Favourite visitor !

On Saturday we had one of our favourite people to stay….Thomas Hamel.

THEY loved hearing from Thomas about his recent travels to the U.S.   

He is besties with all the top decorators there, and gave us the scoop on the up and coming second series of Million Dollar Decorators (Thomas says Martyn Lawrence-Bullard is a darling, as is Mary MacDonald, whilst Katherine Ireland is as much riotous fun as she seems to be on the show !).

 This post is just a teaser as he's invited me (SHE will come also to take the pictures !) to visit his office and clever staff in a few weeks. It is a hive of creativity there.

Meanwhile, back on the farm, here is TH returning from the kitchen garden with dinner. Can you see me on the right >

Being from the city, Thomas does feel the cold of a Highlands spring.

It is going to be a great harvest this autumn - HE is looking forward to cranking up the cider press.

Iris Country Fair

Recently SHE left us and went on a buying trip with Aunt Nano to India…..

it was OK we had CV and the wonderful and well read William Petley staying - and HE did spoil us a little bit.

Lots of the goodies (tops, tablecloths, shorts etc etc) Aunt Nano bought for Pigott's Store will be at the Iris Country Fair at Frensham, Mittagong this Saturday 17th Nov., along with 70 other stalls. This fair (and market) is only held every 4 years and is bigger than Ben Hur.

It is such fun, do try and get there.

HE loves it as there are lots of delicious things to eat, and hundreds of interesting books for sale, whilst SHE loves all the plants.

Another treat will be Mickey Robertson from Glenmore House with all her kitchen gardening goodies.

Pigott's will be in School Hall - come and say hello !

We think this caftan is straight out of the book POOLSIDE WITH SLIM AARONS

Sunroom Supper

Our friends the Dwyers bought their house guests over for Friday night supper. 

Bella and I always enjoy the extra attention we get from visitors (I think Ruth secretly would rather like to take me home).

I think they're coming!

The last of lots and lots of herbacious peonies from the cutting garden. 

All the peonies get fertilised on Melbourne Cup Day and Anzac Day (a great tip from an old friend years ago).

The real thing, for a change.

 THEY have eaten rather a lot of red cabbage lately so this one is not

going to make it to full size …….much prettier on the table than on the stove.

Garlic anyone?

Today THEY dug the first of the early garlic, together with some pretty and delicious red onions;

and a pair of cabbages (which may well end up as a table decoration, and not as table fare).

SHE loves a good stock of string - perfect for tying up the onions & garlic.

HE made the drying rack for the onions this morning.

Harvesting is all very well, but how about our dinner ? 

That's me on the left. Sally, on the right, is  giving vent to her best mournful impression. It always works. 

This was the weekend that was

This is the last of a particularly delicious period in the kitchen garden - the last of  the peas, I think more get eaten raw than ever make it to the pot - porcelain pea pod by Anne Gordon.

As the eating ones come to an end, the very pretty scented sweet pea start…..utter bliss in a vase.

 Peony coral charm

Iris in the orchard

CV laying table for Saturday night supper.

Delicious beef from Maugher's Butcher in Burrawang, vegetables fresh from the garden.

Breakfast with this morning's eggs.

Me with my biscuits, sometimes we have an egg too.