It has been a great week but an intense one of doctor visits, more medical tests, and making time for good things in the midst of it all.
By the time Friday rolled around I was more than ready for a homemade raspberry mojito. There’s something about the fresh lime, cool mint, and tart raspberries that can’t help but make you feel like you’re on a holiday filled with sunny afternoons and nothing to do but rest and amble. (I’ll be sharing the recipe over at Plum Deluxe soon.)
After one exhausting doctor visit I headed to the local park to walk along sun-dappled paths and let the Autumn sunshine work its soothing magic.
It was wonderful.
Golden leaves and glossy black berries crunched and popped underfoot as I strolled, stopping to soak up warmth in puddles of sunshine that filtered down through the canopy of trees.
I watched quail rooting through the leaves for tasty morsels and bats swooping from one tree to another before grasping a branch and dangling upside down with their mates.
I found a couple of benches in the shade of a ghost gum and parked myself there for a rest.
The sun felt so good, the warmth seeping into my very bones and making me feel hugged by sunlight. The glowing leaves danced on the breeze casting all sorts of interesting shadows around me.
Then it was time for a picnic. I’d brought a container of pasta that I learned how to make in Bologna, Italy from my friend Maddalena, and happily tucked in. It is simple yet delicious drizzled with olive oil and tossed with tuna, olives, and capers.
Then I spotted a weathered old picnic table and moseyed over there to write in my journal and have dessert – wine gums. Wine gums make me happy.
It was such a lovely reprieve, time to walk out any lingering anxieties and write out my thoughts and get back to a place of peace. I returned to regular life with greater clarity of thought and all sorts of creative ideas for recipes and articles and projects. I like that.
How has your week been? Do you have a place you go when you’re stressed? I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful walk in the park, and your wine gums 🙂
You are very welcome, @budgetjan:disqus 🙂 You know you’re special when I share my wine gums with you. 😉
Mojitos are my fave mixed drink! I’ve never had one with raspberries…that sounds delicious.
When I’m stressed, I’ll either take a nap, or put on the headphones and listen to music or watch a movie. I wish I had such a glorious place like this! Beautiful pictures. Hugs and love!
Mojitos are my favorite drink too, @twitter-932087221:disqus 🙂 Your stress relieving tips sound absolutely wonderful. 🙂 XO
🙂 i forgot another one…sometimes i will take a shower. water is like alchemy…clears the energy and offers a place of renewal. it’s literally washing away the toxins produced by stress in the body.
Thank you so much for that addition, dear @twitter-932087221:disqus I took your advice this morning and it was bliss. 🙂
I think that the black wine gums would relieve any stress I ever had. These days I can go on a bike ride.
Black wine gums are fantastic, @google-d58b26e263bfdbd99d844b965c5cbbfb:disqus 🙂 And a bike ride sounds so lovely. 🙂
Oh yes Krista, my Clearing. Ihave told you about my special place on my land I think. A hundred years ago, it was an Aborignal Corroboree Ground. Its a natural clearing. Sitting alone you can feel the spiritual presence of the original owners of my land. Before I bought this 40 acres, white man had not lived on it. Totally virgin bushland
I love that you have a place like that, dear @495ce53b7866f4a26d0833b0410d5ca5:disqus It sounds like such a lovely and peaceful oasis. XO
Being ‘hugged by sunshine’ – what a wonderful, descriptive image. And a fabulous feeling, too! I’m so glad that you had that time to decompress. It sounds like it did you the world of good. xx
It was definitely a fabulous feeling, @d2c5288256f8dea1a3c79d49a939a968:disqus I stayed there a long time. 🙂
Wine gums for dessert – wonderful – just don’t tell your dentist 🙂
My lips are sealed, @google-01bbdd9fc7f53cd54265810538a0c5c5:disqus 🙂
So tempting Krista, I could really use one of those raspberry mojitos today 🙂 Sounds like you had a lovely picnic! Everything is good with us here, looking forward to spending another weekend with Kathy – we both send you a big “bonjour” !
Ohhh, have a wonderful time, @TuulaR:disqus 🙂 Big hugs to you both!
It looks like you had a lovely walk Krista and I think I’d probably indulge in a wine gum or two as well. My week has been pretty good. I don’t have a particular place I go to when I am stressed.
You are a kindred spirit in so many ways, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 So glad you’re a wine gum lover too. 🙂
haha! long story – this week writing was stressing me out! i should have spent it with you instead. gorgeous pics.
http://mlleparadis.blogspot.com
Oh man! I would’ve loved for you to hang out with me instead!! 🙂
There’s a bench overlooking Buddina Beach that has my name on it. I can sit there staring out at the ocean that seems to go on forever and answers just come with very little effort. Lovely post and I hope that doctor business gets sorted soon.
I love to walk in the gardens at the university or sit in the big study hall. There’s water trickling and it’s all quiet. Sitting and basking in the sun with a journal and good food is marvelous. These pictures are gorgeous, friend! I’m so glad you had a lovely place to go after feeling stressed. XO
I have a wonderful garden at home. But when I move back down to the Sunny coast I will be back to enjoying the ocean and beaches of Qld. It will be a 25 year circle for me. Returning to a time in my life that I really enjoyed as a single person. Time for me, and just me.
This sounds like the most perfect day EVER!
What a stunning day and a perfect place for you to spend some quiet time. It’s lucky I’m not with you as that packet of wine gums would have disappeared in a flash!
This drink looks delicious! I so want to drink it 🙂
Doctor’s visits are never fun. I’ve had a spate of them recently but am thankfully mostly ok. Hope you are too!
Feeling relaxed just reading this!
What a perfect day for a nice, long walk I hope you’re OK, in regards to the ‘exhausting’ doctor’s visit! Your photos are stunning.an the raspberry mojito is gorgeous..and definitely ‘what the doctor ordered’, huh? lol On another note..I’m excited you might try the ballotine with duck. Some Daring Cooks did..but said it was harder to debone than the chicken because of the layer of fat and tougher meat. However, I know you’d turn out an amazing duck ballotine! xo