever, flavoured with truffle oil, and good old rocket and parmesan.

Love Sydney Part 2A

2010-01-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

Below: Duck Pate

Below: Steamed Snapper

Below: Trevalle a New Zealand fish (not to be confused with the similar named Australian fish)

Below: Peach Souffle and juice

The airey nothingness of this dessert was a little too nothingness for me....I don't think there was any flour in the soufle mix at all, so it was peach flavoured egg whites, brilliantly cooked and presented in a small copper pot with handle...but

Below: Ice cream

Thank you Aria

Love Sydney Part 3

2010-01-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHOES

Sitting at the cafe at the corner of Macleay St and Darlinghurst Road Kings Cross, by the Alamein fountain, I decided that people watching was becoming all about the shoes.

Since Carrie in Sex and the City found she had squandered the deposit to buy an apartment on buying shoes instead, I guess shoes have become a big deal.

Some girls could walk effortlessly in 20cm heels with 10cm platforms, while others needed more practice. These photos don't do the heel parade justice.

Christmas Greetings

2009-12-22T15:54:00.001-08:00

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

From our front door to yours.

An Interesting Restaurant Part 1

2009-12-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

NOBU

We went to the Robert De Niro Restaurant at the Crown Casino the other evening, and I am afraid to say , for me, it was an underwelming experience.

It serves contempory Japanese food which I must say lives up to the reputation Chef Nobu Matshisa has created...deliciously exotic.

The Food, yes the food was great, however at the risk of sounding whiney, I do not particularly enjoy "a share the plate" sort of degustation menu where you only get one slice of albeit the most beautifully delicate flavoured raw tuna you could ever imagine. You can order a personal meal but we went with the waiter's suggestion of 6 courses and a dessert.

Below: Outside Nobu from the walk along the Yarra River.

Below: Inside the restaurant. The restaurant is in the basement and therefore has a very low ceiling...could I imagine Robert de Niro walking amongst the tables smiling at the customers....No.

and the noise, I know, I know I've been in noisy restaurants before and can shout comments to my fellow diners with the best of them.....but this took noise to a whole other level. The wall of hanging river stones was intriguing.

Below: The tables do not have a table cloth and while I am sure the wood is a wonderful and rare Japanese Fir, still it is a polymer finished surface on which the food is served. This decor has met with approval in 20 or so restaurants worldwide, so I guess it is just a quirk of mine that I like a crisp white table cloth.

Below: Raw Salmon.

See Post below for more dishes.

An interesting Restaurant. Part 2

2009-12-21T16:21:00.001-08:00

NOBU

(Continued)

Below: Sliced Wagyu beef with a Wasabi sauce. Magnificent.

Below: One member of our party, darling B. is 7 months pregnant and so the faultless service provided that when the main meal was a raw fish meal, she was given her own serving of a cooked fish version of the dish.

Below: Blacken Cod, the most delicious fish I have ever had.

Below: Dessert for Four. Chocolate filled buns, green tea ice cream and chocolate puddings.

Next door is this restaurant which caught my eye. I could see beautiful white table clothes and the ambiance was perhaps more to my liking. I would like to visit Bistro Guillaume below.

Climbing Roses in my Garden

2009-12-15T22:03:00.000-08:00

Two Climbing Roses that are blooming away at our place at the moment.
Below: Climbing New Dawn

Below: Dorothy Perkins

What's for dessert

2009-12-15T20:04:00.000-08:00

Reading the Menu

I would have liked to have photographed the whole delicious meal that followed but I was too busy chatting to my darling friend T. who was in Melbourne visiting from L.A.

Managed to photograph the dessert though...no I didn't have any...too much cream for me at the moment.

What's Been on the Menu 24

2009-12-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

Below: Seafood linguine

Below: Ian' s speciality ...Beef curry, beans, rice, yoghurt and papadoms

Below: There are no other words for it ...it's Chicken Stew

Below: Lamb cutlets crumbed with crushed hazelnuts

What's Been on the Menu 23

2009-12-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Chicken coated with crushed hazelnuts.

Pork chop with apple mustard sauce and gnocchi

Sausage and Salad

Annual trip to Casa Iberica

2009-11-25T23:14:00.000-08:00

I like to make the journey to Casa Iberica at least once a year from where ever I may be living in Victoria.

I first found this shop in the early 1980's after returning to Australia having been living in Spain for 18 months. There was a sort of longing, a homesickness for all things Spanish so where better than the Hispanic end of Johnston Street.

This fabulous shop sure tugs at the old Spanish heart strings.....paella pans, genuine tasting chorizo, cheeses, olives, prized Spanish Jamon, olive oils, paprika and of course Polvorones. Polvorones are rich, crumbly almond cakes/biscuits that are especially popular in Spain around Christmas time....these explode into airy deliciousousness in your mouth.

Oh and I nearly forgot they sell those oil soaked little fish that are a perfect tapas.....and Portugese custard tarts and Spanish pasties and pies... Oh stop it!!!

Below... Paella pans, lots of ceramics

Really the main reason I go there is for the genuine Spanish tasting Chorizo.....once tasted never forgotten. ....and of course the Jamon.

Jamon is very big in Spain with certain pigs bred for particular tastes, the most prized being fed on acorns. Jamon is like prosciutto only more flavoursome. I state this with a risk of offending Italy's ham....but please, prosciutto has it's own particular flavour of which I am also fond.

