Friday, February 22, 2019

i love summer

Hello honey bunches,

How has your week been? I feel like mine's had a bit of everything: a bit of culture, a bit of exercise, a bit of drama, a lot of flowers, some tears, some laughter, a lot of podcasts, a lot of discussions, an argument, a celebration, some preserving, a bit of this...a lot of that. 

It's midday now and all morning I've been wondering how to write a blog that captures this moment in time, that gets to the heart of it without the use of thousands of words, and then I remembered Pip's taking stock, perfect!

Let's get into it.


Making : socks. I never did get around to changing the name of this blog to Soxs Lane. At the moment the ones I'm knitting have blue toes, green feet and little speckley white hearts on them. Hopefully I'll get to the heels on the weekend. I also have a half knitted cardigan using wool I spun myself, but I've run out of the fleece and I'm not sure I can get anymore and now I don't know if I should continue or rip it out. I've made the whole body and only have the sleeves to go and I was planning to dye the whole thing once I'd finished anyway. Hmmmm I'm not sure about that one.

Cooking : stewed plums, zucchini fritters, steamed beans, and pesto. Hopefully the great tomato sauce cook up and bottle will begin this weekend.

Sipping : cold peppermint tea.

Reading: My Year Of Rest And Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. I've read all sorts of things about this book but I'm only up to page 61 which feels a bit too early to decide for myself. I will be interested to see how this story develops though because so far it feels pretty stuck in one place.

Looking: out the window at the forest. Tomorrow will be the 10 year anniversary of the bushfire that came through our place in 2009. From where I'm sitting I can see the tall black trunks that are a constant reminder. On that day we evacuated into town to stay with friends. Our girls were tiny, my sister Meg came with us, as well as a little girl we were looking after who had lost everything in a horrific bushfire a few weeks before, and three of our big dogs. It's crazy to think that when Bren called me from our house to see what I wanted him to rescue I was so mentally unprepared that all I could think of was the market money and my Camper boots. It was before I had my own blog or instagram and could not comprehend it when Meg asked tour host if she could use his computer to update her blog and let her readers know she was safe. How things have changed. It was a terribly frightening time but unlike the horrific fires of Black Saturday a few weeks before, the damage our fire caused was minimal. We were incredibly lucky and returned home the next day to put out spot fires and count our blessings.

Wishing: for safe housing for all, for climate action to protect the future, for world peace, for racial equality, for equality and safety full stop, for enough rain and enough sunshine, for a bush-fire free week, for the health and safety of the bees, for access to education for all, for no-one to feel 'othered', for a world filled with loving kindness, compassion and empathy....and that's just to begin with...   

Enjoying: the abundance that comes in late summer. Baskets and bowls full of tomatoes, plums, cucumbers, zucchinis, eggs, apples, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, beans, peas, silverbeet, basil and all of the flowers.

Waiting: for things to quieten down a bit on the farm so I can spend some time in my studio. I haven't even set foot in there for weeks.

Liking: the fact that I'm not coughing anymore. Thank goodness.

Loving: our updates from Indi. My Mum told me the other day that she feels so happy thinking about Indi because she is the best parts of me and Bren. I love that. I often tell people that it's a good thing that there's such a big time difference between us otherwise I might be tempted to message her much too often. As it is when we wake up in the morning she's already asleep and she doesn't wake up herself until late in our afternoon. Hopefully one day soon she'll write a guest post for my blog to fill us all in. It's pretty incredible watching the way she captures her new world. How she interacts with the people and places. It's wonderful to see her great big smile and hear her stories and it's humbling to hear her outlook when things get tricky. Gosh I miss that kid, but I am seriously so happy for her to be having this experience and these adventures and this time.

Needing: to pick Pepper up from school in an hour.

Wearing: work overalls and work boots and a grey tee-shirt. 

Following: the bees from flower to flower trying to work out their path.

Noticing: how much dirt there is under my fingernails.

Coveting: I can't think of one single thing.

Sorting: through the seeds I want to plant this autumn and making sure I have what I need.

