skeleton woman

2012-01-04T15:09:00.000+11:00

My blog has moved! You will now find me at la vida rustica

Happy New Year to you all xxx

2011-12-07T18:46:00.008+11:00

Not sure what was going on here? Fire drill??? The photo looks like it's been put together but it's just a straight shot. I really like it.

We had a date in the city, rode our bikes to the station talked on the train, ate laksa, drank iced coffee, read the paper, bought a Swedish goat skin hat/ tea cosy (for, you know, those snowy days...), looked at street art...I like hanging out with my husband. Just as well huh. we've just been to his father's funeral in Adelaide. A big, beautiful family affair with a wake in which we sang Irish songs around the coffin at the family home, everyone told stories, cried, laughed. So special. A perfect send- off for a much loved and respected man.

Random photos from the Hipstamatic. It's just so great. You can take a photo of your big toe and it will look so great (I'll do that tomorrow..)

Fan-bloomin-tastic to be on holiday, though I simply must attempt to find some gainful casual employment. Later....

Listening to - Laura Marling, the Felice Brothers.

November

2011-11-21T22:03:00.007+11:00

Hipstamatic Lerv

Big Honey at desk looking rather 'Days of Yore' , apart from the computer, and the PJs....

Almost at the semester finish line. Last written exam today (History of Electronic Music - fabulous subject) - some of my answers were for example: "That french guy" and ''the other American one" but all in all a good effort I think. My recital is next Tuesday. Slightly freaked but prepared and fronting up nonetheless. I'm looking forward to being more mother, less student for a change.

The apricots are coming, the tomatoes are climbing the spectacular frames Big Honey constructed, inspired by our Greek neighbour who gave us the seedlings (last year he looked at our nursery purchased tomato plants and said "these are shit, pull them out, I give you mine, they are good". Can't argue with that wisdom. And he was right. Never eaten a tomato like it....except in Greece.....

Big Honey is in Adelaide with his family - his father is passing away and they are all by his side. Big connected, lovely family, there at the drop of a hat, sleeping by his side in turn. Pretty special. The kids and I are there next week.

May whatever you are wrapping up for the year be wrapping smoothly. May your fruits be fruiting and your loved ones be close. x

holiday

2011-10-10T17:12:00.010+11:00

we had a holiday. a real one. the kind where you sleep a lot, wander the beach, stay up late singing old songs, eat ridiculous amounts of excellent food, go fishing, read books, dip a toe into country life even for a few days...glorious.

we stayed with our friends in their (most glamorous) shed (I've ever seen anyway!) and rekindled our love of morning coffee.

when we came home my gorgeous man turned 48 and there was much baking and feasting with friends.

I seem to make the same cake every time there is a birthday - it is always good. here is the recipe - you will love it..

flourless orange cake

2 oranges boiled whole for 1 to 2 hours (until soft enough to mash with a blender/processor/bar mix..)
a cup of sugar
6 eggs
250g almond meal

glaze

a cup of orange juice
orange rind
1/3 cup sugar
40ml grand marnier or cointreau

method

preheat oven to 190 celcius
mash oranges
add sugar, eggs and almond meal
mix well
poor into spring form pan lined with baking paper
bake for 50 mins
to make glaze put all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
remove cake from tin when baked and put on large plate
pour over the glaze while the cake is still hot.
serve with loads of cream

the sun is out and the bees are swarming
seedlings are sprouting and our garden feels like eden.
tomorrow I am back at uni to masquerade once more as a student!
the year is speeding past and the children are growing like weeds....beautiful weeds.

2011-05-28T20:14:00.011+10:00

One more week of classes, then exams and recitals and more time to write here xxx

Listening to the Felice Brothers, Patti Smith, 9th chords, a naughty rooster every morning at 5am, frequency ranges, Martin's tin whistle and spoon solos,the kids' new songs, Balinese Gamelan, my very talented class mates and teachers.

Autumn

2011-04-22T16:19:00.005+10:00

Oh that's right I have a blog! Full time student - whole new ball game. It's really challenging and really fun and I'm learning so much and trying not to spread myself to thinly. I love my class mates and the teachers are amazing and I'm listening to so much fantastic music. Hard to believe a semester is almost over (in 5 weeks). The kids are really happy at school, Martin's business is rolling along (there's a great article about Martin and beekeeping in the latest GREEN magazine - issue #18)nicely and he has managed to keep our garden moving with the seasons, all the sunflowers, cosmos, tomatoes, summer veges are gone and more potatoes, broad beans, beetroot and carrots are poking up through the soil. We've planted seeds and saved many from the summer crop.
Look what came out of our garden this summer! Our land lord gave us the olives from the tree on their side - he has a simple recipe for pickling that involves no changing of water. Delicious. We have had apples galore and pears, and last weekend Martin and the kids picked the figs with some friends and I made fig and ginger jam. A couple of the chickens appear to be laying - our early morning Productivity Meetings might finally be having some effect. Most of the bees have moved on to new homes with the beautiful hives Martin has been building for clients.

I've been riding my bike to Uni in this glorious autumn weather. I do feel very fortunate to be studying something I love. I've had a few meltdowns but I anticipated some anxiety about performing again after all these years. No surprise. I'm the oldest person in my year - the youngest are old enough to be my kids! I'm trying to just be where I'm at without placing too high expectations on myself - trying not to sell myself short either. I'll let you know how that goes!!!

Right now the house is quiet - the kids have gone for another week and we are in the initial phase where we wander slightly aimless and empty for a day until we get used to their absence. I like that the house is getting a bit chilly and the heater goes on some evenings and when it's a little over cast like today I can justify staying inside and eating sweet things and drinking tea....We have almost been here a whole year!

Hope you are all happy and the season (whatever it is on your side of the world) is treating you well.

Listening to Esperanza Spalding, Tom Waits, the Beatles, the Beach Boys....

2011-01-28T17:43:00.005+11:00

We had 6 adults and 4 kids at home over the weekend - it was wonderful - music, food and laughter - most of it happening in our back garden. Then we went to Somers for three days to stay at a friend's beach house. The kids are in heaven with sand, water and rocks. It all reminded me of my own childhood; being out in the surf until the salt stung my eyes and my body ached from catching waves; going to bed with sand mysteriously in every nook and cranny even after a long shower; people in our house all summer, kids all bunked down on mattresses in one room, parents drinking wine, playing John Denver and sleeping in while we rattled around happily in the morning as long as someone put some food out for us! I remember the blissful awareness that I was still up way past my usual bed time. Summer seemed endless and we were sun kissed, bright eyed and a bit feral.

I enrolled in music school yesterday and met some of my class mates - 17 years olds with strong musical opinion/identity and so happy to share stories. One girl (who plays bass) Said "I know it sounds dumb but I just discovered Stevie Wonder and I've been listening to him non-stop for the last month!" Excellent. I am in good company.

I will leave the land of organic fruit and veg behind - it has been kind to me for the last 7 years. I'm on the hunt for a piano. Maybe electric even. And I dream of learning the fiddle and stepping up at an Irish session and letting it rip, or glide according to the mood.....

harvest

2011-01-18T13:05:00.018+11:00

A bit infatuated with our garden as you can tell from the amount of photos. We utter daily words of gratitude for this place and pray to the gods that we will not be required to leave at least until the children have finished high school! There is already now so much food in our garden - apricots, apples, nectarines, peaches, plums, pears, chestnuts, berries, grapes, figs, olives - not all producing fruit just yet..eggs and honey, tomatoes, lettuce, silver beet, basil, parsley, oregano, chives, thyme, rosemary, kale, potatoes, cucumber, pumpkin, Italian beans, string beans, sunflower seeds..and the plan is to plant more variety - we have a big long fence line on which to espalier and more lawn space to dedicate to vege garden. We plan to save our seeds and some of the flowers have already sprouted again. The californian poppies, cosmos, nasturtiums, calendular, salvia, and sunflowers have provided delicate colour - purples, orange, yellow and so many shades of green, not just for our own visual feast but for our beloved bees who haven't had to go far to forage.

Golden delicious hanging over the neighbour's fence.

Martin's splendid shed. Inside he has propped up the work bench with two stacked Langstrop hives, empty, with no intent to use and then one evening he brought a swarm home that he'd removed from someone's garden. Left them in a bucket over night with the aim to set them free in the bush the next day but they had already moved on in to the shed. So now they fly in and out, we go in and out, everyone respectful of each other...One afternoon I went to fetch a spade from the shed and the door was shut. The bees were hovering in a great cloud, waiting to be let in....

Going to keep all the seeds from these big mamas. Anyone harvested them for eating purposes? How did that go?

Our four new hens appear to be in fact quite old and/or completely traumatised from extended time in cages. So freaked out they were it has taken them a week to venture out of their chateau, into their yard and only today have they worked out that scratching at the ground leads to leisurely snacking. Once they start bathing in the dirt all will be well. They have no idea that they have landed in paradise.

Chestnuts!

There will be saucing, and perhaps even some sun-drying and most definitely tomato, red onion feta and basil salad.

