Little #fmy52weeksofmemories

Lots of little things made our Australia Day great.

A little dancing at breakfast

A little flag waving

A little get together at the beach

A little rainbow halo around the sun

A little playing on the beach

A little cricket

Two littlish dogs

A little music

 

A little fishing

linking with Karin

 

BeB the sign painter

My place in time #51 - Someone outside your family/group of friends that you would miss if they were gone.

Millicent has it's own fantastically talented sign painter. His name is Ken. Ken Bebbington. 

As long as I can remember he has been adding his unique art works to the windows about town. I plucked up the courage and bailed Ken up outside the x-lotto shop earlier in the week, where he had just finished his latest work. He tells me he's been doing this for 30 years. That's a lot of Christmases! I cannot imagine a time without his special brand of talent adorning the windows of local businesses.

I explained the local history project I was doing and he kindly let me take his photo. I hope he didn't think I was too much of a weirdo. I had to talk myself into approaching him in the first place, but was glad I got over my fears and just did it.

I've often see him walking about town, going about his business, with a bag, and sometimes a ladder. He is a real talent and treasure to our town, and now when I pass him I can say "G'day Ken!".

When I was a teenager I had the bright idea of asking to be his apprentice ( I fancied myself of a bit of an artist). Well I never did ask him, and he is still doing what he does best and seems to be enjoying too!

Miguel's 'Rustic Zucchini Roast'

Every time I go to our local library, which is usually once a week, I can't help but borrow cook books. There is always at least one recipe that takes my fancy. If only the kids were willing to be my guinea pigs, but no the nights when I cook something 'nice', they have a frozen pastie chucked in the oven for dinner. They'll quite happily chow down a pastie. Although I have to change my game plan, as Izzy has finally discovered there are green bits in them. Bugger!

I made this zucchini dish from Miguel Maestre's, Miguel's Tapas.

It didn't sound like much, and I was sceptical, but it was delish. I could totally see why it makes tasty and satisfying tapas. Perfect for a side dish, lunch or dinner. Breakfast even, and another recipe to use up any excess zucchinis.

Everyone seems to have SO MANY zucchinis a the moment. I can't grow them for shit! Good thing I know people who can, and they are totes happy to give them away get rid of them.

Miguel says this a Murcian(where he's from) tapas dish where the zucchinis grow as big as your arm. Let me tell you, the zucchinis my neighbour successfully palms off on me, are as big as my thighs!

This is Miguel's recipe halved, otherwise I'd be eating it until the cows come home. If you are expecting an army, double the recipe and get yourself a ridiculously huge pot to cook it in.

Miguel's Rustic Zucchini Roast

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 kg zucchini, thinly sliced
salt and pepper
2 sprigs oregano, leaves only, or 2 teaspoons dried
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add garlic for a minute on a low heat. Add onions. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.

Add zucchini, continuing to cook covered and stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper and add oregano.

Place mixture in a ovenproof dish and stir through eggs. Bake in oven for 15 minutes.

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Reflection #fmy52weeksofmemories

I had the perfect opportunity earlier in the week to capture a photo for this prompt. Both the girls had a hair appointment. It wasn't until later that day I was berating myself for not being more switched on. I am an idiot. So my aim for the rest of this amazing challenge Toni has created, is to be more aware of what is happening and how it relates to the word for the week.

So here is a photo of the girls and their new haircuts, NOT taken in the reflection of a hairdressers' mirror! Doh!

Isabel loves styling her own hair so she just had a trim to keep her lovely locks. Summer had about 4 inches off and is now for the first time sporting a fringe. Her hair was always hanging in her face, and she was forever trying to look through her straggly hair. She has that type of hair that doesn't hold bands or clippies well.

Isabel commented as Summer was having her hair cut, "It doesn't look like Summer anymore". Let me assure you it is still our spirited Summer!

By no means luckily, I accidently tapped, and I mean tapped my NEW oven door with a casserole dish and the front glass shattered into a million pieces. The glass that is left in the door is just like a mirror. So I bring you my broken oven door with a reflection of me. The kids had all sorts of fun this morning, and giggles, realising the face contortions the mirror made when they kneeled in front of it.

The kids were giving the absolute shits at the moment it happened, and I am mindful now that shitcracking coincides with shattering glass. I am sure the glass would have exploded whether I was refereeing the kids fighting or not.

To add insult to injury, not long after the drama with the oven I turned the bore pump on and  nothing. It was buggered. So I couldn't water my garden either. Thankfully it rained overnight. I went to the Mount yesterday only to come home without one, too expensive or out of stock. Fuck.

I couldn't help but get all down and negative about wasting my time. It wasn't a waste of time, Masters will have one in stock on Monday. I was worried then, about being longer than the two hours I told my friend I was going to be, when I left Izzy for her play date.

I had to tell myself, it is what it is. Hurrying and getting stressed about it wasn't going to help, and it wasn't going to get me home any quicker. I just had to chill with the reality that I did my best.

So I guess Monday, Brett can pick up the new pump after work, and the oven company has already organised a replacement door for my stove. All is good in the my world, I guess I just had to have that hiccup to keep me on my already stressed toes.

 

The Millicent museum

My place in time #85 - Where I was at 11:11 am

 

I've been meaning for so long to take the kids to the local museum. It's usually one of those things that locals just don't do.

 

Summer wasn't happy though. She didn't want to climb up on the train because "it might take off", and she was scared to go in any of the buildings. Fair enough they were dark (we had to turn the lights on our self), and it was full of old stuff. Maybe she sensed more 'old stuff" in there than we did. We went through a lot quicker, and it took a lot of convincing and patience. I would have loved to have a closer look.

 

Kicking myself I didn't take any photos in the Geltwood room. The things salvaged from the 1876 shipwreck are just amazingly beautiful in their fragility and ornateness.

 

To the credit of the museum it has an awesome collection of horse drawn wagons, buggies and carts in superb condition. Fab to see how people and businesses got around in the olden days. 

 

This wheel was one of the highlights of my childhood. It was accessible to the public and not fenced when I was a child. For twenty cents, it would turn for a couple of minutes. How many times did we beg our parents for twenty cents to make it go? Now it is only accessible via the museum entrance. It's free now, and Izzy was happy to push the power button. The little kid in me was happy, but in bewilderment as why this was such great entertainment!

Steam train

Whaling equipment from Beachport, for rendering down blubber and a whale bone.

John was my great-great grandad.

Now here's a vehicle to be seen dead in.

Check those patterned pants (22) from 1932! They'd sell like hotcakes today. I want a pair!

The silk taffeta on the left was made for and worn by Maggie Tabberer in 1982. WTF 1982?!

Husband was mentioning he'd like to get a dishwasher. Me being me, I said "I don't need a dishwasher!". Bit like the owner of this kitchen saying "I don't need an electric oven".....

Creepy but interesting. Some of these dolls are over 100 years old. Doo Doo, Doo Doo.

The Christmas tree competition entries were still on display in the tourist centre, so we checked them out too. This first one is my favourite and pretty well sums up my silly season, but with cheaper wine.

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