Pipe "n" in Pippin

 It has been 3 1/2 years since we lost Max and we both felt if we didn't find a new dog soon he would be the last. Since Covid hit the cost of buying a new dog even without papers has skyrocketed. We finally found this little fella.

Named him Pip short for Pippin or my take Pipsqueak.

Mini Foxie 8 weeks old from a litter of 6.

Around the outside

 Last Christmas (2019) Sue asked for a BBQ we had been looking at them for ages but couldn't find what we wanted. Small enough for two but big enough for 14 if family all landed at the same time. Had to be Gas and Charcoal with a side burner and a hood with room for a rotisserie. 😅
The pressure was on. searched and searched and then some more till I found one I thought would be ideal "Yes please"! Sent some emails made some phone calls all had he same response "awaiting new shipment" 😖😢.
12 months latter I spotted a 2nd hand one for sale priced to high and looked like it fell off the back of a garbage truck. Back to searching again. Woooo Whooo one of only 6 all through one store 5 being only good for spare parts so jumped at it at $100 less new price for off the floor one.

 

They even threw in a bag of charcoal.

Some time ago we bought a wood burner it was to low burning the grass so it got leg extensions.

Lots happening in the garden.
Jasmine in its first bloom.

Sue has been taking fresh cutting daily to take inside.

Locquat bearing its first fruit after five years, enough for 5 small jars of jam and later chutney. Locquat is a Japanese Plum.

Below Straberries, Spring Onion, Chilli and the Dark Knight Rose.

We've been enjoying strolls around the area and some times a lunch in the park. Crumbed Barra and chips.

Spring is here.

Since July it had become a case of choose the days event wisely as winter had set in, instead of 3 days of QLD winter it seemed like 3 months. Even August winds (EKKA winds, this is Brisbane show time in August cancelled at the last minute again due to Covid ) had arrived early. You could feel the icy bite of snow from Glenn Innes and Armidale on the New England ranges in NSW. It made workshop time very limited even out doors although some days reached 25C.

Wind was so bad one day it collapsed the cloths line. 

 

 

Time was spent scanning magazines if to cold.

Sue cooking a beautiful Venison in Red Wine then using left overs to make Venison pies.

More Lilli Pilli Jam, Marmalade and Lemon Butter.

Of course slices like the Lemon and Date as well as a take on Fig Rolls these being more a Fruit and Fig roll they were cut into bite size bits.

Knitting madly to complete two vests one form John our son in law a grey one the other blue for me.

The much required Covid masks had Sue sewing some new ones this one for me KW standing for Kenworth the truck.

My good friend Mark who drives a KW and use to build R.F.W trucks asked if she could make him some of both brand names.

RFW was an while Australian built and designed specialist vehicle years ahead of its time. The factory located in Chester Hill NSW. Mark did his apprenticeship there. I built bus and coach bodies onto the chassis they produced during the 70's in my apprentice days at Custom Coaches.
Sadly both these companies no longer survive. 

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