Kylie is a very funny and generous blogging friend and she sent me this package of kitchenalia all the way from Western Australia. There is nothing like a package tied with brown paper and string to brighten up a grey winter day. Thank you Kylie, truly.
On some recent cold, dark mornings and afternoons we have been playing our treasured vintage edition of the board game Candy Land. I am not sure who loves passing through Lollypop Woods the most, the kids or myself!
Collecting firewood is a good, physical outing and a whole family affair. The man of the farm takes care of the chainsaw, naturally. I pick up whatever cut wood I can lift. The kids disappear into the jungle which is actually a scrubby swamp but it feels like a jungle to them. I love the feeling of the four of us together in the fresh air, no distractions, everyone has a purpose, working towards something that will keep us warm and fuel our wood oven. Aside from cooking, collecting wood might almost be my favourite winter activity.
The final touch to our outdoor kitchen area has been 100 metres of fairy lights, thank you Ebay. They create a little bit of magic and are strictly reserved for weekend use, just to keep the magic.
80mm of rain has turned our land from a dust bowl to this. The ground is finally damp and with a green tinge in the paddocks winter is looking good.
How is winter looking at your place?
I hope you are staying warm and perhaps jumping in a few puddles?
Mama Smith
It looks beautiful there, obviously your winters are much milder and don't appear as bleak as our's 🙂 That firewood is a big project! I'm relishing early summer on this end- lots of rain so far.
xox Lilly
Jane S
Thanks Lilly, no snow in our part of the world and not nearly as cold as you get, even though it feels cold to us! Enjoy your summer x
aj.bart
Winter rain reminds me of May school holidays in the 60's, hot homemade pasties and lemon meringue pie, sandhill picnics and collecting mushrooms from under the box trees along the Anabranch. Love that game and getting wood is just as you describe it.
Jane S
Precious memories to hold closely Annie x
dusty country road
I love collecting firewood too – although I'm less 'hands on' this year with a new baby. We have a terrible habit of finishing off our wood collecting trips with a bag of salt and vinegar chips. Found your blog through the Garden Share Collective, and enjoying reading.
Jacqui
Jane S
Thank you Jacqui. Salt and vinegar chips sound like the perfect way to end a wood collecting trip 🙂
lucent imagery
Jane, your photos are so beautiful! And I love your fairy lights! Winter has seen my puffy jacket hanging out on the hook rather than in the cupboard, a stock up of quinoa and nuts, a mini kitchen purge of things that are broken or not used, nights at home watching movies, documentaries and sport, a selection of covers for my dog on his day and night bed to keep him snug (which he loves) and slippers on my feet. And loooong walks in the cool breezes. Oh, and hot chocolate made by my husband for when we're snuggling on the couch. Yuuummmm.
Jane S
From someone who takes beautiful photos your comments mean a lot Lucent! Winter at your place sounds lovely…may I drop in one day? x
lucent imagery
Absolutely. Does now suit?! I'll just go tell my husband we'll need an extra hot chocolate. 🙂 x
tea with hazel
jane..your post is as lovely as ever..even though i don't have the opportunity to collect my own firewood i do collect as many pine cones over summer as i can and i also collect fallen branches and bark from trees growing across the road to use as kindling..if i'm home during the day i like to light the fire early and have it going all day as i go about my day's activities..it's so comforting!
Jane S
The fire is so comforting Jane, I know exactly what you mean. Pine cones are rare in our part of world and if we see them they are quite a novelty and so beautiful. My son(4) has been known to pick them up from the outdoor area at his pre-school and stash them in his backpack!
Sally
Ohhh – you make it sound so lovely and romantic! Winter is the most fabulous time and I badly wish I had an outdoor kitchen as lovely as yours….
Jane S
Thank you Sally. As you know it is not always romantic but we do our best to enjoy the good bits!
Zara
Kylie always gifts the most amazing treasures.
