Christmas Day 2022

 Well what a day we had yesterday, with 16 of us in the house and something I am not used to. Consequently I am  tired today, and being Boxing Day, taking the day off.  Everyone had a great time with plenty of food. 

We started the day with a fancy breakfast outside, which was lovely in the cool air. The children remarked on how noisy nature was outside as compared to Sydney.

The Table was ready for lunch, with lights strewn on it, plus on various cupboards.

Sitting for 16

 I made a mixture of hot side dishes like, cheesy potatoes, maple syrup roasted carrots, steamed beans, and salads of  roasted pumpkin, beetroot and feta, celery, walnuts and apple,basic tomatoes,carrots,lettuce for the kids, boiled eggs, and 4 lots of meat, lamb, pork, ham and chicken, all self serve with the adults going first, as knowing these kids they will devour everything and leave a lot on their plates.

Youngest son was in charge of cutting all the meat.

Eldest Daughter and Eldest Son Getting Things Ready.

Once the family arrived before lunch, we had the present opening, which is all those that Santa didn't bring. It is a tradition that I started with our lot, to know which Aunty,Uncle or Grandparent gave to each child and to be thankful, rather than the whole lot bundled into Santa Bags.

Under the make do tree on  the fireplace.

John handing out present and looking like Santa lol

Finally after our main meal we finished up with dessert, a very Chocolate Cheesecake, Chocolate Ripple cake which  I haven't made in a long time using Arnotts Chocolate Ripple biscuits,a very old fashion recipe. Also the traditional plum pudding by our local DILwith money,

There is one slice of Cheesecake left for me, with raspberries, when I decide to eat again. So much food yesterday I am not very hungry today. 

After lunch all the kids went swimming in our neighbour's pool, and I gathered they enjoyed watching them as both retired. The sound of children laughing and having fun outside, is something I miss myself. 

 I have to comment on how proud I am of our Eldest Son Peter on making his 2 brothers and John a type of bushcraft knife, known as Woodlore. Each one supplied their own steel and John chose Damascus, one of the best.

Peter created everything out of the raw products, the handle, blade and leather work. He spent every non working hour for months doing it, learning as he went, with advice from both John who taught leatherwork and our neighbour who taught metalwork, plus a few you tube videos. The emblem is known as Cry Havoc their online gaming group. The skill required for this is exceptional, not every DIYer can whip up bush knives.

 

 John and all the boys are off to a 2 day camping trip on the Nymboida River somewhere. Father and Son so it will be the first time we haven't celebrated our youngest son's birthday on the 27th down at the river. 

The girls are having a morning at a nail salon, this week, and we may  organize to go down to the river for a lunch sometime. I certainly have plenty of left overs for that. 

See you in the New Year.

Till Next Time.

50 years.. Our Golden Wedding Anniversary

I can't believe that it was 50 years ago last Friday, that we got married 16th December 1972. Five children, 8 grandchildren, 2 daughters in law and a son in law later,  all of whom we love dearly.

L-R John's Brother, my sister, us, my two cousins (sisters) and my brother.

Both of us spent the day upgrading the house, me painting as usual and John fixing the last of the bifold doors in the kitchen, which means still more for me to paint, but after Christmas at this stage.

  I didn't want to go out to dinner  to a restaurant, and thought down  by the river would be relaxing after our hard working week, rushing for Christmas. An Indian takeaway, sounded perfect, but it ended up cold at 14C and a chilly wind, so we changed to our Gazebo, which is in a warmer spot, and being outside also nice.

Found some candles and lights, and set the table nicely and we were set.

Our eldest daughter turns up Wed. so time to get the house in order, decorations, lots of cooking and stop DIY- ing. 7 days to Christmas, and 16 for lunch.

I might be  a day late with the next blog update.

 

Till Next Time. 

The Gluten Free Experiment.

After ordering a Gluten Free Fruit Loaf, to test, in my last online delivery this week, only to have it substituted for White Gluten Free, which is sort of  ok, but I decided to seriously work out what I actually need to do.  

I know I am intolerant to Gluten,and usually ignore it, and I have been trying different things now and then, over the years, to cut back on it.

Being a tea drinker, the no.1 thing is to have something to go with it. My Spelt bread has been successful, although is Gluten, not as harsh as wheat, but I only have a little, like at breakfast as toast and maybe occasionally as a sandwich, if I hadn't eaten any by lunch. This means I can get away with a little bit of gluten without too much trouble.

The new Wheat Belly book talks about eliminating all grains including" Frankengrains" meaning rice, oats, corn, buckwheat etc. as all have been tampered with. That would be a bit cold turkey for me though.

So I have found a homemaker blog  https://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/ which had several "in a jar" gluten free recipes, and discovered that the blogger Nicole has actually written a lot of books, has a Gluten Free website, and worth checking if interested. Her son is Coeliac, and I am still researching this blog, as time allows.

https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/gluten-free-recipes/

There is a wealth of information here even how to make up your own DIY Gluten free flour, is excellent. So much information on flours One of her printable recipes was an Oatmeal Muffin Mix kept in jars, so you just add the wet ingredients, and right up my canning alley.

