by Krista | Feb 27, 2015 | Summer
Last night I was woken from a sound sleep by an incredible storm. Booming thunder shook the house, lightning lit up the farmyard, and rain hurtled straight down making an incredible racket on the roof. It was both scary and marvelous.
A few hours later we woke again, this time to a quiet but sodden world. The ground was like a sponge and laundry hung on the line the night before was so wet I had to wring it out before it would stop dripping.
We were thrilled.
Good, soak-into-the-ground rain is so rare here, that anytime it comes is cause for celebration.
Normally we’d drive straight into chores and to-do-lists, but this rainy morning Bear announced that he was treating us to breakfast. Never one to argue with a good idea, I hastily got ready and off we went.
It was wonderful to sit in a comfy booth, chat with friends who happened to be there too, and linger long over coffees and extra hash browns.
There was lots to talk about, for we’ve decided to plant another orchard, this one set aside for cider apples and cider pears so we can make our own hard cider in years to come. It was so fun to pour over lists of cider apple names from England, France, and Australia. Who could resist a “Brown Snout,” “Fox Whelp,” or “Bulmer’s Norman?” Not us. 🙂
We settled on ten varieties of apples and two varieties of perry pears, ordered our trees, and are now waiting excitedly for them to be delivered in a couple of months.
Between now and then we’ll be digging holes, building fences, and setting up bird netting to keep the fruit safe from marauding cockatoos, galahs, grass parrots, and innumerable other birds who’ve set up home on the farm.
After getting our cider orchard planned and a few errands run, the rain began to fall again, soft and gentle, and we arrived home in time for a cozy afternoon of cuppas and wood-burning, studying about cider-brewing and watching new episodes of “White Collar.”
On rainy days like this I like to make us special breakfasts, warming yet nourishing ones that are a bit out of the ordinary. This week I made a healthy apple crisp topped with oats, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds drizzled with a bit of butter and some real maple syrup. While the crisp baked I made a quick batch of vanilla pudding lightly sweetened with a swirl of maple syrup. Dusted with cinnamon it made a warm, luscious topping for the apple crisp and made us feel quite decadent and spoiled.
What is your favorite breakfast on a rainy morning? xo
by Krista | Feb 26, 2015 | Summer
Bear and I have been running around a lot the past few days, hauling feed, finding materials for various farm projects, and collecting bottles, demijohns, and yeasts to make our own beer, wine, and ciders. By the time Wednesday afternoon rolled around, I was exhausted and in need of some down time.
On one of our jaunts to the country to pick up feed, we passed a nursery I’d never seen before, Baringa Nursery. Wandering through someone else’s gardens sounded like a marvelous way to relax and maybe even get inspired, so when we had a few minutes to spare between appointments, in we drove. While Bear snoozed and read under a shade tree, I strolled leisurely through the gardens.
Situated in the country, the Baringa Nursery gardens are exquisitely quiet and peaceful. Surrounded by bush and set back from the road, the only sounds are wind in the gum trees and birds twittering overhead. As I crunched along the gravel pathways I could feel my muscles relax and my mind clear.
The gardens are tidily set out, yet have a delightful rambling nature with unexpected vignettes to be found amongst the greenery. Autumn may only be days away, but the only signs of it were scarves on these little chaps.
I learned that the nursery specializes in plants native to Queensland and Australia, featuring flowers, bushes, and vines that thrive in the often extreme weather here. It was really exciting to me to realize that even in drought I could have a garden full of color and fragrance and lush greens.
I was also inspired by the quirky touches found about the place. Like this stained glass window set into a rock wall and surrounded by leafy tendrils. Somehow it belonged.
I’m really looking forward to finding out what these spidery beauties are. I’d love to plant them in my Secret Garden when Bear and I get it fenced in.
I’ve been collecting rocks from around our farm so I can build a rock wall one day. Isn’t this one lovely with the vines clambering over it?
The stained glass windows set in the rock walls truly delight me. They must be especially stunning in early morning or late afternoon with the sun setting them aglow.
I think my favorite part is this gorgeous wooden door with that wonderful wrought iron work. I’ve been pondering ideas for an entrance to my Secret Garden, and as soon as I saw this my heart gave a lurch and I knew I’d found it. I’ll be scouring second hand shops for lovely bits of weathered wood to make my very own garden door.
I’m so glad I found this beautiful spot and took the time to investigate. After lingering among the flower beds and walled enclosures I was rejuvenated and ready to get back to work.
Do you have a place you like to go to restore your spirits? xo
Baringa Nursery
674 Killarney Rd.
Warwick, QLD 4370
info@baringanursery.com.au
(07) 4667 1700
by Krista | Feb 23, 2015 | Summer
It is a gorgeous Summer morning, clear, bright, fresh as a daisy. Just the sort of morning to rejuvenate flagging spirits and put the vim back into life.
I’m Celebrating Good Things today: new winter boots from Germany, a homemade fruit mince tart, the impending arrival of baby goats, great visits with friends over the weekend, leftovers to eat, and the healing power of creativity.
I’ve begun researching and interviewing for my next book, the story of a Hungarian Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust and the Hungarian Revolution, then escaped to start a new life in Australia, all by herself with only one change of clothes to her name.
It is a deeply emotional story, one filled with tales both heart-rending and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Above all it is inspiring, a gripping reminder that no matter how dark life gets, we can always choose love.
