by Krista | May 8, 2012 | Compatriot Wednesday
Dreaming about possible travels is one of my favorite things to do. The trip may not happen, I may never see in person the places I dream about, but I sure have fun researching and planning.
This month at Across the Cafe Table at the Travel Belles, we are discussing, “Planning A Dream Birthday Trip.”
The mind boggles at such a thing. Casting off the fetters of budgets and limited vacation days and letting the imagination run wild is marvelous fun indeed. But in addition to being a dreamer, I am a practical woman. So today I’m going to write about three dream birthday trips to suit an assortment of budgets: Mostly Broke, Getting By and Sitting Pretty.
My Mostly Broke Dream Birthday Trip will be a day trip since I can’t afford hotels, plane fare or fancy restaurants.
Place: I will head straight for the ocean, somewhere like Bribie Island where I can spend the day with my nearest and dearest napping in the sunshine, walking the beach and looking for treasures, and finding a shady spot to read an escapist novel set in France or Italy.
Food: I’ll pack enough victuals for two meals since we have to stay to watch the sunset. For lunch we’ll have chicken salad croissants, sugar snap peas, minty lemonade, and generous slices of dark chocolate tart. And for dinner, hmm, I think a savory tart studded with sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and feta, followed by ripe strawberries, dark chocolate with sea salt, and champagne will be just the ticket.
Cost: About $100, the price of a full tank of petrol and groceries.
How: Set aside $10 from my grocery budget each month and put it in a birthday fund.
My Getting By Dream Birthday Trip will be an overnight somewhere with lots and lots of good food.
Place: I admit I’ll head straight for the beach again. It truly is a happy place for me. This time I think I’ll go to the Gold Coast and find a cozy but simple bed and breakfast with a big soft bed, down-filled doonah, and a bathtub for me to luxuriate in. I will sleep in until the sun wakes me up, swim in the warm water, lounge on the beach, and eat heartily.
Food: There will be no cooking for me on this trip. In addition to a delicious breakfast at the B&B, I’ll track down mid-range but delicious restaurants such as Milan on Main where I’ll happily tuck into things like trout-filled crepes drizzled with heady balsamic reduction or creamy seafood pasta with fresh dill and lime.
Cost: About $350 for B&B, petrol, and restaurants.
How: Set aside $30/month. Do this by not going to the movies 3 times or not going out for coffee 6 times or eating vegetarian twice instead of buying a beef or pork roast.
My Sitting Pretty Dream Birthday Trip will be a month at a villa in Italy.
Place: Ever since I watched “A Month by the Lake” I have dreamed of renting a villa for 30 days in early summer on Lake Como, Italy. Doesn’t that sound glorious? I will swim every day, take boat rides on the lake, and spend hours in the sun reading, napping, and visiting with the dear souls who are with me. I’ll take long walks anywhere I like and frequent local bakeries, pastry shops, wine bars, and restaurants. I’ll take day trips to nearby Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta and board the train for journeys up through the Alps into Switzerland. I will dance in the moonlight and sip wine on the terrace and watch the sun rise and set. I will live a beautiful, idyllic life for one whole month with people I love and treasure every second of it.
Food: Oh my, where do I start? I will have multiple cups of strong Italian coffee and sweet pastries every morning, eaten on the terrace as the sun rises over the lake. I will have my own chef on hand to prepare glorious lunches and desserts and pastries right there in the villa, a jolly fellow who laughs loudly and tells outrageous stories. At night I will dress up in gorgeous, twirly dresses and go to town, to explore and try out restaurants until I find my favorite, then eat there every night so that for one month I will feel like a regular as I’m greeted by name and with smiles. I will wear sundresses every day and visit the markets for fresh fruits, artisan cheeses and homemade sausages to take on picnics in the hills and train journeys to nearby places of beauty. I will sample local wines and collect bottles to bring home. And, best of all, I shall not gain ANY weight because of all the walking and exploring I shall do. 😉
Cost: Total: $13,000-$20,000
- Villa rental – $5000-$10,000
- Travel (train tickets, car rental, petrol, boat hire) – $3000
- Plane fare – $2000 (from Australia) $1200 (from US/Canada)
- Food/wine – $3000-$4500
How:
- Option One: Be very, very rich. 😉
- Option Two: Set aside $361/mo for three years (low end) $555/mo for three years (high end).
