Toby's Toy

At Christmas, a very lucky dog was given a kibble ball, which after some initial confusion (trying to eat it, rather than roll it to get the kibbles out) has proven to be a solid ~ or rather kibble spewing ~ hit.

Here's Toby checking there's still kibbles in it, and it's worth persisting with.  (There were, and it was.)  Big thanks to Katy and Peter.

[Photo by Bev.]

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.]

Found Tractor!

Hey, Zach!  We found someone had left this neat little tractor outside the house today.

D'you think we can keep it?

James

Holiday Memories

It's always nice to get a CD of pics from a now-not-so-recent holiday.

This pic (by Pam) is of us enjoying the kayaks on Endeavour Inlet, New Zealand. Pretty topping.

James

Weather Plus

A lot of rain certainly has an effect on some of the flora, while the other, younger, dahlias coped remarkably well.

After a weekend of 35+ degrees C (95+ F) and pretty continuous 40+ km/h (25+ mph) winds, we had 90+ mm (3 & 1/2 + in) in 24 hours. Certainly everything a garden might want, but in excess.

James

The Management

Just watching, napping.

Seen at Lancefield Farmer's Market some time ago, a couple of full size kelpies on the back of the Ute.

Photo by Bev.

More cars at the Rock

As I said this time last year, every year, on the Valentine's Day weekend, the Macedon Ranges & District Motor Club hosts the 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' car show. It's a great event with thousands of interesting cars in a unique venue and really is a giant picnic. Here's this year's selection, starting (above) with a Yank Tank in front of the Rock.

While there's a fair amount of repetition of popular classics, there's enough rare and odd stuff if you keep looking. There's a French bias in this list, just because the French built so much neat machinery. After all what car show would be complete without a DS Goddess?

The Nash above is the first of many contenders of why the American machines are bigger than the British; although a Mini on the wing's hardly fair!

Good to see an old friend from London.

That famous signature logo pops up all over.

Australian icon, the early Holden.

And of course a good representation from Germany. Beetles (or Bugs) are still popular worldwide, but Australia has a good representation of the other 60s types on the road as well.

However you don't see many of these here, however common they are in Europe. This one for Greg!

I'm not sure, but I think that may be Thunderbird 9. FAB!*

Neat logo, and an English reminder. Not so exotic in the local lingo, sadly.

Winner of Best Commercial and oldest driver (at 88, for the owner) this magnificent Thornycroft, with solid tyres.

And if your parents are dedicated, no need for the young ones to miss out. However the green machines 'off-driveway' capability seemed as limited as you'd expect. Think the motor got a bit grumpy.

Just in from the Sudan, or possibly a Victorian barn...

The locals were very patient with all the visitors. This guy seemed a lot more sensible than his many admirers (they are wild animals and they can kick hard, folks). The Moggies seemed almost as rare this year.

One of the overall views. It's a great venue.

And to finish, Austin corner. Didn't Noddy drive one of these?

More pictures, including the above, can be seen here in my photo account.

James

*Thanks to the various people who've kindly helped the idiot who tried to make a lame joke about how the car looks a bit like one of the Thunderbird Supermarionation machines, and was nothing to do with Ford Thunderbird cars, or the USAF Thunderbirds, or a drink or any stations west... It's actually a 1965 Buick Rivera. Please do not continue to write in.