The wind howled last night. I mean really howled.
So much so that I couldn’t sleep with the thought of one of the huge 100 yo trees falling on the school house. Well, not only that, I actually had other things on my mind. As I do most nights. Waking up sometime in the middle, thinking like a mad hatter. It’s when I come up with all my ideas. And those ideas are the things that restrain me from any further slumber. Not only did we have wind gusts of near 120km per hour but we also had a full moon. So bright was the moon that I thought of getting the gun and taking a midnight hunt. Rabbits are in big numbers this year, the season has been kind to them – plenty to eat – which means there is plenty for us to eat.
Just in case you were wondering, I didn’t end up going for that midnight hunt, instead I lay in bed, staring at the bright moon, coming and going behind the fast-moving storm clouds. It was a sight to see, as its white light made the large old pine out my window a stark contrast of silhouette. I loved the intensity of last night’s wind. I appreciate the reminder that nature rules supreme, it’s reassuring.
That stormy weather tells me that the change in season is on its way. We always seem to get the violent stuff on the handover of seasons, it’s like they’re in battle for supremacy. Winter is trying to hold on while Spring is claiming its new territory. The winner is inevitable. We’re fortunate enough to bear witness to that awesome power of the wind as it brings seasonal change.
As I lay thinking, I made a substantial list of things that need to be done during waking hours. Most importantly is to sow the seeds for the spring and summer planting. I just can’t put it off anymore. Nature sure won’t wait for me.
Talking about shooting rabbits ?? A customer of mine, I own a home brew shop in the Yarra Valley, shot a young wild goat. He bartered with me for a leg. I marinated it in garlic, rosemary, olive oil and balsamic for 24 hours. Sealed then cooked for 4 hours at 100c. It was absolutely sensational. Mild tasting, tender and vey uncshous.
You’re kidding me! I’m so jealous! I’m always on the look out for a goat! Did it hang for a week? The whole goat that is….?
So damn jealous! Goat Curry….yes please!
Hah, good goat *is* something worthwhile from Bruny Island. Not quite wild, but the same guy shots & sells wallaby, rabbit & occasionally possum, which: NOM!
The last of my mail-order seeds should arrive tomorrow for the spring & summer planting. I’m excited about more veg than I’ve ever grown before!
Ro, what will be your first spring plantings?
To many to mention! About 50 varieties of veg and herbs!
This weekend I’ll pop these in the hot house in seed trays.
Zucchini, Eggplant, Tomato, Pumpkin, marigold
I think Ballarat got the worst of the wind.
Here in Castlemaine our kitchen window buckled and the verandah lifted.
Love goat meat. Here in Marrickville in Sydney we actually had a restaurant with the catchy title of ‘Goat Meat Restaurant’; it’s a Vietnamese thing to have goat meat restaurants. We went there several times and had goat every which way: barbecued, curried, stir-fried – and the interesting thing was that the proprietor would ask what you were drinking (ie, beer, wine, water or whatever) and would suggest the best goat dish to go with your drink of choice. It never caught on, unfortunately, and closed after a year or so, so I am now reduced to cooking my own goat curries (local Vietnamese butchers have goat meat readily available) or finding it at the odd restaurant here and there.
Plenty of goat here in Coburg, Melbourne! Plenty of wind too. My marigold are happily waving their 4 little leaves on the edge of the vegie patch now.
Brilliant post. Poetic and apt.
Here in Wodonga the wind first hit as a dust storm and then it rained enough to cover everything in a thin layer of mud. It was pretty intense there for a while.
Well, happy Spring-Coming to you, on the other side of the planet! The wind here in northern Michigan, U.S.A.(not as intense as yours!) is causing the first colored leaves to waft down to the ground, the early signs of Fall in the air!
Hi Rohan,
I love your description of the battle of the seasons. My new place is close to the beach and has copped a battering. Every morning I have to go out and pick up all of the fallen pot plants and chase down others that have left their pots entirely. I can’t wait for it to settle down (the wind unsettles me) and I also can’t wait to start my spring planting as well. It’s been too long since I’ve had a piece of dirt all to myself! ;)
“Generally speaking, a howling wilderness does not howl: it is the imagination of the traveler that does the howling.” – Henry David Thoreau.
Loving your blog mate! All the best with it all in the future, especially with the release of your book. Very jealous!
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