this moment
a friday ritual
a single photograph, no words
a moment in my week I want to cherish and savour
leave a link to your moment in the comments for all to see and enjoy
Author Archives: rosalindentree
A windy equine date
My sister has a few horses and on this windy sunny typical WA spring day we went to feed them.
They seem gigantic next to my little children but so gentle and curious.
She massages and gives them Bowen therapy these big creatures relax against her healing hands.
Cedar played happily by a puddle and carefully didn’t put his feet in!
Waking up to.,.
My sisters beautiful wine dot (wyandotte) hens and their sunny gifts for us!
Sweet moments in the city…
Araluen botanic gardens WA
spring is in the air tra la la la tra la la la spring is in the air tra la la la tra la la la butterflies are fluttering little birds are singing spring is in … Continue reading
Children’s play
Some great simple joy is found here with cousins trains. Amusement for this rainy cold day for a boy who travels with very little toys.
More play when the rain stops…
The boys
And girls
Double decker palm basket
Last year I made a great basket to hang inside our door to pop all our shoes into. It’s a little worse for wear as we cram it too full or we have too many shoes…
so on my last day in Queensland I wove up this replacement, a little bigger, a little better technique.
After the markets on Sunday in port Douglas we escaped to four mile beach. It was so windy, maybe 20-25 kn blowing from the south east , hence masses of kite surfers, wind surfers and my friends who sailed out on a little nacra catamaran.
I watched friends play with their kids and a little training kite, I watched the joy of children running, I sheltered behind some trees, I wove and cherished my last moments with the palms.
I could hear the crackly rustling of palm leaves blowing and the song of the frond in my hands.
I love the palm as weaving material as it is beautifully patterned, firm, broad, colorful, pliant fibre. The geometry of the styles is satisfying also for someone who has done more wild style weaving.
This basket is modeled on a classic style often used as a bag or carrier, it was the first style i learnt to weave and is sonetimes referred to as a billum bag/ basket. It is woven from sections of two fronds of matching size.
Eight pairs of leaves are interwoven to create this squareish practical, strong sided basket. I have modified the traditional design by weaving one above another on a single set of great ribs. ( the central wooded part of a palm branch )
I am regretting not photographing the entire process now! I was totally being in the moment and not thinking about this future post, or the fact that it’s hard to find palm weaving tutorials or teachers here in Australia.
Next time…
I am hoping Jesse will bring me some fresh coconut palm on his drive down to meet us in Bellingen next month…
Blessings
( yes it is 3 am, I’m awake after soothing jet lagged Cedar who’s been up crying, but lovingly supported by dear aunty in the freezing midnight hours so all good…)
Hot tip on jet lag, try travelease from the living essences! Amazing at helping me to feel more present, patient and perky today after a dreaded flight.
I also received an excellent mini body talk balancing from other dear aunty. Ah it’s beautiful to be with my sisters and our gaggle of children!
Waking up to…
Making a magic ball of wool for Lily to knit up on our travels
As she knits little trinkets will fall out of the ball of yarn! A good incentive to keep her amused, particularly on the long flight.
updated Coconut cream curry
go and have another look as I have uploaded all the photos again!
Tedious but worth it, makes me hungry all over again!
Thanks for your patience
Roselinde
Waking up to…
Regal bamboo dancing
in a beautific sky
Our last family Sunday pancakes for a while as I fly to western Australia tomorrow with the children for a family visit
How about lilyS inventiveness with a pancake boat held with apple slices and filled with maple cream… Mmmm
Off to port Douglas markets
and a busy day enjoying my favorite tropical pasttimes
Blessings to you and yours
Fresh Coconut Cream Curry
I have learnt the art of making fresh coconut cream and my goodness it tastes absolutely scrumptious!
Have you ever had it from anything but a can?
It’s abit of simple labour but definitely worth it.
For those of you who can get brown coconuts give it a go! you may just want to add the cream to your cuppa, cereal, cooking or guzzle it pure!
The rest of you… Well enjoy in theory!
Find a nice brown coconut or two full of water…
To break it in half over a bowl neatly, whack it around its belly with the back of a heavy knife or machete til it cracks and spills.
Now put the juice aside and grate the flesh with a coconut grater into another bowl
See the round pointed blade attached to a board you sit on below…
Return some liquid to the grated coconut, perhaps strain it. Stir through, it will go white and milky. Magic! Taste it with a mouthful of the flesh, mmm
Set aside again…
Now prepare your curry…
I used local onion and garlic and a friends grown ginger, chopped with my 18th birthday chefs knife (from my family in monogrammed leather sheath…)
Softened in My own made ghee! ( clarified butter)
Stirred with a locally made spoon and in the magic black pot
Measure out ones spices, I used coriander, cumin and turmeric into another locally made spoon…
I aromatise the ginger onion garlic mix for several minutes with the spices then add diced tofu
Turn off the heat and have some muslin or net curtain or some such at hand to squeeze your nut milk through into the pot… Can be messy but fun or make more dishes and squeeze into another bowl first, let your child help!
Looking good yet?
Add chopped veg of choice and adjust liquid and seasoning
Simmer til tender
Serve up with rice and yoghurt, chutneys etc…
Yum!
I’m sure you already know about making curry but I did enjoy describing the photos…
I’ve been thinking a lot about my Swiss grandmas banana chicken curry which I haven’t had since childhood. I thought it was a peculiar mix then, but now I’d like to try it again!
This magnificent coconut tree keeps on astounding me with the diversity of its uses and by products.
Green nuts with their incredible water, sometimes fizzy like lemonade!
The soft jelly like immature flesh varying through stages to firm oily thick white grate able meat.
Coconut milk, cream and oil
Oil for fuel also
Coconut shell for utensils and vessels
Fronds for shelter, roofing, walls, shade
Leaves for weaving, vessels, mats, hats
Bowls, baskets, toys, decorations,
Etc etc etc
Ever wondered why traditional island dwellers where strong and glowing?
In celebration of plant to plate, slow food, free food, foraging, local made, wholefoods, homemade and happiness!
Peace be with you and your belly
RosaLindenTree 