Just as it says on the seed catalogues we are heading rapidly into late spring, with early summer on the horizon. As the seasons change the mulberries, asparagus and artichokes are at their peak.
In the kitchen there has been some experimental baking with mulberries.
We have made our annual visit to a nearby orchard that is no longer commercially operational and filled our buckets with early variety apricots. While fruit and vegetables are seasonal and fairly predictable, life is always steadily changing.
Last weekend our eldest went to her first sleepover birthday party. Just like that, she packed her things and camped out with trusted friends and neighbours in their woolshed.
While she was doing 12th birthday party things I went away on a quick trip with friends to visit a Farmer’s Market . Since becoming a parent I have rarely travelled without our children and time away with friends has become very rare. So, it was a breath of fresh air to be independent and spontaneous just for a little while. As much as I love family travel time, carrying just one piece of luggage and thinking only for myself was rather novel!
Speaking of adventures I have just booked my tickets to the My Open Kitchen Gathering. This will be huge for me, travelling solo to a new place, meeting new people and finding my own way. It is all very exciting but still a few months away so best not to peak too early with the excitement levels!
The calendar is filling fast with Christmas and school functions and while I strive to keep the whole thing simple, simplicity can be quite hard to actually achieve. I keep coming back to these simple decorations from Hart Studios to remind me to keep it all in perspective. I have also been searching our local vintage/old wares shops for unique, affordable gifts. Most of the shiny shops filled with noisy toys and tinsel have lost their appeal to me.
Out in the paddock, we are a feeding our horses and pets goats as the grass is dry and getting harder to find. Sometimes feeding is a brief visit but other times we stay around for a while. The kids play with the goats while the goats try their best to grab mouthfuls of hay, while keeping out of the way of the large and hungry horses. Time spent with team horse-goat reminds me of the precious relationships that we build with these creatures. The gentle understanding and trust between the kids and their animals makes me love this time of the day.
I haven’t shared any music for ages and since this post is a mix of everything I will leave you with another favourite tune. I could listen to the smooth voice and raw stories of Eric Church all day.
How about you?
Are you planning adventures?
Wondering what to do with your artichokes?
Visiting your goats?
Happy Friday, friends x
Kate
Ah, the coming weekend away will be exciting. I can’t wait to read and see your impressions of it. Those apricots. Mmmm. I am a bit of a fan of the apricot and will be heading to my market today to bring home stone fruit for weekend salads and sweet treats. My poor garden. It needs a good feed. Asparagus has been light on, I had a buzzy olive tree early spring with flowers and bees a-plenty, but one lone fruit. The flowers are dropping off the pomegranate before fruit can set. It’s just about beaten me. No love, too much love, nothing seems to make a difference, it’s the same result every time.
Jane S
Thank you Katie…I hope your market visit was lovely! I have not grown pomegranates before, some plants are hard to please aren’t they?
Kate
It looks like such a beautiful time of the year at yours.
I haven’t traveled without the girls much at all but Bren has started talking about it a bit. It would be such fun. Maybe we should take your lead and book ourselves a night away…food for thought. I hope you have a gorgeous weekend. xx
Jane S
Thanks Kate, after so many years of family time and family travel it is nice to be free and easy adults, even just momentarily! x
Dani
We tried to grow artichokes on our balcony in a pot but then went away for two weeks and it didn’t survive… Might try again when it’s planting season 🙂
Jane S
I wouldn’t have thought of growing them in pots Dani, my plant is very large. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Anne
Do you do something exciting with your artichokes Jane? I can never bear to cut mine – even now they look pretty with a frost on them, even if they look rather brown and dead the rest of the time.
I’m always jealous of your apricots, particularly as you photograph them so well. Alas, the only apricots I ever buy have woolly, tasteless flesh so I’ve given up. Anne x
Jane S
I am afraid I haven’t mastered the art of cooking with them yet Anne. I just don’t have a good technique when it comes to preparing them. So, instead I have dried the heads and then I might do something creative with them, attach them to gifts with brown string perhaps? Or just hang them somewhere? Sending you a virtual sweet, sun ripened apricot! x
Kate Bolton
You have had an eventful week or two Jane! I have apricot envy. I planted a tree a couple of years ago but am still waiting and shop apricots are just not the same xxx
Jane S
Perhaps my two pear trees that have never produced fruit could join your apricot tree Kate? x
Kylie
The open kitchen weekend sounds like it will be wonderful Jane. I live just “down the road” from Skye’s family home now.
Kids just eat what is put in front of them here for breakfast, whinge and you get on the school bus hungry. Eggs will be featuring a lot next week though, girls are in over drive and we are drowning in eggs 🤣
Hope all is well out west!
Jane S
Nice to hear from you Kylie. You are much tougher than me…I cant stand the thought of the kids being hungry at that time of the day. Of course, I worry too much! I hope you & your crew are doing well x
Kylie
They usually always eat it 😉 We have breakfast club at school, which i know they go to despite having eaten at home, so if they complain i know they will get something at 8.30 anyway. All is going well with the crew. Getting ready for this super crazy last few weeks of school where there is something happening nearly every day. X
Brydie
No artichokes here unfortunately. I’m still playing catch up from being away for a month, the poor garden suffered a lot so the growings now are all over the shop.
No goats here either, (although the whippet does have moments of looking like a bandy legged deer 🙂
Jane S
I love your whippet Brydie. Well…through your photos, you know what I mean!