Work?

I'm in a very fortunate position and not for a minute do I want to take it for granted. The few jobs I have had have all been ones that I love so it has always felt like I didn't work at all. I know many people just tolerate their jobs as a means to an end or worse still loathe their workplaces. I feel sorry for them especially when they don't have any way to make a move to something that would more pleasant or fulfilling. It does make up a big part of our lives after all.

 

My 'job' here at home doesn't pay much in dollars and cents but it is rewarding nonetheless. I'm my own boss, I'm home for school holidays, the hours are flexible as long as the jobs get done (chooks and moreover ducks do insist on their breakfast by a certain hour) and although there is a seasonal flow to the tasks that need to be done, it isn't boring.

 

 This was my commute today. I have to walk along the road from the house yard to the paddock where the sheep are. Today was drenching day and we also started shearing. It's hot work and physically tiring too. And there is more to do tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it because it is really hands-on work and I like that lanolin smell of sheep and the chance to pet them a bit.

 My little highland calf, Teddy, wasn't taking any chances though. Just in case we decided to shear him. No worries there.

And no one is the worse for wear after being in the yards except maybe the humans who I must say are feeling a bit weary this afternoon.

And if anyone is interested, my other jobs have been working  as a scientist in clinical microbiology and as a school administration officer for a short time.

Do you like your job? I hope so.
Tracy

Taking it easy

High Tea for Habitat yesterday was fun. Only a small guest list but that's ok. I didn't hear any complaints and I enjoyed myself in the kitchen before everyone arrived and at the table chatting when the guests arrived. On Friday I was a bit disappointed that a lot of people couldn't come but now I'm keen to do it all again next September. And I must make mention that the worst part of the event would have been the washing up but with payment of a few party leftovers, Tim took care most of it when he got home from work. Thanks Tim, I know you don't like washing china tea cups and saucers.

And today has been an easy day. Up with the birds to climb trees. Actually I didn't get any higher than this which was one step of the ground and already too scary for me. Hope and my niece Charlotte were already two branches up in the walnut tree without an ounce of fear.

 

Home to potter in the garden and my corn seeds are up and teasing with the promise of fresh corn in the summer. Corn is one of my least reliable growers and when it does do well there always seems to be some mishap. Rams and corn don't make for a happy vegetable gardener that's all I will say.

 

I also did a little bit of rescuing. When I see those poor looking plants on the death row table at the shops I want to bring them all home. I did see some going into the bin and I really think a little water and TLC and they would have been good. I saved these ones and at 50cents for 8 tomato plants, it's the least I could do. They are Burnley Bounty which is apparently an heirloom Australian variety which I haven't grown before and I'm always happy to try new varieties.

I'm taking it easy in the kitchen tonight too. We have dispensed with soup night on Sundays for now (it's not really soup kind of weather). I was toying with having quiches on Sunday just for something to do and we have heaps of eggs- chicken, duck and turkey but I let the garden inspire me today and we are having a risotto. Asparagus and pea risotto actually. The mention of which was enough to give Hope cravings for 2 minute noodles (she only eats pea and asparagus raw).

Hope you have had a pleasant Sunday.
Tracy

Head down

I've had my head down and been busy working the past few days. It's the thing to do apparently.

 

Actually I think it is the school holidays, it brings about a buzz of activity. No lunches to pack and no schedule to keep. It's like there are more hours in the day to take advantage of. All I know is I wake up early and by the end of the day I am tired but happily so.

The garden is providing us with lots of goodness and our lunches have been a bit cheaty. Just pick what's ready and appealing and concoct something. A sandwich, an omelette or even better a vegetable plate with some spicy zucchini pickles and mayonnaise.

Today however there is a terrible wind blowing. It is hot and dry and in my opinion a little bit scary. I think it is blowing quite strongly and causing some damage in some places. The only damage I have had to deal with is having to gather some of the clean washing from the lawn rather than the clothesline . So this afternoon the only outside chore I am doing is feeding the chickens and locking them away for the night. I have been trying to do some sewing but I just can't settle on something I want to make. It happens. I think I might just organise my contribution to Zara's swap (there's still time to join)  so that I can say I've done something crafty this afternoon.

