Journalling Through Photos

rain

2012-01-28T08:36:00.001+05:00

the rain reminds me

of sipping hot chocolate and coffee

sitting side by side

watching the grass open its arms in welcome.

the rain reminds me always of you

hello weekend

2012-01-27T05:02:00.000+05:00

hello weekend ... so good to have you here.

do me a favour and hang around for as long as you can

so i can savour you

enjoying every bit of time i get with you

before the madness of next week begins.

slow - easy - smiling

those are the themes for you to remember.

deal?

Feeling stretched...

2012-01-25T22:06:00.003+05:00

... but at the same time, enjoying the excitement of learning in a new context.

Into double digits

2012-01-24T22:18:00.001+05:00

the prep work

~homemade marshmallow fondant flowers~

the cake

~red velvet cake with strawberry and cream filling and a cream cheese frosting~

the birthday girl

(some of) the guests

the most popular aspect of the party

but the excitement of the afternoon proved to be too much for some of us to handle.

All dressed up

2012-01-23T12:56:00.001+05:00

To celebrate National Day, the children are all dressed up in traditional attire to go to school.

I am wondering how they are going to do PE wearing these clothes today.

While Em was delighted with the chance to dress up,

Hero was not too sure about wearing a sarong

("it's a skirt! i'm not wearing a skirt!").

So I am hoping that he remains fully dressed for the time he is in school

and doesn't decide that he has had enough of this "skirt" halfway through the day.

can someone please tell me...

2012-01-22T23:20:00.000+05:00

...where i can get more hours to fit into my day?

you are not sexy until you have bleached skin

2012-01-21T22:30:00.001+05:00

Seated in a waiting room for half an hour, idle, with only tattered magazines featuring women with too good looks to be real, I chose to focus on the television in the corner. Its volume was turned way down, but it was still audible if I paid close attention. Set to one of those cable channels that show one song and dance routine after the other, interspersed with long commercial breaks.

During the half hour I stayed there, there were three different commercials for fairness creams.

Fairness creams that contain strong chemicals to bleach away the colour from our skins. Fairness creams that promise not just a paler complexion in as little as 15 minutes, but together with it, success: both in career and in love. Fairness creams that bring with it, popularity of superstar proportions and a line of adoring fans and hopeful suitors. Fairness creams that were the key to happiness in life.

That is, if you believed these commercials.

I watch them and I get mad. A slow seething fury that rises from inside me, bringing even more colour to my already dark skin. Why are we, at least in this part of the world, so obsessed with fair skin? Why can't we be proud of the skin we were born with? What has the colour of one's skin got to do with success in life and luck in love? Is dark skin not appealing? Is this some kind of hangover still left behind from the stupor of colonialism?

a breakfast request

2012-01-20T10:38:00.000+05:00

"fresh air scrambled with cotton wool clouds and sprinkled with golden sunshine, served over a bed of fluffy white sand and a side dish of hysterical giggles."

ummm... that's just a little bit of a challenge for me to prepare for today's breakfast. could we just opt for banana pancakes instead?

Water

2012-01-19T20:54:00.000+05:00

water:
sipped warm
from my mug
to keep myself
from nodding off
mid afternoon.

water:
running creeks
down my body
slipping into
secret crevices
within me,
warming me up.

water:
dirty, smelly
kitchen sink kind.

water:
gushing down
from the skies
eager
to spread the word.

tipping head back,
opening my mouth
to welcome in
water.

2012-01-18T23:07:00.001+05:00

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
~Albert Einstein~

barricade of my heart

2012-01-17T22:08:00.000+05:00

physically, you are not here.
and yet, you are here,
right here,
comfortingly enclosed
in this barricade of my heart
soothing my being
with your presence
like a mug of warm spiced tea
on a cold evening.
and like the burning heat
of too-hot tea that scalds
the roof of my mouth
as i savour every sweet sip,
this distance leaves me broken,
walled in a sweet ache of despair.

on days like today

2012-01-16T22:26:00.000+05:00

some days, i feel this small.

Looking up

2012-01-15T21:40:00.000+05:00

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.”
~Louisa May Alcott~

what boils my blood

2012-01-14T21:20:00.000+05:00

when i go to the beach and face rusted cans

plastic containers

and just general rubbish just strewn everywhere

i feel like screaming.

i get angry and sad and frustrated

that some of us just treat our surroundings as the rubbish dump.

i wonder what it would take to change that far too common mentality?

Snacks are evil

2012-01-13T14:53:00.002+05:00

Here's the deal. I like fruits. I like vegetables. My everyday meals are generally quite healthy.

But I also love my unhealthy stuff. Baked yummies. Chocolately goodness. Cheese. Cream.

I have always believed in moderation, which is one reason why I do not believe in dieting. Because I think restricting myself will only mean that I will crave the restricted foods even more.

So, I have always allowed myself little snacks as treats even during those rare phases when I am supposed to cutting out the not-so-good-for-me stuff.

But, the problem is, these supposedly little snacks become my downfall. A spoonful of peanut butter doesnt end with just one spoonful of peanut butter. Before I know it, half the jar is gone. In one go.

Or, if I decide to have a slice of cheese to nibble on, soon, there is no more cheese in the fridge.

Or, yesterday. I figured, nuts are healthy and good for me, so I will just have a small handful of peanuts. Five handfuls later, I figured, well, it wouldnt do any harm if they were coated in a little chocolate and then a layer of sugar, right? I mean, its only a tiny amount of chocolate and sugar that can coat a peanut, right? So, yes, peanut m&ms suddenly became the ideal snack for the moment.

Or, the time when I really really needed something chocolatey. And made myself some hot chocolate with a few squares of dark chocolate... and then thought of sweetening it up with some spoonfuls of Nutella. And once the Nutella was added, why not just go with the cream on top too?

Yes, I know. I just don't realise that I have passed the line until the line is way out of sight.

And so... my thinking right now is, remove all unhealthy potential snacks from the house. Just stick to the fruits and I will be good, right?

As I write this, I see my husband walk in with a pavlova. Hmmm ... removing unhealthy potential snacks alone isnt going to help, is it? I need a different strategy.

And please don't suggest will power. I am allergic to that.

Soup

2012-01-12T20:15:00.000+05:00

It's calming, soothing and nourishing.

And now, they say,

it could be because of the links to the food we had as babies.

I don't know about that,

but a good bowl of soup

on a rainy evening when you are not feeling your complete best

seems to be just the thing to make you feel better.

And of course chocolate helps too.

That goes without saying, huh?

I am...

2012-01-11T21:05:00.000+05:00

enjoying being a student again - i am following an online course on critical thinking

looking forward to teaching soon - i start my first grad class in a few days

Yay!

2012-01-10T19:38:00.001+05:00

It's done, all done. The presentation. And it went very well. Now I need some sleep.

