Sunday, November 25, 2012

blackberries and all...


One day last week I found myself in a taxi rushing through peak, city, lunch time traffic on the way to an appointment. Actually rushing is probably the wrong word to use because although I was in a rush to get there on time, the streets were crazy busy and we weren't going anywhere fast.

I felt good though, happy to have escaped the farm for a while.

But we were stuck in traffic, so we started chatting, the taxi driver and I.

He told me of his family back in India and of how poor his village was. He told me how he and his brother had come out here to Australia seven years ago to seek their fortune and how they had spent six of those seven years working in an Indian restaurant. And he told me of his dream to get out of the city, away from the traffic and the hustle and bustle and live a quiet life in the country.

And then he asked about my life. Where I live, what life was like here and what it was like to be an organic farmer. It sounds beautiful he told me. Like a wonderful life. Like an easy life. Is it?

And at that moment, sitting there in that taxi in my city clothes and city shoes, with people and cars and buildings all around me, my life back home looked pretty sweet.


For a second I forgot all about the constant irrigation issues, the squawking of the fire scanner on farmer Bren's tool belt, his stained and rough hands, the weeds, the endless to-do lists, the fire-prep, the little bits of black spot on the apples, the troublesome dog, my fear of snakes, the stink of the sea-weed spray and the foxes.


And instead I remembered the incredible beauty of our farm at the moment. The green and luscious look of the veggie garden, the tiny apples, and plums and quinces, the water lilies on the house dam, the sound of the banjo frogs, how happy the chooks look in the orchards, our amazing customers, the twilight walks, the taste of our certified organic freshly grown produce and how proud my farmer boy is of his compost.

And I told him that no, it isn't exactly an easy life but it sure is a beautiful one. One that we are very proud of and are grateful to be living.

And then I felt a bit desperate to get home. And I think he felt something similar because he asked me a lot of questions about the three Indian restaurants in our town.

I wonder if I'd recognise him if I saw him down the street one day.

It'd be nice to thank him for reminding me that there's no place like home, prickly, overgrown blackberry bushes and all. Gosh it is a wonderful life and we are so terribly lucky.


Are you having a lovely weekend?
Are you loving where you're living?
Sometimes do you need a stranger to remind you?
Me too.

I'm off to supervise Miss Indi's lava lamp making and then to check out the elevator being made by the others in the shed.

I hope you have the best week EVER!!

Bye. x

28 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photos as always Kate. I sometimes need to remind myself during all of the hustle and bustle of life to look back and be grateful for all that I have. For now I love where we live, it's right for us now. I still like dream of a home in the country but live vicariously through my Mum and Dad, for now:) Have a wonderful week. xx

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  2. That's so beautiful and I love the pics too. Kx

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  3. Gosh what a great moment to have, to remind you of what you have!xxJ

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  4. i can relate to this. I really need to get myself off to the city every now and then to truly appreciate what i have here. often it takes seeing your own life through someone elses eyes.

    rachel xo

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  5. Thanks for reminding me to take a look around Kate. I too live a beautiful life and at the moment am just where I need to be.
    x

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  6. It's so true. I am living in a 45m2 apartment with my 3 lovelies and indeed I have learnt over time to be able to say the same. We are about to move into a house with a backyard next week and I know I will be even more grateful!

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  7. You put words together so beautifully Kate, I need a reminder like this occasionally too x

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  8. Gorgeous story Kate and photos x

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  9. I know what you mean! I too live in a very rural area and I often crave for the city. When I get there I can't wait to get home!!! ♥

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  10. I love our spot. It is beautiful, peaceful, and we have it all to ourselves. I really can't stand the city, and know exactly how you felt at that moment.

    xox

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  11. That's lovely isn't it to realise that your life really is good. You mention how proud your man is of his compost, mine just lives and breathes and wreaks of it, they ought to meet. My partner does amazing compost with green waste as well as our regular waste. if you are interested let me know.

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  12. It is really amazing the kind of chats you can have with taxi drivers isn't it? I find that I always have conversations with them that just wouldn't come up with other people.
    I needed this post, thank you for reminding me. We've been dealing with some monstrous damp and grumpy landlords lately and it can make you forget what is really important. My house isn't the biggest, but it is somewhere just for me and my boyfriend and our pets which is something we've never had before. I know that when I come here I am home, and it is my home. Every room is decorated with our trinkets and belongings and it really does mean so much to have a place to just be truly yourself.

