weekly poetry

Das Stundenbuch

You see, I want a lot.

Perhaps I want everything

the darkness that comes with every infinite fall

and the shivering blaze of every step up.

So many live on and want nothing

and are raised to the rank of prince

by the slippery ease of their light judgments.

But what you love to see are faces

that do work and feel thirst.

You love most of all those who need you

as they need a crowbar or a hoe.

You have not grown old, and it is not too late

to dive into your increasing depths

where life calmly gives out its own secret.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

non-turkey day

Thanksgiving. A completely foreign holiday down under. And one that I was more than happy to bring to life in Daylesford. Since most of us are vegetarian, and a few vegans were invited, I took on the challenge of a veggie powered feast. Stuffed onions (in lieu of a stuffed bird), dressing, mash, salad, cranberries, gravy, pumpkin pie and kiwi dessert (and some ready-made turkey sausages for those who just couldn't go without). And everything but the mash was vegan! A truly delicious meal. And shared with some of our nearest and dearest here. We ended up being just over 20 people (and one adorable baby), and the night was full of happy kids, funny conversations, sing-alongs at the piano, and a true spirit of thankfulness. A really wonderful evening. I was busy in the kitchen at the start of the night and handed off my camera to the girls. These may not be the most sophisticated pictures, but they're plenty fun. Enjoy the very first Thanksgiving at Hightor through Pasca, Maeve, and Miranda's eyes!

Singing along, rather passionately, to our favorite song of the moment. Have a listen! 

OneRepublic- Something I Need

The aftermath of a highly successful Thanksgiving. Hope you all had a wonderful meal with people you love! And as our friend Vigen said last night, always be thankful for tomorrow.

shake it off

Today was a good one. Started with the standard Tuesday assembly at school (more about that later), coffee/news stop at a cafe, beautiful sunshine, little bit of painting around the house, a walk around town with my favorite kids after school, daisy chains, nachos, tequila and the appropriate music at dinner, then a long walk with friends. And then back home to wash the dishes to an amazing soundtrack. Can you tell I'm on a high today? Really loving life right now, even on no sleep, little food, and a stressed brain. Can't help but be grateful for all my swamis, whatever shape they're taking. Hope you enjoy these songs, and feel free to sing, dance, take a shot, whatever. I won't judge. Promise.

Los Lobos- La Pistola Y El Corazon

Lila Downs- La Cumbia Del Mole

Madness- Our House

Mariah Carey- Shake It Off

Tupac and Elton John- Ghetto Gospel

everything

Really, this incredible salad has a bit of it all. Sarah showed me the recipe a few days ago, and it instantly struck me as something one of my favorite cooks and kitchen muses would love. If you don't already know Heidi Swanson, check out her beautiful blog 101 Cookbooks or head to a bookstore and flip through one of her books and just try not to get drool everywhere. This recipe is a cinch to throw together and is even better the next day (so I learned at lunch today). Best eaten outside, in the sun, on a veranda with a beautiful view, at a freshly painted table. Give it a try before the last bit of bright sunshine fades out of the northern hemisphere! 

Salad

1 cup of bulgur

.5 cup of Puy lentils

large bunch each of cilantro and Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

small red onion, diced

2 tablespoons each of toasted pepitas, pine nuts, and slivered almonds

2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed

.5 cup currants

juice of one lemon

few tablespoons of olive oil

Dressing

1 cup of Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground

1 tablespoon honey

pomegranate seeds

-Boil the bulgur and lentils (Separately! You never know), until just cooked. Drain and allow to cool

-Combine all the salad ingredients, stir gently to combine

-Mix the yogurt, ground cumin seeds, and honey

-To serve, pile the salad high in your bowl, top with the yogurt and pomegranate seeds. Easy! 

bits and bobs

Just a sampling of the goods at one of the two community gardens in Daylesford. Long live guerrilla gardening!

A very Camp Conor-esque setup with the couch pulled in front of the fire

Small tastes of the Sunday market. Gorgeous bucket of honey and the most delicious strudel. 

'Twas a productive walk home from school with miss Pasca this afternoon. Thanks for the inspiration Morgan!

in the moment

Listening to great music. Enjoying the view. Soaking up the sun. Thankful.

weekly poetry

Pursuits

It is not that you want

to be the one to make prints

in the untrampled snow

It is that you want

to be in the snow

without having touched it

to be of  the snow

not beginning

Everywhere commerce

dictates the shapes

that move you along

that seat you at the table

far from the snow

far from the act

of not touching

It only gets worse

A girl’s gotta eat

And your hunger’s

not even your own

-Heather Christie

bonus inspiration

stay close to natures heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. wash your spirit clean.

-John Muir

tradition

Funny how I never really thought about Thanksgiving traditions until it hit me that I won’t be participating in them this year. After that sank in the other day, I scrolled through the thousands of pictures on my computer for a few from some more recent Thanksgivings. Turkey day usually means a trip to Tucson. So. Maybe a pitstop at Rooster Cogburn’s, a trek up “A” mountain, a drive to the summit of Mount Lemmon or Bisbee, the same picture, over and over, at the Arizona Inn. And then taking the long way home through Julian to pick up a Christmas tree. This may be a totally self-indulgent post, but needed to make it to feel connected to something familiar. Going to be doing a little something for the holiday here, but you can’t imagine how strange it feels to be thinking about warm comfort food like mashed potatoes, dressing, and pumpkin pie when summer is just around the corner! 

Ward Thanksgiving 101

Try to keep the boys calm as you drive them to the pet hotel for a few day's stay and a "spa day"

Maybe pull off at Rooster Cogburn's to feed the deer, ostrich, and lorikeets. 

Pose in front of the house. Maybe turn the chicken dance from Arrested Development into a turkey dance to celebrate the day. 

Head to the Arizona Inn. Walk around the grounds, spot adorable rabbits, pose again. Marvel at their gingerbread house, eat as many desserts as you can, and try not to cry when champagne gets spilled all over your favorite silk dress. 

Break character at some point in the evening and go delirious. Make everyone take pictures in the big chair like when they were kids, have a fit of laughter, take silly pictures of everything.

Spend Black Friday at La Encantada. Over the next day or two venture to "A" mountain, Mount Lemmon, Bisbee, Tombstone, Saguaro National Park, or the San Xavier Mission. 

On top of A mountain

Looking out over Tucson

Snow! In Tucson! At the summit of Mount Lemmon

Hanging around Bisbee

Optional: take a tour of the mine

Enjoy the view (and the wind) at a lookout point over Saguaro National Park

San Xavier mission

Pull into the same, familiar tree lot in Julian. Pick out a nice, tall tree with lots of room for ornaments. Mosey around town and pick up some cider, jam, candy, caramel apples, and pie. Always, always stop at Dudley's and buy a king's ransom of bread. Eat the best pieces (the ends!) of the Shepherd's loaf on the drive home. 

Finally make it home. Pick up the dogs and have a good cuddle. Or go back to the home you're taking care of and love on the ones there. Either way, end your day with some animal loving. 

 So that's Thanksgiving. Should be interesting this year. It's been a truly weird last few days, so please excuse the slowing down in posting. Brian and I are over. Yes- it was bad. No- I don't want to talk about it. But honestly feel like there's no better place to get over heartbreak than Hightor. So many things to be thankful for this year.