|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Fri, 4:09pm
Post #1 of 21
(147 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Welcome to Fiesta Friday fun!
|
Can't Post
|
|
Greetings, everyone!
First order of business: HUGE thanks to dernwyn, gramma, and Greenwood Hobbit for covering the bar for the last month or so. B. G. and I were having cruising adventures and visiting family down under where Fiesta start-time is in the wee hours of the morning, so their excellent help was greatly appreciated!
We covered lots of Oz, going to places like Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne. Stops before and after those included Fiji, Vanuatu, Middle-earth, French Polynesia, and Honolulu. Whew! We took a red-eye home from Honolulu and literally just walked in the door a few hours ago, so a very lo-o-o-n-g nap is in my very near future!
I posted a board migration update on Main, so head over there to learn more, but in a nutshell: progress is being made!
How about you? Any adventures this week, or any planned for the weekend? There's shrimp and other yummy things on the barbie, meat pies and brandy snaps at the buffet, mai tais in the blender, and a huge assortment of Aussie and Kiwi wines and beers, so grab a drink and a bite and let us know!
*kicks juke box* Man Down Under by Men at Work starts to play
Aloha, and have a wonderful weekend!!   
(This post was edited by Altaira on Fri, 4:11pm)
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Fri, 4:41pm
Post #2 of 21
(130 views)
Shortcut
|
And shrimp on the barbie, of course! What a LOT of amazing places you visited, it must have been exhausting at times and relaxing at others, and sooo much fun! 
And in the meantime, overseeing the migration, which in itself is a lot of work. A well-deserved vacation!
I've been puttering around in the yard, making sure the planters and potted plants are well-"soiled" and getting mulch spread around. We've seen two hummingbirds, and what squeaks they make when they fight over the feeder!
LOL, great song, now here's what I've been told is their national anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1FbAsFX8sA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
(This post was edited by dernwyn on Fri, 4:47pm)
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Fri, 8:34pm
Post #3 of 21
(117 views)
Shortcut
|
|
*grabs brandy snaps and a steak and mushroom pie*
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
My mother was a great maker of brandy snaps. She had a whole routine going, using two trays: one where she removed the baked 'snaps' to roll them and then put fresh mixture on it for baking, all while the second was in the oven. You had to move fast with brandy snaps, getting them to roll while still warm but not so hot that you'd burn your fingers.
I wish so much that I'd made them with her so that I could learn her tricks. I've tried several times and always failed to make them - heck, I've failed to *get them off the tray*, as they've been practically welded on.
I use store-bought now.
I'm about to leap out the door to get Saturday morning errands done. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Fri, 10:28pm
Post #5 of 21
(109 views)
Shortcut
|
I've never been close to one long enough to hear it squeak.
Sounds like a lot is getting done around the yard. Do you have anything blooming yet? (I guess if you have hummingbirds, you do, unless you also have a feeder)
Ha! Yes, we love that song. Here's another great video of that song performed in the Royal Albert Hall with an audience full of proper, well-dressed people singing along. Too funny.
Have a great weekend in the garden!
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Fri, 10:40pm
Post #6 of 21
(106 views)
Shortcut
|
We had lots of meat pies while in Oz and NZ, but I never found a brandy snap, though it wasn't at the top of my radar.
We were only in NZ two days. The first day was in Bay of Islands where we sat out on Zane Grey's deck and had a long lunch with B.G.s sister. The next day in Auckland it was so cold we bought some possum/merino outerwear then had a few Guinness (Guinnesses?) in a proper pub.
I did, however, find some Arnott's shortbread cream biscuits in a small Auckland convenience store. I love those things, and didn't have any luck finding them in Australia. A pack is awaiting me in my suitcase as I type.
It sounds like you have lots of good brandy snap memories! I don't think I'd venture trying to make them, but good on you for at least trying.
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Fri, 10:48pm
Post #7 of 21
(108 views)
Shortcut
|
Jake the Peg by Rolf Harris.
I read that when he passed away, the pallbearers all wore 3 legs in his honor.
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Fri, 10:55pm
Post #8 of 21
(106 views)
Shortcut
|
And all too true. 
There were quite a few Aussies on our 1st 2 cruises, and the performers leaned into that. One singer showed a great slide-show while signing I Still Call Australia Home. When he invited the audience to join him it was quite stirring to hear everyone singing it together.
|
|
|
Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 2:39am
Post #10 of 21
(100 views)
Shortcut
|
I've had a pleasantly busy morning. I made my first-ever batch of madelines, which turned out really well. Also a batch of cereal, and some lentil soup from homemade stock. Did some washing, hung it out, rain started so brought it back in, rain stopped so hung it out again, and am currently watching the sky with suspicion. I'm definitely enjoying a sit-down just now!
It's been a fairly good week. I think I've wrangling the brickmaking (in my wip) into shape, and am currently trying not to over-explain 19th century prison conditions. Next up will be the fascinating (if only to me) topic of the late-Victorian craze (in New Zealand) for so-called Special Village Settlements.
But it's the weekend, and work tends to be of the manual kind. I plan to plant out some bulbs to augment my bank of spring flowers - later than I'd hoped, but there was a hold-up with the order. Now I need to hope for some winter chill to make them happy.
The winter crop of broad beans is just starting to appear, in the form of tiny seedlings. Thanks to heroic efforts from Mr Kimi over the last couple of weeks, the garden is looking very tidy and nice. This year the wood-pigeons and waxeyes have been slow to discover the main guava bush, so as I have as many as I want for jelly sitting in the freezer we've been doing our best to keep up with the fresh ones. They're nice and tart, with a real bite to them.
Afternoon tea with madelines is calling. Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
|
|
|
Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Sat, 9:03am
Post #11 of 21
(90 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Welcome back - what an amazing journey! I admire your stamina.
