Blooming Reds

Glorious Red roses.

The following are two of my favourites blooming at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to use them to create a special arrangement for Christmas.

On the left in both pictures we see New William Shakespear by David Austin, a more crimson red.

On the right there is Red Pierre, a cupped climbing rose brought out to replicate the success of the climbing pink rose Pierre de Ronsard.

What's been on the Menu 7

Lasagne

Flake and Parsnip pattie

Chicken provencal

Nashi Pear & Chorizo. This Spanish Chorizo is from a shop in Johnston Street Carlton which sells imported food from Spain and local food produced in an authentic Spanish way. This chorizo, though made here in Victoria has the taste most like the choizo you can get in Spain.

King of the Parrots

...... or better known as the Australian King Parrot. We have a small flock of one male, two females and three juveniles that must live nearby because they are daily visitors to our busy observation deck. Their arrival is announced by the males piping whistle, not too loud as to be annoying. I can make a fair imitation with pursed lips and he seems to respond, with this conversation going on until some wild bird seed arrives at the feeding table. Lovely for me to be to converse with wild birds.












Male and Female King Parrots





They are a very friendly, trusting parrot and will after a short time take seed from your hand.











Mature Male KIng Parrot


These photos do not do justice to the brilliant flame red of the males' head and chest, nor the stripe of irridescent aqua along their wing....very striking in the flesh err ...feather.

Female King Parrot

Juvenile Male King Parrot

Dessert: Pears & a good Blue

Pears in red wine, with a local Gippsland blue veined cheese called 'Shadows of Blue' and maybe a few grapes makes a delicious lunchtime dessert

What's been on the Menu 6

All the following show an Asian influence.




Cha sui Pork

















Stir fry vegetables

















Spicy Duck fillet with stir fry spinach and pickled ginger .

The Footscray Market is now selling these filleted duck breasts. Marvellous. Duck panckes will be on the menu more often now with a few of these in the freezer.







Tom Ka gai (not to an original recipe)











Samosas

Cuddley Owls

Last Christmas we had a cold snap in the weather and on Christmas Eve the temperature went down to about 3 degrees despite technically being the middle of summer.

Christmas morning we looked outside and on the nearest branch to our deck were huddled a family of four Tawny Frog Mouth Owls. Mum and Dad on each side and two babies in the middle … looked so cute. A wonderful Christmas surprise.





Unfortunately I only got a photo of the two adults.













They watched the comings and goings of the other bird life that visit our deck with great interest. I am hoping that they remember their pleasant stay near our house and come back to visit this year.

Two Tawny Frogmouthed Owls keeping an eye on a nearby Kookaburra

Desserts

Coffee and cake with crushed pistachios