The spuds are gooood. 14 kg of creamy, sweet nicola, born of 8 sprouted ladies I brought home from work in springtime.

rouge de marmande

2011-01-12T16:04:00.004+11:00

Ode To Tomatoes by Pablo Neruda
The street
filled with tomatoes,
midday,
summer,
light is
halved
like
a
tomato,
its juice
runs
through the streets.
In December,
unabated,
the tomato
invades
the kitchen,
it enters at lunchtime,
takes
its ease
on countertops,
among glasses,
butter dishes,
blue saltcellars.
It sheds
its own light,
benign majesty.
Unfortunately, we must
murder it:
the knife
sinks
into living flesh,
red
viscera
a cool
sun,
profound,
inexhaustible,
populates the salads
of Chile,
happily, it is wed
to the clear onion,
and to celebrate the union
we
pour
oil,
essential
child of the olive,
onto its halved hemispheres,
pepper
adds
its fragrance,
salt, its magnetism;
it is the wedding
of the day,
parsley
hoists
its flag,
potatoes
bubble vigorously,
the aroma
of the roast
knocks
at the door,
it's time!
come on!
and, on
the table, at the midpoint
of summer,
the tomato,
star of earth, recurrent
and fertile
star,
displays
its convolutions,
its canals,
its remarkable amplitude
and abundance,
no pit,
no husk,
no leaves or thorns,
the tomato offers
its gift
of fiery color
and cool completeness.

Four new ladies arrived yesterday, courtesy of our landlord. Handsome five star Rustica accommodation awaiting them.

holiday

2011-01-10T11:20:00.010+11:00

We were planning to go camping this week, but our plans fell through so we find ourselves camping in our own back yard, which has turned out to be lovely, relaxing and full of visitors. The sunflowers and tomatoes are out, the pool is up, the tent is providing shade and the phone is off the hook as it were.

I'm sitting here reading the course outline for my Bachelor of Music, feeling quite excited at the prospect of immersing myself in it all again. I think it will be a busy year for us all, in a good way. Martin launching his Sustainable beekeeping business, Beau starting Prep....it feels as though the last year was about finding our feet and now we can start walking. Or skipping as the mood takes us..

My friend passed on these gorgeous photos by a Finnish Mama who created these while her baby daughter slept. What a clever lady!!

Mila's Daydreams

Illustration Friday

Listening to The Black Cab Sessions.

2011-01-02T10:37:00.007+11:00

In all her power and splendor, Bridget birthed her 4th beautiful boy Cruz, on Wednesday morning at home in the early morning, in the warm waters of the birth pool. It was very quiet, relaxed and reverent. What a wonderful thing to behold.

A gift for the wee one.

We spent New Years Eve with dear friends on the Peninsula. Paella, home made chorizo and top shelf bubbly. The latter causing some serious morning woah to its imbibers...

And just a picture of the garden because it's even more magnificent today......

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas

2010-12-27T12:38:00.010+11:00

2010-12-19T12:40:00.004+11:00

Home made apricot jam on sourdough toast for breakfast. VERY nice. We only used half the recommended amount of sugar so the flavour whilst still sweet, is heavy on fruit and slightly tart. There's more on the stove today. 10 kg in all. From 1 small tree. How happy we are to be peasants in Little Calabria.

I got through my audition! I sang like a strangled bird (I thought) due to nerves but obviously it wasn't that bad! Going back to school. Music school. Quietly excited I am. It scares the shit out of me but I can't imagine doing anything else. Except run a goat farm. Which isn't going to happen right now but might someday be funded by a late but brilliant musical career. Spoken like a true Sagittarius.

Martin finished his business course, and has a blog now too; The Urban Hive.

We went to see The King's Speech last night. Great film - wonderfully restrained acting with appropriately restrained humour. Then we bought a bottle of wine and came home and got tipsy and listened to the best of Bowie. After we gushed over how unbelievably cool a song Sorrow is, we laughed about what our children might think of it some day. Will they think Bowie completely naff?....Surely not....it's BOWIE man!!! The fact that Bantam Boy digs Dylan, gives me great hope Dette.

Time to stir the jam, plant a baby Jesus in the Nativity manger and think about Christmas Stockings...

WITH YOUR LONG BLONDE HAIR.... I COULDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT.......

trees and jam

2010-12-12T21:10:00.011+11:00

Our apricots got a bit water logged so we picked them this morning - around 8 kilos. They actually taste great despite not having the chance to ripen on the tree.

Martin improvised scales - rustica genius.

Fruit now on the stove becoming jam.

December

2010-12-04T23:16:00.013+11:00

I turned this much. There was champagne, ginger beer and strawberries, words of love and appreciation, and verily the cake was good.

The Christmas Fairy made herself known. She shall be known as Trixie. And she shall NOT forget to visit.

Our garden is going berserk thanks be to the tropical weather and the tender loving care largely bestowed upon it by He Who Mows Without Complaint.

The Good Stuff from aforementioned garden. You cannot imagine the flavour of the warm honey until you too get down on hands and knees and lick it off the concrete.

Our dear friends are getting married - and we have been sewing bunting.

My little guy will finish kinder and move onward to school...he cruised through orientation along with the other 18 siblings in his prep class, like nothing could be more normal. May it be that way when he realises he'll be there 5 days a week....May I be so relaxed about it too for that matter.

And I have an audition next week - for music school. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH. I'm quietly freaking out. Last time I auditioned for anything I was young free and single. I had nothing to do but prepare, focus, dream and feel that I could just folk rock the house down. I'm counting on Life Experience, Annie Lennox and a bit of a 'trumpet solo' to get me through. And I'm hoping that the shiner I am currently sporting from having collided with the back of my child's head on the weekend, will be gone by Thursday.

November

2010-11-11T17:44:00.011+11:00

October

2010-10-28T20:10:00.011+11:00

Elias's (neighbour) tomato gifts - 'These are good. Yours - no good. Get rid of them. Plant these!" We have landed in old Europe here. It's fantastic - the neighbours grow things too, they keep animals, they make wine, they wander up and down the street visiting and sharing stories and cuttings and produce, our lovely Calabrian landlord has 20 sheep out of town. Martin has requested to join him at shearing time. These things make us very, very happy.

Our chickies got et by a fox. It was a little devastating for the wee ones to find them decapitated come egg collection time. A maximum security chook house is now under construction.

Martino and I drove to Adelaide sans enfants. We pitched tent in Dimboola along the way. We did not argue during pitching of tent. Apparently it is customary for couples to encounter some degree of conflict during such an activity. I regard this as porTENTous of camping bliss for years to come. In freshly and amicably erected tent we drank a shot of brandy and listened to the rain, and passed out. What can I say. We like to party.

In Adelaide we visited family and friends. I received official approval from the Inner Circle. To be sure now it couldn't be otherwise given that we all have ancestors from County Antrim.
We went for a walk at Morialta. Glorious.

Listened to Clancy Brothers and Dubliners on the road.

2010-09-08T16:48:00.010+10:00

Martin's beautiful hand crafted top bar bee hives.

A visit to the old ranch.

Seed sowing for the vege patch.

(Almost)Blue sky and blossoms at last.

Listening to: Bawdy Irish songs

things about the house

2010-07-30T18:17:00.009+10:00

An afternoon to ponder, potter, peruse and paint a wee bit. Contemplating what I might do next year while Beau is at school - my own business and/or some study. right now I work two days a week at the store and I love it. We have a lovely warm, light work room here. I like being in it, having all the necessary 'tools' at hand.
Martin has been working on the garden of some friends, a lovely job for lovely people, building an enclosure for chickens and espaliering fruit trees...
Our life is busy in the way that a family is naturally busy, but simple and in a good rhythm more and more. We are a resourceful pair and our aesthetic and work ethic reflects all these things.

Listening to The Highland Sessions on Youtube

2010-07-27T15:57:00.011+10:00

This is what the sky gave us last week. According to my friend in Byron Bay, this kind of cloud 'conceals motherships observing life on earth'....

Misa's belly being blessed/anointed/gazed upon and filled with treats..

Mostly it's all about the garden,planting fruit trees - apple, apricot and plum and herbs and relishing the sunshine.
On Sunday night at 11.30pm I witnessed the beautiful birth of our friends' (Misa and Maurice) daughter Evalina, at their home outside the city. Such a precious thing to be present to, so powerful and fragile and miraculously ordinary...

Listening to Led Zeppelin "Going to California" live from 1977, on youtube

digging in

2010-07-13T11:15:00.007+10:00

We've been here for two weeks and already we have made our mark on the plot. Like good peasants we are making sure the animals are happy and productive and that there will be ample food in the ground. This bed is for perennials, herbs, flowers and a fruit tree on either end - apricot and apple. Down in the chook run there are chestnut, pear and olive trees and a fig hanging over from the neighbour's side. We will put in a big vege patch in front of the chooks and grow along the fence line too. There's lots of space. Martin co established the bio dynamic farm and tended the animals at Ceres some years ago so our garden is in very good hands.

We are finding our rhythm together as a blended family. It's challenging but worth it to have our relationships develop and to feel the strength of commitment and the pleasure to be had for us all. Life seems to be a constant practice in letting go - in even just understanding what needs to be let go of!

Contemplating the need for some more work and possibly some study next year. Can't garden and paint the days away just yet.....

nesting, rustica and a whole lotta joy

2010-07-04T16:32:00.007+10:00

The merger of two families is now complete.

The splendid Nonna kitchen is fully productive...

The animals are settling in..

Senor Martino is transforming the plot with his ingenuity...

The garden is humming. All is well.

what the sky gave us

2010-06-24T18:57:00.003+10:00

A whole lot of beauty on the way up the Black Spur to Alexandra to fetch the folks. It's purdy out there....

