by Krista | Sep 6, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
I love living on the Darling Downs in Queensland, especially in Spring when it seems that everything is budding, blossoming, and greening.
Today is a good day, not just because it’s gorgeously Spring-ish, but because I’m finally recovering from a four-week illness (HOORAY!!!), a dear friend is coming to visit, and I am finally back to my Italian studies.
A few months ago Rocket Languages offered me a free language course in exchange for an honest review. I was delighted, then promptly got sick, then Bear got sick, then I got sick again. Sigh. 🙂 Isn’t that how life goes sometimes? But now, at last, I feel so much better, my head is clear, and I can begin to wrap my brain around Italian lessons.
Although I’m only on the first level, I am enjoying it so much. Unlike other courses I’ve tried that simply have you sit and listen to rapid-fire conversations while you furiously try to follow along, Rocket Languages in an interesting combination of visual and audio lessons.
One of my first assignments was to find Italian movies to watch – without English subtitles. It’s a little like sitting in a courtyard in Italy, listening to the babble of voices around you, incomprehensible at first, but soon familiar in lilt and diction. Before too long you’re picking out words you know, discovering words that make sense when heard in context, learning slang terms that regular Italians use rather than the textbook phrases that sound stilted and, well, text-bookish.
I like that I can listen to my lessons online, or download them to my computer to listen offline. I will keep you posted on how things go, but so far, Rocket Languages Italian Course is a pleasure.
And now for my crazy story of the week. 🙂
Last Wednesday I was minding my own business, innocently waiting to pick up my books at the library counter when a man with wild white hair and piercing blue eyes approached me. In a soft German accent he asked if he could talk to me about something, hastily assuring me he was not trying to sell anything. Politely I nodded for him to continue.
He informed me that he was the leader of a drawing/art class in town, and wondered if I would consider being a paid model for the class for two hours every weekend.
A NUDE model.
Now darlings, I think I should receive an Academy Award for my performance of “woman of the world who gets asked to be a nude model every day of the week”. I was cool, suave, and behaved admirably, especially considering that my friend Ann was only a few steps away, frozen in the act of looking at a book, doing her best not to howl with laughter as he described the modeling schedule, adding that it wouldn’t be difficult work because they would give me regular tea breaks.
Ayiyi. 🙂
I thanked him for his offer, said I’d “give it some thought”, and bid him farewell.
After his departure, silence reigned in the entryway as Ann’s face contorted into all manner of amusement. “I’m not saying a word,” quoth she, “not a single word.”
We managed to make it out to the car before bursting into laughter. Ann said, “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never have believed it!”
And lest you think the story is over, it isn’t.
We made our way to our favorite cafe which is run by a fabulous South African artist. We told her about my encounter thinking she would also find it hilarious.
Nope.
“Oh!” she gushed. “What a wonderful opportunity for you!” She then proceeded to tell me that when the artists completed their nude portraits of me, she would be thrilled to hang them in her cafe…where we eat every single week.
Good. Heavens.
Now I consider myself a fairly brave person. I’m willing to road trip through Albania, travel solo in the boonies of Vanuatu, or strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, but pose nude for a crowd of artists and then have those portraits hung in my favorite cafe? NOSIREEBOB!!!! Alas, the Art and Culinary worlds are going to have to miss out on that particular…um…pleasure.
Life is never dull on the Darling Downs. 🙂
Now I will leave you with pictures of our darling new Maremma puppies – Apollo and Solar – who arrived safe and sound last night. 🙂
by Krista | Sep 3, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
“For us to go to Italy and to penetrate into Italy
is like a most fascinating act of self-discovery‚
back, back down the old ways of time.
Strange and wonderful chords awake in us,
and vibrate again after many hundreds of years of complete forgetfulness.”
D.H. Lawrence
“Methinks I will not die quite happy
without having seen something of that Rome of which I have read so much.”
