Hello. With 6 large jars of spiced pickled cherries.
Hello. With 6 large jars of spiced pickled cherries.
As the crow flies they seem close, but to actually drive to my friends cherry shed for more cherries is rather long, dusty and kinda wiggly….. however I now know all the corners so it doesn’t take too long.
So 5 kg of cherries for $50.
Thats exceptionally generous, for their quality. I dont think I’ve ever had cherries this good. And when I moved to Tasmania in 2016 I first lived next to Export Cherry Orchard, so I was familiar with quantities they would consume - so I thought a 5kg box would be enough to sustain myself, the family and loads leftover and like other things in abundance that enter the house - namely Christmas ham or homemade cheesecake, everyone would get sick of the sight of them after a while. So I’d have some left over to pickle.
Nope. Turns out they wolfed them down. These are excellent cherries.
So I’m going back for more. I have to if I want to fill my pantry this winter, with tasty things I like spiced cherries, Ill have to be alittle more savvy. And while I’m I spy a plump box of apricots. Good to know. I refuse now to make preserved shit for the sake of ‘You have a box a mandarins use it’ ….Ive done that in the past. Not any more.
No one eats fijoa jam in our house. Or mandarin marmalade for that matter.
This time last year, when we moved from Southport north, and it was weeks and week of frantically shoving/packing/unpacking life everywhere, juggling my seasonal Parks work, the kids with their school holidays ‘tick boxes’ , and carrying that constant feeling of arriving at places always being under prepared. And with a good sprinkinging of Covid anxiety. . But looking back I was also elated and so very relieved at finding somewhere I just love. Even if it was in the height of a property boom.
Years before I’d had hung my hat on a future in a little ocean shack much further southern & wild , but life changed winds one week just before Christmans, and soon after, I stumbled upon this place. So everything a year ago was done at lightening speed. It felt like life was being shaken up like a snow globe - everything was spinning all up in the air.
Such a different feeling this Summer.
Life is very settled. Well as settled as you can be in renovating. Theres still more dramas but at least its at a stable base. With a new roof. Theres also a lot more to notice . In birds eye view terms - this old captains cottage turns out to be wrapped around a thick blacket of organic apple orchards. And I’m happy to report - thats its also speckled with stone fruit trees too. Namely the recent discovery of cherries. Win. I have a mental list of the fruits Id like to preserve this year and every year - and I’m going to commit to investing in that here. Must find more good jars. Last year when I moved I did a tiny batch of apricot and 15 litres of wild blackberries. And theres plenty of them lining our driveway although I’ve still probably got enough left till next Summer.
Listening to my daily podcasts on with finance. In the last year I’ve taught myself to understand the share market. And discovered that I like Macro Economics. So I listen in my library on Spotify, CommSec Podcast (look at me go at linking that!)
Listening to the Catchup episodes of Money Talks from The Economist
Edit my little Reels workshop. Its actually sitting there and I need to press send. Im sending this out before and I think thats brave. And hopefully Ill press send on that next and feel braver. I know. I know. Ill try tomorrow
Oh and next time Ill write that cherry spiced picked recipe.
But today this is a start. And I’m happy to say that for me - starting is good.
Cheerio till then.
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