Zongi Dragon Boat Festival food

I have a Chinese friend who knows I am fond of Chinese food, and  Chinese History . This weekend it is the Dragon Boat Festival and their is special food prepared  I steamed these parcels which looks like an art in making. The small bundle is a Sweet dumpling with red bean paste. The larger one Zongi ( pyramid shaped dumpling ) was glutinious rice with shrimps ans pork belly .

Here they are on a plate I think I may have steamed them too long but if so the taste was deliciouso, oomph.
I made a Chines soup

Our three daughters J.A.E. are going to Hong Kong on the 2nd July for a week , we were invited on a all expenses trip as well But health problems have kept us from going. I know they will have a wow of a time . Andrea has never been overseas before J and E have both been to Hong Kong and Macau , Beijing and , Shanghai. I have been to HK twice twice and Keith once.

History behind Dragon Boat Festival 
and we had a lovely meal, where would you be without friends??

Now my culinary expertise was very simple , Keithums had grown mini cauliflowers and they all came to a head at the one time and we were in for wet weather so what better than to make Cauliflower Pickle.
The  Camelias in the garden are something spectacular this year when it stops raining I will take a few more photos.

The knitting needles never stop here I have always got a pair of socks in motion these are the latest lot.

The top pair are in 6 ply there was a break in the wool on the second sock and then the pattern didn't match, never mind its the warmth that counts.
The bottom sock is 4 ply K2 P2 rib .
So with knitting to be done I bid you adieu.

Hamilton , boiled Lemon Cake and a Bunny

 The new header is a photo I took last Sunday in Hamilton Victoria on our way home from Casterton . Hamilton has muce to offer the tourist, The Reg Ansett Museum,  The Big Wool Bales  The Art Gallery and the Botanical Gardens set on 4 hectares near to the center of town.
 

Trees which are over 100 years old, A turn of the century band stand, The English Oaks and Cypresses are worth a mention. A lone Pine grown from a seed taken from Gallipolli .

Now for a photo of the inside of Say Grace in Henty Street Casterton

Changing the mood to cooking , We planted a new Lemon tree which has first fruit ready for picking --- I saw a recipe for Boiled Lemon Cake  I googled and came up with a recipe from Dawn a crafty blogger, I knew I had seen the recipe somewhere on line.

The cake is light and lemony and I boiled the lemons twice as suggested in the recipe.

A little bit of craft on its way .
Enjoy your weekend Margaret 

Kelpies yes Kelpies

The long weekend saw us  in Casterton for the Kelpie Festival.

We stayed her at the Albion Hotel. 

 breakfast was at Say Grace Cafe and Larder Henty Street Casterton.

The usual for me Toast , but this time Sourdough Bread toasted and Vegemite served on a bread board with parfait spoon to get the Vegie out. I am a happy little Vegemite been having the same breakfast for around 65 years.

Keithums had eggs and bacon

In the morning we watched the Kelpie Country Parade. The main Street was the arena for many of the days events, like the Kelpie Truiathalon, Egg and Spoon race, Kelpie Dash , Kelpie Pinball where watching the Indian Runner Dusks make the Kelpies run an obstacle course. and many more .

The Kelpie Hill Climb, where the owner calls the dog from the top of the hill, the wind was blowing towards the owner and the dog could not see their master until they got to the top of the hill, some dogs were very fast.

The Stockman's Challenge

In the spirit of Jack Gleeson founder of the Kelpie breed, stockmen and women take to horseback to muster sheep with their trust companion.

Sheep 

and breakfast the next morning 

Pear and Blueberry bread with cream, lovely cream a half a pear on top the crunchy muesli topping, I neede that it was 4 celcius, 

The Australian Kelpie .

$12,000 for top puppy.

Australian Kelpie 

_Kelpie
The story of Jack Gleeson is commendable reading , read more here
Hope you had a good weekend ours was cold and enjoyable. Margaret

Sunday afternoon the 3rd June, Grey and overcast with rain predicted for the rest of the week. So we are in to Winter - that means that summer is just a brief encounter away.

Yesterday,on the way to Winchelsea,the fog was thick as we motored along ,

we went down to Cobden , listening to the last 1/4 of the Geelong game at Cat Park the commentators said it was getting very dark  ---  and so it was Barrabool Hills in the distance on the Highway near Pettavel Winery.

                                                     Abbey and her third birthday cake

We nearly didn't make the trip. On Thursday night Keithums was doing a  RH turn and the car following slowed and was going past when the car following traveling fast slammed into the back of that car it bounced of our car and careered into a parked car and ours was the only car that was drivable.

However not to much damage that the Insurance companies can't fix.

Now back to the weather and what to do on indoor days .
I found this great Key ring Owl Pattern Made three already and have been reading

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Dzintra read this book and gave it 5 stars on Good Reads , I agree the book is worthy of 5 stars, Words so carefully written they will stretch your innermost thoughts as the narrator speaks. 
I have also read Armageddon Paul Davey / Mike Bowers  Paul Davey wrote Beersheba, Armageddon is co written with Journalist photographer Mike Bowers . Both are investigative journalists who speak with accuracy and testaments from those living survivors and family members of soldiers who fought in The Great War 1914 - 1918. Research is the fundamental genesis of any writer and the groundwork in acquiring past photos and placing them alongside photos taken in 2010 give depth to the story.

So now out to the felt bin to find some more felt for a key ring might try the Scotty dog which is on that site or order another book from the Library. Enjoy what ever season you are experiencing , Oh! before I go indulge yourself in this recipe fro The Chocolate Cat Blessings Margaret