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twistednuns · 7 years

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January 2017

All this sunshine lately. Reading in the beam of warm sunshine on my bed. Taking pretty pictures of translucent things like physalis leaves or a crystal. Admiring how green my eyes are in the right light.

Berlin magic.

Despite all the pain and soreness after being ill: the fact that I do have stomach muscles. Good to know.

A radio interview with the astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti: "From the very beginning, I liked sleeping in weightlessness. Just closing your eyes, floating, sleeping." What a nice thought.

New Year's Day was unexpectedly peaceful and happy. After celebrating with Claudia, Frank and Fabi (we made salad with goat cheese and bacon, pho and raspberry tiramisu; watched Dinner for One, played a drinking game and Activity and Bleigießen - apparently I got a ship which means I'm gonna go on a big trip) I stayed at Frank's place. We discussed space and the different planetory size relations and how insignificant I think we are so I don't like thinking about space. Frank is more optimistic; he thinks the idea that humanity might really matter on an intergalactic level in a few thousand years is so exciting. All this must have been triggered by watching Lars von Trier's Melancholia together. Anyway. In bed, we talked about our ideal picnic spot (somewhere over the rainbow) again, Machu Picchu with Roquefort. And illegal international cheese smuggling. I told him the story of Obi's Swiss colleagues who always bring cheese when they come to work at the observatory in Chile. On the next morning, I found Frank playing with his birthday present on the floor. I made tea and we watched another episode of Westworld. I left the house because his parents were about to come over and treat him to dinner. Got a beautiful brownie and some mezze at the Turkish bakery (I love the fact that they're open on Sundays) and took in the atmosphere. Everything was calm, the sun was shining, it was a bit foggy. So I went to Ruhmeshalle to see the Bavaria statue. There was confetti on the floor and Theresienwiese actually felt like Tempelhofer Feld in Berlin. Weird and beautiful. Apparently I'm not the only one who notices things like that. When I got home I talked to Doris for a while and suggested a spontaneous roadtrip to Frank. Oh, and on my way home I had this glorious but rare feeling, that I am unbelievably blessed. Everything is really really good and all I gotta do is stop wanting more and appreciating what I have. It's strange, the more intelligent and spoilt you are the likelier you are to be unhappy. Not anymore. I'll try to be good to myself. I'm thankful, SO thankful for what I have and how I feel at the moment, even though I don't really know what changed. I used to be SO miserable.

Ashley was happy and excited like a little child because of the large amount of New Year's Eve fireworks in Germany.

My mum sent me a book and a very heartfelt letter this weekend. I loved the textile feeling of the paper she used and read the book right away.

Doris's reaction to the fact that I glued glitter to my face and got some stuck in my eye.

At New Year's Eve, my fortune cookie advised: "It is not enough just to know the way. You also have to get there." Smart cookie.

Visiting Dantebad for the first time, a large outdoor swimming pool. It was freezing cold and started to snow, but I swam some laps nevertheless. There were cute ladies with floral bathing caps, too. And I loved the underwater lights and the steam in the night. Nice view. When I walked to my car, the sidewalk was covered in snow. Quiet and peaceful.

Getting a small piece of Roquefort and graffiti tofu. Eating it slowly at my desk. Always cutting off just a tiny peace and eating it straight from the knife.

The colour of the broccoli against the pale pink plate. Always take note of good colour combinations (like neon pink Sharpie on light blue paper and pistachio green fingernails against the plum coloured sheets).

Pasta with broccoli, a little cream, parmigiano, chili, thyme. Maybe an onion. Heavenly good.

The British property market delivers gems I'd immediately move into. Or rather this one? I don't even want to look at the rest because I'll never be able to afford something like that (nor do I want to, for that matter, but I appreciate great architecture). Related: somehow I ended up on the official website of the Bavarian castle department and found out that you can actually rent a lot of the rooms! If you could only rent the greenhouses in the botanical garden, too... I'd love to get married there one day.

It didn't make me happy but it moved me: a woman wakes up to find the partner next to her dead. 28 years old. She falls apart, obviously. And she writes about it.

