by Krista | May 14, 2018 | Autumn
When my friend Shirley was diagnosed with cancer last year, she and I talked about what we could do to help her through it. She said she’d love to have something to look forward to, something to focus on through all the blech she knew she’d face, and when I suggested a trip to Tasmania to Eat All The Things, her whole face lit up and we knew we had a winner.
So that’s what we focused on. That’s what we brought up when I’d take her to an appointment or she’d stop by for coffee after she’d been to one. It’s what we dreamed of when her hair fell out and the effects of treatment knocked her flat. We’d picture Tasmania In Autumn with crisp apples and falling leaves and weather cold enough to need sweaters and scarves and cute boots.
But by the time the trip rolled around, life had happened for both of us. Finances were tight, I was ill with an unknown thing that would land me in hospital 2 months later, she was exhausted from recovery.
So we sat down with cuppas at our kitchen table, discussed all the reasons it was more sensible to stay home….and decided to go anyway.
I’m so glad we did.
There’s something rather lovely about traveling when you’re not at your best. Your expectations hover somewhere around “Get up in the morning, see something new, go to bed”, so you really can’t help but be delighted with each day no matter what happens.
We made things as easy as possible for ourselves. Instead of staying in new rooms each night, we rented two holiday homes, one near Launceston and one near Hobart. This allowed us to have beautiful and quiet places to rest, kitchens to cook up the gorgeous food we collected on our travels, and it was much cheaper than hotels. We also got a rental car so we would always have a place to rest while on our adventures, and didn’t have to depend on public transport if we were wobbly.
Our first nights were spent in a lovely cottage in Hadspen, just outside Launceston. It is a charming spot of lush gardens overlooking the river. It was small and cozy and run by the loveliest couple who chatted with us, gave us all sorts of ideas for where to visit, and treated us like family.
On our first day we each bought a bottle of Tasmanian wine (white for her, red for me) a gift box of Tasmanian cheeses, fresh bread and butter, and we were set.
Each evening we’d watch the sunset over the hills, discussing our favourite experiences of the day, plotting our next adventure. We read books and magazines, took naps, had early nights and leisurely breakfasts, and made it a holiday to suit us, just as we were.
We began our Tasmanian adventure in Launceston, driving over the mist-shrouded river to Launceston Cataract Gorge & First Basin, a gorgeous place of spectacular natural beauty and fun things like a cherry red chairlift that whisked us off our feet and took us on a beautiful ride over the water and up to the mountain.
There were lovely gardens to amble through, surrounding a wonderful gazebo nearly hidden in the towering pines.
Shirley and I both love gardens. Shirley has her degree in horticulture and has taught me so much, so we happily wandered the twisting pathways, taking pictures of the peacocks and wallabies who live there. I sighed happily over the hydrangeas, the flowers of my youth in Canada and Washington State, and the magnificent pine trees that swayed gently in the wind.
We looked over the map of criss-crossing trails, and chose one we hoped would be beautiful.
It was.
It wound along the mountain side, curving sinuously around rocky outcroppings and sheer cliffs. Multicolored stones guarded one side of us, while the glistening river flowed serenely below.
I never cease to be amazed at the plants and trees that can grow and even flourish in utterly inhospitable ground. A landscape of boulders would be the last place I’d choose to plant myself, but somehow, things grow here.
Since we arrived early in the morning, there were hardly any other walkers along the trail. It was so nice to find benches like this along the way where we could sit in the shade and watch the river and breathe in the scent of moss and damp leaves.
I loved the mottled rocks covered with lichen and moss, looking so solid and ancient. They gave such a lovely feeling of security and safety.
And these wild daisies delighted me no end, perched on the edge of a cliff with the barest shimmer of earth to sink their roots into. Yet they flourish. Sometimes all we have to do is hang on, and that’s enough to keep us living.
As we walked through the early morning sunshine, the sound of bagpipes suddenly echoed down the gorge. Old spirituals and Celtic tunes danced among the rocks, making us feel like we were in a medieval fairytale instead of a few steps away from bustling Launceston.
The water tumbling over rocks was mesmerizing as I peered over the ledge watching birds swoop and lizards scuttle.
