by Krista | Jun 2, 2014 | Winter
Winter arrived yesterday with a shivery morning and an afternoon so gloriously warm and sunshiny that we had lunch outside with dear friends.
I wish I could share pictures of the brilliantly blue sky, lush, vibrant blossoms in my garden, and sunlight glittering on the water, but my poor camera is no more. It was barely wheezing through each shot before it met an ignominious end when I went dashing after a naughty goat and dropped the camera somewhere in the tangles of the bush.
Alas.
Hopefully I will be able to get a replacement in the near future, but until then I’m reliant upon my old phone.
Here are glimpses of my wintry world:
This morning I was out grazing our goats in the bush when a herd of cows came pounding up through the trees! Needless to say, all of us were rather startled with goats going every which way, cows leaping about, and Luna happily dashing around thinking it was all marvelous fun. Good heavens. With my newly acquired whip skills (I can now crack it without injuring myself or anyone else – yay me!) I got everyone sorted and back where they belonged. When we went to let the neighbor know his cows were making merry in our paddock, I saw this lovely old tire swing and thought it looked so wonderfully summery and lazy and happy.
This is me, utterly knackered and resting in the shade of our old red tractor, taking a breather in between hauling 20 kg bags of concrete, logs, wire to get new fence posts sunk. It feels good to rest the old bones now and then.
One of our many prickly pears with our windmill in the distance. I’m excited to pick the prickly pear fruit later this year to make liqueur and jelly. I’m also told you can skin the thorn-covered paddles and eat them, so I’ll have to try that too.
We’ve been working so hard this week building fences, butchering goats and ducks, welcoming new chickens to the farm, incubating eggs, and planting more winter seedlings that there hasn’t been much time for resting. But when I do snatch a moment, I love to hide away in here, stretched out on the bed to nap or read. It’s so cozy in here, quiet and peaceful.
This picture makes me smile every time I see it. I was out early in the fields, guarding a hole in the fence so the goats couldn’t escape while they had their morning feed. I’d been out there about an hour when I looked up to see Bear striding toward me. When he got close he handed me a steaming cup of tea and a freshly toasted egg and tomato bread roll. Such a luv. It had been an exhausting week, yet being thought of like that made all the hard stuff worthwhile.
What does your world look like this week? xo
by Krista | May 26, 2014 | Autumn
“Starting the day –
Another chance to be new again.
How many of us still wish for that?
To be your own sunrise.
To awaken like a prayer –
both solemn and joyful at still being alive.”
Carew Papritz
I had to return to the hospital this week and will again as soon as they’re able to schedule the procedures I need. My doctors believe something is amiss inside of me, so they’re going in to find out what on earth is causing so much pain.
I’ve been struggling with fear this time around, but was comforted greatly today by meeting the man who will be doing the procedures. He is kind and gentle, patiently listening to and answering all my questions, making me feel genuinely cared for. I left his office feeling so much better about everything, trusting that I am in good hands.
In light of this latest turn of events, the above quote means a great deal to me. Especially these words:
“To be your own sunrise. To awaken like a prayer – both solemn and joyful at still being alive.”
I am exceedingly joyful to be alive. To have love in my life, Bear’s hand to hold when I’m scared, dear friends to cry with when it all gets to feeling a bit much.
And I’m grateful for the sunrise each day, reminding me just how beautiful life still is, even when it’s scary.
It is magical to be alone in the woods before the sun comes up. To watch the sky lighten over distant hills and tree tops turn from black to gold.
I like watching the mist-covered fields lighten as the sky fills with color.
These Autumn mornings I wear one of Bear’s padded flannel jackets to keep me warm while I tramp through dew-sodden grasses with the goats.
“Be your own sunrise.”
I love that little phrase. It is so hopeful and delicious, a bright ray of light to remind myself that I get to decide how I’m going to face each day.
I don’t have to pretend or lie. When things are ghastly, they’re ghastly, no ifs, ands, or buts. And I can let myself grieve, rage, sleep, feel numb, whatever I need to feel.
But it doesn’t end there.
I also get to take heart. To give myself a big hug and say, “OK luv, you’ve had your weep and your moan, now let’s look at all the good stuff.”
And there’s so much good stuff.
