Long summer days

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Just like so many other places in Australia at the moment, it is scorching in our part of the world. For the kids and I this means early mornings looking after the animals and garden followed by quieter afternoons hiding from the heat.

This week we spent some time in the cool of the morning exploring the deep, dry cracks in the bottom of this dam and dreamt of it once again filling with water.

 

By late afternoon we load up the dogs and the swimming paraphernalia and head to our house dam to cool off.  The dam is a bit muddy underfoot but the calming effect of the water is good for everyone and adds a little sparkle to our day.

 

My vegetable garden is mostly in survival mode.   I am grateful for a few brave plants that are battling on including a tough little cucumber, snake beans and woody herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary.

Although cooking in a wood oven sounds like hot work in this weather, for us it is a good way of keeping cooking heat out of the house.  These sourdough focaccia loaves emerged from the darkness of the oven in time to share with our neighbours last weekend.

 

 

How are you surviving the extremes in temperature, either
hot or cold depending on where you are?

Stay safe friends.

January 25, 2014

26 Comments

  1. Reply

    Melanie Y

    January 17, 2014

    Oh man, I remember those HOT HOT HOT BH summers all to well! It's great that you have your dam to cool of in – if only we had one in our back yard in Sydney too!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 23, 2014

      Yes Mel, the dam is a good emergency cool off spot!

  2. Reply

    CountryMouse

    January 17, 2014

    Ah cooking outside now that sounds great. I grew up in a house with a wood stove inside and we just coped with the heat that come with cooking by doing things like letting it go out during the day or shutting doors. I love your outdoor kitchen idea and hope to have one, one day. I hope that dam fills up soon but the cracks make for a great photos and the house dam looks perfect for cooling off.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 23, 2014

      Thanks for calling in. Yes, I often imagine previous generations who got by without air conditioning and all of the other mod-cons we have…we have it relatively easy in 2014 don't we?

  3. Reply

    Fiona

    January 18, 2014

    Hope you receive a reprieve from the heat very soon Jane and also much needed rain. Australia is really showing off her hot, dry temperament this season.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 23, 2014

      Thanks Fiona, nature is a powerful force isn't it?

  4. Reply

    Ainsley

    January 18, 2014

    Love the idea of cooking outside more too Jane, we eat almost permanently outside!
    Wishing you a wet, cool reprieve soon, very soon x

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 23, 2014

      Thanks Ainsley, good to hear you are getting some rain at your place. Good luck for the school year ahead! x

  5. Reply

    Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things

    January 18, 2014

    Hi Jane, love this post, it must be wonderful to have the little ones home for the holidays… I miss having young children around now that mine have both grown up! Sending good wishes for some reprieve from the heat in the form of good rain!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks Lizzy, it is wonderful to enjoy some time with the kids without the pressure of the school routine!

  6. Reply

    cityhippyfarmgirl.com

    January 18, 2014

    Sending you a rain cloud Jane…a big one. xx

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thank you Brydie, it is actually drizzling very lightly today!

  7. Reply

    Anne Wheaton

    January 18, 2014

    I wish I could send you some of our surplus water. We've got flooded roads in Essex this week and the water is pouring from the fields.
    Didn't the early settlers have their kitchens away from the house – presumably because of the fire risk, but possibly heat too?
    Hoping you soon get a break from the extreme heat and some rain to fill the dams.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks Anne. Yes, my grandmother's house is very old and the kitchen is in a separate building to the main house for those reasons. It is rather inconvenient in these modern times but that is the way it has always been!

  8. Reply

    Katie @ Life With The Crew

    January 18, 2014

    Since I don't watch the news and am just focused on my daily life, my grandma (an avid news watcher) told me that Australia was having extreme heat. Glad you have a way to cool off. You dog looks like he/she appreciates it!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks Katie, yes that little dog is very happy with an afternoon playing in the mud and water!

  9. Reply

    Zara

    January 19, 2014

    Focaccia is one of my favourites. If it wasn't so warm here I'd be making a batch today.
    Have a lovely week Jane.
    x

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks Zara, focaccia is a winner isn't it? x

  10. Reply

    look see. by naomi fenton

    January 19, 2014

    I think we're still waiting for summer to arrive in Tasmania – it will, bang on cue for the start of school in a few weeks! We've had a couple of 30 degrees (maybe a smidgen over 30) days, but that's pretty much it! Wish there was a way where you guys could send us say, oh maybe ten of your extra degrees? Just to lighten the load a bit for all of you and to give us a taste of summer before we have to go back to classrooms!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks Naomi, we live in a land of extremes don't we? Good luck for the school year ahead.

  11. Reply

    e / dig in

    January 20, 2014

    agree with naomi above about tassie weather – though where i live on hobart's eastern shore, we have had some near 40 degree days, and me and my garden can do without those!
    i love your snake beans – and your puppy cooling near the water's edge.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks e, I don't think any gardens…especially vegetables appreciate 40 degree days!

  12. Reply

    juliesgardenblog

    January 22, 2014

    Sorry to hear about the scorching heat … I used to live in Aussie so I have a pretty good idea. As usual Jane, your photography is simply stunning. What camera do you use? Or is that a secret? 🙂

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 23, 2014

      Thanks Julie, lovely to hear from you. Of course none of my photography stuff is a secret…I am very much an amateur! I use a Canon 1100D mostly with a 50mm lens. Oh, and I very rarely edit my photos!

  13. Reply

    Amber

    January 23, 2014

    The early morning and late afternoon light is beautiful. Hiding inside all day from the heat can be a bit wearing though – hope your gorgeous kids are keeping busy and not causing to much grief! 😉

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 24, 2014

      Thanks Amber, some of those really hot days were better than others with the kids! Thankfully today is lovely and cool with a very light rain on the roof.

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