A camping master list

The perfect formula for camping is one part Enid Blyton, one part Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom)  and one part reality.   That's what I'm thinking as I pack the car....lashings of ginger beer, plaid blankets and practical things like a sleeping bags if there's room.

It's that crazy thinking that means I usually forget something critical...like the camp oven, or the children's flip flops, sunblock or rain coats.  And we always need rain coats, because if we're going camping, in Tasmania it's highly likely that it will rain.  It's how we roll.

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27 comments camping, cooking, forage, holidays, nature, organize, tasmania

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Getting off the island

"Make sure you get off the island regularly" was the advice I was given when I first moved to Tasmania.  "You go a bit stir crazy otherwise."   But I'm afraid it's advice I haven't really heeded.   Mostly due to financial reasons.   And because I love it here, I don't get that feeling of isolation that perhaps others might.

But get off the island I did last week.  In the eight years since we've been here, it was the first time I've left Tasmania without the family to do something fun.   I headed off to Melbourne, a town I hardly know, to see some of the Food and Wine Festival, to eat delicious food and hang out with good friends.

I packed a lot into the weekend, but I wish had I time for so much more. There's a lot to love. Of the many highlights, the stand outs were a trip to the People's Market in Collingwood (crab sandwiches!), dinner at Movida (jamon iberico!), a session at the Theatre of Ideas (inspiring!), supping at the Urban Coffee Farm (stimulating!) and digging the Pop Up Patch (so crate!).   I loved seeing people growing their own food and re-using discarded objects to create something beautiful and useful.

But best of all, was hanging out with this sweet lady and meeting this crafty lady.  The best.

It was hot, it was big, it was fun.

I now have rather a crush on Melbourne......maybe I do need to start getting off the island a little more regularly....

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12 comments friends, holidays

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Taking over the kitchen

I love it when guests take over the kitchen.  I really do.  I love the sharing and talking, the tasting and the excitement of eating something new when people come in the kitchen and cook.

On the weekend there was plenty of that.  Foraged mussels steamed with garlic from the garden, just-caught fish, steamed and stirred through just-picked garlic scape soup.  Slow roasted juicy pork ribs from a friend's pig and fresh new pink eyes fried crispy in a pan, washed down with cider from down the road and gin from across the peninsula. Food we had grown, caught, foraged ourselves, or knew who did, was prepared, shared and eaten.  It doesn't get any better than that. I love that.  

There was also a dog named Henry, I think I loved him the most.

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9 comments cooking, friends, good things, holidays, Kitchen, markets, real food, tasmania

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The Ponds

After a little instagram inspiration from Paulette, yesterday we hit the road and headed north to the Derwent Valley to visit the Salmon Ponds at Plenty.  I love the Derwent Valley, it seems somehow more Georgian than the Huon, with its mid 19th century farmhouses and lovingly restored oast houses dotted among the rolling green hills.

Arriving at the Salmon Ponds, I couldn't help but fall in love with the old hatchery buildings and the impressive gardens.  Hawthorn hedges surround expansive grassed areas that showcase a large collection of historic trees.  The Salmon Ponds were established around 1864, and the garden planted with an enviable collection of exotic trees, some still standing 150 years later.

Feeding fish, a picnic lunch, and a walk along the river bank for a peek into the original Walden inspired fishing cabin, arranged as if the angler had only ducked out moments ago, kept us busy for hours.  Then it was into the museum in an old cottage, that left both me and the children wanting to move right in.  The peeps so they could climb the trees every day and I fancied taking over the cafe and serving afternoon teas.  At the very least I came away wondering where I could put a hawthorn hedge at home, and realised that the chestnut tree I planted doesn't have nearly enough room to grow into the fine specimen we admired.

Sigh. It's good to know that despite being an instagram addict, it can inspire me to get outdoors and fuel our dreams.

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10 comments holidays, nature, tasmania

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In my kitchen

Yesterday was one of those gorgeous days in the kitchen that puts a smile on my face every time I think of it.   Totally perfect.    Meeting in real life a delightful family I've known online for years, cuddling gorgeous baby Poet and talking to an adorable young volcano scientist.  Eating Rayburn toast and jam and apple cake.

I thought I took loads of photos but I didn't. Oh well, luckily there were a few other people taking a snap or two.  Can't wait to see them. They'll be lovely memories of a very sweet day in my kitchen.

 

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8 comments cute, family, friends, holidays, Kitchen, rayburn, tasmania, tea, woodstove

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Cottage by the sea

Did you ever play house outside when you were a child?  I did.  I remember setting up little outdoor kitchens where ever I could.  Under the water tank stand, in a small clearing amongst the overgrown shrubs or under the enormous pepper tree at my grandmothers house.  An upturned box for a table, an old jar filled with soursops and utensils made from found bits and pieces, cooking dishes with leaves and petals and mud. I would happily play for hours at a time.

I only recalled those childhood memories this week as we stayed at Lily Cottage.  A tiny rustic cottage, one L-shaped room, sparsely furnished with second hand finds and a kitchen filled with gorgeous vintage treasure.  Prettily painted windows frame views of the cottage garden and out over lush green pastures to the ocean beyond. No fridge, no oven, no electricity and a sink outside for washing up.  It's totally basic, totally rustic and totally charming.  It reminded me of a grown up version of playing house. And that's what I did on our seaside holiday.  Cooked delicious food and played house.  Just like I did all those years ago.

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20 comments friends, holidays, tasmania

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By the sea shore

Scenes from our camping trip to the sea shore :: Tasmanian style. Too cold for swimming, there were plenty of sand dunes to play on and warm lagoons to splash in to keep the children busy.  Sometimes windy, sometimes sunny but never cold, the weather was perfect. We're home feeling sandy, smokey, tired and happy.

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4 comments holidays, tasmania

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See ya later aligator

The first rule of Lily Cottage :: you do not talk about Lily Cottage.  Especially to the dogs who will be sad that they can't come with us.  See you when we get back next week.  xx

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1 comment holidays

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Shack cooking

You have to make sure there are plenty of good things to eat when you're on holidays. Luckily one of my favourite things about holidays is the cooking. I like how you have to keep it simple. You've only got basic equipment and a limited pantry so you've got to be inventive. But for me, that makes it all the more relaxing.

We packed the car with delicious cheeses, olive oil, wines, jams, eggs and olives from home and stocked up on basics at the local health food store when we arrived :: strong flour, SR flour, rice, lentils, chickpeas, dried fruit and nuts, maple syrup, popcorn. Then with milk, yoghurt, butter and a sack full of spuds from the corner store we were set for a week's lazy cooking. Pancakes for breakfast, sauteed potatoes for lunch, a woodfired bbq for dinner. We baked bread or made damper every morning, ate loads of ice cream and the kids sucked on frozen orange quarters all day long.

It was pure luck that on a visit to the library before we left to stock up on books for the peeps that I came across a copy of Tessa Kiros' delightful book Apples for Jam. Despite having seen this book pop up on blogs often enough, I'd never got my hands on a copy until now.

It was the perfect book to take away on holidays, full of comforting, easy recipes that my kids just loved. Each chapter is divided by colour, red, white, orange, etc and the pages are full of cute photos, kids' drawings and Tessa's own childhood memories. Good bedside reading as well as a great cook book. I'm always looking for inspiration when it comes to cooking for the children and this book does it beautifully.

Now that dollar is looking so healthy, I might just have to get myself a copy methinks. Then I could pretend we are still on holidays. Wouldn't that be nice!

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4 comments books, good things, holidays

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