Dr.Hauschka's Rose Day Cream. What a blessing for my moisture-depraved winter skin.

Walking through the Nymphenburg castle park and the botanical gardens in the sunshine. The lakes were frozen and everything was covered in snow. Lena and I went to the beautiful café, sitting at a table in front of the window with a view over the historical botanical institute. I got hot chocolate because I love spooning off the molten whipped cream before I drink it. Unfortunately it was already too late for the greenhouses but we are planning on coming back soon to see the tropical butterflies.

Buying an &otherstories nail polish on sale that has the same colour as my favourite pistachio ice-cream from Ballabeni in Schwabing (the PERFECT ice-cream flavour).

Getting the last table at grano, a tiny Italian pizza place behind the Munich city museum with interesting wall art.

Feeling like a naughty librarian in my Ace&Tate glasses.

It's odd how comforting a simple "there's absolutely nothing in the fridge" dish is. Couscous with tomato puree. Parmigiano, if I have some. A dash of lemon. That's it.

The movie Gnade (2012) with Birgit Minichmayr and Jürgen Vogel. And beautiful Norwegian landscapes.

The little blue suede pouch with rose gold speckles I got for Christmas. I use it as a wallet and whenever I take it out of my bag I notice how much I love the look and feel of it. Very rarely, an object just feels like you, doesn't it?

Cutting open a passion fruit. And the purple carrot dying the boiling water blue.

The ARTE create Let's Swing series.

A weird dream. Leaving Frank's house, taking the bus to a physiotherapist's practice on a busy street. Waiting room, far too many people. After one or two hours we discovered the auditorium next door. At first, there were only pupils from my old schools (and at some point the dream had been one about a school lesson, I suppose). Soon after, people from the waiting room dropped in and I decided to put on a show. I was the host, of course, and stood on stage, speaking into a microphone. I don't even wanna know what I said. But then Inge and Wölki walked up to me and started making out. And *zoom* we're in a French coastal town (?), climbing over ruins in the sea? I don't know how my subconsciousness conjures these things up...

Going to Candy Club party with Doris. I didn't wear a check shirt like all the lesbians but instead bright pink hair. There was a drag show with a dancing pizza, an all-girl band (The Veras) and an interesting hipster duo, Nalan381. I loved some of the DJ's choices, too, like Warpaint, Róisín Murphy, Bonaparte and Electric Six.

#SaltBae

The big snowman my neighbours have built in the garden. Watching the birds peck at the bags of peanuts I hung up in the bushes.

Eating quail eggs for the first time (we got them at the Karstadt supermarket where everything is super pricey but it's so exciting to go through the aisles and look at the unusual items they're selling). The box said they came from "alternative production" so Frank and I were joking about quails with tiny party hats, riding model trains around the pen. Only drinking full moon water and having energy crystals around.

The fact that I really enjoy healthy eating. I usually forget when I eat too much junk food and sweets because the palate is so easily adaptable. But recently I've started preparing salads, soups, chia pudding and lots of fruit and veg again - it's fun and it makes me feel so much better.

Travel Man - 48 Hours in... // A travel guide series with Richard Ayoade!

ProperCorn - tiny popcorn snackpacks; mine came with smooth peanut and almond. Yum.

Also: eating much healthier. Eating less. Eating a ton of veggies and fruit. And feeling so good about it! I even lost a few kilograms already. Is this finally happening?

Going to Residenztheater for the first time to see Arthur Miller's The Crucible. What a great play. Later I found out that the actor who playes John Proctor was also in Toni Erdmann; he played the colleague who attended the naked party after all, I think. I've got two more theatre tickets for the next weeks, I'm really looking forward to it.

Having dinner and watching a movie at the cinema with colleagues and Nicole's brother and father. We got along famously and I actually got her Bernhard's phone number because we are planning on seeing an ice-hockey match together.

Discovering this old back issue of Missy Magazine with a focus on Sleater-Kinney. Why, WHY is it sold out?! Also this photograph. Dressing like Corin is my life goal now. I'm having a fangirl moment.