In at the deep end

2012-01-09T17:53:00.000+05:00

First day back at work after my nice long break, and I get thrown in at the deep end. Got told that I have to do a mega presentation tomorrow morning, and I am looking at the clock wishing I could stall it just enough so that I can be super ready for this. I need to do this well, because this is where (I am hoping) I get the nod of approval for the work I have been doing for the last three years.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Wish me luck.

munchies

2012-01-08T16:12:00.003+05:00

i love to snack

(understatement!)

but rather than reach for the cookie jar

or the bag of chips,

i have been trying to choose for healthy options.

And this is one of my recent favourites.

spice roasted chickpeas

(you might know them as garbanzo beans).
A can of chickpeas, washed, drained and sprinkled with spices of your choice

(I use cumin, pepper and cayenne)

and a teaspoon of olive oil.

Tossed together and in the oven on high for about half an hour

and they come out looking like this

and are crunchy and yummy and addictive.

But hey, getting addicted to this

has got to be better than a packet of oreos a day, right?

in the quiet of dawn

2012-01-08T04:48:00.000+05:00

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"
~Vincent van Gogh~

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”
~Helen Keller~

1:52

2012-01-07T20:49:00.001+05:00

freeing inhibitions; playing with colour

capturing children

2012-01-06T19:00:00.000+05:00

curious

joyful

questioning

happy

innocent

waking up at 2 a.m.

2012-01-06T05:49:00.000+05:00

i am a moth
trapped inside
an upturned glass jar
screeching for help
yet no one hears me.
fluttering to get out
yet no one sees me.
no one soothes
this panic
no one understands
this feeling
of being trapped.

tossing and turning
in this unearthly hour
sleep becomes
another distant lover.

chocolate cake is calling my name

2012-01-05T20:03:00.001+05:00

Breakfast - scrambled eggs with veggies

Lunch - rice, lentils and grilled fish

Dinner - sausage and chickpea stew with brocolli and bread

Snack - apricots

And still ... I am craving something deeply chocolatey and unhealthy!!!

I should just give in and indulge - right?

unfurl and rise above

2012-01-05T12:45:00.002+05:00

don’t let your brain think
it will dismantle you.
think with the beat of your heart
(i know it goes yes yes yes).
don’t hold on to the wary doubt
as though it was your supporting beam.
see it as a child sees play dough
limitless possibilities waiting to be shaped
into any way your heart desires.
unfurl your fingers
let go of uncertainty,
practise embracing happiness
(write it down,
say it out loud
into a pillow in a darkened room,
engrave it into a tree trunk,
do whatever it takes to convince yourself).
don’t let boulders in your path
dwarf you.
rise above and find your way past them
and over here,
to me.

Give a girl time, a camera and two eager helpers...

2012-01-04T20:52:00.001+05:00

... and this is (one) result.

Being present

2012-01-04T05:06:00.000+05:00

"When we are present in each moment, the past gently rolls up
behind us and the future slowly unravels before us."
~Rev Richard Levy~

Debating with myself

2012-01-03T19:05:00.001+05:00

As the day of starting work looms nearer,

I have been really debating with myself about taking the next rung

on the career ladder.

I am an educator and I love working with children

and helping schools to be better places of learning.

But I want to do more

and right now, I dont feel like I can do what I want,

I feel constricted in the place where I am at

and office politics does my head right in.

So, I have been looking at job opportnities elsewhere

and appealing as many of them may seem,

I keep thinking that it would be a very selfish thing

to have my family relocate

just to get to do what I want.

One week

2012-01-02T20:23:00.000+05:00

Savouring the last week before going back to work.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T15:33:00.000+05:00

Happy 2012!!!

As a new year dawns, a year of taking

action

I want to reflect on some of the memories of the last year and dream of what this brand new year may hold in store for me.

I Love You ... my little loves

Birthday - this was the cake that my daughter baked for me

Travel - Bend, Oregon... somewhere my heart had wanted to be at for a long time.

Summer - a warm day spent at the painted hills in Oregon.

All Smiles - a day of smiles doing what we love

Home ... my little loves, the sand beneath our toes, the sound of the waves... that to me is home.

I Miss You

Beautiful - a beautiful day spent in a beautiful place

Macro - now you know that I love taking macros... and this one is one of my favourites of the year

Don't Ever Change

Hopes and Dreams held tight.

Wishing you all a wonderful new year!

2011-12-31T21:16:00.000+05:00

“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

2011-12-30T20:32:00.000+05:00

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

2011-12-29T18:52:00.002+05:00

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

2011-12-28T21:26:00.001+05:00

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

2011-12-27T19:33:00.003+05:00

Whatever the weather

I find it so calming

to simply sit on the beach

and watch the sun go down.

Back home

2011-12-24T18:08:00.002+05:00

8 days, 6 islands, loads of fun.

Six Questions with Empress Christina

2011-12-23T20:15:00.002+05:00

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

2011-12-22T20:00:00.002+05:00

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.

~~~

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!

~~~
Thanks Barbara!

Six Questions with Katy Noelle

2011-12-21T20:20:00.002+05:00

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.

~~~

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.

~~~

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.

2011-12-20T20:00:00.002+05:00

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 .

~~~
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

2011-12-19T18:56:00.002+05:00

a day in the sun

2011-12-19T07:48:00.004+05:00

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

2011-12-18T21:46:00.000+05:00

What is it?

Children

Joy

Window

Half

And we are off...

2011-12-17T06:35:00.000+05:00

leaving behind the island of concrete for a few days on the beach

just sun, sand and smiles.

have a great weekend!

who makes your heart smile?

2011-12-16T20:06:00.000+05:00

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
~Marcel Proust~

Taking a moment

2011-12-15T19:20:00.000+05:00

After a very rushed few weeks, I am taking some time out to stop, relax, spend time with my little loves and have fun. Some beach time, lots of walking and cycling and some good eats are on the menu for the next week ahead.

Six Questions with Felicity

2011-12-14T20:00:00.001+05:00

Another interview today ... this time, the delightful Felicity from Gifts of Serendipity. I got to know Felicity through her fun series she hosts which allows us all to travel around the world while sitting in bed in our pjs. Felicity herself is from Noosa, Australia. Her infectious cheeriness is reason enough to stop by her lovely blog.

~~~

Hello friends of Kamana, it's a true delight to be able to share these following snippets about myself with you and thank you lovely K for inviting me to be part of this series.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
It took me quite some time to come up with the three words that I believe epitomise who I am at the moment but I finally found three that encapsulate not only who I am now but who I hope to continue to be as I grow forward.

