Following on from my previous post, I had been asked to help our son, Christopher, to keep them here until a specified time on the Sunday. This was easy, so I sent a quick message to he and Olivia, as follows:
Ok guys, I hope that you don’t need to leave early on Sunday… We have a farmer’s market here in Maffra on Sunday morning… But I desperately want to take you to the Port of Sale – yes, there is a port in Sale. There is so much to see and do, but I REALLY want to take you to the gallery. There is a piece there that is absolutely amazing, and there may even be something that the boys may be interested in. Then maybe an early afternoon sausage sizzle at home before you leave
It worked, but we didn’t make it to the farmer’s market, instead, after a leisurely breakfast we traveled to nearby Sale and went to the Gippsland Art Gallery (we are so very lucky to have a gallery of this caliber on our doorstep).
The piece that I wanted the family to see was by local artist Klara Jones, entitled “Allerleirauh” and based on a story Allerleirauh, by the Brothers Grimm (1819), and Klara has cited the following:
“As soon as the hunters caught hold of the Maiden, she awoke full of terror and called out to them, “I am a poor child, forsaken by both father and mother! Pray pity me and take me with you!”
For those who are unfamiliar with this story, it is about a beautiful young princess, whose father, the King, decided that she would become his wife. The princess escapes wearing a “mantle of a thousand different furs and hairs”, to another kingdom where she is saved. She works in the kitchen of the presiding King (not her father), always wearing the mantle and hiding her identity and beauty. As in many fairy tales, Allerleirauh meets her King, they marry and live happily ever after.
Clara’s interpretation was placed immediately inside the sliding glass door of the gallery, you could not miss her, and I immediately drew the family together around her. I said to them “she appears to be breathing…”, Christopher asked if there was a mechanism to make her breath, but I explained that it was an illusion. If you looked at her face, you would swear that she was breathing, however, if you looked at her body, you knew that, in fact, she was not breathing. Samuel, like me, was fascinated by her… As I had experienced with other friends, you either could not look at her, or you were continuously drawn back to her. Samuel, like any young, inquisitive child had many questions, and I found myself telling him on more than one occasion that she was like a statue, she was not alive.
As we moved on through the gallery there were activities for the children, and Cooper and Samuel got to draw and write about an exhibition based on Alice in Wonderland.
Then they had fun with some largish butterfly finger puppets. The adults found exhibits of interest including one based on the first landing on the moon, and another by Annemieke Mein.
As I headed to the door I found Samuel sitting in front of Allerleirauh. When I approached him, he asked me “Do you think if I poked her in the eye, that she would wake up?”!
Back at home the sausages were cooked and simply served in bread with tomato sauce, some had the store bought variety, but others preferred the homemade tomato sauce from my larder. To finish, there was a little homemade apple pie.
With bags packed, treats for the children, it was time for the family to depart. They were going to spend a little time at the Hedgend Maze in Healseville. While we knew what was ahead, others did not.
On arrival at the Maze, Christopher suggested that Samuel, Olivia’s son, go with him, while Cooper, Christopher’s son, would go with Olivia. So far so good…
As they worked their way through the maze, there were phrases, quotes etc… All very special phrases, quotes from their time together, special dates, the children’s birthday etc! Finally both pairs met up. It was here that something very special happened…
With Olivia’s father, David’s, blessing, and the children present, Christopher presented Olivia with her dream engagement ring, and asked her to marry him.
Gary and I are delighted to welcome Olivia and Samuel to our family, and are so very happy to see the happiness Olivia has brought into our son’s life. We wish them a lifetime of happiness together as a couple and a family.
- 500 g sweet short crust pastry (see link below for gluten free pastry recipe)
- 1.25 kg eating apples, such as royal gala (peeled weight)
- 1 lemon juice only
- 60 g butter
- 75 g brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
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Lightly grease a 25 cm loose-based, tart tin.
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Preheat oven to 175˚ C.
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Roll out pastry between sheets of baking paper until large enough to fit the tart tin.
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Lift the pastry into the tin and press into the sides.
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Trim the edges, cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes.
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Line the pastry case with baking paper, cover with baking beans and blind bake for 10 minutes.
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Remove beans and cook for a further 5 minutes, ensuring that the crust does not colour.
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Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
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Peel and core the apples, then cut them into eighths. Sprinkle generously with lemon juice.
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In a large frying pay, melt the butter with the sugar and cinnamon, over medium heat, stirring ocassionally. Cook for 5 minutes and then add the apple to the pan.
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Simmer over a medium heat for 20-25 minutes until the apples are tender and coloured.
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Remove the pan from the heat and allow the apple to cool, slightly.
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Preheat oven to 180˚C.
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Arrange the apples into the baked tart shell and bake for 25 minutes.
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Serve warm with cream, crème fraîche or ice-cream.
Until next time…
Bon appétit!
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