Wednesday

Last day of school for 2014! As always, I am glad the school year is over.  :)
When I feel I can relax though, in the back of my mind I am conscious that I have an essay due on 5 January.  For the last couple of years I find I can barely make it to Christmas, so to be in the middle of a university trimester is daunting.  the kids get excited about Christmas and I try to make it a special time, but so many things crowd our space these days that I fear I fail miserably. My blog this year has mainly become a recording of photographs now and then.  Hoping that a picture truly says a thousand words. That I love my kids and wish the world for them.  Even when I cannot provide it.
Truth be told, I haven't written much as this year has been crap for me on so many levels.  It is one New years Eve that I will be truly celebrating.  At the same time 2015 scares me as I have made some decisions and changes that will hopefully be the best for my family, even if I know there will be days when I wonder what the hell I was thinking.

So, pictures for a thousand words today, pictures from the past few weeks:

Other things:
Julette Binoche is one of my favourite actresses and I really want to see her latest film, A Thousand Times Goodnight.  (Babysitters be warned)



Turns out one of my favourite singers has a song on the soundtrack.



And my teenage poster boy, Larry Mullen jnr is in the movie (that feels a bit weird to me) so with three of my favourites I have great expectations.

Thursday

Two things making me feel good today.

Listening to this, loudly.



Reflecting on these words.

"What Is Success"

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803 - 1882

Wednesday

I desperately want to do some crafting.  Of any kind, but particularly the needle and thread variety.  I tried to find a cross stitch I started a while ago, as I thought this would be something easy to keep in a basket in the corner.  I can then pull it out whenever I have a few spare moments.  but really, I don't see that happening... the logical choice would be the Princess and the Pea stitchery I started last year for Audrey.  maybe if I do a bit each night it can be ready for Christmas.  But I won't put myself under that pressure.  :)

I have Maggie's mat to sew, as well as a Christmas Stocking that I have started gathering the fabric for.

Here is a quilt a friend of David's mothers' did for Maggie.  I have never met the woman - I am touched by the kindness of strangers.  I am not one to usually like bright, bold colours, but this quilt is lovely.

 

Maggie is 3 months old today!

 

and just so I can keep a record of it, something beautiful here.  (I so wish I was in Spain though!!)

  



Tuesday

I came across this artist care of Melanie.  I am enjoying this song.

Wednesday

There is always a certain style of music I enjoy... loving Mumford & Sons at the moment.

Tuesday

A few weeks ago I caught the bus home from work.  The bus driver looked young.  He had a leather band around his neck, some around his wrist and a beard.  I noted how soothing and relaxing the ride home was.  Why?  He was listening to Classical FM on the radio.  I noticed how good it made me feel.  When I got home I pulled out some of my own classical cd's.  I have two in particular that Melanie bought me a long time ago and they are the perfect mix of classical music.  I put them on when I started my holidays and had time alone and found that it has the same effect on me. I feel happier.    I have been playing them over the holidays and hope that subliminally the kids feel the same way as they are playing. :)



Puccini and Pasta includes music from one of my favourites movies of all time - A Room With A View, so brings back many memories.  A blog post I read today echoed my sentiments exactly.

Last night we had Chinese for dinner.  Nothing particularly remarkable, though the meal was delicious.  David made san choy bow, and steamed some bok choy, we ordered lemon chicken and I made the rice.  I wanted to mention it here though as we used plates and bowls made by a Japanese woman I know who is a potter.  Aren't they beautiful?

* * * * * * * * *
I love the way Audrey writes her name. :)

Tuesday

My favourite female Christian artist is Sara Groves. I have posted a couple of her songs before here, here and elsewhere.  At the moment I'm playing the following two songs a lot.  When I first heard the lyrics to Finite I identified with the song immediately!



And When The Saints is a glorious declaration of people of faith - both past and present.  She does some great advocacy work for issues that have for a long time challenged me...

Wednesday

Random things today -

The other day I said my kids were starting to express their faith a little...

Yesterday Nicholas had a friend over from school and he stayed for dinner.  part way through the meal Nicolas got his bible and gave it to me, asking me to read a story for his friend, as he "doesn't believe in God".  So I figured David and Goliath would be a nice boy kills giant story that would appeal to a 7 year old.  The Jesus Storybook Bible tells it really well for that reason...
When I finished Nicholas said "now do you believe in God?"  "No" was the reply.  But he liked the story!  Nicholas then asked me if we could ask the kids mum if she believed in God when she came to collect her son...  I love his faith.

I am LOVING this Sarah McLachlan/Cyndi Lauper duet.  Sarah McLachlan has long been my favourite female artist.  I have great memories of my first year at uni - studying my dream field of anthropology, archaeology and museum curatorship.  I'd listen to her all the time.

Later she came to Canberra on tour and Dave and I went with another friend.  I was heavily pregnant with Nicholas and I am sure he was dancing.  He rolled and kicked inside me like never before.  Cyndi Lauper?  Well, with a 25 year school reunion coming up revisiting some of my 80's music is a prerequisite!  Girls Just Wanna Have Fun anyone? :)



And while we are onto the '80's these are brilliant!  I can see a kitsch little corner of our hallway with these framed on it...

Breakfast Club, Princess Bride and Labyrinth... there is also Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty in Pink! 







Not to mention various Star Wars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ones Nicholas would like...  enough of that though.  I have to get on top of other UFOs before I start anymore.

Wednesday

Wednesday

Speaking to my soul lately...

right now

Loving this version of one of my very favourite songs... I don't often like to deviate from the original version.   She also has a cover of another one of my all time favourites.  Fire and Rain.  I'm sure James Taylor won't mind it either.

* appreciating a time of reflection. 
* feasting on ministry.
* challenged by this story.
* grateful for a clean tidy house.
* preparing for a week away.
* happy with progress on my unfinished projects....

Sunday

boo hoo

I found out the other day that Bon Iver will be playing at the Sydney Opera House the week of my 40th birthday.  How memorable would that have been?!Of course the whole TOUR is sold out.

Monday

We listened to Greg Attwells a bit while we were on holiday.

wednesday

Sinners

Saw this artist play last night and bought his cd. Just my style of music.



And one of his original songs - Sinners. It was the first song he sang and brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat.

at the moment

I don't feel particularly on top of my Christmas plans... Christmas cd collation is ready to hand out, I have started writing Christmas cards, baking and shopping for gifts is yet to commence....So I have been listening to music.

More Music

I have shared some of Natalie Merchants music before.  I love the cd 'Leave Your Sleep' where she has written music to poems by people such as e e cummings as well as nursery rhymes.
A short doco on the making of the cd and the inspiration behind it is here. 
I'd love the opportunity to see her live.  She just has so much fun!
One of the poems/songs is called 'Janitors Boy'.

Belshazaar

For no particular reason this particular scripture has been on my mind the past week:
Daniel 5:27 "you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting".
It causes me to search my heart.

Then I found myself humming the song.  I cannot say if I first heard this song from my grandmother who was a Johnny Cash fan, or from my dad who shares a little bit of my appreciation for country, but in any case it is a catchy song with good words. 

music for today

Today I am listening to this...



and this...