We’re back in the thick of school and work after the summer break. In some ways it seems as though we never stopped, but despite the busyness of the start of the year we are feeling refreshed.
Over the summer we stopped to pick some wild plums growing on the sides of the road. They are always small and sour and perfect for making plum paste. I’m oozing smugness after making 20 small jars of the paste, ready for Christmas gifts for my colleagues and staff this year. Who even am I???
With the summer harvest coming in, we are inundated not only with plums but also, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, figs, and stone fruit. I’ve been putting some of the figs through our dehydrator so that we can make sticky fig pudding this winter. I’ve made a heap of apricot jam (my favourite after one of our friends gave us a big lot of apricots. I’m also about to start making tomato passata. We had 30 jars last year and have completely run out. Our pantry is slowly filling up for next year.
The girls have been busy with their little silkie chicken business and have begun selling some. They have enjoyed raising the silkies from chicks and the silkies are well cared for. The only problem we have encountered is that everyone wants to buy silkie hens but not so much the roosters. We may have some additions to the pot in the next couple of weeks.
Our local show is on this weekend. The kids have been busy preparing their entries. The girls have been doing some embroidery and crafts, while Toby has painted eggs and designed a fairy garden in a saucer. All of them have done some baking.
C and I have put together a few entries as well. I’ve entered a few photos and my hexagon crochet blanket. C hasn’t had a great year in the garden. The drought means that he hasn’t had as much time to tend to the vegetables and we haven’t had as much water either. As a result, he doesn’t have as many entries and he isn’t as happy with the quality of the ones he has entered. Still, win or lose, it’s good fun to be involved and have a go. You can bet on Saturday morning we will be in town checking out the pavilion (where all the entries are displayed) and chatting to friends as we see how we fared.
I’ve been making an effort to get out and go for a walk most evenings for the last few months. After a long day at work, it’s a bit of an effort but I feel so much better when I do it. Often C or the kids will trail along with me or else I listen to a podcast or two. I also take pics of the amazing sunsets and views around the farm and pop them on my
Remember last year that I told you that we were planning an adventure with the kids. It’s been our dream for a few years to take the kids to Europe and show them our old haunts. Well, we are now only 7 weeks away from our big trip, and we are getting excited. The accommodation has been booked, leave from work approved, passports renewed, and plans made. We have a lot to do in the lead up to the trip though. Leaving the farm for 10 weeks takes some serious logistics. It will be worth it when we get on that plane though!
What’s been happening at your place?
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