6 weeks

It is summer here in Australia.

For us that means

: 6 weeks of school holidays.

: 6 weeks to savour the lives of my children.

: 6 weeks to nuture their hearts and souls.

: 6 weeks to play.

: 6 weeks to laugh.

: 6 weeks to stay up later.

: 6 weeks to sleep in a bit.

:  6 weeks to have fun experiences.

: 6 weeks to relax.

: 6 weeks to learn new card games.

: 6 weeks to swim.

: 6 weeks to enjoy the outdoors.

: 6 weeks to enjoy the indoors with the air conditioners on when it is stinking hot outside.

: 6 weeks to be creative and getting messy in the studio.

: 6 weeks to read countless books.

: 6 weeks to explore new places.

: 6 weeks to watch cricket and tennis and DVD's.

: 6 weeks to visit with friends and family.

: 6 weeks to love each other.

At the beginning the 6 weeks seemed so long and I wondered how I would fill the days. Now it is 3 days before school resumes and I am wondering how I can make those 3 days last longer.

A time to reflect.

A new year often brings with it new years resolutions. I don't generally make resolutions however I do use this holiday time to reflect on the year that has been and think of the year ahead. I do think about the good choices and the not so good choices I made in the past year. I think about what I want to remove from my life and I think about what I want to add to my life. I think about how I can make life more rich and fruitful. Not rich in the money sense but rich in the sense of enjoyment, space, soul nourishing. Fruitful in the sense of giving and loving others and adding richness to anothers life too.

A new year can be a time of starting over and sheding some layers. Layers that I don't need anymore.

It can be a time of reflection and a time of consideration.

My husband Steve and I spend a lot of this 'new year' time talking and sharing. Discussing together where we are headed as a family, a couple and as individuals. The space we have access to when our business is on holidays, the kids are on holidays and the world is a bit sleepy is very beneficial for us. We make decisions and plans and share ideas. It connects us in a way that is good and comforting and intimate.

I do love the new year. I love the possibilities. I love the hope. I love the anticipation. I love starting fresh. I love the excitment.  I love New Years.

Christmas day.

Today is Christmas Day. It is 1:16 am and I can't sleep.

The presents are wrapped.

The kids and husband are sleeping.

The world is quiet.

The house is clean.

The fridge and pantry are full of yummy goodness.

The day awaits.

What will today bring???

Here is a video that shares the wonder, peace and hope that is Christmas.  It was written, directed and produced by Laura Pennell.  It stars our 4 kids and and one other girl.

Creating Christmas



Experimenting with wearable art.

As I was thinking about gift giving this Christmas I decided i would experiment with wearable art. These jewellery pieces are now available for purchase at Homespun, Aratula, QLD.  It has been fun making jewellery. Something different. What I like most about the handpainted pieces is that they are unique and one of a kind.



Handpainted,  backed with canvas.





Handpainted



Handpainted rings



Handpainted earrings



Handpainted ring



Handpainted



Handpainted

Handpainted

Handpainted



Gift tags.

Christmas gift tags........



Reflections at Christmas

In 10 sleeps it will be Christmas day 2011. I still can't quite believe that another year is almost over. I can remember this time last year so vividly. I felt rushed and pressured. I felt like I would never get eveything done that I needed too.

This year though I feel quite relaxed and peaceful. Why? Not sure. Maybe because I am just really organised this year. Or maybe it is because of where I am in myself.

This year has challenged me to live everyday moments.

To stop often and look around me.

To breathe deeply.

To soak in the goodness that surrounds me.

To notice the little things and the big things.

To love.

To cherish.

To forgive.

To create.

To show grace.

To see what is and not what it is not.

I am excited about 2012 and what this new year will bring. However I am also excited to live out the rest of 2011 relaxed and at peace.



White Christmas

I live in the southern hemisphere meaning Christmas here is hot. No white Christmas's where I live. Instead of heating it is air-conditioning. We do however enjoy eating White Christmas and so I wanted to share my recipe.
1. Line a 18 x 28 cm tin with foil

2. Mix 1 1/2 cups of Rice Bubbles, 1 cup of powdered milk, 1 cup of icing sugar, 1 cup of desiccated coconut and 1 cup of mixed glace cherries/sultana in a large bowl.

3. Melt 250g Copha in pan over low heat, allow to cool slightly.

4. Pour into dry ingredients and stir till ingredients moistened.

5. Spoon into tin, smooth surface and refridgerate for 30 mins or until set. Cut into slices.

I used mine for teacher gifts. I cut the white Christmas into slices and placed in a jar. Cut out a piece of linen, tied with bakers twine and attached a gift tag. 

A yummy, beautiful, easy gift.



What does Christmas really mean??

"And the Grinch stood puzzling, 'How could it be so? It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!' Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. 'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!' "   Dr Seuss.



Good vs better

Our family recently went on a mini holiday to the NSW central coast. It was very relaxing, peaceful and fun.  We were able to catch up with my Dad and his wife and just spend a few days enjoying one another's company and the beauty of the coast.

It wasn't the best time of year to go away. There was lots going on here at home. Activities to attend and business's to run. However taking this opportunity to have a mini break before the silly season was very worthwhile. And of course spending time with my Dad was even better. In life sometimes we have to give up something good for something better. And this is exactly what we did.