Wednesday

This morning (after hanging some washing on the line) I sat in the sun to read a little.
At the moment I am ready The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.  The cover of my edition reads "a work of such terrible beauty that you will struggle to look away".  So true.  For those who have either seen the wonderful movie adaptation, or read the book, will know it is the story of the journey of a father and son post Apocalypse.  McCarthy's writing style lends itself beautifully to the sparse feeling of the book.  The language is beautiful - there are times that my heart aches when reading about the love between the man and the boy.  David was really affected when we watched the movie and afterwards just had to go and sit on Nicholas' bed and look at him, asleep.

There is a passage in the first pages of the novel that stayed with me for days:

The road was empty.  Below in the little valley the still gray serpentine of a river.  Motionless and precise.  Along the shore a burden of dead reeds.  Are you okay? he said.  The boy nodded.  Then they set out along the blacktop in the gunmetal light, shuffling through the ash, each the other's world entire.

 I found those last words beautiful.  Each the other's world entire.  The feeling of being alone in the world and wanting to do whatever you had to to ensure your child was safe.

Another passage:

They slept huddled together in the rank quilts in the dark and the cold.  He held the boy close to him.  So thin.  My heart, he said.  My heart.

The Road is a novel I would recommend that everyone read, even just once in their lifetime.  I am hoping that by the time Nicholas is in high school that it appears on the school reading list.  McCarthy's writing is extraordinary.  You would think he has lived the Apocalypse.  While the topic sounds dreary, I cannot emphasis how simply beautiful this novel is.  It is a pleasure to read and, although I am not yet finished, I know I will feel changed having done so.

I thought of adding the movie trailer to this post, but while the movie is outstanding, I felt the scenes in the trailer did not do justice to the movie if it was to be the first impression someone got of the story.  So instead, I'll add Viggo Mortensen interview about the book.  He played the father in the movie, and well, who didn't love his role of Aragorn in Lord of the Rings?? :)



On a lighter note, David and I watched a delightful French film last night, Delicacy.



It was a lovely story and beutifully filmed.  Anything filmed in Paris always makes me want to go back! :)

Tuesday

Day # 2 and I spent some extra time at preschool. 

Today Audrey's teacher said: "you are going to have quite a teenager on your hands in a few years time".  I'm not quite sure how I feel about my greatest fears being articulated by someone else... Her teacher's explanation was that "Audrey is quite contrary at times".  hmmmmm

I think I need to do a book post...

Monday

Day #1

Breathe in the Spring air, feel the warmth of the sun on my face.  :)  It is day one of my leave today.  I have plans to ensure that I don't waste any of it...

I spent yesterday cleaning the house and doing ironing so that it felt as though I was starting with a blank canvas.
This morning I walked Nicholas and Audrey to school.  David is home from work on Mondays, so we hope to enjoy the luxury of brunch or coffee somewhere nice, taking it slow over the next couple of weeks. 

Walking home from school I listened to a Book Club podcast with Michael Ondatje, so I feel like I am utilising that time well by immersing myself in discussion surrounding something I get real pleasure from.  Some mornings (after the school holidays) I'll come a longer route home, in a half hearted attempt to exercises.

One thing I have been doing sporadically over the past couple of weeks is taking the kids to school, coming home and making a cup of tea before sitting in a sunny spot outside to read for half an hour.  I think that is a ritual I'd like to keep and it should see me get through at least one book while on leave.

I even plan on making a time for blogging once a day, while having morning tea or lunch, or in the evening when the kids are asleep.
This morning just before lunch I cut back the raspberries (long overdue) and planted some seedlings in preparation for our Spring garden: sage, basil, flat leaf parsley, rocket and zucchini.  The chickens have started laying again s everything feels new.

David washed down the walls, floors and ceiling of our bathroom this morning which is great as my one "job" during my time off is to start giving our bathroom a little makeover.  I want to do it sooner rather than later so that it is not hanging over my head...

School holidays are around the corner, so those days I'll dedicate to activities with Nicholas and Audrey and then resume me time when school starts again.

I've scheduled Melanie in for a couple of crafty things because my biggest fear is getting to the end of eight weeks leave to find I haven't really done a thing (although I'll make sure there are a few of those days to make it feel truley like a luxurious holiday. :)

Sunday

Excitement at the skate park yesterday.

 
 
 
 

Saturday

I am grateful for a husband who enjoys being adventurous with his cooking, and for children who are always willing to try the results (even if I am a little reticent at times).  The other night we had David's Coq au vin.  I love French provincial, so am glad I tried it... ;)

Sadly my photography doesn't match the meal... I enjoy looking at photographs of food and look forward to the release of this cook book. I've looked at the Cannelle et Vanille website regularly over the past year and eagerly await the final results! Her photographs are sublime!

Thursday

I don't know whether to cry, scream or laugh.  Last week when Nicholas had his hair cut I asked the hairdresser to tidy up Audrey's hair.  Ever since Nicholas took to her hair over 12 months ago and I had to have it cut ultra short I have been letting it grow to a reasonable length.  It had been all uneven and now it was finally looking perfect.  I have always liked pulling her hair to the side with a clip.

Then she came home tonight and today had been apparently playing with scissors...

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...