When life gets a little overwhelming, I go into the garden.
If it’s a sunny day, I’ll lie on the pond bridge…
…and listen to the water running over the rocks…
…and take pictures of the water plants…
…and the blue sky through our jacaranda tree…
…and then I’ll watch our lovely fat hens tucking into their favourite weeds. Their contented clucking can be very soothing!
PS. If you listen carefully around the 0.08 second mark you’ll hear the chok-chok call of our resident Red Wattlebird. And watch the shadows at the 0.22 second mark, and you’ll see Queenie jump on Maggie’s back to show her who’s boss – Maggie picks herself up and fluffs her feathers afterwards!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Adorable!
Thanks Sally! :)
Oh, what beautiful pictures! My favorite way to destress is out in nature also. I like to curl up on a blanket with my golden retriever by my side and look up into the sky at the cloud formations and watch all the different kinds of birds fly by overhead.
Your chicks are so fun to watch!!! Thank you for the video!
Melanie, until I met Bob the dog, I never quite understood how therapeutic they can be. Bob’s a jet black curly retriever, and the sweetest soul ever!
And I open my window from the 27th floor in my busy neighborhood in Manhattan and listen to the sirens, the taxi’s blaring their horns, etc….LOL
Norma, that would satisfy the other part of me that doesn’t like to be bored! :)
Lovely relaxing post – thanks for sharing! Watched the chooks about three times now, heard the chok chok but kept missing the Queenie dominance ritual. Finally clocked them.
Do you lie in a yoga like arch on that pretty bridge or just hang over the side and trail your fingers in the water? Is it tall enough to play Pooh Sticks?
xx Joanna
Thanks love, yes I do lie in a yoga arch and squint at the sun. It’s not quite enough flow to play Pooh sticks, but sometimes I lie on my stomach and stare through the slats to watch the fish – I really love that. I tried to take a photo, but even the Lumix wasn’t up to that. :)
Ahh, like Joanna said, a very relaxing post. I think I’ve imagined trailing my fingers through your little pond before.
I squish The Monkeys with hugs and tickles when I de-stress. A childs giggle can right so much.
Even when they’re big, Brydie! My boys’ laughter can be very therapeutic!
A good way to destress is to be re inspired. Go to a Botanic Garden and get new ideas, talk to the Gardeners for advice if you come across them, they love it.
Great idea Roz! :)
I also like to be in the garden or surrounded by nature … I’m rather outside than inside! What a nice big tree!
Manuela, I’ll have to take some photos to show you when it flowers – it’s the most gorgeous light purpley-blue colour!
Watching chooks is a wonderful destresser. Simple things make them so happy!
Linda, the garden has brought us so much joy – all the bits – the beds, the chooks, the pond. Thank you. :)
Very nice Celia. Given that your kung fu days are over, this makes perfect sense.
Indeed, we’re getting very old, Dave. :)
Hi Celia
When I’m stressed I go for a walk through the paddocks and talk to the cows and chooks and watch the wild birds – and sometimes, if I lucky, watch a pair of sea eagles (pretty common) or wedge tail eagles (less common) fly on wind. As they fly, the smaller birds (from magpie size and down) soar above them and bomb them to stop them having a meal! I’m sure they eat elsewhere.
Meg, that just sounds so amazing to be able to watch birds of prey in the sky! Magpies, they’re a formidable bird too, aren’t they? Did your children have to walk to school with icecream containers on their heads? Pete remembers having to do that as a kid.. :)
A wander through my garden, followed by a cup of tea does it for me most times. Or a glass of white wine!
Amanda, a glass of wine sounds like the perfect follow-up to a snooze in the sun! :)
Hey Celia
Strangely enough my animals stress me and calm me – but not at the same time! How old are your Isa’s now? Are they still laying OK? I’ve found they have a two year full on run, then tend to slow down from there very quickly. I’m looking into breeding the Light Sussex – monster size chook and reasonably good consistent layers. I just have to get over the hurdle of keeping a rooster. I love roosters, just not at 4am in the morning! Hope you’re having a relatively stress free day.
Meaghan, we’ve never had a rooster – not allowed in suburbia (probably with good reason!). I’m guessing that our girls are now about 16 – 17 months old and they’re still going strong, long may they continue!
Today has been quite stress free, thank you! :)
Pond bridge would be my pick too..love to bask in the sun when life’s getting too much.
Soothing clucks of hens are a bonus.
Hope you’re having a fine Tuesday, Celia :)
Thank you, Chris dear, I certainly am, hope you are too!