Getting: excited for my beginner's ceramics course that starts next week. Although I absolutely adore buying and using other ceramicists' work, I've never really enjoyed the making much myself. I think it has something to do with the coldness and grittiness of the clay. But when I saw the course advertised the other day something changed in me. I feel like it's time to try again. Watch this space for some bowls and cups and planters coming soon (I hope).


Buying: a small sized guitar for Pepper now that she's started learning.

Watching: the autumn flowers as they start to bloom.

Hoping: that all of the winter seeds I planted this week will have enough time to get established before the weather turns and winter kicks in.

Listening: to Robin DiAngelo talk about White Fragility on The Wheelers Centre podcast. I've listened to this podcast twice and I'm about to start again now that Bren has heard it and wants to discuss it with me. This is such an important issue and I feel like everyone should listen.

Saving: seeds. So many seeds. 

Bookmarking: Brunswick Music Festival events and gigs to go to. Have I told you that my sister Emily Ulman is the programmer? STAR!!! It's going to be such an incredible event. So many wonderful shows, so much diversity and more than 75% of all the artists feature at least one non-male member. #proudestsisteralert!! 

Opening: the dehydrator to check if the plum fruit leather is ready.

Giggling: at everything the kitten does. He's such a wild little guy.

Feeling: thrilled that despite the cabbage moth infestation my cauliflowers and broccoli are looking glorious. 

Obsessing: over the dahlias. Each and every one brings me so much joy it's ridiculous. Our house looks like a colourful festival. Every vase is in use, every surface is covered, every colour, every shape, every stem length. We've been talking about having a party at the end of this year but this week decided to hold off until next Feb/March. Of course we're going to have to wait for the flowers.

Wow, that felt quicker than usual. I wonder if I missed a few. In any case I feel like I've taken stock and captured this moment right now.

Please feel free to fill in a few of the prompts yourself in the comments.
Your interactions with my blog are one of my favourite parts of blogging.

So what are you saving, obsessing over, buying, hoping, wearing, needing, waiting for, enjoying, making? I'd love to know.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend friends. Ours will be spent in the garden and in the kitchen no doubt.

Lots of love,

Kate x


22 comments:

  1. WOW, what a nice list and you filled it with so nice thoughts! I might borrow it for my blog one day :-). A little bit of everything makes a week perfect.

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    1. Thank you Oriana, I hope you've had a lovely week. x

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  2. Hola Kate, yo adoro la primavera estoy deseando dejar el invierno atrás. Y mas ahora que ha entrado la gripe en mi casa y a tumbado a mis hijas literalmente. Están en la cama, fiebre, dolor generalizado, mocos...infusiones de jengibre, miel, limón ,yo atendiendo a las dos todo el día, un poco estresada... jajaja... ya pasara. Sigo a Indi en istagran y se la ve feliz. Es una experiencia maravillosa la que esta viviendo. Comparto tus mismos deseos de un mundo mejor. Las dalias me maravillan , cada una es preciosa y se ven tan grandes. Que divertido crear con arcilla, me encanta todo lo artesano y la cerámica es algo que me gustaría aprender, que disfrutes mucho en las clases!!!

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    next time....Hello Kate, I love spring I'm looking forward to leaving the winter behind. And more now that the flu has entered my house and literally knocked my daughters to bed. They are in bed, fever, generalized pain, snot ... infusions of ginger, honey, lemon, I attending both the whole day, a little stressed ... hahaha ... it will happen. I follow Indi in istagran and she looks happy. It is a wonderful experience that is living. I share your same desires for a better world. The dahlias amaze me, each one is beautiful and they look so big. What fun to create with clay, I love everything artisan and pottery is something that I would like to learn, that you enjoy a lot in the classes !!!

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    1. Oh thank you so much Karmen, I hope your family are feeling so much better by now. It sounds like an awful flu. Lots of love to you all xx

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  3. Pleased to hear that you’re feeling better. Looking forward to Spring not long now my snowdrops are flowering and the daffodils are trying really hard. Your flowers are looking beautiful and so colourful. Running elderly relatives shopping and hospital/doctors trips.

