Sunday, January 31, 2016

thirty first


So that was January hey.

We picked and ate cucumbers, lettuce, beans, peas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, rhubarb, apricots, plums, apples and zucchini from the garden.


I read Relativity by Antonia Hayes, Hope Farm by Peggy Frew, The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood, The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman and part of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I really liked them all but I loved Charlotte's and ML's the most.

Thanks for all of your awesome suggestions back on the 18th, I'm going to be working my way through them for ages.


I listened to A LOT of podcasts while I ran, weeded, picked and pickled cucumbers and watered the garden. My farmer boy had many conversations with himself before he realised I wasn't listening and in return he gave me many frights when I was deeply immersed in a story and turned around to find him standing right there.



I think we only went to the movies once to see The Nowhere Boys.


I listened to this podcast and became obsessed with fermenting.


We watched and LOVED Transparent and felt awful about Making A Murderer and now have no idea what we should watch next.


We did so much farm work, we hung out with the girls, we got new sheep, we pickled a million cucumbers, we did some jigsaw puzzles, we had friends over, we had our organic inspection, we hung out in Melbourne, we ran on the cross trainer, we celebrated some birthdays and we hung out with family.

We didn't really slow down as much as I'd hoped to but I guess that's just summer on a farm.


I knitted Indi a Peter Pan collar, a shawl, bits of my memory blanket, a beanie and a doll's cardigan that I haven't taken photos of yet.

And of course I blogged on 28 of the 31 days. Mostly very late at night, mostly just snippets of things going on that day, and mostly I loved it and remembered how fabulous blogging is for me.

I ended last year feeling a bit uncomfortable and negative about myself. I can't pinpoint the time when it began but I wasn't feeling very confident and I didn't really like the conversations that were going on inside my head a lot of the time. I feel like the blogging changed that. Something about the writing and photographing and expressing myself and getting your feedback shifted my mental state and I noticed after only a few days that I was feeling so much more positive and sure and kinder to myself.

It is possible of course that it was something else that caused the shift but I am a long time believer in the creativity cure so I'll stick to that.

And this is where I thank you guys. I always like to think that I'd write this blog no matter what, but I'm not so certain that that's true. You read my words and that's brilliant but you also inspire me, and teach me, and help me, and challenge me, and guide me, and that means the world to me. We really are a community. You guys really are the best and my life is so much richer with you in it.

And lastly, I read every single comment on my last post and as much as I'd love to give each of you the prize, and as much as I was looking forward to writing all of your names on little bits of paper and then randomly selecting one - I just realised that I have to send it to Sarah of Say Little Hen who has left me an insightful comment on every single post I have written this month. Thank you so much Sarah please email me your postal details and I'll get your package in the mail this week.

So here we go into February, the month I've been excited for and dreading for ages. Pepper starts school tomorrow and the big girls start their new school on Tuesday. Fingers crossed for a smooth transition.

And as far as blogging goes, I hope to post once but hopefully twice a week from here on in.


Wishing you guys a fabulous and creative and love filled Feb.

With love,

Kate
xoxo


PS the photos were randomly snapped this afternoon.


25 comments:

  1. Oh Kate I don't know how to thank-you!! I was astonished when I got to the end of your post! Thank-you so so very very much!

    As usual your photos are gorgeous - I love that one of the wood pile especially. You've had such a productive January garden wise, and I've loved reading all of your January posts.
    Sometimes I get into a blogging slump where I feel it is unnecessary and then I realise it makes me happy, it starts conversations with people I wouldn't otherwise have found or been able to connect with. And it's great to flick back through from time to time and read my past thoughts, knowing myself how I felt at the time and how I felt after and be reminded of some things that I accomplished that I'd forgotten about. I'm glad to hear that your blogging this month has cheered you up! It has inspired me. (I'm going to plant a bucket load of cucumbers next summer!)

    Again THANK-YOU for choosing me! I'll get that email sent to you now
    Sarah xx

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  2. I have loved having your words in my feed so often. I love that you loved ML's book. I love Sarah will get an awesome prize ( I have all those things except your washcloths & they all being me great joy. Even though I am yet to cut into my Dotti pattern. When will I ever do that?!). I love hearing about your life & how good blogging has made you feel. And lastly I love Chat 10 Looks 3! It's the first ever podcast I actually liked & now I'm addicted to lots of different ones.
    Happy start of February Kate xx

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  3. Hi Kate

    I started replying to your last post but didn't finish it as I was on my phone and I was sick of fat finger typos. I think you should know that your blog is just so incredibly inspiring - you try so many new things and you seem to think so unselfishly about what's best for your family. I started following your blog just as you were getting ready for your big caravanning trip. I was so impressed with your crocheting! I have got 'Learn to crochet' on my list again this year!! And your photos are just so beautiful. I know what it's like to get a bit blaaah about everything yet you make yourself confront those feelings and you always come out all positive at the other end.

