This week has been full on…actually this year has been full on. So full on in fact that I’ve been run down and it’s been the sickest year for me. Colds, flu’s you name it, unmentionables I’ve had it. It’s all part of being human and rather imperfect, the latter is a talent of which I am proud to say I have in spades.
But I’m out from my lockdown. Still a bit sick, but I needed to get out and touch and connect with the real world. A few little victories to mention. Cherries, Peas, Garlic, Onion, Spuds, Lettuce, Parsnips all filling the kitchen basket. The veg garden out at Graceview has gone nuts! Especially the unwanted weeds so a little weeding and mulching has been the priority and we’ll be working on that over the next few weeks. We lost a few chooks, one chick and one hen. These things happen. But I bet most people that buy eggs or chicken meat at a supermarket wouldn’t be aware of that. Come on people! Reconnect already!
My TOTAL harvest of Stella Cherries. One difficulty with not using chemical pesticides is that when the conditions are right for insect attack your crop gets hammered. My Stella cherry is now in it’s third season and it looked like I’d get at least a kilo of cherries early on, but the tree got hammered by black aphids. So a handful will have to suffice this year. Better luck next year. Totally heartbreaking, especially after all the effort that goes into growing your own. Must persevere.
After a massive week of response from the ABC series, I celebrated with a special dish. I kinda made it up in my head and it kinda worked. A friend gave me some dried black chillis she bought from the Spanish food supply shop in Fitzroy (that can you believe I STILL have never visited…someone please send me the bloody address!). I fried the black peppers with some onions and brown sugar to give the couscous the sweet N Heat, and with Almond slithers it made the base of the meal. Another lovely friend gave me some Moroccan spice rub concoction that she and her hubbie made. I’ve been waiting to do it justice so these four quail did the job with a little dried thyme. (Thanks for the beautiful spice rub Cath and Drew!) To top it off I roasted some mushrooms in a red wine, thyme, garlic concoction thing…..amazing victory! It all just worked to be a very special dish.
And finally after a visit to the veg patch I made a vodka infused iced Elderberry cordial drink all thanks to my new mate Greg Hattan who made the cordial himself.
This is the good life people. Simple, simple and more simple pleasures.
No big fancy cars, no large new house, no shallow pointless stressful job. Good fresh food that you grow and hunt, good friends and even a little bit of waving the fly rod in the air, even if it did bucket down with rain!
The little ‘present’ at the end of a hunters meal.
what a week, what a “reconnection” and what pictures!!!
Brilliant post..! Simple life rules ok huh
Sorry to hear about your aphid attack. Bloody Beasts!
Mate, I’ve learned to love and appreciate the rain. Granted you do get your fair share in Ballarat. I’m thinking your photography just keeps getting better and better… Lovin’ the ABC series too
my dad used to go hunting for pheasants (day trips from Milan – you’d have to go much further than that these days for find pheasants near Milan!), and I remember those little “presents”. So sorry about the aphids – persevere!
Excellent post. Soul hitting was the “shallow pointless stressful job.”
Great pictures. Pests in an organic garden can be so demoralizing. The damage is often done before you’ve even had a chance to react. Better luck with the cherries next year.
New reader here! I just wanted to say I love your blog and photographs. I’m jealous of the simple pleasures and beauty you’re surrounded with on a daily basis!
Thanks Kimmy!!! It’s not all roses and cupcakes, but it is a beautiful life!!
Man, you HAVE been seriously busy. I can’t even keep up with your posts anymore! So much going on!!! It seems that you’re having a fantastic summer, and are getting closer and closer to your dream, whatever the particulars of it may be. :)
Love it all. The pics, the simple pleasures (sign me up for that elderberry cordial!), the obvious joy you have in your life. Any chance some neighbors have some cherries that escaped the black aphids? You know, that they wouldn’t mind if you harvested?
Sorry to hear about the cherries and I hope next year is better. I believe the shop in Fitzroy you’re after is Casa Iberica. It’s a nice little shop – I go there every now and then.
Yeah….bloody pests! And because the tree was under pressure the fruit wasn’t as sweet as it should have been. Imagine if I was actually relying on it to feed the kids!!
Hey thanks for the shop info. Can’t wait to visit it on my next trip to the big smoke.
The Spanish supplier was probably Casa Iberica: 25 Johnston St, Fitzroy. Well worth a visit if you can make it there during their rather restricted trading hours. (I heartily recommend the empanadas!)
Yep! Can’t wait to go there…..thanks for the info!
Spectacular fly fishing shot, soleil captured.
Casa Iberica, 25 Johston St Fitzroy
Another place worth checking out if your making the visit to Melbourne is Aztec Foods, 8A Adina Court, Tullamarine
Aztec Food eh? I’ll put that one on the list!!!
Quail leggies.
Love that stretched out fly line photo. How has the fishing been for you?
Ben
Struggling. I’ve only been out on the lakes and not having much action, but I’m going on a week long trip in Jan on a river which is meant to be amazing and full of hungry trout!! Wish me luck mate!
Quail looks absolutely delicious. This kind of meat works fantastic with mushrooms. Few days ago, I made a roasted guinea-fowl with liver and parsley. Hope You’ll like it :)
I took a peak! I bet it tasted delicious!!!! It definitely looks yum!