Monday Musings....

'Wherever you are, be all there.'

~Jim Elliot~

TK xx

Sunday Psalms & Songs

...in true Christmas spirit...

Good King Wenceslas looked out

On the feast of Stephen

Gath'ring winter fuel

When the snow lay round about

Deep and crisp and even

Brightly shone the moon that night

Though the frost was cruel

When a poor man came in sight

"Hither, page, and stand by me

If thou know'st it, telling

Yonder peasant, who is he?

Where and what his dwelling?"

"Sire, he lives a good league hence

Underneath the mountain

Right against the forest fence

By Saint Agnes' fountain."

 

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine

Bring me pine logs hither

Thou and I will see him dine

When we bear him thither."

Page and monarch forth they went

Forth they went together

Through the rude wind's wild lament

And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now

And the wind blows stronger

Fails my heart, I know not how,

I can go no longer."

"Mark my footsteps, my good page

Tread thou in them boldly

Thou shalt find the winter's rage

Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod

Where the snow lay dinted

Heat was in the very sod

Which the Saint had printed

Therefore, Christian men, be sure

Wealth or rank possessing

Ye who now will bless the poor

Shall yourselves find blessing

TK xx

Its starting to feel....



(thisnext.com)

....A lot like Christmas.....

I am getting ready to head beachwards to spend Christmas with my entire family...its been a while.

Whilst I do love bright baubles and decorating with traditional colours, part of me also sighs with much appreciation at a washed out 'bleached' summer sunlight theme that so fits our Australian culture.

(coastaliving.com)

it soothes the mind and the soul....

it calms the overly sensitised spirit

(thebeachcottage.com)

and allows for a moment or two relaxing

and dreaming about what lies around the next bend in the road.

(artfire.com)

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"A friend is a gift you give yourself"

~Robert Louis Stevenson~



In the madness of the ensuing 'Holiday Season' I thought this musing rather appropriate!!
TK xx

Sunday Psalms & Songs

Whilst quietly reflecting in church this morning, I pondered again at the many beautiful songs in the hymn book. What a fitting way to mark the commencement of each new week.....a line or two from a chosen hymn.

Now thank we all our God

with heart and hands and voices,

who wondrous things has done,

in whom this world rejoices;

who from our mothers' arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is ours today.

TK xx

.....and now for my take on Pablo Neruda's words....

LOST LOVE.....in a tribute to Pablo Neruda's "Love".

Because of you, in fields of canola grain bobbing in the breeze I yearn early scents of summer.

I have nigh forgotten your countenance, I can no longer remember your warm embrace; how did you feel entwined with me?

It is because of you, that I favour the flushing gold in open paddocks, they have no voice or sight.

I have all but forgotten your deep resonating voice; I have forgotten your soul eyes.

Like a flowered head to it’s seed, I am bound by distant memories of you. I live daily with the hurt of a long rooted pain; if you touch me now, you will do ir-reversible harm.

Your caresses hold me, like full blown crops reaching for the sky.

I have forgotten your lust, yet it seems I see reflections of you in every mirror.

Because of you, the strong odours of summer crops hurt me; because of you, I again seek out the pieces that breathe desire: brilliant night skies, cloudless moons.

Joining in here as I like to do...

TK xx



Love the Pablo Neruda way

Our task in Writer's Group this week is to choose a piece of writing that we love and then try to emulate the same style/feel in a piece of our own. My choice is this beautiful poem by Pablo Neruda:

Love


Because of you, in gardens of blossoming flowers I ache from the


perfumes of spring.


I have forgotten your face, I no longer remember your hands;


how did your lips feel on mine?


Because of you, I love the white statues drowsing in the parks,


the white statues that have neither voice nor sight.


I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice; I have forgotten


your eyes.


Like a flower to its perfume, I am bound to my vague memory of


you. I live with pain that is like a wound; if you touch me, you will


do me irreparable harm.


Your caresses enfold me, like climbing vines on melancholy walls.


I have forgotten your love, yet I seem to glimpse you in every


window.


Because of you, the heady perfumes of summer pain me; because


of you, I again seek out the signs that precipitate desires: shooting


stars, falling objects.

~Pablo Neruda~

I love his divine imagery and hope to emulate this to some degree with my own piece.......I will be back in a day or two with my take on this.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"...your children are like you–they long for love, listening–not always advising, and a heart that delights in them..."

~Sally, I Take Joy~

for the whole article which give some well prompted loving advice re parenting check out what Sally has to say over here.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.
~Jane Austen~

TK xx

Imperfect Prose - Things My Son Has Taught Me

loving that I am back joining in here doing some writing again.

THINGS MY SON HAS TAUGHT ME

the magic

of a thousand firsts

the whispers

of baby breaths

on my cheek

when I held you

as you slept

the delights

of a child's

world view

the serenade

of simple

nursery rhymes

the happiness

of your

cheeky deep chuckles

the freedom

of skipping

through leaves

the warmth

of a

million cuddles

the simplicity

of loving

without demand

the possibility

of infinite patience

the best in me

the very worst in me

this love

will never

end.

