Monday Musings....

Having received "KITCHEN Recipes from the Heart of the Home" by Nigella Lawson for Christmas I have been rather firmly ensconced in a sofa ever since pouring quite literally over delectable ideas and gorgeous recipes! Hence my quote for this week and maybe my mantra for 2011 is taken from the gorgeous Nigella who is after all the best of the Domestic Goddesses!!

'...although I am extravagant, I am never wasteful.'

picture courtesy of oswegotea.blogspot.com

Let me just add a note here that I mean to be extravagant of heart, of creation, of flourish and in my writing....NOT that other kind of extravagant that smacks of all things commercial and fills me with this cold empty feeling of dread.



TK xx

Monday Musings....

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

~Luke 2 v 10-11~

Wishing each and every one a peaceful and blessed Festive Week!!!

TK xx

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas...

I am feeling just a little smug right now. Have logged off after finalising my Christmas Gifts for my little nephew in London........yes, thats everyone now done....with a little over TWO WEEKS to go and not one step into any shops!!! My oh my I am so super impressed with myself!!!! Think I deserve a treat, what do you think?
Just for the record I am NEVER EVER this organised, I have to glory in it for just a minute at least!!

TK xx

Monday Musings....

Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.

~Dilbert~

TK xx

Today

"Its raining, its pouring,

the old man is snoring....."

so what is it doing in your part of the world???

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"...if you insist on instant, you'll get your tea, but you'll miss one of tea's most beautiful benefits - the blessing of slowing down to enjoy it. You'll be having your tea but losing the opportunity to stake out an island of calm serenity in the chaotic ocean of daily life."

~Emily Barnes~

Please take a moment to enjoy a quiet and serene space in the midst of your busy week!

TK xx

Grateful.....always....

This weekend I am grateful for My Little Family - you rock my world boys!!

I am grateful that I was able to go and watch my M play cricket in the rain!!!!

I am grateful for the rain, our garden is so much happier with it.

I am grateful for my fitness training buddies that keep on keeping me motivated!!

I am grateful for my lovely park across the road, where I can wander for hours and dream.

I am grateful to my Shaun for understanding and getting my need to slow down just now......and giving me the space to do so.

What are you grateful for? Pop on over here for LOTS MORE GRATEFULS!!!!

TK xx

Writing Group exercises....

We had a fun night last night doing this writing exercise where we each wrote a line on a piece of paper then handed it on to the person to our left. They then wrote a line under the first line and then folded over the paper to hide the first line before handing it on to the next person.

This meant that when you got the pieces of paper all you could see was the line written before yours. Think 'Chinese Whispers' in written version, well kind of.

At the end we then got our piece of paper back and unravelled the paper to read what it said.......The idea was to then take your "piece" and work with it to end up with a piece to present to the group. Some actually kind of worked straight away, some needed a bit of creative input.

Here is my piece, with a little help from my friends!!!!! (thanks guys xx)

and the snapdragons swayed
in the breeze
as the bird landed
her white wings whispered
whirling sounding streams
wings fluttered and
she was aloft
her song permeating
the airwaves
it brought me to dance.

TK xx

Walking in Mud

today it feels like

I am walking in mud....

sludging away

getting stuck

with each step

bogging down

on the detail

moving forward

at such a slow pace

today I am

just stuck

TK xx

Monday Musings....

 Our relationships with other women are among our significant emotional bonds. While men provide the sense of other (as husbands and friends), women are mirrors for our femaleness our whole life long. From our symbiotic friendships of preadolescence to our friendships in old age, we look to other women to help us understand and shape our lives.

~Brenda Hunter~

Yes, this is somewhat deep & may require a few moments to really sink in, but it is the saying that has 'jumped out' of the page at me this week. After a lovely afternoon tea with a dear friend yesterday, along with some other beautiful women, it has left me pondering the strength and might of my friendships......I am truly and wonderfully blessed by the friends I have in my life....

TK xx

my little rant...

Well I went out for dinner last night at a local fab hotel with my writing group buddies before we went to hear a session gien by a children's author & illustrator. Before I get on with this post let me just put here that you should check out Sally Heinrich.....totally inspiring and talented lady......I am going to get a couple of her books for my nephews as my M thinks he is way toooooooooo cool for picture books now!!!

Anyways there we are all waiting for our meals & I am laughing over some silly inane comment when I glance across to the table next to us. There is a lovely family scene: mum & dad, grandparents & a cute little boy sitting up in a highchair. A lovely family evening I think, how sweet.

It is then that I notice a black box thing unevenly propped on the edge of the table with cords running out of it up to the little boy's head.

No I just don't think this is real..........it is not some life saving machine required to give this boy life it is a PORTABLE ......DVD......PLAYER.......!!!!!

