The weekend is dawning here. There's a soft orange glow warming the horizon and soon the sky will deepen to its daytime blue as the sun follows its well-worn path from the East across to the West where it will set beyond the tall gums that line the ridge.
Stretching out ahead of me are weekend days at home; days where there are no plans to venture beyond our blue gates. I plan on doing some gardening, cooking, washing, sewing, perhaps some knitting and most definitely some reading. I may or may not dust the piano. There is no doubt I will be called upon to rub a certain Labrador's tummy and scratch behind his ears too. There's homemade carrot cake with cream cheese icing to have for afternoon teas out on the verandah. (I'm looking forward to that!) And there'll be split-pea soup, with sourdough toast, for the evenings when the daytime sun has dipped below that tree-topped ridge.
The book I want to read over the weekend.
In the peace of these weekend evenings at home, when it's just the three of us and one adored Labrador, there'll be time together. Perhaps a board game, a movie or an extra episode of a favourite show before bedtime under an extra Autumn blanket.
I wonder what you are doing with your weekend days?
Meg
Stretching out ahead of me are weekend days at home; days where there are no plans to venture beyond our blue gates. I plan on doing some gardening, cooking, washing, sewing, perhaps some knitting and most definitely some reading. I may or may not dust the piano. There is no doubt I will be called upon to rub a certain Labrador's tummy and scratch behind his ears too. There's homemade carrot cake with cream cheese icing to have for afternoon teas out on the verandah. (I'm looking forward to that!) And there'll be split-pea soup, with sourdough toast, for the evenings when the daytime sun has dipped below that tree-topped ridge.
Onions & garlic for split pea soup.
(I love this little fluted bowl...even if it's only meant for Christmas time.)
The book I want to read over the weekend.
(Another wonderful library find!)
Pieces for a dusky-pink top.
(Sewing for a sweet girl I know.)
(Sewing for a sweet girl I know.)
Some Autumn seedlings for planting this weekend.
(The promise of homegrown food to come.)
Homemade carrot cake with cream cheese icing.
(No, I didn't eat the other half...it's in the freezer!)
In the peace of these weekend evenings at home, when it's just the three of us and one adored Labrador, there'll be time together. Perhaps a board game, a movie or an extra episode of a favourite show before bedtime under an extra Autumn blanket.
I wonder what you are doing with your weekend days?
Meg
Such a cheerful post, Meg. I love your descriptions; they are so vivid. Enjoy that delicious looking cake!
ReplyDeleteThe carrot cake is a lovely one, Stephanie. It's made with some nourishing ingredients like...carrots...and spelt flours, raw honey, macadamia nut oil and walnuts. I may even have a second piece! Meg:D
DeleteI love the carrot cake, Meg. I haven't made one for years. I have been to the library this morning as I found out it is closing indefinitely on Monday. This afternoon I have a 60th birthday party/afternoon tea which I am a bit hesitant about attending but will try not to get too close to anyone. Crazy times around the world at present.
ReplyDeleteStrange days indeed, Chel. We've just heard too that the libraries are closing. I did get some books late last week, and they have e-books too, so I don't think I'll venture out to get any more now. Meg:)
DeleteThat cake does look good. The book does too (makes a note to find it). I've just been gardening, mending, bottling apples. Social distancing is no problem for me - I could go 2 years and still have enough to do and never be bored, a natural recluse.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find the book, Anne. I enjoy Ben Hewitt's way of writing very much.
DeleteBottling apples sounds lovely. Did you grow a crop or have you been foraging?
Meg
Hi Meg,
DeleteThe cake and the soup are appealing, I too will be spending more time here st the farm, some of our local volunteer jobs have temporarily ceased due to the heslth crisis thus giving us much more free time. I too like you am cooking and taking time to smell the roses...
Take care my dear blogging friend...
Cheers
Jane.
The farm sounds like your place to be right now, Jane. I'm sure there'd be lots to do as there always is on a farm. I think counting blessings and smelling roses is important right now too.
DeleteKeep well and take care, Jane.
MegXx
I went to the library last Saturday for the first time in a long time and got one cookbook 2 River Cottage DVD's and Gourmet Farmer, Matthew Evans so I'll have a few things to watch. It's getting serious when all the libraries close that's for sure. I got my first home delivered fruit and veggie box [spray free so organic without being certified organic] so I'm very happy with the service and the products. They open orders on Monday-Wednesday then they do drop off deliveries on Saturday - my collection point is 15 mins away however they reduced the delivery costs this week in light of what's going on so I took them up on their offer. It's called Spray Free Farmacy. Very happy. Your carrot cake looks great, what recipe do you use I tried to search if you had it on your blog but couldn't find it. I think on Tuesday night the "War Cabinet" will put a stop to the school holiday travel. Can you imagine all those people going on holidays, interstate...like a whole bunch of moving ants...for now trying to keep the states isolated. It's escalating day by day. I'm going to be making some sourdough bread try and make a loaf like I would buy in the shops...that's my aim. Stay safe and have a good week.....wouldn't mind some of your carrot cake with my coffee for afternoon tea....