The Spanish males make the small goods, as do they cook the paella, and each has their special recipe and way of curing the Jamon.

In the picture below it is a little hard to read the writing. There is Spanish Jamon Serrano at $60.00 or $80.00 kg and Australian at $50.00kg. Their speciality Jamon Bullota at $280.00kg seems reasonable when compared to say at Prahran Market where Great Reserve Redondo Iglesias Jamon is $610.00kg.

Jamon holds a unique place in the Spanish psyche....it can be used as a minor bribe for a favour and certainly a gift for something well done.

What's been on the Menu 22

2009-11-23T16:59:00.000-08:00

After a visit to the fish market last week I was interested in cooking fish.

The below baked snapper turned out a little dry but the fishcakes I made from the coral trout were OK. ( but no photos )

The snapper were not the usual hump back sort of snapper and I'm not sure the correct name of this species.

Below Coral Trout showing the amazing colours

Fare well Ma Poss

2009-11-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

The Callignee home is no more....farewell.... goodbye....au revoir.

We were lucky enough to be able to stay there a few nights at the end and got to say a proper goodbye to the house and surroundings. Luckily, we even managed to bid Ma Poss farewell with a tasty pear to remember us by.

As I cleaned and gardened for the last time I was, as I thought, matter of fact and even quite cold hearted about leaving this land we loved. Right up until the very end that is, when the flood gates opened.

We will remember the wonderful times we have had here. I feel very privileged that a city girl such as I am, who has lived in many parts of the world, finally was able to have even this small experience of the culture of the Australian bush.

This blog TreeChangeCallignee will evolve into the next adventure Ian and I get ourselves into, but meanwhile I will continue to post snippets of our foodie interests, gardening pursuits and our life back in Melbourne.

What's Been on the Menu 21

2009-11-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Roast Chicken with sweet corn and Salad (below)

Lamb Steak with Couscous (below)

Below: Fish with rice noodles, snap peas, fresh baby corn, with corinander, lemon grass and lime juice...note that there's no coconut milk. This indicates our efforts to eat less rich food.

What's for Dessert

2009-10-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Pancakes with oranges, a dash of Cointreau and icecream

What's been on the Menu 20

2009-10-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Risotto with chicken and two sorts of mushrooms...ordinary fresh & shitake

Lamb Shanks with mashed carrot/parsnip and leek.

Roast Pork and Peas

Tree Dreaming

2009-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

I wrote a Poem

I don't know why. It just came to me one day while I was at work sitting at my computer.

Now that the pressure is off about Callignee I was day dreaming (as you do) about the wonderful times we had there and this just poured out.

At first I thought it was just going to be something written down, but then the rhyme and rhythm sort of happened. Year 12 English at school many years ago must have lingered in this brain.

Tree Dreaming

I used to dream of trees and ferns and streams
A small house on a few acres, mainly green in my eyes
Far enough away from trouble and rush
To settle
To make friends with birds and native animals
To embrace the wilderness and the bush

It did happen and so beautiful
I was stopped in my tracks and had to sit
Amazed and admiring the stillness and hush
To breath
To appreciate the undisturbed tranquility
The gentle muted colours of the bush

I had to let it go in my mind
It is no longer there to marvel in awe at sounds not heard before
The fiery tongues came to crush
To destroy
To terrify with an urge so strong to flee
To create black of the surrounding bush

COH 2009

Moving On

2009-10-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

After an incredibly trying year of bushfires, house and employment moves I am happy to say that finally our house at Callignee is sold.

Even that wasn't without it's final upset of a weeks extension to the financial clause in the Contract of Sale, but now, yes it's SOLD.

It was the 2nd time it had been sold .....the first falling through after 2 long months due to the buyer being unable to get his finance. The house was also supposedly rented at one stage with the prospective tenants pulling out 3 days before they were due to move in. Meanwhile we had moved out all our furniture.

Did I say a trying year. Yes it's been quite a year.

There are many who perhaps think we should have stayed at Callignee and seen the return of the trees and bush. To have repaired the charred gardens, but for me it would have been torture as I no longer "love it" there....it's barren and cold where once it was green, bright and vibrant.

Just compare the vibracy between these two before and after photos.

The house does not have sloping walls, they are a result of the wide angle lens on my camera

See what I mean

I do realise many people were affected by the bushfires far greater than we were and my heart goes out to them. Their year would have been worse than ours and I do respect that.

What's Blooming

2009-10-05T23:04:00.001-07:00

This wonderful Moth Orchid was given to me early last year by my dear friend H. She will be pleased to see it blooming again after another cold old Melbourne winter.

It must like it's cosy spot at a north facing window.

Whats been on the Menu 19

2009-10-05T22:45:00.001-07:00

We went to a birthday party for Sunday Lunch.
It's probably old hat... but I hadn't seen this edible photo printed onto a celebration cake before ...Great Idea.

The meal below we had last week...one of our stir fries but this time with Chinese mushrooms which makes all the difference

Below: Snacks on Grand Final day. Go Cats

Below: Platter at the lunchtime birthday restaurant.

Below: Lunch Al Fresco at Gipsy. Wonderful Food...The soup was divine (forgot to get a photo but I'm going back there on Friday just for the soup again)

Wisteria

2009-09-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that Wisteria doesn't seem as popular around Hampton as it used to be....perhaps it's reputation of having a rampant personality has spread.

However there are still a few of these beauties around the neighbourhood.