Sir Walter Scott
“Italy, and the spring and first love
all together
should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy.”
Bertrand Russell
“What is the fatal charm of Italy?
What do we find there that can be found nowhere else?
I believe it is a certain permission to be human,
which other places, other countries, lost long ago.”
Erica Jong
“There’s no looking at a building after seeing Italy.”
Fanny Burney
“Even now I miss Italy dearly,
I dream about it every night.”
Eila Hiltunen
If you could go to Rome tomorrow, what would you most like to see?
by Krista | Aug 31, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
A storm has blown in, cold and blustery, clouds heavy with rain. I’m hiding away inside, watching Miss Marple as I wait for a loaf of seeded, whole-grain bread to finish baking.
It’s the perfect sort of day to escape to a Greek isle for a sunny trek around Corfu’s Old Fort (Paleo Frourio). Even if it’s only in our imaginations.
I visited this 15th Century fortress three years ago with my brother and a group of dear friends.
Although it was only May, it was blisteringly hot, and we guzzled water as we gazed up at the crumbling rock walls that have protected Corfu for centuries from pirates and invaders.
Built by the Venetians on the site of a Byzantine castle, it used to be connected to the mainland by a moveable, wooden bridge.
The British replaced it with the current solid pathway in 1819.
The fortress has seen fierce battles, parades of prisoners condemned to death, and worshipers gathering at the only Doric-style church in all of Greece.
Historians believe it was the site of an ancient temple, and others have found written evidence of a settlement there, complete with churches, water cisterns and storehouses for gunpowder.
Walking down to see the Doric columns of the church, we craned our necks up the cliff face and saw a lighthouse towering high above us. In spite of the heat we were determined to see it, so up we went, one scorching step at a time.
Our steps led us around and through the Old Fort, deserted now after hundreds of years. I wished I could’ve closed my eyes and seen soldiers tramping through or heard lookouts hollering that they’d seen a ship.
I wondered what they’d eaten, where they’d slept, what their lives were like.
At last, huffing, puffing and drenched from exertion, we reached the top.
It was worth it.
The views were stunning, providing brilliant vistas of Corfu Island and the sea.
Even better were the breezes that swooped around us, cooling us just enough to let us enjoy the view we’d worked so hard to see.
What is the best view you’ve worked hard to see?
by Krista | Aug 30, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
Good morning!! After being very sick for two weeks, I’ve been a busy beaver this week with a new writing job, Spring Cleaning and more visa paperwork.
Today I had grand plans of writing a post of a beautiful far-flung locale, but then got sick again (grrr) so today’s post will be an utter hodge-podge of bits and bobs. Consider yourself warned. 😉
I’ve been puttering in my garden, getting things ready for spring, and was so happy to see my sorrel bush return after the chooks ate it. 🙂 I can’t wait to see those big, green leaves again so I can turn them into scrumptious, lemony sorrel pesto. It is so good spread on sandwiches, tossed with pasta, or used as a dressing with perfectly ripe tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella.
I just received pictures of our two new puppies that we get to pick up next week. 🙂 Aren’t they darling? They are Maremma Sheepdogs and will be perfect babysitters and guards for our herd of Kalahari and Boer goats at our farm, Citadel Kalahari. I can’t wait to meet and name them. 🙂
I also received news that two dear friends from the States are coming to visit me in January. 🙂 I’m so excited to see their dear selves and introduce them to my beloved Queensland, Australia.
Now that Spring is here, I’ve been going for walks each day, basking in the gloriously warm sunshine, happy to see my first tan of the season. 🙂
I’ve been perusing local garden centers, excitedly choosing all sorts of herbs and veggies for my gardens: lavender, curry, borage, and thyme, tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, and fennel.
I’m most happy about my new gooseberry plant (I’ve always wanted to grow gooseberries!) and the crab-apple tree that Bear surprised me with. Whenever I think of crab-apples I think of Canada. It will be a little piece of my homeland in Australia.
