At the recent St Ives Medieval Faire, I had the good fortune to watch the no-holding-back Viking game of Knattleikr. It’s bats at the ready, ball in the air and go. So much fun.
(Aaaand, this is a new branch I’ve been playing with…my first vimeo feature for this space.)
If truth be told, sometimes it gets exhausting being inside my head. There’s a lot to be thought in there. Juggling, like with 10 balls in the air kind of thing.
Sometimes it’s a beautiful mix of shades, words, colours, and wonderment.
Other times it’s just down right bloody messy. Doing posts like this is good for me though, it slows things down, words that aren’t in a hurry, pictures that have no purpose other than them being a moment…
a tiny moment in a swirling mind, that paused for a second, and I’m loving that.
the smallest of small birds singing at sunrise, singing with all it’s little heart
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What are you loving at the moment?
[“Often life’s pleasures pass us by simply because we don’t take a moment to focus on them… Make a point of noticing everyday something that uplifts your spirit or tickles your heart… Stop to breathe in the joy of this moment and then tell someone about it. Share your joy and revel in it. When your joy is savoured, and then shared, it is magnified…” ROBIN GRILLE]
It being October and all, it seems Spring has thrown a little of it’s extra super growing power into my tiny potted garden.
At night when we sleep, everything seems to power on ahead. Green-berries become blue, nasturtiums run rampant, cumquats multiple, and volunteer tomato plants declare any unclaimed space their own.
For a tiny garden that comes from a few plastic and ceramic pots in a shaded concrete courtyard, well, I’m absolutely delighted to watch the unfurling.
What are you growing at the moment?
It being October also means, the nation wide Garage Sale Trail is coming up this weekend. An easy way to sell on a few things you don’t need anymore, get to know your neighbours, make stronger ties in your community and perhaps even schnaffle a few bargains for your self.
The Garage Sale Trail is on this Saturday 24th October.
How would you describe the taste of a strawberry to someone who hadn’t ever eaten one before? Soft and sweet obviously. But then, then? That’s where my descriptions falter. It tastes like…
I asked the smallest and current hardcore daily-strawberry-advocate.
“…it tastes…likkkkke… strawberry?”
Obviously not feeling particularly poetic today my girl.
Now the benefits of having a blog is being able to see what you were making a year ago, two years ago, (…or eek, 6 years ago?) I knew it was strawberry season, and I knew I wanted to make something easy. I looked at my recipe, scrutinised it for a second or two and then thought, yeah, I reckon I could go a step further in the making it even easier department.
Blend it!
And so I did.
Here’s the slightly tweaked version. Lots of seasonal strawberry goodness, and really low in processed sugar (1.4 tsp per serve.)
Now tell me, how would you describe the taste of a strawberry?
Strawberry Shortcake Crumble (serves 7)
100g butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
zest of a whole lemon
1/4 cup raw sugar
75g almond meal
150g self raising flour
hulled, washed and roughly chopped strawberries
Pop strawberries into an oven proof ramekins. In a blender, add all of your remaining ingredients together and then spoon mixture on top of strawberries. Into an oven at 180C for about 20 or so minutes or until golden.
Ridiculously quick and easy.
Heads up to all the Fair Food Week people out there. Running from the 16th-25th of October, there are all kinds of events happening. Have a peek to see if there is one near you, and if not, how about organising one?
If that doesn’t sound like your kinda thing, maybe read the book?
Either way supporting a fair food culture should be something on everyone’s plate.
Wear handmade
Wear second hand
Wear well made
Wear organic
Wear ethical
Wear sustainable
Wear thoughtfully
Try for one, or two, or if you feeling particularly revolutionary, go for all of them.
A long time ago I made a pact with myself. Any purchases that I made, needed to be as ethical, locally made, fair trade, or as a conscious purchase (do I really need it?) where ever possible. For some things it’s been fairly easy, other things, not quite so much.
I thought I’d create a little list of some of things I’ve been super happy with over a fairly large chunk of time, (both bought and not bought.)
How to Dress like a Revolutionary
* Pure Pod– Kelli’s range of ethical fashion is divine. I’d happily wear any one of their outfits.
* Op shops- frequently provide goodies. Timing, choosing your op shops, and mostly down to just whether the op shop goddesses are smiling upon thee is dependent on what you’ll find.
