Hello friends.

Some of you may have read in a previous post about our property appearing as a location for some filming.  Now I can share that this was a Christmas advertisement for Aldi .  It is not my usual style to promote supermarket ads but it is exciting to see some brief glimpses of our backyard.  Just in case you are curious, it is not our house in the ad.  But several of the other scenes were filmed at our place including the cattle and galloping horse, shearing, fence building and the train and outdoor bath scenes.  It all flies by very quickly!

Back to reality and there has been plenty of things happening in the paddock, garden and kitchen.  The kids have had their first dam swim for the season.  It’s not hot enough for me to hop in yet but it is nice to sit on the bank and soak up the peace and quiet.

We are eating asparagus from the garden with almost every meal.  Correction, the adults are enjoying these magical spears, the younger folk are shuffling it around their plates.  Soon I will let the ferns run wild again and asparagus season will be over for another year.  Perhaps I might try this pickling recipe before it is all over.

In the garden I have tiny zucchinis starting to emerge, my favourite variety, Long Florence.  Self-seeded volunteer tomatoes have popped up everywhere and look healthy.  Instead of getting too scientific or serious about my tomato crop this year, I am simply going to let them go and hope for the best, with just a little horse manure and straw for good measure.

We are big on making the most of what is around us and enjoying what we have at home on the weekends.  Recently we allocated a Saturday afternoon to making quandong pie, eating chops cooked on the fire and enjoying some cold drinks in the paddock.

As always there is bread in my kitchen.  I have found that committing to selling my bread on a regular basis has pushed me to refine my bread routine and tweak some small things.  Repetition is the key to consistent baking and I am still finding ways to improve my loaves and the way I manage the overall process around family life.

I will sign off with some things that have caught my eyes and ears  lately.

If you are dreaming of an escape and happen to be in England how about these shepherd’s huts .  I wish I had one of these in my backyard, under a shady tree perhaps.

For some inspiring Christmas shopping ideas I am finding it hard to go past almost every earthy, raw piece at Pampa .  Then I remember I am not actually shopping for myself.  Oh well.

How about you?

Are your kids eating their greens or perhaps they are also shuffling?

Have you cooked anything delicious lately?

Happy Friday, friends x