Here are a few “good stuff” things from my life this week:
- sunny Autumn brekky’s with Bear on the veranda.
- Skype chats with dear overseas friends.
- strength to exercise and work in my gardens.
- lovely editors to work with.
- cute old men regaling me with tall tales for the history book I’m writing.
- hilarious and spunky old ladies including me on their day out at the movies.
- good food and visits with friends at our house.
- coffees and warm chocolate cake to celebrate a good appointment at the hospital.
So many good things that I get a bit teary thinking about them. I’m so thankful that life is never only bad. There’s always something or someone to help us through and make the journey brighter and easier to bear.
How about you, luv. What “good stuff” things are making your journey easier to bear this week? xo
by Krista | May 24, 2014 | Autumn
There are some moments of beauty on our farm that are so magical they stop me in my tracks. This was one of those moments.
I was taking the early morning shift feeding the goats and got to witness the sun rising through the bush, turning the dark, shadowy places into ones of shimmering gold.
It was glorious. Utterly. Any scattered thoughts were stilled, any unsettled feelings calmed. I felt the weights of mind and spirit slide off, replaced with deep peace and calm.
I used to think it was horrible to have to wake before sunrise. Now I treasure it. Those glowing moments of burnished splendor make all sleepyheadedness disappear.
This morning held beauty of a different kind: thick fog blanketing the world, muffling all sound, making us feel like we live on an island. On such a morning porridge is the only sensible breakfast.
When I was a little girl living on the prairies of Alberta, Canada, I used to wake up with my brothers in the wee hours of the morning to eat breakfast before they headed out into the cold darkness for hockey practice. My Mum would make us variations of porridge: porridge with plump raisins, honey, and farm fresh milk, chocolate porridge for special occasions, and, my favorite, porridge with butter and dark brown sugar. That’s what we had this morning with the twist of Muscovado sugar and lovely black currants. As always, it filled my belly and my spirit with warmth and coziness.
What is your favorite warming breakfast? xo
Black Currant Porridge with Butter and Muscovado Sugar
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
2 cups water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 black currants
pinch of salt
2 Tbsp butter, divided
2 Tbsp Muscovado sugar, divided
Directions:
- In saucepan combine oats, water, cinnamon, currants, and salt. Bring to boil over medium high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, about 4-5 minutes until porridge is done.
- Divide porridge between two bowls topped with 1 Tbsp each of butter and Muscovado sugar.
by Krista | May 22, 2014 | Autumn
It is a beautifully cloudy and cool morning on the farm today, dark and still, just perfect for sitting on the veranda, wrapped in a blanket, sipping cinnamon coffee and reading.
We’ve had a couple of cloudy days this week and I love them. They are so restful and quieting, wonderful for cozy activities like making soup, strolls in the woods, and reading good books.
This week I’ve been reading the following:
“Cured” by Lindy Wildsmith
In my quest to be more self-sufficient and and healthy with the foods we eat, this book is a fantastic resource for home food preservation techniques. Together with “Food DIY” I am learning so much and cannot wait to try my hand at Duck Prosciutto, Duck Confit, and homemade salami.
“Down the Garden Path” by Beverly Nichols
Gardening books do not usually leave me shaking with laughter, but this one sure does. A friend recommended it to me and I can’t thank them enough. I haven’t had this much fun reading a gardening book…ever.
“The Home Apothecary” by Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman
As you know, I have been making my own home remedies and body care products for quite a while, and this is one of my favorite books for instruction and inspiration. I love how she mingles age-old remedies with scientific fact to produce products that actually work and are good for you.
“Salute to Adventurers” by John Buchan
Bear and I discovered a new thrift store the other day, and while there I happened upon this tome by one of my most beloved authors. Not only is it wonderfully old and well-thumbed, it is red. And a red book is always welcome in my library. The story itself is fantastic, a ripping good tale that always makes me smile.
“Jerusalem” by Yotam Ottolenghi
This beautiful book is a gift from my brother Ryan who lives in Amsterdam and is a fantastic cook in his own right. It is filled with incredible recipes that stretch the imagination to heights heretofore unrealized. I am inspired and so excited to start making dishes like Pan-fried Mackerel with Golden Beet and Orange Salsa or Lamb-stuffed Quince with Pomegranate and Cilantro. Swoon.
