Back in the land of the living!

Well we were hit by a terrible virus this past week.

Seems our trip to Sydney wasn't without souvenirs.... of the worst kind.

Shivers, chills, high fevers, aches and pains, all the usual horribles of winter flu.

Our little one took it hardest. For a whole week she has been doing little more than sleeping and being miserable. It has been a struggle for all of us.

It's so hard watching the light of your life suffering as she has been. For the first couple of days I handled it as her Mummy with such grace and patience.... Then I have to admit it wore me down. It was by far one of my worst experiences as a mother.

Today was the first day she has bounced around home again. I have to say the relief and the joy are so welcome. We celebrated with family cuddles and painting!

Oh that smile.....

Visiting Grandma

There’s a place we go in the Hills,
Where there’s room to run and fly
To stir and mould and bake
And watch the clouds go by

It’s filled with trees and flowers
Leaves the colour of sun
Lace on the windows
And so much time for fun!

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We feed the chooks that lay no eggs
We run with the dogs that don’t nip!
We pick citrus fruit from the orchard
And from rosy tea cups we sip.

There’s so much to love in this pretty place
And there’s one thing that’s best by far
It’s being close and having hugs
With ‘specially wonderful Grandma. xx

Bud Babies

Lately, we have had a few special little friends celebrate their winter birthdays. It has been a chance for my little one to delight in treats, laughter, games, and all things magical.

It has also been a chance for me to treat my inner child.

I have carved time out for myself to take my own inner child to the rainforest and even to buy her a garnet ring (my birthstone). In the forest I was blessed with wondrous synchronicities one of which was the materialising of my most recent children's story.

It is a story set in a mountainside forest about a small shrub who feels scared and alone in the winter storm. An ancient tree falls in the storm leaving a vast hole in the canopy. This affects all the trees in the forest, and particularly the small shrub. When the storm passes the new dawn of spring casts her light on shrub's tender green leaves, warming her through in a way she has not known before. She notices herself changing and that she is adorned with sleeping buds. Eventually with some help of the water fairies, she blossoms.



Hear the whisper of the leaves
While softly and still you lie
Tiny buds in your cosy beds
Blossoming time is nigh...

I had written the story some days before seeing the exact scenario before me in the forest... A giant tree had fallen in a storm and left a huge hole in the canopy where the sun was now streaming through, gleamily dancing on the young leaves of many budding shrubs on the forest floor. It was one of those feelings you get that make me feel oh so affirmed and connected to our beloved Earth Mother.

Pictured are the little needle felted bud babies we made as gifts which accompany the story.


Love and Blessings to all our winter birthday friends!

Backyard kangaroos

Recently we had a visit from some great friends, one of whom lives in Alaska. Hi Tim and Karen!

When they were here, our backyard kangas popped in to say hello which was so nice for them.

This afternoon, I was sitting here checking my emails and they came at dusk for a munch. I just had to share this with you.

We really are so blessed living here...

Definitely need that fence around the vege garden though... before we do any major planting.
We'll keep their access open for the grassed area though... How could we deprive the bulge in Mama Roo's pouch that succulent green cooch?

Baby Dragons for Silkwood

The Hearts and Hands craft group at Silkwood are making these gorgeous little baby dragons.  The original design is by Robyn Stickland, Melbourne.  We each find our own embellishments and creativity to make each little critter unique and of course they are all made with much love…

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Been busy making

I've been busy the past couple of days.

Found this gorgeous fabric in three of my favourite colours and heavy enough to make the bag I've had in mind for a little while...

The motif in the bottom right corner features prominently in my paintings. I call it my waterwheel design. I appliqued it on with the good old zig zag technique I learnt in high school sewing class. Waterwheels is also a song I wrote many years ago... Yes, I am a singer songwriter too. One day I'll get around to posting some of my songs on here. And make this blogspot a little more multimodal (as we creative arts therapists say). Waterwheels is a beautiful flowing metaphor in the song for how I transport myself (physically or in meditation/visualisation) to places that nourish my soul,... places I love, like the ocean!

Garden of Vegan

The time has finally come
To forge our own little plot

To plug in to Mother Nature

And create our home grown tasty spot

We picked, purchased and pressed on for home
With trailor packed full in tow
Reversing, traversing over the lawn
And finally we're ready to go

I stand in awe of my man
His strength, sweat and toil
As he guided, wielded, swung and dug
In a tussle with sleepers and soil

And by time the sun had set
Our tools we had laid down
Proudly pondering potential
Of this new and fertile ground!