Cool Change

I am possibly jumping the gun when I proclaim that autumn is here - March can often be stinking hot in these parts - but the days have turned gentle and mornings are cool. The Farmer has decided today is the day to switch to work jeans and leave work shorts in his wake. The garden with all the summer rain and now unchallenging temperatures, looks perky - roses have their full colour and perfume, and all the different greens make things look happy to be alive. I was weeding yesterday and a little glossy green frog popped up out of the shasta daisies and sat on a leaf - he was the sweetest little thing, but I didn't draw too much attention to him in fear of the labrador (always by my side) fast ruining my blissful nature moment in a mouthful. So after a few minutes of sun baking, he disappeared amongst the lambs ears. I have prepared the veggie patch for winter deliciousness. The pictures, above, are of last year's attempt. Winter is good for show - you tend to channel Mr McGregor and those mischievous bunnies. Armed here with my Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Companion, I think I'll plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, a few cabbages, peas, spinach, spring onions, broad beans and want to try fennel, carrots and parsnips this year. I'll also throw in a chilli plant, seeing as The Farmer got carried away with the Round Up last year and caused it to shrivel. The soil looked wonderful turning it over with some extra cow manure - so many earthworms! Garden people talk about getting your soil to look like chocolate-for-plants - it appears to be the Lindt 90% cacao variety in the veggie patch. Hopefully plants reward me with plenty to harvest.

The Adventures of Molly and Huckleberry ©

We have a new addition to our extended family: Huckleberry. With the tragic loss of Banjo (The Farmer's trusty sidekick for so many years) we thought another little playmate would help brighten things up around here. Huckleberry at just eight weeks old, has settled in nicely to his new surroundings - he and Molly get along famously (she is beside herself with excitement). He was weary at first of the eight chooks we have roaming around the garden - though The Farmer is currently outside giving him a lesson on how chasing them is not ok - he seems to have overcome his poultry fears. He's a game little thing - he is right up there in Molly's face despite her contrasting size and her absentmindedness when it comes to the implications her giantism might ensue. Huckleberry is completely adorable - every bit a rascal. A huckleberry friend for The Farmer.

Little Italy

Summertime brought copious amounts of cherry tomatoes (from memory Tiny Tim went in the ground - that's what my pop grows too). I was also privileged to be given some seedlings of a local family's heirloom green tomatoes - which were a delicious (and aesthetically pleasing) addition to salads and Napolitana sauces. I couldn't help but think of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes every time I picked some. Basilico is also plentiful. The four bushes in the garden are more than enough for picking as I need in the kitchen. Like two Italian nonnas, Mrs M and I sat at my kitchen table the other night, filling colanders with leaves from the harvest, above. The room smelled delicious! And we've split the yield to make pesto, pasta/tomato sauces, and will dry the rest to use in the winter. Buono! Ciao.