Hello friends. It has been a while but I am still here.
In the meantime we have had two big city trips quite close together. Both trips were for very different reasons and both were good reminders about the realities of city life. The vibrancy and excitement as well as the grime and congestion.
Our eldest has been home from boarding school and then gone again, just like that.
Somewhere in there was a horsemanship clinic and a bush race meeting.
We have had builders, painters and carpet men in our house. And mice. Eep!
Builders, painters and carpet men meant a lot of packing up, cleaning up, reassessing clutter and rearranging. At the end of it all we have two lovely fresh rooms that will take our home into the future.
Terry and I don’t usually just stand around our property gazing at the horizon, not for long anyway. But, we were recently asked to be part of a photo shoot for Royal Flying Doctor Service . We are big supporters of the RFDS so of course we said yes. I wonder where we might see our faces pop up in the future? These photos of us thanks to Mikala from She Surfs Photography
New baby goats have come into our lives after I declared we would have no more pet goats. Clearly I am very strong and completely unwavering on these matters.
I am harvesting herbs and asparagus and cooking lamb in the wood oven. No food miles make these ingredients extra tasty.
Some of my favourite bloggers have disappeared and I am sad about that. Perhaps the personal blog is actually dead. Jodi from Practising Simplicity has written about this recently too.
When the planets align I am planning some local workshops so I will keep my little space on the internet as a home base for future plans. And, if I don’t check in occasionally I may actually forget how to navigate my way around WordPress and that would be a shame.
Before I sign off, I have been listening to The Pineapple Project podcast and this song about family, memories and horse racing. Sadly, horse racing has divided our nation in recent times but love it or hate it, it is an integral part of our lives and this footage contains some classic Australian scenes and sounds.
I am the first to admit that I love online shopping for choice and convenience but as Christmas approaches I am getting behind the Buy From The Bush campaign starting in our local community of makers, creators and small businesses. It just makes sense doesn’t it?
How is life at your place?
Pet goats or roast lamb?
Happy Friday, friends x
Anne
Glad to see you’re still around Jane – I’ve missed your posts. It must be nice to have fresh rooms and a clear out. I hope the mice have disappeared. I’m still revelling in our renovated space an enjoying the lack of maintenance for the next few years. I could just eat one of those sausage rolls. And the lamb. And asparagus. As ever, everything looks wonderful. Enjoy spring. Ax
Jane S
Thanks Anne, likewise I have missed your posts. Yes, the mice have thankfully disappeared, I think they took advantage of the building upheaval and found a way in. Sending you a virtual sausage roll! x
Kate Moore
Lovely photos as always. I haven’t had the camera out for much in the past few weeks. I must leave it in plain sight for me to pick it up. I’ve been thinking about playing with old-fashioned lens filters too – rather than the editing that most people now do in digital post-production. I like to have the finished image pretty close to what I was aiming for in the use of the camera, its settings and the actually hardware.
Oooh, what exciting plans for workshops are coming? Sounds all very intriguing.
Jane S
Thanks Kate. I have had a photography break too but I really want to get focused back on catching the small things…not just the ‘big’ moments. Lens filters sound fascinating. I try to keep my editing to a minimum too, although I have been trying to teach myself how to use Lightroom. There are just so many components to it, I get lost every-time I log into it. I hope to run some sourdough workshops next year in Broken Hill. I am just waiting for a suitable commercial kitchen to become available. Incidentally, the local Scouts have received a grant to upgrade their kitchen and when it is finished I hope to set up sourdough school in the Scout Hall. Stay tuned. x
Ange
Inspiring and beautiful words and images as always Jane.
The #buyfromthebush campaign as been incredible for little businesses like my sisters and mine, I have always tried to support other rural businesses as much as possible.
I’m excited about the prospect of workshops. Will eagerly await news x
Jane S
Thank you Ange, lovely to hear from you x
Annie Bartholomaeus
Good job Jane …blogging is not for the faint of heart, I’m sure.
How lovely to have those beautiful photos and I will make sure I check all my RFDS brochures!
I have shared your fresh… oh so yellow eggs… and am enjoying them all.
Workshops would be wonderful Jane. Will watch this space eagerly.
Many thanks x
Jane S
Thanks Annie, yes apparently we might be in the annual report, brochures etc?! Have a lovely weekend x
The Napoli Alert
How cute are those goats. I blogged diligently for years but then suddenly I lost my blogging mojo, it happens. But it’s still there and one day I might go back. I know a lot of long timers who go on hiatus every now and again. It can be hard to keep up when life gets in the way.
Jane S
Thank you for calling in, I know you have been a long time reader!
Kate
Lovely as always, those sausage rolls do look tempting, and the asparagus. Yum. Nothing better than fresh home grown asparagus.
I miss a lot of my old favourite bloggers too, I do hope they are all ok and just busily living their lives.
Painters and carpet men, now that’s an idea I can get on board with. My house is in desperate need of both.
Cheers Kate
Jane S
Thanks Kate, I appreciate you calling in. Sending you a virtual sausage roll! x
Reannon
Your sausage rolls always look SO delicious!!!
I too getbsad when bloggers stop writing or write less. I really feel like Instagram took over.
I’m not a huge online shopper, or shopper in general but I do love the buy from the bush campaign.
And mice are my biggest fear so any time they make their way into my house I threaten to move!!!
Jane S
Thanks for calling in Reannon. I know you are on an Insta break, I will miss your honest words and meal ideas. Thankfully the mice are gone for now. x
Lenore
I’m with you Jane re goats. They are cute but better in the paddock. When we lived in Roto we always had some as pets. They not only danced on and scratched the cars but ate my poor vegetable garden (hard to grow with limited water at the time) and chewed anything that took their fancy. Yeap! They are sooo cute but very mischievous, good luck. I’m sure you know what I mean from past experience. Love all the photos you have posted. Asparagus looks yummy. X
Jane S
Thanks Lenore. Yes, pet goats have caused us a few headaches over the years but strangely they make their way back into our hearts and lives, especially during this drought. It is hard to walk away from the orphans. I love your memories from Roto. x
ewe beauty
oh Jane you must have ESP …..! I was missing news from you. love your photos ,and words . keep up the good work xx
Pamela Hayward
I have just purchased a few copies of the CWA inspired cookbook ‘ Farmer Recipes and Stories from the Land’ and browsing through it saw a photo of you and it reminded that I remembered reading your blog some time ago.
Lovely book and nice to hear you are surviving in the drought. I have just put the book on Instagram so hopefully it will promote some sales of this gorgeous book.
My blog is Bitemebypamtree.wordpress/blog and insta pamela_ hayward