My Beautiful Family.....

When I was younger I'm sure that I imagined what my family would look like when 'I grew up'.  I'm sure I never pictured this......

Jessica waiting for dinner.

True love.  This is our nutcase lab, Sophie.  She's gorgeous in her own crazy way.

She's a licker.  Sigh.

It may not be what I pictured long ago but it feels the same I'm sure.  Heart full of love.  House full of happiness. So very lucky.

Another baby step back to me.....

Getting back into yoga with the support of Jess.

For the past two years I've struggled with chronic bursitis in my shoulder.  Had a little tantrum (a gentle one) today and decided I'm getting back on the mat no matter what.  Will see if I hold firm to that if the pain comes back!!

Watch, Listen, Read

 Here are a few of the things that I have been watching recently.  The movies are made from books I love that I read some time ago - actually I think I was reading 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed about this time last year.  Well done Reece Witherspoon and crew for bringing Cheryl's story to the screen so effectively.  On our trip to Oregon, Jeff and I stayed along the Columbia River Gorge not far from the Bridge of the Gods so it was lovely to visit it again - even vicariously and oh so briefly. The movie depicts Cheryl's struggle after the death of her mother and her decision to hike the PC (Pacific Crest Trail) as a way to find herself again. The PC trail runs from the Mexican border at it's southern end to Canada in the north.  Click on the link to learn more.

Bill Bryson's, "A Walk in the Woods", is a long time favourite and I am delighted with how this film turned out.  I imagined Bill's delight at being played by the eternally handsome Robert Redford but I was unable to imagine Robert playing Bill.  He did so, wonderfully!  Nick Nolte plays the crude yet likeable Katz who walks the Appalachian Trail with Bill and he too delivers a great performance.  Lots of fun (a bit of swearing so heads up to those who don't go in for that).  The funny moments from the book where I near peed myself translated well to film - bladder control remained intact!  Passing the film on to Mum who laughed so much and so loudly reading the book that she kept waking up my father who was asleep in the next room.  I think she'll enjoy the film as well.  Now I have a new favourite thing to watch while ironing!

 Speaking of ironing, while I worked through an obscenely enormous ironing pile (Jeff's work clothes) this week, I had a Sherlock marathon.  One of my favourite TV series.  Jeff and I recently went to the movies with my friend Donna to see it's latest installment.  Keep them coming team.  Love your work!!

Instead of listening to the radio when driving I have developed the habit of plugging my phone into the stereo and listening to podcasts that I have saved.  I don't need to listen to a lot of the dribble, poor pranks etc that go on on the radio and get to fill my time listening to really interesting and inspiring programmes.  My two absolute favourites at present are Karen Hager at Out of the Fog Radio, and Koren Motekaitis at How She Really Does It.  Love them. I've been listening to Pam Grout (E2 and E3) on both shows and was lead to the works of author David Michie after listening to him on Karen's show.

My latest literary crush is David Michie (thanks to Karen's interview for putting him on my radar).  Since shortly before Christmas I have read the following books of his.....

I loved all of them.  They are beautifully written and share such wisdom and joy and humour.  In fact I think that The Magician of Lhasa has become one of my most favourite books of all time.  I initially read them on my kindle but as they are 'keepers' I am ordering them in paperback to add to my collection to share.  If you want great books to read that are delightful and just happen to gently introduce you to the beliefs and some practices of the Tibetan Buddhists, grab these.  You won't regret it.

I am currently reading "The Way of the Quest" by Dr George Blair-West, a Brisbane based psychiatrist/psychologist - oops can't recall which.  It reminds me a bit of "The Alchemist" by Paolo Coelho.  The wisdom of the book deals with finding your life purpose, how to find your path and your joy.  Very appropriate for me at present and lots of strangely synchronistic links between my outer life and the story in the book.  Love it when that happens.

And finally...... raising my wand in memory of the late, magnificent Alan Rickman.  By Grapthar's Hammer he will be missed.....

Slowly finding my feet....

Slowly, slowly I am reclaiming my days and finding my own rhythm again.  Most afternoons I sleep as I have been struggling terribly with my energy again for quite some time.  School returns next week and it is then that I will start to feel more keenly the loss of the routine that evolved around having the boys here.  The great and lovely Don has also decided to cease his Bli Bli classes and hold his classes only at Tewantin.  Sadly this is too far for me to drive at present so my plans to return to my art group have not turned out either.  So space is opening up for me to place my energy elsewhere or to explore other as yet unkown things.  I choose to look forward with an open and positive attitude to what other opportunities present themselves.

Until then I will continue going to my meditation classes. Each week Aannsha sets up a lovely little display for us. Each week they are different and they always relate to the type of meditaion that we are doing that day.

My nightly meditation group starts back in a few weeks and I look forward to returning to that as well.  Angel frequently plays the quartz crystal singing bowls which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

I've also been filling my time taking Jess to the vet for surgery to remove three growths on her head, nose and under her jowl.

Here she is after surgery feeling a bit sore and miserable I think.  She went into the vet so happily and was beautifully behaved.  When we went back to have the stitches removed ten days later she cried and didn't want to leave me the big sook.  Totally different behaviour to our previous visit!

I haven't been ready to get back into the studio yet wanted to do something, so I got into my sewing cupboard and found a box of goodies that contained the following cross stitch kit.   I purchased this on a trip to Scotland with my sister in 1998 or 1999.  Hangs head in shame.  It's gone under the radar since then.  Actually, I've done no cross stitch since before I got sick.  My head just couldn't cope with it.

