The Morning Toasting Hours
Waking in the hour of six, my most favourite hour, and rugging up for a winter walk is a practice I crave. It centres my body, helping me to focus my mind and dart into the morning with vigour and clarity. To have vigour without clarity leads to a generally unproductive morning, I find. And this is something that, more often than not, will happen when I wake and reach for coffee without first planting my feet outside.
I look forward to my morning wanders. This time of year warrants a pair of gloves and snuggly jacket, but I prefer a coat of woollens to a coat of sweat. The sleepy winter sun has lead me to push my walks later than usual, but I'm still getting out in those morning toasting hours. I've tried walking in the evenings, a romantic ritual I picked up when traveling Italy and which I find to be terribly encouraging of good health and slumber. But I miss my morning walks. There's something special about this time...
The hour of six and seven have distinct personalities. And if I sleep in, I mourn the loss of these hours. I'd rather wake early and enjoy the slow than snooze and miss it all. In the hour of six, the medicinal properties of coffee are infinitely more apparent. Eye lids rising with the sun, it is this very cup which beckons me from the comfort of bed and sees me reach for my jacket before heading outside. The hour of seven smells of toasting bread, waiting for the day's spreads. Maybe jam or butter. Usually vegemite. I swear I can smell people dotting vegemite on their toast from the street as I pass and gather hunger...but only at seven am.
As I morning walk along the houses in my neighbourhood, I picture the scene inside. The clatter of mugs and indecision between English breakfast or green tea. Is it a day for tights and a skirt, or slacks? Will I have muesli or porridge? Or toast?
Today I chose tights, my tea was green and I had toast.
♥ Flinders Sourdough toast, one slice with butter, warmed leftover roasted pumpkin cubes, a drizzle of cinnamon-kissed maple syrup and toasted pumpkin seeds.
♥ The other slice with butter, sliced radish, parsley, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper.
♥ Green tea.
