by Krista | Mar 6, 2015 | Bits 'n' Bobs
I’ve been waiting eagerly for Autumn to arrive. For sweltering hot days to be replaced with cool mornings and breezy afternoons. For markets to fill up with crisp apples, juicy pears, and plump grapes.
It’s finally here and I’m so happy, body and soul. My Canadian self is not cut out for Queensland Summers. As much as I love the sunshine and brilliant blue skies, the heat knocks me flat and mornings are the only time I feel remotely energetic.
So this morning, when I woke to overcast skies and cooling breezes blowing in our windows, my whole being gave a sigh of relief.
Autumn is here.
Bear and I spent yesterday doing a trial run of all our cider-making equipment, processing apples and pears to turn into hard cider today. I’ll tell you all about that soon.
This morning, however, is about resting and basking in Autumn weather and getting caught up on reading and dreaming and planning.
It’s about wandering through gardens to see what’s flourishing and what is on its way out, checking on newborn goats and growing ducklings, and sitting down with a big mug of Lemon Verbena tea to relax before the next big project.
It’s also about studying and researching, for Bear and I have embarked on writing a medieval cookbook together. We are having a marvelous time expanding our current knowledge and experience and putting our discoveries to the test. Our study times are punctuated with exclamations of, “Hey babe, listen to this!” or “Ohhh, we’ve GOT to try this!” We’re both loving it.
Summer on the farm is marked by feverish activity, each day packed with watering, feeding, building, managing, etc. We fall into bed each night utterly exhausted but strangely satisfied from knowing our weariness is simply the result of a job well done.
But Autumn brings a reprieve, giving us time to sit back and be proud of what we’ve accomplished, to work steadily but leisurely harvesting and enjoying what we worked on so hard all Summer long. We’re gathering rosellas and the last of the green beans, plump yellow heirloom tomatoes so sweet they’re almost candy, and the few apples that our fledgling orchard produced.
It’s also exciting as we see the new growth of the few things that thrive in our Winter: citrus trees blossoming and filling out with baby lemons, limes, and oranges, and hardy winter veg gearing up to produce Brussels sprouts, cabbages, and spinach during the cold months.
Yes, I love this time of year and am looking forward to every day.
What is your favorite thing about the season you’re experiencing? xo
by Krista | Jan 29, 2015 | Bits 'n' Bobs
This weekend I get to host my very first guest from America when my dear friend Corrie arrives from Colorado. To say I am excited cannot encapsulate the utter delight I feel knowing that soon I will get to hug tight someone who inspires me every day, a true kindred spirit and free-souled woman.
The last time we were together was a few years ago when we met up in Prague. Looking through the pictures today put the biggest smile on my face as I remembered wandering all over that gorgeous city, eating far too much food, and sitting for hours in smoke-filled pubs talking, sipping cold beer, and nibbling all sorts of unknown local specialties.
In true hostess fashion I wanted to have everything perfect for her arrival, but then my body decided to get sick for four of the last six days, so instead of unusual perfection she gets to see us in all our normal glory. The lovely thing about Corrie is that she won’t mind one bit.
In the spirit of celebrating normal, I gave up on the dusting and window-washing, and instead made a Tomato Caramelized Onion Tart to nosh on while I make up a bed for Corrie in the Granny Flat, collect flowers from my garden for her bedside table, and grin happily at the prospect of having such a treasured person at our farm for the weekend.
Only one more day until we get to talk for hours, go for treks in the bush, and make the most of every minute.
What do you look forward to most when a dear friend comes to visit? xo
Tomato Caramelized Onion Tart
Ingredients:
1 par-baked tart crust
oil for cooking
1 large onion, sliced thinly
2-3 Tbsp pesto or Dijon mustard
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
4-5 ripe tomatoes, cored and sliced
2 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp dried coriander leaves
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 F (200 C).
Place sliced tomatoes in a colander to drain until ready to use.
Heat oil in frying pan over medium-high heat and cook onions until caramelized, stirring regularly so they don’t burn.
Spread tart crust with pesto or mustard.
Scatter caramelized onions evenly over mustard.
Scatter Parmesan cheese evenly over onions.
Layer tomatoes in an overlapping fashion over top of cheese.
Whisk together eggs, cream, and salt. Pour carefully over tomatoes.