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy. I recently found the recipe for carrot cake in an old copy of Backyard Farmer magazine. I tinkered with it somewhat; mainly so that I could use spelt flours. I will type up how I made it and post recipe here soon. It was very easy to make and it turned out well. I made one cake for us and one for our neighbours too.
DeleteA home delivered fruit and veg box sounds great. I might check that out as I had difficulty just getting potatoes when I shopped for my elderly mother-in-law earlier in the week!! Meg:)
thanks
DeleteAre you sure the other half of the cake's in the freezer Meg ? 😉 It looks delicious! Our library closed at the beginning of the week, I was relieved I'd stocked up on Saturday....and yes, there's always ebooks. I'm being my usual homebody self, and self-isolating - sewing, painting furniture, just keeping the yard tidy, no planting as I'll be moving in a few weeks, but it's such perfect weather to be outdoors.....and probably no dusting. I do miss friends and neighbours dropping in for a cuppa, but better to be safe I think. Enjoy your peaceful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat carrot cake is definitely in the freezer, Nanette ... unless a wee rabbit has found it. It is lovely though so it may not stay in the freezer for long!
DeleteIt is one of those times where it is definitely better to be safe but it is hard, isn't it, when we can't see friends and neighbours. I expect there'll be far fewer elderly folk, from the retirement homejust up the road, taking their morning or afternoon strolls along the paths of our neighbourhood. Sir Steve dog is surely going to miss all those extra pats they give him and I'll miss saying hello to those familiar faces.
Take care, Nanette.
MegXx
Thank you for this lovely read. We are about to start our weekend I am not sure what we will fill it with but I know there will be some canoeing in there most likely. I am slightly jealous that you can grow stuff in the Autumn, I would love to have a longer growing season.
ReplyDeleteCanoeing sounds a most wonderful weekend activity. A lovely way to be in touch with water and nature too. Enjoy your weekend days! Meg:)
DeleteThe carrot cake looks delicious. I wanted to bake one this week, but have run out of flour. I'm hoping the farm shop might have some when I visit.
ReplyDeleteStay well. X
I hope you get that flour so you can make carrot cake, Jules. I highly recommend cream cheese icing too! Meg:)
DeleteYou have a wonderful weekend! The carrot cake looks delicious! Andrea
ReplyDeleteThe carrot cake turned out well, Andrea. It's not overly sweet and I love the lemony cream cheese icing which I hardly ever make so quite a treat! I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend too. Meg:)
DeleteYour weekend sounds just lovely Meg. I am beginning to clear the garden for spring and we hope to go for a long dog walk tomorrow in a nearby nature reserve. The weather is going to be good.
ReplyDeleteA long dog walk in a nature reserve sounds wonderful, Christina. What a lovely way to spend time on the weekend. Meg:)
DeleteIt sounds like a perfect weekend Meg enjoy. That carrot cake looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are well, Jan, and enjoying your weekend too. I highly recommend carrot cake with cream cheese icing. It's just lovely. Meg:)
DeleteI hope you have a lovely weekend, Laurie, and find simple joys within your home. I keep meaning to update my blog header (I've actually forgotten how to do that so need to look that up) but never seem to get around to it. A job for one of these days at home perhaps. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteWe had a cold and wet weekend here, so perfect for staying home that I almost forgot that we aren't supposed to be out and about. I had a long list of things to get done, but brushed them all aside for just relaxing.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds the perfect weekend for staying home, Kath. It sounds like relaxing was the higher priority over your weekend days. A lovely choice I think! Meg:)
DeleteOh yum! That cake. Love me a good cream-cheese icing. It tastes decadent, but the ingredients are so simple. Doting on Sir-Steve (I hope I got the name right) made me miss our chickens. Thankfully, we're renovating the coop soon, now we have the supplies. And I can go dote on them again. ;)
ReplyDeleteHopefully, that coop will be ready soon and you'll have feathered friends to welcome again. I think chickens can be such characters!
DeleteSir Steve dog (yes, you were right) send an happy, woofy hello.
MegXx
Cake looks yummy. I have to try and not eat all the time while I’m stuck at home
ReplyDelete