- Option Three: Find friends to go with you and split the cost.
- 4 friends (low end)
- Total: $6200
- How: Save $259/mo for two years or $172/mo for three years
- 6 friends (low end)
- Total: $5533
- How: Save $231/mo for two years or $154/mo for three years
- 4 friends (high end)
- Total: $9750
- How: Save $407/mo for two years or $271/mo for three years
- 6 friends (high end)
- Total: $8666
- How: Save $361/mo for two years or $241/mo for three years
- Option Four: Cut costs in half by taking the train instead of renting a car, cooking your own food in the villa kitchen, and renting a smaller villa.
Sigh…what a lovely dream that is. 🙂 Perhaps one day we shall all see such a dream come true.
How about you? What would be YOUR dream birthday trip?
by Krista | May 6, 2012 | Bootstrap Monday
How I love Autumn in Australia. Each morning I bundle up in sweater and socks, wrap a blanket tight around my legs and park myself in front of the heater. Within an hour or two I step outside into glorious sunshine and brilliant blue skies with air so warm I have to don a sundress or I get too hot.
Heavenly.
Last time I shared a few of the beauties to be found on our Australian goat farm in Autumn, and today I’ll share a few more.
I never cease to be amazed at the brilliant snippets of color to be found in what looks at first glance to be a sea of gold and brown.
Like these bright pink blossoms bobbing in the wind down by the pond.
Or these fabulous spiky, lime green pods dangling from long branches.
And these cheery little fuchsia blossoms nearly hidden among the long, golden grasses.
There are also the lovely things you expect to find in autumn: fallen leaves.
This green one caught my eye with dew drops glistening in the sunlight, and I liked the look of these rich brown ones caught on an old barbed wire fence.
Yesterday we had a marvelous time with several of our medieval friends from Black Wolf. The air rang with the clash of swords and the cheers of kids. I loved it. 🙂
We had a medieval feast on the back porch with all sorts of Turkish fare: garlicky flat bread and creamy yogurt dip, hot buttery hummus with toasted pine nuts, and a hot carrot dip with caraway, dill and paprika.
I’ll share the other Turkish recipes soon – but I promised two of my aunts that I’d post the carrot one immediately, so here goes. 🙂
What’s your favorite moment of your weekend?
Turkish Hot Carrot Dip
Ingredients:
10 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 Tbsp caraway seeds
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp paprika
2 Tbsp fresh dill, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup crispy fried onions
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Steam or boil carrots and caraway seeds until carrots are soft enough to mash with a fork.
- Drain and place in food processor (or blend by hand) and add all remaining ingredients except onions.
- Taste for seasoning, add more if you like it stronger.
- Pour carrot mixture into pie pan or earthenware pan. Top with crispy fried onions and bake 20-30 minutes until mixture is bubbling around the edges.
- Serve warm with slices of Turkish flat bread.
by Krista | May 4, 2012 | Fabulous Friday
The sun is shining gloriously today and I am glad. Sometimes rainy days are a comfort, but after a hard-fought emotional battle, the soul needs sunshine.
Thank you so much for your kind and supportive comments and emails on my last post. They meant a great deal to me and helped me through the inevitable crash that comes after sharing such things. XO My heart aches for those of you who have gone through similar and much worse abuses. I wish I could hug you tight and hope very much for your healing and peace and courage. I’m so glad that no matter what we’ve gone through, we are not alone. So glad that no matter what painful things happen to us, we can always make something beautiful and wonderful out of our lives. I love you dear, brave souls so much.
