This week between Christmas and New Year is a quiet time at our place.  Our Christmas visitors have gone, the Christmas food has mostly been eaten and we are back into the business of farming.

The decorations have also gone.  I know some people have serious beliefs about when this should occur but I find that a few days after the main event I am ready for a serious declutter and tidy up.

I am grateful to be picking loads of tomatoes which I am stockpiling to make passata any day now.

This curvy, pear shaped variety is called Periforme Abruzzese and isn’t it a beauty?  It hasn’t been particularly prolific but the shape alone is worth waiting for.  Suddenly I am seeing zinnias everywhere on Instagram but perhaps I am only noticing them because it is the first year I have grown them.  They are surviving well in our hot summer sun and I am wishing I had planted more.

There are critical taps to be turned on, tanks to be checked and animals to be taken care of.

There is always bread.  This lot was wood fired and a little uneven in appearance but I received a beautiful bread knife for Christmas so it had to be tested.  For all of the years I have been baking I have used a very inferior bread knife.  That has all changed and my life and kitchen are better for it!

When the cricket seems to drone endlessly on the radio I can only cope with it in small chunks.  In these moments I go searching for other things to listen to and recently I discovered some podcasts on Heritage Radio Network.  There are so many interesting stories on here that I don’t know where to start.  Goodbye cricket.

We have no plans for New Year celebrations yet but I get the feeling it will be low key.

How are about you?  Are you harvesting or farming or testing out gifts?

Happy New Year, friends. x