I am absolutely gob smacked in the wrong sense......how can these parents just have this boy SO disconnected from the meal and the precious family time? What is going to happen to him in future years? No-one spoke to this little boy, no-one connected with him, he just sat there watching his dvd in a little world all of his own. I might add that this boy was about 4yo, was quite normal and able to manage by himself as at one stage he was taken out of the highchair by dad and taken to the bathroom. When his meal came it was put in front if him and he just went on watching his dvd. NO_ONE included this sweet little boy AT ALL!!!

Now, I am certainly not of the opinion that children should run the show, particularly when out for dinner, but my heart just ached and I felt like crying for the total lack of involvement this little boy had with the family unit.

I have been guilty (more times than I care to remember) of puting my M in front of the TV to give me some peace and quiet to get on with things BUT I have always included him in family time and meals.

Easy parenting you say, mindless and totally thoughtless parenting I say. This mum and dad totally missed the point of a family night out in my book.......heaven help the adults of tomorrow if this is their reality today.

TK xx

Who will....

and what shall happen
to my body when I die
to the space I now fill
here on this earth
who will take my steps
across green grassy fields
or jump limestone rocks
at the top of Anlabee's hill
who will walk again
the never wearying path
along Neill's water edge
my childhood summer
pilgrimage to
my sacred monument
at the far shore
who will remember
to do these things
when I am gone
and...
who will care
for those I love.

TK xx

Going Home

I urge you to just take 5 minutes and listen to this......it wil do your soul good.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

(unknown)

TK xx

Raising Happy Children

image via photobucket

Well I wanted to know the secret....and maybe in that work out one of the oracle's of life.

So this past week we went along with our study group to here Steve Biddulph speak on this very subject. Steve & Sharryn Biddulph are well known in many parenting circles and travel the world speaking on this topic amongst others.

Firstly Steve had us in stitches many times. His ability to portray the true funny side to parenting was spot on.

What did I learn? Well it sounds really silly and somewhat simplistic BUT whilst listening I realised a couple of things:
1. Max is doing EXACTLY what he should be doing for a 9 year old boy
2. We are doing OKAY as parents!!!!

Is Max a happy child? Well, yes in fact he is and I asked him this very question a couple of days later. His answer was, 'Yes mum I am so lucky'. My answer to him '....and I am such a lucky mum...' followed by a HUGE hug and squishy kiss.

I call that a win/win!! This has given me renewed confidence in my abilities to parent our son the way he needs to be parented. Yes, I might be a bit "soggy" but over all we are doing okay......well that makes me smile and watching our Max be the person that he is, makes me the proudest mum on the planet!!!!

If you haven't read 'The Secret of Happy Children' by Steve Biddulph, check it out. It may just restore your faith in yourself and your abilities to parent!!

TK xx

Monday Musings...

....A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet...

Meaning of this phrase:

What matters is what something is, not what it is called.

Origin: This is taken from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', circa 1600:

JULIET:

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,

Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part

Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!

What's in a name? that which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet;

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,

Retain that dear perfection which he owes

Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,

And for that name which is no part of thee

Take all myself.


A story, much favoured, and as such highly suspect, is that in this line Shakespeare was also making a joke at the expense of the Rose Theatre. The Rose was a local rival to his Globe Theatre and is reputed to have had less than effective sanitary arrangements. The story goes that this was a coy joke about the smell. This certainly has the whiff of folk etymology about it, but it might just be true.

I am an avid Shakespeare fan so here's to adding a little bit

of Shakespearian knowledge to your Monday!

TK xx

Morning tea with the girls...

I had a morning tea with some girlfriends this morning and amongst bountiful roses, some scrap booking and cuppas I served up this:

Chocolate & Cranberry Slice (Annabel Langbein)

Gently melt 350g dark eating chocolate – use the best quality you can for the very best flavour – over a double boiler, or just a heatproof bowl sitting over a pot containing a little boiling water.

While the chocolate is melting, line a small loaf tin with baking paper so the slice will be really easy to get out.

The trick to melting chocolate is not to overheat it. Once the chocolate starts to melt, the heat that is generated carries on heating the rest of the chocolate, so keep stirring until all the chocolate is melted.

Once the chocolate has melted, remove from heat and mix in 3/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk, stirring until it is evenly combined. Then add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 3/4 cup of shelled pistachio, 1 cup of dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of icing sugar. Mix well.

The mixture will start to set very quickly but don’t worry about that. Just mould it with your hands as it is really malleable, and press firmly into the prepared lined tin. It takes just 30 minutes to set in the refrigerator.

It was definitely a HUGE hit and I did little take home bags for everyone ( like a party favour bag!!!)

This is a keeper for sure, so easy and will be on my Christmas baking list......it makes so much and slices up in to fine delicate slices perfectly...it will go a long, long, long way!!

