Things I'll Miss

I'm heading back to Sydney today - these are some of the things I'll miss from my farmlife.

The new crop of yellow peaches - the tree is laden

The mass of raspberries that are just coming on (again)

Riding my bike on the flat and quiet roads

Walking early in the morning

Our farmhouse

Blogging

Drinking a glass of cold wine after a "hard" days work

Sunset over the fields

and most of all my gorgeous (sometimes sweaty) husband.

I'll be back in 7 and a bit weeks. Until then Mark will continue blogging on farmlifeusa so that I can see what he is up to. Keep watching.

A bit of decorating

Always decorating things to do around the farmhouse while I am here. I am a bit obsessive. Somethings on the list we never seem get around to - like putting the mirror up in the bathroom. Today was the day.... It took us a while to find the 140lb hook. How much do I weigh? Will it hold the mirror? Why didn't we do it before? The room looks twice as big - or 10 times bigger than our Sydney bathroom.

Other things are simpler. We have a lot of colourful quilts that Mark's grandmother and mother made, which are hidden in drawers and cupboards - I found a new place to store them where we can see them all the time.

Digging for dinner

Our potatoes are ready to harvest! I love doing this. It is a great feeling when you push the fork into the soil where the vine has died to the ground, give it a turn and up pops a crop of spuds. Tonight we will steam these, to eat with a rib eye grilled in the WFO, green beans and a tomato salad. All from our garden - except the beef. Maybe one day. Mark has opened a bottle of Brusset Cuvee Hommage , a 1999 Cairanne, which we bought at the cave in France. Only a few meals left here before I head back to Sydney. We are having our favourites.

Clinton County Fair Parade

A beautiful evening after the storm, so we headed into Carlyle for a bit of local culture - the County Fair parade. Hundreds of people were lining the streets in their folding chairs, and kids were ready to catch the candy. Some highlights - the county fire brigades, Miss Illinois, the future Miss Illinois' and the Mater Dei Marching band.

It looks like rain

We get storms here very quickly and often they look worse than they actually are. These photos were taken from our bedroom window this afternoon at 2pm - it was over in 30 minutes. It went very black, the wind started to blow through, followed by rain. Not enough rain, according to Mark.

Sunday at home

A quiet Sunday and we needed it. An early walk on the levee, a trip to Carlyle to see David, the rest of a DVD, and a simple dinner outside with Miss Kitty. She ate the vole she caught, we ate the slow cooked pork butt (shoulder) that Mark slid into the WFO last night. Nearly 18 hours of slow cooking later it was moistly tender and pulled easily away from the bone. We ate it with a corn, tomato and feta salad. It tasted better than it looks in my photo. A cold Mountford New Zealand Chardonnay 06 went down very well.

Pizza with the Mioux

Saturday night and the Mioux family joined us for Pizza - Joe, Anna, Michael, Nick, Jennifer and Christina. I hadn't seen the kids for a while together - and except for Christina - they are no longer kids. Michael has just finished his first year of college at Joe and Mark's alma mater - University of Illinois. They all joined in the fun. Christina went first - although she wasn't too impressed with the artichoke and parmesan topping. Loving the WFO.

Halibut and the Henty

Friday afternoon we headed into St Louis for dinner with Walt and Marcia. Walt and Mark met over the internet, on a wine forum, nearly 15 years ago. We have had some great meals with them, including a memorable joint birthday dinner for Marcia and I involving foie gras, scallops and duck, cooked in their home by a local chef. They recently returned from a trip to Alaska, and we were to be served some halibut which Walt had caught.

First up, chilled rose in the garden with 2 dips - sate and eggplant, with fresh crudites and Walt's grain bread . The halibut was baked with julienned vegetables and topped with a sauce they discovered in Alaska- and was delicious - juicy and sweet. This was followed by bbq ribs in home grown blueberry sauce, with a corn and tomato salad. We managed to slip in a "blind" wine - an Aussie Shiraz. Walt is not a great fan of these, to say the least- but he did enjoy the Henty 06 from Victoria. We had found it in Sydney and knew we could get him on that one. Yahoo! A dessert cake, with fresh berries and we were off to bed. Another great meal, with great friends.