Listening to mountain music - Songcatcher 2 - Appalachian style.

treasure

2010-06-11T13:42:00.008+10:00

Rain on the windscreen whilst awaiting my parents at the airport.

My favourite people converging one by one over endless tea, fruit cake and shortbread.

Beau adoring his Grandpa like he's always been here.

Finally reading the jewel that is The English Patient.

And Hafiz -

The earth has disappeared beneath my feet,
Illusion fled from all my ecstasy.

...Now like a radiant sky creature
God keeps opening.
God keeps opening
Inside of Me.

I know everyone's doing it but....

2010-06-08T20:59:00.004+10:00

How could you not love it. Hipstamatic. Everything just looks FUNKY.....

A Date

2010-06-05T13:08:00.009+10:00

We went to see 3Penny Opera last night, debauched fun it was and my sister-in-law was wonderful as usual. There were many images that caught my attention as we walked the cold streets of Melbourne. I have a thing for shadows, which you don't see so often at night unless the moon is full or the streets lights provide some kind of show. It is a great city old Melbourne town. I do appreciate it. When I came home from Western Australia just recently it was the first time I didn't feel the pang to return to live. I came back to Melbourne happy in the knowledge that this is where I'm going to stay.This is home for now. We are about to dig in as much as we can. Martin has let go of one of his jobs and will have time to make his beautiful bee hives. We have been dreaming up the bones of our little urban farm and the potential to be found in the changes about to come. I will share another Hafiz poem on that note. I love it. It's the ultimate date as far as I'm concerned...

I Want Both of Us

To start talking about this great love

As if you, I and the Sun were all married
And living in a tiny room,
Helping each other to cook,
Do the wash,
Weave and sew
Care for our beautiful
Animals.

We all leave each morning
To labor on the earth’s field.
No one does not lift a great pack.

I want both of us to start singing like two
Traveling minstrels
About this extraordinary existence
We share,

As if
You, I, and God were all married

And living in
A tiny
Room.

Listening to Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited

finished

2010-05-29T09:09:00.003+10:00

2010-05-28T21:52:00.007+10:00

A bit of Beau's bliss..

and a bit of mine...

li'l bit country

2010-05-27T15:35:00.008+10:00

Hooray we have a great house! It's a big old Californian bungalow with a huge back garden with studio space for the Lady of the House; a shed for Himself and space galore for the Wee Ones, the chickens, bees, 4 leggeds and veges. There is a big, sunny Nona's kitchen and a daggy 70's bathroom. Tis the urban farmers' dream. Very happy.

Painting another two Matryoshkas. A lovely thing to do. I will post more photos when finished. Thinking of an Etsy shop too....

Listening to Rickie Lee Jones.
Eating dark orange chocolate.

2010-05-18T21:09:00.005+10:00

Dad and Barb got hitched last Monday. My brother and I flew to the West and drove down south to the family ranch listening to music and talking about things we never seem to have time to talk about even though we live 4 km away from each other. So good it was. And so very joyful a wedding - our father and his bride - laughing and canoodling and sharing the love. Our little family is blossoming in ways I never imagined it would, over there and here at home. And what a beautiful thing that is.

The weeks go by

2010-05-02T21:31:00.009+10:00

My computer has been ever so slow, hence, over the last month, I've managed to upload these few photos bit by bit....

One more move afoot - merging families, and looking forward to it greatly, to hunkering down for the winter - for a good long while we hope!

Been listening to Xylouris Ensemble, The National, The Swell Season

Matryoshkas

2010-02-12T19:13:00.008+11:00

Martin and I spent a blissful morning sitting at the window (with Tom waits growling gloriously from the tape deck)painting these Matryoshka dolls (yes I did say 'tape deck') - for Isabella's birthday. I bought the blank shells from Babushkas in the city - they come in sets of 5 or 7. It's such a lovely thing to do - make them personal - something to keep for a life time. We didn't prime them with white paint initially but I will next time for ease of drawing and for the sake of using less paint. The doll behind the blank shells in the first photograph, was a parting gift when last I left work. Note 'last' left work...I'm thrice employed at the same establishment- so gorgeous are the folk there, customers included, so stimulating the conversation, so excellent the tunes, so free flowing the wit and so wholesome the produce, that I see no reason to seek employment elsewhere. I digress - but I should say that the Matryoshka gift came with a tailored poem so fine that if found it shall be posted.

The Thangka painting and the Matryoshka painting have the same attraction for me - Matryoshka dolls have only been around for about 100 hundred years - the act of making something that has deep historical/cultural/spiritual meaning. Though I haven't a direct cultural connection with either of them I feel connected on other levels and the process is leading me closer to an expression of my own. Which is what most of us are experiencing to varying degrees of progress aren't we ? (insert inspired comment here...)It's only time these days, standing in the way of more paintings. The time will come and meanwhile the visions are plentiful and the precious hours spent painting are sweet.

2010-02-11T14:49:00.007+11:00

Sunday spent floating in tannin waters.

A peak at the next Tara...

and the birthday cape I made for Beau. Big hit. Under garments optional.

Listening to Martha Wainwright's Piaf album.

Bicycle Love

2010-01-27T17:34:00.007+11:00

Martin went out several times yesterday to stare lovingly at his new old bicycle - and rightly so, it is extremely attractive.

I now have extreme bicycle envy and have been roaming ebay for something in red...that will go with a frock....

The wee ones start kinder, school, swimming lessons next week. Very excited - it will be a good year - for us all most certainly. Lots of Changes, First Things, Creative Ideas, and Great Plans already.

Wrong Clothes Monster in action. He turns 5 this Saturday and has recently swapped dresses for capes and underpants.

Isabella and Beau bee watching.

My 'little' brother turned 40 on Monday and I'm about to pick up my first pair of reading glasses. Have officially reached the Other Side of Forty.

Listening to Gillian Welch, Neil Young.

2010-01-19T22:49:00.000+11:00

It happens all the time in heaven

It happens all the time in heaven,
And some day
It will begin to happen
Again on earth -
That men and women who are married,
And men and men who are
Lovers,
And women and women
Who give each other
Light,
Often will get down on their knees
And while so tenderly
Holding their lover's hand,
With tears in their eyes,
Will sincerely speak, saying,
"My dear,
How can I be more loving to you;
How can I be more
Kind?"
--Hafiz

2010-01-18T17:11:00.001+11:00

Go visit Sleep Talkin' Man
Please!

flashbacks

2010-01-04T22:41:00.008+11:00

These were posted by my dear cousin Jen on Facebook this week. Ta Lovely x

Scarborough Beach in the good ol' days. Mum obviously had a thing for dressing her kids in knitwear too, though I wager this one may not have been of organic hand-dyed wool....

My sweet papa and I..somewhere...one of the backyards we inhabited...love the hair Muz. Mine looked exactly like that about 2 years later!

May your 2010 be spectacular
May your memories be fond
May your knitwear be natural....

The Body a Tree

2009-12-31T18:01:00.001+11:00

The body a tree
God a wind

When he moves me like this,
Like this,
Angels bump heads with each other
Gathering beneath my cheeks,
Holding their wine
Barrels

Catching the brilliant tear,
Pearl

Rain.

Hafiz

2009-12-31T17:11:00.006+11:00

Happy New Year lovely people. I have hardly been at the computer these days hence the long space between posts. Finally, on the last day of the year I have finished the White Tara painting! In honour of this momentous event I bought more canvases in hope that in the new year I will do more paintings than I have in the last 5 years.

I won't talk about what I've done in the last few months. So much has happened. I hope to be back to some regular posting in the new year and I'm looking forward to hearing what you've all been up to. xxx

Listening to The Swell Season, Rodrigo y Gabriella.

2009-11-21T21:45:00.000+11:00

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he's
in there.

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody's asleep.
I say, I know that you're there,
so don't be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he's singing a little
in there, I haven't quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it's nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don't
weep, do
you?

spring in the city..

2009-11-06T19:51:00.006+11:00

Our house...

martin's garden...

Listening to Beats Antique, Anouar Brahem, Elvis Costello

last days in the bush

2009-10-30T15:03:00.009+11:00

and back again...

2009-10-09T18:15:00.005+11:00

In two weeks Beau and I move back to the city, a gorgeous big house to be shared by friends, close to everything including the creek. We will miss, the neighbours, the trees, the sunsets and the owls talking to each other all night long from opposite sides of the gully. But I won't be sad because this move is necessary and timely and because my city friend and I have become lovers. This beautiful man knows about bees and oils and plants and music from far away places. Things that can soften the edges of the city. We have been laughing,singing, playing with our children, remembering, talking about God,loving and marveling. Happy.

Our new house mates are lovely. A and her son J. A house full of light. A huge garden begging for chickens and a deck on which to drink wine as the nights become warmer. I can't say 'this is it'.My mind would sometimes like to know when we can finally 'dig in' but my heart is satisfied with this step. I've let go of a good deal so this move is lighter on many levels. Beau will be closer to his Dad. There will be an ease to the week's rhythm. We can get back on our bikes. Suddenly he can do so much - skate board,swim, ride his big bike.... His body is growing and he is discovering physical confidence. The size of his smile is equal in proportion to the wave of joy I feel when I watch him cross another threshold.

I am belly dancing, playing my guitar often, and thinking about seedlings and what I will bake in the new kitchen and how I will earn money in the city. I would like to run another choir and teach singing.

