Long-time readers may remember that years ago in a previous life I baked the occasional batch of sourdough bread for a very trusting local café. I have so many lovely memories of those early mornings, bits of flour on the warm kitchen floor, the juggle, the bread smell permeating the car as we drove to town and the final reward: a café coffee once the bread deal was delivered and done. Back in those days our children were much younger, our farm business structure looked a lot different, I did all of my cooking in a gas oven and I wasn’t on Instagram.
Fast forward six or seven years. Cafés in town have come and gone, changed ownership and moved premises. Our children are both now in primary school, farm things have changed and a wood oven is now part of the furniture, so to speak.
Suddenly I find myself dipping my toes back into the world of mixing, dividing, shaping, proving and early morning bread deliveries.
I am not sure where this will take me, it could be an occasional thing or it might become regular. It is still a juggle but when those loaves come out of the oven the magic is still there. I don’t plan on world bread domination or a shiny stainless steel bakery but a few little snippets of floury feedback make me smile and give me another happy connection to our community. The final reward once the deal is done is still coffee. Thank goodness some things never change.
Have you gone back to something you once loved?
Given up something you loved and found it again?
Is there any flour on your floor?
If you happen to be in town, be sure to visit The Silly Goat for all your food and coffee needs.
Happy Sunday, friends x
Kylie Green
Good morning Jane. As mentioned on instagram last week it was so exciting to purchase a loaf of your sour dough from the silly goat 😊.
It was indeed delicious fresh and toasted. I’ve ordered a cotton bread bag on line so I can take advantage of your loaves while I can.
I’ve given myself over to my new role so am excited when I can purchase food that I love to eat locally.
Jane S
Hello Kylie, thank you, that is so kind. I hope you continue to enjoy the bread when you can. I haven’t forgotten those books, I will try and call into SOTA soon.
Judy Cinerari
Hey Jane, my granddaughter Mabel is nearly 3 and we love cooking together. One of her favourites is pizza dough which she helps me mix and then knead. It is one of my favourite times with this very special person. Thanks for your blog. I always enjoy it. Cheers Judy
Jane S
Thank you so much Judy. That sounds like very special moments shared with your granddaughter!
Cheryl
Oh how lovely, I can almost smell it from here.
I have just got back into Cross Stitch, I loved doing it years ago, strangely never made anything that I kept for myself, I gave all my pieces away as gifts. Then children came along, life got busy, and stitching got laid to one side for over a decade.
It came about again after I stumbled upon a Cross Stitch design, called Amid Amish Life. It was love at first sight, I had to have it, and sew it! It took some sleuthing to find a copy of the pattern for sale, but I did, and it was posted all the way from Canada!
I’m happily stitching away at it one mesmerising stitch at a time, and I love it. It’s the closest I get to meditating! LOL
Jane S
Enjoy the stitching Cheryl. Thank you!
Kate B
I had the good fortune to eat some of your lovely bread not long after a delivery the other day Jane. Delicious!!! Happy baking xx
Jane S
Thank you Kate! Good luck for the term ahead xx
Anne
I wish I lived close enough to dive in for a loaf of your bread and a moment of quiet reflection with a good coffee. It sounds as though it may be another exciting new adventure for you, whichever direction it takes.
Strangely, my life has gone in new directions. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined that I’d have discovered a love for printmaking. Nor would I have thought that I’d be spending two days helping my daughter bottle, label and pack fruit gin so she’s ready for baby number three this week. Funny how things turn out isn’t it?
Jane S
Indeed Anne, it is funny how things turn out. I hope baby number three has arrived safely x
Annie Bart
Jane I had family staying just before Easter and we so enjoyed your lovely gift of sourdough. It makes delicious toast down the track too! I also got to share your quinces with a few people. One friend made a beautiful Donna Hay cake and substituted the fruit in it for quinces and shared some back to me. It is amazing to think how some gifts just go on giving! Many thanks x
Jane S
Hello Annie, it is always nice to share! Hope to catch up with you at Agfair x
Laura
Hi Jane, your bread looks sensational. Sounds like you are enjoying dipping your toe back in. I’ve started to move back to my business that barely got off the ground before baby #1 arrived. Fast forward 5 years and it feels nice to reconnect to an old passion and find it easy to reignite – still a lot of work until I get it up and running though. Nap time is just never long enough!
Cheers,
Laura
Jane S
Good luck Laura, it is always a juggle to do all of the things we love isn’t it? Thank you for calling in.
Francesca
Yes, plenty of flour on the floor around here, and on my clothes too. Love your evocative posts Jane.
Jane S
Thank you Francesca!