Dust and Bread

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When school finished for Term 3 and the holidays started I had big plans.  Plans to get my house into order, perhaps clean some windows, pack up a neglected fish tank and store the winter woollies properly.  Suddenly the time has almost disappeared, most of the windows still need attentions and the slimy fish tank is still waiting patiently.

apricot blossom

Instead most of our days have been full of sunshine, gardening, horsey activities, farm jobs and general busyness as I rush to make the most of every school free moment.

On a hot and dusty weekend we attended a rodeo in the small town near where I grew up.  This trip reminded me that no matter how long I have been gone, the familiar places and faces from my childhood never really change.

Ivanhoe rodeo

I have picked armfuls of fresh asparagus and plonked it straight into a hot pan with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and cooked it until just tender.  Simple food at its best,  a cliche perhaps but in this case it is true.

asparagus

The brassicas have all gone to seed making way for zucchinis, cucumbers and pumpkins.  I am also growing gourds for the first time this year and the seed seems very slow to germinate.

Borage

The dependable little lime tree is once again covered in tiny fruit and flowers.

Lime tree

It just wouldn’t be school holidays without at least one big bread bake-off in the outdoor wood oven.  I often think about getting back into small scale bread baking as a business.  I have been pondering the potential complications in gaining food authority approval for wood oven cooking.

Wood fired sourdough

Naturally, it hasn’t all been spring blossom, magical asparagus and unicorns.  There have been serious fights over Milo, Lego and positions on the couch.  I have had worried moments about everything from what to cook for dinner to our arrangements for school next year.  We could really do with some rain.  Such is the ebb and flow of life.

What about you?

Have you ever grown gourds or pondered yet another small business venture?

Been to a rodeo or cleaned your fish tank?

Happy Friday, friends x

September 26, 2017

14 Comments

  1. Reply

    Kate

    October 6, 2017

    never grown a gourd but pondered a million business ventures.
    never been to a rodeo or cleaned a fish tank.
    and we too are trying to make the most of every single unstructured, unschooled second.
    beautiful jane. xx

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 7, 2017

      Thank you Kate, I know you understand these things! x

  2. Reply

    Anne

    October 6, 2017

    Perfect loaves of bread Jane. I wish mine looked like that.

    Never been to a rodeo or cleaned a fish tank. Grew gourds but didn’t know what to do with them. Always looking for new business ventures and have learnt to go with my heart and not be persuaded otherwise by negative family members!

    Constantly wondering what to cook for dinner.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 7, 2017

      Thank you Anne…the bread is constantly evolving. My boy George was keen to grow gourds for carving, hollowing etc. But, if and when we actually achieve gourd success I am sure he will have moved on to another phase or craze. Negative family members, that sounds vaguely familiar!

  3. Reply

    Carla Cram

    October 7, 2017

    I am hoping to start a new vegetable garden this week now that my university is over for the year! Please wish me luck, I’ve had mixed success previous times. The bread looks so good, too bad I am coeliac!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 7, 2017

      Sending you good vegetable garden vibes Carla!

  4. Reply

    ewe beauty

    October 7, 2017

    as usual so beautifully captured Jane, you have a way with words and pictures ! I remember those days when school holidays were filled with the hope of “catch up” things to do and in the blink of an eye they are over and you are back to routine 🙂

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 7, 2017

      Thanks Trish x

  5. Reply

    Francesca

    October 7, 2017

    I love that photo of the rodeo Jane- so dusty and burnt umber, that special light that I remember in your part of the country, and the lovely colours of the outback which I miss.. Your bread looks sensational.
    I’m glad you added the unromantic bits of daily life with kids during school holidays. Down to earth and real.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 7, 2017

      Lego and Milo and children…it certainly is real Francesca, thank you!

  6. Reply

    kate

    October 7, 2017

    Sheesh, it’s a while since I’ve been to a rodeo. We did travel to an old semi-stomping ground of mine though and the local markets were on at the showground. I did get a little nostalgic for a good old-fashioned country showground.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 7, 2017

      Country showgrounds are beautiful aren’t they Kate?

  7. Reply

    Sam

    October 8, 2017

    Never grown gourds, cleaned a fish-tank or been to a rodeo but there are elements of life that are the same the world over – we, too, have had plenty of squabbles over Lego, sofa positions and computer time! What is Milo, by the way? Your loaves look perfect, Jane. Have you seen The Great British Bakeoff (a popular tv show here)? These would get the Star Baker award, for sure 🙂 Beautiful photos, as always. I hope you get your rain soon. Sam x

    • Reply

      Jane S

      October 9, 2017

      Hello Sam. Milo is a chocolate malt powdered drink mostly consumed by children in Australia! I have not seen the Great British Bakeoff but I like the sound of the Star Baker award! Jane x

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