Not sure I can say a lot more. Popcorn likes to help garden. Dogs who garden are not a great asset, particularly with veg beds. And he’s a big dog. But I love him.
Dogs and Gardens
Coming Home – The Return of the Statues
At one point early in the purchase of the Convent, the local priest offered me the return of the cross as a housewarming present. Today, not only the cross, but also Mary and St Joseph made a welcome return to the Convent.
Mary and Joseph have been rehoused in their niches and Jesus needs brackets installed to place him back in the Chapel. A great day for the Convent and I hope the statues are happy to be back.
Autumn Garden Preparations
The garden clearly has required attention post Summer as veg like tomatoes and zucchini have died down after their premium fruiting period. Some of the other veg have limped along with the hazards faced over a difficult Kandos Summer with hail, followed by a massive dry period and strange bugs. Anyway, over the last month I have cleared out the old veg, extended the colorbond fence bed and replanted with vigour.
In regards to the non-edible but beautiful beds, I have gone to town with bulbs. Last year I invested in daffodils around trees (small and new as the trees are), snowdrops, grape hyacinths, as well as some normal hyacinths. The old cottoneaster had a healthy planting of grape hyacinths and many freesias. This year I have added to the beautiful deep Delft Blue Hyacinths, probably more than doubled the freesias under the cottoneaster with another 180 plus bulbs, added 100 bluebells to the garden (no idea why I didn’t plant any last year!), planted ranunculus and anenomes in the front circular garden bed, whilst adding Autumn crocuses to completely fill out the edges, given the success of the incumbents and supplemented another 100 plus of the hard-working grape hyacinths. The high profile bulbs are the 40 saffron crocuses I’ve added, which I hope will at least provide some saffron to the kitchen larder.
The veg beds are mostly cleared (some I don’t quite have the heart to pull out yet) and I’ve taken advantage of the significantly extended colorbond fence bed, to plant: lots of beetroot (I tend to hedge my bets with seedlings and seeds, which I can claim to be staggering planting but is more due to lack of confidence- and dogs), carrots – several varieties, mini cauliflower, broccoli, onions (red, brown and white), garlic, celery, celeriac, turnip, swede, parsnip, radishes … and probably more. Anyway, I’ve done my best in preparation for Winter veg. Beds are cleared, weeded, topped up and planted.
The flowering beds have been weeded, mulched and fed. A little more mulch is required to finish off, but otherwise I’m pretty happy with the garden.
The next garden challenges are to finish off the front garden bed along the wall. It looks great now but that’s because the salvias are at their best. These will soon die down and currently make up the middle layer of the bed. The roses and shrubs near the wall will hold their own but the smaller front layer of ground covers and smaller plants is non-existent. I need to put some thought into what will go here and how it needs to look good during the different seasons. I also still have the privet hedge to continue restoring and a small tree grove to establish. I’m not even thinking of the vacant block next door at this stage!
The garden is always a challenge but always fascinating and rewarding in how it changes and the opportunities it presents each season.
The Next Wave of Renovation
After the flurry of activity last year, I’ve just sat back and enjoyed the Convent with it’s freshly painted interior, polished floors, carpeted bedrooms, curtains and some furniture. It’s been nice having the place to myself and not having to make decisions and co-ordinate the tradies for a while.
However, there is still much to be done at the Convent and I’m moving into the next phase, which is a bit scary. The main things are:
- the two separate toilets, one of which needs a handbasin added
- fixing the tiling in the original bathroom, which is still in condition with its tiles
- opening two fireplaces and making them functional
- building a large eat-in kitchen in a new room
- lighting throughout the building – there are few light fittings worth keeping and a good share of fluorescent tubing
Some of the preparation has started and I’m keen to get done what I can this year. The aim is to retain original features where they still remain.
