My mind drifts across many things as I go about my days parenting, schooling and farm watching.
Autumn isn’t all traditional carpets of crunchy orange leaves at our place because we just don’t have that many deciduous trees. My fruit trees put on a little display but right now they are still looking quite green.
Fresh chocolate chip biscuits can solve almost everything.
Our horse’s whiskers capture the light so nicely, making these big animals even warmer and nicer to touch and smell on a cold afternoon.
I need to learn some safer, more effective knot tying for when farm things need to be dragged, towed, hitched together or fixed up with rope. Girl Guide friends, I know you are out there.
The two men in my life melt my heart, particularly in tender, reassuring moments like this one.
At the end of a big social day in the outback, in amongst the big trucks and utes a grandmother and her precious granddaughter stepped in front of my camera at the right time.
I wonder how many quinces I can cook this season. With the branches dragging on the ground it is time to get busy peeling, chopping and processing.
I have noticed that an early dinner time during the week is the secret to our success, or not. When I have dinner planned and on the table early our whole week flows better. On my less organised days when dinner is late it means late cleaning up and late bed times which overflows into every other part of our lives. Sometimes it is the small things. Actually, often it is small the things that count the most.
I am reading and slowly experimenting with bread from this beautiful book.
This song is on my playlist. It is unapologetically American but I have been listening to this music since my teenage years and I still love it. It reminds me of road trips, wide open spaces and the good stuff.
What are thinking or wondering or pondering?
Dinner times, autumn leaves or warm horse hair?
I hope you might be cooking or creating or sitting in the sunshine somewhere in amongst the day to day routine.
Happy Friday, friends x
Kate Moore
Ah, that'd be the timber hitch or rolling hitch you're looking for. 😉
I need to find me a supply of quinces. I'm not sure I've ever seen them on the Central Coast, possibly because they're a cooler climate fruit. I'm planning a trip to the farmer's market this weekend. I'll be keeping an eye out.
Jane S
Thank you for the tips on the hitches Kate, I might need to Google them!
Anne
Your autumn colour are quite different to ours though we share the beautiful autumn light.
All spring growth and green over here and joy of joys, it's raining (though not very much and we desperately need it) so hoping not to sit in the sunshine today but splash in the rain.
I agree with your sentiment that it's the small things that count the most. We should take care of them.
Jane S
Thank you Anne, spring looks lovely in your world!
almostitalian
Lovely Autumn light Jane. I'm feeling the same way about early dinner. This is so much easier when accompanied by darkness and colder weather, when you crave an earlier meal and some mellow time around the fire. Lovely pic of your blokes. Yes that song is a tad American. I love different songs for road trips within Australia. I love the Pigrim brothers when driving around the Kimberleys and Western Australia, and Treaty when in NT, Great Southern land, and so on… long list of road trip songs. Francesca.
Jane S
Great ideas for road trip songs Francesca!
Judy Cinerari
I'm sitting down with your blog and a cup of coffee while I'm waiting for 2 chocolate cakes to cook, one vegan and one traditional. These will be eaten by my children and their families tomorrow when they come home to celebrate Mothers Day and my birthday. I am blessed.
Jane S
I am sure that chocolate cake was appreciated Judy!
franinoz
I see you peel your quinces. It's such a slog, and you'll find that the peel simply melts away when you bake the fruit. I don't even core my fruit, just chop 'em in half and dig out the core area when they're cooked. mmmm…baked quinces with honey and yoghurt!
Jane S
Thank you, I don't core mine either…so much easier and safer! I still peel but perhaps I need to let go of that too!
Cheryl
I don't mind your taste in music at all!
I'm a big Country Music fan, love a lot of Aussie artists, but love a lot of American stuff too…Dwight Yoakam, Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Clint Black, oh and I just discovered Keiran Kane…love his stuff.
Jane S
I will have to look up Keiran Kane, thank you Cheryl!
Anonymous
I'm repotting and madly taking cutting .. in readiness for new beginnings !
Jess wisely learnt a few tricky numbers from her big brother in the rope department before she headed off to the Territory… perhaps she could share her knowledge with us Jane , she's a whizz at it ! Happy Autumn days …
Jane S
Happy potting Trish…and new beginnings! Jess is so practical x
Marijke
Quinces, I love them! But I hate peeling those tough buggers, with a big scar on my hand as a reminder. I now brush the fur of, cut them in four and put them in a baking dish with vanilla bean and sugar. Covered with alu-foil in the oven for hours they turn that beautiful red. You can bottle them with the liquid, run with the liquid through a food mill (gone is the core and skin!) for a jam, or without the liquid for quince paste, the liquid is then great as cordial. You can easily scoop the core out of the bottled ones, before eating or serving (with custard, yoghurt, through salads or roast meats)
Jane S
Thank you for the great quince tips Marijke!
Kylie Palmer
Still cant beat a little B&D, or just B or D these days Jane. Mountains of autumn leaves here in the new garden-a gorgeous carpet over the green lawn-loving it!
Kp
Jane S
Enjoy the autumn and the tunes KP 🙂