by Krista | Jul 16, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
The sunrises have been so gorgeous this week thanks to skies filled with scudding rain clouds. They almost make up for getting up at 4:30 a.m. in the winter to feed goats and dogs and assorted ducks, geese, and chooks. Shiver!
In all honesty, once the initial shock of stumbling around in the frigid darkness wears off, it’s downright magical to be out there under a sky full of stars, the dogs so excited to see me as they wriggle in for pats and belly scratches.
One of the first things I noticed about Australia is how different the stars are. I’m used to Northern Hemisphere night skies where I can spot the Big Dipper and North Star in just a few seconds. Now I look for the Southern Cross. Gazing up at the strange skies always gives me a bit of a start, a strange yet rather delightful feeling that perhaps I’ve fallen into another world by accident. When the weather warms up I’m going to drag a few of my folks outside on a clear night to point out Aussie-style star pictures for me.
This week my friend Jackie talked me into selling my wood-burned items (pyrography) at local Queensland markets, so I’m having the jolliest time dreaming up new patterns and picking out new items to burn. Bear is in on the action too, helping me figure out the best woods to use, which ones need to be preserved and which are best just on their own.
This week I started on wood-burned rolling pins and I can’t keep from smiling when I look at them. They’re such cheery little things and make me want to dash out to the kitchen to mix up pie crusts or cookie dough just so I can use them.
The first market is next month, so if things are a bit quiet here from time to time, just picture me curled up in a big, green armchair listening to audio books and old movies whilst I burn, burn, burn.
I’m also excited to make plum brandy for the first time. Doesn’t it seem like the perfect drink for chilly evenings by the fire? I can’t wait to try it.
What is your favorite creative pursuit at the moment? Is there anything in particular you’d like to learn to make?
by Krista | Jul 12, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
It’s been a good week. A wonderful week, really. A week of reflection and celebration and a really, truly happy heart.
Was it only five months ago that I wrote this post about PTSD and depression, those awful, painful things that I was battling with every moment of every day? I read it again today with a huge smile on my face, so thankful for the light that has come back into my heart and life, for the clarity of thought and genuine peace, for the glimpses of a stronger body and restored immune system.
I’m so thankful for the amazingly kind people that have and are helping me to heal in body and spirit.
My lovely counselor who makes me laugh heartily and cry healingly at every session and gives me tools that have done wonders in freeing my battered spirit from the traumas of the past.
My dear friends who didn’t give up on me when I could hardly make it through each day, let alone reach out to care for them the way they cared for me. I think of their notes and visits, phone calls and gifts and I’m teary with thankfulness that I didn’t have to go through this alone.
Most of all my beloved Bear. Sometimes I sit and look at him working at his computer or snoozing in his green armchair and wonder how I ever got so lucky to be loved by a man like him. He didn’t sign up for any of this, but it hasn’t altered his love for me in the least.
He tells me all the time, “My number one goal is to get you better.” And he means it. He has sacrificed so much for me, covering my bills when I was too sick to work and taking time off work to make sure I got to all my appointments with doctors, surgeons, and counselor.
It’s the little things that stand out to me most: a cup of tea waiting for me whenever I wake up each morning, holding me tight after horrible nightmares until I can fall asleep again, phone calls on his breaks, huzzahs and hugs for any bit of progress, reading aloud to me from favorite books or enduring my beloved British murder mysteries when he’d much rather be watching football or car racing. He’s a good man and I feel so lucky to share this life with him.
It is so good to take time to look back now and then, isn’t it? To see how far we’ve come in whatever we’re struggling with? While living in the moment is healthy and wise, it’s also essential to nip back to the past occasionally to give perspective.
This week I’ve been celebrating the progress in my own life and as a result finding greater courage to face the things I’m still soldiering through. By looking back I can say to myself with confidence, “C’mon ol’ girl, you can totally do this!! Look how much stronger you are now, how much braver. Feel that peace inside? That joy? That creativity? You did the healing to get to this place, and you can do the healing to get to the next. You’re going to be just fine.”
So I’m celebrating growth and courage and strength and hope, allowing myself huge grins and startling Bear with huge hugs out of the blue.