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  13. Oh the weeds. We're on a tiny suburban block and the weeds do my head in. I can't even imagine a farms worth.
    Happy where we live? Yes for now, no forever.
    Good weekend... not so much. I haven't been able to speak since Friday - I have a severe throat infection. The silver lining - it has been confirmed to me that I discipline and affirm my children with my eyes - I don't need words.

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  14. I never knew there were banjo frogs. Hallelujah, there are! The creatures of this world of ours never cease to amaze and delight me. Thank you for sharing this.

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  15. I guess the Wizard of Oz was right - there is no place like home as long as you have loved ones to go home to, and all the little things that make you happy to be there too. We hear the frogs from across the creek at night when it is warm outside or raining. I dont know what type they are but they are little tiny ones. We also hear the magpies singing in the morning too which is nice. I hope you have a wonderful week Kate!

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  16. HOME!! So many different types, so many different meanings to each of us. And we are so fortunate here in australia that most of us have an actual home. Yes it nice to get away occasionally but that feeling when you are on the road back is unbeatable - I will take the weeds, the hot winds, the cold winds, the irrigation problems and whatever else life throws at me out here in the country over the city anytime. And for everyone like me who loves the quiet, the space and the country living problems and good times there is one who loves the city and all it's problems and good times. We really are fortunate in our 'lucky' country!

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  17. i could read your posts all day long. this is such a lovely place to come and escape city life : ) having lived a country life too i was young and took it for granted... i dreamed of escaping to the city and now as i sit here, in the city, my dream is reversed. i do love my life here but i miss the crisp morning air, the abundant bird life, bright stars at night oh and those hands remind me of dad and pop. i don't however miss the stares, feeling differently or like i just didn't fit in. my life in the country was before the internet (gasp im old) it was a different world. it felt isolating. the world felt small. thank you for sharing your life with us and reminding me of the good in my past x

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  18. I know that farm life is hard work and very tough and not the walking down country roads like us city-slickers seem to be think - but it also seems so wonderful, calm and peaceful.

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  19. I too could read your blog all day long. You do live the life that many of us dream of, but of course, we don't see the things that go wrong and the stress involved with farming, how everything is so reliant on the weather etc.

    But we do see how close your family is and how happy everyone is to be living that life. I know you guys have your ups and downs just like any of us mere mortals lol, but your surroundings are so beautiful.

    I think if we one day fulfill our dream of moving to a bit more land and growing more of our own things, we will feel more fulfilled. BUT the difference would be that hubby would be still working his job and I guess everything would fall on to me to take care of the area we had. It doesn't quite seem as ideal as your situation where you effectively work together to make your dreams happen,,,hmmmmm I must say that your blog always has me thinking.

    Each time we drive back and forth to Adelaide we drive past the sign to Daylesford and hubby remarks "isn't that where your "blog farmer lady" lives?" (lol yes you get referred to like that because he can never remember your name :) )and I say yes and he replies with "we really must visit that area one day because her pictures look amazing.

    We have only been living in Melbourne for 5 months and hence we are still exploring and haven't got over to the other side of the city yet,,,we are out in Pakenham.

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us all!

    Cheers
    Colleen

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  20. so true it sometimes takes someone else looking at our life through their lives to know how lucky we are!

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  21. just beautiful! loved sharing some of that day with you. x x x

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  22. Great post! Always honest and thoughtful... I'm sure the taxi driver was blessed to have met you! you never know; maybe one day you'll see him at the markets selling organic indian treats that have made there way from your farm and through his kitchen!! that would be pretty cool.

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  23. I love that you took the time to listen to the taxi driver and consider what he was saying. It is no wonder that you are making a beautiful life for your own family as you are a kind and considerate person and probably made that taxi driver's day!

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  24. Thank you for pulling focus onto the beauty of living and being involved with nature and its gifts. This region of the country is made more special when we are reminded of the simple things and those moments of harmony and joy.
    Your blog is like a tonic for the ills and aches, and a reminder to be available for the boundless, quietly wonderful, moments that pepper life.



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Kate XX

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