by Krista | Jan 31, 2012 | Compatriot Wednesday
While I love Amsterdam in any kind of weather, I think my favorite is a crisp Autumn day.
It was on just such a day in October that my friend Amy and I arrived at the Amsterdam train station from Paris. A chill wind was whistling across canals and through alleyways so after dropping our bags off at my brother’s apartment, we bundled up in woolens and hats and went for a stroll.
In spite of the cold, plants still flourished in pots set up staircases and on this cheery lime green bench.
Late afternoon sun glistened on the water and warmed the red brick buildings.
Near the Rijksmuseum this bashful lady shielded her eyes.
And pigeons gorged themselves on a lush, green lawn.
I’m always smitten by the bicycles of Amsterdam. They aren’t the shiny, modern bikes I’m used to seeing in America, but the lovely old ones complete with bells and baskets.
On days like this I love returning home and making something comforting. My favorite dish recently is spiced applesauce. I don’t know of anything that makes the house smell more delectable than a pot of apples simmering with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. While it’s delicious by itself, I really like it swirled with vanilla yogurt.
What is your favorite time of year to go walking in your home town?
Spiced Applesauce
Ingredients:
8-10 apples, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4-1/2 cup dark brown sugar or 2-3 Tbsp real maple syrup
Directions:
- In a saucepan combine all ingredients and cover with water.
- Bring to boil then lower heat and simmer 45 minutes.
- Cool and chill until ready to serve.
by Krista | Jan 29, 2012 | Bootstrap Monday
It’s been a rough few days.
Feeling stronger and braver last week I tentatively opened a door to my past and unwittingly let in a few malicious ghosts. Instead of sending them scurrying with some well aimed truth, I let them linger and cause non-stop mayhem. My hard fought peace was gone and fear ran rampant. Insomnia, illness and grief followed in short order and I’ve been struggling with anxiety ever since.
Blast and bother.
I hate it when this happens. Hate it when I let others snatch my peace away, let them trample my joy and smother me with fear.
At my worst moment I decided enough was enough. Even though it was raining I donned my favorite boots, called my dog Fletcher and headed for the woods. There’s nothing like a good tramp through the bush to sort things out.
Five minutes later I was back. I had neglected fly spray and the buggers were about to drive me mad. I thoroughly drenched myself then headed back to the woods, grinning as potential fly-bombers hove off at the first scent of the spray.
My tromp took me along the edge of the dam, lush with weeds and wildflowers. Fletcher ran about like mad, having the time of his life even as his fur got soaked and matted with stickers.
Just getting out into the fresh air did wonders. The falling rain relaxed my tense muscles and I felt myself starting to breathe deeply again. Funny how stress restricts the diaphragm and makes your breathing shallow, suppressing the deep, cleansing breaths that do no end of good.
I wended my way through chest high grasses, carefully avoiding the pretty but mean-spirited Scotch thistles, keeping a weather eye open for kangaroos I knew napped nearby. As I approached the bush I smiled, knowing exactly where my feet were taking me.
The Sacred Grove.
Bear and I discovered the Sacred Grove in December when we went on a sunny bush walk on Christmas Day. It’s comprised of a group of towering gum trees that somehow grew in a circle, their branches shading the meadow growing between their roots.
Stepping into the circle I closed my eyes, breathing deeply of the rain-washed air, luxuriating in the stillness. I opened my eyes and tipped my head back, delighted to see that the circle of tree trunks was reflected in the circle of branches above.
I don’t usually dance by myself in the woods, but on this day, I couldn’t help myself. I had to. After all the angst and pain of the last week, it was time to let it all go and celebrate the good things: true love, friendship, and real freedom.