How is your spring starting out?

Listening to new Hope Sandoval -Through The Devil Softly, Bill Withers, Hamsa El Din and Feist.

beautiful photos

2009-09-18T16:55:00.002+10:00

Elizabeth Perotin.

2009-09-14T22:17:00.000+10:00

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

one more....

2009-09-05T21:17:00.006+10:00

..in honour of tonight's full moon.

What Should We Do about that Moon ?

A wine bottle fell from a wagon
And broke open in a field.

That night hundred beetles and all their cousins
Gathered

And did some serious binge drinking.

They even found some seed husks nearby
And began to play them like drums and whirl.
This made God very happy.

Then the 'night candle' rose into the sky
And one drunk creature, laying down his instrument
Said to his friend - for no apparent
Reason,

"What should we do about that moon?"

Seems to Hafiz
Most everyone has laid aside the music

Tackling such profoundly useless
Questions.

...and just because he's damn cute..

Listening to Bassnectar, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Gadgo Dilo

2009-09-03T22:34:00.001+10:00

And just because we can NEVER have too much Hafiz....

I know the Way You Can Get

I know the way you can get
When you have not had a drink of Love:

Your face hardens,
Your sweet muscles cramp.
Children become concerned
About a strange look that appears in your eyes
Which even begins to worry your own mirror
And nose.

Squirrels and birds sense your sadness
And call an important conference in a tall tree.
They decide which secret code to chant
To help your mind and soul.

Even angels fear that brand of madness
That arrays itself against the world
And throws sharp stones and spears into
The innocent
And into one's self.

O I know the way you can get
If you have not been drinking Love:

You might rip apart
Every sentence your friends and teachers say,
Looking for hidden clauses.

You might weigh every word on a scale
Like a dead fish.

You might pull out a ruler to measure
From every angle in your darkness
The beautiful dimensions of a heart you once
Trusted.

I know the way you can get
If you have not had a drink from Love's
Hands.

That is why all the Great Ones speak of
The vital need
To keep remembering God,
So you will come to know and see Him
As being so Playful
And Wanting,
Just Wanting to help.

That is why Hafiz says:
Bring your cup near me.

For I am a Sweet Old Vagabond
With an Infinite Leaking Barrel
Of Light and Laughter and Truth
That the Beloved has tied to my back.

Dear one,
Indeed, please bring your heart near me.
For all I care about
Is quenching your thirst for freedom!

All a Sane man can ever care about
Is giving Love!

(if you know of such a man, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY!!!!)

Absolutely Clear

2009-09-01T16:54:00.002+10:00

Don't surrender you loneliness
So quickly
Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you
As few human
Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight
Has made my eyes so soft
My voice
So tender,

My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.

...Hafiz....

2009-08-20T11:34:00.002+10:00

Getting there my friends...just popping in to say hello. Beau and I are house sitting in the city for a few weeks. Very nice to have friends so close, to zip up the road to meditate with Jen, or drop in at the old work and buy veg and chat, or to wander down the road on foot to all conveniences. It's strange to be away from the bush and from the folks out there. Such a big time. They need their space to grieve. Finding home for Beau and I that we can be in for a long time, feels like the most important thing right now. And work for me.
I hope you are all well and happy! xxx

2009-06-22T20:31:00.002+10:00

Such a sad week here it has been. way down deep in the heart sad. I have no idea how to write about it sensitively, articulately. still a sense of the unreal. i think I will need to hold it close for a while, for my friends, to allow it enough space.... Such a wild, crazy year, for so many people. It's almost as if there is some kind of quickening from underneath pushing us closer to ourselves and each other. In the midst of so much sadness there is always the wonderous surge of love and generosity and support. Be well and safe and happy and present dear ones, this life is slippery.

making my s..s..s..single bed...

2009-05-27T22:34:00.005+10:00

Oh lordy, lordy, lost in the quagmire that is house hunting. Have been approved for one that we may well take, back in the city. I feel like all I do is move house. and for this reason I'm feeling the pressure for it to be a good decision. Not going to be wanting to move again for a long time. Too exhausting. Here's a bit of a run-down...

1)GOOOOD news! My brother and sister-in-law have at last had IVF success! HOORAY. Such a long and bumpy road for anyone. Their happiness is a blissfully welcome thing.

2)Been reading more and more on home schooling and feeling more and more inspired. My friend is in the process of choosing the right school for her wee ones, and finding it quite bewildering. At least her efforts will reap reward in the long run. But still an unenviable task. Who do you trust to look after you most precious ones for the greater part of the week?

3)Am getting used to being a Single Person slowly but surely, though the transition between those three days of just me, to then being intensively with Beau, is an interesting challenge. I feel distracted by each one at each change over. And then I think god is that what it's like for Beau? I imagine it gets easier, smoother somehow. Personally I am finding the time goes very fast. I am so grateful for both the time to myself, to play my guitar until late into the night, to belly dance in my room all day, to walk long walks and think my own thoughts; and then for the precious one on one time with my beautiful, perspicacious, affectionate, funny and sometimes very pissed off little boy. There is a great sadness and missing and even some guilt when he is not there and I am Doing My Thing. Am I allowed to be happy with the way things are? This is not what I thought Family Life was going to be like.I am doing an amount of grieving, a lot of rebuilding, heaps of rediscovering and a great deal of Letting Go. What I'm finding great joy in, is the morning preparation for Beau's afternoon return, by way of cleaning, cooking, making, arranging....my labour of love, my Karmayoga. When he comes home there is evidence of the consistency of my love radiating through these things.

4) I LOVE belly dancing. Had I discovered American Tribal Style and Tribal Fusion 20 years ago that would have been it for me. I am also finding a strength in my singing voice that 30 years ago, when I began playing guitar, I wished for. It would appear, that at 41, through circumstances I tried hard to avoid, this late bloomer is finding her Mojo.

May yours be flooding towards you too if not already stealthily parading within.

Listening to Beats Antique, Martha Wainwright, Lykke Li, and the rain....

2009-05-14T21:39:00.001+10:00

I say 'Amen' Soule Papa!

2009-05-13T22:56:00.012+10:00

Hi.It's been a while. I've been house hunting, playing my guitar with renewed fervor, belly dancing, meditating, loving Pink Lady apples, drinking lots of chai (with extra cardamon and cloves)having long night talks rugged up on the verandah of an evening, staying up far too late, and bush walking with my little guy and the furry four legged. And I have been quietly visiting all of you lovelies too xx

Listening to Bon Iver, Mark Olson and Gary Lewis, Noosha Fox (S.s.s single Bed, Single Bed, aint no room for your sweet head....)and Martin's new tin whistle solos.
And watching lots of this woman's work and dreaming.....
Rachel Brice tribal Fusion Belly Dance

2009-04-28T23:29:00.002+10:00

ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there's a crack in everything
that's how the light gets in
(mr cohen)

http://www.learningtoloveyoumore.com/

listening to Morcheeba, Anthony and the Johnsons, Serge Gainsborough

here to there and still somewhere in between

2009-04-25T18:51:00.003+10:00

What to say. It was more than I could have expected. Rinpoche gave us everything we could possibly need and in that light we practiced and played, laughed, sang, swam and walked and talked. The children ran wild and free, grubby and happy. I feel full to the brim, of love on all levels. Some real peace between K and I. Now as always, the ongoing challenge to allow this calm, presence to remain in daily life at home.

Small Boy Heaven

2009-04-05T21:45:00.011+10:00

It was a good day. My wee boy and I. Clacking along the railway, pure joy. Everything going green at last. Loved the drive which we haven't done since end of January.

Time to knit woolen socks. Time to get the heater out of storage, seal the gaps in the roof and walls, buy blankets. Suddenly it is cold. Loving it!

Listening to Triple R radio (streaming)

2009-04-02T19:38:00.010+11:00

A lot of this happening here these days. Spectacular. A particularly fine burnt orange one sinking as I type.

At times I have been out and about and witnessed many a Bloggable sight and had to let them go due to having forgotten the camera. But mostly I've been having an extra-bloggial affair with my journal which cops the unrestrained out pourings of this often over loaded mind. How I wish that the concept of Dumbledore's Pensieve could be manifested in reality - a safe vessel in which to store thoughts to be dealt with at a more convenient time.

Here are some thoughts that are safe for public display.....

1. Rinpoche is here. We will be on retreat with him as of next Friday. I'm looking forward to sitting with him. Just that. Swimming in his presence.

2. Currently negotiating Shared Care of beloved child. My least favourite thing to do in this life to date. Am counting on the swim in the above mentioned ocean of Grace and Stillness to absorb these qualities enough to bring back and apply them to that task. Fortunately K and I are able to talk respectfully regardless of the degree of difficulty involved.

3. Said beloved child has become all of a sudden extremely perspicacious (thank god for spell check...)and can fortunately express some of his feelings about this matter (2.)

4. My brother makes a very, very fine Rose (as in 'Rosay') which he has named Jose (as in 'Hhhhosay')which I am enjoying as I type and which may have a welcome soporific effect (not enough sleeping going on of late due to non-existence of Pensieve).

5. I had the trawl of all trawls at Savers on Tuesday - 2 skirts, one pair of trousers, a very hot (as in 'hhhhot') retro frock, 2 jumpers (one, a little bit Sophia Loren), and 4 tops and I only stopped there because I was having a hypoglycemic meltdown due to skipping lunch because I was in there for HOURS.