Now it’s time to finish my cuppa and head out to the bush for my turn goat-herding. 🙂
What book would you like to curl up with on a cloudy day? xo
by Krista | May 19, 2014 | Autumn
It’s a busy time of year on our Australian goat farm, but thankfully we’ve had fantastic Autumn weather to work in, so it hasn’t been a hardship at all.
I’ve been gardening, reading about gardening, and talking to Aussie gardeners learning everything I can about how to grow things in this part of the world. Dear friends gave us cuttings from their quince and bush lemon trees, so Bear and I have been planting trees, cuttings of trees, seeds for trees, and innumerable veggies, herbs, and flowers. Phew! It’s heaps of work but so satisfying to see bare patches fill in and the first shoots of winter veg push through the dark brown earth. I’m still battling the dastardly cabbage moth, so if any of you brilliant gardeners out there have advice for me, I’d LOVE to hear it.
We’ve also been spending a lot of time with our goats, keeping a close eye on them since they will start delivering babies within the next couple of weeks. They’ve eaten down their normal paddocks, so we’ve started taking them on feeding walks through the bush for two hours every morning.
Bear and I take turns, an hour each, and we actually look forward to it every day. It’s a wonderful thing to “have” to wander in the bush. I find it really calming and a great start to my morning.
Although it’s late Autumn, I’ve been digging in to Spring Cleaning. It feels fantastic to be getting things tidy and organized, making new usable outdoor spaces that will be brilliant for the fun projects we both love to dig into.
This weekend I got back to making homemade medicines for my medieval medicine demonstrations. It is so fun, especially now that I’m growing nearly everything I need. I made a Sage Thyme treatment for sore throats (very handy this time of year), Lemon Balm oil for bringing deep wounds to the surface so they will heal quickly, and a Fennel eye wash and general tonic.
With all the outside work we’ve been doing, our menu has held a lot of crockpot meals, soup, and homemade bread. Good, nourishing, easy to make things that warm our bones and keep us going as we mend fences, drench goats, build cages, and whatever else comes along. Tonight I’m having Creamy Cauliflower and Parsnip while Bear is noshing on White Bean with Chorizo. Mmm.
My favorite bread is this loaf that looks like an artisan bread but is easy-peasy to make. I mix up the dough in about two minutes before I go to bed, then pop it in the oven when I wake up in the morning. No kneading, no waiting around for rising, just simple, good, and gorgeous bread.
The recipe is based on this one by Le Creuset, but I make it even simpler with just four ingredients and an old cast iron pot.
What interesting projects are you working on these days? xo
Easy Artisan Bread
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups white flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
3/4 teaspoon yeast
1 3/4 cups water
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast.
- Add water and mix until incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set on counter (or in microwave) overnight.
- Place lidded cast iron pot in cold oven and heat to 450 degrees. Leave for 30 minutes.
- While it heats, scrape dough onto floured surface and shape into a ball. (Don’t knead)
- Carry dough to oven, remove hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake 15 minutes more.
- Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
- Once cut, store in airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.
- NOTE: can be made with gluten-free flour as well, just be prepared for a much wetter dough to begin with.
This is me, utterly knackered and resting in the shade of our old red tractor, taking a breather in between hauling 20 kg bags of concrete, logs, wire to get new fence posts sunk. It feels good to rest the old bones now and then.
One of our many prickly pears with our windmill in the distance. I’m excited to pick the prickly pear fruit later this year to make liqueur and jelly. I’m also told you can skin the thorn-covered paddles and eat them, so I’ll have to try that too.
We’ve been working so hard this week building fences, butchering goats and ducks, welcoming new chickens to the farm, incubating eggs, and planting more winter seedlings that there hasn’t been much time for resting. But when I do snatch a moment, I love to hide away in here, stretched out on the bed to nap or read. It’s so cozy in here, quiet and peaceful.
This picture makes me smile every time I see it. I was out early in the fields, guarding a hole in the fence so the goats couldn’t escape while they had their morning feed. I’d been out there about an hour when I looked up to see Bear striding toward me. When he got close he handed me a steaming cup of tea and a freshly toasted egg and tomato bread roll. Such a luv. It had been an exhausting week, yet being thought of like that made all the hard stuff worthwhile.
What does your world look like this week? xo
