With temperatures heading over 40°C at our place this week the only thing to do is to get up early and tackle the day while there is still some shade on the ground and before the sun starts to scorch everything around us.
I actually love these mornings and I love them even more when I can head straight to the garden. The vegetable garden is a shady sanctuary and the peaceful moments spent harvesting, watering and collecting seeds can be the best part of the day. One morning this week I took the teapot to the garden with me and wondered why I don’t do this more often?
January is too hot for planting anything in the garden so instead I find myself planning. This old concrete laundry trough was on our property when we bought the place and has needed a proper purpose ever since. It is currently laying on its side housing various pieces of old steel. In my mind I am visualising it becoming a centerpiece for a vegetable rinsing and general washing up area in my garden. Perhaps with some interesting old taps, a rack for draining, some chunky natural scrubbing brushes and something leafy and green growing overhead for cool shade. Stay tuned on these plans.
Right at the other end of these long summer days the evenings are also magical. On the 2nd day in January we perched on a high dam bank and watched the full moon rise over our paddocks accompanied by our tribe of pets including this gentle lamb who is fast becoming a big friendly sheep.
Watching the moon slide silently over the horizon is a humbling sight no matter how many times you see it. A photo doesn’t really do it justice but I always like to try.
As the air-conditioners are buzzing at their full capacity I can think of almost nothing but ice-cream. With some leftover gingerbread house dough in the freezer this recipe could be a perfect afternoon snack.
Thank goodness for the school holidays, for the wide open spaces and for these little slices of time when we can mostly make our own routine.
Are you on school holidays and enjoying the freedom?
Did you see the full moon?
Thinking of ice-cream?
Happy Sunday, friends x
Kate Bolton
The moon has been beautiful and I always try to photograph it too Jane. Stay cool and enjoy your cool gingerbread sandwiches xx
Jane S
Stay cool Kate. I hope you are getting in plenty of photography time x
Sandy Butler
Sounds almost idyllic, but having grown up in the Queensland Outback I know that the heat is hard to deal with sometimes. I would love some of that heat at the moment though, living at the bottom of New Zealand on a farm is certainly idyllic, but it can be quite cold sometimes. And at the moment our summer has disappeared for a bit with temperatures back down to 15 during the day. Enjoy your warm days and ice cream.
Jane S
Hello Sandy, thank you for calling in! Yes, of course we have idyllic moments but there are difficult times too…just like everyone! Stay warm.
Sandy Butler
Hi Jane,
Since leaving that comment our temperatures have soured and have been the hottest ever “on record”. The farm is looking rather brown and the cows are needing to be fed supplement grass baleage. So not really idyllic at the moment and quite stressful. If we don’t get decent rain soon we will have to look at drying some cows of(dairy farm). These are the hard times that are often not seen in instagram pics or facebooks posts. But capturing those idyllic sunset shots, beautiful cows grazing or lambs playing does remind me that we are blessed to be where we are and we have to appreciate the good with the bad. I love seeing all your beautiful photos but appreciate the struggles that go along with farming at times that are often unseen in the beauty.
Jane S
Hi Sandy, thank you, I know you understand! I hope you didn’t mind me singling out your comment…it was just the general notion of it that got me thinking. I hope you get some rain soon. Farming can be a world of extremes cant it? I appreciate your thoughtful comments.
Kate
Wowee has it been hot today. I was thinking of you and how you’re faring, and still have to fare. We have more hot days forecast but I can head to the beach early before the sun really bites and the breeze in the evening is lovely. I need to mulch, but it will have to wait until I have some cooler mornings and evenings when I can slap the mossie repellant on and get out there.
Jane S
The cool mornings are the best time aren’t they Kate? For the beach, the garden or anything really.
Anne
Too hot for you to plant in January, too cold for us so like you, I’m planning. Rather excitingly, I have a new garden to plan but alas, it’s still a building site at the moment.
I love that laundry trough and can imagine it in your garden; it will look fabulous. Enjoy your wide open spaces – what wonderful views you have.
Jane S
Thanks Anne, good luck with the new garden. The trough is still sitting on its side waiting for plans to become reality!
Annie Bart
I too have loved moon gazing, certainly is a beautiful wonder especially sitting on a dam bank in the peace and quiet of the outback, simply perfect. I have used a cement trough like that before and had herbs in it but your plan sounds much more scenic! Will be waiting to see your development. Ax
Jane S
Thanks Annie, the plans for my trough sound grand…as plans often do! x