26/365

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Light: A Weekly Collection of Stills

barnacles // glow // bird

chase // blue // seaweed // oysters

Light

Joining in with Emily, Bree, Trish and friends

Love Bella xx

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Sunset Picnic on the Riverbank

Dear Byron,

I took this picture on my birthday. Do you recall the beautiful picnic we shared as a group of perfect strangers played stringed instruments, sang and drank wine nearby? From our picnic rug we dined on soft cheeses, delicatessen treats, almonds and fresh juice from the local Bellingen market.

We nibbled, sipped and made shadow shapes of mystical creatures from the long rays of the setting sun. We laughed like children but kissed like lovers on the river bank as an elderly couple paddled their canoe downstream. We joked as we discussed our plans for overseas adventures and when our musical friends left, we slow danced to the natural melody of the crickets and birds before the cool May air prickled the hair on our skin, signalling the night.

My sweet husband, in ten short days we will celebrate the beginning of your 27th year. I hope I make you as happy as you made me on my memorable day.

Love Bella xx

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37/52 Beach Grass

A portrait of my family once a week, every week in 2013

Coco: Watching the graceful birds soar in the sea breeze.

This week we worked hard, took time off, visited the dentist, played one-on-one soccer with a fox terrier cross dachshund as referee- Somehow she won??

Byron captured this image of Coco hidden on a sandy dune, surrounded by tall pale green blades of beach grass. She secretly watched sea birds parade along the shore before darting out and chasing them into the water. As always, they evaded her by the magic of flight.

This image for me whispers of summer. On a warm spring afternoon, they explored a deserted beach one hour before sunset.

I love spring, the longer days, the colourful flowers in seaside gardens and the sweet scent of orange blossoms as they begin to bloom. I love spring because it reminds me that life begins a new cycle, powered by the same sun light that beams throughout spring into our seemingly endless summers.

Bella xx

Joining in with Jodi and world of talented bloggers

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32/52: Sunset by the River

A portrait of my family once a week, every week in 2013

Byron: The kind natured, sweet man that I love smiles for a 'selfie' down by the river moments before his big catch.
Bella: She is happiest when surrounded by family and enjoying the simple pleasures offered by nature.

us // the cautious stare from a hungry friend // sunset over the river

This week we celebrated our final evening at the gorgeous river house down by the slow moving water. We sang, laughed and chatted merrily as the long afternoon rays transformed the sky into a spectacular orange light show, a sunset perfected by Mother Nature. The giant pelican pictured here floated towards as we cast long lines into the river. With each wiggle of the line, he glided closer to inspect our catch.

As the setting sun dipped below the trees upriver, the silhouette of our pelican friend could be seen against the reflection in the water. With his belly full, he disappeared from sight.

This week my favourites are of inquisitive babes enjoying the river by their favourite cafe, and this sweet little face bathed in the ethereal light of Newfoundland.

My giveaway ends today, be sure to enter for your chance to win one of two raw food recipe books.

These books contain healthy recipes that can be incorporated into your every day meals to take advantage of all the benefits from natural, raw food. GOOD LUCK!

If you have seen a beautiful picture capturing the glowing, delicate effects of light or perhaps some magical shadows on a blog somewhere (perhaps it is one of your own), please share a link in the comments below.

I hope your week is bathed in light and love.

Bella xx

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Beach Campfire Tales

Our Beautiful Campfire on Secret Beach

On a cool autumn afternoon, two families packed woven picnic baskets with freshly prepared dishes to enjoy on a secret beach. Their hampers were brimming with homemade hummus, warm thai larb gai (cooked with homegrown thai basil, mint, red chillies and limes from their vegetable gardens), sweet spiced maple kumara, juicy wedges of navel oranges, red wine, spring water, damper and raw vegetables to be cooked on an open beach campfire.

We walked over a grassy headland, kicking up sand with our thongs and basking in the last of the afternoon light as the sun cast long shadows over the land and coastline. Along the way, my friend picked a tiny colourful flower and she surprised me by stating it was a weed. I find it intriguing that some weeds look so exotic and beautiful.

We descended the steep sandy hill to our secret beach, where we unloaded our precious cargo and commenced scavenging the beach for dry pieces of driftwood to build our campfire. Our neighbour dug a shallow hole in the sand as we stocked the wood pile with ghostly white pieces of wood that had washed ashore during the recent storm. As soon as orange flames began to lick the sky and our blackened logs began to glow red, we pushed shiny, foil-wrapped vegetable parcels into the fire to cook as the children played with our excited puppy. Wine and water flowed as tiny waves crashed onto the shore. Sunset dimmed in the sky and soon the air was filled with the aromas that had followed us from our kitchen.

