another taste of orange wine

When I bottled my orange wine I had a bit of a mishap and ended up with a half  bottle.  Thought I would experiment and see if it would keep as a half bottle.  I have bottled all my wine in recycled wine bottles with screw tops.   At the time I thought I would have to drink the wine to save it but the wine was just too rough, even though I gave it a good try.   Then a couple of months ago I opened the bottle and had a taste.  There were no funny floaty bits so thought it should be OK.  It didn't take me long to replace the cap as the wine had an after taste of metho.  I closed my ears to the cries from the family about how I should just throw the lot out before I poisoned myself and I let it sit again for another couple of months.   Today while having a bit of a clean I unscrewed the half bottle.  It immediately fizzed up like it had been aerated and shaken and I screwed the cap back on quickly.  It took several attempts of slowly letting the air out before I was finally able to take the cap off and have a taste.   WOW   It is amazing the difference a couple of months can make.  I didn't want to stop at a taste but I have to drive in about an hour and a couple of sips went straight to my head.   Apart from being so mellow now it seems to be a potent brew.  It still needs to mature for another couple of months for the optimum taste but if it keeps getting better like this it is not going to last for very long after maturity.  I do have a few concerns about opening the full bottles though.  What if they all fizz up like the half bottle or was that just a fluke because it was a half bottle.   I haven't the time right now to find out cause if it decides to fizz and makes a mess then I will have to clean it up.   So even though I am hoping that the full bottles have the same flavor as the half bottle I am going to leave it till I have thought about the best way of opening them.  Also I am a bit concerned that the full bottles might start blowing their tops, so I will have to be extra careful if I am moving them.  Oh the joys and dilemma's of an amature wine maker.

not my morning

I should have realised when Modo woke me late this morning that the morning was not going to go to plan.  I haven't had an alarm clock for over six months now but recently Modo has taken on the job.   He has been waking me at 6 every morning with a gentle nudge then a leap onto the bed for a cuddle.  I keep telling him 6.30 Modo 6.30, not 6.00.  But now I have learnt my lesson.  Think he must have tired of me complaining so guess 6.00 it will be from now on - without the whingeing. 
When I finally got up this morning I dragged myself around trying to get ready for work.  Had only had one cup of coffee and still no makeup on and hadn't done any housework when Cam and Renee rocked up wanting to borrow the trailer.   It was their moving day today.   They were finally moving out on their own.   They had rented a nice house in Montrose - their dog Storm welcome - and today was their big day.  Half an hour later they finally had the trailer hooked up and were gone.  I had a few minutes left to finish getting ready for work.  I threw on some make up, made my second cup of coffee - essential if I am going to have any semblence of a good day - called the dogs inside to put them out the back.  Modo raced in and raced upstairs, Willow refused to come in.   Got out the bribes - liver treats - Willow couldn't resist but Modo wasn't going to budge.   I was now offically running late so I left the back door open and Modo inside.  I grabbed my second cup of coffee which I hadn't had a chance to drink, picked up my cardy and bag and rushed outside while trying to stop the coffee slopping over the top of the cup.  Slowly, slowly I told myself.  I was finally out on the road, thankfully there was very little traffic as it is still school hols.   I parked in the parking area out back and raced into work.   Swiped on with a minute to spare.   huge sigh

the olgas of victoria

On second thoughts it could be the Devils Marbles of Victoria.  I have never seen either but either way I just love this area. The rock formations are just incredible. Think you would call it the Lancefield / Pyalong area. We drove back this way from Echuca. OK they don't have the grandure of the Olgas but they are still beautiful.

a step back in time

Decided to do the tourist bit in Echuca.  We were there for an engagement party and made a weekend of it. 

yay another daughter in law to be

Jarrod and beautiful Jen Jen arrived home from Bali tonight.  This is what happened - straight from facebook.
In Bali we visited some temples, shopped had a cruise and on our one year anniversary (second day in Bali) Jarrod surprised me with a morning visit to the Monkey Forrest then a 3 hour massage session and a private dinner on the beach with our own band playing for us and a waiter to cater to us. We had a 5 course dinner with lobster as the main meal and then as dessert was brought out Jarrod got down on one knee and proposed.....I said yes.
Awwwwwwwwww.

poor willow

My poor Willow had to spend the day at the vets.   I dropped her off at 8.15.  It was supposed to be 8 but the receptionist was sick and they had to call in a temp.   And as coincidence would have it when I gave her my surname she said Oh are you Jarrods mum.  When I said yes she said to tell him that Kate says hello.
I forgot that I had a hair appointment at 3 and what with after work traffic it was about 5 before I finally got back to pick Willow up.   She was fine.   You would never have known that she had had her 4 middle lower teeth removed and her left very back molar.  She has always had crooked teeth and they were the ones she had to have removed.  The back molar had become loose and damaged as it appears that she chews mainly on her left side.   Willows teeth had a good clean and hopefully her teeth will stay good.   I will have to try to get her to eat some teeth cleaning chews to keep them in good condition.  About the only things she will chew on are pigs ears and the cardboard middle from toilet rolls.

finally packed away the tree

                            

There were still two presents sitting under the Christmas tree.   Their recipient had been notified but never arrived to open them.  So the Christmas tree was finally packed away today and the presents, looking rather unloved left sitting on the carpet, alone.  One day when the reason for the presents has faded and they no longer have the same magic the recipient will arrive to claim them.   There won't be the fanfare or the audience of Christmas Day but they will finally go home.

Taking down the tree I slowly unravelled the colourful lights from the tree and felt a little sad that I had only seen them on a couple of times over Christmas.  I love the twinkling colours of fairy lights.  So I decided to recycle them and enjoy the magic of the fairy lights every night.   I read the label carefully to make sure they were indoor / outdoor lights but the adaptor was for indoor use only.  Well the power point is indoors so that won't be a problem.  I strung them along the footpath in the greenery leading up to the front door.   Now I can't wait for it to get dark tonight so I can see my plants come alive with all the reds blues and greens dancing over them.

sunday games at home

You start with a ball and a bin

Ask your servant to hide the ball under the bin

 
Show how smart you are by getting the ball out from under the bin

 
Then once you have the ball

 Put the ball back in the bin

so you can take it back out again

another sunday another tip run

                                       

And this was the Sunday morning queue waiting to leave the tip.  The operator told us the afternoon queue was even better.

now it's time for my garden

So nice to get back out in my garden yesterday.  No vegie patch here but plenty of plants and trees.  Had half a tree to pull down and cut up.   The really hot day a couple of weeks ago and the tree bent and sagged like it was made of rubber.   Previously one of the big branches had snapped off and been caught high in the tree.   With a bit of wind in fell low enough for us to pull it to the ground and cut it up.   David only had the hand saw and found the tree to be a tough bugger.  Modo thought it was a great place to hide his ball.