    My children are grown up and have left home and you will be amazed how quickly school will fly past. And there are always school holidays to give you some relief from the crazy driving schedule so hang it there on that new challenge.

    I am very envious of your apples and apricots but grateful that we have 4 bunches of bananas fattening up.

    I need to make more time to read but I did manage to read a book last weekend when we were away camping - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and can recommend it.

    Katie

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  4. Oh My Goodness, I read The Light Between Oceans too! It had moments that stay with you doesn't it?

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  5. Thank you for the last month of blogging, which has been so enjoyable and inspiring. It has been a bright spot in a usually dull, difficult month. It is good to hear it was a positive experience for you too and not a chore blogging every day. I shall look forward to your updates in the coming weeks and months.

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  6. Have enjoyed your blogs this month. Its even better now that I've worked out how to leave a post, you have made me want to get to grips with that thank you. Rest assured I will be reading all your future posts as I always have since Jo my niece showed it to me on her blog. I have relatives that live in Perth and strangely your blog helps me to manage putting the seasons in place with them.

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  7. You have inspired me to make a list of the books I read, places I go , things I make , and things I watch this year. I will add it to my bullet journal now. Thanks! I love reading your blog, especially since our seasons are completely opposite.

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  8. Wow. My head is dizzy with all the things you do. I hope all goes good for you all with the new schools. It can be hard. When conor headed off to Limerick ehich is the other end of the country i kept telling myself that he was well reared, knows right from wrong and can cook! A year later and all is fine.

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  9. Wow. My head is dizzy with all the things you do. I hope all goes good for you all with the new schools. It can be hard. When conor headed off to Limerick ehich is the other end of the country i kept telling myself that he was well reared, knows right from wrong and can cook! A year later and all is fine.

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  10. Lovely to read all the wonderful comments; I enjoy that part as much as I do the posting itself, Kate; you inspire such sweetness in people. May the summer continue to bring you glorious bounty and days of wonder.

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  11. I'll miss having a little bit of Kate in my everyday. x

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  12. Love your randomly snapped pics Kate. Whenever I read your posts it just feels like a long exhale. Thank you. I hope the transition into school again is smooth. We started a new school last week for the boys and preschool for the smallest. Today...is the first day I don't have a small one at home with me in, ahem...10 years. It's a bit laugh, it's a bit cry.

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  13. You did so many wonderful things in January Kate! I cant help noticing how rugged up everyone is in your photos. We are heading for 38 degrees here again today and the thought of jackets and wool jumpers is quite strange. Our climates are just so different aren't they? The colour in those apples is just so perfect. Good luck for the school year ahead xx

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  14. i have just found you
    but i know that i am already
    going to love this blog...
    looking forward to reading it!!!
    :)

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  15. Oh my didn't realise it was Pepper's first day of school! Hope she had a positive day! Was thinking of you driving to the new school today, pray it all goes well. xxx

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  16. I've enjoyed your month of blogging immensely. Love the bits and pieces of your life that you share. Happy February!

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  17. Sounds like a very productive month! More so than mine for sure.lol Winter here, so it's a little slower without the garden. I still need to can all those dried beans in the pantry, find a new rooster for the flock and add room to the hives for they will soon be expanding for the spring rush.I did manage some de-cluttering, added to my daily mile count and finished some WIP's. Hoping February will be more productive. Best wishes with the new school routines!

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  18. Congratulations on your January blogging and thank you cos it was an awesome journey for us following vicariously. I'm so looking forward to the year ahead and learning and being inspired by you and other bloggers like you. Love everything you write about and how you say it.

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  19. Loving the blog and it is truly inspiring me to better things - particularly the photos - obviously so important and something I have never taken too much care about. Watch this space!

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  20. Watch 'Mozart in the Jungle ' so much fun

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  21. Watch 'Mozart in the Jungle ' so much fun

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  22. I absolutely love reading about your life,your challenges and hobbies and all that is going on in that little corner of yours in a country on the other side of the world from me.Reading this blog enriches our lives justblike writing it enriches yours. Thank you.

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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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