Hello friends. Since I checked in last time we have received 33 mm of beautiful, steady rain. This has arrived at a perfect time and has certainly put a spring in the step.

Thank you for your kind comments on my last post, it was lovely (and pleasantly surprising!) to hear from so many readers.

While the soil is damp and the roads are muddy I have been painting and repairing plaster in and around the area where we recently removed a piano. Having this newly rearranged area has motivated me to keep moving on small changes, repairs and updates around our home.

Solo painting needs some thought-provoking background noise and I have been listening to a lot of ABC radio and podcasts this week. I think all of us are interested in the issue of food waste aren’t we? The Use It Up podcast is all about food, cooking and food waste. I particularly liked the episode with Ronni Khan, founder and CEO of OzHarvest.

Solo painting has also given me time to reflect on travel, do you remember the days of travelling? Since we can’t go far at the moment there are always books to escape in. I have been drawn to the colour and vibrancy of Parwana, a book that is soon to be released from Parwana Kitchen, an Afghan restaurant in Adelaide.

How about an artisan bakery in Scotland? For me this would be a dream but for now I am going to visit via the pages of Aran, Recipes and Stories from a Bakery in the Heart of Scotland by Flora Shedden.

I know that some parts of the physical magazine world are disappearing but I still love the tactile nature of beautiful magazines and this week I have discovered two new ones. The first is Have a Go Series. Each issue covers a specific cooking technique including cheese making, sourdough and croissants. Sign me up.

Everly magazine also caught my eye, another clever Australian publication available in both print and digital formats.

Of course Graziher magazine continues to go from strength to strength and I feel so fortunate to continue to contribute recipes to this independent magazine.

I have planted a peach tree, leeks and fennel and watched some of my spring and summer seeds burst into germination.

Salads and greens from the veggie patch have featured in almost every meal this week, a small but incredibly satisfying thing.

Bandit, our current pet goat meets me at the clothesline every morning, always waiting for more milk. Although clearly he can forage for fresh, tasty scrub when the mood takes him.

If you have been waiting for rain I hope some has fallen at your place.

Happy Sunday, friends.