 

The printable had a jar label for both the wet ingredients and  lid, so tested that for fit, then I made up the mixture which uses oil, eggs, and milk

 There is enough paperwork, to make 6 jars of this mix and after cooking found I could probably add more cinnamon, maybe nutmeg, or extra such as dried fruit, even powdered milk. I have the ability to actually seal these jars with my vacuum sealer, to keep everything fresh.

Ready to bake.

I must say though the muffins are delicious and no flour at all in them, also quite filling. There is also a herb muffin and a chocolate chip muffin recipe, I would like to try as well. Really anything can be added once the basic recipe is worked out and can be kept in a jar ready for wet ingredients.

I might add that Oats if they haven't been in contact with gluten, usually machines processing wheat etc,, has been declared gluten free in the USA, which is more like wheat free.

 In Australia they don't, due to the fact oats contains a distantly related prolamin called avenin, that can be harmful to some Coeliac individuals. Prolamin is a grain storage protein found in wheat, barley rye etc. More info see Coeliac site Australia.

https://www.coeliac.org.au/s/article/Oats-and-the-gluten-free-diet

I cut it into 24 big slices.

 I also have made a  Muesli Bar type slice, by another blogger, using Almonds, dried fruit, plus more and Almond paste to keep it together. Froze Well, and it was filling  and delicious, even Miss P loved it.

My daily visitor for breakfast time.

 On another note, I have been painting the dining room and think I am finally on track for Christmas. John has been changing all the doors over with new black knobs, and generally been tidying up as best I can.

Christmas presents are wrapped and now waiting  for the wall cupboards to go in so I can decorate a little bit.

Three large boxes of china and decor went to the Op shop which I am pleased about. 

 Slowly but surely I am getting there. Exactly 10 days before our eldest daughter gets here is my timeline, then have to think about pre - preparing, Christmas Lunch for the gang.

Till Next Time.

Just Keep Painting, Christmas Is Coming.

 Well I am trying to keep calm, but as it has rained for most of the past week, I have had to change from the garden to the painting, and I have been working hard this week on the dining room. 

Once more up the scaffolding, which means a lot off concentrating on very high up walls. Also it is exhausting, I will be glad to finish it. Maybe I have taken on a bit much trying to finish by Christmas, but now it has started I am back in to working mode of 9 - 5.

As it was before with white dado

Miss P came over yesterday and worked on the 2nd. coat of paint on the dado, with the new colour,  which is a great help, while I painted doors, and finished off a few fiddly things.

I have a sense of urgency now with two children turning up on the 23rd. this month, and a long list of must do's before that, as well as trying to get things done for Christmas Day Lunch for 16 at this house.

I feel like everything I own now is propped up on something, or in a box or placed on the floor out of the way. The kitchen benches are full, all because. I emptied the hutch so we could move it away from the wall, as very heavy. This holds a lot of glassware, dinner sets, silverware, tablecloths and more.

 Interestingly I have discovered a few things I can get rid of as well, that I couldn't before, the mess must be getting to me I think.

The dado, which has always been white, has now become the Shamrock blue colour, picking up on the  rest of it around the stairs. 

New colour with still another coat of white to go.

 I was having a lot of trouble deciding on the wall colour and in the end went white which blends in very nicely with either side white wall as well. Such an easy solution to what I have been in a quandary for some time.

With everything in the way not the easiest to take photos, but I hope you get the idea. Other than also painting a few doors, that has been my week. At night I have been trying to wrap a few presents.

Tomorrow is an appointment with the Orthopedic Surgeon about my knees to see what to do about that, which if anything won't be until Autumn next year. My exercise of climbing ladders and scaffolding might be a bit out there, but it is obviously strengthening some muscles. 

 Till Next Time

Down in the Dirt.

It is amazing after a week away how much a garden can change. I do not know how it happens but suddenly weeds had taken over, despite doing a major clean-up before we left. 

I can only surmise that Summer has actually begun in this area, promoting a plethora of growth. Normally it wouldn't phase me, but age is catching up, and the soil has been rock hard, which again baffles me after all the rain and overcast days we have had.

Since returning I have spent every morning, weeding a bed or two, and out there by 7.30 at the latest, for about 2 hrs., as after 9.30am the UV starts to creep up too high. Last thing I need is another skin cancer.

Green garlic as it didnt form and leeks. To be chopped and frozen for use.

Despite the work I am grateful for the garden and the bounty of vegetables and flowers it does produce, and with a bonus of no chemicals, season after season, as long as I do my part. 