* Undies- Tuffy’s and Tuffette’s (locally made and owned in Australia- their excess plastic wrapping is a big sore spot however.)
* Friends and family are also often kind enough to pass on kids clothing.
* A soccerball gift- Etiko has a lot more than just soccer balls though, have a peek at their fair trade underwear, clothing and shoe range as well.
* Make it myself- My sewing skills are still somewhat lacking, so while I would love to make a lot of our family clothing it’s really not going to happen for awhile, smaller things that I can make though, yep, I’ll give it a crack.
* If you are going to be a human billboard, be aware of what you are advertising, (Sea Shepard as pictured here.)
* Buying second hand- living in the city, I’m incredibly lucky as there really are so many practical options for this- Garage Sale Trail is also a good one to do.
* Ecolosophy– Small loving business that has all your ethical clothing, kitchen, food options also covered.
* Organise a clothing swap in your community.
* Yoshi Jones– small designer in Sydney, that does divine Japanese influenced unique clothing (think vintage kimonos), especially good if you are after something for a special event.
* Go looking on Instagram- it’s great for finding small businesses. I LOVE how I have found different people and their work over the time I’ve been on instagram, and really enjoy supporting them- community shopping at it’s very excellent best.
Supporting small ethical businesses where ever possible is important. I know it’s not always easy, financially, time wise, and also accessability. Having three kids, I very much get that. Pay the extra dollar when you can though. New shoes, they really shouldn’t be costing $8, someone is being ripped off if they are.
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How about you, do you have any revolutionary links to add?
I posed this question on instagram recently and was interested in the answers it might create here as well.
Cats what do you think of them?
Where do you sit on the cat fence? Native animal killer or small sized bundle of therapeutic pet love?
It’s Cinnamon Bun Day (4th of October) and I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone made a batch of kanelbullar, organised to meet at a favourite park, took the freshly baked cinnamon buns down to said park and maybe spend a relaxed afternoon with your favourite people who make you laugh?
Keen?
I am. Now if only I’d thought of it a little earlier.
Luckily any day can be Cinnamon Bun Day, you don’t have to wait until the 4th of October to bake these cinnamon sweet bready treats.
Have you tried them? Want to give them a crack?
250g sourdough starter
1 tsp commercial yeast
675g strong bread flour
250mls milk
200mls water
100g sugar
100g softened butter
1 tsp cardamon
1 1/2 tsp salt
Cinnamon mixture
100g softened butter
100g raw sugar (or brown)
2 tsp cinnamon
Add all dough ingredients together, mix well and then knead until dough is elastic on a lightly floured surface (I use my mixer.)
Dough should be well incorporated and feeling smooth.
Pop the dough back into the mixing bowl and leave to prove for a couple of hours, with a fold or two in between, (or covered and over night.)
On a lightly floured bench, roll the dough out to a rough rectangle, add cinnamon mixture and cut into portions. Twist, roll, decorate in your favourite way then, line on a tray and bake at 190C for approximately 15-20 minutes (depending on the sizes.)
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See here for previous cityhippyfarmgirl Cinnamon Bun Days and How To Twist Them
Any day can be Cinnamon Bun Day
The lights about to change again. Daylight saving is around the corner, and while I’ll miss the softer tones, it will be back again…just stepping out for a bit.
Battles, jousting, traditional living, swords, birds of prey, there was quite a lot to love at the St Ives Medieval Faire. For someone who has no made no secret of a love of all things Viking and Nordic influenced, well, there was quite an excited lead up to this one.
Located on the edge of the Ku-ring-gai National Park, the festival was running for the second year, and despite a rainy start, it didn’t keep people away. Mud splattered boots and sodden velvet gowns just adding to the medieval atmosphere.
The festival had a fascinating traditional village that was made of different re-enactment or living history groups from all around Australia. Living, eating, dressing, and crafting as they once did.
Ahh, all so interesting…and so good! With the smell of soft wood smoke in our hair, leather cuffs on our wrists and happy tired smiles on faces. There were vows of returning next year for another Medieval Faire, well how could we not?
I’ve got a clever friend who is an advocate for urban goats. I think she might be on to something. Yes I do.
Soft scents and warmer air
protective layers are left discarded,
still green ideas are sprouting
bolting even, given the right time of day
branches and paths are studiously scrutinised
blank spaces filled in
there’s growth to be had there,
and I intend to fill it.
cityhippyfarmgirl 