by Krista | Jun 19, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
How do you renew your creativity when it is flagging?
Do you listen to music? Spiff up your entire house in a frenzied cleaning spree? Disappear into a novel for a few hours?
As I transition from part-time freelance writer to full-time, creativity is on my mind a lot. The other day I was feeling quite overwhelmed and rather daunted by this change in my life.
Since I was fretting about it, I assigned myself the job of taking an hour or so to just sit out in the sunshine and get settled and restored.
I spread oatmeal toast with butter and jelly, filled a cheery green cup with blueberries, and toddled out to the back yard with a stack of cookbooks pillaged from my friends kitchen.
For a while I just sat with eyes closed, feeling the hot morning sun warm my skin and dry my hair. I reminded myself to take a few deep breaths and could feel the stress ebbing away.
After a bit I dug into my breakfast then cracked open the first cookbook. Soon I was shaking my head in wonder at stunningly decorated cookies and cakes. I have no desire to do such painstaking work myself, but I was in awe of the detail and beauty of each little creation.
The next book was my favorite and I can’t wait to track down my own copy. It is the oh-so-brilliant and inspiring “The Improvisational Cook” by Sally Schneider. After reading only a few pages my creative self was off and running, darting this way and that with one idea after another.
It reminded me again of how much we need each other. Yes, we can and must work hard on our own, but sometimes our better selves and ideas are brought out by the inspiration and creativity of another.
A few days later I went outside again. I had more blueberries – sure love those little beauties – but this time I had my journal in tow instead of more books to read.
I find great comfort in putting pen to paper, letting random thoughts and snippets of ideas filter down into coherent sentences and helpful to-do lists. Slowly but surely general dreams are simmered into specific plans of action, and frazzled nerves are calmed.
Although my life is still crazy, taking time to get renewed has eased my anxiety and given me clear priorities. It’s going to be a good week.
How do you renew your creativity, luvs?
by Krista | Jun 13, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
Where is your favorite place to go wandering when you’re stressed?
Mine is the beach…or the woods…or around a pretty lake tucked up in the mountains…but especially the beach.
This weekend I got to go to a beautiful, rocky stretch of Washington coastline when I agreed to help chaperone a birthday party of giggling little girls armed with lime green plastic buckets, York Mint Patties, and Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips.
They had a marvelous time finding all sorts of treasures along the beach: crabs, clams and “Oreo rocks” (ones with black and white spots).
I went treasure-hunting too, only I used my camera instead of a bucket. I found weathered bits of driftwood, barnacle-encrusted rocks, and vivid green strips of seaweed draped along the shoreline.
And I sat. Just sat. Happy to let the sea breezes and gently lapping waves lull my stressed self into rest.
I’ve been stressing something fierce lately and don’t like it one bit.
I let anxiety about one traumatic event spill over into anxiety about everything. I let that experience cause me to doubt myself and be afraid of the future. I let a few bad things in my life overwhelm all the wonderful good.
I let those bits of darkness blot out the sun.
Being at the beach yesterday reminded me of how far I’ve strayed from peaceful well-being. With each cry of a gull, gust of salty air, and spray of seawater my body relaxed and my anxious thoughts settled. It was so lovely to feel totally, completely at rest again that I wanted to cry.
Driving home I knew that I wanted to hang onto that renewed peace and security. It was good to know that peace did not arrive because of a change in circumstances but simply through resting, being in nature, and thinking on true things. If I could find peace at the seashore, I could find it anywhere.
So this morning I drove to work early and sat in my car for a while writing, thinking, tearing up a bit when necessary.
- I wrote down my fears and they weren’t nearly so scary once I actually got them written down.
- I wrote down truth to combat those fears and felt braver and stronger.
- I wrote down good things I am going to do based on those truths and oh, the peace came flooding in.
So today is a good day. A braver, stronger, happier day. And I am grateful.
What do you do to regain your peace when it’s been rattled?
by Krista | Jun 5, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
Hello dear folks! How are you doing this Monday morning?
After the coldest spring in recorded HISTORY, Washington finally got summer this weekend!!! WOOHOOHOO!!! I’m still basking in the bliss of going barefoot and getting a sunburned nose from snoozing in the backyard.
I wasn’t well this weekend, but I got to rest, really rest, and I’m so grateful for it.
I napped on the grass and in the house.
Read cookbooks and listened to Jeeves and Wooster.
Ate blueberries and buttery toast.
I loved it.
And then, when migraines eased up a bit, I strolled about the backyard capturing photos of cheery blossoms and humming bees and waddling puppies and snowball trees and delicate ferns. It’s amazing how much beauty can be found in one back yard with a blazing sun to highlight each detail.
I’m so glad I have these pictures to cheer me when the rains return.
What are your favorite memories from your weekend?
xo
by Krista | May 22, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
I don’t want to write this post today.
I want to numb myself with movies and sleep and pretend the events of this weekend didn’t happen.
But they did.
I know they did because I can’t stop shaking. I can’t stop wracking sobs from bursting out of nowhere.
I want to stay safe and warm in the bedroom of the house where I’m hiding from the man who tried to assault me in my apartment this weekend.
But I can’t.
Because there is a restraining order to file, and counselor to meet, and an advocate to get advice from.
Mostly I can’t because if I do, he wins.
That wicked, perverse stranger I didn’t know was stalking me and listening outside my windows, building a fantasy relationship between the two of us until he showed up at my door Saturday morning trying to come in and act out his twisted fantasy.
I don’t know how I stayed calm in those terrifying moments. I don’t know how I managed to keep that fidgeting, glassy-eyed, crazy man out and get my door locked. And I don’t know how I got the strength to call my friends for help after sitting wrapped up in a blanket shaking and crying for an hour.
