House full of blokes

We've been gradually improving our patio area at the back of the house. The vision is to create an outdoor living space and the eventual plan is an outdoor kitchen area including a pizza oven, BBQ, gas hob and a stainless steel sink bench.  The pizza oven etc. are still on the to do list - but we've made huge progress on the flow from the kitchen and dining room into the garden.  The herb garden full of lovely soft herbs- basil, coriander, mint, sage and oregano is just outside the kitchen door.  Lovely blue pots with red petunias draw the eye outside from the dining room and onto the patio. The raised bed filled with flowering perennials will provide a lovely contrast to the white painted trellis as they grow and fill the space. The shade sail provides privacy and much needed relief from the fierce Central Otago sun. And it all looks great from the bifold kitchen windows. 

Even in households full of blokes there are occasions when a ladies lunch is called for.  The opportunity to be one of @annabellangbein 's free range foodies with an advance copy of 'Annabel Langbein - a free range life', the senior bloke off on a trail ride on his bike and Cromwell being in 'petrol head' heaven with the Highlands motor sport park inaugural meet - gave an excellent excuse for inviting the lovely ladies I work with from Goldfields Primary school for a lunch.  The date was set a few weeks ago - a life with teenagers is busy and within the time frame for being a free range foodie this was the one-and-only weekend that was going to work, but was also a difficult week and some people were unable to attend with family commitments and bereavement, meaning that their time and energy was needed elsewhere.  Special thoughts go to Jac - all our thoughts are with you on your father's passing, we missed you at this event, but we are sure we will have many mo...