I don’t actually know how to dance so I just started moving, a little jig here, a little shuffle there, so happy that only Fletcher was there to gaze at me in astonishment. Suddenly I was dancing like an Indian at a pow-wow, surely looking like a lunatic but it just felt right. The hopping-bowing-raising of the pow-pow dance led me around the grove. I felt grief leave me in a great sob, tears streaming down my cheeks, mingling with the rain. Then suddenly the dance changed and I was twirling, swirling, bobbing and weaving, grinning like a fool and feeling light and free. Fletcher came and sat at my feet, looking up at me in wonder, and I burst out laughing. Poor thing. He did not sign up for this!
I twirled a moment longer until suddenly I saw him, a bright orange and blue beetle scurrying along a yellow stalk. I was so startled by the tiny burst of color in a sea of green that all thoughts of dancing and twirling were gone as I knelt down to inspect his colorful little self.
The dancing had done its work. No longer consumed by pain I could celebrate life again, could find gorgeous little bits of beauty in snazzy bugs and perky flowers.
I am grateful.
Since then I’ve been able to work through those gutting things. To find forgiveness and peace again. Dear friends gave inestimable comfort and cheer and the advice I needed.
Today I read the following quotes and hope they shore up your resolve as they have mine.
“And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Steve Jobs
“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.” Ayn Rand
by Krista | Jan 26, 2012 | Fabulous Friday
I love stormy days in Australia. Rain pattering loudly on my tin roof. Winds rushing through the gum trees. Standing still under the canopy of branches, listening to the patter of water droplets as they fall from sky to leaf to forest floor.
It’s so good to be home. Cozy in the big, green armchair, creamy coffee sweetened with real maple syrup, time to rest and think and just be.
It’s a thoughtful sort of day. A day for naps and reading and gentle strolls in the rain. For penning handwritten letters and slow-roasting tomatoes. For making soup.
I juiced oranges this morning and put the peels in my crockpot and covered them with water. They’re simmering now, filling my little house with citrusy goodness.
I’m lingering on Pinterest today. Losing myself in glorious images. Letting go of niggling anxieties and fears as I’m reminded of how much beauty and goodness there is in this oft-frightening world.
I feel my little griefs ebbing, replaced by gratefulness.
Gratefulness for:
A big feather comforter that keeps me so cozy at night.
An “anything you can fit in this bag for $3” special in the produce department at the grocery store. I filled one with cherries, peaches, nectarines, grapes, fresh dill and watercress. I can’t help smiling when I think of it.
Friends who love me just the way I am. No strings attached. No efforts to mold me into what they think is best.
A real hand-written letter in the mail. And a package wrapped in brown paper all the way from Germany.
Finding more dark chocolate when I thought it was all gone.
A whole stack of new British murder mysteries from the library.
Funny how a little gratefulness cheers a body right up. 🙂 Now I think I’ll don my wellies and go for a trek in the storm. It’s a lovely storm.
What is cheering your heart today? xo
by Krista | Jan 25, 2012 | Plucky Thursday
I am so happy to be able to celebrate Australia Day today. It’s an incredible gift to be in this wonderful country that has been such a haven for me, a place of real love, kindness, friendship and LIFE.
As I celebrate in the glorious sunshine with my dear ones, I leave you with the words of one of my favorite Aussie songs, complete with English translations of Aussie terms as supplied by my Bear. 🙂
Australia Day
Waltzing Matilda
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
(swagman = an unemployed man traveling Australia in search of work with his bedroll – a swag, billabong = a water hole or lake, coolibah = type of gum tree, billy = usually a tin can with a wire handle, used to boil water over the fire for tea.)
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong
Up got the swaggie and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
(jumbuck = a young sheep, swaggie = same as swagman, tucker-bag = a corn sack or sugar bag used to keep tucker (food) in)
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Down came the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Up came the troopers One Two Three
Who’s the jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker-bag?
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
(squatter = a rich land owner, troopers = mounted police)
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Who’s the jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker-bag?
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me.
Up got the swaggie and jumped into the billabong
You’ll never catch me alive said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You’ll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
What country are YOU celebrating life in today?
