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ardysez

~ surrender to yourself

ardysez

Tag Archives: home

a path diverging…

27 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by Ardys in Life

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

family, home, life, path, wordpress theme

fullsizeoutput_38d3Here, in the heart of Australia I stopped. Three days before Christmas I sat on a bench with a path converging in front of me and a sunrise that was the harbinger of rain for Christmas. Lots of rain. We welcome rain, in the arid lands, whenever it chooses to anoint us. I sat on this bench feeling grateful that my family was home and for all the goodness Life has brought us.

My path has never been very predictable, and I have liked it that way. Life has presented many more amazing twists and turns than I could imagine. I have regretted nothing that has appeared at my feet…on the path. Now, living half a world from where I began life, it seems like there was nothing else I could have done.

Three days ago I saw this path converging. Today I see it was a divergence with a brief intersection only. Our family is gone, necessarily leaving space between the two paths once again. As we parted, it was the reopening of an old wound, a raw and painful aching in the solar plexus, for something you can no longer have. Time, and writing about it temporarily cover over the longing, anticipating a future time when our paths will briefly converge again.

Inspired by the WordPress theme: Path

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In My Kitchen – April 2014

31 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Ardys in Alice Springs, Food

≈ 32 Comments

Tags

Alice Springs, Food, gluten free, grain free, home, photography

Look at how this last day of March began before my walk, and before writing this post…

Sunrise, 31 March

Sunrise, 31 March

Builder's dust

Builder’s dust on everything

For the last few weeks the activities at our house have focused around the laundry, not the kitchen. The laundry was the very last area to receive the makeover treatment, in the 15 years (almost to the day) since we moved into this house.  I had dreaded it, and it turns out, with good reason. No, not horrific, but painful enough, with the usual problems of having to ‘undo’ what was haphazardly done 26 years ago when the house was built. And wet-areas are always worse to renovate that other rooms.

Flour-less chocolate cake

Flour-less chocolate cake

The reno is done now, and as of wine-thirty on Friday (28th), we can get back to the fun stuff… eating and blogging! Friday being the last day for the builder/tiler/all-round-great-tradesman and fellow, I made Flour-less Chocolate Cake, for him, and the electrician who has a few updates to do in other rooms.

IMG_8979

Meatballs/spaghetti squash with Bleasdale Shiraz

Meatballs/spaghetti squash with Bleasdale Shiraz

I’ve had a craving for meatballs, so on Saturday while my husband played golf, I went into a meatball trance.  It was worth it. Please try these some time and don’t leave out the sultanas, they are the perfect balance for the chilli flakes and the sauce and you will be glad you didn’t (I hope). My husband is not really one for fruit in meat dishes, even in curries, which sometimes call for them, but he loves these meatballs.  And the sauce…. resist temptation to tinker with it, and remember it is the foil for the meatballs and it doesn’t taste like most normal sauces, in my experience. The meatballs are the star of this meal.

Spaghetti squash with butter, salt, pepper, lightly cooked yellow cherry tomatoes, broccoli and Parmesan

Spaghetti squash with butter, salt, pepper, lightly cooked yellow cherry tomatoes, broccoli and Parmesan

Shred the inside of the boiled spaghetti veg

Shred the inside of the boiled spaghetti veg

I am also having a love affair with spaghetti squash at the moment! Revealing though that may sound… spaghetti squash and I go waaay back. When I was a child in Ohio and my Mom made it, I was pretty unimpressed.  But now, being the gluten free, grain free consumer that I am, it is a little slice of heaven… a vehicle for butter and Parmesan, and a perfect base upon which to add other vegetables or meatballs (above). I have never seen it in Alice Springs previous to this autumn and believe me, at $10-$12 per vegetable, I imagine it is not a big seller.  But I get several meals from one and if you price good chocolate per kilo, it is much more expensive, so I am indulging.

IMG_8989On Sunday I made baked cheesecake (gluten free base) for a friend whose birthday is today, 31 March. According to him it is his favourite all time dessert. Who am I to argue??

Bodum, coffee grinder

Bodum, coffee grinder

When one is occupied with renovations, there are many tedious hours spent waiting for tradesmen. One day, when I was waiting for the plumber, and entertaining myself, I clicked the ‘buy’ button for this lovely coffee grinder. Oops!  If you want a small, but very robust grinder for home use, this is the one.  Love it.  It has taken my morning cuppa to a new level. Listen, smell that??

