Nature and Nurture

With all our busy lives we do forget how wonderful Nature can be.
As a child my parents brought me up to savour every moment in our lives and Nature played a big part of it.

I would watch an learn as my mother would tend to her allotment, embracing the seasons as it changed.

And now I find myself doing the same with my children.
They may not enjoy coming up the allotment on a cold grey February day but I can not let them miss the changes happening up there.
As I pruned the tree at the top of the allotment I could not waste the branches in my hand.
Bringing them home and forcing them to flower in the home allows them to see that spring is just around the corner, waiting to burst with her beauty.

Cooking is another way of enjoying the seasons.
On these cold winter days when you've made a homely soup bread is a must!

Ive rediscovered my breadmachine but in a slightly different way.
Once again my mother brought me up on homemade bread. Being one of six children it was part of life watching my mother make 4 loaves from a packet of flour.
No bread machines in those days, just the trusty strength of a hardworking womans hands.
The smells that wafted as we would walk through the door after a day at school was home to me. 4 Loaves soon became 3 after lashings of butter would drip from the warm slices that would greet us!

So, I have now decided that rather than making and cooking the bread in the machine I will cook in the oven using the machine just to make the dough.
Frocaccia has been the most popular loaf so far, scattered with olives and aromatic rosemary from the garden!

I can now smell the next loaf nicely proving in its bowl........

So its good to let nature nurture you, wafting her smells, tantalising you with her new growth.

Let her draw you in, inspire you and connect you with the here and now.

Comments

We tried making bread th eother day - came out a disaster - will try your method of starting it off in the bread machine I think!x
Cat said…
Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING beats the taste (and smell!) of home-made bread. My hub's father bakes a ton of bread (his cinnamon raisin is the BEST!). My go-to recipe of choice...pretzel bread! Thank goodness for mamas…they sure keep passion and life in perspective 
ahomespunyear said…
Can't agree more...it's so important to enjoy the seasons and all they have to offer. There's nearly always something struggling to flower at this time of year. And bet that bread tastes just wonderful!
Beautiful photographs of blossom. I'm longing for spring so this was perfect, thank you!
Lyn said…
lovely post, the bread looks delicious and the blossom makes me smile.
love
Lyn
xxx
Quinn said…
Such an enjoyable post!

I don't have a machine, but I've always thought the kneading to be the best part of baking my own bread. The moment when I feel the dough change is always a little miracle, making me feel connected to breadmakers everywhere and in all times.

Hmmm. Now I'm hungry!
Stéphanie said…
Fantastic pictures !
Lovely post! I did the same last time I made bread and the result was much nicer than in the machine.
Teresa x
Pinecone Camp said…
I'm with you on the home made bread - I love kneading the dough!
Thanks for the happy and positive post!
Have a nice weekend!
I made bread rolls today using my breadmaker and a big pot of pea and ham soup.

Lovely photos, still covered in snow and ice here.

Gill in Canada

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