Passing Roo

This chap decided to check out our front lawn this Sunday morning.

While people often assume roos actually frolic on Australian high streets, they don't, but a quiet country acreage is certainly fair game.

James

The Museum Time Bomb

Musée des Arts et Metiers as a catalogue and encyclopaedia No.1. Photo: James.

Following on from the Icebergs of Art & Artefact post, I've recently been reading an interesting essay [here] on the role and challenges of the modern museum, by James M Bradburne:

On the one hand, museums that have pursued their traditional educational mission have found that the education they are now expected to provide is increasingly “remedial”—directed at filling gaps in the basic education of an increasingly broad spectrum of users. Increasingly, public funding for museums is tied to meeting specific targets aimed at addressing issues of social inclusion. At the same time, confronted by data that show how limited museums are in providing primary education, the public purse is questioning its return on investment—museums are just too expensive to operate for the relatively brief educational encounter enjoyed (or not) by most users. The cost per visitor of a four-hour visit per year (if the museum is lucky) is out of proportion to the results of a similar investment in the classroom or in the media.

Many questions, much to think about in the context of the museum in society.

Musée des Arts et Metiers as a catalogue and encyclopaedia No.2.  Photo: James.

James

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