You made scones, and I made cornbread - Baking helps me deal with the noise.
Being welcomed as equals, regardless of circumstances, has a huge effect on how we behave in the world. That's real community right there Cecilia - thank you for the recommendation :)
You are such a beautiful story teller. I was genuinely moved while I read this because it pulled on everything that I know is true about humans needing each other. It made me wish desperately that I had been sitting with you guys at the gathering table. I might have been the one secretly passing sweets out the the Dick 's Table when no one was looking but I would have loved every second of being together with so many vibrant people.
Enjoy every second with that baby. My daughter gifted us with #2 just 3 months ago so I'm pretty drunk on baby snuggles at the moment. It's pretty damn good.
Drunk on baby snuggles!! I love that. This will be my ninth grandchild but the first I will have a real hand in raising ( due to geography mostly) being able to relocate to Australia to help my daughter is a gift.
So wonderful reading about your NZ life and the trials and tribulations and wonderful times that have made you the very special woman you are! Your daughter is very fortunate to have you! My mom and I were so very close too. Such a gift! I'm looking forward to traveling again with you!
This chapter of Wind in the Willows was so well done. It is well written, of course, but also well-read. I also loved your story about the wonderful old wooden table. So glad it is still in the family.
Ripping story! My kids were much less adventurous in a physical way but I remember mom telling stories of my older brothers who seemed to constantly be putting themselves in the way of broken bone capers. Traveling mercies for your trip.
Amazing stories, both. I felt like I was there, which evoked such a sense of anemoia. I would love to have had my grandparents' old laminex kitchen table. Those are the gatherings I recall with nostalgia. I wonder where it is now. I have my own tables and people now, but still.
When you settle let me know and I'll post some seeds saved from my gsrden to you, we grow in particular a very resilient climbing green bean by the name of Wellington Wonder. Sometimes it even produces through winter. But save some seeds and you'll never be without!
Yes please! That would be just fantastic. Write on the envelope seeds: STORE IN REFRIGERATOR. Soph will look after them for me. I will email you the address this week. You can send them anytime. Particularly the bean! I have plenty of vertical space to grow stuff!
It might be too late for a summer garden so I will initially focus on center garden. It will be lovely to grow all year round again. Thank you!
And we will keep doing it. The newsletter will still come out and I will keep reading - I probably should have mentioned that right or people will think I am disappearing off the edge of the world!
This was so beautiful; thank you. I envy that cat getting a cow snuggle.
I am starting a little garden cart in my sunny kitchen and we are getting a share in our local CSA, hoping to help hands-on. I feel a question forming, but it hasn't reached the surface yet.
Yes, they accept volunteers! It sounds like a wonderful way to forge community and learn a thing or two. I'm hoping they will accept some alpaca poo from our herd, too.
Thank you! I will ask if that question pops its head up.
Mark - hello! I would love to say yes but fourth son is Tigger. Kane would have been napping. Bless him. That boy could sleep. If they had thought about it I am sure they would have chucked him up on the roof but he was very small!
Seeds for Australia: The Diggers Club (www.diggers.com.au) for heirloom seeds, great for produce grown in Victoria. Also Eden Seeds (www.edenseeds.com.au) for heritage seeds, and Green Harvest (www.greenharvest.com.au) heritage, open pollinated, GMO and chemical free seeds. They're currently offline for orders but will be reopening again this year.
You made scones, and I made cornbread - Baking helps me deal with the noise.
Being welcomed as equals, regardless of circumstances, has a huge effect on how we behave in the world. That's real community right there Cecilia - thank you for the recommendation :)
You are such a beautiful story teller. I was genuinely moved while I read this because it pulled on everything that I know is true about humans needing each other. It made me wish desperately that I had been sitting with you guys at the gathering table. I might have been the one secretly passing sweets out the the Dick 's Table when no one was looking but I would have loved every second of being together with so many vibrant people.
Enjoy every second with that baby. My daughter gifted us with #2 just 3 months ago so I'm pretty drunk on baby snuggles at the moment. It's pretty damn good.
Drunk on baby snuggles!! I love that. This will be my ninth grandchild but the first I will have a real hand in raising ( due to geography mostly) being able to relocate to Australia to help my daughter is a gift.
