2nd Jan 2011

Poinciana tree - down and across the fence

It is NOT raining today (so far)!!  That is a real achievement.  We had over 3000mm (that's right 'thousands') of rain last year.  So G has mowed the front yard - very wet underfoot but achieved without bogging the ride-on mower.  He has now started chainsawing the huge piece (about 1/3 of the tree) of the poinciana tree which broke and came down just before Christmas.  It is across the fence and in the neighbour's front paddock.  I will go out a bit later and help with moving some it.  It will be more firewood and mulch in time.

Plans were meant to be broken - correct??  One day and already the menu plan has been slightly revised.  It is for the better though.  Another thing that I found in the freezer was a raw chicken carcass and 2 wings from when the local butcher had deboned and filleted the breast meat for me to make a stuffed chicken roll for our Christmas in July family dinner.  So.......nearly 6 months later I 'find' it!  I put it all in the slow cooker yesterday with a few bay leaves from the tree in the front yard.  This morning I drained the stock off and will use that to make soup at some time.  I picked the remaining meat out from the bones etc and had about 3/4 cup shredded chicken.  I cooked some pasta, mixed in the shredded chicken, about 1 cup of refried beans (leftover from the nachos), 5 marinated olives (leftover from Christmas savoury platter) chopped up, some salsa lurking in a jar in the fridge and placed in a small casserole dish.  Tonight I will top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs and heat under the grill.  The pumpkin soup will be saved for another day.

Today's project includes cleaning some more windows and maybe sorting out the pantry.

We have had no rain all day..........so the grass (it would be outrageous of my to call it lawn) is mowed, tree mostly cut up, dog is washed and I have cleaned all of the louvres (74 of them) in the living room.  I did not get near the pantry but I am not worried, it can wait till another day.  The chain on the chainsaw broke so that will be a necessary (but unexpected) expense.  Life is full of unexpected expenses!!  I may be able to get a new one on Thursday if I work from home and that way it will be ready for G to use next weekend.

My girlfriend is coming to tomorrow to clip the dog, hence the necessity for a bath today.  He did not enjoy being tied up for a couple of hours until he was somewhat drier.

I think I will make some pikelets tomorrow morning so that we can have some for morning tea (after the dog clipping) and there will be some left to add to the selection of choices for work lunches next week.  The Mexican Chicken Bake turned out nicely and was well-received by G.  We had it with some salad and there is enough left for me to take for lunch on Tuesday.

Now after 2 days of writing I think I should put some detail into my profile and introduce myself.  To those of you who have chosen to follow this blog, I thank you for your interest in my ramblings.  Please comment as often as you like.  It will help to keep me inspired and any tips or suggestions are appreciated.