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.
. . . . .
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…
. . . . .
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…
. . . . .
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…
. . . . .
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…
. . . . .
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…
. . . . .
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…
. . . . .
Wishing you all a rich, full, joyous week! ♥
Read Full Post »
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 