Still life with pumpkin

Sometimes the composition occurs naturally, over time.  Winter is coming, the pumpkins are now inside.

James

Fab! Fabbri

They're back (at the Mediterranean Wholesalers - see here) so we snagged some. We weren't able to go home in a Fabbri truck, seen on the Boston food website here:

But we found some fascinating Fabbri history here and here, the latter being the official website, which has a range of remarkable period advertising here.



Better than roses, pearls?  But of course!

James

Lancefield Show

Today was the Annual Lancefield Show, and we went along with Emma for a look around.  Much fun was had by all, and here are some highlights.  

Above, the aerial signal for all great oudoor events, the escaped helium balloon (crying child not pictured).

Bev and Emma discuss the finer points of sheep.

Fine cows, near and far.

Champion.  And don't you forget it.

'Snowball, The Killer' was his name.  (OK, I made that up.)

Much stunting on trailbikes.

Taking a moment from heading sheep.

Duck herding - apparently an effective way of training up sheepdogs, we've now been told.

Haircuts were available.

Though the tools and technique seemed based more on amount removed and speed, than the final 'look'.

 But the kids like to play with the wool.

Onto the crafts, not to be missed.  'Baby Jesus' & Team!  Rocking knitted beards, guys.

Under 5 vegitable monster contestant.  My 'simple, yet effective' awardee.

After a few too many of the wrong drinks, you've felt like that, right?

But don't worry, there's a cake from a young girl (12 and under) with a rainbow to make it all better!

"Look, mum, it's Teddybears on the beach!  And those Teddies are in the water!"  Ahhh.

Meanwhile, over on Easter Island, Maddyson (8) makes a break for freedom.

Now for the serious stuff.  The trees may be short, but the chopping was swift.

BIG chips flying...

Last blow.

Other boys (and girls) went over to the tractor pull...  Above is an Australian made Chamberlain Champion.  It were, too.

Everyone had a go.

The sliding water tank was a neat item.

Might need some work (or even paint).

Back to the woodchoppers, this was the start of the two-man relay.

And this was the second stage.  We had a great time, but tea was calling...

Pics by Bev & James, text by James.

Time for Tea

Some Melbourne Chinatown teapots for Ross.

The Tomato Processing Day

Recently we combined with our friends Brad and Kirsten to convert several boxes of tomatoes into passata and various other squashed tomato products.  Here's a photo account of the day.

Brad starts by giving the toms an invigorating shower...

And then they were chopped, the dud bits ditched, and made ready to be cooked on down.  This shot was actually from later in the day, with some finished product on the left, but don't peek there now.

They were cooked down on every hotplate we could involve, including the barbique...

Using the bright red passata machina from the Mediterranean Wholesalers (where else?) latched to the table by its vacuum foot and a piece of screwed down Perspex.  Brad's invention.

Meanwhile Kirsten had made a magnificent loaf for lunch.

Other products included chutney, underway as here, and tomato sauce.

There was loyal, hardworking support from Jarvis, the cat.

And after going through the Fowler's Vacola machine, they were turned upside down by Mickey Mouse...

And Brad prepares for his farmer's market look.

We're good for Tomato product, now!

James


[Pix by Bev & James.]

Artichokes II

People have asked that if the normal fate of the artichokes pictured here had come to pass. It had...

And then there was:

Strawberries, also from the garden. As the Kiwis say, 'sweet as...'

James

Arty Chokes

Our artichokes that Bev's been nourishing are justaboutready...

These are their pre-prandial portraits.

James

Cool

One birthday gift (thanks Jo & Paul!) inside a new acquisition - the big freezer.

James

It's that mint sauce time of year...

So cute.

So ... ... edible.