You say tomarto, I say tomayto

It's tomato time here - we are now picking several large ones each day along with a pile of sugar snap cherry or grape tomatoes. When they are eaten warm straight off the vine they explode in your mouth. A thick slice of beefsteak, big beef or early girl on toasted whole grain bread, with mozzarella and basil has been my lunch every day this week. It tastes like summer.

Yoga around the world.

When I was here in June last year I was very excited to find a yoga class nearby. I joined the group on a casual basis and I was made to feel very welcome. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and led by an enthusiastic, creative "yogini" called Lindsay. This year, when I returned and saw all of the familiar faces again - I felt that I really belonged. I am no longer just a visitor. Lindsay's classes are fun, and chatty - which surprised me at first as I have been used to a more zen like yoga class - where the only words spoken are by the teacher. I now find myself talking as well. We talk about all sorts of things as we do our practice but we are all very quiet at savasana. Each class is different and really very strenuous. I love it. Namaste.

Retail Therapy

I have just discovered T.J. Maxx - which for non locals is a retail store with designer and brand name fashion with up to 60% off department store prices. At Sydney prices this means they are practically giving it away. (5 pairs of brand shoes cost as much as one pair in OZ, a calvin klein skirt for $7). I am not known for enjoying clothes shopping. Yesterday I spent three and half hours in the store, trawling through the racks of clothes, trying on about 50 items. You will be happy to know I did not buy them all, but you could say I maxxed out the credit card. TJ's - where have you been all my life?

Bicycling and the big question

I have a bike here - not a fancy one - but sturdy and comfortable to ride. I don't ride every day - but when I do, I have time to observe the world around me, to think, plan and imagine.

Perhaps it is the grid of flat country roads that I follow randomly, cycling past fields or along occasional tree-lined roads, without a destination in mind, seeing only an occasional deer or tractor - but most often my thoughts turn to ideas of what I can do to spend more time here. Any ideas?

Sunday with the St Louisians

Sunday afternoon, a beautiful day and our "wine" friends from St Louis arriving for a leisurely afternoon of food, wine and boules. A perfect day.
Walt and Marcia, Steve and Barb, Geff, Angela and Gwen made the trek east - to what has become a regular event. We started with some zucchini fritters and local cheese, with chilled french whites and rose. Lots to talk about - travel, wine, food, health, family. The WFO was fired up - not for pizza this time - we tried flatbread, ciabbata and roasted cherry tomatoes for a dish Mark and I invented/adapted- first a thick slice of fresh heirloom tomato on the plate, topped by a slice of fresh mozzarella, roasted cherry tomatoes and basil puree. Accompanied by a basil lime sorbet! This was followed by Jamie Oliver's WFO Chicken caesar - the chicken fat croutons are amazing. Dessert was Verna's peach cobbler, with fresh peaches and homemade peach icecream.

In between courses a couple of boules games to work up the appetite. Friends and times like these are my farmlife.

A typical day on the farm

Having spent the last two days doing citylife work - it was time to get back to farmlife. For those of you who wonder what I do here - yesterday was a typical day:

Morning - we walked early and then I went to yoga - which is always good. A visit to Carlyle Assisted Living to see David, Verna and Marks's uncle George. Back home, the real work begins. Decided to make flat bread for tonight in the WFO, found a

recipe, made the dough. While that rested, I helped Mark pick

the last of the white peaches, then, because of the glut we decided to make peach jam. Had to do some research before starting. Mark cut up the peaches, I prepared the canning jars, then cooked the peaches, sugar and lemon, and waited while it became a dark rosy red tinged jam. Filled the jars, boiled them for 10 minutes, set them aside to rest for 12 -24 hours. Fingers crossed it will set. Continued preparations for dinner -finished making the flatbread - and we also tried a new Jamie Oliver recipe in the WFO - world's best chicken caesar salad. And it was. The flat bread wasn't bad either. Jam this morning was good - but slightly runny. Room for improvement next time.