I’m also starting to add to the furniture, given this is a pretty big place to furnish. One of the challenges is that although there are lots of rooms, none of them are particularly large. Quite a bit of the period furniture I like has been made for much larger houses so I need to choose smaller pieces when they come up. I’m finding the auction houses particularly useful and good value however given my distance I’m limited to absentee bids with all viewing done over the internet, so it can be a little hit and miss at times. I’m just very careful to bid conservatively in case it’s not quite up to expectations. So far there have been few disappointments with purchases (although many disappointments with pieces I’ve missed out on for want of another $10 or $20 but wasn’t there for the live bidding).
All in all, the Convent is coming along nicely and is looking very much like a comfortable home with its own character.
A New Vice
I was waiting until I had a few things out of the way before setting this up as I knew once it was ready, there’d be no stopping me. The latest Convent addition is an Ashford Traveller Spinning Wheel purchased from Patricia Gledhill from Spun Out Fleece and Fibres at Gulgong.
I used to do a lot of spinning in my late teen years on an Ashford Traditional, however that was now some decades ago! I also have some lovely drop spindles and an Inwood Smith Electric Wheel but have been avoiding delving back into spinning until I had a more traditional wheel ready.
No more excuses, but I’m concerned that once I get started, many other things will be neglected. I also have a generous stash of fibre awaiting attention. I’m sure there will be future blogs on spinning.
Home Cooking
A good friend came up for the weekend, providing an opportunity to prepare some rustic meals. Being on my own means I’m sometimes a little lazy cooking for myself and look forward to taking an extra step when I have visitors. I should entertain more here and also be a little more adventurous with my meals.
Anyway, it’s just starting to chill a little here in the mornings and nights so warming food is welcome. Pumpkin soup and homemade bread always goes down well and is easy to get on the table with minimum fuss. Making a big batch means I can have my own portions from the freezer any night (especially if I’m out in the garden until dark falls).
I haven’t made apple pie for ages so this was a good chance. Maybe next time I’ll scale down the pie dish from enormous size to something more practical for two.
I like to have yoghurt and homemade bread here for guests and this time I also extended to ricotta, all of which are super easy. The ricotta turned itself into baked ricotta after adding eggs, parmesan, semidried tomatoes (homemade, of course), olives and fresh garden basil. A salad of garden veg rounded off the meal.
We finished with more apple pie and ice-cream, topped with homemade strawberry syrup (again using Convent strawberries).
All in all, a satisfying culinary weekend. I’m keen to extend my cheese repertoire in practice for our next cheese making class.
The Bob Marley Festival – A Feast of Reggae … and more
Yesterday was what is now the annual Bob Marley Festival held on the Railway Green at Kandos. This year built on last with a bigger crowd, more varied market stalls including Jamaican food and more reggae bands.
It’s a fantastic day out with a long afternoon of live bands and people celebrating reggae music and just getting out and having a lot of fun. For the locals, it’s a vibrant and colourful change and many don Rastafarian beanies and dreads for the day. The headline act is Errol Renaud with his band Caribbean Soul , however I particularly liked Joe Tee and Afrodisia, who stayed after their performance and were dancing with all the locals – especially Big Mama.
This year included a Jamaican food stall that was hugely popular with its Jerk Chicken, however my friend and I were encouraged to try the goat curry which was delicious with the rice and beans.
It was wonderful to see the locals – from toddlers to great grandparents, dancing to the music. Cowboys mixed with dreadlocked colourful beanies along with other costumes, such as the little girls in their spangly belly dancing costumes. Not to mention the very cute little girl dressed as Snow White. Another fantastic day in Kandos. Well done Sue, Dave and Mary!
Flowers
One of the great pleasures of having a flourishing garden is being able to regularly pick bunches of flowers for inside. It means I can enjoy aspects of the garden just as much when I am in the Convent – but without the guilt of feeling I’ve stripped the garden of its beauty.
Fresh flowers are such a treat and every few days I freshen up a few vases. I’m not quite at the picking baskets of flowers stage, and some of my vases are small, but it still seems a luxury and pleasure.
