When life is messy, noisy, crazy and overwhelming I click back through my photos from the last few weeks and this is what I see. Although these moments are completely random and perhaps insignificant these are the things that hold our lives together and make me smile.
Rusty buckets that we have found and dug up in our paddocks. Just when we think we have found all of the treasure, the winds move a little more dirt and something else is uncovered.
The blue moon on the 31st July slowly rising above our paddocks.
My love gave me these striking flowers. If anyone can tell me what they are called I would appreciate it.
One of the best uses for excess oranges is in this chocolate, orange and almond cake partly inspired by a photo that Hello Naomi posted on Instagram. Seriously, if you have a few oranges lying around you need to bake this.
A very tall, quiet horse has come into our lives. It is uncertain if she will become a permanent part of our horse tribe but our lives are richer for knowing this gentle soul.
Our local tip shop is a source of many things, including this ex-shop glass display fridge which I bought for $20.00. After some heavy lifting it is now living in a sunny patch in my garden providing a glasshouse environment for my vegetable seedlings. Complete with shelving and sliding doors it is stable, solid and really warm. It is also a perfect place for proving sourdough on freezing cold, grey afternoons.
Are you watching the
moon or digging up rust?
Can you see past the mess and
noise?
Happy Friday x
Cheryl
You've unwittingly started a cake competition between my husband and I with that Chocolate Orange Cake Recipe (he doesn't know he is involved yet either LOL) He makes a mean Orange Almond Cake…but I might give him a run for his money with the Choc Orange version…thanks! 😉
Jane S
Thanks Cheryl. It really is a good cake, good luck! x
kate
Oh, Jane! That cake looks all kinds of delicious. I have a bowl of blood oranges on the kitchen table and think they may well be destined for this recipe.
ps. your lovely flowers are Craspedia, more commonly known as Billy Buttons. Such happy little things.
Jane S
Thanks Kate…it is certainly a cake worth trying and blood oranges would be so delicious. Thanks for the flower information also. Have a lovely weekend.
cityhippyfarmgirl
Trying to look past the mess and noise this week too…and the dust. Who knew people could create so much dust eh?
Contemplating adding to the chaos of the week this afternoon for something for me or keeping things simple and not, but then I miss out. Ahh the dilemmas.
I think I need to go find some (figurative) buckets.
Have a good weekend Jane.
Jane S
Sending you a figurative rusty old bucket and perhaps a slice of cake! Good luck with the dust, disgusting isn't it? Well, it is in my house anyway x
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
Saw the full moon from Budapest, Jane, it was amazing… and it also looked so different when seen from Stockholm! Love your photographs, as always… happy baking lovely. xxx
Jane S
What incredible travels you must have had Lizzy….thank you for calling in!
Kate @ Kate Writes
Beautiful Jane. My mind has been circling the 'slow'way of family life lately after some thought provoking reading and conversations with Mr B and Master B…too often it feels a little crazy!
That chocolate cake looks divine. I must speak to Granny… 🙂
Jane S
Oh Kate…if you discover how to achieve that slow family life please let me know x
Anne
There's always interesting things happening at your place Jane. I like the battered buckets and the fact they just lie there for years forgotten and covered with dirt. On the farm where I grew up, they buried all the horse harness in an old pond hole when tractors made the horses redundant. I often wonder what treasures are hidden there. Are your horses for work or pleasure?
I do like the idea of a glasshouse that doubles as a proving cabinet. Maybe I should do that too and then I could pick a little basil from the glasshouse to add straight to my proving dough.
Jane S
Thanks Anne. I feel very sad when I think about that buried horse harness. I know we cant hold onto every old thing but imagine the history in that harness. The blood, sweat and tears not to mention the work in actually making the harness all those years ago.
Our horses are for pleasure although I love the romantic notion of using them for work! Annabelle (9) rides in gymkhanas and around the property for fun. I think it is a good, healthy activity for children and we are lucky to have the resources and the space.
I love your basil idea, once again we are on the same page.
Chantille Fleur
Seeing past the mess, stress and noise is something I am having to concentrate on daily at the moment. Photography also helps calm me, both the act of taking the photos and having them to look through later.
Your photos are beautiful as always. I love all of them!
That lovely horse looks so gentle and caring, her eyes remind me of the gentleness in my favourite cows.
I like you glass house! Just this afternoon I was looking at my little tomato and zucchini seedlings and thinking they need some protection with the return on the cold. I think I'll have to cover the little pots with some glass jars tomorrow.
I hope you have a fulfilling and peaceful weekend,
Sarah x
Jane S
Thank you so much Sarah. Photography can prompt us to be grateful cant it? Good luck keeping those seedlings warm, it can be a tricky balance I am finding! Wishing you a lovely weekend too x
acoastalplot
I love this post Jane. We are midway through the school summer holidays here and life is messy, chaotic and noisy! I find myself retreating outside to take pictures when I can or reading blogs and checking Instagram for a little escape. Genius re-use of that glass cabinet and I'm definitely going to give the cake a go – sounds completely delicious. Have a peaceful, calm weekend. Sam x
joanne
What a brilliant way of recycling that old display case. Well done!
Jane S
Thank you!
frogpondfarm
A pop of orange, buckets with rust, shoes, shadows and a sparkly moon. Magic!
Jane S
Thanks Julie, great to hear from you!
Carla Cram
I love the glasshouse fridge, what a clever idea. I want to bake that cake but no oranges! Will have to buy some.
Jane S
Thanks Carla!
look see. by naomi fenton
Oh gosh! That cake! It sounds like perfection! 🙂
Jane S
It is good cake Naomi!
Zara
My seedlings are coming along slowly. You really did get a good buy with the old glass fridge.
Those metal buckets must hold many a story. They are beautiful. x
Jane S
Thank you Zara! x
M Mulberry
Beautiful photos Jane, that orange and chocolate cake looks amazing!!! What a thing of beauty xx
Jane S
Thank you Mrs M, it is a great cake!
e / dig in hobart
a weekend at my parents, or a night catching up on the couch with cheesecake – these have helped me get thru the chaos recently.
I love the buckets. I love either brand-spanking new – or battered and generations old. these are wonderful.
Jane S
Great thinking e, there is something lovely about a brand new bucket isn't there!
Shell McClure
Great post Jane, your photos make me smile too! The rusty buckets are perfect for planting succulents in, probably already have drainage holes! I love seeing horses with their fluffy Winter coats, I think she/he will be too hard to hand back?! That fridge makes an excellent hothouse, nice one! Xx
Jane S
You are right Shell, we wont be handing this lovely mare back! x
Rebecca Shann
That is a fantastic idea with the old fridge – I will keep my eye out for one!