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
At this time in my life I'm working my way through the issues related to Chronic Fatigue and although I'm having to learn great lessons in patience I am also grateful that I have the opportunity to rest and recharge.
If I had to use an analogy to describe where I'm 'at' right now it would be a butterfly cocooned in her chrysalis waiting to emerge.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere but am particularly enlivened by the elements captured so beautifully in this piece of art by Gennine Zlatkis....nature, travel, blossoms, feathers, beauty, travel, seasons, colour, water, skyscapes, friendship.
My blog is a celebration of all of these things and I enjoy sharing on the gifts that I encounter with beautiful friends around the globe.

4. What do you do to de-stress?
To swim in the ocean, a calm lake or gently flowing river or to float face to the sky in our pool, all of these things are calming and also re-energising for me. I try to get into the water as often as possible and we also spend time in our hammock each and every day either alone or in pairs, reading, talking, snoozing, meditating, dreaming.
If you'd like to take a peek at my special swimming spot, click here....

5. Your philosophy of life in one sentence.
I truly think that this says it all.

6. What is your dream holiday destination?
Travel is one of my favourite things to do and I'm always intrigued to visit new places whether literally or virtually.
I started a little blog excursion called 'Six Senses Tours' last year and have been delighted to see different pockets of the world through many different eyes.
I've included the logo for the tours in this montage [#6]. You may not be able to make out all the elements in this picture so I'll help you out. In addition to a passport and globe, there is an open book and a background of lovely art.
My ultimate travel destination is one where I need a passport, meet interesting people, learn something new and am transfixed by something beautiful.
When I travel I like to bring home a soundtrack that reminds me of the place, a fragrance that I wore whilst there, a recipe from a meal that I ate, something beautiful that I can touch, see or use in my home every day.
My 'Bucket List' of places to visit is ever expanding and I hope to be able to tick them off as the pages of the years turn over.

~~~

Thanks so much Felicity!

Six Questions with Naturally Carol

2011-12-13T20:02:00.000+05:00

Today we have a blogger I got to know relatively recently. From my first visit to her blog, I have admired her creativity with fabric. Naturally Carol talks about her faith, her home and shares her sewing projects. Do stop by her place!

~~~

1. Describe yourself in three words.
Three words...faithful, dreamer, creative

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
The best thing about being me right now is that I am old enough to have experienced and seen things. I have a much better understanding of how life works than I had back in my twenties and thirties though I think I was slow to mature that way. I think my dreamy side was more prominent then! I love being in a position where I don't have to work but love to spend time making gifts for friends, family and others and being able to choose the way my days unravel, for the most part.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
I get inspiration from nature, from beautiful art and objects and also from thinking about the person I want to make something for. I think about their personality, the colours they wear and the decor they like to have around them. I like a wide variety of styles from modern to quirky to a more traditional look. If a certain fabric range makes me excited by it's colours or designs that will inspire me to make something from it.

4. Have you always had a passion for sewing?
I haven't always had a passion for sewing, in fact I did a lot of folk art back in the nineties and then some cross stitch at another point. I think I really like colour and as I owned a sewing machine when looking for something to do last year I saw the possibility of being able to work with all the beautiful fabrics around to create items to use for gifts and other practical purposes. I started off making aprons to use as Christmas presents last year for all the females in the family but I had a little nagging thought to make cushion covers too. I didn't know how to, so I bought a pattern which gave me an idea of size and used some fabric that my daughter had used for curtains which she didn't want any more.

5. What was your greatest accomplishment this year?
My greatest accomplishment this year came out of a need. I was housebound by a very sore knee in January this year when Queensland experienced some of the worst flooding in years. Being a Christian, I prayed and thought what can I do to help. It was a marvellous experience to have other bloggers join me in making over a hundred cushion covers which were sent to a contact in Theodore, a little flood affected town. They were given to people who were rebuilding their homes, relocated to caravans temporarily and to two classes of young children to use in their classroom. The generosity of bloggers delighted me and it was such an honour to be part of. The intention was to cheer people up and we did that.

6. What foods nourish your soul?
Foods that nourish my soul. What a question to ask someone who enjoys a lot of different foods. I think red berries of any kind would have to top the list, they just look so good and taste amazing, second would have to be something creamy like a nice triple cream brie cheese. I think that would be a taste and texture thing. My third choice is chocolate..oh yes! It just had to be there somewhere...dark but not bitter and the nuttier the better!

~~~
Thanks Carol!

Six Questions with Reena

2011-12-12T18:45:00.000+05:00

I am back home from my (all work and no fun) trip to India, but no rest yet this week as I have a mountain of things to complete before I can take some time off. In the meantime, I have a line up of interviews this week with lovely women I have come to know through this world of blogging. Today, we have Reena of Missing Moments, who needs no introduction to most of you who visit me here. I am a huge fan of her bird photos and would love to learn a few processing tips from her as her photos always seem to have a painting-like quality to them.

1. Describe yourself in three words.

Inquisitive, tenacious, introspective

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

As I near 60, a certain maturity and freedom has allowed me to examine the world in more detail than ever before. During our 20s, 30s and 40s, we are so busy raising families, building careers and just trying to figure out who we are, and as a result, we have little time to observe the intricacies of our surroundings. I am able to do that now ... And sometimes, with a little luck, capturing that moment in a photo.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

nature, poetry, words, other bloggers

4. What would I find in your fridge right now?

Possibilities yet unimagined, awaiting a creative chef (certainly not me) to whip up something delectable!

5. Your most, and least, favourite words?

My least favorite word is “can’t”. That word can hold us back from doing and/or achieving so much in life. My favorite word right now is “awesome” because, well, life just feels that way right now. It can all change in a heartbeat, but for now ... Life is awesome.

6. What books/blogs/artists do you keep going back to again and again?

Poets Mary Oliver for her words on nature and Kay Ryan for her wit along with her rhythmic words. Author Alice Munro, who so beautifully writes about the human conditions and relations in everyday life, and Irish author William Trevor’s short stories of folks who cannot accept the reality of their lives, thus retreating into alternative worlds.

~~~
Thank you Reena for sharing with us a little of yourself and some of your beautiful artwork.

you know it too

2011-12-12T01:04:00.003+05:00

How do I explain
the fullness of my love
when I cannot see it
or measure it
or even arrive at
a rough estimation
of its depth?
I simply feel it
in my soul,
woven into my being
like the intricate rivers
of rain
that run inside leaves
plumping them up
with life.
I may not tell you
just how much
but I know that
I love you more,
so much more.

the waiting

2011-12-11T05:45:00.000+05:00

it has been six years
since the last time
but sometimes
i still miss it.
the waiting.
the anticipation.
the promise
of my rounded belly
as they wiggled
and somersaulted
inside me,
always seemingly
waiting for moments
when i was alone
and quiet
and resting
for the playing to begin.

now,
they are nine and six
and cordless
as they run and jump
and yell and laugh
but I feel it still
as strong as before,
this invisible cord
that ties them to me.

the ruckus

2011-12-10T04:54:00.000+05:00

the curtain sings
to the music of the wind.
the washed clothes in the basket
waiting to be taken upstairs
grumble about getting crumpled.
the chapters of the manuscript
waiting to be edited
let out intermittent beeps
letting me know of its existence
in the pile of papers waiting to be sorted.
the full sink,
fully aware of my shame
in having unwashed dishes,
screams out loud
humiliating me further
in front of unexpected visitors.
the house is quiet
except for the ruckus
of these lifeless things.
their noise too distracting
to concentrate on anything else.
i take the keys and leave.

