Underhill in December

As the weather forecast looked reasonable with cool nights and days in the low 20s Geoff, Jen, Ivy and I went down to Underhill for two nights after Boxing Day. The weather followed the forecast and we enjoyed a most pleasant time.

Ivy was happy playing with toys in her portacot with fly lid. And also happy crawling around the floor with Dad and Ponyo.

She was even happier when it was bath time.

We adults spent a lot of time sorting sheds again and the scullery is now quite workable as long as between us we remember where everything has been put. You can now walk in and open all cupboards. We even used the tiny stove, that has been stored in the tank shed for at least 30 years. It fitted well on top of the chimnea.

Jen spent a lot of her time emptying the tank shed and cleaning from the ceiling to the floor. The floor itself will be done next time when she is bringing down her battery operated vacuum cleaner. They will also bring a new set of drawers they have at home to store their clothes and things.

We have sorted a lot of excess STUFF for the bins at home or for a trip or two to the tip in 2016. We just have to stockpile it in the covered space until then.

Geoff was able to fix the watering system to the fruit trees and also the power lead from the caravan to the pavilion and sheds inside it. We were also able to make a start on an updated map of the fruit trees.

I gathered a lot of windfall apples and plums (actually bird fall) for the chooks at home and spent a bit of time shooing away beautiful Crimson Rosellas from the fruit, explaining to them that it was actually our fruit. We have now netted a peach and a pear tree that have quite a bit of fruit on them. We may have to invest in tree netting if we are to get a harvest.

In the second toilet shed a Grey Shrike Thrush was busy raising a second batch of babies. It was amazing to watch her flying in with worms and insects. I hope they make it through.

Christmas Fun

This year Christmas was at mine. Unfortunately I was not at mine until midday so Geoff and Jen had to start the cooking and entertain the family when they arrived.

I arrived home from singing at church with an awful cold so had to stay clear of Mum especially.

The kids (cousins Alex, Luke and Ivy and second cousin Alex) entertained one another amidst the chaos of food, gift wrapping, sleeping aunts and uncles and other amused rellies.

Ivy and Christmas Music

The last month has been filled with music and Ivy. I was lucky enough to go with Ivy, Geoff and Jen to Ivy's last swimming lesson of the year. She just loves the water and all the singing and playing with Dad that goes with it.

Then when Ivy comes to my house she has a huge playpen to entertain me in. The house looks like Fort Knox with barriers on every door and the stairs.

She came in her Giraffe outfit the other day and it even had a little tail.

She is so pleased she can pull herself up on all these barriers.

We were even able to start making the Christmas cakes.

Intermingled with Ivy days are my singing practices and performances. In late November there was Celebration Sing Out with a huge choir, kids choir and full orchestra. There were quite a few of us from Sutherland Shire Choral Society.

The practices for the Westpac choir are held in the Westpac head office in Kent St overlooking the developing Barangaroo area.

Our performances for that are held in the foyer of the same building and next week we have a concert pianist accompanying us!

Practices for the Messiah this coming weekend have now finished and I sang the alto part of Purcell's "Rejoice in the Lord Alway" in a trio at church on Sunday morning. The afternoon was then filled with another practice.

In the next week I have only one day (tomorrow) that is music free but I am loving all the opportunities to sing.

A busy end to October

The great grand daughters Alexandra and Ivy had a lovely visit with Gram. One day they'll be old enough to get to know one another. We also had a great lunch together in Cooper Park.

Arianne's final exhibition in early November was a stunner and despite the flu she was able to reach her target and enjoy the process. Friends and family came to stay at mine and helped with the transport of it all.

One surprise during October was that I actually did have potatoes in my garden. I thought they had all died. In fact I ended up with about 4 such trays of potatoes.

Dealing with excess has meant lots of chopping and freezing. And I've even tried some with my potatoes, making some little potato patties out of left over mashed potato ready for heating for another meal.

The celery and capsicums below are not from my garden.

The spinach is from my garden and I froze some cup cake sized servings for reheating later or using in stews etc.

I continue to get fabulous carrots, one of which was about 20cm long! We have eaten some fresh but I have also diced some to freeze for later cooking.

October ended with a lunch for St Stephens choir members. It was a great afternoon with people coming and going to fit in with various gigs around town.

Last weekend was a mammoth 15 hours of singing with a final concert in the Town Hall. A wonderful experience.

Now it is my turn with the flu so I am cancelling things left right and centre.

Three new residents at my place

Arianne has added lots of green/blue/purple hues to my back room and has introduced another two residents as company for Bertha.

It is now the countdown to the due date and there is lots of sewing happening. Arianne's line of evening dresses with a 'theatrical twist' is stunning.

A long weekend at Underhill

Last weekend I broke with my usual pattern and stayed down at Underhill for two nights. We (Geoff, Jen, Ivy, Ponyo and I) were joined by Elaine (who did all the washing up as well as helping with other jobs). Nathan and Karita, Brad and Mic also came and joined in.

Ivy just loves being at Underhill and there was only one short cry one night when Jen got up to the call of nature.

Mic is always fabulous with Ivy.

My project for the weekend was to finish tidying the Tool Shed so that now you can actually walk in to retrieve the tools needed and PUT THEM AWAY.

In the process I was able to get some of the tools stored in the Scullery and Geoff and Jen's shed. Geoff put up a weldmesh wall lining in the Scullery and we cut lots of hooks for cups and utensils. This means that the Scullery is also looking orderly. There is still a lot to go in there though.

Unfortunately I did not remember to take photos of those two achievements.

One of Geoff's project for the weekend was to set up more solar lighting in the Living Area. This achieved we had to wait extra long in the evening to test it as now daylight saving time has started and it does not get dark quite so early. I even have light in the Scullery!

His other project was to dismantle the stove area end wall and remove the old stove. This all meant that we started using the chimnea for cooking. It is really a great way to cook. We were able to produce a camp oven roast, fluffy rice, toast, barbequed sausages, and even porridge. In fact it is much better than any of our stoves have ever been.

Geoff is now playing lego with bricks to see how his new rocket stove construction will work.

One surprise when we arrived was to find that the eggs in a nest in the second loo had hatched and were well looked after by mum - a Grey Shrike Thrush.

We are all really pleased with the achievements of the weekend and feel that the whole area is becoming more liveable.

School Holidays

During the recent holidays I had a great time with the grand kids.

The boys helped me carry and load bricks and did a lot of work around the house when we were at their place. At mine they did sewing for a little while and drew lots of pictures.

Ivy now has a tiny white tooth. She loves chatting, singing, doing pelvic rises and kicking those tiny legs.

Visitors

I've had lots of visitors lately including Trish and Leigha, Rauri and Janice, and just last night I had Zoe and her two very large dogs Blake and Ness (siblings - great dane, lab crosses) for a sleep over. When Ponyo visited this afternoon she had a great time reading the doggie news on the lawn.

The two dogs were very well behaved but large and excited to be in a new home. I think they will be glad to be home in Brewarrina tonight though.