We were able to pick some exquisite Morello cherries at a friend's orchard on Monday, red currants also. Morellos always look like beautiful glistening jewels in the bucket as they are plucked from the tree. They keep their colour when preserved too (bottled the water bath/Fowlers way). Then Morello cherry cordial is very hard to … Continue reading Morellos and such

I've planted a few cuttings of catmint around the garden that have subsequently grown most enthusiastically. I thought maybe "catmint" was just a quirky name for the plant, but lately our cats have shown how much they love it. Here is Rosie smooching the bush, and Tom acts similarly, then often sleeps for several hours … Continue reading Catmint

As the rains seem to have receded, I realise the dry weather will soon inevitably have its effect on my lovely green grass. So I took a little stroll around the garden at dusk to take a few photos before the worst of the summer heat sets in. I'm not much of a gardener really, … Continue reading Summer has landed in Molesworth

Produce at the ready for a Bottling class here last Saturday, the calm before the storm of activity. As you can see, there were are yellow nectarines, fresh picked apricots, delicious sweet plums, tomatoes, zucchini, capsicums, onions and more. Then there were beautiful cherries purchased from the cherry farm nearby. Great fun, lovely people, a … Continue reading In readiness for Bottling class of Saturday

My oh my - look what just arrived on our doorstep! The advance copies of "Little Book of Slow". It's been a huge pleasure to have written this with the wonderful Paul McIntyre, ABC producer and highly respected playwright. The book is about how to live more mindfully and meaningfully with simple tips on how … Continue reading It’s arrived! The Little Book of Slow by Sally Wise and Paul McIntyre

Needless to say it’s been a wonderful and scrumptious feasting. Best of all were the family get-togethers, with two exquisite new grandbabies to cuddle. Who could ask for more! I seem to somehow create an inordinate amount of leftovers and so today the time had come for the situation to be addressed. I did write … Continue reading Post Christmas Cooking

Well, what do you know! The rhubarb and strawberry jam made with fresh rhubarb and the dehydrated strawberry powder tastes pretty fine (thank goodness). It has a lovely little hint of sherbet - very flavoursome the jam is too. I will put some jars out on the stall at the gate in a few minutes … Continue reading The sweet cooking games continue

And so another week (or is it two?) have passed in a whirlwind fashion. There have been two happiest of events in the last three weeks or so - two new grand babies - a girl and a boy, in that order. There have been cooking classes here too, lots of fun with food, and … Continue reading It’s that time of the year!

I think it's a case of being careful what you wish for.  During summer we were practically doing a rain dance, so desperate were we for a shower of rain to fill the tanks and freshen up the parched paddocks. Now here we are in spring, inundated.  The once-dry paddocks are a mushy bog, with … Continue reading A Late Spring’s produce