7 x 10 & no longer working!

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My sister just turned 7 x 10, she did not really want to celebrate, but I asked if we could come for a visit anyway.  We were so excited to be with her for her birthday!

I planned the trip, and we traveled two and a half hours to our son’s home, where our other sister, Sonnie, joined us.  She, Gary, and I then traveled another four and a half hours to Jan’s home.  The itinerary took us around Melbourne, not through,  and across so many different, beautiful landscapes.  It was so much nicer than battling city traffic – always a good thing as far as I’m concerned, and didn’t take much longer than if we had battled the city traffic.

Sonnie and I had prepared a special menu for Jan’s birthday meal – we based it around a comment that she had made about how much she had enjoyed the meals during her travels through Sri Lanka and the Middle East.  We made lots of little dishes that could be re-heated (if necessary) upon our arrival, and served in the middle of the table for all to share.  As is our way, there was always much more than we could eat!

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A Jar Hunt!

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Earlier this week we had a day out.  I was on a mission, I needed a particular style of large coffee jar, and I needed in excess of 20!  Fortunately I had collected 10 already, but I needed more.

I mentioned to Gary that I was heading out to do some Op-Shopping (Charity Shopping), and he was keen to join me on my little adventure.  After traveling from one town to the next, and running out of time before the little shops closed, I still needed three more jars, yes, I had managed to collect seven, but was a little anxious to get those last three jars.

In the last small town there were two beautiful Op-Shops, one in the main shopping area and the other at the Anglican Church – I was familiar with both, and I know why, they are not only treasure troves, the people in the stores are always so helpful and kind.  The first shop didn’t have any of the jars I was after, even going to the trouble of checking that there were none stored away out the back, as others had done during the day.   Our last stop, the Anglican Church Op-Shop, and there were two on display, I was so excited.  Hearing that I needed just one more jar, they ducked out to their shed and found another two – I bought the lot!

What a fabulous day – not only did I get to meet with and chat to beautiful people, but I also got what I needed, and maybe a little more – I may have also purchased some beautiful knits for my wardrobe, books to be read, and a few other nic-nacs as well – I couldn’t help myself!

A little reading material…
Beautiful knits…
Op Shopping joy…
Beautiful knits…
Jars all cleaned ready for their next life…

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The Final Order

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It has been almost seven years since Melissa met me with the words “you can hire a hall kitchen!”.  She had previously asked if I would cook for her beautiful café The Pickle Pot, but I had told her, that as I didn’t have a commercial kitchen, I was unable to.  She then went on to explain how others were hiring commercially registered hall kitchens to prepare food for their small catering/food businesses.  So off I went, I did my research, talked to people, did some study, applied for, and received council registration, and we were off – SBA’s Kitchen gluten free catering was in business – who would have thought…

The Pickle Pot in Maffra
SBA’s Kitchen

Since then we applied for, and were successful in having our home kitchen registered for commercial food preparation, which I am sure lengthened the life of the business.  We were able to continue to work during COVID (all halls were closed during the pandemic), and it provided us with more flexible working hours, and all through this time, while we have had other clients come and go, The Pickle Pot, has remained our main client.

As we all know, nothing is forever!  Sadly the beautiful café is closing its doors.  Fortuitously, the timing was perfect for me, for us, and today we made our final delivery of homemade gluten free food, prepared and baked from our kitchen at Tranquility.

The Final Order

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Changing Seasons

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The nights are getting colder, the frosts are beginning and now the summer produce that just didn’t want to shut down, is doing so!  While I’ll be sad to see the end of the zucchinis, beans, basil and even tomatoes, I must admit, I’ve been waiting in the wings to prepare the soil for more plantings…

I’d been wanting to bring in the last of the basil for pesto, and it having survived the first frost, didn’t wait any longer.  After the icy beginning to a frosty day, the sun shone brightly, so it was perfect for grabbing the snips, a large basket, and heading down to the patch!  I worked from one planting to the next, and when I’d finished, I couldn’t help but take a pic of the loaded basket sitting in the sunshine.

The last of the basil for the season.

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