Six Questions with Julochka

2011-12-09T20:00:00.004+05:00

Julochka is one of the first bloggers I got to know when I first started blogging, and one I continue to enjoy visiting regularly. Her wicked sense of humour and her seemingly effortless flow of words make her a pleasure to read, always. She describes her blog as "an outlet for the madness with occasional flashes of insight." A quick visit alone will make clear her many creative talents, and as she explains below, she has always got many creative projects on the go.

~~~

1. Describe yourself in three words.

evolving, real, dynamic

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

i think i'm more content than i've ever been at any other point in my life...perhaps it's my age, but i think it's also physically where i am. tho' our house is in need of years of major renovation that have only just begun, i'm surprisingly content with where we are at this moment. it just feels right. and i don't feel filled with impatience like i once did.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

pinterest, like-minded souls, my own backyard, traveling, reading

4. What was the last thing you cooked?

cod dipped in eggs from our chickens and homemade bread crumbs

5. If someone wrote a biography about you, what might the title be?

reality is frequently inaccurate

6. What are some of the creative projects you have on the go right now?

oh dear, i hesitate to admit how many there are, but the one that's obsessing me most is surely a stack of leather iPad cases that i'm making for a market next weekend. other than that, i have a number of secret christmas gifts for family and friends on the go. my worst habit is that i don't necessarily have the discipline to finish one before moving to the next one, so i end up with loads of projects on the go and not as many finished as i should have. nearly all projects are sewing-related, tho' i also have a new business up my sleeve, together with two friends and that feels pretty creative as well. if it goes well, i'll get to do my favorite creative thing - writing - and be paid for it!

~~~

Thanks Julochka!

This will be the last interview of the series for this week. More scheduled for next week.

Six Questions with Lisa Gordon

2011-12-08T20:00:00.003+05:00

Many of you would be familiar with Lisa's exquisite photography. Her photos have a painting like quality that I really admire. I especially love her ethereal macros of flowers.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
Caring, introspective, insightful.

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
Being in a wonderful place in my life, and enjoying every moment. I really cannot describe it better than that.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
Almost always in nature. Mother Nature provides such an amazing canvas for a camera. I also find inspiration in old and weathered structures. I think my kids sum it up best when they say, “Mom is out taking pictures of dead flowers and condemned building again!”

4. What is your creative process?
My creative process rarely starts in my mind. It is usually triggered by something I see. If it catches my attention, I am then driven to make it “work.” This can take anywhere from minutes to much, much longer. Once I get the shot I am happy with, it may or may not begin all over again depending on whether or not I decide to edit. I do not see it as having a beginning and an end. It is most definitely an on-going process.

5. If you had an hour for yourself, what would you do?
I would sit in complete silence, and just be.

6. Do you ever have creative ruts? If so, how do you get out of them?
I most definitely do, but the most helpful thing for me is not to dwell on them or be consumed by them. Although most of my creative ruts occur between my camera and I, there are so many other things having to do with photography that I love, so I usually just put my camera down, and pick up something else. I also keep repeating, “And this too shall pass!”

Thank you so much Lisa for making the time to provide us a little about yourself and to share with us some of your beautiful photos.

Six Questions with Jennifer of Ripplespeak

2011-12-07T20:00:00.000+05:00

Jennifer of Ripplespeak is a magical word weaver whose comments too are often poetic. Surrounded by the beauty of nature as part of her work, her colourful artwork often reflects the wonder of the gardens she enjoys.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
myself in three words......creative, intuitive, expressive

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
what's great about being me right now? The doors of fear are getting smaller in my life. Really, my present everydayness would've slayed me years ago. I'm wildly grateful that even when I'm dancing close to overwhelm and wobbling with the weight of it all, there's lightness and lift to what used to feel heavy with impossibility. And when I do freak out and start to panic, I'm gentler with myself...kinder to those tender parts that used to scurry into hiding and shut down. I'm a way better friend to me than I used to be:)

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
I spend a huge amount of time outside in nature....my husband and I own a small business designing, building and maintaining gardens in our beautiful North Carolina community. Planting, tending, pruning, nurturing and observing the gardens in my life
encourages my knees to the earth and eyes to the sky, my camera and notebook by my side. I'm often undone by the beauty and inspired to find slices of time to paint and write it all out.

4. What is your signature dish?
Hmmmmm....my signature dish. I don't think I have a particular dish.....it's all about the presentation to me. An unexpected pop of beautiful color, usually with something surprising and fresh like flowers or living sprigs or herbs....a bright shot of joy.

5. What music do you listen to?
Music:) My i-pod is chock full of the the most eclectic mix of music...so many genres! Anything that brushes up against my spirit and stirs it more alive. I love the poetry of it all.

6. How do you fit blogging into your life?
How do I fit blogging into my life? Well I drag my life into it, posting once at the end of each week....tugging out whatever is swollen inside my heart like a lump in my throat. Once I wrestle it out, I feel this exuberant peace. And clarity. Blogging makes my life richer....it's an awesome fit.

~~~

Thank you Jen, for letting us into your world for a while, and sharing some of your beautiful photos here.

Six Questions with Tracy Bakkelokken

2011-12-06T16:00:00.003+05:00

While this goes online I am in the land of spices and colour. And I am delighted to have Tracy of Prana Light here for the day to share with us a little bit about herself and the beautiful things she creates. If you have not come across Tracy's blog where "art and spirit meet" I would urge you to hurry there... it is truly a calming place where life and its beauty is celebrated.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
Lover. Artist. Yogini.

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
This year has been a big on in terms of personal, spiritual and creative growth and transformation. I'm excited about how these horizons might grow and transform more in 2012 as I turn 40.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere! Nature is my greatest muse. But I also find much inspiration from music, photography, books, films, art, architecture...it's everywhere. And not least the internet and the creative blogging community--so many inspiring creatives out there!

4. What do you love about where you live?
I love living near the water. My husband and I live in a small coastal town along the Oslofjord here in Norway. The sea, the beach, the sky... I love the close proximity to these wonders.

5. How does your morning begin?
I'm a morning person, so I love mornings and feel brightest then. Morning begins with tea and a light breakfast, followed by yoga and meditaiion. Several days a week I also fit in some time to journal and write before digging into the rest of the day. I like a slow start with time to think, reflect, pray, write and consider the possibilities of the day ahead.

6. What are some of the creative projects you have on-going right now?
At the moment I'm writing content and taking photos for the winter edition of my seasonal newsletter. I'm also creating designs for a new range of jewelry to offer at my Etsy shop (www.pranalight.etsy.com/ ) in 2012. Returning to painting this year had been a huge thing for me after having brushes, paints and palette on hiatus for some time... A new idea is taking shape on canvas with paint and mixed media. I also dabble in fiber arts, and am just starting a design for a wall hanging inspired by Japanese sashiko quilting and kantha embroidery (an embroidery style in Bangladesh & West Bengal, India). Never a shortage of projects! :o)

~~~

Thank you Tracy for sharing with us a little about yourself and some of your beautiful artwork.

