Harvest

So busy! In the last post, I was enjoying a bit of pre-hectic-harvest-time bliss, but that was short lived. Now it’s all business. Well, nearly. It’s important to appreciate what you’ve got because it’s all over so quickly and everything in life moves to either a memory or photograph. My artistic outlet at the moment, is to take photographs of my surroundings and the custard apples. There is some wonderful and precious time for date night, lighting fires and walking through the orchard at sunset. These are a few of my favourite things!

All you need for a romantic winter date night dessert, is a custard apple and two spoons. Plus your love, of course.
We have a driveway across the front of the farm, and it is a thing of joy to watch the sun go down.

A few days ago, we watched Venus set. That was pretty special. Just as it reached the horizon, it did a little dance and popped up and down a couple of times before finally dropping down, out of view.

Custard apple served with sunshine.

I think it’s always good to celebrate life, by appreciating what you have around you. There is so much beauty everywhere. Sometimes you collect it, harvest it or make it yourself, but sometimes it’s in your surroundings. Already there, just waiting for you to notice.

Weaving Into Autumn

Autumn. It’s a beautiful time of year here in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, but it makes me feel a bit restless. I have to learn new creative skills or start a new projects to help balance that uncomfortable feeling. Recently, I went to a weaving workshop with my friend Claire, who is also my neighbour. We spent the day learning how to use natural fibres and grasses.

Basketly Beginnings. Raffia seems to be the easiest fibre to use for the binding. Blanket stitch and whip stitch are the the two types of construction methods here.
The small blue and green basket in front is made entirely from raffia. The larger green basket is made from iris leaves stitched with raffia. And the creamy coloured basket has Bangalow Palm for the sides.
I thought they would make good baskets for my custard apples now that it’s harvest time. I can see that I’ll have to make bigger baskets if I want to hold more than one or two pieces of fruit.

It’s very restful and meditative to weave a basket this way. I think many problems could be solved by taking up basket weaving.