fiveandtwo

Yeah, Well.

Eldest daughter and I had an unplanned trip up the mountains to Omeo this afternoon!  My husband had taken Leah, Giles, Clare, Ally and a friend of Giles' to stay at his brother's holiday house in Omeo earlier in the day, ready for a frolic in the last of the snow at Mt Hotham tomorrow, and some fishing in the Mitta Mitta River on Sunday. Ah, but Clare and Ally's bag of clothes was left behind...Beachy summer thing: no problem. Cold weather, good chance of wet clothes: different matter. So off we went in "The Hummer", actually a weeny '86 Suzuki 4WD. Husband, of course, had taken the Tarago with all the hordes of kids.

It's a picturesque drive through forest, farmland, mountain and river. This isn't  where I grew up, not even close,  but it's a really special, comfortable place. And now it's home.

We stopped for Linsey to move a turtle off the road. Unfortunately, it'd  died and maggots fell out of the shell. Poor Linsey - she did put it on the side of the road but had to wait 40km to the next town to wash her hands!

Oh, the reason us older females are at home: Linsey is working and needs to be picked up at 10.30pm. Not happy for her to walk home at that hour. No public transport here. Even then...

I've been resisting blogland, posting on my blog, op-shopping and all "time-wasting" activity this week. Mighty hard I'll admit..

However, these have been planted out.

The immensely exciting pic. from a previous post - of punnets of dirt - actually brought forth something! Lettuces and coriander. There are also tomatoes and capsicum, but, while the the air temp. has been enticingly warm, the soil temp. is still too cold for planting out those summer lovelies. Seeds of rocket, and some late sugar snap peas have also gone in. The californian poppies are up. The dog is doing a good job thinning them by trampling.

Until the wind of today this fabulous tree was alive. Humming with bees, a magical sound. I've never pruned this tree (it's 11 years old) beyond cutting off the bits that poke me in the eye when I walk past. It's astonishingly bountiful. It's a haven of shade in the hot weather. I adore this tree. Yeah, gush, gush. But  I do. The fruit is sensational fresh, dries succulently, makes great jam. Sorry, does not stew well. I am not a fan of stewed apricots so it isn't a big deal.

The other stupendously flowering tree - yeah, yeah too many faffy words, I know - is the Satsuma plum. Outside the twins' window. It hums right now too. I don't get so excited about this one. Terrific savoury plum sauce - best I've ever had. One of Stephanie Alexander's recipes. Her pickled plums are damned good too. If you like tart things (I do). Blood plums make a rather nice tart jam. I think these plums need plenty of sun to really sweeten up. This tree has a bit too much shade in the afternoon to achieve that. But, when you look out you window -

And when it's hot in summer, it's all leafy greenness, making the room a cool haven.

Oh yes, the Totem Tennis. This is it.

Sometimes known as Orbit Tennis. String on this one broke soon after (replacement will be string number three).

Op-Shop finds I will post tomorrow night. Linsey wants computer time now.

I

Clare Has A Day Off School.

Or another reason to procrastinate and go op-shopping further afield.

We did walk the dog and hang out the washing first. Clare wasn't sick, she just wanted a day away from school. The older children had these days too. Giles still had them in year six. It was nice just to hang out with one of them at a time. Perhaps that's why they wanted the "days off".

We were very neighbourly on our walk. Helping with a bit of outside-the-fence geranium (pelargonium) pruning. Some weeding of chickweed and milk thistle. Clare plucked oxalis flowers. Chooks pleased, and some new geranium cuttings gained.

Then, it was off to Paynesville to fossick in the two op-shops there.

A haul of kid stuff. The Fishing Game they've been lusting after, a skipping rope, a Ravensburger puzzle, a Shirley Barber Fairies puzzle. I'm not a fan of Shirley Barber, stories way too saccharine for me, but Clare really wanted it. The two yellow bats, well, "Lucky I came with you Mum, look what I found!", says Clare. For the Totem Tennis - the bats perish in the weather, the dog chews them...Next post will include a pic. and then you'll instantly know what Totem Tennis is.

Most pleased with this. Paul Galdone's traditional chidren's stories are a good read for an adult reading out loud. I enjoy his illustrations too. Over the years we've been lucky to find The Little Red Hen, The Little Girl and the Big Bear and Little Red Riding Hood. Interestingly, they're all ex-library. Come to think of it I've never seen one in a new or second-hand book shop.

