What I Know...

Sometimes we learn from experience, sometimes from wisdom shared and sometimes it is just life lessons and the passing of time that are our teachers...

I know that... fairy bread is often the answer, there should ALWAYS be sparklers, every day is a new day, you should always make time to play, enjoy the little things, coffee, take time to talk to the trees. Trees are wise!

I have also learnt that I am not good at regular blogging, even when I set myself a challenge, which I have spectacularly failed in 2018! There have been no more recipes from my beautiful calendar as promised, but I do now know that this is not something I can commit to. I spend a lot of work hours faffing with photos and writing stories on my laptop so the families of my preschool students reap the benefits of my storytelling and photography skills. Sadly I do not then choose to do this in my spare time for any lucky blog readers. Sorry. 

I DO promise that while I stalk the light, kayak, walk among the trees or around my neighbourhood, read, chase coffee vans and go on little family adventures I will share these with you :)

Today's forecast is for a sneaky read, maybe a movie, hopefully some cake and time in the unseasonably warm sun (probably from under the clothesline!)

Happy weekend

Kate xx

Here & Now ~ February 2018

January and February are a time for taking stock, relaxing, spending time with family, birthday celebrations, change and adjustment, new challenges and just hanging by the pool.


Loving//  having time with my brother, sister-in-law and nieces and nephew over summer. We have been able to just hang out and enjoy being in each others space.

Eating // sun dried tomatoes. It has been so hot we have been making use of those rays and a sheet of  corrugated iron in the back yard. Delicious!

Drinking//  a cheeky Bird In Hand Pinot Rose or two. It's my favourite drop :)

Feeling//  the winds of change again. My youngest has started high school this week so, as with the nature of life, we are dealing with some adjustments, enjoying new things and wishing for the comfort of the old at the same time.

Making//  birthday cakes and celebration dinners. There are a few family birthdays at this time of the year and every milestone should be celebrated!

Thinking//  about how much we need rain where I live. It is so dry and the land around is starting to    look desolate and dusty.

Dreaming// of autumn sunshine. It has been very hot and, while I love the slower rhythm of summer, I do not love the days where the temperatures soar to over forty degrees celsius. 

start the year as you mean to go on!

So here's to a great year. It is certainly off to a good start and I am so pleased to be joining in with 'Here and Now' again with Sarah at Say! Little Hen

I hope you have taken any New Year changes in your stride and that there is cake in your life at the moment too.

Kate xx

My Calendar Recipes - January

I do not make new year resolutions as such but, like many others, there are things on my mind at the beginning of each year that I would like to achieve. One of those things for 2018 is to not ignore my little blog space as I have done in the last while. I am going to try to see it as a space for creativity rather than another thing on the to-do list and time where I can create something both here and in the kitchen.

Every year on January 1st, I hang a Red Tractor Designs calendar on my kitchen wall.  It is a tradition! All the special birthdays are lovingly transferred from last year's calendar to this and then usually what date school starts and our annual dentist appointments are marked. We are ready for the year ahead.

Inside the covers of the Red Tractor Calendar are great pictures, funny and inspirational sayings, important dates and a recipe for every month. I have decided that, instead of looking at these recipes and thinking how delicious they sound, I will have a go at each one throughout the year. This will give me a reason to blog, a challenge (I am not a natural in the kitchen) and something to look forward to with the beginning of each month.

January kicks off the year with a tomato salad with basil and capers.This is the smell of summer in a bowl and I only wish that I had some basil or tomatoes growing in my garden that I could have used. Another challenge... maybe?! It was so easy to put together and with ingredients that I had in my fridge. The perfect partner to the last of the leftover Christmas ham.

How do you keep your year in order? Do you use a calendar or a diary? Where do you look when you need recipe inspiration?

I hope that you have had the chance to enjoy a small summery break over the Christmas/ New Year season.

Kate xx