25 November 2015

My tribe - near and far

You probably remember that I don't go out much. I am naturally a bit of a hermit so it's never bothered me that I stay in more than I go out.  Now when I do go out, I feel out of place. There is nothing familiar out there and the only place I feel at home, is, well, at home. But this week I will be out in my community again with a few talks at my local libraries. I actually enjoy these outings because after wandering about feeling like a fish out of water, I find my tribe waiting at the library. We talk, share, compare and laugh a bit, and I go home again feeling that, maybe, my little bit of the world is not so unfamiliar after all. There are still a few vacant places so if you want to come along, book on the Sunshine Coast Libraries website and I'll see you there.


I found a new friend today, someone I could easily live next door to. Unbeknownst to her, I crept into her kitchen, her home, her farm and looked around without anyone knowing I was there. Of course I wasn't there in person, I found her blog after she posted a comment here and followed the breadcrumb trail back to hers. I love finding blogs that feel very familiar to me. I realise all over again that I'm not such a funny fish out of place in the general scheme of things and that there are many others out there doing what I'm doing, finding joy in the small things and living true. 

Sally and Brian live on Jembella Farm in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, one of our great wine regions. They run their farm along biodynamic principles to produce organic food for their own table and for sale. They have cows, alpacas, bees, sheep, chickens and geese and live in what looks like a beautiful house, tucked into the valley away from the rat race. I'd love to have a cuppa with Sally on that shady verandah of hers. Go over, have a look and be prepared to be charmed by her and learn a little about how these small farms are run.


While I was there I noticed another familiar name - Farmer Liz, who lives closer to me here in Queensland. Liz runs her property with husband Peter using permaculture to produce organic food. She writes about her life on Eight Acres and has a lot of good information on her blog so she's worth a visit too. It makes me feel very hopeful for the future when I know that people like Liz and Peter are coming through as the younger generation. If anyone will save us from ourselves it will be people like them who do it. Check out Liz's info on dairy cows, cheese making, butchering, chickens and so much more.  I doubt I'll ever tire of looking at the faces of Jersey cows. 

I've added both Sally and Liz to my sidebar so if you forget to bookmark them you can find them again over there.


And finally today, my friends, I have the recipe for my new muesli, asked for by Jules. It's simple and you can use whatever dried fruit you have in the cupboard.
  • 3 cups of rolled oats - we're working our way through Quaker oats at the moment but we usually have the cheap Woolworths traditional rolled oats on hand.
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup flaked almonds
  • ½ cup sesame seeds
  • dried fruit - as much or as little as you like. I used a small pack of dried peaches, two dried pineapple slices I had in the cupboard and a hand full of dried cranberries.
Mix it all together and that's it. Simple. I put the muesli in a bowl and pour milk on, then leave it in the fridge overnight. In the morning the oats are on their way to sprouting and the fruit is plump and soft. In summer you can just take the bowl out in the morning and start eating, in winter you can warm it up. I hope you enjoy making your own version of this. 


SHARE:

22 comments

  1. All of us has own comfort zones. As an in home care giver. I notice some people have trouble with change. I guess I'm one who will take change because of change.
    So I have a list of blogs which I call my coffee pals and your one of them I try to visit on a regular bases. But at this time I'm taking part of NaBloPoMo which is though Blogher and one to blog everyday in November. I decided to stop in and visit the blog above mine.
    I sometime feel like I need to push my self to socailize. I go to coffee gathering monthly and to a crochet knitting group also monthly...Coffee is on

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't wait to make a batch of the muesli. I like the idea of adding ingredients that you personally enjoy. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
    Cynn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Rhonda, I know exactly how you feel about venturing too far away from home. I really don't like going out and the only real reason I do it is that I need to make the effort as Jess is homeschooled and we attend the various activities that happens within the homeschool community. But in saying that we are still only out a couple of days a week! There is always so much to do at home for us all and that keeps us busy enough.
    Take care.
    Mel xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rhonda, thanks for the link to Jembella Farm. I will check it out. I already read Liz's blog which is great and very informative. Thanks for the recipe for your muesli. Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Rhonda, thanks for your muesli recipe, I too was wondering what your recipe included after seeing the photo in a recent post. Yum! I have booked into one of your library talks and am so looking forward to meeting you and hearing your talk in person, after all this time reading your lovely words of wisdom on your blog and in your books! Will be so nice to be amongst other members of your tribe for a little while too. Cheers, Kelly

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you again Rhonda love how you share as I feel the same way too in the outside world of our place.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jembella Farm is amazing I was lucky enough to find Sally and Brian and now see them 3 times a week for produce and we are forming a lovely relationship and i am so grateful to have find her and her farm. My daughter absolutely loves going to visit Sally at the farm and is always so happy we're going to visit. Sally and Brian have opened their beautiful home and hearts to us and we never have enough time in the day to chat hehe.

