We don’t live extravagant lives.
We haven’t been overseas in over a decade, our “new” car is now nine years old, and even at 51, I still put money away each month to meet our quarterly rates and utilities.
But our lives are rich – filled with glorious moments in time, wonderful friends and family, and so much love and joy that sometimes it feels like my heart will burst.
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A Creative Life…
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but for me, the process of creating something new feeds my soul. Be it a loaf of sourdough, or a crystal bracelet, or a hand-sewn garment – the act of transforming component parts into a new whole is one of the most satisfying things I can do. Last week, Mum asked me to make crystal angels for her friends at church, and it was like she’d given me a gift…
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A Collector’s Life…
I’ve always been a collector.
It’s hard to predict what will grab my fancy, but when something does, it will absorb my brain and lead to hours of research and study. Over the years I’ve learnt to keep my collecting habits to a manageable level – my rocks and fossils, for example, never exceed a predetermined price ceiling. This actually makes the whole process a lot more fun – there is a challenge in finding treasures for a reasonable price!
This little uncut opal set me back just $20. I absolutely adore it – to me, it looks like a river running between a sheer cliff face and a sandy bank…
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A Companionable Life…
We have some of the best friends in the whole world. And the most wonderful neighbours ever. If my life was a computer game, they would be my powerups! And whilst I’ve made fabulous friendships online, there is something extra special about spending time with people whom I’ve known since I was a teenager, breathing the same air together, and laughing too loudly in public places. I never, ever take it for granted, because I know what an enormous gift it is.
A rare selfie that I was happy with, taken just moments before heading out to dinner with Kevin and Carol. Wearing my new ammonite pendant! Did I look excited? Because I really was…
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A Foodie’s Life…
You know, there’s probably a dozen times a week when I wish I was thinner. But that’s hard to do, because the food we get to eat is incredibly delicious and often great fun to make. For my birthday, Mum took us out for my favourite Chinese dish – mud crab in XO sauce with vermicelli noodles…
A few days before that, she’d arrived with raw marinara (seafood) mix, which we cooked into a risotto with chorizo, capsicum and onion…
And I baked a giant chocolate slab cake in my new sheet pan – Small Man is in the photo for size reference. I texted the neighbours and said “In the US, sheet cakes are traditionally shared with your community, so if any of you would like a piece, please pop over with a plate!” And they did!
There was so much cake that it also fed my boys, Monkey Girl, my cousins Dilys and Brian, and Mum’s church congregation…
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A Family Life…
Pete, Big Boy, Small Man. My mum, my sister’s family, my cousins. Pete’s siblings and relatives. Our immediate family is incredibly close and our extended family is surprisingly harmonious. It’s a great blessing!
I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s hard to describe how much joy our sons give us. They’re gentle and beautiful and loving, and they continue to be a daily part of our lives, bringing constant laughter with their teasing and banter.
They’re hopeless at remembering my birthday, which I find hilarious. But as Pete pointed out, they treat me as if every day is my birthday. Big Boy took me out for a coffee yesterday and frankly, it was the best gift I could have asked for…
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A Sydneysider’s Life…
Every city has wonderful points and for Sydney, the view of the Harbour is surely one of best. Even on murky overcast days, it’s a stunning vista. I took this photo from Circular Quay train station – one of the prettiest public transport stops in the world…
The Opera House sits in the middle of the Harbour like a white crown…
The 20th Biennale of Sydney has started (18th March – 5th June 2016) and I popped into the MCA on the first day to view the new exhibits. It’s bonkers that all this amazing art can be viewed for free!
The piece below is The Four Seasons by Israeli artist Noa Eshkol. I spoke to the young MCA attendant manning the exhibition, and he told me this fascinating backstory.
Noa was a former dancer who refused to call her work “art”. When a member of her troop was conscripted during WWII, she disbanded her team and began creating these sewn pieces from donated scrap fabric. Each piece was kept in the shape it came in, as Noa refused to use scissors, and was carefully positioned on a large backing sheet before being stitched in place by hand. If you’re a sewer, you might recognise the pattern pieces (l think you’d like this, Kim!)…
Finally, a short video of this simply constructed but highly effective artwork, made from mylar (the stuff they use in emergency blankets and wine casks). The movement and sound is produced by a standing fan, which turns on and off intermittently…
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Wishing you all a rich, full, joyous week! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I ADORE the selfie you took, it is gorgeous in ways that go beyond looks, and that necklace… WOW!
I do think you have a very intense, fulfilling and deep life, enjoying what matters, and there is no price tag to harmonious life with the kids. I know it’s not always the case, from what I see happening with my own friends back home.
you are simply wise and adorable!
Seriously, you DO have a wonderful RICH life and LONG may it continue! Makes me happy to read your posts :)
A lovely post to read on a Sunday morning! Have a wonderful week…
What a wonderful read.
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You truly have a rich life. Beautiful. I can connect on so many of your points. The opal is beautiful. It looks like a river to me too. The display with the cups and is it coffee beans is intruiging. How are the cups suspended in the air? The sewn piece is lovely. I find it amazing that she didn’t use scissors. The angels look lovely. Your chocolate sheet cake had me grinning. My son has been baking a lot of chocolate cake lately.🙋 You live in a beautiful city where there is so much to see and do. The selfie is beautiful. You do look excited! Enjoy your week!
Another lovely post full of happiness from a lovely friend. xxx
‘Count your blessings’ is a very old saying . . . you do and you deserve every bit of happiness that brings. And that selfie which could have been you ten or more years ago is just ‘proof of the pudding’, isn’t it !!
Beautiful picture! Always look forward to your posts, thanks so much for sharing. Happy Birthday!
