Who would be a farmer!

Don't count your harvest before it is in.

At Underhill in the last week or so we've had huge winds which not only blew off the fruit from our trees but also blew two over. Here is our harvest... 2 Cox's Orange Pippin apples, 5 quince, 6 Golden Delicious apples, 3 Greengage plums, a handful of damsons, some tiny potatoes that I have brought home to plant and 6 peaches.

 We arrived to find our peach split and over and only 6 peaches left to pick.

One of our apples was over but it had been suffering from termite infestation for some years.

Geoff christened his new stove and now knows what steps to take next. It worked really well and boiled our kettle. The only problem was putting it out when we were leaving as it has no doors and dampers to shut it down yet.

Heather and Ponyo came and we had fun together but Heather was a little scared of Ponyo who immediately had a swim then rolled in the dirt and ran around like a mad thing.

 

Apart from picking the almost non-existent harvest our plan was to twist the bottom tank so that it could be easily joined to the next tank up and water from both used for drip watering the fruit trees. First the task of emptying the last of the water out of the tank so Geoff had to lift it with a jack. That meant we could also get a round pole through under it to roll it on once the water was gone.

Now the two tanks are coupled and attached to the watering system which we checked actually worked.

Because of the 90mm of rain in the last month the dams are OK ...

And the oaks are still alive...

Maybe it will be a better harvest next year.

An amazing day on our Harbour

Kerrie and I had a catch up day yesterday and after meeting at Circular Quay decided to get on a ferry to Pyrmont Bay. We often just decide when we meet what we are going to do for the day.

We wandered around Pyrmont a little way then had an early lunch at Grill'd at the Pyrmont end of Darling Harbour. Next decision was to walk across the foot bridge. We were lucky enough to be there just as it opened at noon. I've never actually been on it when it has opened before. Nothing went through so we assume it must have been a test run right on 12:00.

We walked along to Barangaroo Wharf but unfortunately waited on the wrong wharf and saw our ferry leave a wharf further down. We actually waited on the wharf where the ferry dropped people off on the way in but it seems it is the wrong one.

Eventually we found the correct wharf and had a lovely slow trip back to Circular Quay.

We had noticed that the ferry was continuing on to Watson's Bay so we decided to just stay on. Just after we left Rose Bay the ferry sped up quite suddenly and I guess it was to get off the seaplane landing area because one landed within seconds of us escaping. I tried to get a photo but unfortunately missed it.

At Watson's Bay we wandered up the hill to The Gap. It was really quite hot and sunny so we did not linger long.

It was very crowded down at the coffee shops and eating places so we decided to forego our coffee and get on the ferry back to the Quay. After expressing our disappointment at the very fast ferry trip on the way down we were blessed with a very languorous trip back up the harbour. All boat traffic was slowed to a crawl by the SailGP International Catamaran Race There are some fantastic photos at the linked site but mine is as I saw it.

Eventually we arrived back at Circular Quay and had our long awaited coffee before heading up to the station and home. I arrived home quite exhausted as we had stood for most of the trip down to Watson's Bay.

What a great day for a trip on the harbour!

The good and the bad of Underhill in summer

A small group of people ventured to Underhill last weekend. Friday hit 40C so there was a lot of sitting around keeping hydrated and as cool as possible with cold drinks, salty chips, and wet towels. The new roof is a real bonus in hot sunny weather.

Photo by Greg

We spent time watching the young Crimson Rosellas come in to eat the fallen apples too.

Later in the afternoon (still very hot) Greg decided it was time to pitch the tent. This time it has long enough poles so went up quite well.

After a mostly hot night we decided to pick the seedling plums.

Geoff had decided we needed some fruit picking apron/bags so I had taken two sturdy aprons down to experiment with size and options. This is what I came up with.

Photo by Greg

After rigorous testing by Elaine and I we've decided that they are great as they leave both hands free for holding down branches and would even be good for ladder work.

Photos by Greg

Our harvest of plums was good providing about 4.5 litres of pulp once I processed them at home.

During the afternoon on the Friday Elaine had an eye problem for which she needed to see her optometrist. As it was still sore on Saturday morning, once we finished picking the plums, we all returned to Sydney. This was a great pity because she and I were looking forward to staying until Sunday.

It turned out a wise move as she is now on antibiotic drops with a scratched cornea and Ev and Elaine both came down with a gastro problem. The only thing we can think of that they both had was heat exhaustion (but this was after our return) and the ice that they had lots more of than Greg or I. Who knows?

I hope next time we go we have a bit better luck with the weather.

Christmas has gone, the New Year is yet to come

Well the house is back to normal, summer holidays begun

And I'm fighting off the flu that threatened Christmas singing fun.

It's hot and humid weather so I'm sitting by the fan

Binge-watching shows recorded, or anything I can.
My step count's gone to billy-o, I don't move much at all
I even get a nanna nap and early to bed I crawl. 

I could turn on the aircon and work upstairs in the cool

But I'm tired and sick and sorry that I can't be by the pool.

The weeds are growing quickly and the produce coming fast

I race out in the morning cool and pick berries that I pass.

