CONVENT AND CHAPEL

The Countdown Begins … and another phase starts

Published on November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 by conventandchapel2 Comments

At the moment, every minute is spoken for as we head towards opening the yarn shop, Convent and Chapel Wool Shop, on Friday. We’re nearly there but still have some fine tuning (and pricing) to take care of. There are always lots of things you’d like to have done better or still need to do but it’s all come together pretty well. Today we had the internet working well and connected EFTPOS facilities – probably the things that worry me more as they are out of my control if they don’t work.

I still need to work on the website to get it anywhere close to respectable and haven’t even started on the online shop. We also need the Facebook page up and running prior to opening.

Otherwise, the important activities have been completed – opening invitations sent out and drinks and nibbles bought. Oh, and the shop is completely fitted out now and we have the stock in – sort of important for a shop. We even have our outdoor furniture and plants in place.

Once I get through opening on Friday, I’ll post an update with photos, but for now I’m in a good place and just realising that after retiring from 30 years in the CBD corporate world, I’ve just started a new career in rural NSW as a small business independent retailer. “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans” – how true!

New Market Territory – Rylstone StreetFeast

Published on November 2, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

Under the yellow marquee which did such a great job during such challenging weather. — Under the yellow marquee which did a great job during such challenging weather.

Since discovering the Kandos/Rylstone area just over two years ago, we have been ‘tourists’ at Rylstone StreetFeast and bought tickets to the sumptuous local spread which is seated along the main street.

Scarves with lots of shawls in the background.

This year we are ‘locals’ and had our own stall at the markets that flanked the Feast or ‘Long Lunch’. The bright yellow marquee made its first appearance and earned its money on a hot and gusty day that also saw storms with rain. We had a great day, being particularly busy in the morning before the food was served, yet had to pack up a trifle early as rain threatened later in the afternoon.

As usual, we met lots of knitters – locals, Sydney-siders and neighbours from Mudgee and the Blue Mountains, all of whom were pleased to hear about our shop opening shortly. The samples of Noro and Zauberball were much admired, so we think the shop stock will be appreciated.

Sales were pretty constant – the mohair/silk lace scarves are always popular and mitts and beanies were still purchased despite hot and gusty weather.

Next week we will concentrate on shop stuff and hope to open Friday week. So many people pressed us on an opening date that it was time to draw a line in the sand and commit, so that will now be our target!

The old hotel key pigeon holes are perfect for displaying the Zauberballs. — The old hotel key pigeon hole cabinet is perfect for displaying the Zauberballs.

Local Bushfires

Published on November 1, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

A few weeks ago, we had snow. This week it was bush fires.

It was shortly after some friends and I retired inside after a lovely balmy night eating alfresco (and after providing treats to many of the Kandos kids for Halloween, which was great fun), that a neighbour called to warn me. There was a fire blazing on the escarpment out the back of my place, ‘Old Baldy’ to be precise.

I’ve been near bush fires before when living on the North Shore in Sydney but somehow being in the country makes it much more concerning. Even though distances may be similar, the space between dwellings and fires is mostly bush with few houses. It’s easy to understand why the local fire services are held in such high esteem in the country.

Although many locals (including us) were involved in Rylstone StreetFeast the next day, most locals had an anxious late night watching the fire flare up from a small blaze and then quieten down after 1pm. The area was inaccessible and it wasn’t until daylight that the water bomber copters could go in to quell the blaze.

Anyway, fortunately it seems under control now and since being home from StreetFeast, I have now become attuned to the non-stop whir of the choppers as they continue to douse the flames. I’m sure the local fire services were one of the community beneficiaries from StreetFeast today and richly deserve local support.

Markets Tomorrow!

Published on October 30, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

Tomorrow my friend G and I are heading off to Rylstone Street Feast. Since discovering this wonderful region, for the last two years we have done the tourist thing and bought tickets for the ‘Long Lunch’, which is a gourmet feast set in the leafy main street of Rylstone. Table are laid out down the length of the street for a communal repast of courses which make the most of local produce.

