beach fare

Its summertime here in Australia and for most of us that means sunny days at the beach. My family and I are lucky enough to live a short stroll to our favorite patch of sand and sea. These school holidays we have spent every possible moment swimming, building sandcastles, playing beach cricket, stretching out on beach towels and talking with friends. Of course packing a delicious, nourishing picnic is essential as packing the sunscreen and hats.

When I've looked around this summer at what others are bringing to the beach to eat (I'm always curious!) much of it is processed and packaged foods - chips, savoury biscuits, pretzels, muesli bars. And then when the sun starts to lower in the sky signalling dinnertime, parcels of fish and chips, pizza or a bbq of sausages served in white bread with tomato sauce seem to be the popular choices. I write this as curious observation not as a judgement about what other people eat, we've eaten fish and chips on the beach too this summer but looking at things from a social health point of view the majority of people living in Australia and many other developed countries would benefit from eating more fresh fruit and vegetables.

So I thought I'd write this post and invite you to share what you like to take to the beach for snacks or meals.

For snacks my staples are fresh fruit and rice crackers with home made dips, sometimes some veggie sticks and cherry tomatoes from the garden.

For dinner, pesto pasta salad, homemade nori rolls or flat bread wraps with avocado, fetta or goats cheese and salad with roast chicken or boiled eggs.

Jay tells me, "I love taking a quiche, tart or pie to the beach/river or a whole lot of delicious things to wrap: roasted veggies, haloumi, feta, greens, chilli, caramelised onions. Yum! And fruit for dessert.

We always have fruit and nuts on hand for snacks."

And now its over to you, what ideas do you have for beach snacks and meals?

paper rock sea - an exhibition by Peter McConchie

I can't take the credit for these beautiful images, I will though give myself credit for marrying Peter McConchie my talented, nature loving photographer husband who took these photos.

Long before Pete and I were married, when we had only just been introduced I somewhat nervously asked him if I could work as his photographic assistant. Nervous not because I had my sights set on marrying him, but because I was genuinely in awe of his photographic work and shy about my artistic desires. It's true I promise.

The work as a photographic assistant never eventuated but the day I found myself carrying a tripod up the beach in the heat of summer while Pete ran ahead to catch the glimpses of afternoon light falling across the water I smiled to myself and thought be careful what you wish for. 

PAPER, ROCK, SEA

A retrospective collection of ocean images taken on the Mornington Peninsula 

by Peter McConchie 

are being exhibited and are for sale at The Flinders Village Cafe in Flinders 

(next to the Flinders Post Office).

The exhibition is on now and will go through Summer or until sold out.

So, if you are in Flinders over summer stop in at the cafe and take a look. The coffee is good too :)

gone fishing

Thirty six degrees here today and as it happened conditions on the bay were good for Pete to take River for his second fishing trip in the boat. Sol talked his way onto the boat for a putt around before the big guys headed out further.

After school Pete, River and Sol did whatever they do to get ready for fishing, sorting rods and reels, threading hooks onto lines, organising bait, Sol tangling ropes and lines believing he is helping, and while this happened I took the opportunity to make phonecalls for work that are best made when children are not about to ask you for a snack or announce they need to do a poo. Tricky to sound professional at those moments. Anyhow, phonecalls made, fishing gear sorted we headed to the beach.

Sol isn't ready to join Pete and River fishing from the boat just yet, a couple more summers and some swimming lessons before that happens, so he and I spent our time beach combing while Pete and River went off on their boating adventure.

We watched pelicans take flight and squished our way through beds of seaweed walking from sandbar to sandbar, stopping to marvel at a starfish Sol announced that the starfish was hungry, "What do you think it eats?" I asked him. After thinking for a moment he told me with great confidence, "Pesto". Of course. Seaweed pesto, he could be on to something.

Pete and River were gone an hour as planned and returned having caught a squid that they decided to release. We've lived on this coastline long enough for Pete to know the fishing tides and grounds well, so it is rare he returns home with less than one meal to add to our wholefood table. These trips that are spent getting River used to being in the boat are about more than catching fish.

I am so grateful for our beach life, for the clean air, the saltwater, the sand between our toes, the opportunity to breathe beautiful natural surrounds in. Every. Single. Day. Oh and the fresh fish x

rye

I think I have worked out the recipe for happy school holidays. And that is, fill the boys with as much fresh air and physical activity as possible for the first part of the day so as to tire them out, then spend the afternoon at home playing quietly, follow that up with an early dinner and be very thankful daylight savings is over and night falls earlier and they go off to sleep leaving the evening free for me to write. 

We're only up to day 3 of the holidays but so far so good with that recipe. Yesterday morning was spent in the glorious autumn sunshine bike riding along the foreshore at Rye.

I am SO thankful to live near the beach. I like to share beachy photos especially for those of you who love living in the bush or the city but miss the beach. If school holidays are yours at the moment I hope you are enjoying!

(incidently this is for sale)

sky, sand and sea

beach bliss

back to the beach

Finally the weather feels like summer. Soak up the beach via these pics and I'll see you back here next week. Wishing everyone a very joyous Christmas. The beach is calling...

...merry christmas...