Lilies for Kashy...

I have a bestest buddy who lives just around the corner from me.

Her name is Jax. Coincidentally she has a bestest Mum who also lives just around the corner

from me. Her name is Jill. Do I love living near two rather fabulous ladies? 

Well of course I do.... BUT... (there's always a but isn't there?) Jax has a sister you see. Which means (obviously) that Jill has another daughter. 

A bestest sister. 

A bestest daughter. 

Her name is Kashy and she does not live just around the corner from me. 

She lives in the green and verdant county of Devon, in England.

Kashy has been over to visit with her husband Richard. They love Australia and they've had a marvellous vacation. Sadly though they return today. I'm off in an hour to say good bye.

I'm pretty crap with farewells. I want Kashy to live around the corner from me.

Then all our goodbye's would be temporary.

Lovely lady

I miss you already

We miss you already

Australia misses you already

As we discussed Lilies are traditionally given to mark birth and death.

Well I love them and I know you do too. 

So here's to the death of one vacation and the birth of

planning for the next one! 

Blessings, Light and Love... to you and yours.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Wonder ...

“One of the most terrible losses man endures in his lifetime is not even noticed by most people, much less mourned. Which is astonishing, because what we lose is in many ways one of the essential qualities that sets us apart from other creatures. I'm talking about the loss of the sense of wonder that is such an integral part of our world when we are children. However, as we grow older, that sense of wonder shrinks from cosmic to microscopic by the time we are adults. Kids say "Wow!" all the time. Opening their mouths fully, their eyes light up with genuine awe and glee. The word emanates not so much from a voice box as from an astonished soul that has once again been shown that the world is full of amazing unexpected things.

When was the last time you let fly a loud, truly heartfelt "WOW?"

Not recently I bet. Because generally speaking wonder belongs to kids, with the rare exception of falling madly in love with another person, which invariably leads to a rebirth of wonder. As adults, we are not supposed to say or feel Wow, or wonder, or even true surprise because those things make us sound goofy, ingenuous, and childlike. 

How can you run the world if you are in constant awe of it?..."

(Jonathan Carroll)

Excitement levels rising....

Do you love flowers?
Do you dream about them?
Do fill vases and vessels in your dreams?

I do....

.....and I've just enrolled in a Floral Design course.....

... so can you imagine how excited I am?

I cannot even imagine how excited I am since I am soooooo

excited I've lost all perspective on excitement.

I have a new excitement benchmark level.

I am newly excited.

This is a blissfully good feeling.

*******

Peoples... when last were you truly excited about something?

What was it? Why did it excite you?

It's awesome is it not? This rush. This heart smile.

My wish for you today...

A mahoosive dose of healthy, heart racing, tingly, smiley excitement.

Enjoy ♥♥♥

A theory for everything...

The latest findings in Quantam Physics now suggests that, what we thought was the most finite particle we could possibly identify, the ATOM - is indeed made up of sub atomic particles which, when broken down to its' most basic form reveals, ... essentially.. well... empty space. In other words...

NOTHING.

So it occurred to me* that whilst we are observing matter, breaking it down to its simplest forms and studying it until we discover that it is essentially nothing. We then postulate, theorise and interject our theories as to what this means, how it relates to us, how it affects us.

BUT.... 

If matter is essentially nought, and we are made up of matter are we nought too?

Is nothing looking carefully at NOTHING? Through a very powerful microscope?

How then do you measure human existence?

How do we quantify the "stuff that matters most" (pardon the pun)

Love, hope, heart ache, fear?

Can we split a kiss into enough particles only to determine it meant nothing?

Can we take the cry of a baby and study it until we realise it's not even there?

Can we theorise on love until we postulate that it's just a thought... nothing more?

How do we measure who we are when we keep forgetting that the measuring never

amounts to anything? What difference does it make what anything is made of?

If we cannot measure ourselves is it not logical to conclude that we are indeed, 

most definitely, without question, scientifically (and romantically and philosophically and crazily) speaking...

IMMEASURABLE

How lovely... I am immeasurable.

I have no limits

I have no beginning

I have no end

I am ... 

FOREVER

♥♥♥

* and please know this... I am by no means a right brain kinda gal so this epiphany is not mine to copyright... I am positive far more eloquent orators have mused on this before me.

Indeed these thoughts were inspired whilst tootling along listening to this podcast.

Fascinating.... truly fascinating.

What would Henry do?

