43 things to do before I turn 44

I think this list may be slow to build. I sat down to write the list but only thought of a few things. In a year where I want to go slow, that's probably a good thing. Right?

1. Host a tea party. A grown up one with pretty frocks, ribbon sandwiches and champagne.

2. Sew the curtains for Ruby's bedroom.

3. Take Ruby and Max on an aeroplane.

4. Plant out the front garden.

5. Read a new author every month.

6. Try a new recipe a month - to expand (my fairly limited) cooking repertoire.

This will be me by the end of the year....

well maybe not, but perhaps my family will be more interested in dinner.

That's as far as I've got. I'll keep adding.

xx

Weekend happiness

I bought a new lens. An insanely fabulous 85 mm lens. I'm loving it. Desperately need to get out and about more to take pics.

I know there are many people blogging "a photo a day" projects, I'll try for a photo a week.

From this weekend, our beautiful chooks:

Last weekend, Jan and I had a brief photographic adventure in the parkland under the Story Bridge. A glorious couple of hours.

Have a happy week.

peace and love, k xxxx

A list

Life has been chaotic. So of course I'm back obsessively writing lists to regain some sense of control, or at least the illusion of control - which is sometimes just as good :)

A list of things for today:

• prepare for the new job (news: I got the job I desperately wanted. I'm very pleased).


• frantically finish everything at current job so I can leave in 2 weeks time :)


• make practical plans for getting to work on Monday in the rail strike. Bob help me.


• find the school shirt we borrowed from Emily (I know it's here somewhere)


• remember to polish school shoes


• find library books and missing Roary car (no chance)


• collect toiletries to send to Victoria - a friend's sister who's a Red Cross volunteer says there's plenty of food and blankets and clothes and toys, but a shortage of toiletry items.


• remember to write down the stories that Ruby and Max tell me....for example: I was thinking today about when we were at Noosa. Ruby and I made 3 trips to a shoe shop. Ruby eventually decided on a pair of Birkenstock sandals. By the 3rd visit, the shop assistant knew our names and most of our life story - Ruby became very animated and chatty in the presence of comfortable shoes. She even helped to sell some shoes, praising the virtues of Birkenstocks (a bit like an evangelist) to everyone who walked within a 50 metre radius of the shop door. When we left the shop and were walking back along the Noosa River foreshore, Ruby was wearing her Birki's and chose to stop everyone we saw - who was wearing Birki's (and there were a lot of them) - to ask them how they liked their shoes. She was a cracker. When we got back to the unit and were having afternoon tea she said "when I'm a grown woman I won't do work like mummy - because it's boring. I will have a shoe shop and I will only sell Birkenstocks". I suggested that she might like to have a bookshop because she loves books so much. She quickly changed her mind and declared that she would have "a shoe shop and a book shop and a small place for mummies to have cups of tea". Sounds like a divine place, I can't wait to go. Max, meanwhile, can't decide if he wants to be a champion racing car driver or a firefighter. Both noble aspirations.

Other snippets from today:

Ruby has been working on her "vision for learning this year". The teacher didn't seem to know about this when I asked her this morning so it might be something Ruby has started for herself. Where does she get this stuff? Anyway, her vision so far is: "to work hard so I get more free play time". And she wants to practice a virtue. She's chosen "peacefulness". I suggested she does peacefulness very well and she might want to choose something else, but she's determined. So be it.

And a quote from Max: "why does school start so early? Do they know ABC kids is still on?"

wishing for some peace and calm.

Incomprehensible

The tragedy across Australia today is heartbreaking.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/our-darkest-day-20090208-810q.html

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25024363-3102,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25024236-3102,00.html

I can't imagine how the families impacted by this horrific weekend are going to rebuild their lives - but I hope they find the strength, courage and support they need for the days, weeks and months ahead.

sending peace and love, x

Flourish - fabulous, elegant, so pretty and now open

It was our very great pleasure to go along to the opening night of a beautiful store which is a new business venture for our dear friends Jan and Ruth. Flourish is a scrapbooking store with flair. Beautifully decorated, thoughtfully stocked with delicious products and with incredibly fabulous creative souls in charge of their classes and design (Lorna and Briohny). I can feel the promise of many happy and creative days spent there with these beautiful, kind, warm and generous women.

Megan took some amazing photos on the opening night.

the tres chic entrance area:

some lovely products (and one of my fave photos):

beautiful Bazzill (row after delightful row of it):

the glamour girls (Briohny, Ruth, Lorna, Jan):

some lovely guests and super scrapbookers/photographers - Rachel Richter, Leanne Stamatellos and Michelle Jamieson:Ruth and Jan with super talented and super fabulous Ngaire Bartlam - looking very much like a formal and fancy pic with the Queen :) : and lastly, a pic I like because if you look really hard you'll see a photo of me and my love :)
If you live in Brisbane, you should pop in to Flourish - it's at 3/12 Kenrose St in Carina. Jan and Ruth will make you very welcome.

wishing you peace and love, k xxxx

And so it begins.....

Ruby started back at school on Wednesday. Max started at a new kindy on Friday. It's been a week of excitement, drama, tears and joy.

Ruby was happy to get back to school and her friends and to continue her relentless pursuit of knowledge. She was anxious about starting Year 1 because she can't spell "investigate". Not quite sure why it was such a big hurdle for her, but when I told her there are probably some grown ups who can't spell "investigate" she felt a lot better about starting Year 1.

After dropping Ruby off at school I took Max to kindy. The very same kindy he's been going to for 3 years now. He sobbed and ranted and clung to my leg. "I need Ruby, I need Ruby, I need Ruby". Oh dear. I wasn't expecting this to happen. Then he realised that all his friends (he only has a few close ones) have started school this year. More drama. It was a tough job convincing him to stay.

Then on Friday, Max started at his new kindy (Wynnum Manly C+K) where he'll go every Thursday/Friday from now on. He was excited about starting, but collapsed in tears when we actually got there. "They don't know me, no one will like me......." and on and on and on. I wasn't expecting it to be quite the drama it turned out to be, but then that's Max. After he questioned the teachers endlessly about why he had to call them "Mrs..." and what they would be doing at specific times of the day and what kind of toys they had and what programs were on the computer and whether the teacher actually really liked little boys or if girls were their favourite......and more, he began to cut them some slack. When I left he was sitting on Mrs O'Shea's lap snuggling into her neck - all part of his cunning plan to make them love him so he never gets in trouble for doing crazy naughty things.

At the end of the day Max declared that it was "the best kindy ever" and that he loved everything. He has happily agreed to go back next week. Thank heavens.

There's been a whole lot of other stuff happening this week which has been completely exhuasting. Looking forward to a better week ahead.....

sending you peace and love

kath xxxx