Hometown Flora

When I think of my hometown, it's nothing about the town and more about the landscape and people. My parents chose to bring my brothers and I up in a valley on the New South Wales' mid-north coast. In between fields and fields of evergreen trees, saltwater pools, donkeys and goats, we grew up outside with an intimate knowledge of our childhood territory. Not only am I so lucky to have always known such visual diversity but it always makes me want to explore every place I visit. Despite how infrequently I manage a run when I travel, it's always a treat to fit one in and discover my surroundings. Even though the neighbourhoods were familiar and the sights don't scream adventure, I can tell you that at 5pm on a Wednesday evening in Grafton, you will see lush gardens and a wise old river* that will impress you with their universal beauty. Oh, and spring! It's definitely sprung.

*The Clarence River features heavily in local Indigenous Dreamtime oral tradition.

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Post title inspired by Adele's Hometown Glory.

I love that her hometown inspired her so.

Photos by me with Instagram filters.

I'm evawithanf, if you care to see

all the food I make and/or eat..  

   

Warm Glimpse

While I was in Copenhagen and Reykjavik, the majority of the homes that I wandered past had candles or fake light "candles" in their windows. With that soft glow carrying to the street outside, the homes all looked incredibly cosy, lived in, and secure. Somehow, even from where I stood in the cold, they seemed private and removed. That sense of seclusion was interesting to me as I've always felt the greatest sense of privacy when away from the street. I particularly feel this when surrounded by trees. Since I've lived in the city, it's been an even greater priority. I don't even know if it's that Australian houses are super airy and built exposed to the elements so as to capture any cooling air in summer (we have some mild winters), but it still feels like I spend most of my time trying to shut out noise of some sort. With all the rain in the last few days, there's finally been some peace without outside interference. While this weather isn't going to last, I'm going to work on that warmth factor. Lighting candles in the early evening or burning them throughout grey days immediately changes the feel of our small space. It makes our place such a soothing, more charming and inviting place to be. What's more, it makes a home of our rented house..

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Image via 

Hyggelige

Denmark is such a special place. This word is by far my favourite -- such an innately special concept. Perhaps a direct line to what we all long for when life and the moments are especially where you want to be.

One of the fundamental aspects of Danish culture is "hygge": spending a calm, comfortable time with good friends or loved ones, often while enjoying good food, snacks and something to drink. Lighting candlelights is also often associated with "hygge". Christmas time, when loved ones sit close together with candles lit on a cold rainy night, is a true moment of "hygge", as is grilling a pølse (Danish sausage) on a long summer evening. These examples, although they do not precisely define "hygge", can give an English speaker an idea of a deeply valued traditional concept of Danish culture.

For me, hygge is my parent's beach house. Always and forever. 

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Definition via Wikipedia (no judgement)

Photo by me