Six Questions with Karen from This Old House 2

2011-12-05T14:00:00.000+05:00

Continuing with the theme of wow women bloggers I enjoy, I am pleased to feature Karen of This Old House 2. I got to know Karen a few months ago, through a meme about imagining my other self. Since then, I have come to enjoy Karen's big hearted home in the blogging world and admire her for her upbeat nature, her kindness and her love of animals.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
Sincere, Open, emotional.

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
The best thing about being me right now is that I am finally comfortable in my own skin, living life on my terms, liking who I am, not trying to be something for someone else. It's a good feeling.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration in the beauty of nature and when I witness generosity and good will being shared among people.

4. What are some of the weirdest things you have ever eaten?
The weirdest things I have ever eaten... hmmm.. I have to tell you, I am not adventurous in this area. I'd never make the eating round on Fear Factor. Squid is as adventurous as I get, and I do love it.

5. How do you decide where the line is between public and private in your blog?
I decided when I started my blog that it would be a place readers and my family can come for an upbeat view, whatever the view on that day may be. I wanted to share recipes, good family times and the love I have for this farm, my family, my photography, and helping others where I can. I did not want to create a place to gripe about the problems of the world or the things that are trying in my own life. We all see enough negative in the news. I occasionally veer off course, but not very often.

6. What are you most looking forward to in 2012?
Spending quality time with my kids, I'm not fond of the Empty Nest thing. And perhaps a trip back to St. John or Martha's Vineyard, two of my favorite places on earth.

~~~
Thank you so much Karen, for sharing with us a little of your photography and a glimpse into your life.

Six Questions with Beth from Be Yourself

2011-12-04T16:00:00.003+05:00

What first struck me about Beth from Be Yourself was the humour and openness with which she writes. There is an honesty in her photos that I am always drawn to, and she makes the most mundane things look stunning.

Thank you Beth, for sparing the time to share with us a little about yourself, and some of your beautiful photography.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
open, honest and pragmatic

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
the best thing about being me right now, is knowing that i'm the best version of myself that i've ever been. when i was in my twenties, i can see now that i was still a baby. in my thirties i wanted to be like everyone else and now, in my late forties, i'm proud of who i am.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
i find inspiration everywhere. i know that sounds a bit vague, but honestly i can find inspiration in a library or starbucks. the back of an old building or a museum. the conservancy where we hike or in my art studio.

4. What is your creative process?
my creative process?.....well in life, my creative process is easy. it's keeping a positive attitude no matter what's going on...and honestly...that's not always easy to do.
my creative process regarding my photography and my blog...well honestly, it's all about just being myself.

5. What do you consider to be must-have tools for a good photographer?
the must have tool for a photographer is an artistic eye. once you have that {which sometimes has to be taught if you aren't born with it} then any camera and lens will capture the beauty you see. with that said, my 50mm 1.4 lens and my 70- 300 lens are two of my favorite lenses.

6. How have you evolved as a photographer?
how have i evolved as a photographer....well honestly, i'm still evolving. there isn't a day that goes by that i don't learn something new in regards to light, composition or editing and i wouldn't change that for anything. stagnant is a not a word i ever want used to describe me.

~~~

Beth's photography blog and her black and white photos are must sees. If you havent stopped by there lately, do visit!

gratitude and prayer

2011-12-03T19:45:00.000+05:00

the night is made up
of the curtain-filtered moonlight
on the rumpled cotton sheets,
the even breathing
of my angel as she sleeps
with a hint of smile on her face.
in a whispered movement
I lay down beside her
closing my eyes tight,
as with the tears
thoughts of volatile moments
of the day are forced out
and with humble gratitude
i give thanks
for this miracle that is mine
and pray for the strength
to be all that i need to be
for this girl and for me.

The start of my weekend

2011-12-02T20:16:00.002+05:00

A quiet weekend at home

spent with my little loves

reading, photography, artwork, laughter

What are YOU doing this weekend?

What am I doing wrong?

2011-12-02T10:18:00.001+05:00

I have been having a lot of problems with commenting on blogs lately. My password on blogger is saved onto the computer, but when I go to comment, I get this screen...

... and when I select Google account, I have to enter my details again.

And if you notce, I have the little box checked to keep myself signed in, but when I fill in the comment box and hit submit/enter... I am sent back here...

... and I click to 'log out and change accounts' and am sent back here again...

This has happened on every blog this morning... and on some... have been sent back again to this screen a second time

... and have to start all over again. Bloody frustrating!

What the heck am I doing wrong? Can someone please shed some light on this?

Six Questions with Kathy from PaperPumpkin

2011-12-01T20:00:00.003+05:00

The last interview for the week is with my lovely friend from across the world ... Kathy from the delightful PaperPumpkin. We are yet to meet in person, but she is a kindred soul I am very fond of and whose creative art journals I always admire. A passionate teacher by profession, Kathy is all warmth and kindness. If you are not a regular reader of PaperPumpkin, do please visit ... and make sure to check out her etsy shop as well.

1. Describe yourself in three words.
Three words to describe me... Perseverant, sensitive, creative (I hope!). All of these traits are probably why I am a teacher of young children and why I work with shy children and many with special needs...I have always believed that one can accomplish anything with perseverance-don't give up. My father always taught me that if it is worth doing, it's worth doing well. Even my children talk freely about learning perseverance! Sensitive, way yeah. Sometimes it really hurts...but it comes in handy when working with children! And creative, even in terms of problem-solving. And, if I don't create something everyday, I feel about to burst.

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
The best thing about being me right now is that I am in living, working & breathing opportunities to be creative: in the classroom, I have to be and want to be in order to meet the wide variety of learning styles and levels. In my PaperPumpkin workroom, I can get away from it all and play with paper, fabric, journals galore, paints, inks, stencils, you name it! And, my old farmhouse is under construction, so I have to creatively redo and decorate it -inside and out!