(As usual, In My Kitchen posts are part of the monthly hosting by Celia at figjamandlimecordial. Lots of interesting goings-on in kitchens around the world–go have a look!)

Okay, you have waited patiently, so here you are, the good, the bad and the recently renovated laundry photos.  Thanks for reading.

Temporarily repositioned washing machine-outside

Temporarily repositioned washing machine-outside

Laundry 'before'

Laundry ‘before’

Light fitting

New light fitting

Plumbing 'before'

Plumbing ‘before’

IMG_8997

plumbing/hot water heater 'after'

plumbing/hot water heater ‘after’

Laundry 'after'

Laundry ‘after’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Something or nothing?

01 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by Ardys in Inspiration, Life, nature

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

gardening, home, inspiration, life, meditation

Pile of big sticks

Pile of big sticks

For some reason I seem to think it is part of my mission in life to share small insights with you.  Dear readers, I hope you will not think it too self indulgent of me to share the following…

Some days our psyches need to do some catching up, a bit like a computer that is processing information.  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  Yesterday my intuition said, more strongly than usual, ‘Time out.’

Doing something that seemed like nothing was (apparently) where I needed to be.  And soon I found myself in front of a pile of large sticks at the top of the driveway.  I would break big sticks into little sticks, for fire starters.  Really?  We no longer have a wood-burning stove…  I do surprise myself sometimes.  Not being inclined to ignore intuition, legs, arms, back and mind all went to work, snapping and cracking and stretching and whirring (the mind not the arms!)

Pile of little sticks

Pile of little sticks

Thoughts drifted into and out of my head…. Dad telling us to ‘police up the yard’ when we were kids.  Translation: pick up the sticks laying everywhere.  We always groaned.  It was like punishment then, like therapy now.  Also I remembered someone saying about chopping wood, ‘it warms you twice, once when you chop it and the second time when you burn it’.  And I thought, my little sticks might even warm a third time if I gave them to someone with a wood-burner, all snapped into perfect lengths ready to use.  Such a little gift might warm their heart.

Crunch…pop…rrrrip…crack… I cried thinking about how much Mom and Dad loved us when we were tiny and how lucky we were to have a safe home and parents who wanted the best for us.  Snap…crack… more tears after watching a one minute video (Gretchen Ruben: The years are short) about enjoying the present with our children.  Also it reminds me to be present for my own life, every minute of every day.

Crack…crunch…snap…Breaking sticks was moving meditation, bringing me into the present, giving me the space to feel, and to see the new growth in the garden, and in my life.  Never underestimate the power of doing a something that seems like nothing.

Blossoming grevillea

Blossoming grevillea

Newly sprouted Sturt Desert Pea

Newly sprouted Sturt Desert Pea

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What I See From My Back Doorstep

23 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Ardys in Life, People, Travel

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

home, Travel

I’m new to reading this blogger but she has inspired me to participate in a ‘back door’ challenge.  Cecilia @ thekitchensgarden has asked her fellowship of bloggers to photograph what lies outside their back door and post it onto our blogs so that we can share what it is we see just outside our back door.  As soon as I read this, I popped out of my chair at the computer and grabbed my iPhone and headed outside before the light was gone.  It was about 5.30pm and the winter sun was not at a flattering angle in terms of light, but here it is, warts and all.

We live in the middle of the arid zone of Australia, Alice Springs and on the edge of a golf course to the west, with only one row of houses between us and the bush to the east.  We get kangaroos through here quite often, many birds, rabbits, large lizards called goannas and the usual domestic critters but no gorgeous cows as in Cecelia’s photos.  The kangaroos love to run right down the breezeway onto the green, usually early mornings and just after dark in the evenings.

Edge of Barbecue area to the right

Edge of Barbecue area to the right (breezeway opening at bottom of this photo)

Right middle up the fairway

Right middle up the fairway

Middle of the 2nd Fairway with rocky outcrop and Mt Gillen in the background

Middle of the 2nd Fairway with rocky outcrop and Mt Gillen in the background

Middle left looking at the third tee

Middle left looking at the third tee

Left side view toward neighbour

Left side view toward neighbour

These five photos pretty much cover the 180 degree view from our back door.  I hope you have enjoyed seeing our little patch of the world.   Ardys

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My Cups

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Ardys in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

coffee, Collections, home, life, tea

Recently I caught myself looking through my collection of mugs for just the right one from which to drink my afternoon cup of herbal tea.  As I reached for the perfect one with the happy, yellow wattle flowers on it, I realised I always choose this cup for my green or herbal teas.  Odd.  A few days later, on a cool, rainy autumn day, I was making some tomato soup because it seemed warm and comforting.  It immediately came to me in a flash which mug was the perfect choice from which to drink. The gorgeous, hand painted mug made in Tuscany that I bought over 25 years ago and which seemed a small fortune when I bought it.  I had gotten more than my $28 worth during those years.  It awakened in me my connection with all things Italian every time I held it.