This Japanese Wisteria with the longer racemes is growing on an old garage door and making a good impression.

The below is a relatively young Wisteria (only been there 2-3 years) but it too is making a strong impression along the verandah top. Note: This one is the Chinese Wisteria having the smaller racemes.

What's for Dessert

2009-09-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Blue berry pancakes with vanilla ice cream.

Did you notice I've been practising my quenelles

Blooming Now

2009-09-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

A green cymbidium Orchid, which despite being severly heat affected and only having three leaves has managed to bloom with another spray coming.

Yellow Clivias possibly my favourite flower.....what am I saying .... how could I forget roses.

What's for Dessert

2009-09-14T21:57:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Cake and Coffee at a cute Cafe

Visit to Bright in the Great Dividing Range

2009-09-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

We had a visit to Bright just recently. A very pretty little town on the way to Victoria's snow fields
Pretty little town best known for its' magnificent European Trees and in Autumn they colour up but this was Spring and the flowering tree in th Street were lovely.

There are magnificent conifers that come with a warning to watch out for falling cones.

The town square at night.

What's Been on the Menu 18

2009-09-02T23:52:00.000-07:00

Lunch below: Steak and Salad with Polish beer for Ian
Below: Yellow peppers with Fetta, olives, tomatoes & basil

Trout with Vegetables and Lime (Below)

Roast Cantonese Duck with stir fry vegetables (Below)

Six Months

2009-08-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

.......since the devastating Victorian bushfires raged through peoples homes and lives including our own.
It seems like much longer as so much has happened in that time.We no longer live at our beautiful TreeChange Callignee, although we do visit there almost every weekend. We have moved back to our townhouse in Melbourne where Ian has secured employment and we are quite settled. The main thing for us, is that we are now together again all the time, no time apart (did I mention that?) which is just great according to both of us.

We didn’t realise how much we were missing not being together during the week when Ian was living and working in the country and I was travelling to be with him on the weekend. From my point of view it was as though I was only really living on the weekends and just existing in this dreamlike half life during the week which I willed away to pass as fast as possible so I could be down in Callignee again. I could not get any energy to do more than come in from work.....read on the sofa then go to sleep.This doesn’t happen any more…I realised this the other night when I was happily cooking, playing with my camera, watching telly and talking with Ian all at the same time…..I realised that I was fully alive during the week nights again.

We still hope to either sell or rent out Callignee….we no longer feel the love for the vibrant place that once was. It is slowly turning green again but very slowly. The fire burnt so hot that under the trees is still bare of returning grass, and of course there are still all the blackened tree trunks.

We have our wonderful memories of our place and we hope someone else will someday see the beautiful place it once was.

Rest assured that I will still be blogging of our future adventures at Tree Change and also telling of our new adventures at a cute little beachside cottage that is coming our way.

Hope you enjoyed the above photos of the old TreeChange.

What's Been on the Menu 17

2009-08-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

Olive Bread Baking

Paella

Paella serve

Cheese Kransky on rolls with onion & mustard

Lunch: BarBQ chicken, potatoes and salad with mung bean sprouts.

Geelong Botanical Gardens

2009-07-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

I recently visited these excellent Botanical gardens again and was happy to see they have finished the new entrance area in an Australian Native style featuring a Billabong.

They have a wide variety of well labelled native plants and it was great to see some old favourites and identify some new ones.

As well as the new Natives part there are a wide variety of well established plants from all corners of the world.

Above....cute garden cottage

Geelong Botanical Gardens Part 2

2009-07-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Below.....They have made an interesting border of succulents...great idea as they are drought tolerant and will hold back the sloping soil around the path. Must try this somewhere???

Below.....Old time favourite Box Hedging never fails to please.

Below.....The formal fountain of yesteryear....no longer contains water as Geelong is on Stage 4 water restrictions....mind you the gardens didn't look at all stressed but then it is mid winter.

Below......Arrangement of raised beds in corrigated iron...I thought they looked out of place in the gardens and the design and placement of them was not good at all.

Ikea Visit

2009-07-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to visit Ikea (Melbourne) again last week.

Above. I love the green and Gold pouring bowls....couldn't help but buy one of each. I think I have a bowl addiction.

I like to let at least a year go by between visits and then I enjoy wandering around seeing what's new, colours, kitchens, gadgets etc.

Above.Cute little lamps

It is such an enormous store and I believe it can get very crowded on the weekend. I have however always managed to time my visits when it's quiet and can fully enjoy the experience.

Ikea have a good range of well priced, good quality materials.

I like to make new cushion covers every 2nd year and also change them seasonally summer/winter.

A word........remember to validate your parking ticket at the checkout and then again at the pay/parking machine before getting in your car and finally putting ticket in boom gate machine as you drive out.

What's Been on the Menu 16

2009-06-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

Lamb Saag alias Lamb and Spinach Curry with Chicken Korma, both with rice and fresh green beans below

Fillet Steak with Broccoflower (a cross between Broccoli and Cauliflower) Beans and Cheese sauce below

What's Been on the Menu 15

2009-06-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

I've recently been over to the Dentist and car Service place in Footscray, so of course I went to the Footscray Market again.

I was in a bit of a rush so only bought prawns and duck, which I made into the following dishes. Oh yes, bought the cutest pot of basil only $2.00, great to have it growing on the window sill in mid winter.