Scatter coriander leaves over tart and place in oven. Bake for one hour until crust is browned, tomatoes are cooked, and custard is set.
Serve hot or at room temperature.
by Krista | Sep 23, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
I love going for drives in Queensland, for I never know what gorgeous places we’re going to stumble upon.
This past weekend Bear and I were out and about running errands. It was a beautifully clear and crisp Spring morning and as we stepped out of the car in Cleveland, Queensland I turned to Bear and said, “Can you smell the ocean??!!” He started chuckling knowing that the very next words out of my mouth would be a plea to make a detour and follow our noses to the sea.
He is an accommodating fellow with my oft startling whims and after wrapping up our business, we headed straight for the source of the salty breezes.
We were so glad we did when this sight met our eyes.
I had never seen a red beach before and my jaw dropped in wonder as I gazed out at the vivid expanse of brick red earth that stretched out to meet the sea.
I stood on a little spit of grass-topped red outcropping and spun slowly around in unabashed delight as the cool sea breezes danced and fluttered about me.
Have you ever seen such colors at the beach before?
Bear and I spent a most happy time clambering down onto the still damp beach, stepping round sky blue puddles as we explored the red rocks finding all sorts of treasures: a motorboat hidden in the marsh, brightly colored leaves, and strands of vivid green seaweed.
This seashell masquerading as a butterfly made me smile.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen such delicate seaweed – or are they grasses washed up on the beach?
With all that brilliant sunshine and briny wind, I was deliriously happy, especially since we didn’t have to share the beach with another soul. We had it completely to ourselves.
A secluded beach is pure happiness to me. I felt like Sarah Plain and Tall, Anne of Green Gables, and all those beloved ocean-loving heroines rolled into one.
One day I will return, journal and pen in hand, and sit at this idyllically placed picnic table.
I can’t wait.
Do you like following your nose and finding new places? What is a favorite discovery you’ve made in your travels?
by Krista | Sep 20, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
“Gradually the magic of the island [Corfu] settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen.”
Gerald Durrell
I’ve been dreaming of Greece lately, of Corfu in particular. Of fresh seafood and ice cold white wine and blistering sunshine and clear blue skies and white-washed buildings blinding in the sunlight.
I love the whitewashed buildings of Greece. Their simplicity and glorious contrast against achingly blue skies are balm to my soul.
When I see them I am filled with a desire to throw caution to the wind and embrace a quiet seaside life in a cavernous white house furnished sparsely with rough wooden tables, linen-covered beds, and a closet full of breeze-catching sundresses.
Such daydreams make me smile and compel me to get my white hammock out of winter storage and string it up for luxurious naps on sultry afternoons.
The new way of eating I’ve embraced for my healing most closely resembles the Greek diet: fresh fish and seafood, lean meats, simply dressed legumes, lavish amounts of seasonal veggies and fruit, lots of fresh lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and olive oil.
As I cook with such lovely things in my Aussie kitchen, the scents and tastes whisk me away to sun-baked Greek islands and it makes me happy that even when we can’t travel to the destinations our hearts yearn for, we can always travel through food.
Do you have a place that you dream of exploring?
What food most reminds you of it?
Wishing you happy dreaming this weekend. xo
by Krista | Sep 19, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
When spring knocks at your door,
regardless of the time of year or season of our lives,
run, do not walk to that door,
throw it open with wild abandon, and say,
“Yes! Yes, come in!”
Jeffrey R. Anderson
It has been a gloriously Springy week with wild rain storms that drenched the parched earth with moisture and sent green shoots erupting from the soil.
Now it is sunny and warm, the fragrant winds bearing scents of jacaranda, roses, and alyssum.
It is a time of ripe strawberries and sun-kissed shoulders, sitting on the back porch with glasses of icy pear juice and switching all the bedding from rich red to palest green and white.
It calls for the unpacking of sundresses and the putting away of sweaters, hot cocoa in the cool of early morning and homemade ice cream every sultry afternoon.
It does my heart much good.
We’ve been indulging in massive amounts of fresh strawberries, sumptuously red and ripe.
Yesterday I turned some into a decadent dairy-free sugar-free ice cream that had both Bear and I beaming.
