“A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking.”
~Helen Rice~

Dealing with setbacks

Getting on to the scales today, I felt an utter sense of gloom. Why do the numbers always keep going up? But, I have been trying to tell myself that this is not failure... because I do not fail. This is simply a temporary setback. Perhaps just another temporary setback in the series I have been encountering lately.

I have to rise above it, cultivate some optimism and plow on ahead. Right?

(Deep breath). Yup. That's what I am doing. Plowing on ahead. Because straight on ahead is where I shall meet success.

Smiley days

So enjoying my days spent entirely in the company of my little loves.

Shared chores; a constant stream of stories and riddles and questions; the yummiest of food;

walks; games and quiet times of reading together.

And laughter. There is always laughter.

The slow pace of island life

The islands we visited last week

were fishing villages.

This is me standing at the crossroads in the middle of the island looking towards the sea;

a view that was replicated, whichever direction I looked at from that spot.

The simple homes - often built with coral stones -

usually had some kind of seating on the outside.

The sandy streets were narrow and traffic free - except for the odd motorbike.

There were many of these swings set up all around the island

the perfect place to sit and watch the waves roll in.

While the men worked on their boats

the women were often seen working together

on projects like these

weaving dried coconut fronds into thatching

their work often lined up along the streets where they are left to dry out completely.

We enjoyed walks along the lush greenery

leading as always, to the beach.

You would think that since we live so close to the sea

we would be a little sick of it.

But not so in our case. Some of us chose to even eat in the water

trying hard to keep the waves from splashing into the food.

We seemed to be on the beach to welcome in every day and to bid each day goodbye:

near-perfect ways to start and end the days.

Calm

Whatever the weather

I find it so calming

to simply sit on the beach

and watch the sun go down.

Back home

8 days, 6 islands, loads of fun.

Six Questions with Empress Christina

Christina Martin of Soul Aperture needs no introduction, I know. She is the empress of soul. Her photos speak of the comfort and a cosiness of her home filled to the brim with love. Her food photos make me drool and her love for reading and the simple things in ife make her a kindred spirit. Thank you my friend, for sharing a little of yourself here with us!

1. Describe yourself in three words.

Shy, reader, familygirl. ; )

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?

To finally see my work published! The long days and hard work behind the lens, can lead me to tears, but when I see my work in print, it makes my heart swell. I'm so grateful in every way possible, for the opportunity and for the work.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

Walking in the city or taking a breather in a coffee shop. All the colors of the city, all the movement. The coffee shops... the ritual dance begins once the cup, is placed in front of us- the spoon, the extra foam, the talking with the hands. Amazing!

4. What is the best thing you create out of leftovers?

Soup! I love to throw all the leftovers in a pot, create a broth and come out with an amazing, soup. Nothing warms the soul as much as a little this or a pinch of that, made with love.

5. What activity recharges your inner battery?

Spending time by the water. Even on a wintery day, seeing the water crash against the rocks, or hearing the waves. It makes me feel like I am home. Maybe I will be lucky enough to love by the water, someday... since my soul already lives there. ; )

6. What does a typical day for you look like?

I get up naturally on most days, no alarms or anything like that, this makes my day so much more beautiful. I am usually up very early, this gives me an hour or two to write, edit photos, plan meals or answer emails. Then as the sleepy teenagers make their way downstairs, we begin our morning of homeschooling. Since our kids are older, the homeschooling days aren't as long. By noon, we are having lunch, and wrapping the school day up. For the afternoons, I usually head upstairs, and finish the loose ends on my work. Three afternoons a week, I head to work, as a personal chef. No matter how late my day runs, I have to read before I got to bed, even if the book ends up slipping out of my hands, on to the floor. Reading is a must, to get me to sleep.

Six Questions with Barbara Shallue

I got to know Barbara through the 356 photo project we both did last year. She is a wonderful photographer and I reckon that someone who describes herself as a potography addict is someone I want to know more about and see more of her art. Today, Barbara has been kind enough to share a little bit of herself here. To find out more about her and her work, please visit her at Long Hollow and her photo blog at Confessions of a Photography Addict.

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1. Three words that describe me? motivated, faith-filled, open

2. The best thing about being me right now is the sense of freedom and peace that I feel. Now that my children are mostly independent, I've entered a new phase of my life and it's so exciting! I'm rediscovering bits of myself that I'd forgotten. I'm not concerned with what other people think of me... I'm only trying to figure out and follow the path that was meant for me. It's an amazing adventure! I've also grown in faith... I know God is going to take care of our needs. I have a sense of the larger picture now and try not to waste time worrying about things I can't control. I do a better job of taking life one day at a time and being aware of my many blessings.

3. I find inspiration everywhere: Nature, people, conversations, music, art, words, film... Life is inspiring, period.

4. My most-often-read book is probably the Bible. I've read it three or four times all the way through since I was fourteen, plus read short passages almost daily. I used to re-read my favorite fiction books over and over, but these days I have too many books waiting to be read even once that I rarely take time to read one a second time. When my kids were young. I loved introducing them to books and characters I loved, like The Secret Garden, Call of the Wild, Black Beauty and The Lord of the Rings.

