Sellout? what do you think?

well you may have noticed this additional little link to the Book Depository over in my side bar.

Yes I’ve done it, I’ve succumbed to promoting my reliable book source for two reasons.

It makes it easier for you my beloved readers to find the books I mention on my blog

and if you do buy something from the Book Depository after visiting my blog they may give me a tiny commission (like 5cents)

which I’m hoping may help make this blog self supporting over time.

So thankyou thankyou for continuing to read my words, enjoy my images and accompany me on my journey!

Blessings

Roselinde

ps obviously I’m feeling a little unsure about the decision so we’ll see how it goes…

What Katie requested.

a recurring theme of my year so far has been the gift of friendship

again and again i am overcome with gratitude to these unique people who have time and space and words and ears for me and vice versa and the precious and mundane moments we share, the interest in each others lives, from the deep processes and vulnerable sharing to, how are you handling the lice on your children?

one of my dear friends is Katie

What she did is varied and inspirational

Loving motherhood, wise partnership, humorous perspective, deep knowledge, inspirational blogging at Obaitori, gentle guide in yoga and yogic studies, creative attentive mumsy, phone a friend availability and more and more….

anyway, we rarely have time together but

during our last visit in March, Katie requested this recipe

presented just like this {authentic glimpse into my bookshelf}

so here it is dear on the original kookaburra note paper

Image

it has nothing to do with the River Cottage {though there are lots of good recipes in there}

i found it in a backwater town in highland Qld in an old camp cookbook

It is simply

Pour 1c Arborio rice or medium grain white rice into a deep baking dish/camp oven

cover with

approx 4c liquid {milk/water blend to your taste}

add a diced apple or two

dot with butter

cover tightly with a lid or foil

bake at 180’c about 40 minutes or til liquid mostly absorbed and rice cooked

easy

serve with whatever yummy toppings

honey, maple, chopped nuts, fruit, berry sauce, ice cream….

variation

add 1 tspn cinnamon and 1/2 c sultanas or black currants to the mix

endless variety or simplicity

xxx

thanks for being my friend

when we are old ladies we can take endless beach walks with a thermos and our knitting…

Image

Meals on Wheels

A grand part of this adventurous lifestyle is the diversification of our diet.

The beauteous, bountiful, delight of flavoursome flavours and seasonal sensations….

What we eat and when we eat and where we are at the time, becomes significant in our days and our memories.

Meals shared, simple or imaginative become one of the threads woven into our travels.

“remember the first cherries of the season, fat and almost black, on that 42’c day, edging closer to Melbourne with bushfire smoke in the breeze and a trail of cherry pips behind us like Hansel and Gretel…”

There is simply more time to apply to our meals, and where and how we procure them {usually}

Sometimes we gather our own.

Often we go grower direct at farmers markets or roadside stalls or community gardens or your garden…

we may invite our hosts, our neighbours, strangers or friends…

I am patient enough to include the children in the preparation when they are interested.

I am relaxed enough to leave the pancake making to Lily and not fret about the floury kiss she leaves.

We often times eat outdoors which brings it’s own magic to dining.

Splendid sky shows or animal shows, scents or sand or sweet water trickling, the diversity of our surrounds keeps us amused as we are cosied up in our own dining room watching the world.

Places are noted by what we ate or found there.

Mealtimes become a simple time of togetherness and sharing.

we may sing or say a blessing while holding hands or we may dig in

we may play apples and onions, a game in which each shares the apple {high point} and onion {challenge} of their day

we may not talk at all or there may be silliness and giggles, playing with food creatively or coaxing children to eat what they aren’t interested in. there may be sadness or stillness, tiredness or crying, tantrums and food on the floor, abandoned plates or plates licked clean, cosy inside, crammed inside, on the ground mat, in someone else’s home, in a carpark, by the sea the creek or the sand, we may be in the park or in your garden, it’s not like the rhythm of our table at home, but in it all there is a rhythm and hum of family time wherever we are sharing food and the making of memories.

sometimes it’s the gratitude of cooking in a kitchen provided by a generous friend, the joy of baking in ovens and hot water on tap and the warmth of friendship around the table

thankyou to all of you out in the world who support our journey, it means so much to me xx

some glimpses…

Oatlands, salmon pasta, each of us making our plate uniquely and organic Callington mill woodfired bread.

