I really enjoyed this book by Jackie French, letting us look at a year in her fascinating life in the Southern Highlands of NSW. A year revolving around food, gardening, animals and family. She shares with us lots of marvellous recipes ranging from Orange Blossom Jam to Bottom of the Garden Soup with one that caught my eye, for a Desperation Cake. Jackie French eats what she grows and grows what she eats! Not only was it a wonderful read, but it was the last book I had leant to my Mother before she died, and she also, thoroughly enjoyed it! So for that reason alone I will always treasure my copy. This is taken from the back cover - "Here in the valley, food is part of our lives: we watch the trees flower then fruit; we listen to the wombats snipping off the grass at 2am. and leaving fat green droppings that feed the soil; we watch the wallabies sipping young wonga-vine like spaghetti and pruning the apples trees into 'interesting' shapes." We may not all have the same opinion of wombats and wallabies in the garden, but I am certain anyone who reads this book will enjoy it. ( )