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| Wollemi Pines |
Family trees – in some instances they make it
difficult to see the forest.
Many folk go to extraordinary lengths, out on a
limb, to dig up trunk loads of information; hanging onto multitude limbs in efforts
to root out their ancestry.
With the intention of learning about who went before
them they branch out in every direction, pouring over clusters of data. Nothing is left swinging or dangling in limbo.
Persistent in their searches, their interest is perennial.
Their assiduous, dogged determination to
discover everything they can about their lineage - from where it stemmed – is
unyielding. Tirelessly the seekers stalk
sites in search of answers.
In the wee small hours off they lumber off to
slumber, only to wake a few hours later to begin digging again, feeling renewed
like an evergreen. Their deep-rooted curiosity
remains inveterately
fresh.
At times the deadwood is tossed aside, or ignored,
usually for good reason.
Most families, whether they like to admit it or not,
have a skeleton or two hidden away in their silky oak, pine, mahogany or cedar cupboard. There’s no point selling the cupboard on
Gumtree or eBay. Skeletons are adept at
finding somewhere else to hide. It’s a
haunting thought, but they will remain to haunt...if you allow them to do so.
Ask
the Duchess of Sussex! I bet she feels
like slamming a few doors permanently shut.
I hazard a guess the majority of us
have a bone to pick somewhere or other - with someone or other - but, it’s better to
keep the door closed...best to move on.
Perhaps there’s a spray available for skeleton
eradication; maybe termites are the answer. They could be coerced into embracing
a liking for bones instead of wood.
Just a thought...
.
My family tree is non-existent these days. Deforestation occurred years ago. I’d better tread carefully, or I’ll be blamed
for global warming! I may not have any family
tree limbs or branches left these days, but my shoulders are strong enough to bear
weight.
There are no trees or branches blocking forest views
in my insignificant corner of the field.
I’m the only tree left standing.
So far I’ve dodged the chainsaws.
Branches of my family tree have been lopped back so far there’s no
chance of regrowth.
I don’t pine over the situation. Content I am being
a gnarly, old, sole soul.
I’m not unlike the rather recently discovered, once thought extinct, classified critically endangered Wollemi Pine – I’ve outlived dinosaurs.
There is a saying - “No man is an island”. Being a woman, the saying doesn’t refer to
me. I enjoy being an island.
In no way do I feel deserted.
“Deserted” is from where the term “desert
island” originated. As they do, people
became lazy throughout the years, and dropped off the “ed” at the end of the
word.
Other than laziness, I can’t fathom
the reason why they would do so.
It’s no secret I love tropical islands having, at different periods in my life, lived
on two back in the 80s and early 90s.
Actually, by having no family - no branches - I’m a
palm. In fact, being so makes me a herb.
I’m herbaceous because palms are herbaceous – non-woody plants. And, palms have no limbs...no branches.
However, I give you warning. Don’t become complacent. There’s nothing wooden about me. Pinch me, and you’ll immediately discover this
to be so. I am fleshy as opposed to
woody. Wouldn’t you know it!
My affinity to palms has been longstanding. Growing in our yard when I was a kid were
three palms. We called them “monkey nut
trees”. The truth could be I descended
from the Planet of the Apes! (Rosanne does
not offend me).
And, of course, as well as the she-oaks that bordered on the
foreshores of both Hinchinbrook and Newry Islands - my isolated hang-outs for a
while - were palms.
I never learned how
to scale them, but I was proficient at scaling fish – and eating coconuts.
My mind works in mysterious ways. Don’t question why or how. I don’t have the
answers....
Salmon
with Crispy Coconut Kale: Rinse 1c jasmine rice in cold
water; drain. Place in saucepan with 1c coconut milk, 1c water and ½tsp salt.
Bring to boil; stir. Reduce to lowest heat, cover; cook 15mins. Remove from
heat. While rice is cooking, heat oven
to 200C. Combine in sealed jar, 1/3c
melted coconut oil, 1tsp sesame oil, 2tbs coconut aminos or tamari, and 1tbs
Sriracha. Shake until emulsified. Place 3 cubed kumara on baking sheet. Drizzle
with 1tbs melted coconut oil; sprinkle with paprika. Toss to coat; bake 30mins,
or until tender. Place 1 bunch trimmed kale, sliced into strips and 1c coconut
flakes on baking sheet. Drizzle with 2/3rd of dressing. Toss until well coated.
Drizzle 4 salmon fillets with 1- 2tbs of remaining dressing. Bake salmon and
coconut kale mixture during last 15mins of sweet potato's baking time. Don’t
let kale burn. Serve over fluffed rice with an extra drizzle of dressing.
Coconut
Fish: In bowl, beat together 1 egg and 2tbs pineapple
juice. Spread 2/3c flour and 1-1/2c shredded coconut on separate plates,
suitable for dredging. Add 2/3tbs oil to pan set over med-heat. Dry 5 snapper
fillets. Dredge in flour; dip in egg; then coat in coconut. Working with 2-3
fillets at a time, add fish to pan. When coconut starts to brown, carefully
turn over. When fish is cooked, remove from pan. Add more oil to pan if
necessary; repeat with remaining fish.
Lemon
Salmon & Herbs:
Lightly oil a baking sheet. In bowl, whisk 2tbs brown sugar, 2tbs lemon juice, 1tbs Dijon, 2
minced garlic cloves, 1/2tsp dried dill, 1/2tsp oregano, 1/4tsp thyme and
1/4tsp rosemary; season. Place 4 chopped zucchinis in a single layer onto
baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; season to taste. Add 4 salmon fillets in
a single layer; brush each with herb mixture. Place into 200C oven; cook until
fish flakes easily with a fork, about 16-18mins, dependent on fillet thickness.
Serve with lemon wedges.
