The riddle of home
T.S. Eliot proposed the idea that at the end of our voyages out, we return to our origins and understand the place for the first time.
One of my favourite authors once wrote about the riddle of home, and writes that after exploration, one returns home to their origins and transforms them.
Today I will return to Canada for a month’s visit. I am going solo to tie loose ends, and finally ship our boxes of books..oh, my books!
I will be staying with my parents, in my old room. Painted blue, with it’s little windows looking out onto beds of tulips. The thick cotton, amish country comforter draping the bed. My old antique recovered desk, and little stool with ‘katherine’ painted on the side. I dreamt many a dream, sitting at my little desk. Ever a romantic, I dreamt of the voyages and discoveries and love that I would meet.
Now, I return to my old home, from my new home. It’s been not quite a year since we left, but I can say that this experience has transformed me, and will continue to do so. My parents home by the frigid Pacific ocean is now just as romantic as the villas of Spain, and the countryside filled with bodegas and molinos.
What about the food, you ask? Of course, I will continue to post over the next month. The foods that I grew up with, and the west coast fare that I miss. The salmon, oh the salmon. I am dreaming of the beautiful organic farm just down the road where I will forage for lettuces, and carrots and rhubarb. Oh, the rhubarb.
I must admit though, I am genuinely concerned. Will there be enough olive oil?
bread and olive oil, is there anything better?
Do you think we could pick-up a 5L bottle of aceite de oliva on the way to the airport? I said to my husband this morning. What if there’s not enough? What if I can’t make my olive oil cakes, and am forced to buy an inferior olive oil for 5 times the price? Oh, goodness. May the olive oil Gods be with me. I promise though, I will not hang chorizo from my mother’s kitchen hooks.
Until very soon, my dear friends.
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Julsi from Juls’ Kithchen pointed out your blog in a recent post. I am very glad that she did:) Very lovely indeed…and good luck with the olive oil!
Katharine, I was at theFB event and we spoke briefly on the first day. You warmth was noticed then . and your writing style has just now blown me away. Words have such magic power. I am in awe. Fabulous photo. I hope that the olive oil gods travel with you and indeed do look after you. I cannot wait for the next post to read your fabulous words.
Dear Valentina, thank you for your incredibly generous compliments. You truly made my day.
Great post – it is always odd to go back to childhood places because, even though you take the future with you the tug of all that familiarity revisited is so strong. You can get lost in time…
Have a great trip.
I was at FBC, but only on Sunday. I heard your accent and figured you were Canadian, but never got a chance to catch you. I, too, am a displaced Vancouverite. I live in Oxford. I look forward to following your blog and reading about your life in Spain, lashings of olive oil, and lots and lots of chorizo. Enjoy your month in Vancouver.
that bread looks divine. i may need to have my lunch be made up entirely of olive oil + bread
xo Alison
I’m absolutely amazed by your blog – so gorgeous! It was lovely to meet you at Food Blogger Connect last weekend! Hugs from Finland!
Thank you Tiina for dropping by!
Safe journey Katharine – I am sure you will have a wonderful trip. Hasta luego …
Oh, shall we saunter through a farmer’s market again and buy some salmon to poach while you’re here? Hopefully the sun will ripen the berries while you’re here….they’re late this year on account of all the rain.
I just discovered your very beautiful and totally inspiring blog! I am a woman who went to live in Madrid last June for a year and has now returned to publishing in London. However not for long! I am quitting my job and making the big move back at the end of September. I teach English but hope to do publishing work too. I could relate to so many of your posts! The olive oil thing for example … here it is used so sparingly!
Thank you for dropping by Debbie. I love stories of re-invention, and it seems that you are quite bold and searching out the best in life. Wonderful, I love it.
The West Coast eagerly awaits for it’s travelling food-blogger darling!
Thanks Mom!
Lovely. I think the Pacific coast is definitely romantic fodder at its best, enjoy it in all its olive oil-deficient glory. Bon voyage!
Thank you Emma, I will do my best to bring the west coast fare to you all through my lens.
Have no fear! Though you will likely pay a bit more for it, I can highly recommend the products from Eurogrocer, a website (and no, I don’t get paid to endorse anything so you can trust me!
). Here’s the link that takes you directly to their Spanish olive oil page. Let me know what you think as I’m no expert on Spanish olive oils but do know that my mom and I loved them dearly when we were in the Canary islands and would love to stock some in our homes! How lucky that I saw this post and can now get some advice from an expert?! Thanks!
http://www.eurogrocer.com/Spanish-Olive-Oil.html
Wow, thank you Stacey and Tash. This is excellent information, I will be sure to pass it along.
Have a wonderful wonderful time.
Oh, you are too funny, but I do understand. But when we need to bake we must force ourselves to put up with what we can scrounge together. Good luck! And have a safe and fun trip!
Thank you Jamie, I look forward to bringing you all along for my feasts on the west coast of Canada.