Autumn | ramblingtart

Be Your Own Sunrise

by Krista | May 26, 2014 | Autumn

“Starting the day –
Another chance to be new again.
How many of us still wish for that?
To be your own sunrise.
To awaken like a prayer –
both solemn and joyful at still being alive.”
Carew Papritz

I had to return to the hospital this week and will again as soon as they’re able to schedule the procedures I need. My doctors believe something is amiss inside of me, so they’re going in to find out what on earth is causing so much pain.

I’ve been struggling with fear this time around, but was comforted greatly today by meeting the man who will be doing the procedures. He is kind and gentle, patiently listening to and answering all my questions, making me feel genuinely cared for. I left his office feeling so much better about everything, trusting that I am in good hands.

In light of this latest turn of events, the above quote means a great deal to me. Especially these words:

“To be your own sunrise. To awaken like a prayer – both solemn and joyful at still being alive.”

I am exceedingly joyful to be alive. To have love in my life, Bear’s hand to hold when I’m scared, dear friends to cry with when it all gets to feeling a bit much.

And I’m grateful for the sunrise each day, reminding me just how beautiful life still is, even when it’s scary.

It is magical to be alone in the woods before the sun comes up. To watch the sky lighten over distant hills and tree tops turn from black to gold.

I like watching the mist-covered fields lighten as the sky fills with color.

These Autumn mornings I wear one of Bear’s padded flannel jackets to keep me warm while I tramp through dew-sodden grasses with the goats.

“Be your own sunrise.”

I love that little phrase. It is so hopeful and delicious, a bright ray of light to remind myself that I get to decide how I’m going to face each day.

I don’t have to pretend or lie. When things are ghastly, they’re ghastly, no ifs, ands, or buts. And I can let myself grieve, rage, sleep, feel numb, whatever I need to feel.

But it doesn’t end there.

I also get to take heart. To give myself a big hug and say, “OK luv, you’ve had your weep and your moan, now let’s look at all the good stuff.”

And there’s so much good stuff.

Here are a few “good stuff” things from my life this week:

sunny Autumn brekky’s with Bear on the veranda.
Skype chats with dear overseas friends.
strength to exercise and work in my gardens.
lovely editors to work with.
cute old men regaling me with tall tales for the history book I’m writing.
hilarious and spunky old ladies including me on their day out at the movies.
good food and visits with friends at our house.
coffees and warm chocolate cake to celebrate a good appointment at the hospital.

So many good things that I get a bit teary thinking about them. I’m so thankful that life is never only bad. There’s always something or someone to help us through and make the journey brighter and easier to bear.

How about you, luv. What “good stuff” things are making your journey easier to bear this week? xo

Sunrise in the Bush and Black Currant Porridge

by Krista | May 24, 2014 | Autumn

There are some moments of beauty on our farm that are so magical they stop me in my tracks. This was one of those moments.

I was taking the early morning shift feeding the goats and got to witness the sun rising through the bush, turning the dark, shadowy places into ones of shimmering gold.

It was glorious. Utterly. Any scattered thoughts were stilled, any unsettled feelings calmed. I felt the weights of mind and spirit slide off, replaced with deep peace and calm.

I used to think it was horrible to have to wake before sunrise. Now I treasure it. Those glowing moments of burnished splendor make all sleepyheadedness disappear.

This morning held beauty of a different kind: thick fog blanketing the world, muffling all sound, making us feel like we live on an island. On such a morning porridge is the only sensible breakfast.

When I was a little girl living on the prairies of Alberta, Canada, I used to wake up with my brothers in the wee hours of the morning to eat breakfast before they headed out into the cold darkness for hockey practice. My Mum would make us variations of porridge: porridge with plump raisins, honey, and farm fresh milk, chocolate porridge for special occasions, and, my favorite, porridge with butter and dark brown sugar. That’s what we had this morning with the twist of Muscovado sugar and lovely black currants. As always, it filled my belly and my spirit with warmth and coziness.

What is your favorite warming breakfast? xo

Black Currant Porridge with Butter and Muscovado Sugar
Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats
2 cups water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 black currants
pinch of salt
2 Tbsp butter, divided
2 Tbsp Muscovado sugar, divided

Directions:

In saucepan combine oats, water, cinnamon, currants, and salt. Bring to boil over medium high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, about 4-5 minutes until porridge is done.
Divide porridge between two bowls topped with 1 Tbsp each of butter and Muscovado sugar.

Reading On A Cloudy Day

by Krista | May 22, 2014 | Autumn

It is a beautifully cloudy and cool morning on the farm today, dark and still, just perfect for sitting on the veranda, wrapped in a blanket, sipping cinnamon coffee and reading.