I love your life, beautiful you! Mine too. We are having toasted sourdough, (thank you Priscilla) beans and rice and salad for dinner. And it’s all good. Hugs and love, Maz.
Celia this post is beautiful. What a rich and truly wonder-full life you have x
Sunday, Start of Spring, and this lovely post Celia – could hardly be better. Have a good week ahead.
And An Online Life where you generously share your time, gifts and knowledge, where you’ve built a community and a sourdough dynasty.
I completely agree, life’s riches are not measured in pounds or dollars :)
I love that piece of opal, the colours are absolutely stunning!
Enjoy your lovely world xx
Little wonder your boys are so beautiful, Celia, given that they have such a beautiful mother.
What a beautiful post :) You do have a rich life. It makes me feel so happy and positive to read it :)
It’s Sunday morning and I’ve not long been up, I made a coffee and here was your post waiting for me like a ray of sunshine on a dull day! You don’t sound at all like a broken record. You sound like a woman who has found the joy in the everyday ordinary. … as it should be. Your words so often reflect exactly my thoughts and feelings. That selfie is beautiful. You are smiling from inside! And your fossil does indeed look like a river flowing. Stunning. You live in a beautiful city but I know that if you lived in a shack in the darkest part of a town you would still find the light. I had to smile about your reaction to your mum asking you to make the angels. Yesterday my mum asked me to alter a delicate chiffon top for her which needed to be done by hand….. I was thrilled as I love doing things like this and the fact that she could then enjoy wearing an old favourite again made me happy!
Everything in this post is why we love you so much! Beautiful selfie. I understand that sense of fulfilment when thinking of and being around family and loved ones. Sadly no long term friends for me though. Don’t step over the line at the gallery :)
Totally enjoyed reading your post Celia………….have a great week. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
Such a lovely post Celia and like everyone else I think it’s a beautiful selfie. I hope that my boys are as beautiful and kind as your lovely boys. They are both heading that way. Good friends couldn’t be bought for all the money in the world! I so agree with you about creating things. I have to be creating – at the moment it’s a lot of toddler craft and activities but it’s still creative!
Wise words from a wise old bird. A very excited old bird in that photo! Love that selfie.
So far today I’ve made a birthday cake but forgot the sugar so had to haul it out after five minutes and try to remedy, then my meringue turned to liquid when I added the sugar but my day is still rich, full and joyous! Wishing you the same.
Yet another wonderful post Celia. It always upsets me when people strive so hard for a financially ‘rich’ life at the expense of the sort of richness you have so beautifully shown here. I know which I prefer.
Noas scrap fabric art is beautiful, and I can’t believe she didn’t use any scissors! I really would love to be that creative.
Delight in your boys, enjoy your friends, continue to share your food and artistic abilities with them all and you will always have reason to smile as you do in that gorgeous selfie.
I will be thinking of you again later when I cook (and eat!) the batch of sourdough hot cross buns from your recipe 😃.
A rich life indeed. I saw your piece of opal on twitter or insta – that is an absolute bargain for less than $20! Yes, I’d like to be skinnier too but I wouldn’t give up most of the amazing meals of I eaten or made so I’ll go with ‘pleasantly plump’ instead. Love that piece of coffee artwork. I am down in June so I may just be able to squeeze a visit to MCA in.
Everything you have written is so true Celia. There comes great peace when you can live within your means and say l have enough:)
You really know what life is about & live it to the max. Keep on Celia you are an inspiration.
Wonderful post! Let’s hear it for a creative life filled with food, family, and friends. And art, books, movies, and plays.
Celia, that is a great selfie! And the richness in your life shines through your bright and beautiful smile. :)
Fabulous post! I love your new photo as well. I might be a little late in catching that – my life has involved a grandbaby more than a blog!
It’s a wonderful thing to be truly grateful for the richness in life, more than the riches of the world. You exude joy and happiness, and that’s contagious. I absolutely love those beautiful crystal angels. You are creative, and giving. A powerful combination, Celia. :-)
Love this, thank-you.
That is a lovely photo of you…nice to see you.
That selfie is adorable, you are so cute! I feel very blessed in my life too and I’m very happy that you feel the same way. I had a little health scare recently and it made me believe that one has to live life as if it’s your last day, appreciating everyone and everything around you (I’m fine). I too find creativity a wonderful outlet — your crystal angels are gorgeous!
Darling friend, I loved reading this and seeing all your photos. You look happy and well. Waving hello to Pete. Much love and thanks for sharing. xx
i love this post celia. such a happy and joyful look at your life. thanks! i adore the ammonite pendant of course. i have just recently started making jewellery too so i was very interested to see your angels. and i just love your selfie. you look gorgeous!
You are such an inspiration Celia and you’re right rich in experience and love is what it should all be about. And appreciating what you have of course, which you do. Your photo is adorable and I’m in love with all of your boys.
Ohhhhh, where did the Optimus Prime t-shirt come from?? That print is fantastic!
Isn’t it brilliant? It’s from Threadless.com. Hope they still have it!
Love you. That is all. X
You have a truly rich life indeed. I’m finally able to enjoy the family a little more. Is. My brother lives clear on the other coast and we haven’t seen him in 3 1/2 years. He is now here with us at my parent’s house. It filled my heart to hear him playing with the boys at 7 this morning! They are having so much fun with their uncle. This is partly why I have three boys so close in age, hoping they will be best friends. My brother and I are five years apart and totally different personalities. We get along much better now as adults than we did as kids though!
Yours is a blessed life, Celia, and best of all, you’re smart enough to realize it and to be grateful. Long may it continue. :)
What a beautiful beautiful story!!! It really warmed my heart. Thank you for my sour dough starter a few years back, that was such a thoughtful gift xx you are such a lovely giving person.
Julie
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