Prawns with fresh basil and wasabi mayonnaise. (below)

Close up showing a prawn wrapped in basil leaves with a dollop of the mayo

Served with stir fry vegetables

Roast Duck and vegetables (below)

The duck was marinated in a mixture of Hoi Sin, fish and soy sauces for a couple of hours

Post Cards from Queensland

2009-06-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

The weather in Melbourne has become freezing, but I still have the memories of last week up north to keep me warm.

Some photos of my all too brief sojourn in Queensland

Above Boats at Kangaroo Point

Above.The beach at Torquay Hervey Bay

Above: The beach at Mooloolabah

Above: The boat harbour at Urangan

Above: Cafes along boat Harbour at Urangan

Post Cards from Queensland (Cont)

2009-06-10T02:08:00.000-07:00

Above: Sea wall at Urangan looking towards Fraser Island

Above: Fountain Botanical Gardens Urangan

Above: Lush Vegetation

Above: Climbers..you know your in the tropics when you see this

What's Been on the Menu 14

2009-06-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

Eating out with my son last week meant the meals tended to have a young man's flavour. eg Nachos. They were good

Nachos at the Surf Club Kirra (above)

Our friends in Torquay at Hervey Bay have a Pizza Restaurant where Paolo creates Italian cooking in true rustic style , phoning his Mum back in Italy to get the authentic family recipes.

Above Fresh Calamari for starters followed by Gnocchi with a traditional ragu.

Above & Below: Salad and a special order Calzone

Living on the River

2009-06-08T23:02:00.000-07:00

My youngest son has been living in Brisbane for a few years and is now living on the Brisbane River on a boat right in the heart of Brisbane. Very handy for going to work

It is a friendly busy little community with many boaties rowing their dinghies to a pontoon and then off to their various jobs.

View to the South

Of course there are mooring fees and for these the boaties have their own toilets, showers and laundry facilities, even an oar room for locking up their oars. Cute.

View looking North

Friends on the Gold Coast.

2009-06-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

Old friends are like gold friends.

Had to go up to Queensland and how delighted was I that I could visit and stay with my friend and her lovely husband.

They have one of those great houses on the canals on the Gold Coast which is just wonderful for someone from cold old Victoria to visit. Like having your own personal resort. Too cold for a swim but just sitting having breakfast over looking the swimming pool is a joy in its' self.

View from breakfast room....very nice
And did I say breakfast, well nothing less than homegrown PawPaw picked right off the tree.
Red Paw Paw above
Has to be a little under ripe because if left too long on the tree, the fruit bats will move in and steal them.

What's Been on the Menu 13

2009-05-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

Atlantic (Tasmanian) salmon with coriander and lemon dressing, beans, brocolli and pureed carrot and parsnip. above

Roast Turkey with cranberries, roast potatoes and brussel sprouts above

Invasion of the Galahs

2009-05-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

Suddenly the air was filled with pink and grey. All joselling for a few seeds left over from the possums visit the night before. I quickly put out some more seed and in they flew.

I guess there is still a scarcity of seed around for the birds since the fires.

You can see that some of the trees are putting out new green growth which is wonderful to see.

Wishful Thinking Hakea laurinia

2009-05-05T18:20:00.001-07:00

This time last year the beautiful Australian Native Hakea Laurinia was out in bloom.
Sometimes called the Sea Urchin flower for obvious reasons.

Above: Showing various stages of the opening flower

Above: Close up of the flowers

Above Branch showing flowers

Beautiful weren't they

5 ways soup

2009-04-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

Vegetable Soup
Country Style Vegetable soup

Dinner Party Soup

Chinese Vegetable soup

Hearty Vegetable Soup

Dreaming of that Green and Pleasant Land ...England

2009-04-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

As you might know our lovely gardens and grounds at Treechange Callignee were burnt out by the devastating Bushfires that swept through Victoria on the first Saturday in February and I know I keep mentioning this to various people but this experience really has changed our lives……No more beautiful peaceful green surroundings where you can lose a whole morning gazing at the huge variety of birdlife flitting amongst the trees…..No just sad old burnt out trees and no birds.

Anyway I got to dreaming about other gardens I have had in the past where green was the prominent colour, and one in England came to mind. A house I lived in for about 5 years in Buckinghamshire and where I first acquired a real love of roses. Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of the rose garden at the rear, just this snap I took of the old house when I was last in UK a couple of years ago. (Below)

Other gardens then came to mind in the UK, Ian’s uncle Jimmys’ rear walled garden in Yorkshire. He has delphinium growing down to an art. (Below)

I recalled the garden and lawns around the large old house I lived in for 3 years in Surrey. I used to mow that lawn and try to achieve the desired chequer board pattern but alas never quite managed it. The photo below was taken 2 years ago when we called by to see if it was still there.(Below)
I remembered the over whelming green of the back garden and stream that flowed through the bottom of Ian’s cousin Callums’ home….where children (and the young at heart adults) can paddle in icey flowing crystal clear water, dodging the large trout and ducks. The trout are only allowed to be fished by a member of royalty and to take one would still be regarded as poaching. These trout are so tame it seems you could catch one by hand, and although they look like eels in the photo they are in fact trout.

Finally, I remembered the garden of our friend Roger whom we visited at his home in Portugal with flamboyant bougainvillea spilling out on the pergola over the outdoor table and lush green lawns surrounding the refreshing swimming pool.

Who can blame me if my thoughts turn to these past green delights.

Food

2009-04-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

Beans

Bananas

Citrus

My kinda Town Port Albert Is!

