Spring is in the air, everywhere I look around

Arriving at the Hut a few days ago, I was struck by the sunny skies, lush grass, flowering azaleas and daisies. Opening the guest book, I saw that the previous guests, 4 ladies from Singapore had left us wonderfully positive comments including, 'Best.Trip.Ever.'  Thanks girls, it was a pleasure! You can come any time!

Rather than this making me relax on my laurels, it fired me up to do some gardening and tidy up the pantry.  Dozens of cups/saucers, plates, cutlery were finally tidied up while I stocked up on disposables including toilet paper,soap, dish washing liquid, paper towels and cleaning products ready for when the cleaner came.

 The day finished perfectly with the glow of the sunset. I laughed when I saw two ducks waddling up the driveway, husband dutifully keeping behind his wife all the way up past the house. A wallaby who initially was startled by me, gazed quietly at me while munching before springing off again in the opposite direction.

Sunday saw Bruce and I visiting the country markets.  For a change, I used restraint while eyeing some bright yellow cups and saucers remembering my stock take earlier in the weekend. Having not seen any of the local people for a while, it was invigorating to stop, chat and have a good laugh often at my own expense.

Generously we were given some cupcakes and slices to try out at the Bavarian Hut.  We were keen on getting a sample plate of goodies to welcome our guests on arrival.  When we arrived back, I found a colourful plate, doily and placed the muffins and cupcakes ready for the next arrivals. Somehow it looked more cheerful than an empty refrigerator.

From the garden, I picked grevillea flowers to put in a vase on the dining room table while Bruce removed some of the cobwebs which seemed to suddenly appear in the days we arrived.

Satisfied, we left our holiday home for our life in the city.  How long, I wondered would our lives be spilt between two worlds?

Joie de vivre

How I have enjoyed reading 'My French Affair' which is a story of a kiwi woman who buys two guest houses in the south of France.  She renovates the eighteenth century houses and has people to stay from all over the world introducing them to French cuisine and a different way of life from what they are used to. Sometimes the consequences are hilarious and the author, Amanda Taylor-Ace certainly seems to tell it like it is. Renovating the Bavarian Hut and cottages helps me see some similarities.

I have revelled in cooking some of the recipes from the book and remembering our own European
adventures. Here is one of her best friend's recipes from the book.

Luce's famous Tart

1 sheet pastry
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 courgette-chopped
1 tomato-chopped
1 eggplant,chopped
2 onions,chopped
4 eggs
300 mls cream
cheese to your liking (Luce uses goats cheese but any cheese works well)
parsley, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 180 C
Prepare pastry to fit pie dish (I use store bought puff pastry)
Spread the mustard over the pastry base
Saute' the vegetables for 10 minutes in oil
Beat eggs and cream. Add cooked vegetables and cheese either sliced, grated or crumbled.
Pur into the prepared pastry shell.
Sprinkle a little parsley.
Bake for 30 minutes.

If you want to do what the French do, shop and fill a basket at the local fresh markets daily.  Who says you have to be in France to get this joie de vivre experience?

Bon Appetit!