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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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