Orchards and a Birdsnest

It rained a lot yesterday. I meant to take a photo of our new little broad bean seedlings popping up, but I ran out of time this morning.
On Wednesday we ordered nine new fruit trees for our collection from here, they were:
Gravenstein apple
Huonville crabapple
Mcintosh apple
Coe's Golden Drop plum
Sloe
Damson
Fullers quince
Van de Man quince
Medlar
We had stalked the website for weeks waiting for the new trees to be available and as soon as the site was live we went crazy.

Yesterday I was killing some time in Hobart while poor Rob had a dental appointment. I was looking for a top to go with my raspberry skirt I found in a second hand shop a couple of months ago. I had a very specific colour of blue in mind. I went into Espirit and found several tops in the perfect blue. But sadly not in my size.
I was a little disappointed, but when I got back to a computer I looked up Birdsnest, and found the top in my size.  It was my first purchase via Birdsnest, and I clicked the button at about 11am . I can't tell you how delighted I was to find it already at my doorstep this morning. But it was not just the promptness, or the cute bag it came in that made me happy. I can't believe they took the time to write me a personalised handwritten note. This is by far the best service I've had in person or online, and it has made my day. (I've sent them an email to let them know this). I like to recognise people or companies that impress me, and these girls are doing a fantastic job.
There was also a big box full of my bulbs, so we'll be busy planting in my flower garden this weekend.
What are you up to this weekend?

Traveling

I'm sitting in the Canberra Airport waiting. I've eaten a dinner of steamed pork dumplings and a beef pho. My brain has been numbed by commercial television (in the background).
My visit was brief, flying to Brisbane yesterday afternoon for a work meeting this morning. Then home again.
Last night I ran across the carpark of my hotel to a DFO. I had 40 minutes for a quick shop (found a few gym tops and some clothes for Rob) then came back outside to dark skies and a tropical downpour. I ran across to the hotel but got quite wet.
So I thought I might as well go for a swim. The pool at the Novotel is on the roof and hangs a little over the edge. 20m long, I surprised myself with my freestyle technique. I only learnt to swim when I met Rob, he was horrified that I couldn't swim. Refreshed I had a Massaman curry and beer (and a chocolate tart) before tossing and turning all night. I'm looking forward to seeing my husband (even though he's got a bad cold), my dogs and the hut. Oh and my bed. Have a lovely weekend. I'm planning a quiet one, which is hardly different from normal!

A hut weekend

Sorry I realised half of my weeks menu is on the computer at work. So I'll delay Monday's menu until tomorrow.
We made the most of our weekend. This long weekend holds fond memories for us: four years ago we camped at our block. It was our first night spent there. We pitched a tent on where the hut is now, made a fire and cooked sausages and fell asleep. Nigella slept in the car cause I was worried she'd chase the wallabies and not come back!
We packed a lot into this weekend. We went shopping in Friday night. Looking at my winter wardrobe I realised it was a little sad. So despite not expecting much, I thought we should give Myer a go. To my surprise I found a pair of black boots, a pair of work pants and three knit tops, all were on sale. I also came home to a skirt in the mail I'd bought online. The boots were so comfortable and looked good, I checked online and found there was a tan colour in the same style. I thought about being sensible, but then rang the Sandler shop in Hobart and got them to hold my size (11 always sells out so fast). I put it to the vote on Instagram with a resounding affirmative. So then I came up with a good excuse to drag Rob into town, so I could try them on. I loved them so now don't need shoes for awhile.
Rob dug out a spot in the garden and planted our two avocado trees (bacon and Reed varieties). I cooked Nigella's aromatic lamb shank stew.
On Sunday we did a tip run, and headed up to Leslie Vale to order garden sleepers for the vegetable patch, and a trailer load of soil. Back at the hut we started recoating the vertical celerytop pine timber cladding. It took us all afternoon, but we actually ran out of the oil, with a 4m section on the back wall and one end of the hut to go. We were pretty tired so just had a light dinner of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil with rye bread.
Today I did a thorough hut clean and took a heap of photos to share here as a hut tour later this week. Rob moved and divided our strawberry patch, tidying up my flower beds as he did so. After I finished phaffing around inside I quickly potted up some spare lily bulbs and helped Rob plant three Corymbia citriodora trees.
Hope your weekend was just as satisfying.