Lying on my pond bridge, or sitting by your “lake” – there’s something about the water that’s very soothing.. :)
How lovely Celia, I remember you telling me about that and with the sun shining brightly this morning it sounds like a fine place to be. Enjoy those beautiful sounds.
Keri :-)
Thanks Keri! And my tulips are still going strong, so thank you for those too! :)
What a beautiful “de-stress” garden you have Celia – very special.
:-) Mandy
Mandy, thank you, it’s not really very big, or tidy, but it’s a nice space to be in! :)
Feel ultra-relaxed after watching that video – they look like ladies in the market chatting to each other now and again.
I destress by going for a walk with my 2 dogs or giving them a big cuddle.
Sally, they really are like a group of gossiping old women, aren’t they? I wonder if that’s where the expression “hen party” came from.. :)
What a lovely place to be. I love watching the chookies and their fluffy petticoats.
If I’m at work, and can’t get away, I usually sing along to the radio that’s always blasting away in the kitchen. That way I focus on something else, I can release some pent up energy, and no-one realises I’m upset! I usually change the lyrics though to suit the situations so I have to be careful. The other day I was singing “It wouldn’t have happened if you’d listened to me…” and wouldn’t have liked anyone to overhear me!(even if it was true!)
LOL, Becca, I can just imagine you getting caught out one day! :)
Watching chooks is always calming. They are such amusing critters. I love watching pigeons, especially when the males are performing for the females. I find it hilarious. There is a staute in the heart of Helsinki that always has a pigeon or a seagullon its head. One moves off and another immediately takes its place. Sometimes they fight over a spot on his head. I could watch for hours.
Deb, I’ve never watched pigeons! I’ll look out for them next time…
What a wonderful spot to relax.
Thanks Claire! On a sunny day, I can sit on the bridge and feel my heart rate slow down. It’s really quite blissful. :)
Lovely- thanks for sharing your moments!
I de-stress by making bread. Kneading the bread always helps soothe my muscles and mind. And punching the dough is very therapeutic as well.
Bread is so very good and useful! :)
I find that actually making something with my hands is very rewarding as well, Heidi! It’s lovely to be able to watch the dough rise, then spring in the oven, then see my loved ones eat the bread with gusto! :)
I bet the arching of the bridge is great for stretching your back :) I relax and re-earth myself most days by meditating in the Adelaide botanical gardens.
Jason, that sounds like a wonderful way to spend a little time each day! :)
Your garden is indeed beautifully peaceful. I hope things are ok on the home front. Love to everyone!
Thanks darling.. x
What a beautiful way to de-stress Celia. Is there anything more peaceful & soothing than lazing out in the winter’s sun – it seems to sink right into the tired muscles – love that you can listen to the water trickling away while hearing the girls cluck away. Beautiful.
Lots of wonderful sounds in our garden, Anna, the water, and the birds, and the chooks, all rounded off by our deep D major wind chimes.. :)
We finally have gardens up at the same time. Mine are just now pushing out of the soil–and yours are in full swing!
Ours are finishing up for winter, Mark, so I’m looking forward to photos of green from your side of the planet now! :)
Thank you for the video of the chickens, up until recently I had 13 chickens, three ducks and Melina the German Snow Goose… I spent many hours in the chicken yard either reading or napping on a bench… You would think the goose would have been queen of the yard, but no, it was Giusy the duck, a fowl tempered (pardon the pun) old gal who bossed all the other birds around without mercy… Though, Giusy did have a soft spot for the goose who when one day old I put into Giusy’s nest who then thought the gosling her own, it made no difference her “daughter” grew into a heavy giant who could hold her own against any dog no matter how big.
Gian, what an interesting mixed flock you had! A snow goose would have been amazing! Did she eventually fly off to breed?
Whan I go for a Chinese body allignment they often use a kind of bridge shaped back rest which stretches the spine, so your bridge is probably doing you lots of good! Its hard not to stress out over things happening in Japan with food pollution. Hawaii is adding Boron to their milk!!! I first came to your blog looking at making Pectin and I am still trying to source information on the exact process of hydrolysing pectin at home to make the molecules small enough to reach the blood stream where apparently they hoover up heavy metals and radioactive particles. Currently I am consuming a commercial product, not waiting for goverment initiatives on antiradiation. I’d like to do this cheaper of course. There are three things from Grandma’s cupboard which are good at fighting radiation. Lugol’s, Laundry Blue (Prussian Blue) and Pectin (hydrolysed) Thought you might be interested in this free book I found. http://chestofbooks.com/food/science/Experimental-Cookery/index.htmll