by Krista | Oct 27, 2015 | Spring
Deep breath.
These are precious words to me. Words that have helped me get through every difficult moment in my life. The words I recite to myself when life gets wobbly and I feel off kilter.
Deep breath.
It always helps. Always.
It’s been a Lots Of Deep Breaths couple of weeks for me. Not terrible, not traumatic, just, well, wobbly. One of those seasons where my body decides it’s time to dig deep again, to wrestle around with fears and insecurities that my weary self would rather just shush for awhile. But shushing doesn’t work. It just makes the Fidgety Things shout louder and make a fuss.
So I’ve stepped back a bit to deal with those things, to look into the scared places and uncertain spots and wavering moments and figure out what my body needs to get back to well-being.
Some things are better now. And I don’t have to remind myself to breathe when I think about them. They’ve lost their power and I’ve gained strength.
Other things will take a while. They require a bit more courage, a bit more love, a bit more understanding before they can be resolved. So I’m waiting quietly with them, wishing them well, trusting that the It’s OK Now will come in time.
Hence, the silence here. I find it quite impossible to write Mid-Wobble.
Soon I will write again, and share my little adventures and small celebrations, but for now I need to breathe and look after the things that need a bit of extra care right now.
Wishing you peaceful hearts and the sure knowledge that you are loved. xo
by Krista | Oct 15, 2015 | Spring
For awhile now the sun burned grass has crunched underfoot when we walk across the farm, tree branches hang heavy with dust, the air filled with smoke from nearby bush fires. But yesterday, the rains came. Not a lot, not enough, but it came, and we’re so thankful.
This morning the air is clear and fresh, smelling of damp earth and soggy leaves, the ground is spongy, sticking to my boots and making me an inch or two taller by the time I get home again. The whole farm is clean and sparkling and dust-free.
It is glorious.
Yesterday I hustled from pen to pen, hastily feeding up as the storm clouds darkened and thickened and thunder rumbled ominously. I made it back to the house just as the first drops fell and quickly decided that all plans for writing projects, laundry, and dishes were off the table. I was going to enjoy this rain.
I brewed a big cup of Earl Grey tea, grabbed my journal and stack of outdated but still treasured Victoria magazines, and went to the back veranda where I could sit and luxuriate in the storm without getting drenched.
I love Earl Grey tea when it’s raining. It just fits somehow. The scent of Bergamot, the creamy combination of milk and maple syrup. It delights me.
Victoria magazine has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. My Mum had the very first issue and we started collecting them, spending hours reading and rereading them, finding nourishment for our spirits as much as inspiration for life. They were like old friends and I missed them deeply when I had to leave them behind when I moved to Australia. Now and then my friend Parker sends me a few issues, and I cherish them, hoarding them for rainy days when I can sit quietly and thoroughly enjoy each photo and article.
And my journal, dearest non-human friend of all. Isn’t it good to have a safe place to pour out thoughts and feelings, frustrations and fears, hopes and wonderings? To work through all the nitty-gritty of life and relationships and somehow, in the writing, come to clarity, understanding, and peace.
I used to reread my journals, laughing uproariously at my dramatic turns of phrase and my passionate “the world is ENDING” moments. It helped me to see all the highs and lows I’d already navigated, to be reminded that most of the things I feared never took place, and even when they did, I found the courage and strength to face them. There’s something about looking back now and then that gives me the pluck I need to tackle whatever is facing me now.
Mostly my old words remind me to breathe. In and out until the racing heart and thoughts calm to a sensible pace. Life is always going to be topsy-turvy. Always. But we’ve been through so much already, we can handle this, whatever this is.
Bear joined me on the veranda near the end of the storm, taking a break from his to do list to rest a while and have a chat. It made me smile.
What is your favorite thing to do when rain falls? xo
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by Krista | Oct 13, 2015 | Spring
Do the things that make for peace.
I don’t know where I heard that line, but I like it very much. And I needed it this frazzleicious week after utterly neglecting the self-care that is so necessary for my peace. I easily get caught up in the “have to’s and forget about the little things that make the “have-to’s” so much more bearable. So I stopped myself in my tracks over the weekend and got back to doing the things.
I put on an audio book while I did dishes and made meals, letting myself enjoy someone else’s adventures while I worked.
I migrated between the big green armchair and bed reading an entire book, cover to cover. My reading usually consists of a page here, a chapter there, squeezed in between chores, so this was sheer bliss.
I started a new journal with a gorgeous peacock on the front of it. There’s something about fresh, clean pages that inspire me, and it always does me good to write, write, write until the anxiety and stress are gone.