2009-04-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned this little town in a previous post and it continues to be a favourite place to visit.

Port Albert in the early 1800's was the busiest Port next to Melbourne in Victoria. 2000 people lived within a 4 mile radius of the town. However, when the train line to Sale was introduced shipping to Gippsland took a backseat to the safer passage of goods via the railway.

The Sea Museum. (below)
Streetscape 1. Showing the historical pub, the oldest continually open pub in Victoria (below)

Streetscape 2. Shows the old Customs House that has been turned into a Cafe. (below)

Footpath. This shows the General Store which has also been turned into a Cafe. (below)

Cafe and General Store garden with a magnificent ornamental grapevine.(below)

Whats been on the Menu 12

2009-04-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

It's great to feel like cooking again even if things aren't very creative.

Funnily, I can't remember what we ate for the first few weeks after the bushfires. It's all a blur.

I remember we cooked a curry and some friends came over to the Melbourne place on the first Friday night. I remember thinking at that time that it was great to do something normal again.

I know we ate out and had take away quite alot...maybe that's why I can't face a shop bought roast chicken at the moment.

Back to Basics:-
Roast chicken legs and roast vegetables, including stuffed aubergine.

Lamb chump chop, peas, mashed potato and pumpkin. I think this would have been the most common meal of my whole childhood. Meat and three veg. Still healthy enough I suppose and the pumpkin, peas and potato would have been home grown by my grandfather.Tomatoes (market bought) and grilled aubergine with fetta drizzled with EVOO and sprinkled with fresh basil.

Spagetti Bol with peas.

Flake strips with stir fried vegetables and sweet and sour dipping sauce.

What been on the Menu 11

2009-04-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

Are you looking at me???

Crayfish with cocktail sauce and a glass of white wine......bliss

The Great Wall of Callignee

2009-04-06T00:08:00.000-07:00

We had a retaining wall, covered in Ivy, hardly noticable.

Now we have the Great Wall of Callignee.

How tired you must be of hearing about "the builders" and how tired I am of them.

It's just his way of talking:

"This job has been huge and cost me alot of money"

I then physically start to hurt from the guilt he is putting on me, because our place was burnt and the insurance company hired him???? I know I shouldn't but the trauma of the whole thing has set up an automatic response in me.

"The truck lost the load of steel off the back coming up the drive because it's so steep"

More guilt, because my driveway is steep and the load on his truck wasn't secured properly???

"I am trying to do the best for you but there is only so much me and my wife can afford to contribute to this job"

????????

"I am sorry the other damage occurred but we had to get a crane in for the steel posts"

More guilt for the breaking of our pathing by the crane, by now the hole in my stomach is huge.

Should all be over by Wednesday ...stay tuned.

What's on the Menu 10

2009-04-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ham Rolls and Shadows of blue Cheese

with grapes

Roast Leg of Lamb

Regeneration of the Native bush

2009-03-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

It is wonderful to see the surrounding area putting out new growth after the devastating Bushfires

Food Again

2009-03-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

Finally after being so preoccupied with the Bushfires and the damage to our land and property, I am once again interested in FOOD.

These tomatoes were happily growing in our vegetable garden before the fire. However what was left on the bushes became roast tomatoes and the plants themselves charred and dried.

We had Spagetti Marinara for dinner last night, an old favourite with a glass of white for me and a glass of red for Ian.

Lets Look at some Gentle Beauty

2009-03-26T20:32:00.001-07:00

I am tired of looking at all the Black & Grey in the country.

Iceberg Roses along the driveway at our home in Melbourne:

More Stress

2009-03-24T23:39:00.000-07:00

The builder that has been engaged to do the repair work around the house by the insurance company has been causing further upset and mayhem. (See below Working Through)
He rang about ten days ago and said to Ian..”Can you pick me up in M……” cause I don’t want to bring the truck out to your place.”….a round trip of 75 Kms TWICE. Ian didn’t.

Late in the afternoon we hear someone yelling down at the front gate, for someone to drive him up to the house. We yell back that ordinary cars have been going up and down the driveway all day and that we are sure his small Isuzu truck will make it.!!!

More demands, admonishments, questions “how am I going to get the tank into the property?” “Can my work men camp here in tents, I’ll provide a Porta Loo”?
He leaves and we are stressed out again.

I would say the final straw happened on last Friday however it wasn’t.

When we arrived at the property we saw that someone had broken into the house through the back toilet window. As there was no Porta Loo anywhere it wasn’t hard to guess who had done this. Nothing was taken but there was lots of mess in the bathroom and finger prints all over the wall next to the window.

We contacted our builder who rang us back saying that none of his men had broken in but they did use the toilet as the back door was unlocked. This of course was not true. Grrrr all he had to do was apologise as it wasn’t a big drama, by denying made the whole thing more sordid. Ian was furious.

Ian had already left the property and I was late leaving on Monday morning. Thank Goodness as two major disasters were averted.

The builders mates turned up and I mentioned I would move my car out of there way. “Where are you going to park it” ?
“Oh just down there”
“The whole driveway is being fenced first so don’t be long”

"What ????"

They were going to fence the driveway with barbed wire at Tony (the builders’ instruction) It would have been awful, it never was fenced and never was any mention made of this. Why would you want to fence in this pleasant drive up to the house. Of course the drive no longer looks like this but I am told it will again one day!!

