March 7, 2016. On our own in Tasmania

To get the dogs more comfortable with us, just George and I took them for their morning walk.  The homeowners, Terry and Althea, were scurrying around completing  last-minute tasks.  They are lovely people.

They are very self-sufficient.  They have 4 chooks (chickens) that lay 3-5 eggs a day.  We will be eating lots of eggs!  They get unpasteurized milk from a farmer friend, and use the cream to make their own butter, whey for cooking, and delicious cheese.  They have lots of fruit and vegetables growing.  The heirloom tomatoes are at their peak, so we will be eating lots of dishes with tomatoes.  The runner beans are running all over the place.  The arbor is dripping with grapes, from which Terry will make wine.  Terry has made pies from their raspberries for us with homemade custard.  Did I mention homemade beer?  Ales, lagers and darks....and hard cider, too.  Animals fare well here, too.  The chickens get homemade stew (which will be George's responsibility while we are here), and the dogs eat a homemade meat stew each evening. 

We took Althea and Terry  to the ferry.  It goes twice daily.  We took the daytime one; they are on the overnight sailing.  

Back home on our own, we ate yummy pork pie that Terry had made for our dinner.  Then....Downton Abbey!