Happy 2015!

I feel compelled to write to wish you Happy New Year!!!!

And also to complain that today our thermometer hit 43 degrees. YUCK!!!!

We had planned to travel to Midland to watch The Hobbit, but there was no way I wanted to share a shopping centre with other hot and grumpy people ...

So I stayed at home and made art instead.  Here is a wee glimpse.  It's for my Lifebook project ... I would give you the link, but I'm too hot and grumpy ... promise I will rectify that when the temperature is less shocking.

Off for a moonlight swim before my brain explodes ... yes, it is stll bloody hot at night ... how is that normal??????

End of 2014

Hi peeps - possibly my last post of 2014!  Can you believe another year has flown by?

Well, this was my creative effort for today.  A yummy beetroot and pumpkin salad - I love the colour but it tasted good too!

I promise to be more blog present; there will be other changes too as I need to do more art, for the good of my soul if nothing else.  And because people keep asking how my art is going, and I'm embarrassed to keep replying "it's not".  Time for a change ...

A ruse (roos) for writing!

I'm so sorry I haven't written for a while, but I've been in hiding ... from life.

Many things have happened, and I've found it hard to cope, so just had to shut down a few areas for a while as I tried to find my equilibrium again.  My 'stuff' is far from sorted, but I'm coming to terms with everything, and life is a little sweeter.

Mainly it's been about me realizing my role as a mum is changing as my older kids get ... older, and more independent, and more not needing mum.  At times it's felt as if my heart has been ripped out, but I' m gradually realizing life goes on, and just because some of my children aren't as needy it doesn't mean my life is over.  I just need to redefine it, and also be comforted that I still have Little Man for a wee while.  He told me the other day that I was the best mum ever, and boy did I need to hear that!  Such delicate egos we mothers have!

Other stuff has been to do with work and my lack of confidence in my ability to cope, but several weeks later I'm still here and still doing fine, and if I'm honest still enjoying what I do.

So, I'm taking it steady, being kind to myself, listening to my logical husband when my emotions get carried away, and do you know what, I think I'll be ok :)

The significance of the kangaroo pic?  I've had fun mucking about with a photo of a bag I have - just love the design.  When I went for my walk in the forest this evening, enjoying the cool air, I disturbed a couple of roos who bounced off to a safe distance, then stood like meerkat statues watching me walk on by.  I love sharing my walks with the wildlife :)  Time in the woods restores my soul!

Experiment

Just seeing if I can publish a post from my tablet as I've discovered I have an app widgety thing to do just that!  And I'll see if I can add a photo to give you a clue as to what is occupying me at the moment - it's a blast from the past!

Blogtoberfest day 29 - Going Bananas!

Fused bananas - Little Man is fascinated by them - just had to take a pic :)

 Well, Blogtoberfest hasn't gone entirely to plan.  I'm afraid I got a bit lost in life, work and personal; nothing too horrendous but enough to make me sit back, take stock and be kind to my self by letting a few things slip if necessary.  If I've needed to go to sleep early I have.  If I needed to take a restful walk in the forest, I did just that.  And blogging is one of the things that has slipped, just for a little while.

I feel like I'm getting back on track, but I'm going to take things slowly and not beat myself up too much for not doing all those things or writing all those stories that I wanted to.  There's always another opportunity to tell my story, and for that I'm grateful.

The back-side, so to speak ...

So, be kind to yourself and take a rest if you need to, and don't feel guilty about it.  Just get back on track when you feel ready.

That's all for now folks ...

Blogtoberfest day 23 - Connection to the land

I met with some friends the other day and we had a good conversation round a coffee and cake.  A good old fashioned gathering, a circle of women.  No social media in sight!  We talked about education, the world today and came to the conclusion that what we are all missing out on is time in nature.  That we are really damaging our health by not connecting with the land.

This dog is highly dangerous - not - Cdawg keeping an eye on the old chook Roast - one of the others has just used him as an underpass!  I love my girls!

You know the happiest I've been for a while was a couple of weeks ago when I was up with my chooks, tending to their pen, having to wire up the fence and dig in the earth.  The chooks were watching with interest and p'kurking away happily.  I felt so content, hands in the mud, talking to feathered friends.  I realized I was missing my time in the outdoors.

If you feel a longing to be in touch with nature, there's a really good book (which incidentally is currently on my bedside table ..) called 'Last Child in the Woods' by Richard Louv.  He believes we suffer from nature deficit disorder, and you know what, I tend to agree.

Get yourself some chooks ... or an allotment.  Or just a walk in the woods.  But get out in nature!

Blogtoberfest day 20 - more thrift shop goodies!

More thrift shop shopping!  For the princely sum of $15 I got all this:

Some vintage - 1977, 1984 (and one not so vintage 1990's) dress-making patterns.

Earlier this week I found a belt I liked in an on-line store, and soon stopped liking it when I discovered it cost $159; I was much happier with the slouchy belt I found today for a couple of bucks!

I'm having a thing with my neighbour about retro pottery.  We are both constantly searching op shops to see what treasures abound, it's turning into a friendly competition to see who gets the best stuff first!  I particularly like Japanese pottery, so snapped up this lovely brown floral plate, and we need some bowls as everyone seems to enjoy breaking our current supply.  I remember 'kiln-craft' from when I was young and these lovely examples are ironstone ceramics made in Staffordshire, highly regarded for its pots!! 

Last but not least I found two great dresses.  The floral one obviously fulfils my 1970's mania, I love it for the pattern and the lace.  I'm thinking I will most likely make it into a maxi skirt, but as I haven't tried it on yet I don't know if I'll be able to wear it as is or not.  It does seem to be requiring some love and attention though as a few seams have popped stitches - nothing I can't handle.  The grey dress is lovely and lightweight, perfect for summer.  I will definitely be making this into a skirt, and look carefully you will see the Eiffel Tower - another of my passions!

Thrift shopping is such fun!  I LOVE IT!

And bonus - I caught up with a friend who gave me my birthday pressie from back in February - some beautiful 100% feltable yarn from a nearby Steiner school.  Just look at the colours - that green and red combo is just asking to be made into something for Christmas ...