And I’m making time for creativity every day, whether it’s making up new recipes (Braised Celery Gratin – yum!!) or figuring ways to keep kangaroos out of my paddocks (sneaky buggers!) or creating new designs for my wood-burning projects. It makes me so happy to make things. I love what Susannah Conway wrote in her newsletter this morning:
“Making something new, something that didn’t exist before, is surely one of the most satisfying achievements there is.”
Absolutely.
How about you, luv? What is one thing about yourself that you could celebrate about yourself today? And what “new thing” would you like to create today?
by Krista | Jul 10, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
“At the beach, life is different.
Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment.
We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.”
Unknown
As winter moseys along here in Australia with frosty mornings and chilly nights, I often find my thoughts drifting to the beach.
I close my eyes and dream of hot sun on my shoulders, soft sand underfoot, the screech of gulls as they dive and swoop for French Fries tossed by little kids.
I long to amble along the beach collecting smooth stones and gnarled bits of driftwood, perhaps even a shell or three to bring home.
Mostly I want to sit on a fallen log and gaze out to sea, thinking little and feeling much.
“the mind wakes, comes to life again.
Not in a city sense—no—but beach-wise.
It begins to drift, to play,
to turn over in gentle careless rolls like those lazy waves on the beach.
One never knows what chance treasures these easy unconscious rollers may toss up,
on the smooth white sand of the conscious mind;
what perfectly rounded stone,
what rare shell from the ocean floor.
Perhaps a channeled whelk, a moon shell, or even an argonaut.”
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“My day is done, and I am like a boat drawn on the beach,
listening to the dance-music of the tide…”
Rabindranath Tagore
What are you daydreaming of?
by Krista | Jul 9, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
Before giving my talk on medieval medicine at Abbeystowe last weekend, I was able to get away for a bit of a ramble through the various encampments and merchant stalls at the festival.
I enjoyed every one of them, learning about the history of so many different people groups, cultures, and countries, getting to see firsthand how they lived in medieval times.
One of my favorite spots was the medieval gypsy camp, especially because most of the gypsies were elsewhere dancing in their stunningly beautiful costumes and I could wander at my leisure.
I was delighted by the brilliant color everywhere, from the thick carpets underfoot to the flags dancing in the breeze and richly hued tassels dangling from tent poles and tree trunks.
And I could happily sit around that campfire for hours, chatting with dear friends or just gazing contentedly into the flames.
The tents made me feel like a little girl again when I used to build blanket forts with every afghan, scarf, and throw I could find. It was so lovely to hide away in there, my own little world.
I loved the jewelry, the headdresses, the ropes of necklaces and layer upon layer of garments perfect for twirling. It’s the sort of garb that makes every woman look and feel dazzlingly beautiful.
I was most intrigued by the details: the richly embroidered cushions, gorgeous ceramic drums, and cheery flower pots overflowing with blooms.
I was particularly charmed by the children’s toys that hung around the camp within easy reach of little fingers: a leather camel with orange tasseled saddle, a basket of tiny rag dolls, and a beautiful bear dressed in her very own gypsy dress. I would’ve loved such things as a girl.
The encampment was a marvelous escape, a place of fairytale dwellings and fanciful garb and very pleasant daydreaming.
What is your favorite part of the medieval gypsy camp?
by Krista | Jul 8, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
The sun was just coming up through the trees as I bustled about putting together my medieval medicine booth at the Abbey Medieval Festival this past weekend.
I hung herbs and amulets, medieval mittens and coin purses, and assembled the various medicines and concoctions I’d made. Somehow the woodsy location right next to a Viking encampment was the perfect setting.
I’ve studied natural medicine for many years in an effort to help myself get through health issues doctors were unable to help me with. I’ve learned so much and found numerous things that have helped tremendously in bringing about healing and renewing my strength and energy.
Over the past couple of years I’ve focused on medieval medicine, curious to learn how they took care of themselves in an age when doctors were only available to the rich and wonky religious beliefs hampered even the most basic medical advancements.
I had so much fun studying that the head of our medieval group volunteered me to give two lectures on medieval medicine at the festival.
Oh boy.