Just a little bookmark.  Should be finished today.  I have learned that I have reached the age where I most definitley need to stitch with my glasses on (after repeatedly trying to thread the wrong end of the needle....).  I've enjoyed it though.

Another small but BIG  thing I did in the past week was to do something completely for myself and somewhat frivolous.  I had my legs waxed for the first time in nearly three years and I totally splurged and had a pedicure as well.

Bit of a shock to the system but in line with my intention to focus more on myself and do things for ME in 2016.  This week I have a haircut booked - long overdue too I'm looking rather wild and fuzzy.

Baby steps to finding myself and my rhythm - are any of you going to join me?  Come on girls let's make 2016 a transformational, breakthrough year.

love Sandy

Change.....the one constant....

Three years ago our extened family started going through some very difficult and stressful changes.  Two years ago my life changed enormously and almost overnight when my brother and his two young boys moved in to live with Jeff and I - we had 4 days notice.  My life changed completely really.  Previously I spent most of my day alone in the quiet pottering in the garden and painting or creating in my studio.  Suddenly I had a house full and became 'Mum' to two little boys who needed care, attention, supervision, love, homework supervised, play dates and sleep overs.  My studio was in the Granny Flat where my my brother and his boys now lived and I struggled to continue with my art. Severe external stressors continued and this was a real challenge to deal with. I struggled with my health and as much as I strived for balance I got absorbed by the needs of everyone else and lost myself somewhat.  I struggled against it but I came to the stage where I was exhausted, unwell and couldn't see my own life and dreams anymore.

Now just as suddenly as they moved in, the boys have all moved out. Two days after finding out they were packing they are gone and so are all of their belongings.  The house is quiet, I have no demands on my time - no kids to supervise or shuttle around, no kids friends sleeping over..... I have what seems to be an enormous amount of empty space looking back at me and I'm not sure how to fill it. I find it bemusing this place I suddenly find myself in. I loved being a part of the kids lives and experiencing the role of Mum. Oddly, being a mum seems to be what I was born to do, it's natural to me and I LOVED it.  Yet in this life it hasn't worked out that way for me. I know that  the Universe has a way of filling space.  I'm going to work on filling these spaces - physical, mental, emotional and how I use my time, in ways that are nurturing and significant to me.

So 2016 I am dedicating to my own self care. To slowing down and tuning in to myself, grieving the loss of being a parent all over again.  Healing my body and my heart from the challenges of recent years and events.  I'm going to continue going to meditation group twice per week - this has been a life saver and I love it and love the girls in both groups.  I am going to give myself time and space to find myself and my own path again. What a lovely thing to look forward to.

A glorious day to rest and renew and start to look towards the future.  Yesterday's rain has left a clear, fresh day.  A portent perhaps?

 Even the sandhills on the islands are visible. Click on the image for a better view.

Looking towards my house.  I love this view.

Catching up...

Some of the busy things that have been filling our days here in our little neck of the woods.

 Nigella's cheese stars for Christmas.  I made heaps and they vanished very quickly once again.  These seem to be Christmas favourite and really they are so very easy to make.

Icing Christmas Biscuits from Sophie Gray's Destitute Gourmet books.  Another favourite. Spicy biscuits with lemon icing.

What happens when you go out to the movies and leave two labradors alone with a whole watermelon on the back verandah.  Those are seeds not flies and it's been put up onto the BBQ to get away from those naughty girls.

Tree Day.  I started the tradition of tree day when my first nephew and niece were infants.  Each year I give my nephews and niece a new special decoration which we open around the first weekend or December.  These  decorations are then placed on my tree.  The kids each have a box where their 'tree day' decorations from past years are stored and they put these on the tree along with my own decorations. They then tinsel bomb the house while listening to Christmassy music.  In the early years this day was a challenge with 4 little ones all decorating up as high as your knee, and needing help and lots of supervision. This year was very different with ages ranging from 8 to 11 they were so good and independent.  A great day.

 We have made marshmallow shooters and measured how far we can shoot them around the yard and then stuff them in our mouths before the 10 second rule expires - or the ants get them....

 I've supervised lots of swimming.  Cousins, friends, play dates....

 The two J's have been busy around the yard learning new skills.  First time with the chain saw.

Since we got Sophie 9 years ago we've had a problem with this garden.  It used to be lush and full of shade house type plants.  Sophie insists upon digging here if we leave the house and not amount of scolding or punishment could induce her to do otherwise.  It drove me crazy and I asked that it be torn out and replaced with pavers as my christmas present. Master J got to work upon hearing this and his Uncle had to follow along.....

 I look straight out my kitchen window at this garden all the time and it drove me crazy.  I felt so much better looking at the area even when it had reached this state.  This photo is taken looking back along the verandah towards the granny flat.

Jeff hired a brick cutter from Bunnings and got busy making a lot of noise for a very long time.  He then got the pressure cleaner out and proceeded to make even more noise during clean up. Luckily our neighbours are a reasonable distance away.

The paving project is mostly finshed and has made an incredible difference to the visual appearance of our outdoor space but the biggest difference has been unexpected.  The floor inside stays much, much cleaner - no dogs trailing dirt in after a good dig and lie in the hole....  The dust levels are also reduced noticably.

We also have  skip bin out the front and we are tossing old garden pots, junk from the shed etc and having a pretty good clean up.

Peace for Paris.....

@jean_jullien = eloquence, simplicity and heart.....

Become a force for good people.....let's start a groundswell of love and goodwill.  Create a light so bright it dominates darkness....