6. Just spent two very solitary weeks without the neighbours (on holiday). It wasn't until Beau, Flash the dog and I bounced around their car on ,barking and wagging that I realised how lonely I had been. It was however Good For Me, Soul Searching, Character Building etc etc not to avoid it.

7. Tibetan Monks are working on a sand mandala in town, marking what seems to be a time of healing. Life in these parts seems to be not so much back to normal but continuing with added purpose and acts of great generosity and community spirit.

Listening to PJ Harvey; White Chalk and The Danque; a Compilation of West African Funk.

2009-03-26T21:22:00.002+11:00

sartorialist eye candy

Just quietly, I love long socks with shoes/sandals. The kookier the better.

How do I speak to thee? Let me count the ways...

2009-03-25T09:53:00.007+11:00

Email - check. great love it, very convenient.
Blog - been a source of great inspiration and community, but just barely keeping up with that lately, have been more inclined to write in my diary.
Facebook - check. like to find old friends but haven't the stamina for it really.
Flicker - haven't done it but enjoy perusing.
Myspace - seems a bit arbitrary on top of all of the above.
Twitter - can someone please explain what the hell twitter is all about?

Does anyone write a good old fashioned letter these days?

Music today: the Essential Leonard Cohen, Sigur Ros -Takk.

a week

2009-03-13T21:06:00.007+11:00

2009-03-10T21:02:00.003+11:00

A long walk in the moonlight, fuchsia sunset, sweet breeze. The bush is our friend again. Mother Nature gives some reprieve. The urge to run to the city has abated somewhat for now. Just being here with Lou's (Rhodes) gorgeous voice (Lamb has been one of my favourite bands). This will be the soundtrack to a new autumn.

can you hear it

2009-03-04T16:56:00.003+11:00

rain. washing the car, settling the dust, soothing the nerves, hopefully putting out fire. autumn at last.

a few things from last week

2009-02-16T21:55:00.012+11:00

Smoke in the gully

Knitting a blanket for Bridge's soon to be born baby #3. So very much looking forward to seeing him/her appear.

22 Feb - Trying to get back into some kind of rhythm. Met with all the neighbours today who are part of our fire phone tree. A lovely bunch of people who I am only just getting to know. Tomorrow another warm one with big winds forecast. The unease is still with us all and the bags are packed with necessities for days in town. I put in an application for a very sweet little house further in toward town which coincidentally is being vacated by a woman I know and her 3 year old daughter. The house exuded her warmth and lusciousness. With that and the knowledge that it has nurtured another single mama before me, I thought it worth a try. I'm craving a home so much, one that Beau and I can be in for at least 2 years. It really truly is time to stop and be still. (I've just read back over almost all my blog entries and am reminded that this has been a running theme...)

2009-02-12T21:20:00.005+11:00

Sitting in our little studio feeling the sweetness of the cool wind and savouring the earlier sight of a roo jumping through the gully. Everything is seeming so much more precious out here and I am feeling immense gratitude and empathy. The tears are plentiful tonight - the first time I've really had to let the events of the last 6 days sink in, having heard neighbours' stories this morning, read more media, speaking to my aunt who luckily got out of Marysville but lost her home and many friends. There's a strong bond strengthening within the community which has me realise that although I've been here for 6 months I haven't fully entered it, for various reasons. Whilst considering moving back to the city where I might feel less isolated as a single parent, I am all of a sudden feeling more connected here to the land and the people. Contemplating the many ways in which I might be of some benefit whatever I ultimately decide. These are some of the links and places I've come across via blog friends and research.

Nillumbik Shire

Donate to or foster an animal through Animal Aid

Victorian Bushfire Public Accommodation Donation Line - 1800 006 468 (8am-8pm)

To utilise your craft skills;
Knit4charities
Handmade Help
Honey Bee stores are organising care bags to go out to children in bushfire affected areas.

Register to volunteer help at GoVolunteer

Shop at Coles, Safeway and Woolworths tomorrow (Friday 13th Feb) where 100% profit will go to Bushfire aid.

And so much more that Meet Me At Mikes has comprehensively listed on their fantastic blog

I hope I'm not coming across with too much self pity. There is definitely a thread of sadness that relates to K not being here to share the emotional load, and to seeing how Beau is carrying the events of the last month. But above that I can't articulate adequately, the depth of feeling I have for everyone and every being affected, that is connecting me to the grief and pain that is felt all the time in places that are usually removed from me geographically and personally. I know everyone is experiencing the same thing and that this grieving process is important. It's wonderful to read all your posts. You are a lovely bunch indeed.

refuge

2009-02-09T21:05:00.002+11:00

Been in town since Saturday morning when it was clear that staying at home would have been at the very least f***ing uncomfortable.Beau and I headed for a swimming pool then back to my brother and sister-in-law's place at which point one of our neighbours kindly phoned to suggest that going home wasn't such a good idea. Not long after, we realised the devastation that was already underway 15 minutes from home and the death toll started rising. I finally drove home this morning, both Beau and I hoping to stay and see the neighbours and be close to our community. I stopped at the local Store to buy bread and burst into tears as soon as I entered. It's all too sad and the whole community/state/country is in shock. We changed our clothes, looked out for signs of the neighbours, I chucked out the manky veges, tried the radio and when there was no power I felt nervous and packed a couple of bags. There was still smoke in the air and what felt like an unpredictable wind. Tahli arrived and we decided to leave again, the neighbours too. It feels better to be with friends in the city than to be worried at home. Hard to believe how big this is. Too sad.

For news http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/bushfires
For updates http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_summary.htm
For donations 1800 811 700 or www.redcross.org.au

Fires are still burning in Beechworth and Churchill. My thoughts and prayers go to everyone affected.

soundtrack of a life

2009-02-04T22:34:00.005+11:00

Listening to the Cocteau Twins - Lullabies to Violaine, remixes, extended, alternate versions of all the goodness that is their ethereally textured and tongued music, that has at so many times in my life kept me together - through a drawn out break up with my first boyfriend,on long train journeys across Europe, in the lonely closet of a room in Tooting Bec, cleaning at 7am in an empty cafe in Covent Garden for less than respectful employers, in dappled green lit danish forests, on foot over the London Bridge searching for a friend, and on one memorable occasion on a mountain top at midnight on a tiny Greek island with a beautiful young french/greek man who shared the same love of the Twins and whisked me up there on his motor bike...
Some music brings you to earth, some stirs you up, some makes you want to move, some goes deep and pulls at what lies beneath, some casts you gracefully and soulfully up and out of the mind. The latter is the Cocteau Twins for me. Them and a little Mazzy Star too. What does it for you?

postcard from the edge

2009-02-03T17:55:00.005+11:00

So the word on the street this morning was that it was 48 here yesterday; that domestic chickens and tree dwelling birds and marsupials were dropping dead in front of people's eyes....Driving to Warburton in the afternoon to find respite in the river revealed the town to be the only green place, in this part of the state anyway - so dry and drooping the land and trees from here to there to the city and back again.

Our little guy turned 4 yesterday Now officially 'a big boy' and wishing to do many things by himself. He received some money from his sweet grand folk and Aunt and Uncle, and declared that he would buy himself a train with a snow plough, which indeed he did today - the electric variety that goes around and around. He is currently asleep with two carriages in hand. And tonight, with the blessed breeze trying to find its way into our little shack, I bake - all things going to plan - a chocolate banana cake shaped like a train. Tomorrow promises to be cooler somewhat which means the little party can go ahead.

K and I are trying to find our way, through birthday and heat wave and sadness and confusion. It would be helpful to know how to do this separation thing; some kind of manual specifically tailored to us. A simple step by step guide to Moving into New Life with minimal impact on all concerned. Other than breathing deeply, and applying concentrated empathy, it seems we are destined to Make It Up As We Go Along and ride out these days where we feel we are making a right f*** up of it all. I go from not thinking about anything ,just laying about playing four year old games, to following a thousand thoughts about where to live, how to survive financially, will someone ever love and stick it out with me 'til I'm old and wrinkled, will earth crash into sun...etc etc, the former being much more relaxing and some of the latter inevitably requiring consideration. Right now I will contemplate this challenge - coloured icing made from kuzu powder, coconut cream, palm sugar and beetroot. Such is my love of the children and their parents, expressed in this attempt to avoid sugar and artificial additive meltdown. The pure cacao might well keep them awake for some time though. I selflessly licked the bowl to determine its potential affect.
May you and your animals be calm and happy, may your skin care products live to tend another day, may your gardens be revived and your homes be ventilated.

Tuesday....
After Beau's pool party we staggered back to Jen's place, happy and a little sunburned, for dinner. we went out to pick some very challenged but edible silver beet which survived the heat thanks to Jen's care - shaded in a way so very appropriate to Jen's character, in lace curtain - always gorgeous, never shabby.

And now so very sleep deprived and attempting to make good this Time On My Own. resisting the urge to clean...............yup, urge gone!