I met up with Bear around the farm for chats, discussing project priorities, fixing this and that, taking a few more steps towards getting our farm to the place we want it to be. It’s amazing how finishing one niggling project, no matter how little, makes such a great contribution to my sense of well-being.
I went to bed early so my 4:50 a.m. wake up for work wasn’t so shocking.
I harvested beets, asparagus, and peas and planted the seedlings I’ve been nurturing in my greenhouse: purple beans, Jack beans, mystery beans (I always think I’ll remember what seeds I’ve put in and never do!), elderflowers, and heaps of rogue tomatoes I found growing near the base of one of our cider apple trees.
And I started each day with delicious and healthy breakfasts, things that make us happy when we look at them AND when we eat them. Like fried eggs on sweet potatoes sauteed with onion, kale, and butter.
And fried eggs on fresh-picked asparagus sauteed with beef sausage, butter, and nasturtium leaves.
I started this week feeling so much better. My heart nourished, brain stimulated, body rested. Funny how the have-to’s now don’t seem daunting at all.
How do you take care of yourself when life gets rather frazzled? xo
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by Krista | Oct 9, 2015 | Spring
One of my favorite things about medieval camping is getting up before everyone else, even before the sun, and building a fire. It’s so quiet and peaceful, the warmth of the flames most welcome to cold hands and noses. Before the long the fire is crackling, the kettle boiling, and we’re ready for our first cuppas of the day.
In our medieval Bedouin camp (12th century), we usually have three tents: a low Bedouin tent for sleeping in, a tall Bedouin tent for gathering in, and a kitchen tent for storing all our bits and pieces. But we recently decided to simplify, especially for smaller events when we really only need one tent to suit our needs. We had our inaugural run of our new small camp set up last weekend, and it worked brilliantly.
My friend Sue and I did most of the cooking, not because we have to, but because we love to. We have such fun deciding on menus and trying out new medieval recipes and ingredients. Our new set up made it so much easier for us. We turned my big medieval box, the one I use to haul all my medical supplies, into a counter, and it was great to stand in the morning sunshine to wash the dishes, butter bread, and make cuppas.
For breakfast our first morning we made fried eggs, browned sausages, and buttery pieces of toast. We also made scrambled eggs with leeks – and they were hands down our favorite.
Sue is a clever lady. Leeks can be very expensive in our part of the world, so whenever she finds them on sale she buys as many as she can, fries them up at home, and freezes them in olive oil. Then she can pull them out whenever she needs them.
After adding them to the eggs last weekend, she is now under strict instructions to bring them to ALL future medieval events. Along with her famous fruit cake and spiced wine. It just wouldn’t be medieval camping without them.
In all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the weekend, some of our friends forgot to bring breakfast. We were delighted to invite them over to join us, and had a jolly good visit over big mugs of steaming coffee and lavish amounts of food. If there’s anything better than breakfast cooked over a fire, it’s sharing it with good mates.
It was definitely a great start to our weekend.
What is your favorite breakfast to eat while camping? xo
by Krista | Oct 7, 2015 | Spring
Bear and I are home again after a beautiful four day medieval camping trip with good friends. We had such a marvelous time and I promise to tell you all about it once I’m caught up on work, farm projects, and keeping my gardens alive in this searing heatwave.
It’s lovely to be home, sleeping in our own bed, taking hot showers, cuddling with all our dogs. It’s been great to wander my gardens and see so many things that shot up while we were away: purple beans, Roma tomatoes, Lebanese cucumbers, artichokes, asparagus, beets, and strawberries. The broad beans look like they’ll be ready any day, and the peas are steadfastly producing pods in defiance of witheringly hot wind and sun. Tonight a deliciously cool wind is billowing through the trees, granting precious relief from the heat of this afternoon. I think people, plants, and animals are all breathing sighs of relief.
This week I started a new job working as a long distance writer for an American law firm. I’m enjoying the work tremendously, loving the challenge of learning a new industry and the gift of being able to work from home or on the road as long as I have an internet connection. I’m especially grateful for paying work. Times are tough in my part of Queensland, and finding steady work has been a challenge for me and many others. It’s awfully good to breathe a bit easier now, and throw myself into this new adventure in writing.
Now it’s time to close my computer and crawl into bed for a good sleep. After making spelt pancakes over the campfire last weekend, I’m craving them again. I think they’ll be lovely for breakfast tomorrow morning, perhaps topped with vanilla Greek yogurt and caramelized pears.
What breakfast are you craving this week? xo