TK xx

What I found with the Bowerbird

Bowerbird Bazaar - It was awesome - totally awesome - we have some truly fantastic creative and artistic people in this country - true artisans. I got to meet someone I admire so much and got to speak with her AND when I returned to purchase form her stand she remembered me!!!

her words move me, her spirit pervades her and she just plain makes you feel like the world is a good place. Kylie your work is stunning!

These delectable Christmas decorations are made every year and you have to get in quick before they disappear. Looking for something special this yuletide then she is your girl @ paper boat press.

I also picked up some crocheted morsels here - Crayon Chick - again the delight of actually purchasing from the maker and creator beats the rush, push and shove of impersonal shopping centres. It makes you feel at one with the items you buy.

Go visit her here and see what amazing things she can do with your child's drawings!!!

Now here is something that truly blew me away.........I think these are just the most magical idea E.V.E.R.!!!

This is definitely in my Christmas shopping pile - I have nephews who will love this!!!! The kit comes with everything needed for creating your own lampshade cover AND it is completely washable - so the shades can be changed!!! Whats not to love??! Go ahead and visit two layers of cells and see what they have on offer.

Can you tell I had a ball??

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'Learn laughter from little children by thinking their thoughts, dreaming their dreams and playing their games.'

~Peterson~

(School children playing a game near Milton N.D 1913)

Wishing you happy playful thoughts, TK xx

This weekend

I am a little bit excited......as I am heading off to Bowerbird Bazaar tomorrow!! Look at all the fab fab stuff that is going to be there AND one of my favourite artist/writer/artisans is going to have a stall there - YEAH!!!! I am so so excited!!

I will be back with my thoughts and ramblings from this event!!!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever you do.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

" Be in love with your life."

~'Rules of Modern Prose', Jack Kerouac~

(stockphoto 123RF)

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"Any form of entertaining involves opening up a private world to others;

it calls for an extroverts heart and an introverts soul."

~Martha Stewart~



(image courtesy of Carolyne Roehm Entertainer)

TK xx

Where have I been?

I have been away from here for far too long my friends. I think perhaps I just needed to step away and re-group. I have had to sift and sort through some 'stuff' and work out how I patch up a tattered and weary heart and jaded soul and step out again.

A dear friend of mine perhaps sensed the need for me to get away and so we sojourned for a writing retreat up at Mt Tamborine in QLD. It was superb, it was sublime, it was mentally, emotionally and spiritually refreshing.

We met some truly amazing people who just blew me away with their lifestyle choices - they showed me that they truly live by faith each and every day - and I have come back home feeling better. I am more grounded, I am quiet, I am subdued but I am better - and I am writing lots!!

I am now planning a sustainable veggie garden and making adjustments to my pace of life. My studies are now more manageable and I am smiling on the inside.

This is all good stuff and this is what I am thankful for today!!! Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

TK xx

my observations

Okay well here it goes I am about to have another little rant on the subject of parenting. Yes, I have written about this before and yet again I find myself observing something that defies belief. Now before I tell you the story I will pre-empt this by saying that I do NOT think I am the best parent in the world nor do I believe I have all the answers!!

I called past my local IGA this morning after doing the school drop off with my little M and noted a dad & mum with their little toddler sitting out in the rather chilly wind eating a morning snack - yes you guessed it - donuts with coca-cola AT 9AM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Firstly I WAS STUNNED that they were sitting outside in the freezing cold with the little boy all snuffled up with a green nose (again you can guess why - they were busy smoking away in between bites of the donuts) but to feed their darling little boy such manufactured sugar, preservative and additive filled food just had me speechless. He would have been under 2!!!! He had his own can of coke and donut. It was probably his breakfast.

I can only imagine how hyped up and ratty this boy is going to be by lunch time and his parents will probably wonder why their little son is being so naughty??!!

Okay, I do not smoke and am not out to have a go at those of you who do, BUT common sense prevails - it is icy cold out this morning and so surely sitting outside was not wise given that the boy was so obviously not well.

Then to choose such nutrient poor foods for their son just got to me. I came home really upset about it and it has me again questioning how people parent. Yes I know that everyone has different models to parent by and we all have had varied and rich experiences but this stuff is just the basics - it should be the ABC of parenting - feeding our children well and nourishing their bodies and their minds are the best gifts we can give them along with our love.

Does anyone hear me?

TK xx

Monday Musings....

In every little girl, there is a grown-up lady.

In every grown-up lady, there is a little girl.

~Anonymous~

(ava's tea party - Belle & Boo)

I hope you take time this week to discover the child within - they are so much more fun!!

TK xx

Bright and Beautiful Trinkets

when feeling a little low

its always a good thing

to surround yourself

with bright happy pretty

things...

I am currently madly

in love with the fabulous

designs of Ayala Bar

She is considered to be
Israel's leading

costume jeweller

and I think that

her pieces are so

stunning

she entwines beauty

magic and delightful

happiness into each

piece...

it really has me smiling...

I am such a costume jewellery girl

I will pick it every time over

expensive diamonds and pearls.

What about you?

TK xx



Dreaming of Elsewhere

I have been absent from here

for a bit....

life has been hard

its been difficult

and I am needing

to go slow just now

I am being gentle

to my soul

and treating my heart

with kindness

nourishing my body

and feeding my mind

this season too will pass

and in the meantime

I am simply dreaming

of elsewhere.

(photo courtesy of sodahug)

with love & hugs to my dear readers,

TK xx