Sometimes, life has a way of stopping us in our tracks, urging us to reflect. It’s so easy to get swept up in the holiday buzz, with its endless plans, lists, and preparations. This year, my Christmas tree is surrounded by a growing pile of gifts—a testament to my large and loving family. My kitchen…
Author: Apples of Gold
I'm a mother of four adult children and also nanna to four grandchildren. I love baking, cooking and hosting dinner parties. My hobbies include reading, walking, and genealogy but I am especially passionate about nature and Inspirational Creative Writing! I was born in Helsinki Finland, but migrated to Melbourne Australia as a child.
My four blogs include creative writing blog at www.applesofgold.blog
an Australian travel blog at www.downunderroadtrip.blog
a Christmas blog at www.insidejaanaschristmashome.blog
and a food blog at www.finnishfoodiefromdownunder.blog
I would love you to visit all four!
Everyday Joys
What makes me smile? It’s the little things, those fleeting moments often lost in the flurry of daily life. They’re simple, sometimes almost hidden, yet rich with warmth. That first sip of chai in the morning is one of them—the way its warm, spiced aroma rises up like a cosy blanket, gently waking my sleepy…
Grandfather Clock
There is a particular kind of solace that lives in my family’s old grandfather clock. It hangs on my wall downstairs, keeping the rhythm of time with its steady, gentle “tick-tock.” On days when life feels brittle, when I am frazzled or unsettled, I listen to that sound, and it’s like a lullaby, a tender…
Hurricane Milton
As I sit here on a park bench in my local park in Melbourne, Australia, the sun is shining, and everything feels calm. I can hear the laughter of my granddaughter as she plays in the park, the birds singing above us. The sky is an endless, clear blue. It’s peaceful—idyllic, even. But my mind…
Food Nostalgia
Food nostalgia creates a rich fabric of memories that carry us back to cherished moments of warmth and love. For me, that journey begins in a sunlit kitchen, where the aroma of fresh bread intertwines with the comforting scent of simmering soup. It’s a place where each clink of utensils and hum of the oven…
Fleeting Moments
In the dance of seasons, autumn arises as poet’s dream, a painter’s muse. Each leaf, similar to a delicate brushstroke upon nature’s canvas, contributes to the symphony of fleeting moments. Beneath canopies of gold, we stroll, feeling the crispness of the air, mindful that these moments, like grains of sand through our fingers, will soon…
Morning Cuppa
There’s something special about those quiet mornings, when it’s just me and my cuppa. As I wrap my hands around the warmth, the steam rising like whispers of comfort, I find solace in the stillness. It’s a time when the world seems to slow down, allowing me to savour the simple pleasures that often go…
The Joy of Writing
In the quiet spaces between breaths, in the stillness of the soul, there exists a flame that flickers and dances—a passion ignited by the mere stroke of a pen upon paper, or the gentle tap of keys beneath fingertips. It is the love of writing, an undying flame that burns brightly in the hearts of…
Untangle Me
The need to get away is not merely a desire for physical distance but a quest for mental respite, a longing to breathe in the fresh air of simplicity and serenity. It is a recognition of the profound importance of finding space — space to rest, space to reflect, space to reconnect with the rhythms…
Good Morning
I long to share this tranquil place with you to articulate the splendour of waking up amidst the countryside. I yearn to convey the delicate melodies of the Australian bush, the fragrance of gardenias mingled with the dampness of morning dew. The serenity of the landscape unfolding outside our bedroom window, accompanied by the jovial…
Apples of Gold 