Cygnets

On the last couple of late afternoon dog walks, it has proven hard to stop Baerli from jumping into the river to chase the swans. At the moment there is a lovely family of two black swans with three cygnets hanging around in Franklin. There is a lovely town on the other side of the Huon called Cygnet. I guess this is why.

First snow

Late this afternoon, I was on the phone to a work colleague when flurries of snow started drifting past and I waved at David to take a few photos and videos. It was drifting across the back balcony when I took Baerli out for her dinner, and she looked a little frightened of the white things blowing at her! Harden up, Bernese Mountain Dog! It has been drifting down most of the evening and now we have a light coat of white over the place. We took Baerli outside again and she went completely nuts in the snow, having a great old time. Now that's what I wanted to see.

A loaf of bread

Another exciting photo, I know. And yes, it does look a bit flat. But it's the first sourdough bread I've baked and it tasted fantastic! Crusty outside, fluffy inside. And there's more of the starter dough left in the fridge for the next one.

Garden update #1 - small beginnings

I am keen to grow my own vegetables and fruit, but I'm the first to admit I'm a complete beginner at this. So I have to start somewhere... with a few herbs for the kitchen that can tolerate winter planting. So far I have thyme and mint in two of the terracotta pots we brought with us from Sydney. I'll keep track of progress in the garden here over the coming months.

Some nice roads

Today we joined about 25 people from the BMW Car Club of Tasmania on a drive from Salamanca Place in Hobart to Bothwell for lunch. Someone in the club had done a great job of selecting a few nice back roads to go down with almost no other cars at all and plenty of corners. We were following a lovely Z4 M Coupe. Very nice bunch of people at lunch too. The Derwent River was a bit of a blur out the passenger side window...

A day for baking

It was misty and rainy until about 3pm today, when the sun came out and we drove to Huonville for some shopping and a dog walk. Perfect day for baking. Made some starter dough for bread. Then I made my first ever batch of muffins - wholemeal apple ones with pecan nut and brown sugar crumble on top, using a couple of the Golden Delicious apples purchased at the roadside stall below. This dodgy photo really does not do them justice.

An apple a day

The Huon Valley is at least part of the reason that Tasmania was once known as The Apple Isle. While falling prices and diversification into other areas of agriculture have reduced the number of orchards here, apples and pears are still grown widely. There are lots of stalls by the side of the road where an 'honesty system' prevails - you put $3 in a tin and help yourself to a bag of the freshest, crispest apples around. I have literally been eating an apple a day. This stall is on the edge of Franklin and their produce is great. And great value. On tonight's menu - roasted apples with cinnamon and double cream.