Saturday, September 7, 2013

picking up sticks...x


We were on the way back home from town after collecting Jazzy from drama class and gathering a few supplies for dinner.

Jazzy was full of stories from her day; Pumpkin props, naughty kids, hot chocolates with out milk, rehearsals, swings and popular popcorn.

Miss Pepper, eyes closed, exhausted from a late night the night before at Indi's school production, had long given up trying to get a word in between Jazzy's.

And as I drove them, and listened, and mmmmmed, my head was filled with election worries, what to make for dinner, finding time for half an hour on my new/ancient garage sale freebie exercise bike, how glorious the early evening light was and whether or not I have planted enough onions.


And then it occurred to me that by the time we got home, the fires would have gone out and the house would be cold.

For a second I felt annoyed. Country life is dirty and so terribly time consuming. How easy and neat it would be to simply push a button for heating. How much more time I would have in my day.

But then, as I drove past our house and up into the forest near our back gate I changed my mind quickly.

The late afternoon spring sun was coming low through the forest trees all dappled and sparkly. Everything looked wonderful and magical and beautiful.


We three got out of the car and spent the next 10 minutes or so gathering kindling. Each of us collecting arm fulls of sticks and then together making a pile. Each of us in our own spaces and mostly silent but for the snap of twigs and the crowing roosters down the hill.

A small pile of sticks. A medium pile of sticks. A big pile of sticks.

And just like that we piled the pile into the back of the ute and we were done.

And as I drove us and our kindling back home, I realised that the bit I had thought of as irritating ended up being my favourite part of the entire day. I felt lucky to have had it.


Are you having a nice weekend?
What's been your best bit so far?

xx

24 comments:

  1. So pleased to see this pop up in my newsfeed. Not only your magical photos but those beautiful words. Isn't it true that if we just change our attitude and the way we look at something there is so much blessing in even the mundane and uneventful!

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  2. What a perfect end to a day. And how lovely that you view your world the way you do. Hope your Sunday is grand :) x

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  3. Kate, I love how you always see the silver lining. That you always take the time to enjoy the simple things. :)

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  4. Oh my, you are truly lucky, these photos are beautiful just beautiful!

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  5. The light where you live is glorious Kate.

    An I having a good weekend? I am. It's the first free weekend we've had since April! No hurrying around in the mornings trying to get the boys to footy. No juggling the baby's routine with footy fixtures. And no missing the husband. He's still home :)

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  6. It sounds good that what you would think would be tedious, really turned out okay. And most importantly, that you took time to notice it!
    I just cut my brothers hair, and now I am so teired. Who knew it could take an hour to do?! He seriously needs a new cutter..
    But now I will make a cup of tea and knit some peace into my life:)

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  7. That sounds so beautiful and wonderfully written. One day I hope to have a lovely country hide-away that I can build fires in and sip hot chocolate around in dwindling sun :)

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  8. Such lovely words. I always feel so thankful and grateful for moments like those. Slowing down, just for a few minutes can really make everything else feel better. Thank you for sharing.Holly.x

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  9. They are indeed the best bits. How lucky to have open fires, we used to and I really miss it now. Jo x

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  10. Such beauty in your sunset colors; such love in the actions of your family. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos. Being outdoors at that time of day is the absolute best, I agree with you all the way.

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  11. Such beauty in your sunset colors; such love in the actions of your family. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos. Being outdoors at that time of day is the absolute best, I agree with you all the way.

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  12. Loving words Kate, just beautiful. Stick collecting is much more than just picking up sticks isn't it?

    The best bit of our weekend so far...setting yabby nets with the kids yesterday evening and then walking along our creek chatting and holding hands and enjoying the light. Enjoy your Sunday x

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  13. Awesome reminder, thank you Kate !!!!

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  14. I love afternoon light at this time it's gorgeous, no matter where you are.
    I used to really like stick collecting as a kid. There was something to the methodical picking up and collecting that I really liked, my siblings would always complain and try not to ever do it, but me...yep I liked it. Then there was the challenge of getting a good fire lit, and not wasting that preciously collected kindling, I liked that too.

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  15. What beautiful photos. I love the evening light on the autumn and I'm glad your day ended on such a previous note.
    Xxx

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  16. Just lovely Kate, and so perfectly finding the essence of what is important ~ what matters. And of course your photos ~ brillliant! My grand daughter and I now collect kindling and I think she enjoys it too :))

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  17. We live in an old farmhouse and only heat with one wood stove and so I know exactly how you felt. After a nice holiday visit with the family, we come home to a cold house with both of us cranky from the drive, and the last thing we want to do is start the fire. So we keep the hats and coat on and I shiver and start the tea as my husband starts the fire. BUT NOW, since having a baby last Fall and needing to remodel the upstairs (where the wood stove heat doesn't really reach), we decided to install a high efficiency heat pump system. So as of the beginning of October, my husband tells me that our house will be a bit warmer, though we will still use the wood stove as the primary heat source. I feel a little guilty, but it will be nice to come home to a house that is warmer than 50 degrees on Christmas night!

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  18. I can only imagine what life must be like without all of our mod cons... or at least, I can thanks to your evocative writing! Beautiful.

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  19. its the simple things, the hard part is recognising them..x

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  20. So beautiful! I just adore your photos and you inspire me daily to consider the every details of life.
    Sophie x

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  21. pushing a button for heating - noooooooo! give me the soulful version any day!!

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  22. It is the little things at times that beings up the most joy. What a blessing!
    http://youngnasawife.blogspot.com/

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  23. We are lucky in that we are able to push a button but still have an open fire and enjoy going 'sticking'. You're right though - sometimes the most glorious moments are those we haven't manufactured and might easily have missed x Jane

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  24. That's one of the bits about real, proper country living I can't quite deal with, the fire part. But you made it sound and look so appealing. Then again I really am hopeless with managing a fire. Hope you got the fire going and the house nice and warm quickly and without further irritation. PS I love the thoughts that run through you're head on the drive home and I'm glad I'm not the only one that drives with the constant (CONSTANT!) chatter of small girls in the back... though mine is only four. Her sister usually falls asleep amidst the barrage of questions and commentary.

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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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