Researching such things can be draining, and the subject of the book and I have to take regular breaks from the darkness to reconnect with beauty and happiness. It’s such a gift to get to share all these moments with her, to cry and laugh together, then emerge to cook delicious things and potter in our gardens and create beauty through handicrafts. She bakes and brews and knits. I can’t knit worth a hoot, but I can wood-burn, so that’s what I’ve been doing.
It’s therapeutic for me to curl up in my chair burning designs or hang out in Bear’s wood shop cutting, drilling, shaping, and sanding, basking in the scent of freshly cut wood. I’ve added a few things to my Etsy shoppe, and hope to add more this week.
As the Summer winds to a close, there are still a few late Summer treasures to be found in my gardens. My favorites are the bushes of fragrant basil and rambling vines laden with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes that taste like sunshine. Picked while still warm from the sun, the tomatoes are delicious mixed with fresh buffalo mozzarella, torn basil leaves, and a simple dressing of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
What is your favorite creative outlet? xo
by Krista | Feb 20, 2015 | Summer
I fell asleep to the sound of rain on the roof, and woke to the same glorious sound. Tropical cyclones are wreaking havoc not far from us, but on our farm it’s just good, steady, soak-deep-into-the-ground rain, and we are thrilled. Our water tanks are filling, our pastures, gardens, and orchards are getting a good drenching, and the air is so fresh and clean with all the dust and smoke washed away.
On such a morning I couldn’t stay in the house. I had to be part of this wondrous weather. So I layered on flannels, pulled on my new purple Ugg boot slippers, and went out to the veranda. My chair is just out of reach of the rain, close enough to feel the occasional spray on my face, but far enough away to keep me warm and dry.
I love it out there, no computers or television or telephone, just me in a comfy chair, wind blowing, rain falling, blissful quiet and time to rest and be.
Bear made me a cuppa, strong Earl Grey tea with milk and real maple syrup, and shook his head in amusement at my Canadian love of wild weather and fresh air, happily returning to the warmth of the house.
It’s definitely a hot bowl of chili sort of day. I’m making a white bean chicken chili, studded with the very last of the mild green chilies a dear friend sent me from America. I’m going to savor every last morsel. 🙂
Now it’s time to get back to work. There are articles to write and spoons to wood-burn with breaks for “Poirot” and more cups of tea.
What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day? xo
by Krista | Feb 17, 2015 | Summer
After the launch of my book and completing the last of the radio and newspaper interviews, I’m slowly but surely getting back to normal life: laundry, animals, new writing projects, and cuddling ducklings whenever possible.
Today I got to bake up a storm and do a Country Tea Party photo shoot and story. It was so much fun, especially because my hubby and our friends, Ann and Oma, showed up to help me feast out under the trees.
We laughed hard and told stories and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves after working full steam ahead all day. Nothing like afternoon tea in the shade of a big tree to relax you in body and spirit.
After they left and the dishes were done, I went for a wander to check on animals and gardens and was thrilled to see my lilly pilly fruiting!
Until this week, I’d only ever seen them in pictures, and never heard of them at all until I moved to Australia. They have such gorgeous little berries.
Isn’t that color fantastic? I tasted my first ones today and am smitten. 🙂 They’re crisp and slightly tart and very refreshing. I don’t know what to liken the flavor to yet, but I will keep you posted.
Have you ever had a lilly pilly berry before? What is your favorite kind of berry? xo
by Krista | Feb 16, 2015 | Summer
It’s a beautiful morning, soft and still, and I’m all rested up after the launch of my book: “Freestone: a mostly true history” at Freestone Memorial Hall yesterday.
It was an amazing time with animated conversations going on wherever you looked. So many people came they lined the walls and organizers had to bring in more chairs. It was so fun to see dear, familiar faces who came out to show support, and meet some lovely new folks and people I’d only known by name through my research for the book.
The committee did a spectacular job organizing massive amounts of baked goods, tea, coffee, and lemon water to keep the masses fed and watered, and lining tables with old photos to elicit laughter and good memories.
The launch itself was short and sweet. I gave my speech and was understood in spite of my foreign accent, and was honored to present a copy of “Freestone: a mostly true history” to friends from the Warwick library.
Afterwards everyone milled around chatting up a storm as I signed stacks of books and met even more great people. It was such a warm, community feeling and I was thrilled to be a part of it.
Many thanks to Liz Hill and the Freestone Hall for these photos of the book launch.
As folks made their way home again, Bear and I got in our car and headed back to our farm, beaming but exhausted, thankful for the journey that accompanied this book, relief at being done, gratitude at being able to celebrate it with such a great group of people.
If you would like a copy of “Freestone: a mostly true history” there are two options. If you’re local (ie – in Southern Queensland, Australia) you can purchase a copy at “Art on King” in Warwick. If you’re a bit farther afield, you can purchase a copy online by clicking here. If you buy in Warwick, only soft covers are available. If you prefer a hard cover or PDF version, please order online. (All proceeds go to the Freestone community.)
If you’re local and would like me to sign your copy, I’d be delighted. Just drop me a note and we’ll make arrangements to meet up.
Now it’s time to get back to work. 🙂 I’ve started my next book, the biography of an amazing woman who survived the Holocaust and the Hungarian Revolution, and moved to Australia with only one set of clothes to her name to start a new life. I can’t wait to share her story with you.
What is one of your favorite biographies? xo