 

I am now thinking though, that I may have to pull down the front ones, as John doesn't seem to want anything I grow, sticking to instant meals, so there is no need to produce so much. The soil is excellent in these front beds and I will exchange the back soil with it, and use them. I would prefer these wooden ones, much easier to use, but the back cannot be undone, as the front can. This means another revamp, but in no hurry, as finishing the painting in the house first.

Yellow tomatoes helps with no fruitfly.

The flowers have been lovely also, blooming in every garden., which means I can pick a vase full, every week, just little vases, dotted around the house.

 

The poppies have been really good this year, lots of colours.

Fortunately the native bee hive had to be split and John bought it home as it needs to be watched for 6 months, but as it happens the Government has done a big spraying at Nana Glen to get rid of the deadly Varroa Parasite, which sadly also means destroying the hives themselves. 

The spraying covers 25 km, so the other beehive came home as well, as the Community Gardens are in that zone. It has been installed in the neighbours garden, to avoid it being destroyed, as apparently the spray can kill native bees as well. They are both safe now and both have adapted to the new environments.

This morning I attacked the hedges. I have been putting it off for some time, in fact the neighbour has cuts his 4 times already, a bit excessive in my mind. Never the less I finally did it, but such a ligament jarring exercise, leaves me exhausted and aching.

Maybe this afternoon if cool enough I will clean up the mess, the path now also needs weeding again. The hydrangeas are looking lovely at the moment, and opposite the hedge.

I do love the blue colour, caused from the acidic soil, which means blueberries or azaleas could grow here as well.

Till Next Time.

Lord Howe Island Week Part 3

 Welcome back to the final of Lord Howe. Part of the deal of staying at Pinetrees was a cooking demonstration from the head chef, Alasdair Nicolson  who has been there 10 years. He also wrote a cookbook with the owner, which was presented to us in our room. He  did a demonstration of two spicy sauces which went with two of the cookbook meals, using a blender.

What we didn't know was that he then cooked up lamb loin chops, and sliced thin zucchini on a mandolin and marinaded some of the sauce in halloumi cheese. We had not long eaten lunch and I only ordered a sandwich anyway, as I so so full, as every meal we had was a cooked one, and normally they don't serve sandwiches.  Anyway this demo smelt wonderful and we did have some although I tried to pick the smallest.

This is a very nice book.

Meanwhile while this was happening I noticed a local breed of  pied Currawong, having a lovely time eating a pear, so I dashed over and scared it away and hid the fruit under the bar shelf. They are fruit eaters and this one has discovered where the fruit is kept. Now they cover it with a tea towel for guests.

We also had a tour of the complex and the way they are going about carbon neutral. Fascinating talk, as everything they do as much as possible, from black and grey water, food scraps, cardboard etc, ever leaves the island, and what does they have to pay per kilo for. They also only source food and goods on the mainland from other carbon neutral businesses. A large vege garden has been started, compost bins, and outdoor covered laundry clothes line, for all the sheets and towels, to save electricity. Stopped using tablecloths also and purchased soap in small sizes bars. Using paper straws, bags, wraps etc. plus containers, so no throw away plastic with anything.

 The next thing is to change over to solar hot water. We all now should be aware of plastic for everything. The company hopes others on the island will also come on board with this to keep the waters, and land pristine.

Huge vege garden being started up again after covid.

 Another complimentary outing was in a glass bottom boat. Snorkeling was also part of it which I didn't want to do but John got "the outfit" and was all in for it. 

 

Boarding was done with definitely bare feet and rolled up jeans for me, as straight through the water.

 

We traveled out to the breakwater reef, where it was quite deep, plus a talk on the different coral, fish and the ways of the island with monitoring it to stay healthy.

 

Fish following the boat owner as he feeds them with anemone, they have become pets, as he takes the boat out daily.

The water was freezing and the wind blowing about a lot,  so in the end a few of them didn't go in as quite deep. John hung off the back with his go Pro camera in the water. I really enjoyed boating around the lagoon and watching the fish and coral.

The final day before handing our bikes in, we did a visit to the local museum and learnt the history, which was also, very interesting.

From there we then continued on seeing it was the same road, to the local made brewery and hydroponic gardens, and nursery,  that feeds most of the town.

Beer Kegs

Had to have a taste, and apparently delicious.

  The garden consisted of mainly huge sheds, but a lot of herbs were  growing outside, as was eggplant..

 

 

Bags of coir were used which I hadn't seen before.

Cucumbers

Of course by the end of the week which this was, riding around like a Pro.

The Pinetrees complex also had what was called a boat shed, a place you could visit and serve yourself by an honesty system of wine and beer. I also had a shower but no toilet.

I had my picnic lunch there and read while John went to Ned's Beach for the 2nd.time, relaxing and watching the ocean as well.

On our very last day, while we waited for lunch and boarding,  he decided to take some black and white photos. There was a little turnstile you had to go through either side of the road.

A little long this time but I hoped you enjoyed our trip, and finally my favorite birds there. 

They lay their eggs on a branch, and quite small birds.

Till Next Time