by Krista | Mar 26, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
It’s a quiet evening at home, a lovely, cozy one with bowls of homemade soup, nips of dark chocolate, and a smidgen of homemade sour plum vodka.
It’s amazing how precious peaceful moments are after turmoil, isn’t it?
It’s been a rough few weeks as I officially entered the “angry phase” of healing from PTSD. I’m told this is an essential and normal part of healing, but I’m not enjoying it one bit. It’s been so unsettling and scary for me. I spent my whole life suppressing all forms of anger, even healthy anger in response to abuse and bullying and neglect. Now I’m having to learn how to let myself feel anger but not be controlled by it.
Not easy, I tell ya. I feel like I’m in constant battle mode, working through these waves of anger, yet trying not to let them overflow and touch the people close to me. It doesn’t always work, and I have felt anything but loveable (more along the lines of utterly dreadful!), wanting instead to hide myself away until this phase is done and dusted. Have you ever felt that way?
Sometimes, when we go through times like this, our negative aspects tend to loom far larger than our good ones, making us feel like the very worst version of ourselves. When we feel unlovable, it is so much harder to love others, to be creative, to build goodness into our lives.
Here are a few things that are helping me work through this:
- Be an observer of my feelings, not a judge. I’m learning that my feelings are not me, they’re just something I’m feeling. And they will pass. They always pass. Once the emotional intensity of the feeling is gone, it’s so much easier to deal with the issues precipitating it.
- Find healthy ways to express negative emotions. For me, it’s writing, writing, writing. When I give the anger (or fear or insecurity) a voice, it takes the emotional power away. It also helps to talk it through with trusted people.
- Invest in myself. I’m learning that while there are some things I can’t control, I do whatever it takes to look after my well-being. That ranges from relaxation exercises, meditation, and sunshine to outdoor walks, healthy eating, and reading things that assure, comfort, and strengthen.
- Love the people in my life. Send an email, write a text, make a phone call, give a big squeezy hug, and let them know how much they mean to me.
- Make time for creativity. When I’m feeling wretched inside, it does me so much good to cook, draw, paint, sew, garden, and take pictures.
Today I read some inspiring words, went for a long sunny walk with the goats, and made quince liqueur. It was my first time using quinces and I was delighted by the delicious scent and how sunny and bright they look in the clear glass jar. With sweet fruits you don’t need too add much sugar, but with quinces, it is essential. I can’t wait to taste it in two months time.
How do you help yourself get through difficult phases of your life?
Quince Liqueur Recipe
Ingredients:
2-3 ripe quinces
1/2 cup simple syrup (1/2 cup white or raw sugar, 1/2 cup water, heated until sugar is dissolved)
1/4 tsp vanilla or almond or cinnamon extract
1-1.5 cups vodka
Directions:
- Scrub quince free of dust and fuzz. Halve, core, and cut into slices.
- Fill sterilized jar with quince slices.
- Pour over simple syrup, extra, and top off with vodka.
- Seal jar and let liqueur steep in a cool, dark place for two months.
- When ready, strain and serve chilled.
by Krista | Mar 20, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
It’s a quiet night at home, a night for glowing candles, cream tea, and remembering good things that have brought me joy this week.
Such as hiking through lush green fields in my favorite wellies.
Discovering strange and gorgeous things in the bush like this fallen log.
Having a picnic all by myself today: glorious sunshine, good book to read, a bowl of Greek salad with massive chunks of Feta, and a dark chocolate Kit Kat bar just for me.
These adorable faces watching me work in the yard.
A bowl of popcorn made on the stove-top, hot, buttery, salty and wonderful.
What good things are making you smile this week?
by Krista | Mar 18, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
Good morning, luvs! It’s been a tad quiet around here lately thanks to yours truly catching a rare virus that is only supposed to affect animals. Lovely. 🙂 So I’m battling fevers and nausea and shakes and whatnot, but getting a bit better each day. Never a dull moment around here!
In happier news – IT’S AUTUMN!!! My very favorite time of year in Queensland, Australia. Everything is lush and green, mornings and evenings are cool enough to require hot cuppas and warm flannels, and the sunshine is absolutely heavenly. I’m loving every second of it.
This weekend I got to relive my childhood a bit when Bear and I went to pick up a load of hay for our goats. Turns out our friend Jim was way out in the boonies cutting hay, so we went off-roading through the fields to find him.
It was so fun to drive along creeks, bouncing around hills and past grazing cows who could hardly be bothered to spare us a glance.
At last we found Jim motoring through the fields in his big red tractor.