After writing that post I went for a long walk with my dogs, Fletcher and Luna. It was an exquisitely beautiful Autumn day with deliciously warm sunshine that illumined the rich colors of this season. Hope you like this stroll through the bush with us. 🙂
Prickly pears are ripe and prolific right now. We have one bush that is at least 30 feet high!!! I think they look like something out of a Dr. Seuss story with their fuchsia fruit and prickles everywhere. 🙂 My friend Ann is going to teach me how to make prickly pear jelly one of these days, and I can’t wait. 🙂
The grasses towered over Luna who stuck close to my heels instead of tearing off into the bush with Fletcher.
We passed a lot of kangaroos and they bounded away after we roused from their naps in the sun-warmed fields. No matter how many times I see them, they always make me grin.
I kept craning my neck to see the trees etched against the brilliant blue sky. I never tire of that sight.
I came across this bush covered in tiny orange fruits almost as hard as a nut. I have no idea what they are – any Aussies out there know? Whatever they are, they’re gorgeous and so cheery.
I have a few more discoveries to share with you, but I’ll save them for next time. It’s the start of a long weekend and time to get in cozy pjs, pour a glass of wine, and curl up on the couch to watch a movie.
What are you looking forward to this weekend?
xo
by Krista | May 1, 2012 | Compatriot Wednesday
One of the men who molested me died last month.
I don’t know what one is supposed to feel in these circumstances, but I feel tired. And relieved. And very quiet. Like I’ve been holding my breath for a long time and can finally let it out.
Just before I received the news, a friend wrote about “sitting quietly with pain.” At the time I didn’t have any situation to apply it to, but when this man died, I had a big one.
So I’ve been sitting quietly with this pain. Letting my mind and heart and spirit sort through whatever they need to. I cry when I need to cry. I get angry when I need to get angry. I go for long walks through the bush with my dogs, letting nature and fresh air and exertion have their healing way.
I’ve been reading a lot. Good books that help me grieve. Ones that give me hope. Others that make me laugh. It’s amazing how powerful words are.
I’ve also been looking at pictures. Beautiful pictures of sunny spring days in Albania (here and here) and Slovenia, transporting myself to places that have known deep pain and upheaval but have grown into places of incredible beauty and serenity.
For the first few weeks I lost my joy, my passion for the things that normally bring me such happiness. I didn’t want to cook or travel or spend time with people. I just wanted to sleep, to stay at home and be safe.
I’m doing better now. Much, much better. Anger, grief and fear have run their course and my heart is at rest. I can think of him and what he did without needing to throw-up or hide away. He has no power over me. I am no longer a victim. I am strong and brave and I am choosing Life.
I’m back to cooking again. 🙂 Lovely, sunny things like this Orange Yogurt Tart with a coconut-flavored crust. It goes awfully nice with a creamy cup of hot coffee.
Thank you for being wonderful, bright spots in my life, dear ones. I’m so grateful for you. xo
Orange Yogurt Tart with Coconut Crust
Ingredients for Crust:
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
pinch salt
2 tsp coconut flavoring
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
Ingredients for filling:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
juice and zest from four large oranges
2/3 cup granulated sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Combine all ingredients for crust and press into 10-inch fluted tart or quiche pan.
- Par-bake for twenty minutes.
- While it is baking, place butter and yogurt in small saucepan over pan of boiling water. Stir until thoroughly combined then set aside.
- In another small saucepan add eggs, egg yolks, sugar and orange juice. Place over pan of boiling water and stir constantly for three minutes. (If you don’t stir, you’ll get scrambled eggs instead of a smooth filling.) Add orange zest and yogurt mixture and stir constantly for another three minutes.
- Remove from heat and pour into par-baked crust.
- Place in oven
- Pour the orange filling into the prepared pastry and bake 30-35 minutes, until top browns beautifully.
- Cool before serving.
