things i'm loving

                                     Spring flowers picked by my two boys on their morning walk, while I had a sleep in.

  I bought the Cath Kidston Book  "Sew" and made her bag.  Took the big leap and learnt how to do a button hole on the machine and put in a lining.  Don't look too closely my stitching is a bit wonky and I just could not for the life of me work out how to do the roueaux loop for the front button to fasten with.  So I did the buttonhole stitch loop instead but still with some difficulty.  Maybe I could make a bunting for this up coming swap.

But here is a true artist at work.  How beautiful are these ceramics.  I love their delicate form and the earthy colours.  Made by my sister in law Anne.  Check her out here.

We have been here in Broken Hill for about half our time now.  Just this weekend I have started to feel a bit lonely and so far away from everyone.  Seeing photos of friends and old work mates on facebook  reminds me that I often isolate myself trying to always achieve, achieve.

A lovely workmate and fabulous person has her own blog.http://cate-b.blogspot.com/  Cate is an amazing cook and her blog is filled with warm hearted thoughts and yummy recipes.  Please visit and say hello.

Peace to you

XX J

the year I finished school

The year I finished school 1983. Wrapped up my HSC and had the "world was my oyster".

Now a new adventure is on the horizon, and I really feel like I am walking on the moon.  As time draws closer I find my self in slow motion.

I apologise for my lack of visiting my bloggy friends but will try and go around the world to say hello this week.

Big hugs and sweet little kisses to you all.

xxx

ps. I had a huge crush on Stuart Copeland.

The Piano Slapping Scene

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.

blog love

I really should be in bed but with the lure of blog hopping on a Saturday night stumbled across this gem. We could have kept going for a few hours. 

xx

What's in a name

             
                                   Meet Billy Boy.

Actually our little man just calls him "Boy".  He is not handmade or thrifted.  He was a recent gift from Babcia.  He was received at just the right time.  It is only now really that Che has been more into cuddling his softies and seeing them as distinct entities.  Boy is now with our naps and sleeps and a general all round good guy.

It is an intersting process choosing a name.  I have always been quite spontaneous and intuitive.  As soon as I found my dogs as young puppies their name just popped into my head.  My sons name  came to me  in the middle of a night  in my late 20's.  If I ever have a son I am going to call him Che, were my thoughts.


Whilst I was living and working in the Northern Territory,  I was taken back by the humour and take on western names that local indigenous people would choose.  Of course they would have their traditioal names but to interact with Balandas (white people) there were names such as "Astro Boy", "Diesel Engine", "Ceclia Chainsaw", "Tea Bag" and "Ding Dong".  I love how they seemed to have taken something that was relevent in white man's environment, as their own.


I came across a comment recently in my reading, not sure of the original source, "Being white is like having an invisible passport".  It really resonated with me for some time.

Maybe when Billy Boy grows ups, you never now he may one day become a revolutionary?

                Ah but he can be whoever he really wants to be.  The world is his oyster.

So to invite discussion, how did you choose the names for your loved ones, furry or skin covered?

mr puss and jake - grateful for

I know this blog has dog's reining supreme but the master of the household used to be mr puss.  He was my first baby.  My first pet since leaving home.  After years of being petless with doing 2 degrees and living in college and then shared student accomodation in Melbourne, I started working as a junior dr in a hospital in Sydney.  This little boy was a forlorn kitten found in a litter abandoned at the back of the carpark.  I responded to a hand written ad on the staff notice board and took him home to my flat in Waverton.  What a mr personality he was.  That perculiar trait of the feline to be aloof and contained and then ever so smoochy and loving.  He was so uncompromising.  This is who I am and I dont give a stuff.  He was the best ratter.  He would line them up in neat rows.  I have lost count in the number of house moves I have done, I think perhaps 35.  He has gone walkabout and being missing for a few months when he must of got jack of what was  going down.  Only to reappear, either living life in the drains evidently, all skin and bone, or otherwise living the high life with a Polish Jewish pensioner.   When we finally left the Northern Territory my  dear Mother opened her house and accepted him and his comrade and fully embraced his wayward ways.  Here he became the retired old gent.  A wise feline soul and would often not make an appearence until later in the day , venturing out from underneath the doona and demand a feed and then cuddle up top of the sofa until oh yes bedtime again.  He passed away a year ago, a ripe 16 years.

And then there was Jake.  Sweet beautiful ginger boy.  Obviously was feeling clucky and got pussy cat number 2 , spotting him all alone in pet shop window.  One of my many impulsive purchases.  By now was living in house in Artarmon, junior resident, coping with night shift and ever increasing anxiety of what had I got myself into.  Was thinking of leaving medicine altogether.  Jake was the gentle half of the dynamic duo.  Even tempered.  Constantly seeking your love and approval.  Much loved by labrador and slightly teased by cavoodle.  He made a great comrade with mr puss.  For 2 male cats to get on so well, was all due to Jake.  You know that type of pussycat that follows you out to the clothes line.  He lies across your morning newspaper, and sits on arond your neck whilst watching the tele.  He did go missing twice.  Both times adopted by another family who wanted to claim him as their own.  My Mother loved him so much.  She cared for both pussycats for the last 5 years.  He passed away last week, 15 years of age.

A special note to my Mother for embracing these two rogues and and making their final days full of love and warmth.  My Mother, Mrs Dolittle.

Keen to read other's thoughts today.  Join Maxabella and her hosting sister for bundle full of gratefullness.