Isabella, the cellar door dog at St Clement's Estate, had her first litter. Isabella delivered a litter of fluffy, Maremma, sheep dogs. Tuscan was one of the litter chosen for our daughter and her husband, Sam. In a few months Tuscan has grown. The little ball of curious fluff has developed more quickly than we could have imagined. Tuscan has some favourite toys and some locally sourced items that we had not considered might be of interest to him too. Palm fronds from the compost pile and even a thong that must have rested in the garden for more than a dozen years are gnawed with great passion. When Tuscan comes to visit bones are essential for he likes to sit and crunch them until they are unrecognisable shadows of themselves. He is still considered a puppy. I can't wait until he is all grown up. How much more will he grow? A recent weigh in saw him close to 35 kilo's.
Last night long time friends sat down to a typical Aussie barbecue. Butterfly pork fillets that had been marinated in plum sauce were accompanied by side dishes, a salad and oven roasted potatoes. The peach, crumbled feta, macadamia and mixed leaf salad was drizzled with sweet Balsamic vinegar, just prior to serving. A large bowl of potatoes soft and fluffy on the inside with a crispy outer layer provided the balance of textures and flavours. Dessert, a combination of berry filled cupcakes topped with maple syrup; the perfect finish to the dining experience. Casual and relaxed candle lit conversation. Happy Easter, Bella Wind. The first of many to come.
Major's Lane was a fitting location for a major birthday. Over one hundred people travelled to celebrate March 14th and John's 60th. Under the canopy people struggled with John's Name The Date Test. Testing it was. John had collated many pictures revealing memories spent, either with his family, or friends and colleagues. Many shared answers, some borrowed dates and a few guests actually identified the elusive years. Conversation flowed like the water features. Speeches were made and cakes cut. John shared his date of birth with many VIP's. To name but a few; Albert Einstein - John and he, both men of wisdom. Then there was Michael Caine - Men of many roles. John a son, a brother, a cousin, an uncle, a friend, a mentor and a colleague. Next, there was Billy Crystal - Both men known for their fine sense of humour and a clever whit. Hank Ketcham, who created Dennis The Menace and like John had an affinity to work with children. Finally, Frank Borman, the astronaut lead the first men to circle the moon and who, like John, encouraged people to reach for the stars. The list is endless. Happy Birthday John and thakn you for the invite. An honour to share this occasion.
Times are changing and so too menus. The new, rustic, Mediterranean style menu at the Cellar Restaurant in Pokolbin is a winner. How pleasing to sample some of the dishes now featured. My entree was the sweet potato and pinenut salad. Crisp and fresh. Thence, for mains, my choice was the duck. Fellow diners chose sides to accompany their mains. I found the portions to be most generous leaving no need for dessert on this occasion. Thanks to John for a lovely evening where we caught up and savoured the new menu.
Love my job but after a busy day at work we headed for Lillino's. No cooking. Yay! Great idea. Fresh figs were listed as a chalkboard special. Love fresh figs. Perfect entree for a very hot day. Pesce of the day, swordfish. Another perfect choice for the intense summery weather. How does one finish the dining experience? Hint; another chalkboard special designed especially to mirror seasonal produce. Mango sorbet was my final decision of the day. No more decisions just Shiraz '05. Do as Clint Eastwood once said, 'Make my day.'
It has been raining for so long that my world has greened. Just a few weeks ago the ground was brown and crusted. The yard was reduced to a series of deep cracks. Cracks that stretched in a crazed-like pattern from fence to fence. The soil had withdrawn from the fence posts leaving me wondering if they would fall in the winds that sucked the air dry of moisture. Underfoot the remnant weeds and grass crackled and turned to dust. Wind blew and it seemed that rain would never come. Much social banter targeted the incessant cycle of weather. 'It must rain soon', was repeated over and over again as we all struggled in the heat. How fast life changes. Puddles have formed and grown into creeks. Creeks have flowed across roads and then streets, past homes and into them. Drenched plants and trees have sprouted new shoots. Cracks have slowly healed. Grass shoots once stubble have risen to green my world. How refreshing to walk that same yard; to tread carefully in my thongs. Oozing mud squelched around the pink of my thongs. Newly planted fruit trees grateful for the change stood stronger today. How green is my world?
Isabella, the cellar door dog at St Clement's Estate, had her first litter. Isabella delivered a litter of fluffy, Maremma, sheep dogs. Tuscan was one of the litter chosen for our daughter and her husband, Sam. In a few months Tuscan has grown. The little ball of curious fluff has developed more quickly than we could have imagined. Tuscan has some favourite toys and some locally sourced items that we had not considered might be of interest to him too. Palm fronds from the compost pile and even a thong that must have rested in the garden for more than a dozen years are gnawed with great passion. When Tuscan comes to visit bones are essential for he likes to sit and crunch them until they are unrecognisable shadows of themselves. He is still considered a puppy. I can't wait until he is all grown up. How much more will he grow? A recent weigh in saw him close to 35 kilo's.