Image

ImageIn the mornings when I am anticipating my caffeine addiction, it’s all about the coffee.  So my mug of choice is a porcelain one that has a thinner edge but the mug itself is large enough to give me the required hit of wakefulness.  The colourful decoration of high heels is pure fantasy.  It has been a decade (at least) since I have been able to wear high heels, though this fact did not keep me from buying one last pair a few years ago!  For some reason it reminds me every morning to be hopeful for the potential of the day in front of me.

Image 

At the other end of the day, as a little aid to slip off into the land of nod, I sometimes enjoy a cup of warm milk with some honey in it.  Always, always this soothing, creamy sweetness must be sipped from my fat little mug that I have had for over 35 years.  It is fairly nondescript, and yet, special in its simplicity.  Everything about it says ‘goodnight’.  It is not highly embellished and stimulating, but humble and quiet and earthy.

Image 

Until a few days ago it had never occurred to me the importance of my chosen drinking vessels.  And today it seems to me the real importance is my own good fortune to enjoy these moments and to have had the kind of life that affords me such comfort.  My cups runneth over….

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Improving my view

06 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Ardys in Life, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

health, home, life

photo-5I should be paying bills online at the moment, but I am writing because that is what I really want to do.  There are times when we should live in the moment and do what gives us immediate pleasure, and times when we should do what will actually contribute to our long term happiness.

This morning there was a refreshing, cool breeze here in the desert.  It has been hot and dusty or humid and raining alternately for weeks.  And my windows showed it.  Insects have left trails, birds have left … well… splatters, and spiders have abandoned webs, as well.  The dust settles on the glass, and then the rain imprints it all into a haze that eventually spoils our breathtaking view.

My choice today was to go for a delicious walk with breeze clearing away the cobwebs or to wash the cobwebs from my windows.  Before you vote for going for the walk… let me make a case for washing away the cobwebs. (for those of you who don’t care about clean windows or floors, you will not want to read any farther)

Some years ago I read something that caused me to view housework in a new light.  The article said that doing one’s own cleaning, window washing, sweeping, raking, ironing… well, you get the idea, was very good for one’s fitness!  What?  The article even stated that if you went at each task with enthusiasm it was as good as having a free gym membership!  Were they serious?  The near absurdity of it stuck in my head and eventually the whole idea took root and caused me to see the domestic engineer (some would say ‘goddess’) part of my job, from a different perspective.  Now, on cleaning day, or window washing day I put on my gym clothes and push through the jobs with enough enthusiasm to break a sweat and burn some calories.  And what I’ve found is, because my head is not filled with resentful thoughts about the task at hand, my mind is free to wander off into blog-land and compose my next post, or my next jewellery creation or my next painting.  It is a win, win, win situation.

This morning, I chose window washing.  Outside in the glorious breeze, I enjoyed the shafts of light against the mountain as the sun rose in the sky.  The windows are now sparkling, and it all happened while composing this blog in my head.  My view is enhanced, literally, and my life is happier, because I let go of the idea that cleaning must be thankless drudgery.

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Home Again

27 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Ardys in Life, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Alice Springs, home, inspiration, life, Red Centre of Australia, Travel

We have been travelling.  As usual it was inspiring, frustrating, exhausting, exhilarating, bewildering and enlightening. I will probably write more about it as I have time to process all the experiences, but for now, I will start at the end.

The end of every trip is also a beginning.  You arrive home again a slightly different person.  If you really travel with an open heart, to see and experience new things and allow it to change you, you will be changed.  Arriving home to an Alice Springs which was dull with drought, dust and unseasonable hot temperatures was disappointing.  It was as if I was locking myself away from that exciting world I had been part of for the last 7 weeks.  A two month accumulation of issues to resolve at home took any remaining energy we had  left.  And there wasn’t much.

Post holiday tristesse set in.  My body was in immediate need of a weight loss program to take off the pounds I gained from all the wonderful eating.  (At least I knew where every delicious calorie came from this time!) Having awakened mid-Pacific time, it seemed an early morning walk would start the day nicely, never mind start to work off those extra little pillows I’d acquired.