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration of course, in nature. I am a sky watcher {love the moon and stars an clouds}. I also love to view the process of flowers growing from seedling to full bloom, and fading, turning brown and fragile. I am inspired by people-watching, too. Moods inspire me. I tend to soak up others' moods like a sponge, but then have to create art somehow, and journal, in order to deal constructively with my intense feelings. Music inspires me: Adele's music is my very favorite, and I sing and want to take her deep feelings from songs, and work them out in my journals. I find inspiration from photography--your photos are some of my very very favorites, and you capture moods in nature and show things I have never seen.

4. How do you get out of creative ruts?
Ruts? Being way too busy and working too many hours away from home (50-55 hours per week), then being tired or unhealthy makes my creativity go splat. When I have quiet time where I don't have to be responsible, then I can freely use my imagination and let go and dig through colorful textured paper piles and beautiful fabrics, play music, and...create again. (Oh, Responsible is a word that describes me perfectly, too. I am probably WAY TOO responsible for my own good!) If I am really stuck in a creative rut, I take a walk, or read, or page through artsy magazines.

5. How do you find balance between your profession, your family and your own interests?Balance. My goal for this year was to find balance. Because I am so very responsible, I guess I believe that "work before pleasure" is a must. So, for me, balance is a complicated thing! I found that if I get up early and go to my classroom early (6:30 am), I can get lots of work done before I teach. Then, I stay late enough to really feel that I have done enough for one day at work, save some energy for creativity, and go home to play! PaperPumpkin keeps me busy, but it is fun. My journaling is a must so I have an outlet that is all mine. I have kept a diary since I was 9 years old and now that I am an antique, I have turned to art/visual journaling to express myself. I have shelves of journals...I wonder what will become of them...? A good, balanced day is one where I feel satisfied that after a good day teaching and being ready for the coming days, I still managed to stay on top of my etsy shop AND blog or journal. Wow, now that sounds like a lot!

6. If a movie was made about you, who would you want to play the lead role, as you?
If a movie was made about me, my husband says that Julia Roberts should play me. She's vulnerable but laughs a lot.

Kathy and her beautiful family on her daughter's wedding day this summer.

~~~

Thank you Kathy for sharing with us a little about yourself and some of your artwork.

More interviews scheduled for next week... but until then, it will be just little ol' me and my regular posts. Happy weekend!

Six Questions with Linda R.

2011-11-30T22:00:00.001+05:00

In this series of interviews with wow women bloggers, today I would like you to give a welcoming round of applause to Linda from My Happy Place. If you are not already a regular visitor at her happy place, make sure to go say hello. She takes beautiful photos (three of which are shared here), has a gift for creative crafts - I love the cards that she makes - and is a fellow scavenger hunter.

1. Describe yourself in three words.

Calm, sensitive and happy!

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

Being a Grandma. I am loving every minute of it..

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

Most of the time I get my inspiration from magazines and blogs.. So many wonderful things to inspire me in this big world. I also love to go to craft shows and just look at all the creative people out there.. And think… I can make that!

4. What is your creative process?

Believe it or not I do better with challenges.. With my crafts and with my photos I love it when I have a prompt.. I guess that gets my creative juices flowing…

5. What would be a perfect start to your day?

The perfect start to my day would be being close to the ocean, waking up to the sounds of the waves, sipping coffee and talking to my hubby about our plans for the day! That sounds heavenly to me!

6. What would you like to learn to do?

I would love to learn to write better. Someday I would love to take a creative writing class.. I guess you’re never too old to learn new tricks..

~~~

Thank you Linda!

Six Questions with Emily Wierenga

2011-11-29T22:00:00.001+05:00

Next in this series of wow women bloggers, is the beautifully poetic Emily Wierenga from Imperfect Prose. She is an author who writes poignantly, her words raw, honest, open, and always lyrical. You can find out more about Emily at her website, http://www.emilywierenga.com.

~~~

1. Describe yourself in three words.
creative, spiritual, compassionate

2. What is the best thing about being you right now?
Being a mother to two beautiful boys all limbs and smiles and jolly jumping their way into their father’s and my hearts. This, combined with writing from home, and being married to a man who wants to spend his free time hanging out with me.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
From the two little faces that greet me every morning, and the one I kiss before falling asleep at night, and from the God I see etched in every smile line and laugh-groove, the God who falls in the snow outside my window and crackles in my woodstove and tells me I’m special when my reflection shows me afraid and so very small.

4. How have you evolved as a writer?
My writing has evolved alongside my paintings, both going places I didn’t know existed. I have always been a poet, but this poet is finding herself in the wood-grains of every-day life and learning, with the help of Anne Lamott and Madeleine L’Engle and Frank McCourt and Jeanette Walls, to make life a sonnet and a prayer.

5. What smells remind you of your childhood?
Clothesline-dried sheets, Jergen’s lotion (from my mother’s hands), homemade bread, wood smoke (campfires and wood-stove), Ivory soap.

6. What books do you keep going back to again and again?
The Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls), ‘Tis (Frank McCourt), Lullabies for Little Criminals (Heather O’Neill), Walking on Water: Reflections on Art and Faith(Madeleine L'Engle), The Kite Runner (Khaled Husseini), Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott).

Red Canoe - painting by Emily

~~~

Thanks so much Emily for sharing with us some of your thoughts and photos!

Six Questions with Sarah Elwell

2011-11-28T22:00:00.004+05:00

To celebrate 1000 posts here on Journalling through Photos, I am going to do something a little different. I am going to take a step back and feature the words and images of others I have come to know and love over the nearly three years of blogging here. Over the next few weeks, I am going to be featuring here some wow women bloggers I have come to know through this online community. They are all wonderful women who provide inspiration through their creativity. The warmth of their personalities shine through in their blogs.

Sarah Elwell takes dreamy photos (three of which are featured here) and writes beautifully at Knitting the Wind and Pilgrim Soul. If you are not familiar with her work, be sure to check her out. You will not be disappointed.

