Saturday, 29 January 2022

Christmas Leftovers - Cathy's Farm

Next on our New Year adventure was an overnight visit to my sisters new house on the south coast.

My little sister Cathy and her husband Andrew have just bought a property which is

rather wonderful and beautifully bizarre!

Above are the adopted chickens who think they are dogs.

Its on 19 acres and came with all furniture, fittings Shetland ponies and chickens included.

It would have once had the most magnificent garden as well.

Its been an air B&B and completely neglected by the previous owners.

But prior to 2018 it was boutique accommodation and a wedding venue!

Now I've been a bit naughty online and have found photos of the property in its heyday so I'm going to present you with some now and then photos!

My apologies to the anonymous wedding party that will feature,

but the pics were already online anyway and available for all!

This place has its own open air chapel which will be really useful for my nephews wedding this year.

THE CHAPEL

Above:-NOW

Lots of damage from years of being out in the elements

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

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THE PHOTO BOOTHS

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

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THE GAMES AREA

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

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THE GARDEN

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

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THE HOUSE


Above:- THEN with a wedding Marquee

Most of these photos are off the internet.

The furniture all came with the house.

Also, the linen, the china in the cupboards.

The lawnmower. The lamps.

Don't know where Cathy will put her own things!

She has been very busy selling what she doesn't want.

Above:- NOW

All the bedrooms have names.

We had the stables on our visit.

Above:- THEN

The Bowery

Above:- THEN

The birdbarn is now Cathy's office.

Above:- THEN

The 'fun-room' has now been converted back to the garage and she's sold all the daybeds.

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

The Library

Above:- THEN

Above:-NOW

So many pictures to sell

Above:- THEN

The kitchen will be replaced, she's sold all the willow pattern.

The place has been styled for effect but not very practical, and the oven, bbq and pizza oven were filthy.

Above:- THEN

The most impractical laundry came with everything you see here.

Above:- THEN

Above:- NOW

Chicken living the dream...

I didn't mention the fully equipped bar made from a shipping container, its been sold now.

Or the glamping tents...

The lady that set this up as a Wedding Venue has gone on to set up a new one.

https://www.thewoodsfarm.com.au/

Sunday, 23 January 2022

Christmas Leftovers - Hamish!

Next stop was a visit down the south coast to visit Andrew, Hailey and our grandson Hamish.

(I look a little startled above in this pic, not sure why)!

Hamish has just turned one and is nearly walking now.

First time we've seen him in a year due to the Covid pandemic.

Here's Andrew at about the same age. while Andrew was very, very red

Hamish is very, very blonde.

Andrew and Hailey have moved into a new house in 2021.

Lots of new teeth to show Nana.

They also have a new puppy named Ernie, a doggie pal for Gretel.

Saturday, 22 January 2022

Christmas Leftovers - Sydney

A few extra adventures to share from our traveling around between Christmas and the New Year.

The first event was a catch up with Grahams family.

Graham's nephew Tom and his wife Merel are finally here to visit from Brussels.

And we get to meet baby Ivy for the first time.

That's 3 granddaughters for Michael and Gail.

Merels having another baby, also a girl!

Ivy looks like a little doll in this photo with her cousins.

We had morning tea at the Museum of Commentary Art.

The rooftop cafe with its beautiful views of circular quay.

https://www.mca.com.au/

A bit of a rainy day. But good for the vegemite sandwiches.

Then we went onto the James Squires brew-house for lunch.

Sunday, 16 January 2022

Christmas 2021- The third slice - Kimbadale and other stuff..

YES, Kimbadale is back for 2021!

This year the new purchases were a few maintenance things, (globes, trees, spotlights and wires)

and a Christmas market!

Just like when we in Germany for Christmas 2017.

(well, sort of).

Kimadale is just getting too big,

so next year I'm going to reduce it and rotate the items so there not all out at once each year.

I also didn't put up the Christmas tree this year, I was too exhausted from the

Christmas biscuit kit thingy,

next year the birdies Christmas decs can be on show.

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BUT, look at this.

My Dad gifted me this painting.

that he painted himself of course~!