It sounded like a good idea at the time until it hit me that I’d actually have to stand up in front of strangers (yipes!) and talk! I hoped to high heaven that my mind wouldn’t go completely blank at first glimpse of their expectant faces.
I tried not to think about it as I set up bottles of medieval anesthetic and a rather delicious treatment for digestive disorders, rolls of linen bandages, and a great block of beeswax used to make healing salves and ointments.
Bit by bit my jitters calmed as I brewed pine needle tea (the vapors are brilliant for easing congestion), carefully assembled quail eggs (the whites are perfect for smearing over open wounds to seal them from bacteria), and arranged some rather lethal looking surgical instruments like a bone saw, tooth-puller, and scalpel.
At last everything came together and I settled myself in to await my first customer.
Much to my delight, my fears fled once we got talking. All the lovely bits of information I’ve been treasuring and using all these years flooded back as I was peppered with questions.
I met the most wonderful people – folks from Switzerland and Germany who shared medieval recipes passed down through generations, lovely Aussies who introduced me to native Australian berries, roots, bark, and herbs that I’d never even heard of, herbalists from all over who were fascinated by the medieval treatments and how they were similar, if not identical, to ones being used today.
When it came time for my talk I was prepared for maybe 5-10 people who would find medieval medicine interesting. I was stunned when over the two days over 100 people showed up to learn, clustering around the booth afterwards to ask questions, share information and experiences, and give me great ideas of things they want to learn about next year. I also got to meet the President of the Queensland Herbal Society and I will be speaking at their monthly meeting very soon.
So fun! 🙂
It was such a great experience and I am so glad I faced my fears of failure and forgetfulness and stumbling over my words. It was worth every jitter.
My far the most popular medieval concoction was the medieval deodorant I made. It really is quite divine, looks so pretty in a clear, glass jar, and smells fresh and clean and absolutely wonderful.
If you don’t fancy mixing up your own deodorant but still want to choose a natural remedy, try rubbing chlorophyll-rich leaves such as spinach, Swiss chard, or parsley under your arms, or slice a lemon in half and do the same thing. They all work brilliantly. Or use a combination of patchouli and cypress essential oils. Patchouli takes care of any odor while cypress whisks away wetness.
Have you faced any fears lately? I’d love to hear about it. 🙂
Medieval Deodorant Recipe
Ingredients:
1 part white wine vinegar
1 part water
fresh herbs such as sage, rosemary, peppermint, bergamot, and lavender
essential oils – add one-two drops each of the essential oil that corresponds to the fresh herbs you use
1 clean glass bottle
Directions:
- Pour everything into clean, glass bottle, seal then shake vigorously. Store in cool, dark place until ready to use.
- Apply with cotton ball or decant into a spray bottle and apply that way.
by Krista | Jul 4, 2013 | Bits 'n' Bobs
“The ocean was the best place, of course.
That was what she loved most.
It was a feeling of freedom like no other,
and yet a feeling of communion with all the other places and creatures the water touched.”
Ann Brashares
It is a gorgeous winter day – a day so warm I’m clad in sundress and sandals and loving every second of it.
Today is a bustling day of all sorts of projects because tomorrow I head for the Abbey Medieval Festival with my dear folks. I get to give a talk on medieval medicine and herbs, and after being nervous as all get out, now I’m excited. I’ve been brewing potions and mixing salves and ointments and my kitchen smells of beeswax and licorice root with a tang of vinegar.
So as I pack and brew I will leave you with some images of a few of my favorite spots in Gozo and Malta – on the water, of course.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend! xo
“It is life, I think, to watch the water.
A man can learn so many things.”
Nicholas Sparks
“When you sit in silence long enough,
you learn that silence has a motion.
It glides over you without shape or form,
exactly like water.
Its color is silver.
And silence has a sound you hear only after hours of wading inside it.
The sound is soft, like flute notes rising up,
like the words of glass speaking. ”
Anne Spollen
“They both listened silently to the water,
which to them was not just water,
but the voice of life,
the voice of Being,
the voice of perpetual Becoming.”
Hermann Hesse
“The places where water comes together with other water.
Those places stand out in my mind like holy places.”
Raymond Carver
“Where the waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give.”
Jane Austen
xo
