What do all these things have in common? Well not much normally, but in my week of fun, quite a lot!
My Dad and his partner Norma, and Kim’s mum, Pam have been visiting over the last few weeks.
I have been spending time away from the blog and the internet in general to spend time with them all.
Meal times have been quite hectic, but otherwise, very enjoyable and relaxing time has been had by all. I have also been on annual leave since 25th April, and go back to work on 2nd May.
So we really have had a full house, but getting lots done. Kim and I have also made a very difficult decision that took us two days to finalise, however I cannot share it just yet.
Anyway, heaps of work in the veggie patch. Brown onions, garlic, Red onions, Red cabbage, Sugarloaf cabbage, Raddishes, Carrots, Snow Peas, and Broad Beans all planted in the main garden beds.
The last of the Australian Butter pumpkins have been harvested, and some of the vines composted.
The Pepino bush has been very productive as well. Here are just four of about twenty fruit that are still on the vine. Now a tip for Pepinos if you are going to harvest them. Wait until they are this colour (custard), but make sure the purple lines have not faded. With these lines bright it mean that it will taste like a cross between a banana and a rockmelon (cantaloupe). If the purple lines have faded, the fruit tastes like old school cough medicine. So keep an eye on them as they turn from green to custard colour and you will be right as rain.
The clay oven got a workout on ANZAC Day (25th April). Dad and I headed up the oven for 3 hours, with our efforts lubricated with a few bottles of home brewed Fat Yak. A very relaxing afternoon, with lots of catching up and laughter. Between us, the chooks, and the two dogs, we had a wow of a time.
Oh, the pizza and calzone was good as well!
Friday, Dad and I made five soap mould boxes. I nearly took out my belly with a few bits of flying wood, but all good now! Oh what fun it was to get back into woodwork again.
Today, Kim and I taught a soap making workshop to four lovely ladies at the Melton South Community House. You can see that I was raring to go just before everyone arrived. My demo table was at the front, with the two workstations set up at the back. Four in the class was just right.
Here are two of the ladies being instructed by yours truly. I teach all the science stuff, and Kim demonstrates how to cut and mature the soap near the end of the lesson.
We had a ball, as we always do. Pam joined us for the fun and games as well.
Dad and Norma depart for South Australia to catch up with family tomorrow. It will be sad to see them go.
However, the week doesn’t stop there. Tomorrow we are driving up to Waubra to have a picnic under the wind turbines. Pam has never been up close and personal with a wind turbine, so it will be a treat for her. For me, I just love the countryside, and the wonder of renewable energy (and the food of course).
Pam departs on Tuesday night, which will make Kim sad, but I am here to cheer her up.
Finally, on Wednesday, we have a Mozzarella course being held at Roxborough Park Homestead. Eight students and lots of fun.
I did miss blogging, but after all these years, I do know when to take a step back when family is around. Everything in balance.
Oh, and my latest eBook “Keep Calm and Make Cheese” has been well received. Over 50 copies sold in less than a week on this site, and various retailers. I also implemented a shopping cart system on the eBookstore so that I don’t have to manually send the PDF files anymore. I didn’t think the customer experience was satisfactory, so I made the change.
It is all automated now, with the eBook file delivered to the customer by the shopping cart system. I am quite happy with the end result, and the cheese book was a pleasure to write, although the research was a challenge at times. I love the brilliant illustrations by Kim! They are like icing on a cake.
So dear reader, what cool sustainable living things have you been up to lately?