Red rabbits & Wagyu...

We call these 'red rabbits' - destined for a beach picnic...
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Mayura Station Wagyu steak... destined for the barbecue tonight...
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See the marbling through the meat. It just melts away when cooked.
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At our favourite spot again - all set up for lunch...
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We pre-ordered the sunshine and blue sky after a week of humid, weird weather... just perfect!
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I spied a large yacht way, way, way out to sea...
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Lunch - crayfish, chicken and 3 salads...
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I hand picked all the crayfish
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Oh, my!
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This is a sea anemone. It reminds me of a joke in 'Finding Nemo'. The punch-line goes "with fronds like these, who needs anemones!" (with friends like these, who need enemies).
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We found some more star fish.
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Clowning around...
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Late afternoon
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Then the kiddies decided to play in the water. Give them two drink cups and this is what you get... water art!
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Trying to make a love heart...
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Time for petanque...
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Pack up time...
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We showed our visitors the wind farm at Lake Bonney
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Dinner = Wagyu steaks...
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Delicious...
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Our visitors hadn't been over to see us and to No. 2 Rocks since New Years day 1997 so we had a fair bit of catching up to do. Lovely people all of them. It was a big, long day and I am very tired today as I did most of the catering. In appreciation of our efforts, they declared it an annual event so next mid-February they will return!
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Will potter and put away bits of yesterday then home to watch Eat Pray Love this afternoon and maybe cross stitch a bit.
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Cheers - Joolz

Too busy to blog...

Jeepers, another week has gone by. I've been busy at work and there's not much on my camera in the way of photos either.
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My back garden is having a second flush of roses and doesn't look too bad at the moment after a bit of weeding last weekend.
~These are blueberry and white choc muffins that I made this week.
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We are off four-wheel driving tomorrow so will have some pics later on Sunday.
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Cheers - Joolz

Two years on...

Two years ago, on February 7, 2009 (see other posts under Bush fires also), Victoria was alight with the worst bush fires in our short history. 73 lives were lost and so many other lives were shattered that day. I hope they are on their way to rebuilding and healing.
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This is that same Agapanthus 'Black Magic' that I pictured back then, this is its third summer and its growing well.
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I made a bit of progress with my Dear Jane sampler. It is quite nice to
stitch because I can set myself a goal of finishing a 'wedge', as I call them, each time I sit down to it.
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Since returning from Melbourne, I have been eating a healthy breakfast, Special K with skim milk and a banana - no sugar!
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This was lunch last Thursday - very yummy!
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I made sour dough bread rolls to go with Angus' Beer Can Chicken for Sunday night dinner.
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I got out and dead-headed all of my roses - I was amazed that this was looked so healthy because I have really neglected them this summer.
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I also de-cluttered a bit more, found the bottom of my laundry basket and generally took it easy. Nice.
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Agapanthus at sunset last weekend - looks like a palm tree, don't you think?!
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Enjoy the coming week - I think we are in for some odd weather - sunny 21C today, sunny 22C Tuesday, sunny 27C Wednesday then showers and 30C on Thursday (not happy about that, it's gonna get humid!) and cloudy and 27C on Friday and more rain on Saturday 26C.
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Cheers - Joolz

Sloppy Joes...

(Joolz' Sloppy Joes)
Added: The Sloppy Joes were really delicious! I cut back on the chilli and didn't use any Tabasco sauce and they were still nice and sweet and sour/spicy. We'll definitely have them again (you could have them in taco shells or tortilla wraps or like san choy bow in lettuce cups).
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(picture from Tasty Kitchen)

Tonight, I am going to try this recipe for Sloppy Joes by Pioneer Woman Ree - from
Tasty Kitchen.
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Sloppy Joes are not something you see in Australia so I will give them a go - and try and keep them low fat too!
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Cheers - Joolz

Fine fare...

Oh my goodness, we ate some lovely meals while we were in Melbourne. Above is Steak & Guiness pie with creamy mash.
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We attended a vehicle launch on Tuesday night at the Convention Centre. Pressed terrine of chicken, ham hock and pistachio nuts with sweet and sour capsicums.
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Twice cooked high country pork belly with morcilla sausage, spiced spinach and green ginger wine sauce, walnuts and crackling.
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Espresso panna cotta with hazelnut and chocolate donuts.
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Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and organic Victorian cream
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Lunch the next day - for him, Oysters natural with redwine vinegar and red onion - me, not a fan!
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I had this divine dish - hand made ricotta gnocchi with fricasee of Moreton Bay bugs (a crustacean similar to lobster-ish)
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For him, John Dory fillet atop a puree of (?) and coriander salad.
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And finally, be still my heart! Vanilla bean creme brulee with cinnamon churros!
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Creamy and crunchy toffee-ness at the same time!
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Hence, when we arrived home we decided it is high time to do something about out expanding waist-lines! A 6am walk this morning, wholemeal turkey & salad sandwiches for lunch, yoghurt and a banana. Roast for dinner tonight.
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Cheers - Joolz