The street is flanked by local market stalls and the day is a major one for the area, attracting both tourists and locals. This year we are much more like the locals and will be manning a market stall ourselves stocked with our hand knits as well as luxury yarn. The stall had been booked many months before, following our success at Rylstone Artisan Markets, but it is now a fortuitous opportunity to promote the new shop to a wider audience as we will be opening in the same street in a few weeks.

This will be a much bigger market than we have previously been to and will be a long day (and possibly a very hot one!). The excitement is building. I’ll post photos after the event for all to see. Hopefully we also get to see lots of the other stalls and sample some of the great local food on offer.

Spring Means Roses

Published on October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

Crepuscule - this is one of the first roses I planted and is nearly two years old. A few more have since found their way into the garden. — Crepuscule – this is one of the first roses I planted and is nearly two years old. A few more have since found their way into the garden.

Graham Thomas, a David Austin rose. Roxy seems to think there may be a lizard nearby.

Particularly exciting this Spring is watching the roses bloom. I know I can’t take the credit as roses do very well in Kandos. When first buying my property the agent told me that the only roses that won’t grow here are ones that aren’t in the ground. That being said, I’ve been responsible for a few rose tragedies. However I’ve also added over 100 roses to the garden, mainly heritage varieties.

A Blushing Pierre de Ronsard along the Grotto.

Pinky making her presence felt at the Grotto.

Anyway, all of my roses other than ‘The Original Seven’, are very new – less than two years old – and it’s exciting to see them begin to establish and flourish. Also to see what type of flowers they have rather than just being a picture on a label (or not!). The old roses appear to enjoy the attention, with a hard pruning and good feeding. The new roses are just beginning to show their growth patterns. It’s such a luxury to be able to select roses to pick each day for indoors, but I also just love seeing them on their bushes.

One of the 'Original Seven', a Chicago Peace. — One of the ‘Original Seven’, a Chicago Peace.

Cecile Brunnet running up the Grotto. — Cecile Brunner running up the Grotto.

The original plan was to have climbers and ramblers tumbling themselves over the ash brick wall to what is quite a plain footpath. This is now just starting to succeed and should look a picture in years to come.

One of the newest but most vigorous roses - the Tennis Court rose. — One of the newest but most vigorous roses – the Tennis Court rose.

Lamarque - it's first year here and doing outstandingly well. — Lamarque – it’s first year here and doing outstandingly well.

Papa Meillard - makes up two of the 'Original Seven' roses remaining at The Convent. — Papa Meillard – makes up two of the ‘Original Seven’ roses remaining at The Convent.

Albertine doing exactly what I want - climbing over the fence to the footpath. — Albertine doing exactly what I want – climbing over the fence to the footpath.

The Pope - Pope John Paul II. One of three and always reliable. Well, for the two years I've had them. — The Pope – Pope John Paul II. One of three and always reliable. Well, for the two years I’ve had them.

One of two Mr Lincoln's at the front wall. Such a punch of colour. — One of two Mr Lincoln’s at the front wall. Such a punch of colour.

The Shop

Published on October 22, 2014October 23, 2014 by conventandchapel3 Comments

Plans for the new shop are moving at a cracking pace. Stock has either been delivered or is on its way – particularly for the international products. Some of the new arrivals are so stunning, I’m finding it hard to imagine how I can part with them. Probably not the best retail approach.

So far we have a good stock of Noro, Zauberball, Moseley Park and Kaalund. Books have arrived as have a selection of Knitpro needles. A few other lovelies such as some Golding spindles have also found their way here. This week a trip to Sydney helped with shelving as well as some surprises from the last David Barsby auction.

The shop is coming together well and is perfect for our needs – great location, lots of character, good size with two rooms to add interest, of course Yum Cha next door as well as outdoor seating for knitters in good weather. There’s still lots to do – phone/wireless connection, Merchant connections, signage, stationery … but it’s so exciting.

The needles are clicking madly in preparation for our Rylstone StreetFeast stall on 1 November, then it should be full steam ahead to open the shop sometime in November.

Our books will work well in the old dresser.

Spring Has Sprung

Published on October 18, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

To think that over a year ago this was bare earth! — To think that less than two years ago this was bare earth!

The crabapple - a late but sensational bloomer, with the sensational Popcorn! — The crabapple – a late but sensational bloomer, with the sensational Popcorn!

