Distant Cousins

Fisherman's Grotto - Now and Then - Dinner and a lovely sunset

This is Fisherman's Grotto
About 10 years ago, you could go nearer to the first arch (although not advisable when the tide is coming in. Signs posted everywhere).
At the bottom edge of the photo, you can barely see the top of the low wall they've built to stop people from going down.


This second photo was taken 10 yrs ago on a cloudy day and with waves splashing into the Grotto.





This is a large part of what we had for dinner for 2 nites- lovely Crayfish! Flesh is firmer than the Boston lobster and more intimidating to get at with all those barbs.



And a lovely sunset to end the day....

The Twelve Apostles

Hi!
(Had a few uploading problems yesterday). This is the stretch that is called the Twelve Apostles just almost adjacent to the Gibson Steps. There used to be more of these solitary structures standing guard here. I think at least 2 to 4 have fallen in the 30 years that we have been in Australia. Time marches on for everyone and everything.

Next day - Gibson Steps

Here's a pic of our cottage in the morning just before we leave for the Twelve Apostles Drive.

Our first stop along this drive is the Gibson Steps - steep steps down to the beach. The sun was warm but the wind was a little chilly.
Beautiful clear day for lovely pics!

Cape Otway

We decided to take a short break to Cape Otway which is about 4 hrs from Melbourne before the school year starts next week.
There are quite a few dog friendly accommodation spots down this way. Why not try one instead of having someone babysit Big Baby at home?
So here we are at our lunch stop - Hungry Jack's (Burger King) outside Geelong.

The Great Ocean Road (http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/) is a beautiful but windy drive. We finally arrived at Johanna Seaside Cottages (http://www.johannaseaside.com.au). As you can see here, there's lot of grazing land. We noticed that most of the accommodation venues had sea related names but they either faced inwards or required a long trek to the beach. Funny isn't it? Deceptive advertising?
The views were from our cottage patio.



These are online pics - first one shows the hilly ridge immediately behind the beach. The beach areas were quiet and peaceful but we're told it gets quite busy during surf season.


On the way, we stopped at Apollo bay and bought some local groceries and seafood for dinner - 2 crayfish, gemfish and huge prawns!

Summer Fruits Part 2

A quick post before talking about our trip - We harvested our sole nectarine tree a day before we went on our break.
That first yield was in excess of 300 fruits which were quickly distributed to family and friends. We had to do this as the birds were starting to enjoy them.
This is our second harvest and it would be close to 300 again. Me think there's still another 300 on the tree.
This nectarine tree has been prolific every year - it's a white nectarine but lots of flavour even when picked and eaten slightly green. If you wait for it to ripen fully on the tree, you would have to declare World War III on the birds. Very deceptive tree this one. We always think that it will be a low year as it's pruned in winter and spring buds don't look that many.

Getting used to new upgraded Blogger

Be sure to grab a snapshot of what your old settings were before saying yes to the upgrade...unlike me!
I'm trying my best to remember what I had on my old blog page!

Summer Blooms and Fruits

**Had quite a bit of trouble uploading pics for the last week. Blogger just wouldn't let them thru ***
Even though it's been very dry (no rain for at least a month - some arrived this evening), some of our fruit trees are getting on with life.
Here are our figs - attempt at fruiting at the right time after trying to fruit in winter.



Cumquat blooms - smells really pretty. These are the long cumquats with the sweet delicate skin. Very refreshing!




Persimmons!
Nothing last year due to the BIG DRY as well but with a relatively 'wetter' winter and spring, it's fruiting now. Have just netted it to keep the rosellas out.



Hi Anna! we're feeling just the opposite as the days are getting shorter. Dreading autumn....

You get the feeling you're not the only one?

It takes so much to defy the odds. This lone nectarine must have loathed being stuck here, growing out of the tree trunk, constantly brushed on and eyed by a slobbering large white mass of a dog. Due to where it is placed, it has had the good fortune of being sheltered from the elements- searing heat, relentless wind and very little moisture from a dry Spring. Yes, it grew!
Alas, all good things come to an end.




It will be EATEN!

Paper paper everywhere!

Feeling a little euphoric here! We're halfway into clearing up all the paper clutter that's accummulated/neglected for 2 yrs now. Couldn't chuck it all in trash just in case we need bits for tax purposes and product/appliance warranties etc.
So the last 5 weeks, we've been sifting, re sifting and filing filing filing!
Managed to get more ebay-able items - which is a nice thing.
Do we have more space now?
Not really but it's nice to know where everything is .....finally!

So are YOU ready for 2008?

Much has happened over the last 3 weeks. We've had another cleanout of the house before Christmas on top of the usual Christmas rush. It was a great idea - we discovered things we hadn't used and could ebay or give away and took stock of what we really needed going forward...
so the BIG New Year's resolution for all is...
BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE!
DH discovered that he needed new shoes for work and that he has far too many shirts!
DD and I went thru our wardrobe and trimmed it down to what we actually do wear and what we needed to top up.
DS took stock of his running shoes and resolved to push his guitar skills further.