Clouds started rolling as we headed back to the chairlift, turning the forest from shimmering glades to something out of Germany’s Black Forest.
We walked slowly, willing the trail to last a bit longer, and we both agreed that if this was all we saw in Tasmania, it had been worth the trip.
Thankfully, there were many more beauties to come.
by Krista | May 11, 2018 | Autumn
Winter is in the air this morning. With the sunrise came frosty winds hurtling around corners and through open windows we didn’t need to close yesterday, numbing our fingers and the tips of our noses. I hauled the heater out and am opening boxes of winter clothing to find cozy sweaters and flannel shirts and woolen socks. Winter is definitely on its way.
It’s been a rough month health-wise around here, with trips to hospitals and doctor’s offices, surgical procedures and innumerable tests. We’re both better now, the bad stuff has been fixed and is healing, but we’re tired. So instead of throwing ourselves back into the normal swing of things, we’re taking things slow and steady, making sure our bodies have the rest and nutrition they need to recover well.
This recovery time has been quite lovely, especially with the arrival of the cold weather. Snuggling under the covers for naps is even better when the wind is howling around the eaves. Nourishing soups and hot cups of tea are just the ticket for restoring our spirits and keeping us warm. And it’s been so good to have time to watch beloved movies, read books, and just sit quietly in a puddle of sunshine with a cuddly puppy in my lap.
We were able to take our first medieval camping trip of the season, thanks to the efforts of our Blackwolf crew who did the heavy lifting and made sure our roles were mostly supervisory. I’ve never had such a relaxing time at an event, and cherished every bit of it.
I loved getting up early and starting the fire, putting a pot of water on to boil for those oh-so-vital cuppas first thing in the morning. Fezzik sat beside me as the flames crackled and snapped, and wagged his tail happily as one friend after another wandered in, pulled up a chair, made a brew, and stayed to visit until well after the sun came up.
Evenings were the best when the work of the day was done and old friends and new gathered round bearing bottles of smooth whiskey and homemade mead. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages as I did those nights, wiping the tears from my eyes as those lovely people told outrageous stories and groan-worthy jokes. Sometimes I’d leave the fire just so I could look in at that circle of faces that are so dear to me, watching them throw their heads back in laughter or reach over to pat a shoulder as talk turned to the nitty-gritty stuff of life. Friendship can be such a hard thing to find as an adult, and I’m so grateful for these moments that fill my heart and keep me going.
We got home on Monday, and settled in just in time for much-needed rain to fall. It perked up our gardens and orchards and made the air smell so fresh and clean.
After some good rest I got back to work, interviewing inspiring people and writing their stories for Highlife magazine, a wonderful Australian publication that shares real stories of the people who live and work in Southern Queensland. It is such a delight to me to meet so many different people and write about their lives and passions and quirks and hopes.
I also did a photoshoot for a client and friend who makes fabulous reusable beeswax wraps that can be used in place of plastic wrap, plastic baggies, that sort of thing. It’s always fun to work with people whose work I love, and these wraps are wonderful. She’s perfected her recipe so the wraps stick well and mold beautifully around any container. Click here if you’d like to get a few of your own.
I’m doing wood-working and wood-burning this week and I love that so much. A client hired me to design and make a sign for her shop, and I’m so excited about it. I’ve picked out the wood and marked out the shape, and soon I’ll be surrounded by sawdust as I cut and sand and get it ready for burning.
I’m working on some new designs for my Etsy shop as well, including some medieval-style implements that make me happy just looking at them. Can’t wait to share them with you.
Now I’m heading down to the granny flat to get cozy under a blanket and do some personal writing and drawing. These are the things that calm and settle me and help me heal and focus. There’s nothing like a bit of solitude and silence to get rid of the clutter in my thoughts and help me figure out what to let go of, what to work through, and what to embrace with courage and resolve. xo
Do you have a place you go to for sorting through things? I’d love to hear about it.
by Krista | May 3, 2018 | Autumn
It’s a quiet day at home as Bear and I prepare for our first medieval event of the season. It’s lovely to just potter peacefully along, polishing knives and oiling wooden implements, hanging linen sheets out to dry in the sunshine and collecting dishes and cutlery.