Thanks so much Sarah, for sharing with us your thoughts and some of your photos.

~~~

1. Describe yourself in three words.

Mother, writer, windblown.

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

I am so blessed to be the mother of a lovely and interesting child. Motherhood truly fulfills me, and to be able to experience it with a daughter I not only love but really like is wonderful.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

I am inspired in my mothering by the example of others, mostly those I know through the internet, such as Kyrie Mead and Lesley Austin - women who strive to raise their families with an atmosphere of grace and peace. With photography, I don't really work on inspiration, I just take pictures. There is no need for inspiration to find beauty in the world. And with writing, almost anything can prove inspiring, but especially music and my muse.

4. Unschooling… what is it and how does it work for you?

I guess you could simply say that unschooling is child-centred learning. Families apply that in different ways. For me, it has changed over the years. At the moment, my daughter is undergoing a vocational education, focussing on her sport in the hopes of becoming professional one day. We have determined this is the most effective path towards her future. Because of the unique demands of her sport, nothing but unschooling works for our schedule, and I put life before lessons.

I do believe younger children benefit from structure and from the calm and steady provision of information to help them progress into mastery. But for older children, it seems unkind to keep them from getting on with their own life.

5. How does motherhood influence your creative life?

It adds the element of time pressure which forces me to write, and write fast, in the spare moments I have available. Also, gone are my superstitions about the writing environment. I can knock out a poem even with children hollering and dogs barking in the same room as me.

6. What would be one piece of advice you would give to new writers?

I believe the craft of writing is very subjective. People write for all kinds of reasons, and sometimes they have an aptitude which matches their reason for writing, and sometimes they don't. My advice would be to work out why you want to write, and let that guide you. For me personally, writing is a craft I've taken very seriously. I studied the masters. I trained my writing voice long before I attempted to find my own individual voice. Not everyone will find that path helpful. I did it because I love language and always wished to have a career in writing. Other people may simply want to share a message with the world, and so they will need less technical skill, just a weblog and a sense of purpose. Knowing where you want to go is the best guide to getting there.

~~~

Do check back tomorrow for more interviews!

scavenger hunt

2011-11-27T08:50:00.000+05:00

Waiting - an airline waiting to take off

Foliage

Candid - this little girl was showing off her skills as I watched my children ride their bikes.

Fork, Knife or Spoon - halfway through eating my spiced moong beans yesterday, I remembered I still needed a shot for this prompt.

Rule of Thirds

a vision of hope

2011-11-25T19:55:00.003+05:00

"Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope."
~Sanskrit proverb~

"We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate - thereby making the present comfortable and the future promising."
~Maya Angelou~

Family time

2011-11-25T07:14:00.000+05:00

Finally, a quiet weekend.

After weeks of what seemed like mayhem,

I am planning of doing little else except put my feet up

and enjoy some quiet family time

all this weekend.

What are your plans for thr weekend?

Capturing Blue

2011-11-23T21:39:00.002+05:00

Blue water; blue skies.

Linking up with You Capture.

When buttons go a-popping

2011-11-23T12:39:00.000+05:00

when buttons go popping from my clothes just because I laughed a little,

I should probably be eating less of this

and this,

and start eating more of these.

Hmm... easier said than done.

Adding more fruit and veg to my meals is not the problem.

It's the giving up of yummy other things that is so hard.

Right now, I hate people who can eat what they want and not put on any weight.

Just not fair.

i want to...

2011-11-22T16:41:00.002+05:00

... stop, slow down, and relax.

but for now, it is go, go, go.

i have missed visiting my blog lovelies,

but i have been just very rushed this past fortnight

and have had no time to do many visits online.

but i will be around to stop by sometime soon.

rakee the rakisbondu

2011-11-21T17:28:00.000+05:00

hero named him rakee

this lizard that was very wary of us

but too curious to runaway without a little game of hide and seek.

scavenger hunt

2011-11-20T09:00:00.003+05:00

Water

Writing

Reflection

Around the home

Mainly one colour

carefree

2011-11-19T17:17:00.001+05:00

seven weeks

of school holidays

call for carefree days

of fun in the sun.

reach...

2011-11-18T21:59:00.001+05:00

reach for what you are dreaming about

numbers from the last seven days

2011-11-17T13:40:00.001+05:00

1 home renovation project completed

1 extra bedroom created

1 study acquired

6 rooms painted

3 meetings attended

last day of the school year celebrated

30 hours spent training teachers

0 time spent in gym

1 hour of TV watched

innumerable cups of tea drunk

2 manuscripts proofread

142 photos taken

It has been a busy week. I am so ready for my weekend... starting in a few hours :)

craving...

2011-11-15T12:02:00.003+05:00

... some yumminess

back to work

2011-11-14T06:34:00.003+05:00

back to work today

after a week of being home.

the bits of colour still sticking to my fingers

will remind me to hurry back

and finish the last of the painting.

can't wait to have it all done.

progress!

2011-11-13T00:01:00.007+05:00

Putting aside

books

and toys to give away,

we started work today on Em's room.

She wanted pink for a feature wall,

together with yellow and orange for the rest of the room.

We decorated the room

with colourful handprints

and a few footprints!

All set for bed.

Two rooms done... more to go!

mess, paint, little helpers, and more mess

2011-11-12T05:57:00.000+05:00

home makeover

2011-11-10T19:47:00.001+05:00

In the midst of a home renovation project.

A little accomplished, but a gazillion things still left to do.

Fun, but tiring

and hopefully, by early next week,

my home will have extra space,

be more brighter

and a little more organised.

When the rains came

2011-11-09T19:26:00.000+05:00

The rains came after months of longing. Hope had dried into the hardened soil, leaving the earth cracked and shrivelled. When the water in the well had receded far into its darkened depths, Haleema had abandoned her garden. She couldn’t afford to feed her green babies when her own thirst was never completely quenched.

With the rains, the world transformed.

Dust-laden trees turned an immodest green. The viha la’gondi vine raised itself from slumber, and snaked up the trunk of the dhumburi tree. The coral stone wall that divided her yard from her neighbour’s had been varying shades of grey. With the rains, the darker patches became moss green, glistening against the sunlight, giving a feeling of newness to the dividing boundary. The koel’s song as it gorged on the sweet pink berries of the jeymu tree was distinctly cheerful. The small creatures that lived in the undergrowth scurried past with more vigour. Even the dragonflies seemed to be smiling.

With the rains, Haleema transformed.

She had abandoned her garden when the drought was severe, and had succumbed to the coolness of her air conditioned living room, where she sat in her armchair, television remote in hand, and watched one soap opera after another. Watching the domestic squabbles between families all day long left her feeling irritable and ready to explode at the slightest thing. She craved her garden.

When the rains sprang the garden into life again, Haleema was back outside. An enormous pair of shears in her hand, knee high rain boots on her feet, a wide smile on her face, Haleema was back. Ready to wage war and rescue her garden which had been smothered by wicked weeds.

This is part of something else I have been working on... and my submission this week for imperfect prose.

::

2011-11-08T20:17:00.000+05:00

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired."
~Mother Theresa~

"Where there is great love, there are always miracles."
~Willa Cather~

our monday morning

2011-11-07T14:49:00.000+05:00

we were out riding our bikes.

some time later, bikes were abandoned

as trees were climbed.

as midday approached, we rested under the trees

and refuelled for the rest of the day.

scavenger hunt

2011-11-06T09:00:00.005+05:00

Food: popcorn counts as food, right?

Food: little meringue kisses

Purple: we do not get autumn here, so just finding the colour in nature

Purple: where little girls live, there exist glitter and baubles.

