“The world is quiet here.”
Lemony Snicket
It’s a beautifully peaceful Monday morning on our Australian goat farm. The skies are dark and heavy with clouds and there’s nary a breath of wind, only a few bold birds singing while the rest of the world is silent.
I love quiet days like this. Days of napping and horizon-watching, endless cups of coffee and tea, old movies and good books.
It was just such a weekend and my heart is full with the joy of it. My strength restored, my creativity revived.
I’m so grateful for this quiet weekend. It healed wounds reopened last week and gave me time to calm fluttering anxious thoughts and get my soul peaceful again. It is so good to not be flattened by those painful situations life hurls at us, but only pummeled a bit.
It’s even better to stand up tall after the fact and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that in spite of dark moments, life is an incredible gift to be treasured and delighted in.
“If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body,
and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night,
or any other indicators of vastness,
the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy.”
R. Ravindra
On such days I like simple foods. Easy, healthful things that don’t require much time or effort or ingenuity but still taste marvelous.
Like roasted asparagus, roasted potatoes, and roasted radishes.
There is something so comforting and nourishing about such simple fare. The crispy bits, caramelized and salty, melting on the tongue with an intensity of flavor that can’t be found in boiling or sauteing. I can happily eat whole plates of these roasted veggies with a bit of delicious cheese or a hunk of sourdough olive bread.
Today I’m roasting peaches and nectarines for a coconut crumble, and cannot wait to eat it for breakfast with a big dollop of plain Greek yogurt.
I’ve been reading more these days, finding inestimable comfort, wisdom and creativity in the experiences of others.
I love how different we all are. How uniquely even similar experiences affect, inspire and shape us.
I read a lot of your blogs and really love doing so, but it occurred to me this weekend that perhaps some of you are writing and I don’t know about it. If you DO have a blog, I’d love it if you could share the address with me (and each other!) in the comments. I love getting to know you through comments and emails, but it would be great to read about your blog world too. 🙂
Now I must get up out of my comfy green chair and pickle some heirloom beets, get those peaches and nectarines in the oven, and fold the pile of laundry that’s been sitting utterly neglected since Friday. 🙂
What is nourishing your soul this weekend?
Oh my gosh, that asparagus is to die for! You just made me so hungry. Truly a beautiful feast. I’m reading “Perfect Health” by Deepak Chopra right now and am delighting in finding more to the mind/body connection. Some of the wisdom really resonates with me, some of the medical information is interesting, and overall it’s a fun read, although going more slowly than I’d like because I’m reading some fiction as well. But it’s good to keep a broad perspective, and I too enjoy reading many blogs, books, and websites. Have a wonderful meal, and let’s hear about the peaches and nectarines after they are baked!
That book sounds SO good, @google-02232a5b5f18909086c3561a7da4b876:disqus 🙂 I really love books that teach me how to unite myself in health and wholeness. 🙂 So glad I get to follow your blog! 🙂
These photos embody all that’s nurturing, healthy and “slow”. Thanks for that gift, Krista! I hope you’re feeling a little stronger this week, a little more comfy in your bod and thoughts. What a beautiful spirit-boosting landscape! XX
I’m so glad they speak “slow” to you too, dear @c22725794d55a7fa0e6d936dd8f2195a:disqus 🙂 I AM a bit stronger this week and feeling so very grateful for it. 🙂 xo
Reading nourished my soul too this weekend Krista. I was able to take some time to sit and finish a book that has been sitting in my room for quite a while. I was pushed to read it by the fact that I can’t extend the loan any longer at the library. It sounds like you had a great soul restoring weekend.
I am so glad, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 We NEED these moments, don’t we? I’m always so glad when I do it, and always wonder why it took me so long to make it happen. 🙂
That knife looks like a relic from the past. The fork also reminds me of my parents, but the knife looks even older. As for the asparagus – yum!
The knife is very, very old, @google-01bbdd9fc7f53cd54265810538a0c5c5:disqus 🙂 So is the fork, for that matter, but the knife has definitely seen more use over the years. 🙂
I did not realize that radishes could be roasted! Love your washing on the line shot, and your fine old plate. I did not know you had a goat farm – I love goats – my grandmother had a small herd of milkers.
They sure can, @twitter-372728890:disqus ! It’s my favorite way to eat them. 🙂 We sure do have a goat farm. 🙂 I love goats too.
Lovely, peaceful, calming photos as must be living there. And all the roasting and cooking. How can any of this be anything other than therapeutic?
You are so right, @71eb07213759ab4e5611e1dd9f1df8a7:disqus 🙂 I feel like living here is such a gift. 🙂
I’m so glad you had a peaceful weekend! It sounds like just what you needed. That and some roasted veggie love are my ideal weekend also!
Thank you, dear @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus 🙂 It did my soul much good. I hope your weekend was wonderful too! 🙂
OMG Krista! I was salivating just reading about your coconut crumble (can you share the recipe?) So pleased you had time to nurture your soul Krista. As I said
in my last blog post (to which you commented), we all need time to do this; it really does make us stronger and nicer people. So pleased you are feeling
revived (how can you not in those beautiful surroundings?) xx
I sure will, dear @twitter-178266953:disqus 🙂 I hope to share it this Friday. 🙂 Thank you so much for your inspiring words. You always strengthen and encourage me with your posts. 🙂
Such a gorgeous and motivating post Krista! What’s nourishing me is finally having the time to start cooking all the recipes I’ve pulled out of magazines a long time ago 🙂
Thank you so much, @119c2cee80d4ff8a6f3916096ddfc8dd:disqus 🙂 I love your nourishing project!!! How fun to finally cook things you’ve been dreaming about for so long. 🙂
Oh wow they look just incredible!!! I want an Australian goat farm. 🙂
Oh thank you, dear @facebook-500212569:disqus 🙂 You are welcome to share mine ANY time. 🙂
You are so lucky to live on this little slice of farm heaven! But I guess living 10 minutes away from the beach isn’t bad on my end 🙂
Not bad at all, @bcdeb9873aa58892d29aa565c71353f5:disqus !!! 🙂 One day I will live that close to the beach. 🙂 At least. 🙂
Oh, Krista…your photos are spectacular – the peacefulness just glows. I used to tease my BF, a health nut, who is perfectly satisfied with veggies for dinner by themselves. I would tell him “it’s a side dish – we need a protein!”. Well..now I enjoy it immensely..especially roasted asparagus, although I end up poaching an egg or two with it ;D Beautiful post as always..and yes, we are indeed all different in the way we write and express ourselves on our blogs….and it’s always a pleasure to read..whether it be happy, silly, introspective..sad etc. xoxo
Thank you so much, @twitter-278132737:disqus 🙂 It makes me laugh that you used to tease your BF. Isn’t if funny how we change as we age? 🙂 XO
Love the food photos as always, you have such a great way at showing rustic food in a beautiful way.
Thanks so much, Ayngelina. 🙂 It is the rustic foods I love best. 🙂
oooh coconut crumble sounds intriguing. Eric LOVES coconut. I may have to spend some energy making something special for him. 🙂
It is so darn good, Marie!!! Robbie requests it as soon as the last batch has been cleaned up. 🙂
Mmm – coconut crumble sounds too good!