So wonderful reading about your NZ life and the trials and tribulations and wonderful times that have made you the very special woman you are! Your daughter is very fortunate to have you! My mom and I were so very close too. Such a gift! I'm looking forward to traveling again with you!
This chapter of Wind in the Willows was so well done. It is well written, of course, but also well-read. I also loved your story about the wonderful old wooden table. So glad it is still in the family.
Good morning Darlene and thank you! I look forward to seeing that table in just a few weeks.!
6 people in a kitchen? I'd need to see it to believe it...
And "now" is always a good time for scones. May I ask who's the tabby snuggling with the cows?
That cats name was Thing Two. It is a lovely shot right? When my dairy cow was young.
Ripping story! My kids were much less adventurous in a physical way but I remember mom telling stories of my older brothers who seemed to constantly be putting themselves in the way of broken bone capers. Traveling mercies for your trip.
Travelling mercies. I like that! Thank you!
I especially liked your rules for gatherings. Our best ones have had wide ranges of people who told the best stories.
The gatherings were wonderful! I hope to have more once I get back over closer to my family and friends.
Amazing stories, both. I felt like I was there, which evoked such a sense of anemoia. I would love to have had my grandparents' old laminex kitchen table. Those are the gatherings I recall with nostalgia. I wonder where it is now. I have my own tables and people now, but still.
When you settle let me know and I'll post some seeds saved from my gsrden to you, we grow in particular a very resilient climbing green bean by the name of Wellington Wonder. Sometimes it even produces through winter. But save some seeds and you'll never be without!
Yes please! That would be just fantastic. Write on the envelope seeds: STORE IN REFRIGERATOR. Soph will look after them for me. I will email you the address this week. You can send them anytime. Particularly the bean! I have plenty of vertical space to grow stuff!
It might be too late for a summer garden so I will initially focus on center garden. It will be lovely to grow all year round again. Thank you!
Send address asap. We're heading off in a few days for a few weeks.
Lovely story. Safe travels and if you make it to QLD, let me know. Good luck with the baby - that’s precious time!
I would love to catch up with you - Australia is SO BIG! But you never know where my journeys take me.
beautiful look back and off to what is ahead -
And we will keep doing it. The newsletter will still come out and I will keep reading - I probably should have mentioned that right or people will think I am disappearing off the edge of the world!
This was so beautiful; thank you. I envy that cat getting a cow snuggle.
I am starting a little garden cart in my sunny kitchen and we are getting a share in our local CSA, hoping to help hands-on. I feel a question forming, but it hasn't reached the surface yet.
Safe travels!
So you will be working at the CSA? That will be a great experience. Let me know when that question surfaces!
Yes, they accept volunteers! It sounds like a wonderful way to forge community and learn a thing or two. I'm hoping they will accept some alpaca poo from our herd, too.
Thank you! I will ask if that question pops its head up.
Everyone will want your alpaca poo! I want your alpaca poo!
😂 I have plenty
I read your beautiful story. It took me back... The 4th son hoisted up to the roof. Was that Kane?
Mark - hello! I would love to say yes but fourth son is Tigger. Kane would have been napping. Bless him. That boy could sleep. If they had thought about it I am sure they would have chucked him up on the roof but he was very small!
Thank you for sharing those stories. Great inspiration towards hosting even without a lot of means. It sounds like that was such a lively time!
It was! Lively described it exactly. Lots of lively times ahead too! The locals here down in rural Illinois are not much for gatherings.
Enjoy your time down there! Looking forward to seeing what you make of the small kitchen garden.
Seeds for Australia: The Diggers Club (www.diggers.com.au) for heirloom seeds, great for produce grown in Victoria. Also Eden Seeds (www.edenseeds.com.au) for heritage seeds, and Green Harvest (www.greenharvest.com.au) heritage, open pollinated, GMO and chemical free seeds. They're currently offline for orders but will be reopening again this year.
Thank you Kate / I look forward to beginning my winter garden!
Beautiful! Thank you for this. Seed Savers is my fave as well. Safe travels!
I find the people there really helpful and their book really is lovely.
Blessings as you pack and prepare for your travels and all your time with loved ones.
Thank you Hans / another bunch of adventures rolling out ahead of me!