Another barstick! And in it is a large linen tablecloth. Big enough for our table. Really big.

Good ol' cafe curtains to be reincarnated as a bag. Goodnight.

I Was Worried For A Bit There...

I embarked on my Wednesday Rounds of the op-shops with some trepidation.. First shop: nothing. Second shop: nothing. Third shop: nothing. Not looking good. I am worried, have I lost my "eye" or something? Is there no good stuff left in this town? Fourth shop: nothing. I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Fifth shop: eureka!

I found a barstick in my favourite style. Sorry, basket. Barstisk is a word Clare and Ally used when they were little which has passed into family usage.

I have a number of these in different shapes and sizes. Used for storing fruit like apples and oranges, craft and sewing projects on-the-go, all sorts of things.

The two striped kitchen towels were also a find. I am immensely relieved.

Some snippets of fabric.

This was the trim on the bottom of a nylon curtain. It's cotton fortunately.

Just a small piece - maybe a half metre.  Very like a batik. I think it will work very well in a mix (eg. patchwork) or as a trim.

I like to make a reasonably regular post. Heck, you could've been subjected to , "I wrote to Premier of Vic., Steve Bracks, urging him to extend the ban on GM plants and animals until 2013", as what I've done in the last couple of days, apart from the usual domestic stuff and some gardening. Sometimes I do that stuff, but that's not what this blog is about (the letter writing etc).

You're a Terrific Bunch.

The Satsuma is always the first fruit tree to flower in this garden.

This picture is for you lovely people who cared to comment on my last garbled post.

Sometimes I wonder if I should visit dark places in public. Heh, when I started this blog it was going to be all shiny, happy - none of that other stuff! Things went awry along the way...

However, I am feeling better. I'm thinking perhaps my feeling so "off" was a side effect of a new medication I started taking last week. I will persevere with it though, because it's having very much the desired effect otherwise!

My efforts to banish the demons have meant I shifted the enormous pile of mostly composted chook run stuff from the middle of the back yard: dug into the vegie garden, scratched in around all the citrus and filled into the hole (bear pit) that Suska the dog dug under the apple tree last summer.

Vegetable garden nicely turned & composted. I scooped out quite a few self-sown poppies, forget-me-nots and sweet peas and put them in the new garden out the front before hand. They may or may not take. These things tend to resent transplanting. My vegie garden was once much bigger. I suppose such a reversal sounds strange these days. I found that as our income improved to a point where we didn't have to provide/preserve practically everything scaling back a bit made it much more enjoyable. It was kind of liberating in a way, to buy some lettuce seedlings at the market for successive sowing, for example, rather than having to be on to it all the time. I still like to grow a lot purely from the eating point of view. Home grown tastes far superior especially the soft produce: stone fruit, tomatoes, herbs and lettuces. But even things like cucumbers! I think around these parts, however, I preach to the converted.

The tranquillity of these two was mightily disturbed not long after this was taken. After much resistance it was  yes, you are going to learn to ride your bike today! Off we went to a nearby oval and basketball court  where we had to bully them into the whole starting-stopping-riding business. Being seven years old they caught on very quickly and it was all over in an hour! Tears and trauma. Of course, now they love riding, and've spent vast amounts of time since in a cul-de-sac nearby perfecting their skills. On Tuesday we will ride to school (not tomorrow - appointment at 9.00). This resistance to cycling has occurred with all four girls, but not Giles. Stereotyping? Dunno. All I know is, it's an important life skill (like being able to swim ok)and best learnt young. Actually, I'd be interested to know what other things you consider to be "important life skills". Being able to cook is another that springs to mind. I'm actually thinking of things not usually covered in mainstream school curriculum.

Another in the "chair series".

Do You Ever Have Days Like This?

I've been having one of those times when I just don't know what to make of anything , when everything seems like crap. Hideous. I am employing my usual defences: walking the dog ragged, gardening like a demon (includes wielding a mattock and shovel to plant the lovely wintersweet), talking to people (the hardest, hardest thing) because I really don't feel like talking to anyone - not even my own family. But I make the effort because this will pass and I love them dearly. I can type this stuff , interestingly. Perhaps I need to write messages to self and others? My inner ponderings say I need to do "self work" and "marriage work". My preferred option is to walk the dog and have a cup of tea and a bottle of wine! Or actually de/re-materialise and become a tree.

