A Murrumbateman Morning: The Art of Slow Living in Rural NSW

Confession #523: In the early hours, when the dew’s still fresh on the grass and the world feels like it’s all yours, there’s a kind of magic in the air. The kind that whispers, “Take your time. Breathe. This moment is just for you.”

Mornings in Murrumbateman are gentle. They unfold slowly, like warm honey drizzling from a spoon—no rush, no urgency, just the soft rhythm of the countryside easing into the day. The birds are the first to start, gossiping in the trees about who-knows-what (probably the magpies stealing someone’s breakfast again). A breeze lifts the scent of damp earth and eucalyptus through my open window, and for a little while, the whole world feels untouched.

This is my favourite time—before the emails, before the to-do lists, before I inevitably step on a stray piece of clay in my studio and wonder how it got there.

I wrap my hands around a handmade mug—one of my own, of course, because what kind of potter would I be if I didn’t have an unnecessary amount of my own work cluttering my kitchen shelves? The warmth seeps into my fingers, a quiet little reminder that simple things—tea, stillness, a moment to just be—are the heartbeats of a good day.

The Beauty of Slow

In a world that’s obsessed with doing everything faster (faster internet, faster deliveries, faster ways to fold a fitted sheet—though let’s be honest, that last one is a myth), I’ve found solace in the opposite. Pottery is the ultimate slow craft. There are no shortcuts. No “hack your way to a perfect mug in five minutes” tutorials. Clay demands patience. It asks you to be present, to work with your hands, to embrace imperfection. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why so many of us are drawn to it.

For those of us navigating the beautiful, bewildering phase of Matrescence—motherhood’s version of a software update that no one really explains properly—there’s something deeply healing about creating with our hands. It’s grounding. Meditative. A rebellion against the relentless pace of everyday life.

Finding Your Own Slow

Maybe you’ve been feeling it too—that tug towards something quieter, something more you. You’ve done the career thing, and you love your work, but somewhere between conference calls and daycare drop-offs, you realise that you’ve been pouring from an empty cup. And not even a beautifully handcrafted one.

So here’s my invitation to you: make space for slow. Whether it’s a quiet morning with a favourite mug, an afternoon shaping clay, or simply choosing something handmade over something mass-produced, these small moments of intention add up. They shift something in us.

And if you ever find yourself in Murrumbateman on a crisp morning, listening to the birds, sipping tea from a cup made with care—just know you’re part of something ancient and beautiful. A rhythm that’s been here long before us and will be here long after.

A Life Shaped by Hands and Heart

In the end, slow living isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about doing less but with more meaning. More presence. More heart. It’s about choosing moments over multitasking, process over perfection, and handmade over hurried.

So whether it’s a quiet sip from a favourite mug, the feel of clay softening in your hands, or the simple act of watching the sunrise before the world wakes up—let it be enough. Let it fill you up.

And if you ever need a reminder, there’s always a seat at the workbench, a lump of clay waiting, and a little slice of Murrumbateman morning magic ready to be shaped.

That’s why I started Fire Up Fridays. It’s not just about making pottery; it’s about carving out space for yourself. A couple of hours where you can press pause, sink your hands into clay, and remember what it feels like to create something just for the joy of it. There’s no pressure, no perfection, just the simple pleasure of making.

And if your partner is also in that “too-tired-to-do-anything-but-watch-Netflix-and-fall-asleep” phase, maybe the Adults Only session could be a little mid-afternoon date that doesn’t involve scrolling on your phones in separate rooms. A chance to connect, create, and actually finish a conversation before someone small and adorable interrupts.

Ready to slow down and create? Join me for Fire Up Fridays here.

Until next time,
Your friendly homebody potter from Murrumbateman.