Reading about feminism. Being overwhelmed by the Women's Marches all over the world on the day after Trump's inauguration. Getting the feeling that standing up for equality is something I'm passionate about. Ashley Judd reciting Nina Donovan's I am a nasty woman was powerful. I hope Trump is going to fuck up big time so people will wake up now and make America actually great again. He's just going to make us stand closer together.

Taking a moment in a club (even though being in a glum mood) to appreciate how great it is to stand in a room full of dancing people, listening to really loud rock music (fun, too, you know - Ballroom Blitz!).

Tiny embroideries.

Deciding on brushing up my French (I'm going to Paris next month!!). Earning more than 1300xp in DuoLingo on a slow Saturday.

Smorfia neapolitana. Crazy Italians. I saw one of these posters in Travel Man and liked the idea a lot.

Nachtbad - they turned an old sauna club in the gay part of the city into a bar, and they even left the showers running. Nice venue.

Hamlet at Munich Kammerspiele. Buckets full of blood and a confetti hose. I loved it.

A healthy dose of cat content. Watching the streetcat Bob movie with Doris and visiting Fricki at home where I got to know Effi the cat. She loved me and sat on my shoulder; even slept like a baby on my arm.

Spending a day in the city instead of going to work (even though I had to attend a workshop). Walking through streets I rarely visit. Getting beautiful and unusual (pumpkin, truffle, rosemary...) macarons at Principessa's and having a chat with the owner. Having dinner at the Victorian House, walking over Viktualienmarkt, stopping at a fruit vendor for some blueberries, getting a necklace at &otherstories and rice papier at the Asian food store.

Outside our classroom we saw a fox running through the snow! I was just as excited about that as the children.

Taking a screen printing class! We were only 4 people and the teacher was really nice so we spent the whole Saturday making prints. I want my own screen now... gotta find out where to get or how to build one! I printed a Sleater-Kinney picture on a tote bag, by the way. "Nasty women!"

The dad in the whole food market who showed his son a monkey toy with a long tail and laughed out loud because it looked like a dick.

Seeing a small piece of rainbow over the street I take every day!

Desire paths.

Making summer rolls with peanut dip. And cooking the same dish Fricki made for me the other day: pumpkin, zucchini, thyme and feta. Delicious.

#things i love #2017 #january #january 2017 #personal #present perfect

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josephkitchen0 · 6 years

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Happiness is Right Here! – Photo Essay

By Taylor Faria – Bryce rises with the morning sun, and when he does, so does everyone else. So, each morning we all throw on our boots, say our goodbyes to Daddy, and watch the way night disappears so gently here on The Land: The sun surfaces overtop willowing oak trees and brightens the earth through the air between branches.

Goldenrod blossoms catch my eye with their sweet ochre-yellow color, like burning honey and twinkles from morning’s dew. As it drips onto the wired fence, I feel renewed. The cows graze over to greet us by the crackling of a stick fire, and between the laughter of my children and the elaborate orchestra of chickens performing in a distance, I hear the day begin.

Living with nature is the most important part of the slow-paced, authentic lifestyle Ethan and I intend for our children. So in 2014, when Bryce was an infant and Blaire was growing in my belly, we began raising cows — and occasionally pigs and chickens — on our newly purchased 10 acres. We became home-owning contractors, and after lots of time and patience, finally moved into our dream home on The Land this past August. Over the years, “The Land” became an affectionate name we call our homestead.

Living on The Land as a mother offers tangible wisdom to teach my children, and as a writer and artist, it allows me to live my bliss of creating within an inspiring space every day. The Land has always served the kids a place to intuitively learn with a hands-on approach.

Bryce once told me, “Happiness is right here, living on The Land,” in other words, this is his favorite place. And Blaire, she’s been tagging along since she was born; it’s always been home to her. I can honestly say that first-hand experiences with nature here have taught them more than I could ever imagine out of toddlers.