The kitchen smells rather wonderful as sausages fry with onions, carrots dusted with cumin roast in the oven, and lime beer cools on the kitchen table.
In between projects I rest, recovering from a medical situation that resulted in a trip to hospital and a surgical procedure that we hope will resolve an issue that made me ill for the past 5 weeks. I’m thankful for savvy doctors and clear test results and cancellations that allowed me to get the treatment I needed in record time. I’m especially thankful for kind souls who have loved me and helped me through this, and I’m hopeful that rest, and Bear’s continued good care, will have me back in good form soon.
It has been a scary time for me, so I’m really grateful I had good things to look forward to, like our enactors-only medieval weekend where we get to just enjoy medieval life with our medieval mates.
Our Blackwolf members have been lovely, stepping in when I wasn’t well, doing an amazing job getting our trailer loaded and menu planned and wood chopped. I’m so looking forward to four days with them, comfy around the campfire, while our lovely caretakers keep a good watch on our farm and animals.
Today I took time from packing to wood-burn a few things just for me, and each piece makes me so happy. From the short-handled ladle and Scandinavian butter knife to the splendid dagger Bear gave me. It’s nice to make my personal medieval gear extra special.
Soon it will be time to pack up the food, bottle the lime beer, and get the last of our gear loaded into the car, but first, a nap, and pain-killers, then a strong cup of tea.
Wishing you a beautiful and restful weekend with people you love. xo
by Krista | Apr 9, 2018 | Autumn
Since February, we’ve been dealing with a man who is stalking me. We put up No Trespassing signs, installed guard dogs, filed reports with the police, and issued warnings, but nothing has stopped him.
Last week I walked out of our kitchen and there he was, on our doorstep.
Thankfully Bear was home and we did exactly what the police told us to do: I stayed in the house on the phone with the cops, while Bear kept him talking long enough for the police to get here.
We’ve added locks to our gates, another guard dog just for me, and the police have promised to get here immediately should he show up again. I’ve been taking self-defense lessons and I practice scenarios with Bear on What To Do If This Happens Again.
Mostly I’ve been working through fear.
Since I arrived in Australia, our farm has been my safe haven, my oasis, my place of peace and security. He shattered that. And for a while, I couldn’t rest. My body returned to the fight or flight state it had been in for so many years, and only recently healed from. Nightmares came back, and I wasn’t sleeping well, always listening for him so I could protect myself and be safe.
I also wrestled with shame, because Truly Strong Women aren’t supposed to be afraid. They’re supposed to be so strong in themselves that no outside force can disturb their peace.
I’m not sure where this idea comes from, this notion that true strength is not being affected by events and behavior around us, this ludicrous idea that some emotions and reactions are bad and others are good. When emotions are put into Positive and Negative camps, they add twisted things to the mix: an odd sense of security when you’re feeling the positive, and shame when you’re feeling the negative.
Over the weekend I decided I’d had quite enough of shame, so I decided to simply let myself be afraid without judgment or condemnation or attempts to suppress or change.
And I observed something very interesting.
Fear with shame is crippling, isolating, debilitating. It made me want to hide away from the world, stay home with doors locked and window shades pulled, keep myself closed off from anything that could hurt or endanger me.
Fear without shame is clarifying, grounding, empowering. It helped me be real and honest with myself and Bear and the police. “I’m scared and he is scaring me, so what do I do?”
It was so comforting to give myself permission to be scared. It took away the fear of the fear, and allowed me to focus on a plan instead.
I’ve been practicing Causing A Scene with Bear, because that doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m getting quite good at hollering loudly, and giving Bear much amusement in the process.
I talked it all through with the police and I know exactly what to do within the bounds of Australian law, which is quite different from what I grew up with.
And I keep on living beautifully, hand in hand with fear. I was afraid and made rose petal jam. I was afraid and made medieval wool tassels and braided cord. I was afraid and baked Earl Grey cheesecakes and a big pot of Smoked Ham and Potato Soup.
