An apple a day

 Our two apple trees have been keeping us well supplied - and although these organic apples look somewhat spotty they are truly delicious.

Apple crumble to Australians or apple crisp to Americans is an easy dessert that gets great accolades including an empty plate - even though our friends may have been feeling they'd eaten enough already.

Peeling these unsprayed apples takes a little more time as I cut out the dark bits (no bugs) - and for every two apples I get about one whole.

The apples are simmered until just tender in a some water, brown sugar, lemon rind, a cinnamon stick and a dob of butter.

The crumble is created by mixing butter into plain or all purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt with your finger tips.

Sprinkle thickly on top of the apples and bake until brown.

I use the individual one cup dishes - but it is also excellent in a large dish.

If you don't have this recipe let me know and I will email it to you.

Last time things

Sadly I am booked on a flight to leave for Sydney on Saturday.

So now I am doing things for the "last time" this trip.

This morning it was yoga with Lindsay,  the other ladies and Bob.

I usually go twice a week while I am here and I absolutely love it.

The classes are varied, quite strenuous but balanced.  

Glad I had the chance today to stretch a bit before the flight back.

Farm life yoga is friendlier and chattier than city life yoga.

 I will  do a separate city v country post on this soon.

I also took my "last" walk across the Carlyle Dam. 

Not many people out today -  but the breeze was gentle, the water was calm and the sun was trying to peek out from behind those soft clouds.

A time to reflect on what I have done over the past nearly three months and how quickly it has gone.

Lots to think about!

City vs Country - Shoes

My country shoes - perfect for tramping through the wet grass in the mornings or around the yard  on muddy rainy afternoons

My city shoes - a new pair that are still to hit the pavements of Sydney.

Another of the differences between my two lives.

Exercising the farmlife way

In my city life I try to exercise daily - walking, running, swimming or yoga - sometimes a combination and usually squeezed into a busy work day. 

On the farm I try to take a long walk sometime in the day, go to yoga twice a week or fit in a swim when the pool is open.

However, some days here exercise takes on a different form.  Manual labour!

Today was "raking up the grass" cardio.

Bending forward and raking back

 60 minutes later there are about 30 piles of grass ready to be moved to the compost pile.

I can feel tingling in my shoulder muscles already.

A great farmlife workout.  

Happy Anniversary

It's our 9th wedding anniversary today.

We both feel like our life is a continual celebration.

Tonight a  bottle of champagne and some smoked salmon and scallops was on the menu.

Simple, sensual and delicious

You can't go wrong.

And we had a beautiful sunset.

Sunday birthday lunch

We love a good long Sunday lunch on the farm.

We love them in Sydney too - but we are not as limited in space here and we can move  in and outside depending on the weather.

It was a significant birthday week for Chrissy,  so we gathered some friends here to help her celebrate on this side of the world.

On the menu

Photo by Steve Adams

Some sparkling brut rose from California to start accompanied by smoked salmon blinis 

outside on the patio

A goat cheese salad

Rack of lamb in the dining room

 

Accompanied by potato gratin, green beans and almonds and this corn and tomato salad

The gorgeous guest of honour with her signature Summer Pudding

Photo by Steve Adams

A group photo outside, between storms and sunshine

Photo by Steve Adams

And finally, the sign of a good party

Too many glasses to wash.

New York Highlights - Part 1

I have been incredibly slack in getting this post together - but between a new renovation project starting on the farm, getting ready for our good friends Chrissy and James to arrive from Australia and then having a fabulous time while they were here - ie eating, drinking, shopping and just generally being merry- it just wasn't blog time for me.

I sometimes find it hard to be in the moment, take photos and and write a post.
I need more practise I suppose.

Anyway, we had an amazing but too brief trip to Connecticut and New York and the memories are still fresh. 

Some highlights from our weekend in Westport (CT) and Larchmont (NY)

1. Catching up with Mark's cousin Jim and his wife Dana and seeing their beautiful home.

2. Enjoying a delicious dinner at The Dressing Room - originally established by Paul Newman and  attached to the legendary Westport County Playhouse. 

3. Driving by the beautiful mansions in Greenwich and Westport

4. Taking a photo of  Joanne Woodward's garage doors so that we could copy them for our new garage.

5. Tooling around Long Island Sound in Jim's new boat on a misty Saturday morning

6. Making a mess eating lobster for lunch

7. Walking around Mark's cousin Lu Ann's and husband Matt's pretty neighbourhood

8. Eating grilled artichokes  at Tarry Lodge  - a new Mario Batali restaurant in Port Chester NY

 9. Sailing around the Sound in Jim's other boat and swimming in the Atlantic ocean

10. Browsing the antique market in Westport

What can I say, we were incredibly well looked after by our generous hosts.

Even being dropped off at our NYC hotel on Sunday afternoon.