In disguise: grasshopper

In disguise: lizard on a tree

Shapes: my creative Em cannot remove seeds from pumpkin without making art

Shapes: Finding different uses for pastry cutters

Photographer's choice: boats, fancy

and simple.

of collages and cheese tarts

2011-11-05T20:59:00.000+05:00

hero, em and i each made something today.

no prizes for guessing

who made what.

seeking your advice

2011-11-04T16:35:00.001+05:00

since we spent the whole morning out walking, getting plenty of exercise

and eating only the sweet jeymu

we picked from the trees found along the way,

i thought it was justification enough to eat a whole lot of fried chicken

when we returned home, ravenous.

i have been seeing a lot of yummy looking

pumpkin-based baked goodies where i look online for cooking inspirations.

but since we don't get tinned pumpkin puree, i thought i would just make my own.

and while i sit here munching on the seeds that Em and Hero removed from the vegetables (with a lot of ewww... this is soooooooooo slimy comments from Hero) and toasted, the only decision i need to make is, what should i make with the orangey-gold puree?

muffins? pie? bread? something else?

it's a tough decision.

any advice?

waiting for darkness

2011-11-04T06:27:00.000+05:00

Awake,
I lie listlessly
staring at the fan
rouse the clammy air
from a long heavy sleep.

Amid
the tangle
of dream and true
I strain to place myself
in this space absent of heart.

Athirst
with a longing
for far-away things,
evermore impatient,
a stranger in my own self.

Bound
to this spot
I yearn for wings
to fly into the distance
to capture that impossible hope.

Alone,
I urge sleep
to come take away
these thoughts, this ache
to let me be numbed by darkness.

Where the mind is without fear

2011-11-03T19:06:00.000+05:00

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

~Rabindranath Tagore~

All in the name of power

2011-11-02T22:47:00.001+05:00

It’s thunder gone berserk.
No, it’s fireworks.
Maybe the band practising for the upcoming holiday?
At 4 in the morning? No, it’s got to be fireworks.

Before the sun rose on the morning of the 3rd of November, twenty three years ago, this was a conversation many of us had either with another bewildered soul, or within ourselves. Trying to make sense of the unrelenting noise that we failed to recognize.

I was barely a teenager. I lay in bed, listening to the echoing cracks in the stillness of the night, subconsiously sensing that this was something sinister, something very wrong. I listened to the sound of the telephone in the next room. Doors opening and closing. Hurried footsteps. Hushed voices in the hallway. The sound of worry. The tone of fear.

And then, my mother broke the news: the sound was that of gunfire. There was shooting on the streets. Boatloads of armed terrorists had arrived in the dead of the darkness and was overtaking the island that had prided itself on being the most peaceful place on earth.

I was too young to be interested in the politics of it then. What I remember instead is the fear. What I remember is the way I counted the seconds of silence between the menacing rounds of machine gun attacks, like I count the distance between thunder and lightning. What I remember is the waiting, the endless waiting for it to be over. What I remember is how I nearly froze in terror when a stranger ran into our yard pleading for shelter, to be rescued from the gunmen just outside the front door. What I remember is the visions of bloodied bodies being carried on the arms of others to the hospital across the street. What I remember is the shattered windows, the crumbling walls, the cries of terror, the dead. What I remember is the desperate hope to which we clung.

Since then, this day has always been a sombre one. Remembering the fallen. The hours of desperation. This day has always been a time to show appreciation for those brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice to save a nation.

Twenty three years later, this day is marked as a celebration of delayed success.

Twenty three years later, those who engineered the terror sit in the biggest chairs.

Twenty three years later, the sound of gunfire still takes me back to that night when I first heard a weapon being shot.

Twenty three years. And I can still hear it distinctly.

For imperfect prose

Writing postcards

2011-11-02T06:18:00.000+05:00

Hey baby, I’m missing you.
Lounging on a tropical beach,
basking under the scorching sun,
I should have you here by my side.
But you are away working
(and I officially hate your boss)
in some god-forsaken town
that is all about brown fields
and no decent food; leaving me
stuck on this paradise of an island
holidaying alone.

Coconut palms sway continuously
competing with the incessant waves
that offer driftwood and dead coral
along with empty plastic bottles
to the sandy shores littered with
dirty diapers and rusted cans.

The air is heavy, stifling.
I sweat profusely,
in a most unladylike manner.
While snorkelling to cool off,
I chase fish through bleached
coral gardens adorned with
plastic bags and shards of glass.

Mosquitoes are overly friendly
unashamedly leaving love bites
all over me. (Are you jealous?).
The locals ignore me, perhaps
mistaking my second class brown skin
for one of their own.

When darkness begins to fall,
the music of the traffic deafens,
drowning out the beat of the day
from the unending construction
of concrete structures
that sink the land into the water
bit by bit.

Oh yes, it’s paradise like nowhere else.
Wish you were here.

I am at the open night at the dVerse poets' pub. Come join us.

63 on 1.11.11

2011-11-01T21:08:00.001+05:00

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
~Washington Irving~

Happy Birthday, Mum!

proverb lessons

2011-10-31T17:21:00.000+05:00

"Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours."
~Swedish proverb~

"Little by little one walks far."
~Peruvian proverb~

rain, hot chocolate and poetry

2011-10-30T19:44:00.001+05:00

The sky is the colour of dirty dishwater. The wind is fierce. The rain stings. The smell of thunder is unmistakeable. The day reflects the gloom I feel.

But it is a perfect day for curling up with a book and sipping hot chocolate. Hot chocolate ... never fails me. It gives me the comfort I want and always delivers the smile I need. Yes, it certainly is a good friend.

The reading material of choice for today happens to be a book of African women's poetry. Let me share with you one particular poem that I like. It is by Zindzi Mandela.

Lock the Place in your Heart

Lock the place in your heart

into which I have poured my emotions

I do not want to be hurt again

use your heartbeat as the key

only you can hear if it unlocks itself

If the wind around you

should blow away

breathe into it and let my secrets go

scavenger hunt

2011-10-30T09:01:00.001+05:00

Macro/Close up - i use a p&s camera, but i love taking close ups of objects.

Found Texture - the textures created by coral on the sandy beach

Home - my daughter's breakfast in the blue and white bowl which signifies home

Cover - some water play in the rain, but all covered up.

Tree - the tree that is right in front of my bedroom window.

it takes all kinds

2011-10-30T01:51:00.001+05:00

yes they are flies

but i find them fascinating

and they posed so well for me.

linking with shoot edit submit

preparing for 'mumma what can we do now?'

2011-10-29T14:09:00.000+05:00

a jar of inspiration.
a collection of ideas of things to do for those inevitable moments of

"mumma what can we do now?"
with school holidays just round the corner, this seemed a particularly useful precaution.
today, we did #28.

blessed rain

2011-10-28T12:36:00.000+05:00

welcoming

the healing cool carresses

of rain.

what do you crave?

2011-10-27T22:57:00.000+05:00