One of our sides included steamed mushrooms with thyme, fresh from our garden.

Steamed Button Mushrooms with Thyme

500g button mushrooms
8-10 fresh thyme sprigs
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 Tbs olive oil
sea salt
cracked pepper

Peel or wipe the mushrooms with a damp towel. In a large bowl, coat the mushrooms with the finely chopped garlic, olive oil and toss with the thyme sprigs. Fold a long piece of aluminium foil in half and place the mushrooms on top. Season with sea salt and cracked pepper, then carefully seal your foil parcel by folding the edges together. The double layer is needed to prevent damage to the parcel and sand from mixing with your mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms on the side of your fire, away from direct flames for ten minutes. Carefully remove and open, taking care not to burn yourself on the steam. Serve in a small bowl.

Campfire Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary
Campfire side dish

Chat potatoes
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Olive oil
Sea salt
Cracked pepper
Butter (optional)

The number of potatoes you roast will depend on the number of people in your party. I tend to cook two for each person, plus an additional few in case you're hungry.

Scrub and rinse your potatoes and allow to drain. Prick each potato evenly with a fork about 20 times to allow for evening cooking, then slice a thin wedge in each potato to place a short segment of a fresh rosemary sprig. Spray each potato with olive oil, season with sea salt and cracked pepper, then wrap individually in aluminium foil.

* If you prefer to slice your potatoes in half, you can smear a generous dollop of butter on each half, before sandwiching rosemary between the two halves, spraying with oil, seasoning and wrapping in foil.

Once you have established your campfire, place the foil-wrapped taters into the coals and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Remember to count how many you throw into the fire as the foil will blacken and make the potatoes difficult to see, especially after night falls.

How to test if cooked: Carefully remove a potato from the fire and push a fork into the middle, if you can lift the fork back out without lifting the potato, your delicious campfire roasted potato is ready- Be careful not to burn your fingers! The soft flesh will be fragrant with the rosemary, with a hint of smokey flavour from the open campfire.

There's something magical about sharing campfire tales on a beach with friends. The children danced around the flickering light as yellow embers floated towards the sky, like tiny fire fairies. We gazed at the stars as the fire grew smaller, making out constellations and watching as the moon cast a silver lane of shimmering mirrors over the ocean. When our fire went out, we kicked sand over the glowing logs and made our way home to the hum of crickets and the sounds of the slowly churning sea.

Love Bella xx

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Afternoon Light

It's that familiar time in the late afternoon when the sun hangs low in the sky and the cooler air silently creeps in to settle on the grass. The final hour or two of the daylight projects a kaleidoscope of incredible colours across the sky. Tall trees cast even longer shadows, the crickets begin to click and sing in animated chorus as the sea beckons me with her powerful song, like an exotic siren calling to nearby sailors.

The land is golden in these moments, the afternoon light is soft and romantic. This is nature at her beautiful best.

In our final daylight hours, we bobbed up and down on our boards in the blue ocean waiting patiently for the perfect sets of waves to carry us to shore. The sensation I feel when standing on my long board as it hurtles towards the beach at incredible speed is unequalled and unlike any other I have felt. The lure of the sea, the magical cloud formations over the horizon, the unique stillness of a windless evening. A golden sunset and mauve horizon glow briefly before the first stars begin to shine in a darkening sky. Sea and salt, the methodic sounds of the crashing waves. It's all part of a fragile, yet powerful ecosystem.

I am home.

Love Bella xx

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Tropical Tioman Island

Tropical greetings from one of Malaysia's most pristine marine parks.

The air is balmy as the breeze gently blows my hair. The water is so clear, it's like moving glass and tropical flowers in vibrant reds, raincoat yellow and pure white bloom at the edge of every pathway.

Our room is located 20 metres from the waters edge and I'm tempted to wander about in a bikini all day, if it weren't for the chance of sunburn.

Sunsets are natures light show. Golden hues, red guava fading to peach and finally soft yellow light the sky.

Today we'll hike to a cascading waterfall, tomorrow snorkelling is on the activity list on a nearby beach with fine white sand, a short boat trip from the main island.

I have taken so many pictures of the various dishes local to Malaysia and eaten more seafood in the past ten days than I have in an entire year back home so stop back here soon for delicious updates.

The people are amongst the warmest, most welcoming, and friendly that I have encountered anywhere else on this planet and I have travelled to more than thirty countries.

I will definitely return in the near future.

Wish you were here...

Bella xx

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