The 4th July Party continues

The party never stops. We drove back from Memphis early today, in time to prepare for a Pizza feast tonight. Our friends Angela and Rob had stayed the 4th July in our farmhouse - for some country life and mushroom hunting. They are experienced foragers and welcomed us with the last of the local chanterelles. The WFO was lit, and we got ready for another pizza party. Dale and Ruth were up from Birmingham, Alabama. Stan and Nanci joined us too.

A new benchmark for pizza toppings - Angela and Rob's salmon with Asian flavours and coriander pesto. Dale brought the ingredients for the chicken and basil pesto he enjoys in Birmingham. Three desserts to try - banana cream pie, blackberry pie and a blue berry tart.

A late night sitting outside catching up with good friends. After this weekend I will not be eating or drinking anything for the next few days.

Dinner, Max Style

Max is not only a busy doctor, but also has a passion for food and cooking it. Lucky us. While we were at Graceland he and Sue started preparations for dinner. The basis was a Thomas Keller, French Laundry inspired degustation - with Max adaptations. When we arrived home at 4pm the kitchen looked like a cyclone had hit it. Dinner was at 7pm! I suggested Max conduct the procedures - while Sue, Mark and I sous chefed. I don't know how we did it - but his vision was achieved. Six small courses - a parmesan tuile with goats cheese; three different cherry tomatoes with tomato sorbet and chive oil (amazing); avocado and cucumber salsa with shrimp; a delicious cheese pastry , with a slow cooked slice of beef steak tomato, roasted peppers on top and a drizzle of reduced balsamic; slow cooked pork with roasted carrots, and a peach tart for dessert. Wine to match each course and more. John and Lucille joined us for dinner. I was too busy eating, drinking and taking to take photos unfortunately.

Graceland

We were in Memphis. We had to do it. A visit to Graceland - former home (now shrine) of Elvis. Our friends John and Lucille, long term residents of Memphis had never been, so they joined us, and were we all surprised. A smaller home than we imagined, with 70's decor that I did expect. But the real surprise was how much he did in his short life - the number of movies he made, the records he sold, the charities he donated to. Then, on the way out - his grave. I don't know why, but we didn't expect that. Elvis has not left that building!

4th July Road trip

Fourth July weekend - America celebrates - and we did too, by heading off on a road trip to Memphis, Tennessee - a 5 hour drive south from our farmhouse. We actually travelled through 4 states to get there - Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Due to the limited time I have here each year - we don't often want to go far from our farmlife, but Mark's cousin Max and his wife Sue have visited us here several times and we were keen to see where they have now settled. First up dinner on Beale Street - above BB Kings Blue Bar - speakeasy style and great southern food, which we shared. Fried avocado! and remoulade, lobster ravioli, fried green tomatoes (something I have

always wanted to try but were sadly disappointing), crabcakes, shrimp and scallops on grits and bone - in rib eye.

Downstairs to BBs to hear some blues, then we hit the street. People, acrobats, buskers and blues bars on both sides. First photo is us in the restaurant, second photo in BB's and the third

on Beale Street. As you can see, we had a great time.

Watching the corn grow

For a city girl, one of the joys of being here is seeing the crops grow, and having the time to watch them change from day to day. The beans start to peek up , then pop suddenly out of the soil and the corn seems to grow inches over night. Sitting outside of an evening we are surrounded by fields of green and gold. At sunset, they shimmer and the fireflies surround us.

I have also noticed over the years that a farmers mood is very much influenced by the weather - it is too hot, there is not enough rain, there is too much rain... Right now, while they won't say so, it appears to be perfect. Our corn this year looks good to me - today it is 9 1/2 feet tall. I 'll measure again in a few days.