PS Kuzu icing a total flop, but the Agar Agar version set after some hours in the fridge. Looked a bit more like custard that icing but hey it would have been sweet and aesthetically pleasing. Didn't set in time for party so the train looked somewhat......rustic. A normal person would probably have stuck to the more volatile but dependable old icing sugar ,butter and food colouring variety, but i am apparently bent on being super mum during this challenging period. Somebody slap me!

leonard and salvador, two very fine lads

2009-01-25T13:22:00.005+11:00

Dear Mr Cohen, thank you for your humble, generous and absolutely riveting performance last night. You brought tears to our eyes and made us laugh and ponder. By the way I am recently separated and open to rebounding with a dignified older man such as yourself.
yours sincerely Kirti

I have been given the honour of the title of Godmother to these lovely little toes, all 10 of them, plus the hands and fingers, the chubby knees, wispy hair and glorious smile - the whole, delicious Salvador.

gobsmacking

2009-01-18T23:48:00.004+11:00

sandra backlund

figs, friends and francophilia

2009-01-18T22:32:00.007+11:00

Here's a photo of Teresa and I singing our first song at the festival in December, O the Dreadful Wind and Rain (Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings version. Looking forward to some more singing. Right now I'm thinking accordion, violin and some french chansons.....

and for Toby and Ryonen, the promised no fail Fig Jam recipe (it's hard to f*** up fig jam really) from Stephanie Alexander...(I love you two xxxxxxxxxxxx)

(photo care of www.foodpast.com)

1kg ripe figs
750g sugar
1 large lemon washed and finely sliced
1/3 cup red wine vinegar (I guess you could use apple cider vinegar???)

slithered almonds and ginger optional

Cut figs into bite size chunks
Mix with sugar and tip into large non reactive saucepan that will hold figs comfortably
Pulse lemon for a few seconds in food processor to make smaller pieces
Add lemon and vinegar to pan
Give it a good stir
Bring to boil over moderate heat
Cook for about 30mins stirring intermittently to prevent sticking
test for setting by placing a dollop on a cold saucer; when it cools you should be able to stick your finger in it and it will part the blob without running back together.
allow to cool for 10 minutes then spoon into hot sterilised jars and seal.

Happy Jamming lovelies.

spoonful of sugar

2009-01-16T21:14:00.006+11:00

With no chocolate in reach and no desire to drink, i drown my sorrows at the sartorialist. Look at her, she's fabulous.

I guess I knew the meltdown would come. Immense sadness, around Beau and the imminent division of time, space and objects, the loss of K's company already, fear, anger, all the usual things, plus some relief now and then. It will be a completely new start which will at some point be exciting but currently somewhat overwhelming. The prospect of creating the nest I've wanted for so long (solo)and letting go of everything so that anything is possible.....

On the upside? A barrage of love, and words and offers of support from all corners.
(thank you so much) and the wisdom of those who have been through it all and show how life goes on beautifully.

Beau and i watched Kiki's Delivery Service again tonight. We are on a bit of a Studio Ghibli bender. Friday night is our designated movie night (from which we sometimes stray. If you are ever stuck for good children's films then just peruse the Studio Ghibli selection. The two that are most appropriate for 4 and up are My Neighbour Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Not only are they Japanese Anime at it's best but they absolutely capture the wild free spirit of childhood and are a welcome dose of magic and wholesome goodness for a world weary parent.

Tara is coming along after a whole day of painting. Should be finished any day now..................

Changes

2009-01-14T10:36:00.011+11:00

I've been avoiding writing a new post because K and I are separating. I planned to write something comprehensive to explain it all, to make some sense of it, to let it be real etc, etc. It's been a long time coming really and the last week and a half has been pretty huge and at times emotional but I have to say that there is more relief than pain and we are actually fine with each other and working it all out with love and respect. I don't want to say too much here. There's something so sacred about this blog space for me. I want to be honest about what is happening in my life but I don't want this to turn into a temporary blog about separation. I will however happily share any insights from time to time as there have already been many.

It's bloody hot and windy and I'm at home alone while the boys are off to the pool. I plan to paint so as to have Tara finished as soon possible. There are 3 other canvases awaiting and ideas swimming around amongst all the other stuff in my head. I will do some contemplating as to what I might be needing from this point on and of course what is best for Beau. Thankfully we are welcome here for as long as we need to be here. K is going to live in a friend's mobile home on the property while we sort out our lives, with the idea being that it will help Beau with the transition.

I keep checking in with myself, in my body too, to see if there are feelings I'm holding back, keep offering myself to have a bloody good cry or to rage even a little, but there's none of that there. Of course I have my thoughts about what this separation means and I have done my best to pitch all reasons why we should stay together. But the undeniable fact is that I'm just not miserable or angry, and I'm actually enjoying the energy that's released as I bit by bit let go. I'm also noticing that there is no love lost except when thoughts arise to block it. Beau will be loved and Kama and I will be loved and we will continue to love each other as friends and co parents. I'm sure there will be times where either or all of us will find it difficult. Hopefully this respect we still have for each other will make those things easier to negotiate.

We drove down to Red Hill on Sunday with Tine and Mannie, to Jen's 40th (and a half) gathering, just a few friends and family at a home/winery overlooking grape vines and ocean. It felt like Tuscany, far from home and the kids romped about with all that space and sun. Good food, good wine, and very good friends. Much needed.

Dad and Barb were here a couple of weeks ago. It felt right to have the family together for the first time since my brother's wedding, and it was a soft place to land when the reality of separation hit. (I have contact again with my cousin Suz with whom I share a wonderful connection ). Now I miss them all the more. The daughter me is yearning to be closer to Dad. Not so much in self pity but as I said to a friend the other day, more just acknowledging the bond of family throughout all other changes. Even though separated parents always have a bond through their children, it's not the same as the bond of blood. I don't know that my blood family would necessarily be more supportive than our wonderful extended family over here. I'm just prone to moments of great nostalgia at the moment. It's quite soothing.

new year's eve and some christmas craft

2009-01-02T21:13:00.006+11:00

Dharma Book cover for K

New Year's Eve around the fire

Matryoshka for Salvador

one man band

2008-12-25T21:29:00.013+11:00

Making that doll is an achievement! Many late nights, especially the sewing of the hair, but a pure joy every moment. As is the tradition with a Waldorf doll, I slept with him/her to further imbue it with my energy. Beau came into our bed on cue in the wee hours of the morn and I still had the doll close to my chest. When he awoke asking to see what Santa had left I said I had a gift for him first and I brought the doll to his chest at which point he went very quiet and held it to his chest. He said 'Is it a boy or a girl mummy?" to which I answered "which ever you decide" and he whispered 'a girl". I suggested he think of a name for her. Later on I asked again, what he thought she would be named and he said "Arya" which is the name of our friends' lovely daughter who Beau has spent some great time with of late. (Be still my heart). Tonight we put Arya in her Pj's and took her into bed and Beau said to me "Thank you for making her for me, I love her (got up on an elbow to kiss me purposefully). I've never had a special doll before"

sigh....perfect mother/child moment lingering long into the night.

Santa brought Beau a very funky 70's Malvern star dragster bike which has also been the recipient of many declarations of love throughout the day.
It was almost an entirely hand made Christmas which I have declared the bench mark from here on. Start early is the trick. The bright ideas come amidst the flurry of making.

I'll post some more pics tomorrow. In the meantime, Merry Christmas my friends, enjoy your families, food, time out, sun or snow. Be safe and happy! xxx

Felt frenzy

2008-12-16T11:47:00.006+11:00

I love it. If I could make everything out of felt I would. It's so easy to work with and soft and colourful and I'm slightly obsessed with it at the moment. I made the needle pouch for practical reasons but also just as a fun quick thing to do. No big projects going on just yet though today I think today may be the day I actually start Beau's doll. I've been procrastinating for a while now and watch me as I continue to type on in this post, avoiding bringing the materials out of their hiding place.....

We bought a large $2 bargain fake Christmas tree at the local op shop. I had intended to go out into the bush and find the perfect branch that would be more authentic to our Australian Christmas, but there it was looking exactly like the one I grew up with, promising to endure Christmases from here into the next decade or more, and I was filled with sentimentality. Beau and I found old wooden decorations at the op shop too. I've considered the possible lameness of placing so much aesthetic importance on the Tree but really it's part of the magic. We can always do with more magic. Have it dripping from every nook and cranny when possible I say.

2008-12-12T19:53:00.007+11:00

Beau and I cut snowflakes today and all the while I thought how very not Australian Christmas a snowflake is but how we just have to have them nonetheless. They were fun to make, and there is this great interactive site that shows you how.
We drove around unknown roads this evening just because. Hills shrouded in mist. Yesterday a phenomenal sunset....so beautiful out here I can hardly believe it. Starting to feel less like we're on holiday and more like residents.

Bit of Christmas crafting and a bit of letting go

2008-12-05T22:14:00.009+11:00

Having trouble remembering to photograph the things I've been making of late. I made this Bird mobile for a friend's new bub, in a flash of last minute inspiration and thought only to take a photo in the car (hence attractive vinyl dashboard back drop).

Beau's advent calender is up and the Christmas Fairy nightly brings various small treats or instructions to which end this blog has been really helpful. Trying always to find the balance between getting and giving and to infuse Christmas with meaning. For me it is about family and birth, giving and gratitude and the most fantastic food we can put together. Christmas was magic for me as a kid, Mum went all out to make it so and the main thing for me, as much as I loved receiving presents, were the rituals that evolved for our family; the tree (which we had for 22 years), the way we decorated it, the old stories, the preparation of food,the wrapping and planning and the odd but good humoured family dynamic that was always played out every Christmas lunch - non of it particularly extraordinary but exciting none the less. And even though our family has never been the slightest bit religious, I absolutely loved the stories around baby Jesus born in a barn - the whole nativity thing; the wise men, that big star, arriving on a donkey, Frankincense and Myrrh (which I thought were exotic visitors for a good many years).