Tomorrow is earmarked already as a baking day. The postponed high tea is on Saturday with a very much reduced guest list as it seems that a lot of people are too busy right now. Next year I think I will just make myself a cup of tea and give a donation.

Now I must tear myself away from this machine so I do actually have enough time to get started on some craft this afternoon.

Tracy

Older and grateful



I'm one day into the next year of my life and I actually feel younger today than I did two days ago. That of course is due to the fact that I am well again after shaking the chest cold that I didn't want to have(who ever does want them?).

 

Birthdays like the New Year and Christmas and any of those significant marks on the calendar make me stop and think and contemplate whether I'm doing things right or wrong and if I should make any changes. At the moment I think I'm travelling along in the right direction but I can always make improvements I guess. I want to be kinder not just to everyone in general but to myself and my family as well, more generous. I want to be less negative. Sometimes I get dejected and despondent and have a why bother attitude and I'd like to shake my feelings of low self esteem which causes self doubt to creep in. I am my toughest critic and I never put expectations on anyone else like I do on myself. Then there are of course the old faithful ideals to eat better, exercise more etc.

 

I had a lovely day yesterday for my birthday. Tim was home from work as a surprise which was really nice. I like my own company just fine but it is nice to feel special. I'm grateful for my family and the older I get the more apparent that is to me.



 

 I'm grateful also for the greenery and bugs that are plentiful in the yard because the ducks are very entertaining when they don't know which way to turn or what to nibble first.

 I'm grateful for the asparagus as it kicks into high gear. I like it when we get to the stage that it HAS to be eaten everyday.

And the broad beans are just ready for the kitchen. Tonight we are having bruschetta with asparagus and broad beans and a little goat cheese. Simple.  Satisfying and delicious. All it involves is toasting the bread while the asparagus and broad beans sauté with some spring onion then mix through the goat cheese and place on the bread. Doesn't get much easier.

Yesterday afternoon I had a big surprise. Hope brought me home a birthday gift from school. A very pretty gift from 'N' and 'M' (Hope's friend and her mum who read the blog) . Hi!

The tea towel is just perfect (and the chocolate delicious) and I felt really special to know that these lovely ladies were thinking of me. A perfect gift. That's just how a gift should work too in my opinion. Thanks so much ladies. I hope to see you next week.

What's your idea of the perfect gift?

Tracy

Beautiful day







Just a few things that added beauty to my day.

Red oak leaf lettuce (a freebie from Agquip)

 Although my cold is persisting, I have been out and about in the garden and the day is absolutely stunning despite a gusty wind. It is just a beautiful day here.

I think when the radish get to about this stage of growth, it is time to sow another row in an attempt to have an almost constant supply. At the moment I have French Breakfast and Cherry Belle on the go but next row might be an heirloom mix from Diggers. Tim and the girls are big radish fans. Me not so much. Just one or two every now and then are enough.

Bees aren't supposed to be overly keen on windy weather (I don't blame them) but mine don't seem to mind. Except for really wet days, they are busy doing what they do. Certainly we don't check the hives when it is too windy because they aren't as placid then.

It's always a beautiful day when I have the chance to plant something. This morning I planted out a couple of capsicums and lettuces that my parents didn't want, and four herb pots I bought on the weekend- dogbane, rue, another thyme and a golden sage. And when I find an earthworm whilst digging (and I don't chop it in half) I'm very happy.

 Even the moths looked pretty today. There have been a lot of butterflies so far this spring.  I'm not sure if this has any significance or not but I like it.

And lastly the ranunculi are starting to bloom and although these ones are more simple than the big showy double blooms you can get, I really like them. I don't think this flower will last long, it has been blowing about and bending over but while it's here, it is very sweet.