IMG_0291 IMG_0302 IMG_0310

Circus Festival, 4 kg organic Blueberries picked ourselves and as big a grapes {well small grapes}

IMG_0331 IMG_0334 IMG_0335 blueberrys

Cockle Creek, cockles found with our toes and served with risotto, tomato mussels and watching Jesse slurp palm sized oystersIMG_0017 IMG_0019

Hobart playground, 4kg sweetest apricots, 1 kg silvanberries, 1kg blackberries, 1 kg cherries, and oh more blueberries… mmmmm

IMG_0228

Hobart dock front, fresh bread and eggs, kale and tomatoes and basil fresh from market while the others are in bed still, hands cold from the chill morning wind

porridge porridge lots of porridge {and stirred with my new Huon Pine Spurtle to replace my hand lathed NZ pear wood  spurtle from 2008}

Niyahitiny’s, pancakes and pancakes and pancakes and hot potato chips salty with rosemary and fresh garden salads and also berry sago coconut pudding

IMG_0520 IMG_0243 IMG_0246and let’s not forget the yumminess of vanilla icecreams in mini cones with fresh rasberries mashed into it found on the way there…

IMG_0239 IMG_0237

Cloudy Bay, abalone and fish and 40 strawberries

IMG_0721

Ferry off Bruny Island, $50 of cheeses and fresh bread warm from the oven

each cheese round has it’s ‘birthday’ inscribed on it
IMG_0371 IMG_0370IMG_0373 IMG_0372 IMG_0374 IMG_0375

Liffey Falls, picnic with Lily in the middle of the river on a wide rock, nori rolls and dried fruit

Tasmazia, popcorn in the middle of the hexagon maze, flopping in the sunshine feeling glorious
IMG_0648

Cygnet, savory pancakes with punchy Swiss style goats cheese

IMG_0619 IMG_0640

Port Huon, more pancakes with blueberries watching the sunset over sailing boats and golden hills and then an invitation to go sailing on Thursday afternoons if we return…

IMG_1102 IMG_1104

Hobart Italian Street fiesta, huddled in the shade with fresh pizza and the italian chatter over our heads

IMG_0857

Warburton, raw zucchini pasta salad with all ingredients picked from the public gardens except olives and cheese

IMG_0569 IMG_0588

Little Peninsula, bean tortillas, the benches are all rotted out and wet so we all perch on the table, it’s really messy and the kids have their feet on the table and love it…

IMG_0554 IMG_0557

Dancing Ground Festival,400 people, happy queues for wholesome catering under a glowing red tent, kids and parents to the front!

endless delicious meals in the grandparents kitchen, sitting on the stools playing ‘whats your favorite pottery’ with Lily

many meals in our welcoming friends homes and gardens

many meals quietly and unremarkably pass by also…

hmm reflecting on this above, it’s an awful lot of fruit, pancakes, cheese and bread… varied diet?

{absolutely, I just don’t photograph the steamed veg and rice meals and other as they are all too familiar …}

are you hungry now?

is food central in your family connection?

do you grow/make/forage your own?

do you have a lovely foodie memory with us?

xx

peace and mung beans

Reading solo

20130331-093657.jpg Traveling this summer has given Lily a lot of space to practice reading independently. She gobbles up books almost as fast as I can! We still read aloud to her every day and sometimes she will read to me while I go about my tasks or pause and knit. If she wants me to read to her she is learning that I am usually willing, if she offers to do my task. lily takes care of my knitting lily takes care of readingwhat’s your favorite place to read? or fantasy place? {some of my faves are reading in the bath with the door locked, cosied in bed or in the swing chair in dappled sunlight} any favorite early reader books you recommend? Peace and words

Our Easter in Autumn Story

IMG_0703 on Easter eve we are visiting friends on the journey north from Sydney. The children go out in the sunset pink to cut grass to line the easter basket and to feed the Easter hare
IMG_0710 while they cut I retell an Easter story about the journey of the Easter hare and the purpose of the eggs as i have adopted it from this great book. Easter in Autumn. i deeply enjoy storytelling without a book in front of me as i took the time to learn the story and make it my own. They are both captivated and i feel peaceful with this serene wash of calm coming over me as i bask in the moment and the beauty of the simple now-ness and connection we are sharing. i am inspired to learn more stories to tell.
IMG_0713this basket was woven in Arnhem land, jesse gifted it to Lily on return of his trip there last year. {i got a lady version for my birthday}IMG_0714the light is soft and pastelly and embracing and look below, it hints to the sky of the dawn…IMG_0723Lily and I have made a date to silently watch the sunrise on Easter morn.