Once the roses are established, they should contribute generously, although I haven’t planted specific cut rose varieties. The dahlia’s are a delight and picking them just encourages more flowers.
It also highlights the garden changes during the seasons as I’ve moved from the agapanthas to the Tansy in one bed, now roses and dahlias, with the bulbs providing a totally different opportunity.
One of the side benefits is the excuse to collect some lovely vases for displaying the arrangements (not that I can “arrange”)!
The Garden is Flourishing
After many months of no rain, we have had a number of days of good rain over the last few weeks, much to the relief of the farmers. The garden is responding by leaping to life. I understand now much more clearly how watering just keeps gardens alive but rain makes them grow.
The lawns are truly grass green but the most rewarding part is the front wall garden bed which was mainly established the last quarter of last year. I’m just starting to see plants peek over the wall from the front footpath, as is the grand plan. The roses are flourishing, they just need some serious training to get them to go over the wall as they seem intent on reaching out the other way and sprawling across the ground to the grass. The Salvias are now hitting their straps as well, particularly the vibrant blue species.
The front circular garden bed looks so much better with the white Cosmos which can be clearly seen from so many angles, including from the street. They provide a soft contrast to the Convent and are always swaying with the breeze. There are some other interesting plants in there as well for anyone looking around the garden. With the rain, I seem now to have millions of baby Cosmos springing up.
Popcorn is making his presence felt – particularly as he loves to race up and down the front wall, taking breaks to jump up and look over. A few plants have felt his momentum and are no longer garden residents. He seems to have a set racing and turning track now that I just avoid planting. Once the roses kick in a little more, I’m sure it will limit his movements.
Other than bulbs, I’m now dialling back more ornamental plantings as I need to concentrate on the veg beds – cleaning out and replanting in preparation for Winter. In the meantime, I’m benefitting from what is currently ripening. In many ways this Summer has been disappointing as my first full season here, but one of the locals pointed out that it has been the worst growing season ever here in Kandos – two rounds of heavy hail that wiped everyone’s veg and stripped the fruit trees, an invasion of micro bugs that sucked so many veg dry and months of drought. It seems like I haven’t done that badly on reflection.
Another Market Day
Today was my fourth market stall at Rylstone Artisan Markets and I’m starting to feel like a regular. Given I started my knitting stall in early Summer, it’s given me time to get a feel prior to Winter approaching and I’m confident that I’ll hit my stride in the next few months. Each month I more than stock up on sold items, whilst always adding one new range. This month I’ve added Linen Stitch Scarves for which in the next month or two I’ll also put the pattern and kit together. I’m also stocking up on Winter items, with the plan to incorporate locally grown and spun Alpaca.
A bit of self promotion is on the cards, given the success at local Shows, with me displaying the ribbons at my stall. I know many of my purchases are gifts, so it provides a talking point for the giver. It’s also a great conversation-starter with other knitters.
I’m meeting heaps of locals – knitters, crafters, farmers and chatterers, which is great given I’m still so new to the area. I also hope it provides a point of interest and an attraction to visitors to the area.
The kits are also proving to be popular – both with knitters and as gifts, which is highly rewarding as I hope to inspire and encourage others to create something special with lovely yarns and textures.
After this market, I’ll be moving more into Winter stock – mitts, beanies and scarves. I noticed the change this time as people were more interested in the mitts and beanies than the feather-weight lace scarves. It’s also time to tackle a few more challenging knits which may at one point also go into some of the Shows. Whilst I knit the occasional garment, my preference remains epic lace shawls (in lace weight yarns) and pragmatic but textured blankets. These can provide quite a contrast which is reflected in two very different recent yarn orders – the reliable and cost-effective Bendigo Woollen Mills, and the seductive, luxurious and indulgent Sundara Yarn (silk lace, of course).
CONVENT AND CHAPEL 