Letting fear hang out with me as long as it needs to has been an amazing thing. I’m still afraid of him. He’s a bastard and a bad man and he does scary things, but I’m not crippled by the fear. I can be afraid of him and still live a beautiful life. I can be afraid to go to town, and still go to town and have a great time. I can be afraid of being alone on the farm, and still be alone on the farm and have a great day. I can be afraid of travelling by myself, and still travel by myself and have a great trip.
Last night I had my first good sleep. No nightmares. No anxiety. No laying awake in the dark thinking of worst case scenarios. I just slept. I’ve had some alone hours on the farm, and they’ve been lovely. Feeding the animals, sighing happily over baby chicks and a newborn lamb, watering the new seedlings that popped up, cuddling my awesome guard pup, Fezzik, who is already protecting me beautifully. And I’ve planned a solitary road trip for myself for later this week. I’m going to the mountains and the ocean and will have a picnic on the beach with a good friend.
The bad man may scare me, but he doesn’t get to steal my life, and that is a wonderful thing. xo
by Krista | Mar 26, 2018 | Autumn
It is quiet and still this afternoon. Fezzik, our new Rottweiler pup, is sleeping on the floor beside me, a pork roast is slow-cooking in the oven, filling the house with wonderful smells, and the cuckoo clock is ticking softly, making everything feel peaceful and steady.
I’m feeling so thankful today after a decidedly rough couple of weeks.
I’ve had a feeling for a while that my body was nearly ready to tackle the next layer of bad stuff from my past. I wasn’t looking forward to it – the darkness is painful and sad and awful – but I was looking forward to the light I knew would come after.
The trigger came the day a friend asked, “Did this happen to you?” That simple question blasted a hole in the dam of that next layer, and memories and flashbacks poured in like a flood. That week was supposed to be spent writing my travel articles early so I wouldn’t be cramming at the end, but instead it was spent processing those memories, grappling with grief and fear and pain, wrestling with the painful truth that no one is all good or all bad.
It would be so much easier to deal with bad guys if they were all bad, but they aren’t. And I think that’s what traps us sometimes, what keeps us in abusive relationships, families, work situations, friendships. I think that’s what makes us feel guilty when we break off contact or limit contact or set boundaries with people. Yes, we tell ourselves, this person makes me afraid, insecure, unworthy of love or kindness or respect, this person physically harms me, emotionally crushes me or spiritually abuses me, BUT sometimes they’re really nice, so we stay, and other people think they’re really nice, so we stay, and we don’t have enough money/support/knowledge to leave, so we stay.
It’s the staying part that crushed me the most this week. How could I not have known that “this” wasn’t OK? How could I have “let” them do this? How could I not have done then what I would do now?
My friend, Alyssa, shared these words, and how I love them:
“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”
There’s life in those words, life and hope and comfort.
So I did the healing work.
I wrote out the truth of what happened, how it affected me, and how it made me feel.
I drew out the truth.
I spoke out the truth.
And I forgave myself for not knowing what I didn’t know before I learned it.
Through it all, I took extra good care of myself, because such things take the stuffings out of us, don’t they? Homemade soup, walks outside, puppy cuddles, hubby cuddles, as much sleep and rest as I could get.
And when all the bad was out, it was time to fill in those spaces with good things, with truth, with connections to good, loving people.
We had our medieval friends over for a sausage-roast over the campfire, fun projects, and, most importantly, good hugs. When you’ve worked through betrayals from the past, it’s deeply healing to connect with the faithful friends.
We went for bike rides and painted on the veranda and bought flowers and seedlings to put in my gardens.
I also started building good, loving connections with my past. Remembering the good things doesn’t blot out the bad things or make them OK, it just reminds me of the good things that shaped me, kept my soul intact, and gave me the courage and strength to survive the bad.
I drew pictures of the things and people and experiences that brought me joy then and bring me joy now: singing around the Christmas tree, camping in the Canadian wilderness, beloved books and old movies, popcorn, cheese and apples every Sunday night, campfires and s’mores, sleigh rides at night over the Alberta prairies, listening to audio books on road trips, playing with legos, canoeing when mist still hung over the lake, watching old Disney movies, reading old books.
These are the things from my past that I cherish, the things I carry with me into the life I have now, a life I’m beyond grateful for.
What are precious things from your past that bring you joy today? xo
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