I started the month with my first iris flower! I’ve had half a dozen more, from 2 plants!
I’ve designed probably my first product packaging, the labels on these little jars of honey that are given to visitors and guests at work. Nutritional info on the back and everything proper.
M had a car accident in the garage.
Back to the garden, it was a fantastic mulberry year! Last year was not so good. We had so much M made a tart, and I added leftover pulp to my porridge and had delicious purple porridge.
It was however a terrible year for my peas. Both snow peas and sweet peas were stunted, mildewy and under-productive. I didn’t mind because I have picked so many poppies, and the iris flowered, but I guess I’ll have to rest the soil or rotate crops.
Have had a few strawberries!
I finished my native bee hotel, and temporarily hung it up, it needs to be moved to a less western-sun location I think.
Orchids are blooming a second time! Which has me a bit obsessed. I have now been given 4 orchids, but I haven’t bought any.
I had my annual trip to Mudgee from Monday to Friday. H showed me how to make feta and ricotta cheeses, I did a bit of wandering around shops, we checked on their lambs and new chicks, went out for a lovely winery lunch one day, had a good catch up, and I did a few jobs like I printed a batch of photos, and bought fabric for a sewing project gift. However, my energy declined throughout the week. My body was very weird. We had to reschedule one day so I could go back to bed. I guess my body was taking a chance to rest after the stress of September.
I joined my family for a weekend at Eaglereach in the hunter valley, and that was lovely too. Had some nice rainy weather, watched Castle, all cooked meals, Julia’s foster kid played a lot of pool with people, and it was nice hanging out time. I was still super fatigued on Saturday so I spent more time in bed, but on Sunday I got back to normal and did a bushwalk.
October has been marked by the company of a big flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos, wailing around the sky and eating the silky oak flowers next door. I love wild birds. I’ve decided I’m not really a pet person, but I love love love seeing wild birds and native animals.
I’ve noticed a blue tongue lizard hiding behind my veggie garden and sticking his head out of my drain.
M has been doing a very impressive job getting the washing machine and wall repaired, much of it on her own, but getting help when needed. It’s been a good project to learn skills, and nice timing that she has finished uni and has the time to do it. But she’s moving to Sydney at the end of November.
I went to Maitland Levee to see a navy parade march through town with a band, just because I love parades and this sort of thing. Not many people were watching though. But it’s an interesting tradition called Freedom of Entry.
Maitland has an op shop for food called Aussie Care, and currently they have ice cream. So much gourmet ice cream. 5 for $5 sometimes. I’ve decided not to keep buying it though.
I was asked to be on a panel of women at a church women’s night. I think it went well. I really like how Debbie runs women’s things, they are very directly useful, she sticks to the basics. What helps your relationship with Jesus. That sort of thing.
Me and a colleague drove to Narrandera for the annual Rural Women’s Gathering that our branch of DPI help run. It was 8 hours each way, so a tiring 3 days, but it was enjoyable spending that time with Dani and talking with her in the car, and I enjoyed the gathering. Interesting to compare it with the other conferences I’ve gone to, like the Adobe conference or the Christian one for women. I liked how the Friday night was out in a field at sunset (followed by sculptures and lights in the bush), so we didn’t spend the whole weekend inside. I thought the workshops were very helpful (I did entrepreneurship, and a walk and talk about fitness and some background of the town) and it seemed like they were really the best time for women to connect, find other women in their stage of life even in their own communities who they hadn’t met before, and get professional advice or whatever they needed at their stage of life. The main speakers weren’t tied together by a theme, they all spoke about their own experiences. Some had started businesses, or had other career stories, or whatever. And the big feature speakers were the author of the Dressmaker and the producer of the movie, who were childhood friends from Jerilderie. Really interesting to hear details about how the book was written and how the sets and costumes were created, and just amazing to hear from women who have done such amazing things and who are so passionate about country Australia and particularly country women.
Something I’m very thankful for is that my colleague Nathan, who has been off work having chemo since May, for lots of cancer, had good news that his cancers have responded to treatment, so he’s continuing chemo to the end of the year and it looks like he’ll be back to work after that! He has been back at work a few times this month, for an hour here and there, catching up with people. This week we had a special honey tasting of native bee honey on ice-cream in our office. You can buy this honey for $30 for a small bottle, and it is WORTH IT. If you like gourmet special food, try this. Have a honey party. It’s runny, citrusy, and something else. Unique and delicious.
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