The world i would like to live in....

A world where there was no child abuse.  Where people did not hit their children.  A world where people could speak honestly about their struggles and not feel ashamed or inadequate.  Where children and babies were more welcomed, and heard and seen loud and clear.

A world where there were no puppy factories with little canines not seeing the light of day, stuck lying on a concrete floor in their own excrement.  Where people realised that a pet is for its life and not for convenience.

A world where you could marry your loved one and have a family together, regardless of your chromosomes, without bigotry or defaming and harmful words from others and it was legal.

A world where their was no live export of animals across miles and miles of ocean, suffering without food or water, and for them to meet a gruesome, inhumane fate.

A world where there was no civil war, children and women could walk safely down their own street, have an education and be nourished  with clean food and water.

A world where it was not about having the latest groovy thing.  Not about fashion trends.  Not about getting the most likes.  Living honestly and within your means.

A world where there was more community sharing.  Neighbourhood cook ups.  Sharing the care of children and our elderly. Perhaps communal lawn mowers, clothes dryers, printers, garden tools.  Love the idea of a community garden on your front verge.

A world where people opened their borders to people who are fleeing persecution, war and poverty.

If only our egos would allow.

Listography

I have been really liking Kate Takes 5 weekly listography and enthused by A Farmer's wife post would  like to play along.  I really had to think hard about this weeks theme - five decisions that you are glad you made. Now in my mid forties, I feel I have re - invented myself many times.  There has been many chapters of my life.  I often have not made the best decisions.  I certainly could have been more successful in my chosen career, more steadfast and less emotional and less reactive.  But here I go:

1. Learning Yoga and Meditation from a young age.

    Time and time again re-invigorating my practice has steadied my soul and given me strength.  It  keeps me supple and calm.


2. Going to University.

 In fact I ended up  doing 2 Bachelor degress back to back.  That meant nine years of being a poor student, supporting myself through, wearing daggy trackie dacks and waitressing most nights.  But I lived in the most crazy fun student shared households.  I dabbled in the extra-ordinary and it really broadened my mind and horizons and gave me a perspective on this world that has led me to keep exploring and keep on learning.

3. Taking a trip to Darwin

On a whim I rang Darwin Hospital to see if there were any job opportunities.  I got a job in that phone call and in the next few weeks left my position in an inner city hospital and left for the wild frontier that is the Northern Territory.  I was only planning to stay for a year but then ended up staying five.  I do feel I gained some understanding of  Aboriginal culture and their connection to their land.  There are lots of endemic problems but it was an experience to me that opens up new possibilities for the future.  In Darwin I met the most free thinking people.  It was  a less materialistic way of living.  Very different to the East Coast.  Camping in Kakadu, living on the Tiwi islands, fishing, mud crabbing, sailing it was fantastic.  Oh yes and I met my man there.

4. Selling my house.

This was a hard one, but yes I do want to have it here.  You see about 6 months ago I became very regretful about this.  But now I have moved on and happy that this has been the best decision.  The story is I became pregnant very unexpectantly at age 43.  I am the main bread winner ( my partner is an Artist - say no more), we had purchased  a house a bit beyond our means and really it was a knockdown anyway but we took on this project as our baby of renovating it from inside out.  I really wanted to stay home with my one and only child.  We finished the renovations after our son was born, sold it and moved on.  A lot of people were unsure of our choices and some were a bit disappointed.  Now we are renters in a very cosy little cottage and I work only very part time and am now dabbling in art, gardening, cooking, walking and just lying in the sun.  I am very lucky that I can still have a career to return to.  One day another "home" will present itself, i'm sure.

5.  Making a conscious decision every day to find happiness and fun in each day.  Some days I do wake up as cranky pants.  But I realise how much I have an effect on how the day will pan out.  I take few deep breaths, get over myself and smile.  My little boy smiles back.

Thank you for giving me time to think about theses things.

a room of one's own

 

It does seem a bit selfish as many women around the world live in cramped little spaces, sharing with members of extended family.  And in general I deplore the huge macmansion style housing that is being built of late, particularly along our natural coastline.  But I have been thinking  how blissful it would be to have a room of one's own.  A space that was a haven for me to retreat to.  That was away from the street noise and looked onto a sunny spot in the garden that has the softness of varied foliage.  There I could compile evidence of all my thoughts and inspiration.  Books, sketches, notes, letters.  Half finished craft projects.   I would like it to have a daybed for a sweet peaceful kip and also room for doing yoga and meditation.

Do you have a room of your own?

       (Images found via favim when googling boho style decor, not sure of original source)

grateful for - a tough little bugger and a bit of organisation

Thinking  too much about the bratwurst.  Wanting to swing too high.  Before you know it, flat on his back.  No tears.  A little bit stunned.  But "no back pack thank you very much  I can do it all on my own".

Also weekly meal planning has been an aspiration for some time.   Found refurbished blackboard painted a lovely grey.  Now hanging in the Kitchen to jog the memory and be excited and plan my day ahead.

Journey through more with the lovely Maxabella  and now linking in with Alison for some rewind.

kitchen dreams

Since having renovated an old house once.  Basically  rebuilding it from the inside out.  I have come to realise that I am addicted to ploughing through magazines and blog sites of old country kitchens.    I love the eclectic modern country look with a touch of rustic and industrial. The above image is from Coastal Living magazine.  It is just a glimpse, but to me it has all the features that would make me very happy, cooking, chatting and dreaming in.