We’ve had a couple of cloudy days this week and I love them. They are so restful and quieting, wonderful for cozy activities like making soup, strolls in the woods, and reading good books.

This week I’ve been reading the following:

“Cured” by Lindy Wildsmith

In my quest to be more self-sufficient and and healthy with the foods we eat, this book is a fantastic resource for home food preservation techniques. Together with “Food DIY” I am learning so much and cannot wait to try my hand at Duck Prosciutto, Duck Confit, and homemade salami.

“Down the Garden Path” by Beverly Nichols

Gardening books do not usually leave me shaking with laughter, but this one sure does. A friend recommended it to me and I can’t thank them enough. I haven’t had this much fun reading a gardening book…ever.

“The Home Apothecary” by Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman

As you know, I have been making my own home remedies and body care products for quite a while, and this is one of my favorite books for instruction and inspiration. I love how she mingles age-old remedies with scientific fact to produce products that actually work and are good for you.

“Salute to Adventurers” by John Buchan

Bear and I discovered a new thrift store the other day, and while there I happened upon this tome by one of my most beloved authors. Not only is it wonderfully old and well-thumbed, it is red. And a red book is always welcome in my library. The story itself is fantastic, a ripping good tale that always makes me smile.

“Jerusalem” by Yotam Ottolenghi

This beautiful book is a gift from my brother Ryan who lives in Amsterdam and is a fantastic cook in his own right. It is filled with incredible recipes that stretch the imagination to heights heretofore unrealized. I am inspired and so excited to start making dishes like Pan-fried Mackerel with Golden Beet and Orange Salsa or Lamb-stuffed Quince with Pomegranate and Cilantro. Swoon.

Now it’s time to finish my cuppa and head out to the bush for my turn goat-herding. 🙂

What book would you like to curl up with on a cloudy day? xo

Down on our Aussie Farm and Easy Artisan Bread

by Krista | May 19, 2014 | Autumn

It’s a busy time of year on our Australian goat farm, but thankfully we’ve had fantastic Autumn weather to work in, so it hasn’t been a hardship at all.

I’ve been gardening, reading about gardening, and talking to Aussie gardeners learning everything I can about how to grow things in this part of the world. Dear friends gave us cuttings from their quince and bush lemon trees, so Bear and I have been planting trees, cuttings of trees, seeds for trees, and innumerable veggies, herbs, and flowers. Phew! It’s heaps of work but so satisfying to see bare patches fill in and the first shoots of winter veg push through the dark brown earth. I’m still battling the dastardly cabbage moth, so if any of you brilliant gardeners out there have advice for me, I’d LOVE to hear it.

We’ve also been spending a lot of time with our goats, keeping a close eye on them since they will start delivering babies within the next couple of weeks. They’ve eaten down their normal paddocks, so we’ve started taking them on feeding walks through the bush for two hours every morning.

Bear and I take turns, an hour each, and we actually look forward to it every day. It’s a wonderful thing to “have” to wander in the bush. I find it really calming and a great start to my morning.

Although it’s late Autumn, I’ve been digging in to Spring Cleaning. It feels fantastic to be getting things tidy and organized, making new usable outdoor spaces that will be brilliant for the fun projects we both love to dig into.

This weekend I got back to making homemade medicines for my medieval medicine demonstrations. It is so fun, especially now that I’m growing nearly everything I need. I made a Sage Thyme treatment for sore throats (very handy this time of year), Lemon Balm oil for bringing deep wounds to the surface so they will heal quickly, and a Fennel eye wash and general tonic.

With all the outside work we’ve been doing, our menu has held a lot of crockpot meals, soup, and homemade bread. Good, nourishing, easy to make things that warm our bones and keep us going as we mend fences, drench goats, build cages, and whatever else comes along. Tonight I’m having Creamy Cauliflower and Parsnip while Bear is noshing on White Bean with Chorizo. Mmm.

My favorite bread is this loaf that looks like an artisan bread but is easy-peasy to make. I mix up the dough in about two minutes before I go to bed, then pop it in the oven when I wake up in the morning. No kneading, no waiting around for rising, just simple, good, and gorgeous bread.

The recipe is based on this one by Le Creuset, but I make it even simpler with just four ingredients and an old cast iron pot.

What interesting projects are you working on these days? xo

Easy Artisan Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups white flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
3/4 teaspoon yeast
1 3/4 cups water

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast.
Add water and mix until incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set on counter (or in microwave) overnight.
Place lidded cast iron pot in cold oven and heat to 450 degrees. Leave for 30 minutes.
While it heats, scrape dough onto floured surface and shape into a ball. (Don’t knead)
Carry dough to oven, remove hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake 15 minutes more.
Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
Once cut, store in airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.
NOTE: can be made with gluten-free flour as well, just be prepared for a much wetter dough to begin with.

