Don't forget to close your gate

Yesterday was a diamond of a day. The weather was warm, the rain had stopped, the sun poured down and everything seemed right. We had our gate closed most of the day - that symbolises to me that we're content to be here alone and we're cut off from the rest of the world. Letting go of the world occasionally is enriching and restorative for me and it allows me to reconnect entirely with everything that is here.

We had minor flooding recently. Here we got about 6 inches, but further over on the coast they had 12 inches in one day. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

Hanno planted more vegetables, did some work in the front garden and then pottered around doing this and that. I wrote in the morning, made the bed, swept, did some baking, then set about making a casserole that slow cooked in the oven most of the afternoon. The aroma of that floating out into the neighbourhood was just wonderful. Late in the day I went over to see my DIL Cathy who is helping me with ... erm...something. These secret things happen when there is a family wedding coming up. ;- ) It was a beautiful day, filled with simple tasks, nothing was planned but it all fell into place, one thing after another. It was all I needed yesterday, the rest didn't matter.

More work done in the front garden. The petunias have been planted.

Today will be a busy one for me and I want to make the most of it. I have to go to the local fabric store and will be there when it opens, then home to bake bread and work on "the project". I am having a week off book writing because my proposal is with my agent now and won't come back till next week. I am hoping I can finish the bulk of what I have to do with my sewing, because after next week, I'll be back writing again.

So I hope you will bear with me while I take a few day off from my blog. I want to do my best work on this project, I want to focus my thoughts and actions on it, give it my heart and soul, undiluted by anything else. Of course I'll show it to you, after Shane and Sarndra have seen it.

Without their crosses - delicious hot cross buns.

There are certain times in the year when there seems to be no way out - you have to bake something that is symbolic of the time. That time for me came yesterday, right after the sweeping and before the casserole - hot cross buns. What else would you dare to bake at Easter? Hot cross buns are traditionally served on Good Friday but in Australia you can buy them in the shops for about a month before and after Easter. No matter, I am a homemade gal so I can make mine whenever I want a spicy light bun. Hanno loves these buns, in fact, they might be his favourite. Oh, hang on, I forgot about apple cake, pikelets, fruit cake etc etc etc LOL. If you have a spare few minutes I hope you try these buns. They're delicious as they are, but also lovely with a bit of butter melting into their spicy goodness. They also freeze well and I have a bag of them to be eaten in the next day or two, plus another couple of bags in the freezer.

This is the recipe I used but I didn't add flour paste crosses, you can drizzle on white icing crosses if you like. I make mine in the breadmaker. I just put everything, except the sultanas (golden raisins), which were added about ¾ of the way through. I used the dough setting and baked the buns in the oven.

The Spring edition of Small Town Living magazine is online now, I hope you have time to read it over your Easter break. It's always a good read. In this edition, there are some beautiful photos, great recipes and excellent articles, including one of urban homesteading which I found very interesting. Thanks to Paul and Tina for reminding me the new edition is out.

I think I'll be back next Tuesday, but if I get everything done, I'll be back Monday. I will try to answer some of this week's comments today. I hope you have a lovely Easter with your family. Take some time out for yourself, and for those you love, and don't forget to close your gate for a while, it makes all the difference.