There is the walk in pantry with old blue screen door.  The little nook for laptop and desk to blog whilst cooking!  The old enamel sink  and the aspect of looking into many other rooms.  The wide space for kids to rumble about on the beautiful wooden floors.  The cooker is on the other side, someone can be stirring the rissotto  and not be in the way of others making salad on the lovely mosaic tiled serving bench.  This bench has others seated sipping wine and chatting about their daily escapades.  There is a lovely rustic dining table just hinted in the front where we all will be sharing the meal.  Then there is the architectural elements.  The remarkably high ceilings.  The wood panelling throughout painted white.  The angles of the room add so much interest.  The industrial lighting.

When we are ready, and find our  home and then  perhaps set out on renovating again, I hope to return to this image to remind me and direct me to what I really like.

Cross fingers, one day...

the spirit of things

In one of those cleaning up moments on a Tuesday mornning with the radio on in the background, listening to radio national ABC, I was captivated by the voice and teachings of Behram Ghista on the programme spirit of things.

I have had this nagging feeling of not being connected and whole.    Paying attention to the pracitice of yoga and meditation has been important to me.  However I have felt so depleted at times and find if difficult to be motivated and or find the energy for such.

If you have time to listen you may be inspired like myself to embrace more in your life.

28 days of gratitude - day 25 - inspiring books

 

Loving these 2 books.

I guess we were all once locavores.  One who sources food locally.  Lots of weekend trips now planned to sample the goods of the Shoalhaven.  Love that River too.

"The Shack" is full of simple earthy abodes in that great Aussie  rough it sort of style.  Thinking maybe a way of meshing these two aspiratons into our new place.

being positive and calm

When you wake up cranky and scowling and focussing on the negative.  It is just a simple choice to think differently and concentrate on the positives.  But sometimes it does not seem that easy.  Falling into old habits.

It has been a challenging week with our little man being quite unwell with to me was so obviously whooping cough and being a bit disappointed and disheartend by my fellow medical colleagues.  I won't go into details but the history alone was enough.  Every hour during the night bubba is gripped by demon pertussis as he gasps for breath and then vomits.  Many changes of his linen and ours.  Precious breastmilk lost and soaking everything.  His poor little chest must be burning and that horrible taste that can get in your mouth.


Amazingly I passed my Paediatric exam. Scoring 83%  for the Diploma in Child Health.    Hmm where to go from here?

At the moment a little focus on self care.

dreams

Now we are getting a bit more sleep have noticed dreams are returning.  Only remember bit from last night; my little man walking and sitting on my lap and saying "you remembered".

There have been only occassional pockets of sunshine here but on our walks we have been enthused by all the lovely blooms and green.  Lots of inspiration.  My favourite little ramshackle house is the little red one.  I could live there.

In the wetness we visited the Sturt Gallery, Mittagong and made a little purchase of locally made ceramics. They were on special and this combination looked so sweet.  The gallery has a summer and winter school of wonderful art courses to partake.  3 years ago  one cool summer I relished in a whole week of making art, living in and talking and walking creating with many other inspiring people.  One day would love to do again.
Marty has been doing term courses from the school of wood.  Very smart bread board pending.

faith - getting to know her

     
Trusting your instincts when you dont quite fit in.

Going with the flow .   Not judging.

So nice not to be in a hurry.  For some time now  felt I was running.

Find my own race.

Notice that someone is watching and learning.

Good things do come to those that wait.

little bumps

In the chaos of our decluttering, packing and cleaning, our little man has taken a few knocks.  His ever adventurious spirit means he has encountered a few little bumps along the way.  Today I think he knocked his head about six times whilst trying to cruise around furniture and climb over things when our backs were turned.  Lots of crybaby,  reaching out, extra boozie to soothe.  The whole process is very much two steps forward one step back.  Finding it a bit hard doing it on our own.

I keep thinking of well its going to be good, because we will be so organized in our new place.  Have this image in my head of how now want things to be.

I have decided to take on the challenge of dottie angel and still have preloved or handmade stuff for our new abode.  Will be a challenge as so many nice shops in Bowral/Southern Highlands.  But also lots of great op shops and antique/vintage stores as well.

scatterbrain

Well so many jobs pulling at my brain. I am addicted to rumaging through everyones most beautiful blogs, feel bereft when it comes down to sitting and writing for myself. I decided to try as it looked like fun and also appears to be positively affirming to your very being? or is it a only a 2 dimensional sanitized version???
Anyway what I have set myself for this year is
1. mothering
2. being a better partner
3. living more simply, within our means
4. returning to work as a GP, have already started since bub was only 5 weeks old, has been a bit stressful
5. Continue to breast feed as long as possible. This has been challenging of late with working, expressing, and Che not concentrating on the job, lots of snacking and constant feding from midnight to dawn.
6. A biggy is we have decided to sell our house. We have put our heart and soul into this house, there was so much to do , probably beyond us. Falling pregnant was a huge surprise. Our energies and monies we want to have more for us as a family. So getting the house ready to look like something our of county style magazine has us obssessed on all the jobs to do. And it will not be for us. I hope we find a buyer that loves what we have done and can continue with the vibe, and not pull the old girl down.
7. Also am doing postgrad diploma of child health, requiring lots of updates and study. Am very much behind. But so sleep deprived.

Wish could be Mama baking cakes and pulling out a few weeds in vegie plot. Need to foster more creative thoughts.