So if you feel like being decadent - go right ahead - divine!!!

Monday Musings....

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked  

~ Anais Nin ~

may joy follow you throughout this week.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.'

~ Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With The Wind ~

.....sounding familiar to anyone???.....

TK xx

Open Your Mind

We have been celebrating Mental Health Week here in Australia this week - did you know that? Did you think about mental health issues? Did you think about what YOU can do?

In the next 12 months, 1 in 5 of us will experience a mental health problem. That is 20% of the population......rather a large portion isn't it. We need to work together doing whatever we can to reduce the stigma and discrimination that STILL surrounds mental illnesses. Maybe you can allow some time to help a person with a mental illness or do a little bit of research into a type of mental illness.

There are the more obvious visual illnesses where a person is brain damaged and we can see they are challenged and make allowances......but there are literally THOUSANDS of people who suffer from depression, bi-polar disorder, psychosis, scizophrenia, post-natal depression, anorexia, bulimia, life limiting phobias, breakdowns, anxiety and on the list goes. These are not always so obvious.

I had the privilege of attending the "Words Poetry Evening" last night here in Adelaide. It was the Open Your Mind Poetry Competition and Words Evening brought to us by the SA Writers' Centre and the Mental Health Coalition of SA.

It was exciting, invigorating and I felt just so blessed to be a part of the story that unfolded. We listened to 2 guest speakers who fight their own personal mental health issues every day and work for better understanding and acceptance of mental illnesses as a whole, along with hearing the winning pieces of the 'Open Your Mind' poetry competition. Totally amazing writing......each category winner was presented with their piece painted onto a canvas by the very talented Suzie Morizzi.

Wow - what an emotional but amazing night. I came away more determined to face my own issues following a breakdown 3 years ago and to put pen to paper to record my journey now. Not because I want it published and I am important, but because I need to own my journey: where I have been and where I have come.

I ask you to just stop and consider your own mental health, keep yourself well and spare a thought for those who struggle. They cannot 'help it' and just get better, it is a VERY REAL illness that affects daily life, relationships, ability to work, ability to be involved in community, ability to socially integrate. It requires assistance, often medication and can be a life time issue. Take the tail end of this week and give a thought to what YOU can do to help reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.

blue woman dancing

I hope in doing so you are enriched and blessed,

TK xx

All things tagged

I have been tagged by my dear new blog friend Lisa so its only fair to join in. She wants answers to 7 things about me so here goes:

1. What really cheesy/bad TV programme can you not help but watch?
Bad TV ...hmmm...... well I am a sucker for those dreadful 'made for TV' telemovies that often appear in the middle of the day. I often can be found recording them for later.....much, much later when everyone is in bed asleep!!!

2. What book you think is terrible, and why.
I love most books BUT just cannot get into anything written by Jodi Picoult. Yes, yes I KNOW she is a great author & everyone raves about her BUT her style just doesn't do it for me.

3. What does your bedlinen look like? please feel free to include a photograph
photos - no way...I just got out of bed after a nana nap!!!! We have black and light blue cotton percale sheets & a striped quilt cover by Sheridan (now out of stock.....its OLD style - all of 2 years ago!!! & so cannot get replacement anything!!!) with white, blues, murky green and subtle black.....rather beachy looking actually - ties in with a large photograph of a beach we have above our bed.

4. What is your favourite quality in yourself (you all have them so suck it up and pick one!)
I find this ridiculously difficult to answer...maybe my quality to be empathetic to a person/situation...not judgemental.

5. This one is from Dave - What is the worst injury you have had?
A couple of years ago I went ice-skating with my step-daughter and had decided to finish up. She asked me to do one more round with her and I got a bit too keen, fell over and twisted my knee - it hurt like hell!!!! I could not put any weight on that knee for weeks......it still plays up now & I have ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE to do any more ice-skating anytime soon!!!

6. Do you listen to the radio/podcasts often and if yes, what do you listen to?
 don't get how podcasts work (maybe its my age...) but I listen to ABC Classic FM a LOT in the car.

7. If you stay in a hotel, do you take the mini bathroom toiletries home with you?
Okay I am a total brand snob here........it depends on the brand of said toiletries!!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed this little insight into me, scary isn't it!!!!

I am going to tag a few other bloggers whom I would I like to learn more about. so be sure to pop on over and check with Carolyn, Kasia, Mindy and Kelly. Hope you join in the fun........

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.'

~ Mother Teresa ~

TK xx

We are going camouflage at our place...

Customize a free invitation card

Well I don't see myself as that creative...I would dearly love a gorgeous tea party BUT that just will not make the grade with my little man!!! What do you think? We have more camouflage creativeness on its way soon!!!

