Thursday, March 27, 2014

Autumn break

IMG_8727 IMG_8747 Last night Autumn broke and now winter is on her way.

It's funny but although Autumn always makes me feel a bit melancholy about the loss of sunshine and the cold to come, Autumn also seems like the time of year that I am most sure of who I am. In Autumn I feel the most me.

In Autumn there are heads and hands to keep warm. Knitting becomes less of a hobby and more of a necessity. Patterns are chosen, baskets of wool are brought out and considered and a queue is made. As soon as I cast off something it is grabbed and worn and I cast on the next.

Ravelry details here.
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I love how in Autumn we can go from - there's nothing for dinner - to a table full of freshly picked tomatoes - to a saucepan full of passata - to the most delicious tomato and noodle soup ever. And all in the space of an hour.

IMG_8396 In Autumn we try to spend as much time outside while we still can. We walk to do the farm chores and sometimes we find little friends in the egg trailer.

In Autumn we pick up sticks for the wood stove wherever we go. We stockpile them in the kitchen basket and in the wood shed. It wont be long before dry sticks will be hard to find.

IMG_8616 IMG_8609 In Autumn there are always crates of fruit everywhere I look, the floor is sticky, the stove top is full and the sink is full of jam pots. In Autumn there are always rubber bands soaking, jars warming and the Fowlers machine gurgling.

IMG_8620 IMG_8674 In Autumn the shelves start groaning under the weight of filled bottles and jars and containers. We come to the end of what we preserved last year and put away what we have for next.

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In Autumn every year I think of this fruit and veg grown with love, with no nasties, by us or by people we know and know love what they do and I know that we couldn't do this any other way. It makes a difference to the flavour and how good it is for us - I'm sure of it.

IMG_8624 IMG_8658 In Autumn the garden changes again, everything looks lush and green and stands up tall. Out with the old, in with the new.

This year I've been making wreaths on wisteria hoops to dry the seeds and roots for later. The world looks pretty good through coriander glasses don't you think?

IMG_8348 IMG_8578 In Autumn I feel confident that I'm where I need to be. I am busier than at any other time of the year, but as each job gets ticked off my mental list; as each tree in the orchard is stripped, as each crate of fruit gets emptied, as each pile of fire wood is covered, I feel that we are getting closer to being ready for winter. Autumn brings with it a sense of achievement. It is the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.

Ours is a slow way of living but it sure is beautiful and it tastes delicious too.


Go gently friends.

xx

ps this one's for you Heike - thanks for being so patient. x


37 comments:

  1. Thank you Kate. For reminding me that there is sooo much to be grateful for in Autumn. I feel like I'm spending this Autumn appreciating the sun and it's light. Thank you also for being a blogging inspiration!
    I'm happy to patiently away your next post, and the ones after that. Never feel pressured to blog more often, only ever know that people really enjoy reading your beautiful words, and seeing glimpses into your beautiful life. X

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  2. Your jars look so yummy........ and I love the photo of the trees with the cubby house peaking through them. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

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  3. What a gorgeous taste of Autumn that was Kate. That is a lot of fruit and you've bottled it so beautifully. Nobody in our area had fruit this year of any kind because of a freak December frost. I have been thinking of getting a Fowler kit at some stage (obviously won't be needing it this year!) Stay warm xo

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  4. Loving the jars of apricots and strawberries. They look like they could jump right up off thepage! Yummy! I have just woken up here in the UK, what a fab way to start the day! Wonderful pictures and words. Thank you xxx

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  5. Wow, life looks bountiful at your place in Autumn Kate! I adore seeing all those jars of preserves ready for Winter, something very homey and comforting about them. I have a big pile of tomatoes waiting to be made into sauce here, this might be just the kick in the pants I need to do it tomorrow, thanks! Beautiful post as always xxx Julie

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  6. What a beautiful post, I love that feeling of gathering everything in ready for the winter. Those tomatoes are fantastic.

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  7. Oh Kate this is so beautiful! I love the sense of rhythm and love within each sentence and photo. And thanks to those beautiful photos, I'm now hunting down some Folwers jars in Swan Hill and hoping to slowly begin some adventures in preserving.

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  8. so much gratitude in this post, thank you for sharing it with us.
    cheers Kate

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  9. Life just doesn't get any better than this Kate, thank you for inspiring us with your photos and words. The world would be better with more coriander glasses I think x

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  10. A wonderful take on autuum! Now I (almost) wish it was autuum here too (spring just started though). I love autuum myself too - all the colourful forrests, the magical light and of course fresh pumpkin...

    Take care and enjoy the season,
    Anne

    http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de

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  11. Oh goodness, it feels like autumn is only just beginning here and you are already talking winter! At least your pantry will be full.
    virginia x
    www.ock-du-spock.com

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  12. Beautiful words, gorgeous photos. Thank you. Enjoy Autumn. It's my favorite season too. xxoo

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  13. You are so right Kate, your life DOES look beautiful & delicious!