The cows, chickens, and pigs; gardening and foraging wild blackberries or goldenrod for tinctures and dyes; identifying trees like oaks and their acorns or magnolias and their flowers, and identifying ducks and birds through sound— these are natural activities the kids take part in and learn from here.

We often times climb up on our fence and watch migrating animals in our flag pond; we’ve seen all sorts of ducks and birds like huge sandhill cranes and even pink flamingoes! It’s like schooling in the purest form — learning through observation.

Symphonies of cicadas in the forests lighten our moods as we wander throughout the day. There have been times of such awe from their music that I instinctively pause… that sound is just so healing. But, my favorite part of the day is connecting together under a boundless sky, filled with stars so bright that the harvest moon couldn’t block their light. And the howling of night-dwelling coyotes echoing in the fields around us… something about it intrigues me. Living on The Land gives off a sense of wonderment that all could benefit from.

Hearing things like, “Mama, the trees are dancing with the wind!” and “I’m digging up mashed potatoes!” make me laugh and appreciate the lifestyle in which our children are being raised. I hope that living on The Land will teach them the importance of being self-sufficient and self-reliant, and how to use the earth as their tool, but also how Earth is one with all.

I hope that they will learn to be confident with their unique knowledge and use it as an inspiration for life. But most importantly, that one day when they’re in nature looking up at the stars, that they feel a sense of home and think of our time together, celebrating all there is to life.

The value and benefits I see in a homegrown meal make raising cows a lot easier for me since I was a self-declared vegetarian as a child. Yeah, a homestead that raised meat was never my intention, but after the food knowledge I’ve gained these past four years, I would much rather my children be eating cows we raise, if any.

We raise the cows without growth hormones or steroids, but with lots of love and acres of land to graze. Future homestead plans include a proper garden for fruits and vegetables, as well as one for butterflies and bees and one specifically for botanical dyes.

With the Peace River nearby, we can easily take spontaneous sunset and fishing trips, and we even started stocking our own pond. So, catching and eating our own fish is already in the making. And who knows what kinds of animals will come along next… we’ve talked goats, ducks, and a mini horse for Blaire, but we seem to do things pretty instinctively.

From buying The Land, to starting a farm, to adding Blaire to our family, to building a home and setting intentions for our children’s future days… to home (pre)schooling, living with nature, and taking part in daily farm chores… to being free and wild and inspired; this is what homesteading has been all about here on The Land for us.

Follow Taylor’s journey on Instagram: instagram.com/living.ontheland/and at www.instagram.com/studio.ontheland/

Blaire leaving the feed shed with her hands full. As a baby, she’d always sneak some for herself.

Bryce washing his hands in the farm sink after feeding the cows and adventuring around The Land.

Foraging acorns from the oak trees on The Land for observations and to use as a natural dye.

Dew dripping off of the banana tree we recently planted on The Land.

Morning trip to the chicken coop for eggs.

Blaire pointing to the cows as we watched the sunset from under the oak tree.

Ethan putting a Magnolia flower in Blaire’s hair. The abundance of Magnolia trees originally sold us on the property. They brighten up the forests and fragrance the breeze.

Bryce on his John Deere “tractor” that he never gets off. He enjoys collecting campfire sticks in the bed of it. It’s truly a Peg Perego Gator and we recommend it to everyone.

Our favorite moon over one of our biggest oak trees on The Land.

Blaire feeding and giving love to her favorite cow.

Decor designed by me.

Goldenrod in its glory.

Blaire foraging some sticks and dead grass for a fire. They often load the bed of their John Deere with sticks to drive over and dump them out at the fire pit.

Climbing the gates on The Land, something they’re always doing. They always make sure to give the cows a big Hello!

Bryce waving hello to the cows. They’ve been his favorite since he was just six months old.

A little natural garden began where we kept our pigs. Cucumbers were plentiful, along with some potatoes and corn.

Foraging acorns for play, observation, and natural dye. The kids love the process of using nature as their tool. It is something we hope they hold onto as they grow older.

Happiness is Right Here! – Photo Essay was originally posted by All About Chickens

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