TK xx

Jacaranda Days

Although I am an autumn girl

this recent sunshine and beauty popping up

around me

also gives much delight...

not the least of which is the

beautiful jacaranda tree

so so many in flower just now

got to love these majestic trees

image via Tumblr

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air..."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

via Patsydancer.com

TK xx

as I schmooze into my Thursday night...

getting ready to go out to my writing group...slowly winding down....this is just the ticket...

Floods in Pakistan 2010

What my TV screen showed me yesterday

...and this too shall pass...

news reel

after news reel

we get to sit in our

guilt edged western comfort

and view from afar

this human horror

un-named faces washing past

an inanimate TV camera

child's vacant face

staring at

the unknown world

fetid rubbish

putrid decay

now viewed momentarily

before washed over

by yet another muddy swell

this stinking swirl

through the camera man's lense

and what can I do

as I watch

this human horror

I sense only

utter disbelief

again and again

I ask myself

it all feels too unreal

my only comfort being

the sure and certain

knowledge that

...this season too shall pass...

all photographs courtesy of AP newsreel continuous - with thanks

TK September 2010

Monday Musings....

'If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile...

the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand...'

~ Anonymous ~

TK xx

Dudley

It's been a really tough week at our house...

Shaun has been in hospital,

we are trying to shake this flu

and our dear Dudley had another stroke and

we had to have him put to rest yesterday.

I have never been a real animal lover

but somehow this dear little man

snuck into my heart and stole

a piece of me....

Dudley, I will miss you...

you heard every one of my blogs,

you listened patiently to all my poetry

and other writing work,

you walked with me

you shared my cheese with me

you loved me.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'For every beauty there is an eye somewhere

to see it. For every truth there is an ear

somewhere to hear it. For every love there

is a heart somewhere to receive it.'

~Ivan Panin~

I love these words......happy musings this week,

TK xx

Trying Really Hard

Trying really hard


I am trying really hard
these days
to breathe in
and out
slowly
to enjoy the journey
as a whole


I am trying really hard
these days
to balance
good with bad
making progress
in my pre planned
approach

I am trying really hard
these days
to participate
and not just
endure
in this process
called life


I am trying really hard
these days
to take life
as it comes
as a whole
thing to
be enjoyed

I am
daily I am
I am trying really hard
these days.

TK xx

Kitchen Colours

As we start seriously thinking about our kitchen reno I have become a tad obsessive with colours in kitchens. Now we have both agreed (Mr TK & I) that our kitchen will be white as it is an open space slap back in the middle of our home BUT look at the little colour tasty morsels I have come across!! All photos courtesy of http://apartmenttherapy/.

this is serene & functional - love the marble benchtops & the owl collection!

cheap and cheerful - check out the funky drawer knobs

I just LOVE the feel of this space...

I am a sucker anytime for a butlers sink

look at the dishcloth here, cute chair & fridge!!

this is a little bit like what we envisage

this is urban and funky - loving the blue!!!

touches of warm wood tones - always  a winner in my book

love the red dials on the cooker...

and this room would brighten anyone's day - what's not to like!!

What are your kitchen faves, do you like colour in your workspace...I would love

to hear your thoughts...

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'There's nothing better than a good friend

except a good friend with chocolate'

~ Linda Grayson~

Ain't that the truth!!!

TK xx

A Day's Outing

Well Mr TK & I went into town to one of my all time favourite cinemas and watched 'The Ghost Writer' - strange, eerie, moving, full of suspense......and the scenery just breathtaking. This was followed by a lovely coffee and a yum scrum chilli chocolate truffle (ok well I had 2!!!) Mr TK is not into this kind of movie nor does he drink coffee so this makes it all the more special....and I got to hang out in Rundle Street......pure bliss!!

Hope your weekend is pure bliss...

TK xx

Cake of Love

Mix Love and Kindness with Respect and Understanding

Add Love, Truth and Thoughtfulness

Before adding a good splash of Humour

and a heaped amount of Laughter

Beat in Wisdom and Happiness

Blend together with Tears of Sadness

and fold in Tears of Joy

Put in a tin that is lined with a good layer of Comfort

Place into a warm heart

Baking time - One Lifetime

I am wondering can you make this cake now? Do you have all the ingredients in your cupboard? It certainly gives us a cause for thought. So go on, get the ingredients and happy baking!!!

Have a beautiful day my friends,

TK xx

Monday Musings...

She discovered her real measurements

had nothing to do with numbers or statistics.

Celebrate her self-esteem.

~Kobi Yamada~

some beautiful advice I received during the week....

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice..'

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day un rushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, let go of the anxiety.If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a good book with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life..

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Try to nip small problems in the bud.

24. Make friends with good people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite readings/sayings on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you, Jesus'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans8:31)

TK xx