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Although I have not taken to the woods* I have lived deep and sucked the marrow from life* this week. Henry himself would surely have approved wholeheartedly of the Vegan Sushi and the Roasted Tomato, Garlic & Edemame Salad. As for Jamie Oliver's Happy Cow Burgers ...
Hubby you nailed it.

The year has begun with the crack of a whip - paperwork, job applications, new courses, sorting, packing, visitors, correspondence, entertaining, gardening and of course all the usual chores that are demanded by a home. A brief reprieve from all the craziness was provided when we attended my Nieces' birthday party. Sweet Aaliyah's 7th birthday party (where has the time gone?). Her creative Mummy made the most delicious Strawberry and Vanilla cupcakes I've ever tasted and of course every Italian affair we attend involves some form of culinary delight - in this case Arancini with Pesto .... be still my eating tastebuds. The highlight for me though was observing my gorgeous son exercise supreme diplomacy whilst little toddlers scrambled all over him to get his attention.

If there's one thing that 67% humidity does it's cleanse. You sweat, you drip and and you shower - not once but three times a day. I have tried to be patient with Summer but I'm afraid I've uttered far too many complaints and far too little thanks. After all, what good can complaining do? Not to mention the fact that I have a pool... so no more complaining Angy. No more. If there is to be cooking it will be oven free. If there is to be reading it will be in front of a fan. If there is to be paperwork it will be done with iced tea and if there is to be walking it will be done at Dusk...

... I'm sure Henry would approve.

Your week peoples? How have you been managing your climate conditions?
How have you kick started your year? Has it been slow and steady or fast and furious?
Have you heard the latest news on the book front??
Sibella and Pia ... new books are on there way!! (Happy crazy silly dance)

What have you been cooking up in the kitchen lately? I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Happy Cow Burgers were the best burgers I've ever had. The great thing is the recipe is adaptable. Hubby didn't have broad beans instead he used edemame and it was perfect. So you can turn this mixture into little balls for an entree or squish it around skewer sticks to make vegan shish kebabs. Enough said.
Just do it.

Have a wonderful week peoples. Light and love. ♥♥♥

*“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

Glamour...

The truth is often fudged is it not?
The details we omit can often make a rather glamorous sounding existence come thumping down to earth with a healthy dose of balanced reality....

Case in point

One wakes at seven thirty and rises to start the kettle and brew a steaming cup of tea. One dresses oneself whilst waiting for the kettle to boil and then begins preparations for the green smoothie one has taken to sipping for a nutritional breakfast. One meanders outside through the green and verdant garden to collect the eggs and feed the chickens. One takes a moment to savour the morning air and engage with the birdsong. One feels ever so blessed and grateful.

Details omitted - because lets face it in blogland we can fall in the trap of idealising things, no?

Morning breath... not mine - the pooch who woke me up at seven (bl**min) thirty! The milk spilt when the carton was shaken - Who did not tighten the lid? (It'll be no one of course) The lady-like cussing that escapes when you put BOTH your shirt and your pants on inside out. The weeds and pooch poop that needs tending to. The chicken poop that needs tending to. The fly that successfully entered my nose for a brief second (look away if you're squeamish) only to be killed IN MY NOSE by my violent slap! (which has now left me with a sore shnozz) The dead rat under the decking (very common in these parts and for this time of year) that will now add a genuine "outdoor" fragrance to the alfresco dinner we have planned.

Thank you peoples. You know what they say...

The truth will set you free.

I remember now....

There are days when I go looking for a memory that seems to have disappeared. I look in all the usual places. I slam mental drawers and I throw small little tantrums. Silent ones. I scream (on the inside) and sulk (on the outside) whilst examining all the crevices and cracks I may have overlooked. I move furniture, I huff and I puff.

There are days when I stumble upon a memory I never even knew went missing. I stare in disbelief. I frown and then smile. Like a long lost friend, I try and make sense of the differences that my newer (older) perspective gives me. Why did this memory become dusty, cobwebbed and unfamiliar?

There are days when I relive a memory as though time travel really existed. I'm there. I can smell it. I can taste it. I can feel it.  It's happening now.

There are days when it's all so real I cry the tears that were shed the first time.
There are days when it's all too hazy so I store it away for a clearer moment.

There are days when I'd swear time stood still and there are days when all I feel is the age I have become in contrast to the age I have clung to.

I look in the mirror at the little girl who is now allowed to wear what she pleases and issues her own curfew. The little girl stares back at me. Waiting.

I want to say to this little girl "remember everything" and yet I know that's not necessary.
One day (when she grows up) she'll find all the memories she was looking for.