Good day today. Dave and I cooked up the Moroccan soup for lunch. Doubled the recipe and work nicely. Once the pot was on the stove we went for a MTB ride up the valley for Daves first trip up. Nice easy ride but at 10 degrees at midday was a bit rude.

Lunch was tops. With a glass of rizza!

The girls went for a ride up the valley whilst Dave and I (with the kids) built the camp fire. Early lighting of the fire was good. Kids had home made chicken nuggets for dinner whilst we howed into the cheese and bubbles.

Bel made a lovely treat of “blondies” which was a recipes of butter, white chocolate and marshmallows. very nice.

Since Dave forgot the pasta maker we had to do with salmon! Salmon was baked in the oven with Dill butter ( mum the rest is in the freezer), then there was some playing. Chilli in one, chilli and preserved Lemon in the other. Served with pumkin mash and broccolini. Very nice.

Dinner was tops and was finished with daves desert. To quote “it’s a, like semi aflredo something or other…. Semifredo al caffe ice cream. ” very nice with bits of coffee in it.

Went quite well with a bucket of baileys.

Dinner over and stories begin.

And then theres us.

Wasn’t the earliest starts to the day, which was a good thing. Very overcast this morning that kept the kids in bed for a few more minutes, however it was 3 degrees!!

Dave got the fire sparked up this morning. Nice to come into a warm house.

Had fried eggs and bacon. The kids are off talking to the horses and I’m on my second cuppa tea.

Frogs released and i decided to go for a ride. Having been told that I should go the finchly track I decided to go into Wollombi. All the creek crossings were full and negotiated with caution on the way in, on the way back was a different story.

Made it into Wollombi in 35min and exactly 14km. Had a quick break and headed home.

Mad and Dave arrived around midday, beat me back. Few chores done……

> fed the horses
> dragged the dead wallaby up the valley.
> filled the veggie patch water tank
> brought up more fire wood

Pizzas for lunch then set a fire down in the fire pit for the kiddies. Dave and I walked the small ones to fairy land. As the sun set it was freezing!!! Once the fire was lit we made hamburgers for the kids to have around the fire. Then marshmallows.

With the kids in bed it was time for adults to eat. Bel bought a large slow cooker for Wollombi so we gave it a run. I put the shanks on at 10am. Sauce included passetta, red wine, beef stock, chillies, garlic, onions and secret ingredient of half cup maple syrup.

Dinner was awesome. Had it with beans and mash potatoes. Very nice. Bel then made a dessert of rhubarb crumble sourced from the veggie patch. Quite nice but not enough filling.

Rob I strained the sauce and put it in the freezer for your future use.

Evening finished with baileys and milk whilst playing pictionary.