It’s that magical time of year for gardeners where everything is growing and flowers burst forth. It’s particularly exciting in such a new garden where many of the plants haven’t flowered before and any growth seems so dramatic. You also start to see how the plants blend in with each other and their individual growth patterns.

I’m thrilled to see so many plants responding, not just in terms of growth and flowering, but also the abundance of self sewn plants from letting the plants go to seed.

It’s a treat now to go outside and pick bunches of flowers and enjoy them inside as well. One of changes I need to adjust to is that when I let the dogs out in the morning, it’s often over an hour before I make my way back inside for breakfast as I wander through the garden inspecting changes and doing some never-ending weeding!

The centre front bed is looking as pretty as a picture!

The Privet – Getting There

Published on October 18, 2014 by conventandchapel2 Comments

This is starting to look as I had planned - much more structured and formal. — This is starting to look as I had planned – much more structured and formal.

The privet has been an ongoing saga since I first arrived here. It was towering, leggy, unattractive and hardly an environmental asset – bound for a Council edict. The initial plan, after inspiration from locals who pointed out that it was once a well-ordered and regularly trimmed hedge, was to see if I could cut it back dramatically and get it to regrow neatly after maybe 40 years of neglect.

After tackling a number of bushes with a branch saw over a year ago and getting great results, the rest of the hedge came down in July with the help of chainsaws. The old fence – high galvanised iron with hardwood posts – has a rustic charm of its own which I have now come to love, after originally plotting its downfall. I am now adding rambling roses behind the privets to add another layer of interest and take advantage of a sound structure.

Looking bare but much tidier. — Looking bare but much tidier in July.

Whilst the privet bases will be slightly “leggy” and the ground before it is a bit rough, I’ve edged it with timbers and backfilled with pine bark mulch, planted out with Kurume Azaleas, Helebores and Japanese Windflowers (Anenome x Hybrida). The privets are now all beginning to show signs of new growth and should thicken into a hedge over the next year. Planting of the edge border has begun in earnest, so this side of the garden is now taking on a far more formal appearance, which I was hoping for.

So far this is very raw, but I’m hoping over the next few years this will become a more structured part of the garden and add substantially more interest. I should be a major improvement given it was the biggest eyesore and so environmentally unfriendly.

A year on, I expect the photos to look vastly different.

The border with mulch now runs down the whole side of the fence. The provosts are just beginning to show signs of reshooting.

Hopefully it follows the lead of the previously trimmed privets. — The initial limited experiment of trimming earlier this year, well under control.

The Mudgee Smuggler Team

Published on October 12, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

MRTI (Mudgee Tourism) took the great step of inviting a dozen of Australia’s top influential food and travel writers and bloggers to visit the Mudgee region in a bus to showcase the amazing food and wine of the area.

Whilst following Facebook and their Tweets we noticed a familiar name and face pop up with web_goddess. It was such a treat to be visited by a very happy gang of travellers who had indulged in a massive overdose of Mudgee hospitality.

The team had a quick preview of our new business, Convent and Chapel Wool Shop, which we are in the early stages of setting up and plan to open early November, post the Rylstone Street Feast celebrations (where we will have our stall). They they moved on to what we hope was a great Rylstone experience at 29 nine 99. So great to see good promotion of such a magical region.

Just starting to come together - the early stages. — Just starting to come together – the early stages.

A Flower By Any Other Name …

Published on October 12, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

Blues are my favourite and this solid blue is close to perfect.

Last year I posted pictures of my Aquilegias – also called Columbines and rather charmingly, Grannies Bonnets. They are probably my favourite flower and are just coming into season.

A red Songbird - perfectly named. — A red Songbird – perfectly named.

The colours are so variable but always stunning. They also self seed, so multiplying plants can be a treat. I both allow seeds to scatter as well as collect them each year to spread early Spring. This year I’ve also taken the step of trying to sew some in trays to see if I get any results.

Anyway, here’s a selection of the earliest starters.

A pastel dusky pink - the first Aquilegia to flower. — And a pastel dusky pink – the first Aquilegia to flower.

And an even paler lemon. — A pale lemon.

Totally different, a very deep purple Barlow.