we are camped by a river and the light bounces from the water in a myriad of pastel delicacies..IMG_0725Pelicans join us and we are gifted this close observation of a much loved birdIMG_0730 IMG_0747Lily points out the Pelican has made a heart with it’s own reflectionIMG_0748 i resolve to make more dates with Lily, the peace of simply being together touches us both deeply. It is grounding and loving and sets us up for a rich connection through the day.
IMG_0749 IMG_0758 finally a golden peep through the clouds melts the dew from waxy leaves

a new day

a new beginningIMG_0759 as we walk back we pick golden sunny flowers to decorate the bus and the easter baskets, glistening with dew

Cedar and Jesse are awake and after the children exclaim over the gifts from the Easter hare in their baskets, they go outside with a poem of clues to find the Easter treasures
IMG_0775 oh whats under here??

skip to a quick ant bite interlude….

then the treasure hunt is back on….
IMG_0779 IMG_0786looking looking looking, Lily can see the silver paper on the tyre and is encouraging Cedar to find it and giggling about his looking but not seeing… i remember Lily at this age needing very obvious eye level treasures to find… IMG_0787 I found it!!
IMG_0790 and up here Cedar!

i am wondrous to see Lily turn the seeking into a game for Cedar in which she is showing and helping him in a thoughtful way, instead of rushing around claiming all the treasure. it reveals the change out of early childhood i am seeing into a less selfconcerned world view. beautiful.IMG_0798the treasure is in and unwrapped and eaten.

after struggling in the night with my staunch anti chocolate stance, i realise the experience of my uptight stress is less beautiful than the joy the children will have when unwrapping 2 squares of organic chocolate before breakfast!

and it was fine, and they were so happy, and they did not have sugar meltdowns!

it’s good to let go a little now and then. but yes i am pretty strict about sweets in our own home and prefer to savour these type of treats for specials.

later in the day we prepare eggs to decorate and enjoy an omelette for lunch

you may know how already but here

  the simple steps to blow eggs ready for decoration and hanging
IMG_0803use a large pin to pierce one end of an egg, i use a series of punctures in close proximity to open a 2mm hole, repeat on the opposite end and remember to have a bowl ready to catch your egg insides {make an omelette or cake…}IMG_0805apply your lips and lungs to the task of blowing a stream of egg insides to the outside. rinse by submersing in water and blowing out once more. towel dry and there they are, light and ready to decorate. we often use water colour pencils or paints, or dye with onion skin…IMG_0808in the weeks coming up to Easter i scout around town for white shelled eggs.. {In Bellingen they are sold at the Providore from a local farmer….} this year we had little choice as we travelled…IMG_0809the easter bounty which the children are happy happy happy withIMG_0814during our afternoon drive i watch Lily singing out the window like a puppy with her face in the wind…

i imagine her reflecting on the day and she is singing her happiness to the world…

some sweet sweet moments in our day

blessings and happy new beginning to us all…

Womad 2013

Better late than never!

glimpses of Womadelaide

wowee what a massive fantastic diverse inspirational festival!

i first attended 5 months pregnant with Lily way back when and was blown away with my first exposure to the music of the world and of such high calibre!

this year was a little different with two children and remarkable heat and the popularity of the festival meant huge crowds!

it looks great in photos, but i confess to seriously questioning my/our sanity in the midst of it all…

i only shot from my iPhone so that reflects my energy levels which couldn’t manage lugging camera gear {also the need to stay wet for temperature control…}20130404-091513.jpg

Lily gets wrapped up in Tangle! an excellent elastic jungle in the kids space. As each child entered the arena they are given a ball of elastic to tangle with while the band plays!20130404-091622.jpg

it’s over 40’c but Jesse is energized and playful as ever! rocking out to

Bassekou Kouyate &Ngoni ba

African camel riding rhythms and soaring desert voices from Mali20130404-091557.jpg