Another in the chair series . A title courtesy of Victoria. After a very thorough tidy up of their room! This is an abnormal manifestation of tidiness.

A bit of window light, actually, from one side of the room to the other. The things you look at when you're cutting up vegies.

Nothing Today

Just so you don't think it's all beer and skittles and wondrous op-shop finds in this neck of the woods I came away from visiting my usual "Wednesday Five" empty handed. The hit or miss affair that op-shopping is. And I did do rather well last week!

Big Banana Bake

Last week I got a dozen overripe bananas at the local fruiterer for 99 cents (remember how expensive they were only quite recently).

Today was a perfect baking day - cold and rainy. With my trusty offsiders helping I made two large cakes and two dozen muffins.

It's usually the big kids that bake at our house these days. Leah made chocolate chip biscuits last week, and then hid them in her room, "Because you guys will eat them all". I suppose she had a point, we probably often appear to be the ravening hordes.

Leah and Giles have gone to watch the local football grand final. Giles' team was knocked out of the running last week. Linsey is in Melbourne checking out RMIT (Open Day there today) and going to see The Cure tonight. Last week was Deakin Uni. Open Day and then going to Kaiser Chiefs. Some of us do it hard!

Here's a photo of our chook run for Susan who has a run underway in a spot very similar to mine - down behind the shed.

The wood heap uses half the area behind the shed so the run extends into the backyard as well. The chook's nest box and roosting area is actually in the shed and accessed by a lift up lid. Having the rainwater tank there is very handy for refilling the drinker. Man, it looks really backyard bodgy, doesn't it! I kind of like that look.

New garden bed in-the-making. I dug out all the kikuyu on Friday, well, I never get it all. It takes several years of thick mulch and pulling it out to really get rid of it. Whatever I plant will be competing with the roots of a fine, vigorous apricot tree, so needs careful consideration. I planted seeds of cream and purpley-cream californian poppy which should be ok and will self sow ever after. I also went and got two wintersweet. Just loved Jenny's descriptions of hers. Consumed with an instant desire to have one . Once established they're very dry tolerant and hardy, so I got one for the new garden bed and one for the nature strip to intoxicate passers-by with the perfume. I am so kind. I am also considering pumpkins to grow up the fence and dangle insultingly at Giles. And then, when the pumpkins grow big I'll make a sling for them out of old panty-hose. Giles was appalled when I said I'd use the spot to grow vegies. Heck, I'm full of good ideas this evening.

Just so you don't get withdrawal symptoms. Here's some more op-shop treasure from my exceedingly good week just gone.

Cute little retro top for the small fry. Worn willingly by Ally, spurned by Clare. Also got two pairs of jeans and two school dresses, in very good condition. It was a good week, I tell you.

I'd seen this dish week after week at Johnno's, the Anglican Church op-shop. Strangely attracted to it, but, you know, I didn't have any particular use for it, or anywhere to put it. I succumbed last week, and I'm glad. At the moment it's on the mantelpiece with the lemons in it. I scored a bag full of lemons when I bought the wintersweet - they were giving them away. I love lemons (and all other citrus).

A cushion. Too big for its cover. I'll have another insert in the Morgan Roof Space Storage Facility for sure. The current insert keeps emerging from the cover and turning up around the loungeroom.

Last of all is a favourite chair picture.

I Go to the Op-Shop When There's Lots to Do at Home.

Yes, well, I  been hadn't been around those parts for a couple of months. I had a keen offsider who didn't have to be at school (Linsey). We did the rounds of the five op-shops in Lakes Entrance. I did not sew, paint, garden or clean. I didn't go in to work and do the bank reconciliation.

I bought some fabric.

Some old patterns. Now I can make a Lady Cubmaster uniform.

I came across a copy of Good Housekeeping Needlecraft 1974.

Not sure about this one. Those strawberries...

Like it - but not the pink. I think the top would be a let down , literally, not enough support for the 18E lady.

Cool birds, I reckon I'll make something like these in due course. I like 'em.

Nice lairy tea towel. Brand new. I reckon it was a gift and the recipient wasn't game to use it in the kitchen. Too much even for the 70's? Just guessing.

A good afternoon of procrastinating.

Wednesday is Op-Shop Day

I didn't think I'd be "doing the rounds" today. Clare has been quite sick. This was her on Sunday:

Headaches, fevers and a sore throat equals one miserable little girl. At one point she was crying because she just felt so terrible. I had to go in to work Monday and Tuesday (do the accounts-generate some income). Clare came with me and slept under a blanket on a waiting room chair, or sat on my lap while I was on the computer.

