Jerusalem artichokes

We have Jerusalem artichokes in our garden. Not to be confused with the other type of artichokes, they aren't really artichokes at all, but tubers - they are like little potatoes, but knobbly and gnarly and sweeter and smokier.. they look like this:


They are yummy when roasted or fried, but the other day I made a soup, which Matt enjoyed very much.. basically I cooked them with butter and onions and stock and pepper, then pureed it all and got this.......



Also, they make you fart. Lots.

Veges are good

Well winter is definitely upon us now - there is snow on the Southern Alps and we can see our breath while we lie in bed at night. But never fear, because we have a spectacular vege patch to help us through the cold winter months...

Here is what the patch looked like when we moved in in February - I'd just planted some seedlings:



And now things have gone wild and veges (and weeds) are growing everywhere:



We have: silverbeet, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radiches (yuck), and even some jerusalem artichokes (planted before we arrived). Not to mention a large selection of herbs. I am off out there now to gather some bounty to make a hearty vege soup. Mmmmmm veges.

Matt makes a new friend

Well, the whole point of these posts are to provide an insight into our lives now that we live in the country. NOT as a forum for architectural wank, despite the impression Matt's last post may have given. To rectify the situation, I thought I'd share a pic from Saturday night - at the local pub. All was going well until the local rugby team popped in to have a round of beers - this young gentleman took a particular shining to Matthew....



In all a pretty ordinary night at the Angler's Arms.

Lil.

Boyd Motel

Last year I made a stillborn attempt to buy the Robin Boyd designed Dower House. A few well-dressed guys mocked my borrowing power and I never even raised my hand to bid. I left the auction dejected and sulking, but mortgage-free.

And now it's up for rent. At $1500 per week I still can't afford it, but it looks as lovely as ever.


Boyd was one of Australia's most prominent post-war architects and a vocal advocate for the development of an Australian style that suited the climate and surrounds. The Dower house is a compact representation of his ideas


The Dower house is right by Boyd's Baker House, arguably his finest work, and sits nearby to a studio designed by Sir Roy Grounds. That's some pretty impressive architecture sitting in the bush outside of Melbourne

Cushion #1

Today we made a cushion for our sofa. Lil bought some linen and a cushion from a fabric shop and sewed a 50 x 50cm cover. She has an old Bernina sewing machine which she says is the best: simple and built in Switzerland to last, like the watches. I then drew some cyclists with a black Sharpie pen and after a quick iron it was done. And now the wooden sofa arms don't dig in so much.