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  14. This is a lovely post - autumn is a wonderful season and I agree - you do get a sense of achievement when each job is done!! ~Thanks for showing us, J9 x

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  15. Kate, I'm here via Lucy's mention at Attic24. Lovely blog, and what a busy bee you are! Curious about the stripping of the trees; can you comment? Thanks for sharing.

    Sharon in Alabama USA

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    Replies
    1. Welcome! I mean stripping them of their fruit. Although lately we've been leaving some for the hungry birds. x

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  16. Such a beautiful post of contentment in your daily tasks of preparing for winter. On our end of the world spring is on it's way and I'm very relieved to finally be finishing with this long winter. You take lovely photos and are a gifted writer. Thank you for sharing with us.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  17. What a wonderful life! I tend to get down as winter approaches.and this is a reminder of how beautiful autumn is and full of promise. Being in America in winter I'm also reminded how lucky am to be able to grow things throughout winter even if they are only leafy greens.

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  18. I laugh when I read this post because back in Portugal it's early Spring, and I was like "autumm, really?"

    All the love
    Cat

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    Replies
    1. Me too, my peas is just starting to sprout on the windowsil and finally it i getting a bit warmer again! :)

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    2. Lucky ducks! Oh how I wish we could skip over winter this year. x

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    3. Don't wish it way. You have days of reading and crafts, tea and fireplaces in your future. The winter is time to rest, create and restore. Take it for what it is and enjoy it.

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  19. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons as well. The colours, the fruit, the feeling of winter coming, but the weatehr is still warm and nice enough... Your pictures are beautiful. I also envy you all the home-grown food you have. Yum!

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  20. A beautiful post. We have just finished all of our grape harvest and now get to watch all the vineyard turn yellow and red. Its beautiful. All your preserving is very inspiring and I cant wait til I can do it all on a larger scale when we move out to the farm. I looooooove the wisteria/coriander hoops. Might have to give that one a go when I get out and tidy up the vine on the fence. Thanks and have a great day.

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  21. Kate, this is singularly the most lovely blog post I have ever read. Here in Washington, DC, winter has over stayed her welcome; but after reading your post.... I am ready for autumn and winter all over again. Your comment about knowing who you are in the fall... I feel the very same way. Your knits having a true purpose. Thanks for finding the words. They were true and genuine and pictures are amazing.

    BTW, just asked my local bookshop to order your book for me. I am very excited to sit down with it and a cup of tea.

    Enjoy the autumn, every single minute.

    Kate (of Washington, DC via Lucy of Attic 24)

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  22. Love this post. crisp autumn is definitely my favourite bit of the year. and clear winter. my needles have been clicketty clacking for a couple of months already and I'm only getting started on winter knitting. I've decided to start up a knitwear design business based here in Melbs so if you happen to know anyone who would like to back my project on kickstarter in exchange for cute handknits i'd love the support to get going. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1545832485/knitstarter
    much love to you all

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  23. Hi Kate, I have just found your blog over at The Veggie Mama. I am glad that I did as I am enjoying reading it. The photos of the jars and preserves are gorgeous. I love those jars. We make our own jam using the fruit from our apricot and peach trees. Homemade jam is the best and I savour every bite when we spread it on our toast!
    Simone x

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  24. I'm soooooo happy that Autumn is here! I'm just outside of Canberra and we're experiencing a lot of rain this week. The land is turning from Summer brown to deep shades of green before my eyes. We planted a fig that over the next 20 years will grow to shade our deck from the hot sun... I imagine it's roots happily nestling down into their new home, each drop of water making them more comfortable.

    Thanks for the beanie link. I am planning on doing a couple for my girls... if I can't dress them in matching hats as babies, then when can I?!

    Happy Autumn, Linda. xx

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  25. absolutely delightful photos and description of your autumn prep

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  26. Great pictures! Love the little bear hat. What are the strange looking fruits in the crate on the ground? The wisteria vine wreaths are a great idea. I am visiting my mom at the moment and she has a huge wisteria covering an arbor. It is just beautiful in summer, but she said it grows like a beast. She was happy to hear that she could do something with all of the trimmings.

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  27. Love this season, we are heading into spring in my corner of the world.

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  28. Autumn is my favourite time of the year and finally this last week we are seeing some of it. Looped scarves, enclosed shoes and softer morning and evening light...love it.
    (Kate your photos in this post were delicious, captured the moments beautifully.)

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  29. A post full of goodness - emotional and edible. Hunker down and get ready to rest. Jo x

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  30. Wonderful as always. Personally, I think I'm more of a Spring chick! I love thawing out after winter and being so excited by the first blossoms and warmer days.
    Much love xxx

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  31. I love the coriander glasses. I think maybe if I had a pair I might be able to look a bit more positively at autumn! There have been some beautiful autumn posts in the blogging world (this one included). I just can't seem it 'dig' autumn!! I wish I could. Though so far down here in Tassie autumn has been pretty mild. Your preserves remind me of my husbands dear ol' nan. One day I'd love to have a pantry like that!!

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  32. Your Autumn is beautiful! Thank you.

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  33. Autumn at your place sure looks pretty good from where I am sitting. Two weeks off at the end of this one and I am hoping to bring a little bit of autumn 'slow' to my life too.

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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