This morning I also stirred the compost heap. It might not be a pretty task but there is definitely satisfaction in turning scraps and lawn clippings and manure into such wonderful stuff. I would say for sure that compost is greater than the sum of its parts. The beauty is there, you just have to look closer or blur your vision a bit.

Perhaps I am just in a particularly good mood. I even found the hissing mother duck sitting on her pile of who knows how many eggs kind of cute.

I hope you have had a good day too with at least a little bit of beauty.

Tracy

My Voice?

 

My voice has gone missing. I have a cough and when I speak it is coming out rather croaky unless I resort to whispering. I've been lead to believe the whisper is preferable. Fortunately though I do not feel the slightest bit sick. It's my birthday on Friday and I don't want to be poorly especially then. Anyway, I'm sure I'll locate my regular vocal abilities in the next day or two until. It doesn't matter too much here what I sound like so I'll keep exercising my blogging voice a little bit.

 

It probably happens in most households that the person having the birthday chooses their meal (or perhaps they choose the restaurant). It's what happens here anyway. Last year Grace couldn't decide from a rather long list of favourites so I thought why not a week of meals decided by the birthday girl. It took the chore of meal planning out of my hands for the week and she chose things that we all like anyway. So I thought why not for me too.

 



A lot of our dinners are coming out of this book this week. Lentil and squash pasties , leek and blue cheese tart, spicy lamb burgers to name a few.

And for my birthday 'cake' I am finding it hard to go past this chocolate chilli tart with dulce de leche ice cream. I'm not really a fan of cake so a chocolatey tart sounds good to me. I have the magazine from the local library and the recipe proper isn't on the Taste website as yet but there is a good recipe adaptation here if it appeals to you.

And what else to eat during my birthday week. Sugar snap peas of course. They are by far the best peas this year. I always favoured snow peas but the sweetness and juiciness of the sugar snaps has actually toppled the snow peas from their pea pedestal.



 

Bunches of Broccoli Waltham. Steamed until they are only just done. The broccoli are almost all done for the season so it's time to make the most of them.

 

And because it's my birthday on Friday, Brussels sprouts will be on the menu. I love them. My ruby variety are leaving their run a bit late and I think the warm weather will be too much for them before they crop heavily but their leaves are quite stunning and worth growing for them alone. The leaves actually taste fine. As a note to myself, I am going to try starting my Brussels sprouts earlier so they have more time in the cold and lessen the chance of them bolting when the weather turns warm (usually early these days).

Of course there could be surprises in stall for me and I might be whisked out for a fancy meal but I don't think so. I love cooking and I love cooking new things. But, I will not be washing up on Friday.

Do you prefer home cooked birthday dinners or a restaurant treat?

Tracy

Highlights

It's a long story that doesn't need telling (no disasters involved) but the high tea I had planned for last Saturday had to be postponed. In its place last weekend was a trip to Sydney. Once Hope recovered from the horror that Central railway station is on the site of what was one of the old Sydney burial grounds (I really must not tell her these things) and from the shock of her surprise trip to the Doctor Who exhibit which is being held at the ABC centre in Ultimo.

 

It was enough for Hope to even feel better from her cold at least temporarily (she did visit the Doctor after all). Naturally the cold has worsened since we arrived home which is usually how these things work. I'm sure the cold will be history by next week as it is school holidays which does seem to be a great cure for all but serious illness.

A trip to the Lindt Café didn't hurt too much either. It is fair to say that apart from a late trip home on Sunday evening Hope had a weekend full of highlights best described as "fantastic" and "brilliant" as her two favourite Doctors would say.

The highlight for me apart from a  visit with my sister and niece, was as always, HOME. I didn't sleep in on Monday morning even though we had a very late night (I think I'm still tired now on Tuesday), I did the rounds of the garden. A few days away feels like months.

There are flowers that weren't there on Thursday, fruits too and the asparagus needed picking whether we wanted it or not (we wanted it).

Coming home to a decent soaking of rain was a highlight too.
Tracy