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Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Restoration :: part 2 :: the food





The night before we left for camp, I googled "camp food" for some inspiration on what to take with us. I was a bit taken aback at the results :: suggestions of cup noodles, dried soup, instant coffee sachets and weetbix with UHT milk capsules left me shuddering.  I'd rather stay at home than eat that stuff thanks.  

The best part of camping for me is the food.   Sure, cook simple food, but I think you can still eat well without resorting to such extreme measures.  It still has to be real food.  And a little stove top coffee maker doesn't take up much room.  If I was short on space I'd ditch the tent before I ditch mine.

On this trip I also fancied a spot of fishing, but my vegetarian daughter put a stop to that idea.  So we stuck to foraging for some greens instead.   After getting advice from local friends (and borrowing a frypan, because I, ahem, left ours at home) we were given some tips on where to find samphire, a native coastal succulent. 

We picked a couple of handfuls, happy to have a chance to use my lovely new knife, a Christmas present from my love.  Back at camp kitchen, I simply soaked it in fresh water, then fried up some home grown potatoes and tossed through the samphire until it started to colour.  

It was totally delicious, and the crunchy salty samphire was a perfect contrast to the soft starchy potatoes.  I loved it and so did the peeps.  Real food that's easy to carry, easy to make and easy to eat.  Perfect camp food.

The next morning, with bacon and eggs for breakfast, there was one sneaky camp food trick that a friend told me about that I did indulge in with my coffee, I know it's not strictly real food, but it was only because the fresh milk had run out...


Restoration :: part 1






It was a little bit last minute - but the holidays were rapidly drawing to a close and we had to get away.   We filled the car with a tent, blankets, pillows and good things to eat then headed off to catch the next ferry.  Destination :: Bruny Island.

As soon as we boarded the ferry, it felt like a holiday.   We parked at the bow and the ocean spray splashed over the barrier and onto our faces.  The children squealed with delight whilst my cares washed away.  We were on our way for a three day camping trip.

Our camp spot was at Jetty Beach, a good 70 minutes drive south from the ferry.  A gorgeous beach, with calm shallow waters, and walking tracks through the bush.  The peeps spent most of the time at the shore, collecting shells, building sandcastles in the soft white sand or scrambling over the jetty ruins.  Only heading back to camp to fill those empty bellies.  We fried sausages and haloumi and mushrooms then squished them between soft white bread, adding a squirt of homemade tomato sauce.   Then we scorched marshmallows on our little gas cooker and drank hot chocolate.  Then the three of us squeezed into our cosy tent, filled with pillows, quilts and knitted blankets, and lit a lantern and candles to keep it bright. We fell asleep to the sound of the wind whistling through the trees and the birds settling down for the night.

A blissful three days away, on my favourite island, with my peeps was just what the doctor ordered. Before we left, I was feeling tired, cranky, run down and, well, flat.  Walking barefoot along the sandy beaches, I had the overwhelming feeling of restoration.  How precious to have some time and space away from the routine and chores of home.  To find the time to think, to dream, to have fun and to reconnect.

Restoration was what we needed. I'm so glad we found it.

Holiday snaps






:: making wedding cakes to help out an amazing friend
:: swimming lessons, every day for two weeks at the local pool
:: drinking peach agua fresca when it's too hot to eat - you can find the recipe on justb
:: exploring mofo - so much fun, such as....
:: watching under water drumming...tina havelock stevens was incredible!

Wish you were here!
x

Getaway








With the mercury rising over 40 degrees this weekend, I was so grateful to be invited away for a night at a beach house for a ladies getaway.   A stunning location, delightful friends, delicious food, wine and a warm (ish) sea to swim in.  It doesn't get any better.

Perfection.

Sleepy in the teepee




Summer days on the lawn in the teepee.
Toys, snacks and a sleepy pup. 

Magic beach


At our beach, at our magic beach...


we stayed in a cottage with flowers...
drank hot chocolate at dawn...
cooked meals out of doors...
and soaked in the bathtub for hours.

Three years

It's an anniversary of sorts. A blogaversary. Chocolate cake to celebrate.

The car is packed with beanies, gloves, jackets, swimmers, sun hats and towels. Yes, we're going on a Tasmanian seaside holiday. All four of us. First time ever. See you soon.

Rare and special

There was acrylic paints, xacto knife, cardboard and blankets everywhere today. Despite today's wild weather leaving us mostly housebound, we managed quite a lot.

The house is a shambles and nothing can be done about it mid kitchen reno. So we went with the flow and had some fun. Clearing surfaces as we went.
There was piano, a puppet show with tigers fighting over castles and a special delivery. And while I admired the knobs of the delivered shiny new machine (oh how lovely!) the children built a house with the massive box.




The house, for some reason, is actually full of cardboard boxes. So inspired by Joel, we made paper clip puppets.

Beans bubbled in the oven (whose days are numbered) and there was plenty of tea and toast. I love those days when we can just hang out at home. Seems crazy, but they are all so rare and all so special.

Ideal country lifestyle

Oops! What happened to August? I've been a bit distracted of late.

I wanted to show you this beautiful house I found here. I just love the white walls, gorgeous big windows, sunny rooms and lovely gardens. But my favourite is the kitchen. Look at all those fantastic cupboards!





It's a steal at less than $300k. What are you waiting for?

We're on school holidays now. I'm inspired by Pip's nostalgic post and we're off to a beachside shack where we will be eating lots of delicious food and hanging out on the sand. Can. Not. Wait.

Maybe you'll have moved in by the time we get back.

Twenty ten

Just thought I'd check in and say hello. Christmas was gorgeous, loads of delicious feasting, backyard cricket, walks through paddocks and lounging on the verandah with a glass of something cold.
The new brick oven was a triumph and got a thorough workout. There was up to three meals a day for twenty seven people to prepare. The family split into cooking and washing up teams so everyone had a chance to pitch in. And an entertaining wood splitting competition between the teenage boys resulted in a lovely neat stack of wood to fire up when needed. Yay team!

The Taste, whilst not the frantic bake-a-thon we expected, was enjoyable nonetheless. We opened a wee Pop Up bakery and had lovely people dropping in to buy cakes fresh from the kitchen. Here's our first sale :: a big one!

And this new year, well, we've been relaxing, visiting my favourite beach at Cockle Creek, eating loads of cherries. Roadside stalls sell a juicy selection of summer fruits and it's such a short season, you've got to scoff while you can.
Which means it's about time to wash the empty jars for some jam making sessions. I preserved some lemons today, an easy recipe out of my Christmas present book. Strawberry jam tomorrow I think.

Hope you're having happy days.