Here we are in April and the season is finally changing. The days are getting shorter, the mornings are darker and cooler and I am pleased to finally have some relief from the heat.
Every year I love watching the light change around the house and out and about. I feel a little more creative when the light isn’t so harsh and I have been chasing the pretty light in the mornings and evenings.
Over
the Easter weekend I baked a challah loaf which we ate on Easter Sunday in the
paddock. The crust was beautifully golden
and I was quietly impressed with my dough plaiting, however the bread was slightly
dry and the loaf went hard quickly. Back
to the drawing board on this one I think.
Two
tiny bunches of flowers left in my work boots as a surprise from my daughter. These small acts of kindness just melt my
heart at the end of a long day.
Our pack
of sheep dogs enjoying an afternoon paddock tour.
On
Saturday I lit a little fire at our horse yards, just before sunrise. The horse riders did their thing while I
cooked pikelets on the open fire to share on their return. Every weekend should start with a gentle
fire, something tasty and views of the sunrise. Horses are optional but they do give us a purpose!
Brave broccoli seeds poking through the soil in the vegetable garden.
One rockmelon
still going strong. Do I pull it out to
make way for winter vegetables or leave it?
I always have this dilemma as the seasons change.
How
are the April days treating you so far?
Are
you enjoying a change in the season?
As my
friend Brydie recently said to me: I hope your
tea is hot and your sunrise/sunset is beautiful today. I thought these were lovely words.
Happy Sunday friends x
Chookyblue......
sounds like a perfect start to the morning to me…………
Jane S
Thank you Chooky!
Kate @ Kate Writes
The light is beautiful isn't it? Lovely photos Jane xx
Jane S
Thank you Kate x
Say Little Hen
Autumn light is so special. I love everything about this post – from your keen eyed Kelpies to the flowers in your boots to those early morning pancakes.
Your challah looks impressive! I've only made one once, a few years ago on yeast before I learned to make sourdough.
I hope you have a lovely week Jane!
Sarah xx
Jane S
Thank you Sarah…in fact this challah looked more impressive than it actually tasted 🙂
acoastalplot
Again the turning of the seasons – yours into cooler shorter days and mine into warmer longer ones. Beautiful light in your photos, Jane. I love the thought of you stoking up a fire and making coffee and cooking pikelets as the sun rises – your crew are very lucky to have you! What a lovely floral surprise from your girl. Enjoy these softer days and have a very good week xx
Jane S
Thank you for your thoughtful comments Sam, I hope you are enjoying your week so far x
katiecrackernuts
That pot of coffee and those pikelets over a fire. Makes me miss my Girl Guide campfires. I haven't been out with the girls for ages – having had a much more administrative leadership role for the past couple of years. Time to dive back in.
Jane S
Dive back into that outdoor stuff Katie…it is so good for girls isn't it?
Anne
It looks as though you need to put a bit of dubbin on your workboots Jane! I love the contrast between pretty flowers and scarred, hard worn leather – Annabel has an artistic eye as well as a kind heart.
Always fun to share a campfire with you.
Jane S
Anne…I need more than Dubbin! These boots need the rubbish bin or perhaps to be saved for those really mucky jobs. Long story, but I have small feet and cannot always buy work boots to fit, currently waiting on an order for a new pair 🙂
Liz (Good Things)
A beautiful photographic essay, Jane. I, too, love observing the light as it changes with the seasons.
Jane S
I love that you appreciate these things too Liz.
cityhippyfarmgirl
Pikelets and coffee as the sun comes up sounds pretty damn good Jane. I love the idea of that.
Also love your working dogs in the back of the ute, every part of them alert and ready to go…truly amazing dogs. I wonder what they'd think of the pup I have snoring at my feet 🙂
Jane S
I am sure they would love your pup Brydie. They are working dogs but they can be very soft at times also! Enjoy your new canine friend x
Dani Elis
Such lovely photos! I have heard the recipe below is a good one for challah, it's meant to be just as good the following day 🙂
http://food52.com/recipes/38241-jessica-fechtor-s-five-fold-challah
Jane S
Thank you Dani, I will investigate this recipe!
e / dig in hobart
I hope your tea is hot too today, jane 🙂
you capture the softer light so beautifully, jane. the seasons are changing here. autumn is beautiful in Tassie – some trees are tentatively changing colour but others can't wait – every now and then I spot one in a full blaze of red glory!
celia
Beautiful post, J! You've captured the light and the mood perfectly. Love your old boots, and the wee flowers.. x
Jodie
I too struggle with knowing when the right time to pull out my Summer crops to make way for Winter planting is. Just when I think my summer veg is all but finished, it gets a new burst of life with the shift in the season. The crisp nights and hot days invigorate them and they produce smaller yet tastier fruit.
I'm following the moon with my planting this year Jane, and am hoping this may help make my transition between the seasons a little smoother than usual.
A gently fire, pikelets, and coffee – every day should definitely start like this Jane.
Have a gorgeous holidays Jane… xx
Kylie
The light (and the boots!) at your place are very pretty Jane.
I'm loving chilly Autumn mornings and evenings after a stinker of a Summer – I've even broken out my uggies a couple of times 😉
x
Elisa {With Grace and Eve}
Beautiful light captured in your images too! I love your friend's words! I am enjoying the cooler April weather too X