Then the painters turned up with the WRONG colour paint. Not just a little bit different but with Pink paint instead of a beige colour. Tony had told them the wrong colour.

I rang the Insurance fellow and told him the troubles and said I could no longer even speak to Tony. Tony did call back and started to say something about getting our property confused with another one, but I said I had to hang up and I did.

A LOVELY DAY AT CALLIGNEE:

Some friends of ours organised a working bee and 10 of us got to work clearing, weeding chainsawing, and planting new plants.

The garden bed before our friends got stuck into it.

This was a very lovely thing for them to do and we really appreciated it.

Garden Bed after a serious going over.

One Frond

2009-03-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

......does not a garden make but it's a start.

This soft tree fern has put out one frond to start the slow regeneration process of the surrounding flora.

These lovely flowers were sent by L

We went out to dinner a few days ago and during the meal we were startled by of all things ....an earthquake. What next?

Scallops for me.

Beef rib for Ian

Working Through

2009-03-02T03:15:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling very bad for the past three weeks since the bush fires, but now I am very pleased to say that I feel like my old self again. I thought the self that I know best had desserted me and in her place was this jittery, negative mess. I am very glad she didn't stay around any longer.

I took this photo on the morning of the 7th Feb because this Flowering Gum was finally out in bloom and looked very nice in the clear morning light.

This is how the above tree looks now: dessicated.
You can see how all the dry leaves have fallen on the ground....looks better than the blackened earth

Post traumatic stress syndrome or in old terms shell shock. This is a disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that caused or even threatened grave physical harm.

I just kept remembering the more dangerous times of the bush fires, particularly when I tried to sleep. It was as though my thoughts were in a loop or on rewind, a re experience or flashback of the fire glow all around the hills surrounding the house, the ride out of the hills by myself and driving back through the burnt out landscape, putting out fires around the house. Compared to what other people have been through, this perhaps doesn't seem very traumatic but to me it was.

Then there was also the sadness of losing the trees and surrounding flora. I didn't realise that I was so upset about the surrounding landscape in which we lived. It seems trivial in the face of what others have lost, but I guess it affected me.

But as I say, I feel heaps better now and we have had a clean up around the back of the house. Could have done without the tiger snake that jumped out of one of the pots in the wheel barrow though. !!!!!

We had one of our outdoor lunches, the surrounds are not all soft and leafy green,as they used to be, but very nice all the same. We are very lucky to still have a deck to have lunch on and we realise a lot of people aren't so lucky.

I can’t begin to tell you about the builder’s visit last week..... (the one the insurance company sent) He sounded a little stressed when we spoke to him in the morning around 8am and I think his day just got worse from then on.

For a start he was from North Balwyn/ Doncaster ( not that I’ve got anything whatsoever against North Balwyn) ….but he was quoting for restoration in the country around Callignee. Totally burnt out. He couldn’t even turn his car around on a dirt road, his wheels kept spinning.

He arrived at our place about 7.45pm at night and stayed 10 – 15 mins. He took no measurements. We didn’t even get to show him everything….he kept saying
“What not more work”
“How am I supposed to quote for that” “
“You’ll have to help me a lot on this”
“What replace a water tank…how?”

He was totally over whelmed by his whole day

“Everyone wants to tell their story”
“I only had a couple of tomatoes for lunch”
“Can you show me the way to my next quote address” It was getting dark by then….so of course I did. .
“Can you show me how to get back to Traralgon”

So you can imagine how we were feeling. We’ve heard other insurance jobs are going well and Yes I have contacted the insurance assessor to tell him we didn’t have much confidence in his appointed builder and to plead for a local one.

Another builder has now visited and he was very good about looking at all the damage.

This little wallaby is around the house quite alot at the moment. We have been feeding him vegetable scraps and any green foliage we have come across as there is nothing for him to eat around at the moment.

Victorian Bush fires Our Experience

2009-02-17T22:57:00.000-08:00

Some of you will note the irony of my blog name!!!

*********

The following is a brief account of what happened to us over the night of Saturday 7th February 2009.

The morning of Saturday was bright , hot and beautiful. We were aware of the northwestly winds that were due to turn the day into a marathon heat event of 45 degrees and that we were to be aware of fire warnings.

About 1.30pm in the afternoon we again turned on the ABC radio to hear of a huge fire that had started in Churchill in a pine forest and this fire was travelling very fast towards the south east. We knew there was a wing swing due that evening, and that would turn what was now the long side of the fire travelling away from us into the front of the fire heading our way.

We spent the Sat afternoon making final preparations as Ian was determined at this point in time to stay and defend the house.

Fire in the afternoon heading South East away from us at that time. No smoke over our way, estimated distance from us as the crow flies 30kms.

On the Sat evening about 6pm I noticed that the wind was dropping from the North West ( I am an old 'sailor' and keep an eye on the wind) It seemed to be coming around to the West. The 'Cool Change " as we in Victoria like to call the change of winds that come to cool things down, still wasn't supposed to come to this area for about 3 or 4 hours according to the radio broadcasts telling where the winds had already changed .....so what was going on here??

Then we noticed that there was a glow from the fire not just from the south but somehow it was all around us to the rear of the property. Not flames but that red glow.

I went into flight mode. I couldn't stay.... my legs wouldn't stay on the property. After getting some sort of agreement from Ian that things were different /weird he said he would leave the house and meet me in Traralgon after he had hosed the house down again. So I finally left the house at about 6.15, Ian finally left at about 6.30 after hosing it down many times with the independant firemans hose.

