Busy day in the kitchen today. So much produce - excellent peaches from daughter Stephanie's tree, mulberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and blackberries. The photos here show what could be described as madness, mess or more kindly as a creative environment. Whichever way, the day turned out to be productive, thanks to the abundance of beautiful late … Continue reading A day of late summer preserving

How adorable are our two cats, dear old Tom and little kitten Rosie, fast asleep together on Robert's lap.  I think they must feel the chill in the air - I guess it is a bit of a shock.  On the other hand, how good is the rain!  Every one of us who is on … Continue reading A lovely sight

The gluten free class here last Saturday was such a lot of fun. Great people AND, I have to say, a great new product put through its paces. At least it's not a product or brand I'd ever used before. At Food Lovers on Albert (Lucas Trading) in Moonah I purchased Well & Good brand … Continue reading Gluten free class

Proud Mum supervising her babies' first bath.  Some are developing very definite personalities already - the darkest is the most adventurous, the plain yellow one is not going to be too smart I fear.  She/he is always the last to follow mum.

Lots of action here on the farm this morning. Strain on pipes has led to the digging up of a good portion of the yard. On a happier note, under the bushes near the front steps, PennyMay the duck has at least 5 little ducklings that hatched overnight. Rosie the kitten is very fascinated with … Continue reading Busy and productive day on the farm

My goodness, these bread tins are beyond amazing! No better way to spend a hot Saturday than experimenting with the recently arrived bread tins.  I have never known anything like them - the crust of each loaf was lovely and crisp, the texture of the interior astoundingly good. Here are some photos of bread on … Continue reading The new (old) bread tins

I was up early this morning cooking for the stall when a friend arrived with a fantastic gift.  He'd watched me baking the day before and noticed that I was a bit short on bread tins. "Would you like some more?" he asked "The sort that are joined together."  (He knew where some might be … Continue reading What a present!

Last weekend was an exciting and busy one here on the farm. We had been asked about catering for a small function for about 35 people, a High Tea in fact. This function, arranged by her daughter, was to mark the 80th birthday of Marlene.  Her 8 teenage (and slightly older) grandchildren were to come … Continue reading High Tea on the Lawns

I know this heat is horrible, unbearable even, but with the heat comes masses of summer fruit, so it's not all bad. Last weekend we had a bottling class here. The first of these photos shows the produce ready to go, along with barley/spelt bread on the rise. Once it's baked some was for us … Continue reading Bottling Class

Many who know us are aware that ginger Tom was a feral cat when we came to live here.   Gradually over many months he was tamed, and now is a beautiful, affectionate house cat.  It is beyond comprehension how anyone could ever have abandoned him. It was for his sake that I hesitated for a … Continue reading Tom and Rosie