Lunch and the botanical gardens in Ballarat

I have been very good at packing lunch while on the road but today i didn't, we thought we could pick up lunch somewhere in Ballarat, well we did, just as well the rest of the day was cheap.

It was yummy and we couldnt eat it all thank goodness we had decided to get this between us. The "Kiosk" was at the lake and a little more than a cafe or kiosk. We chose to sit outside facing the lake and had a good view of all the waterbirds.

We took some of the wedges that we didn't eat to feed the ducks, Warren had them coming for several metres away.

There were quite a few of these black swans, so majestic looking, most of them were out further but this one came for a closer look. We had to go for a walk through the lake and gardens to walk off lunch.

I found a craft shop to wander through, it was based in Adam Lindsay Gordon's home, a small four bedroom place, Warren found a park bench to rest on.

I was impressed by the size of the trees in the park but we had been told that the gardens were started in 1888 so I guess that why they are so huge.

The brass plates told what they were and how old or how tall.

A very cold shaded place.

Ballarat has the busts of all Prime Ministers, the last one there is Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd has both his stints on his. 

Beautiful display of marigolds but Arghh! the gardeners were at the other end cutting off the flowers! What the? They explained that the flowers were too big for the bushes and there is expected rain in a couple of days so they were taking the flowers off to spare the bushes. The rain would knock them over with the weight of water and blooms. He said that in three weeks they would flower again bigger and better and the bushes would also be bigger and stronger. In the photo is part of Robert Gordon Menzies, who was Prime Minister during the war years.

I like Sundays

Sundays being the day of rest, we often just have the day at home which means I can potter and get  lot of things done.

I slept in a bit and then spent some time on the computer. Looking for glue sticks in my sewing room (this is what I was doing when the chair broke)I sorted and threw out some unwanted things (two bags to the bin) yay I found them and then  decorated my hat for next week. Also found the material that I bought for costume, washed that ready to go. Made it up but I do have a couple of seams that need to be changed, so still some work to do on that.

I mended a chair cushion and my pillow case that had a split seam, both took less than five minutes and had been waiting for a few weeks.

I also turned up some book covers that needed one seam sewn around the outside and then the ends turned in, there were six of those, they are now done.

I made a pizza for lunch, using a base that I had made last time and was in the freezer. Used up the last of the ham, while the oven was on I also made two small chicken pies, that's tonight's dinner and I preped an egg and bacon quiche that we had with salad for dinner.

Watched some cricket on TV during lunch, then cleaned the kitchen. Being Sunday and a day of rest, I rested on the bed while I read the rest of my book and had a twenty minute sleep.

Did the ironing (that sounds impressive but there was only two of Warren's handkerchiefs, a shirt and pair of pants for me)

I printed out a pattern and instructions for a tote bag that I plan to make for a Christmas gift.

Started knitting a teddy bear, haven't done much knitting lately too hot but I can make the teddies as they are quite small and its not so much sitting on me. I have lots of stuffing to put into them plus lots of wool so now I just need to knit the outside.

Got the washing off the line, washed on Saturday but too damp to get in before we keft and then of course it rained, which gave the clothes a good rinse.

A very productive day and oh and I didn't spent anything. Taking a challenge this month to see how many no spend days we can do in the month. I am up to sixteen and hopefully today will also be a no spend day

Lunch and left overs.

On Tuesday we had our house sitters came for lunch. We had met them before but this was the first time that they have been to the house. Silly me, I suggested they came for lunch but then I realised that I didn't know if they couldn't eat certain things or what they liked/didn't like.

As it was hot and they were coming after an arranged meeting so weren't exactly sure when they could get here, I had cold meat and salads.

Three different types of meat, some hard boiled eggs, potato and coleslaw with bread rolls and a sponge roll to have with coffee. Thankfully they were easy to please and didn't have any allergies.

However because I had prepared quite a bit of food we had plenty left overs so that was dinner for us as well.

I had read about someone who makes extra mashed potato when they have it and then she makes potato cakes from the extra.

I get sick of the same foods, two meals are okay but no more than that so I decided to give the potato cakes a go.

There wasn't very much mayo on the potatoes so I just mashed them and then I added the coleslaw as well, this was made from cabbage, carrot, apple and onion so I figured it would be okay. Added them together with the rest of the rice flour that I had about a quarter of a cup and formed them into patties, round them in flour and lightly fried them.

Two lots of lunches for to take to work and no waste, what a bonus. The original recipe had half potato and half cheese but I forgot that!

New year's lunch

As we have been knocking around at home for the few days, I suggested taking a picnic to te bach for today's lunch. It was hot but not too hot. Warren agreed but suggested lunch at a cafe where we have been before to save me the hassle of preparing lunch.

Our Cafe was closed, how dare they take the holiday day off! There are lots of places to eat along the street as it is on the esplanade so we walked up the street a few metres and enjoyed a nice lunch at a different venue.

I had to laugh when my order came it looked so much like the lunch I prepared at home a few days ago. Turkish bread, lettuce, tomato and avocado, topped with smoked salmon and a drizzle of mayo on top. I had used mashed potato instead of avo.

Warren ordered his usual BLT which came with chips, I had not ordered chips with mine as I didn't like the scales this morning (they were probably quite relieved when I stepped off too). I know that I should have avoided the iced coffee that I had to go with my smoked salmon but it is a new year.

Salad for dinner tonight.

Bet wishes for 2015.