The rising sun highlighted the mountains neon pink, then orange.  A light breeze was cool enough to refresh my skin but not so cool as to need a jacket.

Lavender festooned Jacaranda trees showered blossoms onto the ground over which I tread carefully, hating to be the cause of their further demise.  Near the end of the walk I have a favourite detour that winds me through a small woodsy access lane.  As I passed through my eyes went to the gravesite that is there.  Rasool Goolam was buried in this spot, in days when such things were allowed.  He was an Afghan Cameleer, so the story goes, and was one of the people who helped settle this area early last century.  He was from that same Afghanistan that we now lose our fellow countrymen and women to.  He was probably Muslim, and possibly as peace loving as you and I, or not.  That was then.  Now I pass his grave and wonder, what would he have thought if he had known people like myself would see this place of his forever repose?

As I left Rasool’s grave a hypnotic aroma caught me.  I knew that smell!  I looked around, then up, and above me a rain tree, in full blossom, was buzzing with bees.  It made me just a little giddy, looking up, perfume swirling through my nostrils.  Perhaps it was a kind of magic spell, being cast over me!  I fairly floated toward home until I came upon the two ghost gums on the corner.  They had dropped their modest coverings, smooth bare skin, flawless and longing to be touched.   By then the sun was higher in the sky and outlined the tear shaped leaves like red-rimmed eyes weeping for a loved one.  How could I have forgotten what it is like re-discovering this place every time we come home?  It’s almost worth the journey just for that.

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Springtime in Bethel

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Ardys in Inspiration, Life, Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

baseball, Bethel, France, French, home, inspiration, Ohio, Paris, Reds, Spring

I confess the inspiration for this post is from another blog I follow called ‘Becoming Madame’ (becomingmadame.wordpress.com/).  She writes about all things French, and particularly Parisian.  If you are a Francophile, or just an armchair traveler, you will enjoy it.  However, I have just taken an afternoon walk on a gorgeous Ohio spring day. It may not be Paris, but it is no less magical.

Flowering Crabapple

Blossoming cherry and pear trees hummed from bees stealing their share from nectar filled blossoms.  Local inhabitants echoed the busy bees, matching their industrious buzzing with droaning lawn mowers. The smell of freshly mown grass made me ‘heady’ as if I’d just drunk some magical elixir meant to help relive a perfect spring day from childhood. (All you skeptics may say it is the high pollen count, but leave me to my own delusions).

Poplar Ridge Drive

I have flown from halfway around the world so that I could visit my parents and walk the lazy lane from  their house, curving toward the highway, in the glory of Spring.  Robin Red Breasts bounced along in front of me, looking for earthworms and other tasty morsels.  Jonquils, daffodils and tulips nodded their greetings to me as I meandered along.  Red bud trees and weeping cherries modeled their Victoria’s Secret lacy apparel on the runway of Poplar Ridge.  Optimistic August lilies  pushed through the earth toward their flowering mission late in summer.  An uncontrollable urge paused me for a few moments in the storm of snowing petals, and I rejoiced in their satin softness in my hair and on my shoulders.  It is a fairyland.  Perhaps the contrast to the dusty, red arid climate in which I live has magnified the experience, but who cares?  Every texture and color conspired for equal attention to inspire this artist’s creative urges.

Cherry blossoms

And if there was any doubt that spring was truly here, the little squirrel that scampered across the road and brought my eyes to rest on the man mowing his lawn confirmed it.  He was dressed in jeans (the man, not the squirrel!), a Cincinnati Reds baseball cap and t-shirt!  The beginning of baseball season is the surest sign of spring known to a girl from Southern Ohio!!

A sprig of pink tinged Viburnum from the yard adorns a bud vase beside me. Its spicy, intoxicating perfume nearly overwhelms me, alluring, no, mesmerizing me into a kind of spring fever haze (ok, coupled with remaining effects of jet lag!)  I feel almost giddy!  If only someone could bottle this! No wonder so many songs have been written about Spring time.  Join me in celebrating the affirming rebirth of Mother Earth, one of life’s true joys.

(And anyway, here is the chainsaw sculpture of Charles de Gaulle that resides here on Poplar Ridge, so really, what has France got in Springtime that Bethel hasn’t?)

Chainsaw sculpture of Charles de Gaulle by Ralph Silvis

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