We estimate the fire front came through about 6.50. So, we were very lucky to get out, as the road out is devastated… The wind shift to the South West with winds of 100+ kms came earlier than anyone expected and I think this is what caused so many lives to be lost …..well possibly at Callignee.

The drive into Callignee alone was very frightening as I was shaking allover, the anxiety of having left Ian was horrible. When I got to a nearby road juction there was a road block set up....no one was allowed back up into the hills. There was alot of screaming and yelling of people desperate to get back up to ..... I guess loved ones who would soon be in the path of the fire.

Some people must have run the blockade because on my way down a car passed me going the other way about 160kph, nearly out of control on the bends , so I became aware of the danger of car accidents. Same thing happened with Ian, two cars sped back the opposite way when he left.

It was about now that the wind changed properly to the South West and a huge black cloud of wind and smoke descended on the whole area. Day literally turned into night with terribly fierce winds blowing ash and embers over a wides spread area. One house I know of in the area escaped the fire, but had it's roof blown off. No wonder they couldn't put the fire trucks in front of the fire and also why there was no helicopter support, the winds were too strong.

After registering with the Red Cross we were put up at Murphy’s Motel. Radio reports about Callignee were sketchy, so Ian and I at about 12 midnight drove out to the traffic lights at Loy Yang where there was a road block…..hundreds of people but still no news of Callignee. No one knew what was happening there because no trucks went in because the fire was travelling too fast and no one got a message out because everything was burnt.

At around 4am, Ian and our neighbour who was also at Murphy’s and has a large beef cattle farm, sneaked back using back roads that were at this time still open. We knew by reports that the fire front had gone through and there was no wind, so they promised to take no risks… .. we were all wanting to know what had happened.

When they got to our area, they feared the worst as the road in was shocking. First to our place which was still there…...they put out some fires and then to our neighbours whose house was still there and they put out a fire in his machinery shed, using buckets of water from the swimming pool ……alas his hay shed and a lot of the cattle had perished.

The road to our place

They came back to pick up the farmers wife and myself…I cried tears of joy when Ian told me the house was OK. So at 6.30am on the Sun 12 hours after we had left, we drove back to the house where we stayed for days without contact except for our battery radio. No one was allowed in or out of the area because it was declared a crime scene, although a ‘check point charlie’ was set up and generators, food and water was handed over at the border.

The ground around the house is just blackened earth, but there is some green in the tree tops particularly down the front, so they should come back OK. The garden at the very front of the house is OK as well.

Ian's much loved shed is OK, and wonder of wonders, our pet possum survived although she is singed. I felt her all over and though her coat and tail fur have burns (from embers we think) , she has no wounds…...on the Sunday night she ate two pears and then skipped off into the blackened trees. The house had sheltered a small tree which had sheltered her possum box.

Points which I feel why our house is saved when our immediate neighbours’ houses burnt down.

The wind came down the hill to us. If fire races up hill it is faster and the house is on a level with the tree tops.

We had raked all leaf litter and twigs, and mowed the area up the hill behind the house…..knowing that the winds come from that direction.

On one side we are next door to a farm whose cattle had grazed the land from the direction the wind/fire came.

Ian hosed the placed down and filled the gutters at the last minute

We think the fire went out on the house because the gravity fed polyprop pipes attached to a galvanised tank would have melted in spots and sent a spray of water over the flames under the eaves….perhaps…we can’t understand why it went out otherwise.

And just luck or whatever you call it …….but then unlucky to be in the path of a fire that resulted from awind swing, that had come from a huge fire deliberately lit.

Well we’re Ok and that’s the main thing, and my heart goes out to those who are not as fortunate as ourselves.

I'll post more to this at a later point

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of rugged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terrorThe wide brown land for me!

Dorothea Mac Keller (1885 - 1968

More Photos

2009-02-17T22:36:00.000-08:00

The neighbours opposite us got burnt out and then a huge gum tree fell on the cottage. What can you say?
The view up the hill to where our nextdoor neighbours home was burnt out.

Showing up to the rear of our house

The turning circle Before and After

More Photos Including some Before and After.

2009-02-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

Some more photos:-

These really do my head in when I see the lovely green of our gorgeous place that was.

What we used to call Jungle Walk

Before

and After

This Urn was more or less at the entrance to the property, it welcomed people and I loved it.

Before and after

Victorian Bushfires

2009-02-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

My thoughts go out to those who have lost loved ones and their homes in this devastating event.

Our home and land was in the midst of the fires, and althought the house was partially burnt at the back and the land is burnt and blackened, we do still have a home.

I will put photos and a more informed account of the last few days, in the near future.

John Cleese likes the fish here too.

2009-02-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

Over the holiday break we spent some time wandering around our favourite little fishing Village.... Port Albert

This town, which was apparently the first fishing port established in Victoria, anyway it is down on the Gippsland coast further east of Wilson's Prom.

Gorgeous little town, with heritage homes, terrific old pub, good latte cafes and a very good restaurant called Wildfish.

Views from the outside bar at Wild fish

Wildfish is a new restaurant right on the fisherman's jetty where you can eat inside or buy fish and chips outside to have while admiring the wonderful views. We went there for lunch and Ian had the best steak EVER and I had tuna gravlax ...it looked so tasty I nearly forgot to photograph it.