But I did.
And they came. And held me tight. And they brought me home.
And waited until I was strong enough to call the police.
And stood there in support while the police questioned me.
And gave me my own room with my own bed with a Little Mermaid pillow and two little dogs to curl up beside me and randomly lick my cheek.
And they listened after the police called saying they couldn’t find the man but would keep looking.
And they said I can stay here until the bad guy is found and I can find a new place to live where he can’t find me.
I don’t know how I’ll make it through all those meetings tomorrow, but another friend is taking a day off to go with me because he knows exactly what to do, who to talk to, where to go first.
And I’m so grateful I don’t have to do this by myself.
Because I need to do it.
I need to do it for myself so I’m not scared to go outside.
And for the other women who might be injured by this man if he is not stopped.
Several years ago I was sexually assaulted twice.
Back then I wasn’t strong enough to defend myself. I didn’t know I could and should go to the police. The bad guys got away with it.
I promised myself that if anything like that ever happened again, I would not be a victim. And I would not let them get away with it.
I never thought it would happen.
But it has.
And now I have to keep my promise to myself.
I won’t be a victim – though I feel very weak.
I won’t live in fear – though I am very afraid.
And I won’t let the bad guy win.
I need to take a few days off from my blog to deal with these things.
Know that I love you, am so grateful you are part of my life, and I will be back when I’m ready.
xo
by Krista | May 15, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning, dear ones! How was your weekend?
I stuck close to home, taking time to tidy and clean and organize – those things that got set aside while I was so sick. It feels wonderful to look around me now and see clear counters and laundry folded and put away. It does my heart good.
As I continue getting better, I’m eager to tackle various projects that I’ve been quietly mulling over the last while.
This month was the beginning of one such project that I am SO excited about! My dear friend and brilliant photographer Rebekah Chapman asked me if I would collaborate on a cookbook with her. Would I??? Yes, yes, and YES!! Click here to see her beautiful portfolio and blog.
I am developing/cooking the recipes and writing the book, and Rebekah is photographing and editing it. I cannot wait to tell you more about it!
We’ve already done our first photo shoot and are having such a marvelous time tasting, experimenting, and making my house a complete and utter mess. One of the perks of doing all the cooking is getting to keep the leftovers such as these scrumptious Raspberry Tarts with Vanilla Cream.
Another project is the start of my Rambling Tart Newsletter: Ideas and Inspiration for a Beautiful Life.
It will be a monthly collection of great tips, inspiring stories, and gorgeous images to encourage each of us as we build our own version of a beautiful life. I’d love to share them with you!
If you’d like to receive these monthly newsletters, please click on the banner below or go to www.ramblingtart.com and click on the banner on the right side of the page. Simply enter your name and email address and you will be added to the newsletter list. You will receive your first Rambling Tart Newsletter in June!
I would love to hear what things are inspiring you this spring. What projects are you working on that make you happy?
xo
by Krista | May 9, 2011 | Bootstrap Monday
My beloved Grandpa, Harold Roberts, died this weekend.
He was able to see all seven of his children and woke just long enough to tell my Mum and her two sisters he loved them. Then he was gone.
It is strange to think of this world without him. Odd to think of family gatherings without him sitting comfortably in a large chair sporting cowboy boots, jeans, western shirt, bolo tie, and one of his favorite baseball caps, happily visiting with anyone and everyone.
Grandpa loved his family, and prayed for all 90+ of us by name every single day.
He loved the Indian people he lived and worked with most of his life.
He loved Tim Hortons, sipping coffee and visiting with his friends for hours.
He was a most lovingest man.
He’d sit on the couch with me, one arm around my shoulder pulling me close as he held my hand. He’d tell me he loved me and want to know all about what was going on in my life. He did the same for my brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Grandpa did not have an easy life, not by a long shot. Some of his stories still make me shudder and get teary. But somehow he let each painful, gutting thing make him stronger, kinder, more patient and hopeful. He was not perfect, he messed up as regularly as the rest of us, but he loved, faithfully and unconditionally. And that is what made him precious to us.
My three brothers and I have such good memories of our childhood spent with him on the Alberta Prairies.
He had a station wagon back then, and in the winter would fill the whole car with cousins swathed in scarves, toques, mittens, boots, and snowsuits. He’d set our dogs on our laps then off we’d go to the golf course where a measly hill provided hours of sledding pleasure.
In the summer we’d pile in again and he’d take us off into the boonies, bumping down rutted tracks and across fields to abandoned stone houses or weathered farm houses that still had equipment and furniture propped up in the barren rooms. We had a marvelous time exploring and dreaming up all sorts of stories for those old places.
As good Canadians we adored ice hockey and played every minute we could spare from chores and school. Grandpa would come over to our house long before the sun was up to have breakfast with us and take the boys to hockey practice. When Grandpa was there we were allowed to have his signature breakfast: homemade bread toasted and buttered, slathered with peanut butter and topped with a thick layer of brown sugar. We loved it!!! I can still see him sitting at our old wooden table, grinning as he bit into that scrumptious, sugary toast.
After Grandpa died I cried. A lot. And then it was time to celebrate this lovely man, to remember him and be thankful.
So I drove to the store for bread, toasted it in the oven, applied a thick layer of peanut butter and an even thicker one of brown sugar, then got cozy in my armchair and made a toasty-toast to my Grandpa.
I love you, Grandpa. Thanks so much for loving us. XO
Grandpa’s Brown Sugar Toast
Ingredients:
2 slices whole grain bread
butter
peanut butter
brown sugar
Directions:
- Toast bread and butter it.
- Slather with peanut butter.
- Top with brown sugar.
- Smile and eat.