It is ridiculously simple to make: just dump strawberries, coconut milk, real maple syrup, three egg yolks, and a good squeeze of lemon into a blender, whiz it up then pour it into your ice cream maker and turn it on. 30 minutes later you have lusciously creamy strawberry ice cream with a zingy bite of lemon.
Next time I’m trying peppermint ice cream with dark chocolate chunks. Yum!!
What is your favorite ice cream?
Dairy-Free Sugar-Free Strawberry Lemon Ice Cream
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cans coconut milk, shaken well
2-4 Tbsp real maple syrup
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced
3 egg yolks
1 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Directions:
- Put all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth
- Pour mixture into ice cream maker and churn until done.
- Freeze leftovers.
by Krista | Sep 16, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
I had such a great time with finding my last 5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week, that I’ve decided to do it regularly. It does me good to sift through a weeks worth of experiences and pluck out a few treasured moments that brought happiness into my life. So here goes!
1. Finding a lovely old tree covered in wisteria.
Bear and I were out running errands this weekend and one of the places we stopped was a farm way out in the boonies. All around us was bush filled with the usual array of gum trees, but one of those gum trees was positively dripping with these lavish wisteria blossoms. Isn’t it marvelous?
2. These faces.
I can’t get enough of them. One moment they’re spazzy and awkward as they run and leap like mad off logs, rocks, and each other, and the next they’re cuddled up in a furry heap snoozing happily.
3. Dark Chocolate Truffle Ice-Cream bars.
Yesterday was a scorcher, the first really hot day of Spring. It was wonderful to get in the shade and nosh on these decadent Magnum bars as we made plans for the farm.
4. Really Good Though Totally Not French Food.
Let me explain. Whilst Bear and I were out running errands in the boonies, we became ravenous. Not knowing the area at all I turned to the NavSat to choose a place for us. I looked up French restaurants, chose one that sounded good and off we went. Imagine my surprise when instead of a French restaurant, we pulled up to the Springwood Bowls Club! The only thing even remotely French on the menu was fries. 🙂
Undaunted (and starving!) we decided to give it a try, expecting the usual fish and chips type fare. Much to our delight it was actually GOOD! The very young chef, Joel Elliott, is a lovely, gentle soul who readily accommodated my gluten-free needs and served up steak, chips and salad. Normally I do not order steak at a restaurant because I nearly always find it tough, dry, gristly, and disappointing. Joel did not disappoint, however. The steak was moist, tender and flavorful, the chips crispy and piping hot, the salad made of actual greens and veggies with a delicious dressing. We were so impressed. Not only was the food good, the service great, and the price fantastic, during our entire stay we were greeted by resident bowlers who made sure we were welcomed and looked after.
Wonky NavSat, you are forgiven for your lunacy.
5. Lucy
When I sold up everything and moved to Australia, I knew it would be a while before I could afford to replace things like cell phones, cars, and cameras that I had to leave behind. When I got really sick and wasn’t able to work much, the hope of those things receded into the distance.
It was hard, but I learned to do without and just focused on getting better and rebuilding a career based in Australia. It was a year before I could afford my first phone, but I tell you, I sure do appreciate it! I thought it would be ages before I could get a car again and contented myself with lots and lots of walking. 🙂
But I didn’t figure on Bear.
Turns out over the last two+ years he was secretly putting aside money each paycheck so he could surprise me with a car. I couldn’t believe it and promptly cried when he spilled the beans a few weeks ago. 🙂 We’ve both been through the wringer these past two years, dealing with visa and medical issues, and he thought it was high time we had something really good in our lives. Yep, he’s a luv.
So the past few weeks we’ve been discussing makes and models, driving to homes and farms all over Southern Queensland looking for something that fit our needs and budget.
This weekend we found her and brought her home – our lovely Lucy, a 1973 Classic Datsun 1200 Coupe. She’s in great shape for her age and although she’ll need a bit of TLC before she’s ready for the road, we love her. It’s so fun to work on her together, scrubbing her up, cleaning her out, sourcing parts, and getting her shipshape.
As you can imagine, my heart is rather full this week, feeling a mix of gratefulness and love and a whole lot of emotion. It’s been a roller coaster ride these past few years, and it is amazing to be in this place of peace, healing, and hope.
What things gave you a smile this week?