The chooks, of course, are gasping, but still lay quite well

And enjoy the flies and seek the shade when heat their actions quell.

I've dealt with all the apricots that Geoff and family picked

When they went to Underhill in this appalling heat.

I miss the rhyme and rhythm that accompanies Christmas time

And the trumpets, harp and organ and the voices so sublime

But I'll be back and join the chorus when this flu and heat are gone

When the year begins in earnest and we start our next new song.

Christmas Day was fun and busy when first at church I sang

Then all the family gathered and we formed a happy gang.

The children played with cousins and second cousins too

And the adults sat around to chat with nothing more to do.

I've cleared away the leftovers, filled the freezer with much food

Prepared some stock and soup and stuff that should prove very good.

I've cleared the decorations and moved the tables back

So when the year begins anew I've room to think and act,

But now it's time for quiet, for healing and reflection

For sorting things and catching up without interruption,

And to find the new music to learn this coming year

To make sure it is truly familiar to my ear.

So as the new year comes around I wish you all the best

And time to make your dreams come true and pass in every test

That life hurls at you and causes you to fear.

So basically I wish you all a Happy New Year.

From Betty..

Merry Christmas

I wish you all a wonderful time with family and friends over the Christmas  break.

This year I've made my own bamboo Christmas tree.

A cool wet time at Underhill

Greg, Ev and I went down to Underhill last Friday/Saturday for an overnight trip. It was beautifully cool with quite heavy rain overnight.

We really went down for a fruit picking trip - blackberries and apricots. While the blackberries (actually Youngberries) yielded plenty, the apricots were not ripe enough to pick. We will have to make another trip in Christmas week to get any of those or we might leave them for the birds this year.

Then there was the netting of the fruit trees - Greengage Plum, Golden Delicious Apple and Peach.

As it was so damp we allowed ourselves a fire in the hearth and were able to burn off quite a bit of rubbish timber.

Greg and Ev wanted to pitch their new tent but because there were some pole pieces missing it made a sorry sight. In case of rain they pitched it in the carport. Very lucky to do so or they would have been drowned in it overnight.

We were looking around at general things to be done and found the stump of one of the trees. I gave it a bit of a pull and after a bit of wobbling part of it came away. Greg then worked on more of it. A bit more rotting and termite work and the whole thing should come away. Meanwhile we still have some very large logs to deal with when we have someone down with a chainsaw.

It was a pity Geoff and family could not join us on the Saturday but Ponyo had an ear infection that needed to be attended to. Thankfully our phones now work at Underhill so we got messages through to each other.

My Market Run delivery exceeds all expectations

This is what I received this week from The Market Run for $20 (including delivery)...

• 1/2 watermelon
• 1/2 butternut pumpkin
• cos lettuce
• small eggplant
• 2 potatoes
• large sweet potato
• broccoli
• asparagus
• button mushrooms
• punnet tiny tomatoes
• 2 tomatoes 
• 1 orange
• 1 mango
• 1 lemon
• 1 avocado
• 2 nectarines
• 1 peach
• 1 kiwifruit
• 1 pear
• 2 bananas
• 2 carrots
• 1 cucumber
• 1 zucchini
• 1 brown onion
• 1 red onion
• 2 red apples
• 2 green apples

I don't think I missed anything!!! And this is called a "Baby Box (adapted for a senior)". I just can't get over it. 

The end of an era?

For those who have visited me in the last 8 years or so you'll know that various members of one family have lived with me whilst completing studies in Sydney. Over the years they have become my adopted family, often staying alone, or en masse, for short or extended periods.

My latest was Arianne who was here for 4 years doing a Theatre Costume Design course.

Arianne had her final exhibition last week and has now, with the help of family, has moved out creating a huge hole upstairs. I think I'll find it a large empty house for a while.

Brett, Josh, Zoe, Arianne, Leigha

On Saturday they all stayed here (except Thea who is overseas) as a base to attend a concert and collect Arianne and her many packages.

Meanwhile my raspberries are producing a stunning harvest and I am able to pick enough for at least one feast every day or two.

For me it is now the run down to Christmas with lots of singing practices, performances and services, the last being on Christmas morning.

Another Recovery Milestone

There is now very little I can't do with my new hip. Four months on I have now had one month of 10,000 steps a day continuous even though in that time I've had two weeks with a full on cold.

Even well before the new hip this graph was a rare event!

The next challenge is to be able to roll over onto my right side in bed at night. It is still a bit odd, not exactly uncomfortable and definitely not painful but a challenge nevertheless.

Stoves new and old

This morning I was up on a very rainy morning to cook my Christmas Cakes. The new stove had done them well and even though we had a storm to start the day, we did not lose power and the cakes cooked quickly in the fan forced section of the stove.

Yesterday Kim and I had our last day together before school goes back in February and we worked hard to get the BBQarea all sorted for play and entertainment. Mind you, I don't have a BBQ at the moment but that is beside the point.

Today the whole area and everything in it is well washed with all the rain we are having. My tanks should be full by now and my soil is well soaked I hope.