Mud Crab Sandwiches at The Spit, Queensland

by Krista | May 15, 2014 | Autumn

Whenever we can, Bear and I drive over to the coast of Queensland to sit or walk on the beach and soak up sunshine, brisk salty wind, and lusciously invigorating seawater. So when it came time to celebrate Bear’s birthday, we simply had to go back, this time to a part of the coast I’ve never seen before: The Spit.

I think it’s my new favorite spot, especially mid-week on a blustery Autumn day when there’s hardly anyone there but us.

The rocky coastline reminds me of my beloved Pacific Coast in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California where I spent so many happy times when I lived in the US. Especially when the wind is billowing and waves are crashing wildly against the rocks.

Isn’t the sky wonderful?! I had to keep stopping to look up at it, mesmerized by the color and the clouds.

There’s so much to look at on The Spit. Gorgeous yachts motor past, flying fish flutter above the waves, and the boulders are dotted with fishermen casting rods, hoping for something delicious to take home for dinner.

This fisherman made a haul of fat, glossy mackerel tuna. Apparently most people just use these fish as bait, but I’m told that if you prepare it similar to ceviche by soaking it in vinegar, onions, garlic, and chilies for an hour, it’s pretty darn fantastic. You can also marinate it in soy sauce, sake, and shallots, or smoke it for fish jerky. I hope to try it one day.

The Spit is a place to invigorate you as the wind buffets and the waves splatter with salt water. You want to clamber over rocks and explore, strike up conversations with people you don’t know from Adam, and generally feel pleased as punch to be alive.

We absolutely loved it and cannot wait to return.

Before long all that walk and fresh air made us good and hungry, so we ambled back along The Spit, smiling and nodding hello to others similarly occupied.

We passed the dunes and decided that next time we’ll take the trail through the lowlands to see what we can see.

We made our way to the Seaway Kiosk, thankful again that our mid-week visit gave us the peace and quiet of no crowds. We chatted with the cheery waitress, ordered our sandwiches, and sat down in plastic chairs to sip our drinks and wait.

The Seaway Kiosk is not a fancy place. There’s nothing posh or elegant, and you won’t find pristine linens or sparkling glassware. I’m so glad. It’s the kind of place you can walk into with sandy bare feet and wet hair, sitting down in your swimsuit with your mates for some good, simple food before dashing off to the beach again.

The food isn’t flash either. There are no sides or dressings, no artisan loaves or aioli. Nope, you choose two slices of bread (white, wheat, or multigrain) that are slathered with butter and topped with fresh mud crab. You can add lemon and salt, and that’s it. I loved it. So often crab is hidden beneath sauces or toppings, but in the sandwich, all you taste is the sweet mud crab. Delicious.

It was a beautiful day, a wonderful way to celebrate Bear, this man who is my hero in so many ways. I feel so grateful to get to spend this life with him, to have a best friend and true partner, someone who doesn’t give up on us when we’re going through hard stuff, makes me laugh until tears are rolling down my cheeks, and gives me confidence to try anything. I love him to bits.

Wishing you a beautiful day. xo

Seaway Kiosk
Seaworld Drive
Main Beach, QLD 4217
(07) 5591 6970

Celebrating at the Beach

by Krista | May 13, 2014 | Autumn

It’s been a doozy of a week. A week chock full of craziness and mayhem and plain old hard stuff, but we made it through.

We weathered the Head Cold of Death and a sick goat and kangaroos busting holes in the fence for our goats to escape through and a rat infestation and on and on it went. Phew. We are tired, I tell ya, so this afternoon we’re taking heart in gorgeous sunshine, healthy animals, being able to breath again, and something good for dinner. All is well.

Amidst the lunacy of last week, we had some wonderful moments of sheer bliss to keep us going. One of those was Bear’s birthday. It was so fun to get to plan things to spoil and celebrate him, and when I asked him what he wanted to do, his eyes lit up as he declared: “Mud crab sandwiches at the beach!”

So off we went!

Our first stop was the Aratula Cafe and Ice Creamery for brekky. Bear tucked in to steak and eggs with bacon, tomato, and toast, while I had sausage and eggs. We watched people and chatted and sipped coffee until we couldn’t eat another morsel, then got back in the car and headed for the coast.

Is there anything more wonderful than the first glimpse of the ocean after a couple of hours in the car? I never fail to be stunned by the beauty of the Queensland coastline.

On this day we went to The Spit at Main Beach, Queensland. Since it was mid-week there was hardly anyone there – just the way we like it.

We held hands and strolled along the quay, basking in hot sunshine and cool ocean breezes that splashed us with salty water as waves crashed against the massive boulders.