Merry Christmas and Thank You!

We have a tradition in our family called "Thank-yous" and it started when our son Max(in-a-million)was old enough to understand the concept of "a prayer" - whilst we are a non-denominational family (in other words we embrace and respect all faiths) the idea of sharing and teaching Max to pray probably stems from my Anglican upbringing. The idea was not though to raise Max with a specific faith but rather to allow Max to discover The Divine through gratitude. After all we are given life, breath and soul by the same force we all worship. 

So we gather EVERY evening as a family (there are only 3 of us.Oops I mean four! Our pooch)and we take turns to thank God for all the things that we are grateful for in our day.Sometimes they are short and sweet (and a tad repetitive) and sometimes they are long and emotional and overwhelming. 

Max is twelve and he insists on this ritual without fail.I believe it has been a saving grace in our family, a way of bonding with each other and our path to strength and faith in our little nucleus. On this our Christmas Day it is the gift I am most grateful for. I have seen how transformative gratitude can be and I know that it has helped my son, my husband and myself to stop, breathe and look at the luxuries in our lives - little and large.

So this post wishes the world a Merry Christmas but it also says "Thank you"

Our ability to connect through this technology and share beauty, connect with loved ones (and strangers!) respond, comment, create, inspire, love and laugh is truly a special gift. 

BTW - These pictures were taken at my Nonnys' house where we have created a "Winter Wonderland" for the children - which, in my family, includes just about EVERYONE!I will post more of this magical event in the New Year.

Until then I wish the World a very Merry Christmas and; for those who do not celebrate the day specifically; I wish you safety, good company, good food, peace, joy and above all LOVE

AMEN

Ground Control to Major Tom...

This was our view on Saturday night at the U2 concert.

The following evening we saw MUSE

At the moment of surrender
I folded to my knees
I did not notice the passers-by
And they did not notice me
I’ve been in every black hole
At the altar of the dark star
My body’s now a begging bowl
That’s begging to get back, begging to get back
To my heart
To the rhythm of my soul
To the rhythm of my unconsciousness
To the rhythm that yearns
To be released from control 

(U2)

PS - MUSE attended the U2 show... I'm looking DOWN to see cloud nine!

I made them!

Well I'm proud as punch! I have made all my Christmas tags this year, and here they are! It was a lot easier than I first anticipated and well worth the effort. I bought kraft clay (Sorry! Forgot the brand but promise to post it soon) then I basically rolled it out like cookie dough and used some cookie cutters to shape. Then after about 48hrs (to be safe) I stamped them. I have alphabet stamps so I can turn them around and put personalised messages on them too! I ADORE stamps so I will have to include a post about my stamp collection and where I bought most of it from! (I've just noticed that this post is full of exclamation marks... I am excited so please forgive!!  - and one more for fun... !)

Thank you to all the fellow bloggers and artists who have truly inspired me! You guys have given me the "Cosmic Slap" I needed! Yes... a gentle but very necessary prod to get off my tush and "DO" not just DREAM! Of course dreaming is very important BUT, I think the doing that comes from dreaming is the most fulfilling of all!

Garden treasures

 Come take a walk with me in my garden!

Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World, 

With the wonderful water round you curled, 

And the wonderful grass upon your breast

World, you are beautifully drest. 

The wonderful air is over me, 

And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree, 

It walks on the water, and whirls the mills, 

And talks to itself on the tops of the hills. 

You friendly Earth! how far do you go, 

With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow, 

With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles, 

And people upon you for thousands of miles? 

Ah, you are so great, and I am so small, 

I tremble to think of you, World, at all; 

And yet, when I said my prayers to-day, 

A whisper inside me seemed to say, 

"You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot: 

You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!" 

by William Brighty Rands 

You must...

I have fallen in love with a new man... well his mind actually. I know that the world already recognises his genius and of course he doesn't create for the sake of fame (you can always tell where creativity comes from and where it's leading to...yes?) I'm talking about the AMAZING, ETHEREAL and INSPIRING work of Mr Paul Cocksedge. If you have not seen his work please take the time to be transported and mesmerised. You will not regret it. What I love the most is the simplicity of his ideas. Yes they may be large, expensive and even technologically challenging; but the idea, the essence...completely lucid and unpretentious. Sir... I doff my hat to you!
(Images courtesy of a Paul Cocksedge Images search - Google)

Outside!

Our outdoor shower!

Not much to look at but turn around and...

this is the view we have!

(these views are only surpassed by the magic of the view on a moonlit evening!)

 A couple of years ago our little family "jigged" around the UK in a motor home (made for 2 - not 3!) It was our first visit to the green green tapestry that is England. We are a pretty tight knit family(Our nickname is JAm - an acronym made up of the first letters of our names) and since this was our first ever overseas vacation we were, needless to say, pretty darn excited! We ADORED England and fell head over heels in love with it's natural beauty. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting family friends on their Organic Chicken farm. The farmhouse was nearly as old as Australia! The atmosphere was magical. A feature that this lovely family had added to their home (out of necessity) was an outdoor shower. We just loved this idea; and upon moving into our own "English cottage" (albeit in Australia) we vowed we too would have one! Well I must say I am converted for life! Whilst it looks rather basic and crude it delivers a view that makes me so happy I just had to share it with you!

Emily Dickinson

I hide myself within my flower,
That wearing on your breast,
You, unsuspecting, wear me too --
And angels know the rest.

I hide myself within my flower,
That, fading from your vase,
You, unsuspecting, feel for me
Almost a loneliness.

 (Emily Dickinson)

(Photos - me & my Hipstamatic)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

 My annual pilgrimage to Nonny's acreage (to find a suitable Christmas branch) was most successful. 

Of course I'd love it to be snowing outside, fire lit indoors, rug up for outdoor play...... sigh.

Well here in sunny (blue skies above) Perth - we enjoy the flip side of the weather coin and we "throw shrimps on the barbie, grab a mate a beer and catch the mornin surf!" 

Of course Christmas is about more than just the weather so until my dream of a "freezing festive season" comes true I'll settle for my little Winter-Wonderland.

Complete with reindeer, disco balls, feathers and well.... 

Pretty much anything that sparkles!!

Happy Holidays People!

Everything old is new again!

I am so so happy to share this photo! As you know I have received a beautiful new camera (a prez from my wonderfully supportive hubby) and I have been looking around for a suitable new camera bag - something stylish with NO Velcro, NO plastic and certainly NO nasty polyester!  I checked out E-bay, Etsy, Gumtree AND a number of thrift stores.....then it happened... I mentioned my search to Nonny (my mum) and she said "What about your Dad's old camera bag?" Well needless to say I was pink with joy! Leather, worn and genuine YKK zips - chunky, clunky and so authentic! It's travelled the globe too! I've lined it with a bit of foam for some extra cushioning and I have managed to fit all of my lenses in as well! Jolly good!

 Rings n things

 Silver lining

 A workspace that motivates

Agapanthus soon to bloom

 I'm now also the eager, enthusiastic and energetic owner of Hipstamatic - I'm in love!

Now a gal can time travel with nothing but an I-Phone and a dream...

I think I see a Yellow Brick Road....

New Music!

I've just recently discovered the work of an artist called The Caretaker  - Have a listen! It reminds me of the nights I'd sneak out of home and go and visit the local cemetery, sit on the gravestones and stare at the full moon - brazen with adrenalin and yet utterly captivated by the beauty and silence of the place! This music sounds like those nights did in my mind... haunting, sad, ethereal and divine. 

I'm ready to howl at the moon....