5. My idea of a perfect weekend: Walking on the beach at sunrise; lounging under a clear blue sky, listening to the waves, watching the sea birds, book in one hand, Bloody Mary in the other; dinner outside with a view of the sunset, followed by hours of dancing and a final walk on the beach with my sweetie under a full moon.

6. How do I unwind? See my description of the perfect weekend. Or traveling anywhere! But if that's not an option, I like to unwind by hiking through the woods with my camera, banging on my drums (it doesn't sound good enough to be called "playing"!), getting lost in a book, sipping a glass of wine on the back porch, listening to music, dancing or just spending time with friends anywhere!

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Thanks Barbara!

Six Questions with Katy Noelle

Today I am very pleased to have my friend from across the miles, Katy Noelle, to share a little bit of herself here, together with a few of her beautiful photos. If you don't already know her, you should stop by her sunny spot and peek into her photo journal. She is full of happy smiles and warmth and joy, the kind of person you can sit with over cups of tea and talk away for hours.

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1. Describe yourself in three words.
Happy, friendly, deep-loving.

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
The way I love and immerse myself in whatever I'm doing. My feeling of joy in things that are beautiful. For example, singing in a Christmas concert, this afternoon, and seeing the pale winter sun shining through the windows and listening to the orchestra resonating in the hall. It was pure joy! Also, I just feel so loved and beautiful. Sometimes, it's so easy to feel......not. But, I am!

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration in so many places and it is so important to me that I've felt a bit overwhelmed by this question. I think that I'll just simply answer that one place that I most certainly find inspiration is in the resonance of like minds and hearts.

4. What foods comfort you?
Right now, I'm addicted to plain yogurt sprinkled with berries and almond granola for breakfast. The day isn't just right without it but I, also, love what we call a Devonshire Sunday. It's half of a warm currant scone with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, warm strawberry jam dribbled over, a dollop of whipped cream with blueberries on top (there are extra smiles if it has two little toothpick flags - one American and one British.) It is the epitome - the pinnacle - of comfort food Then, after all of those sweets, for dessert, anything savory with chicken in it. Good question! =]

5. Describe a snapshot of a recent joyful moment in your life.
Well, because it is Christmas, I've had favorite memories of past years that keep strongly coming to mind; so, if you don't mind, I'd like to share one of those. Every year, on the Wednesday before Christmas, we have an open house. Cookies, wassail or eggnog (freshly made) and my famous cheese ball....and very good company. One year, my friend, Hannah, brought her violin. Our church organist sat down at our little pump organ, next to our Christmas tree, and fifteen of us (many very lovely voices) sang carols, clustered in our tiny parlor. There must have, also, been, at least, ten very young children in the group and they all sat quietly and enraptured at Hannah's feet. The sound was so warm and old fashioned and it smelled like evergreens and cookies and our hearts were wide open. I'm sure that I remember that we all had stars in our eyes!

6. If you had an hour for yourself, what would you do?
My first thought was that I'd finish cleaning out and reorganizing the game/craft closet but, er, maybe, that's crazy, isn't it? What I've really been dying to do is work on some food photography. I've made an apple, walnut cake twice, now, and it's been so busy that I've not had a chance to take a photo of it. Hopefully, 'three times a charm'. My family doesn't mind, though, they keep winding up having to eat my specimens.

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Thank you so much Katy, for taking the time to answer my questions, and for sharing a little bit of your beautiful photos with us.

Six Questions with Cathie from M.E.

As I island hop this week, I have asked four lovely women bloggers to share some tidbits about themselves here, to keep you company when you visit here in my absence. First up, we have Cathie from Melbourne Epicure, the scrumptious blog filled with baked delghts created with so much love and passion. Seriously, Cathie's food photos are guaranteed to make you drool. Do stop by her place if you can!

1. Describe yourself in three words.
friendly, openminded, accepting

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
I love that I don't have to get up and go to work each day. I love what I have created in my children, I feel that I am doing the best possible thing for them and happy with the life we have.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
inspiration comes from all the little things in our lives. A drawing, a sweet bed time story, our chickens ,a lovely teacup bought from the thrift shop,a vintage picnic set.
Every day things which don't seem that important always seem to inspire a photo,a post or some baking.

4. What talent do you wish you had?
I would love to be able to crochet. Only because it looks like a calming thing to do and I would also love to be able to play an instrument.

5. What everyday rituals give you balance?
the first cup of sweet soy chai gets the day started and a walk to school on a beautiful melbourne morning

6. Tell us about a kitchen disaster you have experienced.
happened a few weeks ago when I had an order for a mud cake and as I attempted to half it after it had been baking for 90 minutes, it broke and I had to bake another one .

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It is comforting to know that even you have kitchen disasters! :) Thanks so much for taking part and for sharing some of your photos here.

the simple life

a day in the sun

This is where we were yesterday.

Just us, the beach, and the water all around.

Today, hopping off to a different

(slightly bigger) island.

scavenger hunt

What is it?

Children

Joy

Window

Half