Winter At Home

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Farming is very much one big cycle and the woolshed plays an important role in this cycle.  It sits quietly for much of the year, gathering dust and the occasional mouse and spider.  As sheep work approaches it is swept and blown out from top to bottom, the equipment is checked and loose odds and ends are gathered up.  The evening light settles on this clean, calm space before the shearers and sheep arrive and it once again bursts into life.

Recent school holidays coincided with sheep work which gave us all a purpose and some rhythm.  Our sheep numbers are low due to the drought so any opportunity to jump into doing what we all love is grabbed with both hands, although it was all over far too quickly.

Woolshed

Sheep

There was a new horse to bond with and an old horse who received some special attention.

Bush horses

I don’t think school holidays would feel the same without at least one BBQ cooked in the bush on a fire.  This time we went a bit gourmet with grilled haloumi and lamb fillets marinated with lemon.  Of course there were also non-gourmet sausages because that is compulsory.

Bush BBQ

Bush camp

Just occasionally in the bush we are lucky enough to discover abandoned camps.  Some are quite old and might consist of a collection of bottles, a rusty billy can, an old enamel cup or even some long forgotten rabbit traps.  Some are a little more modern; like this one.  A BBQ plate hanging in a tree, some posts, a big bucket and a very luxurious and isolated dunny.  These camps always make me think about who might have previously had a camp fire on that spot and what was happening as they passed through the bush at that time.

Outback dunny

Holidays or not, there is always bread in some form on the kitchen bench, in the freezer, going into the wood oven or getting distributed to friends or neighbours.  Recently I have been experimenting with some beautiful flour from Woodstock Flour.  It has changed the way I look at flour not only for bread but also for biscuits and other baking.

Sourdough

How about you?

Are you having any bush BBQ’s or exploring your backyard?

Happy Sunday, friends x

6 Comments

  1. Reply

    Kate B

    July 28, 2019

    I love a good bush bbq… its been a while xx

    • Reply

      Jane S

      August 20, 2019

      Always a good idea isn’t it Kate? x

  2. Reply

    KATE M

    July 28, 2019

    Snags or gourmet dinners over a fire, I’ll take either. We’re planning a camping trip up to Coolah Tops in the next month, or so, and I am already musing over what to cook.

    Your photos and narrative, as always, are beautiful.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      August 20, 2019

      Thank you Katie. I appreciate your support.

  3. Reply

    Anne

    July 28, 2019

    What beautiful light in your shed. I love that photo Jane. Would also happily partake in your gourmet and non-gourmet fare – looks delicious.
    No barbecues here (our weather has gone from hot sun to grey overcast) but rather weirdly, exploring our yard this morning with a film crew from ABC.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      August 20, 2019

      Wow Anne, I wonder what you are up to with the film crew? Anything you can share?

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