Where do you think it this is a painting of???

Our backyard.

With 'Phil' the magpie as its centerpiece.

The galahs and cockatoos as well.

I'll post a better photo when I get it up on the wall.

YAY!

Thanks Dad.

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On boxing day Mum and Dad, Graham and myself

had a nice ham sandwich picnic lunch at Dangers Falls.

It is at last full of water again after the drought..

Dangars Gorge and Falls

Dangars Falls, near Armidale

The Dangars Gorge and Falls are located 22 kilometres (14 mi) south-east of Armidale along the Dangersleigh Road and are home to the beautiful Dangars Falls, and the starting point for several great walks. McDirtys Walk - 6.9 km, 3 hours, medium difficulty. From the carpark at Dangars Gorge, cross the river and follow the track to the lookout above the falls (1.4 kilometres return), and Rock Wallaby Lookout (2.1 kilometres return). The track follows the gorge rim along a ridge to McDirtys Lookout (6.9 kilometres return). There are good places for picnics, camping and bushwalking. Salisbury Waters Walk - 14 km, 8 hours, difficult. This walk is an excellent introduction to gorge bushwalking, and can be undertaken in one strenuous or two leisurely days. From Dangars carpark cross the river (if the river is high do not attempt to cross), and follow the track past the turn off to McDirtys, heading out along the ridge as sign-posted to Sarum Hill Lookout (10.7 kilometres return), descending 500 metres to Salisbury Waters (14 kilometres return).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxley_Wild_Rivers_National_Park#Dangars_Gorge_and_Falls

From the top of falls.

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And (nearly) finally.

this is what the Kimbadale skeleton looks like.

Books and cake tins to make hills.

I just drape fabric around it to make it look pretty.

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Santa has survived for more than 3 minutes now! A record.

Hello to My Mum's Doggie Friend Readers..

I would like to say that the Santa dog toy is the

longest lasting squeaky dog toy I have ever owned!

Thanks for the gift Nana.

Happy New Year 2022~and wishing you lots of wet noses in your life

from Miss Lizzy.

Squeak, squeak..

G'day. I love you all too.

From Teddy

Saturday, 15 January 2022

Christmas 2021 - The second slice - Biscuit Kit

Hello My Dear Readers

and Happy New Year and welcome to 2022!

I have a few more Christmas New Year posts to share so I'm doing a bit of a catch up.

My regular Dear Readers will be aware that every year I make a Christmas Extravaganza for my nurses and our other wonderful support staff.

I also gift one to my hairdresser, my cleaner, grand-kids, niece (for Christmas, with a mixing bowl set) and our next door neighbour.

You may remember, in the past for Christmas gifts I've done bookmarks, paper stars, jelly beans and reindeer noses.

This year ..it nearly killed me!

Only kidding.

I put together 40 Christmas biscuit kits, I was exhausted,

I keep telling them that next year their all just getting lollies..

Here is my production line, measuring out the ingredients for 40 kits.

The idea is the recipients just add one egg and some butter and bake the biscuits themselves.

I also bought some really nice recyclable packing with the pouches which I found online.

And of course there were things I forgot to consider...

They were heavy so I had to lug kilo's and kilos of gifts into work.

Chocolate melts in summer.

We have a mouse issue from time to time, which is why I had to store everything in plastic crates.

Graham thinks I'm bonkers.

But they were very much appreciated by the staff.

My first idea was to do a cookie mix in a jar.

But I needed a one litre jar and 40 jars were expensive.

(I don't know why I didn't think of making the ingredients 1/2 quantity)!

So that was 40 kits, each making potentially 24 biscuits.

960 Christmas Biscuits!!!

Here's my original recipe from TASTE. (Thanks to Abby and her cookies in a jar).

https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/abbys-cookies-jar/717dc06f-5854-4c04-ae6b-768f72d9dcb9

I completely adapted it to make the ingredients cheaper.

But then had to do a test batch.

The first batch was yucky, as I added Christmas spices and it was just too over whelming so I left the spices out of the final recipe. I also upped the flour a bit.