Your outdoor kitchen space is stunning, and the fairy lights are the icing on the cake. x
Jane S
Kylie is a special soul isn't she Zara? I am fairly sure fairy lights can improve almost anything! x
Jacana
I am such a winter person … use to love collecting mallee roots for the fire when I lived down south of WA.
Jane S
I have heard of people cooking BBQ's on mallee roots too!
Wendy
A Tala Icing set – lucky lucky girl!!!
Jane S
Thanks Wendy!
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
Dear Jane, what a lovely gift to have received. What a gem Kylie must be! I have never heard of the game you play… sounds like fun though. Those fairy lights have made your outdoor kitchen into a magical spot… the warmth of the fire, I can just imagine it on a chilly winter's afternoon. Gorgeous pictures shared from your wonderful world.
Jane S
Thank you Lizzy. Candy Land really is a very simple game for children but it is fun for the whole family 🙂
Anne @GtSlamseysFarm
Your outdoor kitchen still looks wonderful Jane. There's something very satisfying about collecting firewood and possibly one of the most uplifting things in life is to receive a surprise package wrapped up in brown paper and string.
Jane S
I know you understand Anne!
Donna
Hi Jane! I love your outdoor kitchen – looks like a beautiful space with the open fire and wood stove. Fairy lights a great touch. Your photos are lovely.
Looks like you live in a beautiful part of our land.
I love Kylie's sense of humour too – she is great.
Have a great weekend. x
Jane S
Thanks Donna!
cityhippyfarmgirl
Jane your outside kitchen just got even better, (I didn't think it was even possible!) Love it to bits.
Jane S
Thanks Brydie, it is becoming the heart of our home in the colder months!
e / dig in
jane, i thought for sure i left you a comment last week! the gremlins got it 🙁
your photos – as always – are technically and emotionally beautiful.
the metal sifter reminds me of one my mother has; not as pretty, but it made a wonderfully metallic crunchy noise as it did the job. i'm sure lots of people had those mechanical sifters! what a wonderful parcel to receive. thank you for sharing it with us.
Jane S
Thanks e, you are very generous! You describe the metallic crunchy noise of metal sifters perfectly. I still use a similar sifter for all of my cooking 🙂
MulberryPomegranate
Jane, I squealed with delight when I saw your flour sifter! My mum (Madame Zen) has the same one – she even used it in her last guest post. Seeing your pic reminds me of so many fun times in the kitchen as a little girl – I adored that sifter!!!
Jane S
Thanks Mrs M, these special pieces can bring back a lot of memories cant they? 🙂
Jo Smith
So glad to hear you've had some rain. Your outdoor kitchen looks wonderful.
Jane S
Thank you Jo 🙂
Kyrstie @ A Fresh Legacy
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Always love to visit and take a peek into your world Jane. Stay warm. x
Jane S
Thank you Kyrstie, you are very kind!
Catherine Bedson
I love that you were all out collecting firewood together and the package you got from Kylie in the post is just wonderful. In fact you're the second person I've heard of today being gifted one of those vintage cake piping sets. It's very cold in Melbourne at the moment and our heater feels like it' not working properly, so rugging up with lots of layers!
Jane S
Stay warm in Melbourne Catherine!
JJ - 84thand3rd
Oh Jane, every time I read your blog a wonderful calm comes over me. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jane S
Thanks JJ, that is very kind of you!
Lizzie @ Strayed from the Table
So glad you got some rain, your garden will be very green soon. Photos are stunning as always – I am inspired to head west for a few days.
Jane S
Please call us when you head west Lizzie!
little wild moose
Your outdoor kitchen looks amazing! I'd like to be sitting right there warming my toes by the fire!
Jane S
Thanks Jess, it is lovely on a cold day!
virginia blue
where on earth did you find such a treasure of a board game??? So delightful.
I think we are so lucky in australia with our mild winters, just cold enough to appreciate the summer, but not so cold that it is overwhelming.
Jane S
Thank you for calling in! Candy Land belonged to my mother in law when she was a young girl in the 1950s. She gave it to us to enjoy with our children, which was very kind of her.