After a chat, I clambered in the back, giving my seat to Jim. Although he gallantly offered to take my place, I cheerily sent him back to the air-conditioned comfort up front. There was no way I was giving up a chance to ride in the back of the ute like I used to ride in the back of my Grandpa’s station wagon as a kid on the Alberta prairies.
It was just as bumpy, dusty, and hot as I remembered, but I was happy as can be while clinging to the tailgate and trying not to flop about too much as we jounced over hillocks and rocks.
We bumped past scenes straight out of Ireland with great lichen-covered boulders jutting out of emerald green hills.
We jostled through flower-filled hay fields and lurched back up into the paddocks.
By the time the ride was over I was hot and sweaty with grit in my teeth and a fine coating of dust and hay over my entire person, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.
I eased my stiff self out of the back and emerged into a meadow full of flowers. All I needed was an ice cream cone to make my trip down memory lane complete.
What’s your favorite memory from your weekend?
by Krista | Mar 12, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
I was so happy for a glorious sunrise this morning after weeks and weeks of mostly rain and darkness. The clouds have taken over since then, but that thirty minutes of sunshiny-ness was pure bliss.
We got a bit of sunshine yesterday evening too, so I plucked up my courage to go take a look at my poor veggie garden to see how it was faring in the aftermath of yet another goat assault. Yep, those lovely wretches tore a hole in the fence, busted in, and razed my garden to the ground.
The first time they did it, I cried. The second, I got a bit teary. This time I sighed, said “Oh bugger!”, got a hug from Bear, then went inside to look at the seed catalog. After a year and a half of farm life, I’ve learned that the only thing to do in these situations is to find some inspiration and get creative.
So, I got myself a cup of tea and pored over gorgeous photos of purple-podded peas, ruby Brussels sprouts, and black kale. Bear and I pooled our change and any day now the seeds for our winter garden will arrive. I can’t wait!!
In the meantime, I was thrilled to pieces to find a few survivors from The Great Goat Ravaging – artichokes, silverbeet, one lone gooseberry, two little strawberries, and the entire crop of asparagus which – after its mauling – is now producing asparagus like gangbusters. In Autumn! Splendid.
Way to survive, little plants.
I’ve been experiencing a surge of creativity the last few days and I’m absolutely loving it! I’m sewing again – churning out sundresses and medieval projects – and creating all sorts of new recipes.
I’ve been focusing on drinks lately, trying new ways to make old favorites.
Like mimosas and cider.
I love mimosas. They are such happy drinks and always make me think of sunny brunches with dear friends. Usually they’re made with champagne and orange juice, but I’ve been giving them a tropical flair with mango and guava juices. Oh my. So darn good! I’ve been saving them for Saturday mornings for weekends need to be celebrated, and nothing says celebration first thing in the morning like a cheery guava mimosa.
I also love cider. And with all the stormy days we’ve been having, cider is a wonderful alternative to coffee and tea. My current favorite is black currant cider spiced with star anise. Not only does it smell heavenly whilst it’s simmering on the stove, it is utterly delicious.
Next I want to try Cherry Cider with Vanilla Bean and Pear Cider with Ginger. I’ll keep you posted on how they turn out.
Is anything stirring your creative juices these days? I’d love to hear about what you’re working on.
Black Currant Cider Recipe
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 jar black currant juice (or apple juice mixed with black currant)
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
4-5 cloves
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
Serve hot or let it cool and serve over ice.
Guava Mimosa Recipe
Serves two
Ingredients:
guava nectar (or mango!)
chilled champagne or sparkling white wine
Directions:
In large glass mix one part guava nectar to two parts champagne.
Serve immediately.
by Krista | Mar 11, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
It was a quiet weekend at home as winds blustered and occasional smatterings of rain pelted the rooftops.
I loved when sunshine slipped through the clouds, making breakfast feel even warmer and cozier.
It was a weekend for quiet things: hanging laundry on the line, mending clothes torn by over-eager dogs and wayward bits of fencing, and moments spent curled up in the big, green armchair sipping tea and reading.
It was also a weekend for afternoon naps and heart-to-heart talks over cuppas. And baking. Lots of baking.
I love the healing nature of baking. It offers me time to sort out tangled thoughts and give them voice as I methodically measure out ingredients, knead dough, and thickly butter still-warm slices of bread. Whenever I can’t write or feel too frazzled to think clearly, a spate of baking will soon put me to rights.
I made buttery brioche studded with black currants. It was so good toasted and buttered for morning tea.
I made a salt-dusted loaf of white bread speckled with fresh rosemary, basil, and oregano. It was delicious filled with smoked ham and spread with grainy mustard.
And this morning I made Olive Pesto bread. I think it will go rather marvelously with the Roasted Red Pepper Soup I’ve got planned for dinner.
What activity helps you get your frazzled thoughts sorted?
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