With the days growing longer, my workday ends in plenty of time for me to really enjoy sunset. It’s always different and always gorgeous, giving me a deep sense of awe and peace.
What bits and bobs have been filling your days recently?
by Krista | Aug 27, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
Only three days left until Spring in Australia and I can’t wait!!!
These cool, bright mornings are so cheering to body and soul. I feel awakened, alive, and eager to dig in the dirt, gather armfuls of flowers, and generally celebrate my heart out.
It was on just such a day that my brother Ryan and I continued our early morning boat ride through Venice, Italy with our friends Ben and Natty. (To see part one click here)
There is something so glorious about a spring morning in a city like Venice: the slap of waves on gondolas, exquisite old buildings flooded with sunlight, flowers blooming everywhere.
We sat back in our seats, basking in the warmth of the just-risen sun, imagining ourselves living in these aging yet opulent buildings.
How lovely to wake up each morning, step out onto a sun-washed balcony with a steaming cup of espresso and gaze out over glistening canals.
Amazing.
I loved spotting unexpected vignettes like the couple breakfasting on their balcony, utterly oblivious to passersby.
I love the care Venetians take to festoon railings, balconies, window-boxes and courtyards with lavish profusions of blossoms. The buildings are gorgeous all on their own, but the brilliant spots of greenery and vivid blooms make them like something out of a fairytale.
As much as I loved bobbing along the canals, I envied the seagulls soaring above me, swooping over rooftops and perching cheekily atop those lovely striped poles.
They definitely get the best view of Venice.
What is your favorite way to explore a new city? On foot? By boat or taxi? From the top of the highest tower?
by Krista | Aug 21, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
It was a glorious spring morning a few years ago when my brother Ryan and I and our friends Ben and Nat scurried through the deserted, pre-dawn streets of Venice, eager not to waste one precious second of our time there.
The sun was just rising as we emerged in San Marco Square and found our way to a vaporetto (water bus) stand. Although not as romantic as a gondola or fanciful as the colorful Venetian boats, Venice water bus tickets are very cheap (6 Euro as opposed to 90 Euro for a gondola) and if you are quick enough to get an outside seat, the views are impeccable.
Since we were among the first in line at just after 5 a.m., we had our pick of outside seats and chose the very outsidey-est ones with views unencumbered by the large hats or telescopic lenses of strangers.
Soon we were motoring along the relatively deserted canals, seeing a Venice awash in pure morning light, the cool, fresh breezes masking the oft malodorous air.
I love seeing European cities before most people are even awake. The lack of interruptions and distractions make for peaceful and thoughtful viewing.
Usually the only people up are locals, heading off to work or stopping by the bakery for their morning bread or pastry. I like that.
I liked the hundreds of boats tethered securely to crooked wooden poles, rolling gently on the waves, creaking rhythmically with each heaving swell.
I was enchanted by the intricate detailing on the windows, balconies and doorways of lavish villas. Who lives behind those huge locked doors, those barred windows, those fluttering white curtains?
Some buildings looked welcoming with window boxes spilling over with flowers and cheery, brightly-painted boats tied up front, but others were austere, like this beautiful but imposing edifice.
My favorites were those with hidden gardens: ivy-covered trellises, lush plants trailing over courtyard walls, and blossoming trees reaching up for the sun. What lovely escapes in a city with so little ground that isn’t covered by towering villas and exquisite churches and palaces. How precious each square bit of earth must be.
If I lived in Venice, I would love a hidden garden to putter in.
I would also love one those fabulous little boats painted in deliciously bright colors. A little Venetian boat, all of my own. That sounds like pure bliss. 🙂
While we’re indulging in such lovely daydreams, what little things would make your heart happy if you lived in Venice?
PS – Thank you with all my heart for your unbelievably kind responses to my last post. Your supportive and celebratory words made me laugh and get teary and feel so lucky that you are part of my world. Thank you. xo