20130404-091519.jpg

Cedar watches alot of tangle unfurling then enters into the fringes of the fray…20130404-091836.jpg

Mari Boine, Saami shaman soul shaking tear making trance dancing vocal goddess. They have travelled from Norway {-30’c} and are pretty wiped out but humorous about the heat!20130404-091915.jpg

Blank Page was the only performance art I caught, we were all captivated by the skill and energy in this dynamic performance. 6 artists create the images to narration, at completion the audience is wild with applause and then the images are torn off to shock and the next piece begins! an awesome commentary on the history of art and story telling.20130404-091852.jpg

oh that clear blue Adelaide sky! sharp blue in the heat. Beloved puffs of breeze stir the silken flags above my weary eyes…20130404-091417.jpg

20130404-091446.jpg

hallelujah for the sprinklers, keeping down the dust and keeping up the smiles and energy!

IMG_1401one food stall offers mustache’s with every meal! we are thoroughly entertained!IMG_1412IMG_1413we are all impressed with the amount of cycling as transport  to the festival and in Adelaide in general.
IMG_1411mm orange almond meal birthday cake for Jesse. this was the most spectacular gift I had for Jesse this year!IMG_1407
IMG_1416another tent of activity Box Wars, saw all manner of things crafted from cardboard boxes. The most popular item today is fans!IMG_1417Good friend Mitchell Brown a rising star in the folk music scene
IMG_1418Lily participates in a Balinese soap carving workshop, the beginnings of a stone carvers training. she is the last child to leave the space and has impressed the balinese artist with her fine skills and deep persistance and concentration.IMG_1419in the kids festival is a set up by the SA museum which includes these familiar geometric mosaic tiles! a happy reunion for Cedar as ours have been in storage for a year now. he also impresses us with his concentration and pattern making.IMG_1420this plywood truck is popular with Cedars age group and the sides are an inspirational vertical garden with fresh herbs and strawberries.

IMG_1404
Womadelaide words
Hot dusty survival til nightfall
Surrender agenda for children’s happiness
Oh so grateful for shade and sprinklers and coconuts
Children’s festival very fun
both ages happy with different play
Inspirational music and incredible talent abounding
Rolling camel riding desert rhythms and harmonies
Nordic shaman wailing trance dance tears
Humorous bluegrass
Gypsy orchestra
And everything in between
Letting go of the program
Keeping cool (temper)
Keeping presence
Keeping connected
Grandparents gift and meeting
late late nights for Jesse while I leave for A house to sleep by and have sleepy watery mornings on green grass
Thank you friends
Monday was my favorite day more mellow less crowds
Jesses birthday in there somewhere
Orange almond meal bliss cake made in the morning with Lily
Squares of dark choc melt over if in the 40′ c heat
Neighbours from bellingen appear at just the right time to join in
Jesse’s parents swing dance over to the cake
Laughter and tears
All so hot and fragile and tired
And after it all Jesse flies to
NZ and I go for recovery with my dear friends Loren Kate (divine singer and beautiful mumsy) and Xavier of the brilliant and Amazing Drumming monkeys
A fun house full of performers
Including the Chipolatas
Ahhh a fun few weeks in Adelaide

Right now

20130413-085106.jpg
Lily dear Lily here it is on record
This morning you proclaim you will have Brussels sprouts for breakfast lunch AND dinner!!
You may be the only child in the world who has such sophisticated appreciation…
Well except myself perhaps.
And possibly my mama too…
Poor old Brussels, such a bad old soggy reputation!
Be mindful to steam them or add to a soup for a brief 5 minutes, or until they are bright green. Douse liberally with butter and a dusting of salt…. You will see! A whole other Brussels sprout world!! Have fun peeling off the layers of beautiful green cupping leaves and the surprise crisp crunch in the centre!!
mmmmm
Particularly if you grow your own and see the cute balls clinging to their tall parental stem in neat rows, what a quirky plant! Enjoy them smallish and if you don’t grow your own ( like me ) avoid the plumped up steroid supermarket version with no subtle flavour and seek a farmers market or similar option.

Do you like Brussels sprouts already?
Or not?
Do you have memories of soggy grayish green balls of cabbage flavored muck?
Are you willing to give them another chance?
Xxxx