My family and I as a whole haven't spent Christmas together for at least 10 years, (probably more in K's case) which I find a little sad. Since mum died our family in general has been somewhat disconnected and which is why I think I'm probably more eager to create a strong sense of family and family rituals than I otherwise might have been. It seems that mothers are the ones who tend to keep extended family together and keep those family rituals alive. Nothing like Christmas to test how many familial expectations there are yet to let go of.

My friend Teresa and I have three gigs coming up, two this weekend and one the day after boxing day. The two this weekend are small but the first for us and for the first time in my life I am actually looking forward to performing. Could it be that my long time and crippling fear of singing in front of people is finally lifting? I do believe so. I think it has much to do with the practice of trying to stay present and therefore spending less time in thought about something that will happen in the future, and much to do with getting older and worrying less about what other people think. It could be, that having just turned 41, I may finally be learning something.

Zen and the Art of Sewing Machine Maintenance

2008-11-28T21:45:00.003+11:00

I thought I needed a new sewing machine. For three years I have cursed the Toyota, "should stick to making cars"..etc etc and lots of swearing. I lent it to a friend, it came back missing the foot and has been in storage ever since.

I took it to Donvale to buy a new one/have it serviced/fixed/get a new foot....whatever it would take. Graham gave me a free foot and half an hour's teaching on the practice of presence and patience and correct sewing machine use. I was doing it ALL wrong. When I asked if I could pay him for his tutorial he said "No, I just feel that if people know how to use their machines properly then they will enjoy sewing. Then sewing will be a happy experience."

I took my Toyota home, put it on the table, set about to practice all that my master taught me, experienced the bliss he had promised and found myself humbly apologising to the machine for all the abuse I have so unnecessarily flung in its direction.

2008-11-27T21:02:00.004+11:00

Feeling incredibly grateful for the work I get to do; painting cups and drinking tea with sweet Bridget, mama's work (this week especially the making of the advent calendar above ), rehearsing amazing Appalachian songs for 2 gigs in December, helping to organise child care for Rinpoche's retreats next year and then the more intense but but thankfully transformative work that k and I are having to put into our relationship at the moment. Diverse, flexible, creative and shared - text book Sagittarian heaven. I have managed to avoid full time employment pretty much all my adult life much to the chagrin of my family who have always regarded my alternative ways as somewhat worrying. There are times when I have doubted whether it is possible to live a truly simple life and provide a family with all basic needs, particularly early last year. For us, being out of the city definitely helps. I find myself less concerned about material things and more resourceful and content with the environment around me. I'm less concerned about my appearance (although if I had a mirror I may be more so)and what people think of me and my choices. The simplicity of our needs reflects in the work that we are choosing. I feel like we have the freedom to be much more ethically and creatively motivated. I know it's not everyone's idea of a comfortable existence; we certainly go without a great deal of comforts and convenience but I think we are more and more changing our idea of what those things are for us. I don't think we have all the answers and I don't judge anyone for the way they choose to live. I'm simply reflecting on this here life warts and all and it is good.

That shop

2008-11-18T14:14:00.002+11:00

I have just been in here for the first time. I've bought on line many times but nothing better than being in there with all the colours and soft wool - I was in there for ages. Heaven.

I found the book at an op shop on the way. Good old 'Golden Hands'.

makin' and bakin'

2008-11-17T20:28:00.012+11:00

And yay verily the bread was good and the people ate of it and were glad. It's REAL good.

Some Christmas crafting has begun and as often happens when I sit down to hand stitch something, my thoughts turned to my Nanna who died when I was three - consequently I have no memory of her save photos and her beautiful wooden sewing box which still contains some of her tools. She crocheted lace doilies and embroidered a multitude of domestic cloths and knitted the pram rug that became my dearly beloved security blanket. at one time I was also in possession of her antique Singer sewing machine and many other gorgeous pieces of jewelry and crockery, her wood glory box (which I still have) and her old German piano. All I can say is, that if the urge to run completely feral across the country over comes you, resist the urge to give away/sell such precious items and consider future selves and generations. I sadly mourn these things despite the logic of having had nowhere to keep them until the wanderlust subsided.

The sewing box is therefore every dear to me and I humbly imagine that a little of Nan has come back through me!

bread baking

2008-11-16T22:16:00.006+11:00

Have been having great success in the sour dough bread making department. Lovely crusty topped loaves; a mix of spelt, rye and rice flour and lots of seeds, made from a thirteen year old leaven of which I now seem to have a great excess (so very happy to share it out along with recipe).

Tonight's dough (above pic) looks as though it may not rise....could it be the cool change? Perhaps one day I will know the great secrets.

On to yoghurt next. It's the farmer's wife within me, begging for expression. "Jam, lemon butter, pumpkin scones, strawberry sponge cake" she whispers. I am at her mercy.

Half an hour later - the baker is pleased to announce that the dough DOES in fact appear to be expanding. Crusty evidence coming soon...

birthday crown

2008-11-15T19:42:00.004+11:00

Stayed up joyously last night to stitch together this little crown for Taj's third birthday. It really needs interfacing between the two layers of felt, but fits well and has a tricky bit at the back where the band continues and extends when the elastic stretches.

Tahli performed miracles with sugar free and gluten free ingredients - a feast that left no child out of its head (where's the fun in that?). Just the usual afternoon exhaustion and record number of jumps on the new trampoline.

What The Sky Gave Us #4

2008-11-12T14:32:00.007+11:00

Yesterday afternoon, a very long drive to see a very spectacular sunset...so many photos trying to capture peach and pale blue, fuschia, burnt orange, silver and gold...this little camera doing its best but not quite true to the actual event. the guy up the beach with tripod and lenses....oh I would love to see what he snapped.

Such a beautiful contrast to the bush; watery, shimmery, soft and vast clear mirror-like expanse. The fishes and the birds and the smell. Beau was ecstatic.

We were pretty happy about it all too.....

Armed with excellent advice from Ms Hen and a small but adequate budget, I am on the hunt for a sewing machine. I have three knitting projects on the go, and a head full of projects to sew before Christmas. Beau's doll and a felt advent calendar being two of them. Can this Sagittarian do it before she gets distracted? Let's see......

P.S.

2008-10-27T23:55:00.000+11:00

Experiencing knitting learning curve despite urge to unravel the entire project.....photo documentation pending final decision.

2008-10-27T21:44:00.011+11:00

Green Day at a local farm.

My elephant.

Beau's Island

There's a definite rhythm to life out here now for which I am very grateful and which seems to satisfy the three of us. It's always obvious how much happier Beau is when he can count on a big portion of daily/weekly activities being familiar. When he knows what's coming he gets such a sense of confidence and cooperation and calm. That's not to say that spontaneity doesn't work. K and I wouldn't be ourselves if that disappeared from our life but as a family we all feel the peace and flow that comes from rhythm and dare I say it some good ol' fashion routine. All the more important for us because we have moved around so much and so there are some daily 'rituals 'that we would go collectively insane without. The dinner to bedtime routine for Beau for example never changes except for the location, our mornings and the way we interact with nature and the neighbours now we are here.

Beau's (almost four year old)increasing ability to stay with an activity for an extended period of time is a pleasure for us all. Whether it be wood carving or chopping veges or painting or clay modeling etc, finally we are all getting our teeth stuck into things parents must let go of in the presence of young toddlers with short attention spans . It gives me some insight into the potential for homeschooling which feels to be the right thing for our family. We have started researching and it seems there is a good network in our area. This has been the main issue for us, that Beau would have access to other home schooled kids and shared activities and that we would have support as home schooling parents. I'm so inspired by Amanda,
Ella,
Linda
Blue Yonder and many others whom I have come across in the blogosphere who have chosen to school at home.
We are excited at the idea that home life, play, spiritual practice and education can be integrated, especially now that we are living in the country (Oh how I love to say that; We Live In The Country).

At long last w can say that we are closer to the lifestyle that we have often dreamed of. That in fact I have dreamed of for as long as I can remember. (on parallel with international Jazz Diva which is not of course out of the question either, but is really more about the frocks) Our home life is simplified and slowed down, our working lives are in line with our creative passions, we spend a great deal of time together as a family, we have a stronger sense of community, we are giving our relationship some much needed attention, and we are researching the other ways in which we can create a more simple, sustainable, self-sufficient and communal life style.

The next step for us is to find land, incurring the smallest possible (if not non-existent) mortgage; ideally with two or three other families. We are researching alternative building techniques(in particular Cob) and drinking up any literature about self-sufficiency and simple living; one reason why I'm so glad I found Linda's Blog and book, and so happy for runs and re runs during my child hood of Felicity Kendal and The Good Life.

To some of our friends and family we probably seem very idealistic. It may be so, but we have spent so many years trying to 'fit in', to consume and conform and control, on our own, on others' terms and felt so little satisfaction and much confusion that this year has been about following our hearts and stripping back enough to see what we really need and what we can live without. We find ourselves now in a tiny studio, on a tiny income, with minimal possessions and a lot of time. This has been made possible with years of dreaming and periods of hard slog, a small ($11,000) financial loan from family, a short spell as mortgagees, the reduction of our relationship to a series of practical instructions at the end of a day, a timely and profitable house sale, a bloody enormous amount of letting go, the paying off of all debts, a small but nevertheless very helpful nest egg that is ours, the generosity of beloved friends and the determination to prove to ourselves and each other that we can really truly live as we choose.