    Stacey also from the Barossa Valley ��

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had no idea you were supposed to let muesli soak before eating it. The few times I've tried it, I've just poured milk over it and started to eat, like with regular breakfast cereal, and I couldn't figure out what the appeal was. I will try soaking it, I bet it's a lot better that way. :)

    I'm a bit of a hermit as well. I had to go to the store today and while out I decided I've got to give more thought to trying to do a big shop every two weeks or even longer to minimize the trips out--I really would just rather stay home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Helena, you don't have to soak the muesli, most people don't. It is the traditional way to eat oats though. Most of our grannies and great grannies would have soaked their oats overnight. It releases more nutrition as well as softening the oats and fruit.

      Delete
  9. Hi Rhonda, thank you for sharing your ideas on living a simple life. I find it much easier and so much cheaper to live like that as well.
    could you please give me you tomato jam recipe...it looks heavenly, I have tried making it, but it is alwys watery! may you have a beautiful day, love, Rina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rina, it's chilli jam. Heres the link:
      http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/homemade-chilli-jam.html

      Delete
  10. oh thanks for the mention Rhonda! and thanks for sharing everything you know with us, I was lucky that I grew up in a family that was thrifty and grew veges and kept chickens, but for so many its a completely different way of life. I like sharing how I live so that other people see that its not so strange :) I think the more of us that talk about it the better. And I was so pleased to "meet" Sally recently when she emailed me, I love making new friends through my blog, I often find I have more in common with some people on the other side of the country, or other side of the world, than people I see every day. Cheers, Liz

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello Dear Rhonda, I'm so glad you came to visit but I wish we could have had a cuppa at the kitchen table. I am feeling so very humbled and lost for words so will attempt to write something that makes sense tomorrow. :) We have had a horrific day here in the Barossa with a terrible bush fire breathing down our necks. It has moved north and away from us, but even though we feel a sense of relief for our own property, for now, our hearts and thoughts are with the unfortunate folks in the line of the fire front. It's going to be a long night. Love and peace to you my friend. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought of you both when I saw the news on TV. Such a terrible fire.

      Delete
  12. You sound like someone after my own heart. I too am a home bird, yes occasionally I get a bit 'stir crazy' and venture out and about to the town, but I am always so relieved to get back to home and all that I love.

    I've even tried joining various clubs to 'get me out of my comfort zone' but the folk there, although lovely, we're just not on my wavelength ... maybe my in comfort zone is simply the best place to be.

    I make an almost identical muesli, just using up what we have in the house and what we fancy. A jarful can last up to a month and then the next batch will be made and will be slightly different so it never gets boring and another bonus is that it is tastier and so much cheaper than the boxes of muesli available in the shops. In Summer I had a handful of fresh berries to the overnight soaked dried components for a fresh 'pop' of flavour. Delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh and I meant to add, thanks for the links. This blog world is a wonderful way to find like minded souls all over the globe isn't it. Both the farms and lifestyles are simply lovely and similar to ours and out future aims ... and I wouldn't have found you if I hadn't started my blog, I'm so glad I did :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Rhonda
    Thank you for reminding us all about your library talks. I have been fortunate in reserving a place at Kawana Library today and so looking forward to being one of your tribe this morning. Best wishes. Jean.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you Rhonda! It looks yummy and I can't wait to make some. Thanks also for the links. I love like-minded folks.

    ReplyDelete
  16. thanks for the links! I went over there to read. So goo read at the other side of the world. Thanks for the recipe, I will try it! Warm will be great with this cold weather here!
    Thanks.again.

    Wilma

    ReplyDelete
  17. So glad you found Jembella, I recently found her through my sister who buys some.of her produce. As soon as I read a couple of her posts, I knew I'd found another Rhonda ��

    -Kelly

    ReplyDelete
  18. I live in western Canada (Saskatoon Saskatchewan) where it is now winter. I just read your muesli recipe and would like to try it. I'm not sure what rolled oats you use. I have quick cooking (small flakes) and large flakes oatmeal (long cooking). I can't imagine either of them sprouting. Do you have a different type?
    Enjoy your blog very much. Would love to live in the country but we do have a good sized garden here in the city.
    Verna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Verna, our oats are steamed and rolled flat. Use whatever oats you can eat raw.

      Delete

Blogger Template by pipdig