Here are some new (and unexpected) kids on the block. This hen had been hiding her 8 chicks in the shrubbery and only wandered out with them a couple of days ago. Of course there are various birds that would like to feast on the babies, but it's interesting to watch not only Tom the … Continue reading New additions

The cats are loving the enclosure around the vegetable garden, getting a birds eye view of proceedings below. It's amazing how determined the wildlife can be however. We thought the enclosure was wallaby proof, but a couple of days ago saw Snowy the dog racing round and round the outside of it and then finally … Continue reading The vegetable garden enclosure

News on the outdoor bread oven front - progress is good and once the door is ready, then the full dome for the top can be set in place. New dog Snowy, an absolute angel, follows Robert wherever he goes and supervises proceedings with the oven, as does Della of course. Time for a break … Continue reading The outdoor bread oven – progress!

Last week a group of friends came to visit with a view to developing some recipes for Julie, one of the group, who has significant restrictions as to what she can eat and has been battling food sensitivity based health issues for some years now. She makes light of the difficulties this presents, and jokes … Continue reading Cooking for those with food sensitivities

Last Saturday was a very busy time in the cooking school here. For some weeks this day had been planned. Friends had ducks they had frozen to bring along, all that was needed was recipes. I've not cooked with duck very much I am the first to admit, so son Andrew was at the helm, … Continue reading Duck Duck Goose Day

Meet the new addition to our family - this is Snowy. She is the gentlest, sweetest dog I have ever known. Thanks to Emma from Brightside Sanctuary for matching her to us. Snowy is so good that she doesn't chase the free roaming ducks, chooks, sheep and lambs here. She only ever complains if she can't … Continue reading New family member

And so here is the recipe.  Mavis has allowed me to share it with anyone who would like it. I've typed it up exactly as it reads from the hand-written sheet she gave me.  The recipe is generations old and one of the best recipes I've ever come across. When I cut the loaf tonight,even … Continue reading Recipe for hop yeast bread

So here we are. Why am I so pleased to have this recipe and the fact that it worked so well you might ask? (It's just bread after all).   It’s because olden-times recipes for yeast say to add some old yeast mixture (i.e. ready-made from a former batch) to get it moving. How can … Continue reading The finished hop yeast bread

Last weekend on a search to find an organic potato with which to start the yeast, we called in Bushy Park Market. No success with the potato, but on the shelf was a 6.5. litre slow cooker for a mere $12. It looked in good order, so bought it (later check showed it was fine electrically). … Continue reading Slow cookers and things

Last week I was extremely happy that an elderly friend gave me her generations-old family recipe for hop yeast for baking bread. I've followed the hand-written recipe painstakingly, watching and waiting and hoping for the requite bubbles to appear in the bottle. And this morning it's happened, great cause for rejoicing! On to the next step … Continue reading A new creature in the house – hop yeast for my bread