Definitely on the mend today though. Ally is showing signs of being the next, and Giles doesn't sound too good either.

Clare was quite happy to go op-shopping today. We did well, I think.

A little Pyr-O-Rey measuring jug and a stripey teatowel.

A water jug to replace the one that got broken recently. I think these are old pub jugs. Heh, made so you don't spill a drop.

Another one of those surreal story books with the dolls. I wonder how many are in the series.

A big stack of books!

The kid's non-fiction is for Clare and Ally who're really taking an interest in animals/dinosaurs/volcanoes etc.

"I Can Read French" will display our appalling pronunciation (my limited high school french).

"Britain in Colour" for dreaming because I'd love to travel there.

An ancient atlas for an artwork idea that's been brewing.

"My First Picture Dictionary" for card making.

Nursery Rhyme books to add to my collection. Yes, I have a fascination with, and collect, books of fairy tales and nursery rhymes. I especially like the Brothers Grimm. The older, unsanitised, stories are quite macabre.

Ellis Stones'  "Australian Garden Design" is for my sister. Published in 1971, it remains classic (in my opinion). Really good basic information. Mostly black & white photos, which is good,  I think, because you're not distracted by pretty flowers, and can consider things like form and scale.

Among the slim volumes : "Trees of Victoria - An Illustrated Guide" (L.F. Costermans), a tiny pocket-sized book. "The Ladybird Book of Toys and Games to Make" chosen by Clare. Heavy use of wooden cotton reels,  matchboxes and tin cans. A lovely book all the same.

It's unusual to have such a score of books. Mostly it's very patchy.

I collected a bit of fabric,as well. Pink gingham, a lovely self-spot white cotton lawn, some stripey interlock and a long cotton/linen dress which will yield a good amount of fabric.

Procrastinating (and a Visit to the Big Smoke)

Leah and I took the train to Melbourne at the crack of dawn yesterday. A trip I really enjoy - three or so hours of reading time there and again coming home. I read Peter Goldsworthy's Three Dog Night which I am still digesting. Not because it was indigestible, because I'm still thinking about parts of it. The disturbing "love triangle", Western Desert imagery, the way Walpiri language bird names echo the call of the bird, the ushering in of memories: living in Alice Springs many years ago, the astonishing and beautiful landscape, sadness at the hideous limbo that's snared so many of the aboriginal people.

I enjoyed Goldsworthy's book Maestro which caused me to buy the other at the op-shop.

Unfortunately I finished the book before reaching Sale. Had an hour to try and be meditative with Leah sleeping on my shoulder. It was lovely to have that closeness with her, to have her to myself for a day. She really suffered when the twins were born, I think sometimes she's been scarred by the experience. It was a pleasure to indulge her yesterday. We spent time at her "Mecca", the shop Supre, and a number of other shops, where she got loads of bargains. Leah is pretty much fully grown now, and so petite. Imagine buying extra small!

The other purpose of the visit, however, was to catch up with my sister, who'd flown down for a long weekend to see Phantom of the Opera. Cathy is a big fan of musicals, and Anthony Warlow who I believe plays the lead. She lives in Singleton (NSW), and rather than wait until it opens in Sydney she decided to lash out and see it in Melbourne. And why not: she's single! While we've never really had lots in common, we get along quite well these days. I noted that we're looking very alike now. I'm not sure what to think about this because Cathy was always "the good and pretty one". Perhaps I've become more good and she's become less pretty! Who knows (and who cares). Well, just by having mentioned it reveals that I do care, even if it's marginal now, obviously it's been an issue in the dim, dark past. I do admit I was a bit thingy, but yeah, it's been a long while since I went there. And basically, now, I'm too happy with my life to bother.

And now some more wattle:

Dwarf fringed wattle, acacia fimbriata.

I've two, on the other side of the fence. Not from here, but very hardy here all the same.                               

Sewing, no. Procrastinating, yes. So much so, I've even taken up the brush.

After more than a year.

Fiddling with something from about three years ago

   

A dud from about four years ago. A landscape that I wasn't happy with, obviously, since I did all that white painting out. One day, on a dog walk,  I had an idea of what to do. the start of it is in the lower right hand corner. It's a start. With many sewing and craft projects cut out or partially finished  it's crazy to embark on this. Crazy. Definitely .