Real Life Fairy

Do you know someone as magical as my friend Elspeth? I met this fairy last year when I went back to school to study Art Therapy...she is a ray of sunshine, and lights up a room whenever she enters!

She dresses like a colourful butterfly (although I know that she is indeed a fairy) and wears bells so she tinkles when she walks...I love her.

We met up for tea and lemon cake by the river this morning to farewell one another for a while, for this gypsy girl is off overseas on magic adventures...

I began to make her a little going away gift, but I left it until the last minute (I know, so typical of me), and I didn't quite finish it, but I took a photo to show her anyway...the words say "Not all who wander are lost" and Elspeth said that is one of her favourite sayings!

Speaking of fairies, I think several villages have moved into our garden this past week! Abby came inside the other day and said "Mum, you should see all the fairy houses in our garden!" There were hundreds of them - magical!

For Elspeth...

So she cocoons

And she wraps herself in the sacred threads of her inner life

Which cannot be touched or polluted

Or influenced by the outer elements.

And there she remembers the truth of who she is

And what really matters after all

And the rest just falls away...Jen Gray

Weekend Bliss

Well the weekend is here again...yay! There's nothing I love better in Autumn than cocooning myself at home with my family and friends...and new puppies!

So I checked my blog this morning and saw that the beautiful Alina over at http://thepurplecaravan.blogspot.com/ had selected me for my first ever blog award - thankyou Alina, I am flattered. Alina's blog is incredibly soulful, and her words and images resonate deeply with me.

So, 9 things about myself...

1. I love to play dress-ups - any excuse.

2. I have always loved fairies

3. I always cry in movies - all my life I have been told I am too sensitive, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

4. I get anxious when I am around too many people, and actually enjoy my own company.

5. Like Alina, I have always wanted a gypsy caravan so I can nurture my Saggitarian yearnings and escape on magical adventures...

6. I love to visit the mountains where I live - I feel a spiritual connection there.

7. I have always wanted a pet donkey.

8. I am passionate about food and love to cook for my family and friends.

9. I am a frustrated singer, and will grab a microphone at every opportunity!

So, that's me in a nutshell! I love all the blogs I read, so if you want to play, feel free to post 9 things about yourself and comment here so we can come visit. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Puppy Dog Tales...

As I mentioned in my last post, this gorgeous little girl came to live with us last week...she is a little ray of sunshine.

We lost our Bobby dog back in January of this year - he was a poodle bichon, and the funniest little character you ever want to meet - without going into the graphic details, he had a horrible accident while we were holidaying at our beach house. We were all terribly traumatised because it was so sudden.

Little Pippi is here, not to replace Bob, for he was one of a kind, but to help heal the hurt - I just know he would love her!

I think she is going to be a little character too, and I just know she will be spoilt rotten - how could you resist a little face like that? Oh, the adventures she shall have.... ooh, by the way, she is a cavoodle - a cross between a poodle and a cavalier, and she is 9 weeks old. I am a proud mumma!

Show What You Create and a new puppy!

Ok, so I think I'm a wee bit late, but I promise I have a really good excuse...look at this little face! This is our new little puppy, Pip! Isn't she cute? Wow, I forgot how time-consuming puppies can be!

Anyway, thankyou to http://vintagebellastudio.blogspot.com/ for hosting this lovely event 'Show What You Create'.

I am new to blogging, but if you scroll through some of my older posts you will see that I love creating, especially mixed media canvases at the moment, but I also love to dress up and take pretty pictures!

I am showing you my latest piece which I blogged about in my last post - I had a lot of fun creating her when I was feeling restless last Saturday afternoon...that's how it is for me sometimes...I just feel an overwhelming urge to create something fun.

The other piece I wanted to share is a favourite - I love vintage images, and decided to use this lovely lady to create this piece.

So thankyou for stopping by, and I look forward to visiting all the other lovely blogs to see what everyone else is up to...my very favourite thing to do - so many amazing artists out there. Please drop back anytime...my blog is a little bit of this and that, and I love to read your comments.

Happy Unbirthday

Today's post is inspired by the lovely Miss Vanessa over at my favourite blog http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/

When I really should have been cleaning and folding the washing, instead the sun decided to shine and enticed me out into the garden to play...

Like the lovely Miss V, my birthday is in December, when it is lovely and sunny, but why celebrate 'me' just one day a year?

So, inspired by little girls who love to dress up, I chose a fancy outfit and had myself a Very Happy Unbirthday, he he.

A little reminder to everyone, life is short, don't take it too seriously...remember to play and create...it certainly made me smile. And go over and visit Miss Vanessa, she is the Queen of Eye Candy - I wish I lived next door...

A Chicken Adventure

Do you remember me telling you about Mr Fox who ate our black chicken? Well our other little lady has been lonely since, so on Friday, we decided to take a little drive to the Yarra Valley, where there is a chicken farm...

I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone, so to speak, and there is a restaurant nearby that I have been wanting to try for quite some time. I tricked, I mean, convinced Ian into stopping there, where we enjoyed a most delicious lunch.










































This place is called 'Bella Vedere', and it is set amongst this beautiful vineyard, and has it's own vegetable gardens, where fresh produce is picked to make delectable meals...















































For $150 you can go there in the morning and join a cooking class - pick your own veges from the garden, be taught how to cook with them, along with beautiful fresh farm produce, which the area is reknowned for, then sit and enjoy the lunch you have prepared - I would love to do this, and think it would make a lovely present...(hint hint to my husband)

Inside is cosy and warm, and the views out the windows are amazing...I love the Yarra Valley, it is so picturesque, and I especially love the way you can watch the weather change across the valley.