Tuna Gravlax

The funny thing is that in the newspaper The Age on 4th Feb 2009, there was a little snippet that John Cleese had been travelling around Victoria over the same time and had gone purposely to Wildfish for the whiting....no booking, whiting sold out ...no problem - he had the snapper instead and he too loved the restaurant.

Boats moored at several of the jetties in Port Albert

Weekend Lunches

2009-02-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

We usually manage to have Lunch outside on at least one of the weekend days, although last weekend was a little too hot....40 degrees infact and this was following days of 41, 43, 45 and 44. Phew.

However, the following are photos of al fresco lunches we have had in the past.

The first two photos show two lunches where we had guests out on the deck which overlooks many trees and bushes. Parrots wing in for some wild bird seed at the feeder Ian has made for them.

Salads, lamb chops and sausages seem to be the prominant food at these BarB Q meals.

The 3rd photo shows just a small meal Ian and I shared one lovely afternoon...sausages again...love those snags!!

Finally roast beef, roast potatoes, pumpkin, green beans and gravy in the jug... the typical Australian Sunday lunch eaten in the pleasant afternoon sunshine.

Flowers in a Vase

2009-01-27T17:27:00.001-08:00

Beautiful roses too hot to survive outside in the 40 degree heat, so bring them in where they can be admired and their divine perfume appreciated.

Lillies from a bouquet given by Ian's collegues, greens from our fernery and the roses Iceberg and Martine Guillot. A D.A. Mary Rose is peeping in from another vase.

Nectarine Tart

2009-01-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

A previous post below showed our nice little crop of nectarines which 'somehow' became a tart.

Lemons

2009-01-26T17:23:00.000-08:00

A small harvest of lemons provided an opportunity to take some photos of lemons.

Lemons and Gold Bunny roses

Lemons and Olives in a courtyard

Montalto Food on the Menu 10

2009-01-15T18:56:00.001-08:00

The vineyards Montalto has a very good restaurant with one chefs hat from the Age Good Food Guide.

The following is some of the food we had.

Scallops on a bed of tomato Ratatoullie

Smoked salmon surrounding a crab mouse, with baby peas and broad beans

Duck with baby beets and a red wine jus

Chocolate Molten lava with chocolate ice cream and summer fruits

Riccotta Soufle with Earl Grey Tea icecream

All totally delicious and the best service I've had for ages.

Oh and by the way Montalto Chardonnay is gorgeous.

Montalto

2009-01-15T18:51:00.001-08:00

We had a visit to this beautiful vineyard on the Mornington Pennisular.

Beautiful location, sea views and an excellent restaurant.

They have a sculpture exhibition every year Feb to April and some of the exhibitions have remained

What's been on the Menu 9

2009-01-14T20:32:00.001-08:00

A few of the meals we 've been having lately

Vegeburger with sweet Japanese soy sauce and Japanese Mayo...shown in the container.

Salad with olives, cherry tomatoes, greens and fetta.

Salmon with boiled potatoes and beans

Nectarines

2009-01-14T17:58:00.001-08:00

There has been an abundance of nectarines growing on a little tree in the courtyard of the Hampton place.

Beautiful, blemish free fruit to make tarts, jam and just cold stewed fruit with a little sugar and a few cardamon pods.

Christmas Morning Surprise (Again)

2009-01-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in a previous post on 30th November .... last year at Christmas (2007) a family of four tawny frogmouth owls ( I know they aren’t really owls but poetic license please ) arrived for Christmas morning on a branch near the house and blow me down if two of them weren’t here again this Christmas morning.

I guess it’s got to do with temperature and possibly sun equinox etc… but it sure was strange to see them there again Christmas morning. Ian said they were "us"

A Pair of Tawny Frogmouths trying to look like tree branches but with an eye on me.

OWLS

Stay focused

Be ‘whoo’ you are

Trust in a wise friend

Live off the land

Glide through the dark times

Be observant

Life’s a Hoot (love this one)

***

Another Poem via a friend ..... thanks F

***

A Barred Owl by Richard Wilbur

The warping night-air having brought the boom

Of an owl's voice into her darkened room,

We tell the wakened child that all she heard

Was an odd question from a forest bird,

Asking of us, if rightly listened to,"Who cooks for you?"

and then "Who cooks for you?"

Words, which can make our terrors bravely clear,

Can also thus domesticate a fear,

And send a small child back to sleep at night

Not listening for the sound of stealthy flight

Or dreaming of some small thing in a claw

Borne up to some dark branch and eaten raw.

To Market

2009-01-11T22:52:00.001-08:00

I love it when I have to go to the dentist, no not some sort of masochist, but it means I must travel to a suburb which has a great Market.

Footscray Market. The surrounding area has a great variety of ethnic residents, Vietnamese, Nigerians, Indians, Chinese, Ethiopians and the market reflects the different cuisine from these countries.

There I can buy filleted duck breast, duck maryland, any sort of pigeon, quail, pheasant. The variety of fish and shell fish is amazing and very fresh. Love the fish balls.

All kinds of meats cut in different ways to inspire new recipes. ..

and vegetables, well there are the tried and true plus varieties that I've never seen before. They had these unusual Asian greens which look like a cross between a coleus and a plectranthus (only kidding I really wouldn't eat those... promise) but at 80 cents for a huge bunch, I thought I'd try them. I asked the woman "Stir fry" ? she said "NO Soup"!!! You can see the Duck soup in the previous post.