What has happened in the last 3 weeks?
DH got 2 pairs of shoes.
For DS as a reward and incentive for having completed 2 music grades in classical guitar) this year and to do more next year - his Christmas present was a basic Fender strat pack.
DD just wanted and needed new casual shoes instead of living out her sneakers. She got a pair of Converse C Taylor's and Keds casuals. Oh she did get her Twilight themed T-shirt. Designed it and did it with iron transfers.
As for myself, I finally manage to bring myself to throw out my fav but pretty worn pieces of clothing and updated my look with a few items.

So are WE ready for 2008? :) perhaps...
Are You?

Sleep

Been having a spat of sleepless nites where I'd wake up after about 2 hours shut eye.
I used to have more of this while I was still working but I chalked it up to just worrying about work and juggling it all.
I'm trying to 'go with the flow' with these spells and not get too stressed about them.
Perhaps I'm eager with the clean up that I'm doing ahead of ushering in the new year? Nervous Energy...I sure hope so!

It's taken a while....

I just looked back at my post for walking 10,000 steps a day. I haven't been able to do it everyday but managed to slip it in 3 to 4 days a week. The warmer weather has also helped me in cutting back on my food portions.
Have so far dropped 2kgs (4.4lbs) and holding.
I'd like another 2kgs off and am looking at this year's Christmas eating sessions with much trepidation!

Just love this song at the moment!

It just rocks!

Fall Out Boy "The Take Over, The Breaks Over"
The presence of a bulldog helps too!

Baby Bear Sunhat is finished and Brea Bag went out for a test drive

I've finished my Baby Bean Sunhat and I'm deciding what to do do with the pattern ie
Should I try submitting the pattern to printed and online knitting mags?
I've heard that this process can take quite a while just to find out whether it's a yea or a nay.
Does anyone have any first hand experiences that they can offer?
If not, should I offer it online myself for free?

Brea Bag got her first test drive yesterday. I took out some essential items from my usual handbag and I must say the
2 x grid pockets I made holdiing up the sides are doing their job well. They're preventing Brea from flopping into a flat sack with items running aroung in the bottom of the bag. We just went to the Trinity Guildhall speech exams and back. I'll take Brea out shopping in the city one of these days!

An excellent read ..... Twilight

There's not much to post about these days. Just sneaking in my knitting when I can during the daily chores.
There's both DD and DS's end of year exams and activities to ferry them here and there too. I've been trying to get all our paperwork at home filed properly for easy reference and tax .....
and boy is that hard to do! Especially after a few years of neglect.
It's something that I need complete and undivided attention for a few days coz my memory is so bad....! I start piles according to categories I want filed then I forget that I've done one and start another!
On another note, I finished reading Pyramids by Terry Pratchett and started on Twilight by Stephenie Meyer upon DD's insistence.
To my surprise, I was totally engrossed in this YA romance-horror story.

A thoroughly enjoyable read that I could not put down coupled with a beautiful setting (Hoh Rain Forest, Forks, WA) and (I was advised by DS) progressive rock soundtrack by Muse and Linkin Park as recommended by the author, it's one of those books that leave you feeling sad that you've finished reading it.
I really like listening to Phoenix by the The Butterfly Effect while reading this. This song is so Edward!
I've yet to start the sequel, New Moon but am already re reading Twilight :)

I wish I could knit faster!

or at least keep interested long enough in one project before jumping to another!
arrrrghh!

Peonies!

A quick pic before I have them in a vase.

Brea Bag is finished

I've been procrastinating over Brea. The actual knitting took only 4 days but I was dreading the seaming and sewing up the lining.
Pondered way too much about the insides of this bag. I wanted to give this bag a bit of form and structure rather than being a floppy potato sack. I bought some light red cotton drill material use for easy cleaning and durability. Modified it by crocheting more rows at the opening and used a zip instead of a crochet loop and button as the opening was too gaping for my liking. Used extra wooden rings from my curtain rods.
Our local haberdashery store did not have leather straps/material so until I investigate where I can get a proper strap, I'm using one of my old belts. This was an eyeopener for me. I haven't worn waist belts since the lowslung buttcrack showing fashion movement came in. Not that I wore these type of skirts and pants, you just couldn't buy waisted garments off the rack. So last nite, I took my old belts and tried them....OMG my waist has exploded! DH was laughing until I told him to try his old belts. :)

Here's BREA!

I know DS won't starve...

DS is a big fan of Jamie Oliver.
About 2 years ago at the age of 13, he got hooked on JO's TV shows. If only JO had cooking classes for kids. (normal ordinary kids and not the hardknock ones for the "Fifteen" restaurants)
So when cooking was available as an elective extra at school this year, he signed up. They have had only 2 classes but he's learnt how to make ANZAC cookies and sausage rolls. Now and then for a break from homework/studying, he comes to the kitchen and potters....
Now we have to teach him how to clean up his mess effectively...