The suffering of our relationship over the past 5 years has been in part due to external pressures but mostly due to our respective experience of them. We have coexisted as housemates and managed the day to day living with some ease. We have been parenting with a shared passion for the well being of our child. We have experienced the 'Ships in the Night' passing that can completely wipe out the possibility for intimacy. We have felt that our visions for the future have been completely at odds with each other. We have come face to face with our own feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction to the point where the idea of not being together was mentioned far too many times. Then we pulled the pin on what seemed to be the only real shared plan of action, consequently threw ourselves into complete chaos and confusion, got Very Stressed and Very Pissed Off until we landed here with enough time and space to get back to being nice to each other and patient and, lo and behold, to finding that what we envisage from here on is increasingly the same.

We have a way to go but thanks to the 'C' word ('counseling' just before you get too carried away) which, neither of us had ever had up until three weeks ago, and about which both of us have been dubious ("Oh look, we can sort it out can't we anyway it's YOUR fault...")but for which we are now very thankful because eventually slogging it out on your own can get rather boring, exhausting and just generally no where.

I will spare you any further details about our personal life. I think I've managed to Share the important bits without dragging you into domestic drama. I'm sure you all have/had your own share. Good bloody on you if not!

Suffice to say we have managed not to scar Beau emotionally along the way, though maybe counseling somewhere down the line in his own adult life may reveal otherwise. Let us hope that we may be evolving and parenting in such a way that our kids might be spared the need.

My 45 minutes appear to be up. Thanks for listening.

Kings and Queens

2008-10-21T13:28:00.011+11:00

We had these beautiful visitors yesterday and today, so tame, the King Parrot stayed a long while to eat sunflower seeds and pose for photos. Today he flew up to the window twice to get my attention. The echidna is still sitting in the garden with its nose snuffling for ants....I love it that these things are part of our day to day. And Henrik, it is with you most clearly in my mind that I post these pictures; some bits of Australia that I know you love so well! Enjoy my friend xx

Monday has become a very communal day for T and I and our boys. We usually spend the whole day together walking, talking, sharing chores, and preparing meals. I have earned the honourable title of 'Kitchen B****'to Kitchen Queen T. It's all about Superfood and chocolate and all things good and green from our local vege co-op. We think we should have our own TV show, baby in sling and all.....

small things for wee people

2008-10-19T19:48:00.009+11:00

we've all been making one thing or another this week, some things finished, some in progress. I love seeing Beau out there with his Dad and some tools, carving and drilling and sanding. I love seeing K finally having the time to get his teeth stuck into a creative project. The first one was a gift that he and Beau conceived and made together for C's 4th birthday, this wonderful sword. Beau has been fascinated with swords lately and I remembered reading in a Steiner Book that at this age children will find great strength and courage in the story of St George and the Dragon, where of course George rescues the princess from the dragon with his mighty sword. Fortunately no dragons have yet been harmed since the making of this sword (nor have any small people who seemed somehow to understand the symbolism with which the gift was bequeathed).

The knitting of a little vest for the wee neighbour is coming along after many unravellings. It is my first attempt at decreasing, shaping, sewing together...very exciting and I feel like the knitting world will be my oyster thereafter.

... speaking of little things for wee people, I found this beautiful dress in a local op shop whilst trawling for dress ups. It's so fine and delicate that I can't imagine who might wear it (a doll perhaps).

...and Beau and I made a fairy house today at the bottom of the garden which seemed the obvious place. It has a view over the trees, open fire and a hand knitted blanket. Available for weekend stay with optional breakfast. Sorry no pets.

a birthday and a warm sunday

2008-10-12T20:53:00.011+11:00

We had a small birthday party last night, for K. good friends, kids, fire, fire twirling, music and food, all the right things.

Today was the first really warm day which was spent recovering from a late night, making things and being still by the river, slowing down time.

and the littlest neighbour grows and smiles....

Can;t blog, knitting.....

2008-10-10T22:31:00.000+11:00

this week....

2008-10-05T20:20:00.014+11:00

Two luscious Libran friends had birthday picnics (with excellent cakes...)

It rained some and it was warm some...

Beau did some painting...

We visited Uncle Gaz and Aunty Dee.

Beau got to play with his dearest friends.

I got to sing murder ballads and gospel songs with the lovely Teresa, K had his first book stall, and the beautiful Salvador (5weeks old)got bigger and cuter while his mama got through a long hard week, slightly scathed but still beautiful and smiling. Why I have not taken photos of them as yet I do not know, so lovely they all are...I've had the fortune to hold the wee babe many, many times these last three weeks. Delicious.

'Next Life' by Woody Allen

2008-09-30T09:56:00.001+10:00

In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way.
Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day.
You work for 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, and then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, and you play. You have no responsibilities; you become a baby until you are born.
And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!

Equinox

2008-09-22T20:41:00.006+10:00

Beautiful weekend with lovely visitors, lunch on the lawn, more walks collecting treasures along the way and an Equinox Fair.

Bella made Beau VERY happy by bringing him one of her dresses to keep.

wild

2008-09-20T19:15:00.013+10:00

As you can tell I'm sure, I'm very excited about all this nature. I just can't think of a reason to go into the city, other than to see people who I hope will prefer to come here..all these beautiful orchids, tiny and richly coloured and detailed, growing amongst the rough natives and rubble and weeds. The neighbours up the road took Beau and I on a walk to see them today. They know the names of almost every plant in their area. I can't remember many of them, except for spider orchid and egg and bacon flower and the yellow one called Donkey's Ears or similar...Now I understand why our Botanist friend Ryonen speaks of plants as though they are people with personalities.

Every day we walk. It's all I want to do, just stroll through the whisper and the light and the crunch of twigs and leaves under foot.

Today we had L and T visit and we joined the lovelies in the big house for soup and fresh market bread. I have the privilege of cradling the new born babe in my arms each day, his blissful snuffling poking at my heart, sending my hormones berserk.

So quiet and dark. I have never seen Beau so free and happy. May there be a place for us here somewhere where we can plant and birth, settle, breathe, stop moving, know the names of trees and plants and animals and neighbours.

what the sky gave us #3 and a wee visitor

2008-09-18T09:29:00.004+10:00

oh well it will have to do for now........(sigh)

2008-09-18T09:29:00.003+10:00

“Place your burden at the feet of the Lord of the universe who accomplishes everything. Remain all the time steadfast in the heart, in the Transcendental Absolute. God knows the past, present and future. He will determine the future for you and accomplish the work. What is to be done will be done at the proper time. Don’t worry. Abide in the heart and surrender your acts to the Divine.”

- Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

Soft landing

2008-09-16T22:39:00.010+10:00

Again thanks to dear friends, this time in the fair hills, we have a cosy, temporary home.Here we shall stay until we find a place of our own . It is truly wholesome with kangaroos breakfasting outside our windows, trees and wild orchids as far as the eye can see, kookaburras and rosellas and cockatoos, view of the hills and not a hint of traffic noise. We went for a long bush walk today. Beau goes to bed exhausted and serenely happy. K is going to sell fabulous dharma books, I am going to make a picture book and learn some bluegrass and Beau is going to learn the names of trees and animals. One day soon there will be a mud brick home of our own, chickens and a vege patch and if I have my way, a goat to herd. The house hunting continues....

We are exhausted (hence I am cutting and pasting this post from a bulk email)but happy and relieved.

i never thought I'd say this but I don;t know what the hell I'd do without a computer and a spiffy new one at that. At the moment it's also a telephone, diary, DVD player, source of all music; it has officially replaced all other technology AND my brain. K is a marvel. My very own PC Whisperer. Also very good looking, loving father, sexy, sensational cook, funny, exceptional dancer (will that do it babe?)

I re strung my guitar and sang a few tunes this evening which is a sign that I am relaxing into the flow of life. I have seriously neglected Dolores lately but we are getting to know one another again....

The 'neighbours' are under the weather as well as in New Born Baby Land so it's good that we are here to support them too. Can't stop thanking them.

Here's a very funny lady for your viewing pleasure Nina Conti

2008-09-10T21:56:00.004+10:00

thanks to southern life

Itinerant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look up itinerant in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no real home.

Types of itinerants:

Examples of itinerants include:

(Well, good to know we are following great footsteps.......)

Wanted...

2008-09-05T19:47:00.003+10:00

Wikipedia..

A home is a place of residence or refuge.^[1] It is usually a place where an individual or a family can rest in and be able to store personal property. Most modern households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food.

There are certain cultures in which members lack permanent homes, such as with nomadic people.

While a house (or other residential dwelling) is often referred to as a "home", the concept of "home" is a much broader idea which exceeds the denotation of a physical dwelling. A home is often a place of refuge and safety, where worldly cares fade and the things and people that one loves becomes the focus. Many people think of home in terms of where they grew up, and home can even be a time rather than a place.

Kirti is Temporarily Out of the Office

2008-09-02T19:11:00.002+10:00

Big weeks, packing, cleaning, and now house hunting. We won't be going West just now. Long story. Looking out of the city. Lots to do. All good. Have been dropping in on you all. Will post when the dust settles. Be well and happy! xx