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    1. Gosh it's hard to imagine that your spring bulbs are pushing through the soil. I hope you have a wonderful crop this year. xx

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  4. Hi Kate, this is my first time responding to one of your blog posts! I always enjoy reading about what's happening at your farm, what you're making and reading and enjoying, and I love how you don't shy away from writing about your challenges as well as your successes. I am currently making lots of baby and toddler hats and mittens for my cousins who are visiting with their kids next weekend. They told me their girls loved a hat that I knit for the oldest girl's baby shower, over 4 years ago, which was so flattering I had to get the pattern back out and make them some new ones! I'm reading Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver, one of my absolute favorite authors. I've taken ceramics on and off since high school, and have currently been taking a break from my class because I was running out of inspiration for what to make, as well as room in my house for vases, mugs, and bowls that I didn't absolutely love. I hope you enjoy getting back into it, there is something so satisfying about making things out of clay, and I love being able to give away a special handmade mug. Loving your dreamy sunflowers and dreaming about planting mine when spring comes to Michigan in a few months!

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    1. Hi Sarah, so lovely to hear from you. I'm only doing a five week course but I can imagine that if it went on for much longer I'd start to cover all of the surfaces. It's such fun though. I really loved my first class so much. x

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  5. I am making a quilt for my grandson's college graduation present. I would also put it in the "obsessing" category. HA!

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  6. Love your flowers and update. My yard has a few crocus flowers (yellow) in spots. Daffodils in another week I hope. Thanks for your blogging.

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    1. i hope springtime and sunshine finds you soon over there x

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  7. We had snow here last night for the first time since 2004 (Southern California) incredible to think that just a few months ago I was watching the smoke from the wildfires around us, putting hoses out as far as possible and arranging crates and carrying boxes for the animals in case of evacuation orders. Best wishes to you, it's horrible feel so helpless with fires

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  8. This week, babysitting, being thankful that DH trip to emergency had a good result and cursing the designers of amigurumi that required me to spend about 8 hours over 2 days making fiddly " grandma could you make this please" things

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    1. Oh goodness I haven't made any amigurumi for years but I remember that feeling well. So pleased your Dh had some good results. x

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  9. Kate - I can't tell you how many times I have sat to write a comment.. not wanting to sound overly obsessed or "stalkerish". I am guessing it's the relentless rain that has me holed up and feeling melancholy at best. I so enjoy hearing about your everyday. I have laughed, cried, laughed until I cried, nodded in agreement, planted Dahlia's after seeing the joy they brought to you - needing something to feel rooted in the now. So, a big heart felt thank you to you for the your beauty you share!

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    1. Oh my goodness, THANK YOU!!!! Your comment has made me smile the biggest smile. I can't tell you how much I needed to hear this right now. xxxxxx

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  10. Such beautiful happy flowers Kate! I finally have a little quiet reprieve here this morning so I am catching up in Blogland and drinking coffee between loads of washing. Hoping your weekend is wonderful!

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    1. Thank you lovely Nell, I hope YOU have a wonderful weekend. xx

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  11. Hi Kate
    i am a little bit late with my comment....but this week was very busy
    because the snow is melted and i worked a little bit in the garden and around the house this week....so much fun!!!
    To stay outside and work in the garden is so nice after this long winter and
    we stay outside nearly the whole day

    I was reading your post last Friday....with my cup of coffee as every week
    and i enjoy reading it very much...and the wonderful pictures ....your sweet girls with this beautiful
    flowers!!!
    i save money:to buy beautiful yarn...its sometimes very expensive
    buying: a special paper...to make paper wool with my spinning wheel
    making: spring cleaning...not the funniest thing
    enjoying: walking in the sun....drinking a cup coffee outside
    waiting: i am waiting for all the spring flowers...green grass...warm and sunny
    days...spring celebrations...flea markets ....
    best wishes for you and your family..from Germany

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    1. Oh thank you for sharing a little picture of your world with me, it's so wonderful to read. I'm so happy to hear that the sun is melting the snow and you're out spending time in the garden. Yay! x

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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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