The next day I was feeling quite restless, so I finally picked up the paints again, put on some music and spent the afternoon creating this little painting.

Serendipity

I have decided to share this little story today because I love those little moments of serendipity that happen on occassion...you know the kind that gives you goosebumps?

Both my girls love music. Georgia played the trumpet for many years, and also loves the guitar...Abby has been learning piano, and last year began having singing lessons.

Well, Abby has a dream to help those less fortunate, and unbeknown to me had asked my husband if he could find out if she could sing for the children in hospital...it's her way of doing something constructive to help.

He contacted the Royal Childrens' Hospital and they said 'The Starlight Foundation' would be delighted to have her come in and sing for the children, accompanied by Georgia on the guitar. Naturally, she was thrilled and began choosing some songs.

This is where the story gets interesting...this morning I decided to go to a New Age shop nearby to get a particular book. I was telling the woman there about Abby's decision to sing for the children. I explained to her that she had a lovely voice, and that a couple of years ago I had seen a clairvoyant (have I lost you yet?) and she told me she saw Abby with a star over her head. I had not made the connection, but the woman in the shop reminded me that she was singing for the 'Starlight Foundation' - goosebumps indeed!

I share this story here because I feel we all have little signs along the way to remind us when we are on the right path...we just need to take notice. Is it her destiny to be a singer, or to help those less fortunate? Hmmm, that's up to her, but something tells me she's already on the right path.

Beautiful Sunday

What a lovely Mother's Day I had...I invited mum and dad and my sister Jo-Anne and her husband Stephen for lunch.

Lunch was lovely - I made 2 types of soup. Roast pumpkin and pea and ham, along with fresh crusty bread.

Then it was a homemade brie and pear tart, chicken and salad...yum.

My flourless chocolate cake I made the day before was a disaster! So off to the shops this morning for some store-bought goodies - melting moments and portugese custard tarts - my favourites.

Thankyou to my family for making my day so special, it really was lovely.

The Greatest Love of All...

I don't know that I fully appreciated a mother's job until I became a mother myself...

All I ever wanted when I was little was to grow up and have babies - couldn't wait!

And here I am now, my girls so grown up, and all the emotions I am feeling throughout this amazing journey are profound.

I want to thank my mother for being such an amazing role model, and for appreciating my individuality and supporting all of my decisions. Isn't she beautiful? Believe it or no, she's 77 years old - I wanna look that good when I am her age. She still works at her job as an aerobics instructor for older people - can you believe it?

She has always stayed youthful, both inside and out, and I am spoiling her tomorrow with a luscious Sunday lunch...yeh, I know, I'm a mum too and deserve spoiling. Don't worry, I have spent the afternoon cooking so tomorrow, I can kick back, pour a champagne and celebrate the joy (mostly) of motherhood. Happy Mother's Day x

Hot Chocolate for the Soul

Lovely raindrops overnight have given way to a sunny Autumn day here, although the air is very cool...

A perfect day for staying in and playing...I have been nesting these past few days - out with the old and in with the new. (I will share photos soon when I have finished 'tweaking').

I love this time of year so much. We have a little wood fire in our family room which we light every night. It's so cosy and warm. I am still on my 'healthy eating regime' that my naturopath gave me (and I feel fantastic!), but some nights I am craving something sweet, so I have been making myself a hot chocolate with organic dark chocolate...yum!

I'm off to buy a couple of warm throw rugs and some candles - how I love candles! The way they cast such a magical glow over everything. These little touches make a house a home, I think...the little rituals we perform each day, some we take for granted, but that comfort and nuture us.

Happy Day

It is one of those magical Autumn days here in Melbourne...it is actually quite mild.

I have been moving furniture, and playing house. The windows are thrown open to catch the balmy breeze. Those winds of change, you see...

It is one of those perfect clothes drying days - you know the kind.

So, if you will excuse me, I am off to find a big pile of Autumn leaves to jump in....tra la la...

Mad Tea Party!

Oooh, I am so excited! I have signed on to take part in the lovely Miss Vanessa's Mad Tea Party this year...my head is swirling with ideas and inspiration - what fun - I hope you will come join me....we're all mad here...

Saturday Nights aren't what they used to be....

I find myself on a Saturday afternoon childless and husbandless! Georgia has caught an early train this morning to go to her first proper concert, and Abby is sleeping over at a friend's. Ian is watching the local football, and then accompanying my brother-in-law on the 2 hour drive to pick up the girls from said concert.


On these occassions, I get a little bit anxious about how best to spend my time....don't want to waste those precious moments of solitude. Let's see...I have been meaning to get around to having a play on my sewing machine...ok





Insert much laughter here...it all comes flooding back - I never have been a wizz with the sewing machine - I manage to sew both sides of the slip together, ha ha!








Deep breath...ok, it's ok - just unpick some stitches...try again.






Ok, not perfect, but not altogether awful.
























So, the candles are lit, the wine is chilled, and the movie is ready to go....bliss.


Hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday night x