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
As for brandy snaps, even though they're delicious I've never even attempted to make them - I know when I'm beaten! I'm going down to the south coast of England by train next week to visit an old school friend and that feels like an expedition to me. I think living overseas in Southern Africa for a few years put me off long-haul flights - and that was only 13 hours! The furthest I've been since then is Switzerland. I've never been on a cruise and I don't suppose I will now. Quite apart from anything else, I don't have the budget. There are many places to explore not too far from home and I'm happy with that - I think at heart I'm mostly Hobbit. Spring is galloping along here; my laburnum tree is flowering well and bringing a vivid splash of yellow to the garden and my sweet peas are starting to climb the strings to the trellis. My newly planted honeysuckle, a cream and yellow variety called 'Scentsation', has started to flower and lives up to its name. My new greenhouse is in boxes in the shed awaiting stabilisiation of the existing base and my friend round the corner is fostering my tomato and cucumber plants until the new greenhouse is up. It's a busy time! I've just swapped (via our local Facebook 'free giveaway' page) some ordnance survey maps I didn't want any more for half a dozen local fresh-laid eggs - the good old barter system still thrives.
I was going to link the 1972 Monty Python 'many people pooh-pooh Australian table wines' sketch, but I thought some people might find it a little offensive - feel free to Google it! Have a good week ahead, everyone - cheers!
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Sat, 1:26pm
Post #12 of 21
(78 views)
Shortcut
|
|
*geeky hand clapping!* So great to see you! :D
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
It sounds like a dream adventure that surely has built HUNDREDS of great stories and memories!  It's so great to have you back safe and sound!
I had a wonderful visit with my eldest Balti-daughter over the past weekend and halfway into this week, and now I've fetched my younger daughter from up north who can finally get past her flooded road for the past month! She staying this weekend as we attend her future daughter-in-law and my future g'daughter's graduation from College with a medical assistant degree. She nearly finished her education while still in high school, but needed to re-take some practicals. So after 3 years away from schooling and working at a local grocery store, she returned to classes last year and has finally finished her dream :D I'm SO PROUD of her to return back to schooling with so many challenges always cropping up. She is definitely one of those people you want helping you or loved ones when laid up.
I'm gonna grab a chocolate shake and thank you, Altaira, for taking such great care of us! :D
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 1:34pm
Post #13 of 21
(77 views)
Shortcut
|
(And at the end, Liberace has 3 hands...)
What's blooming now: patches of phlox, in whites and purples and pinks; the dark purple periwinkles are prolific this year; the pink forget-me-nots have finally made their presence known; the catmints are shooting out blue blossoms and becoming nicely fragrant; the Siberian bugloss have medium blue flowers; and the creeping speedwell are finally popping out their tiny white flowers.
I picked up a low wooden edging to put around to define a patch of Bleeding Hearts and Jacob's Ladders, which all prefer the nearly sunless side of the garage.
We have the hummer feeder and a hanging plant, but they've been going after the feeder, probably because it's less effort! They've been thirsty. We think we know where at least one nest is, high in a bush.
Will you be spending time in the yard this weekend? Or - just hanging out on the new deck?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 1:41pm
Post #14 of 21
(75 views)
Shortcut
|
I wonder - did your mother put some kind of grease on the trays, which didn't interfere with the batter but would keep the cookies loosened?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 1:47pm
Post #15 of 21
(76 views)
Shortcut
|
...I'm imagining wonderful aromas in your house!
Have you recently acquired a madeline pan?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 1:56pm
Post #16 of 21
(77 views)
Shortcut
|
How long does it take, by train, to get down there? Are you taking a swimsuit?
Sounds like you'll be dong a lot of gardening after you return! Any special plans for the fresh eggs? I get a dozen weekly, courtesy of a friend's son's chickens, for $5 to help pay for feed etc. How soon until the greenhouse arrives?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 2:05pm
Post #17 of 21
(76 views)
Shortcut
|
That's wonderful that she persevered and got her degree, medical personnel are in great need these days!
It's always fun, and always seems too short a time, when your kids visit you.
And has all that flooding finally gone away? What a mess that made!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
Greenwood Hobbit
Doriath
Sat, 3:51pm
Post #18 of 21
(72 views)
Shortcut
|
|
A swimsuit at this time of year? You jest!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Her local beach is steep and pebbly and occasionally you find a pebble with a hole through it, which is fun. It takes just over two hours on the train to London, then another two hours on a stopiing train (i.e. not an express) to where she lives. There's a fine Art Deco pavilion to visit there (De La Warr Pavilion). We both like crafts, gardens and strolling round antique/collectable places so we'll have a good time.The eggs will keep in the fridge until I come home. I might scramble a couple and use the rest in baking.
(This post was edited by Greenwood Hobbit on Sat, 3:53pm)
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Sat, 8:33pm
Post #19 of 21
(49 views)
Shortcut
|
I suspect that she tweaked the recipe she used but never wrote notes about the adjustment.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
|
|
|
Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
12:41am
Post #20 of 21
(28 views)
Shortcut
|
There's an excellent kitchenware shop we like to stop in when we pass through a particular town, which happens maybe once every year or two. We were last there in November, and as I'd for some time had a vague desire to try madelines I included a madeline pan among our haul. Then promptly forgot, as other things got in the way. So it's been some months, but at last I got around to it, and the pan performed very well.
And yes, it did all smell lovely! Currently the kitchen smells of the pizza Mr Kimi made for lunch.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
|
|
|
Annael
Elvenhome
12:42am
Post #21 of 21
(28 views)
Shortcut
|
and what did I do with it?
There was some gardening in there, I'm pretty sure ...
and some "springerizing" the patio ...
Time for a hard lemonade!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
|
|
