the last day of 'spring'

I say the last day of spring because by the calendar, tomorrow is the first day of summer here. Not that you would know it as we have had record high temperatures for weeks. Gawd, what is summer going to be like?

* * *

tomorrow - December the first - the day I start my Christmas decorating frenzy - the day I put my wreath on my door and each day as I do my house keeping, I decorate a room - {same as Daisy - we are twins}. I have been doing this for years, I find it easier to do it this way instead of one whole day. I have no idea how I will be decorating yet - I cannot find inspiration in this heat. Christmas in summer time is just not right! God, are you listening?

* * *

We buy our tree from a local bush fire brigade with the money going towards equipment to fight the bush fires. That comes around the 2nd weekend in December & with it comes the bickering - you know, like when you pull the lights out of the box, the lights that you know you took off the tree last year, so carefully wound them up & tied them so they didn't get all tangled but now they are like a big ball of steel wool - oh yes, tempers are frayed in this heat, let me tell you!

* * *

December 1st - the day I play my Bing Crosby Christmas CD and get all emotional - I have been known to cry amongst the clothes in Target when I hear White Christmas (the looks I get !) - the day that I start wanting to go and sit in a quiet church.

* * *

today I am off to Spotlight (again) to buy some white sequins and beads to finish off a doll for one of my secret faery partners..and who knows what else I will buy. I love spotlight - it is full of wonderful glittery bits and all kinds of art supplies.

let me see.. what else? I think I have only about 7 more birdies to finish, I have to get my stocking off to my partner, make another fruit cake (tomorrow) and oh gee, too many to list.

oh & tomorrow - I will have my Christmas decorations up here ! !

I am a fun girl, really I am

I was born under the star sign of Capricorn - the planet ruled by Saturn. as well I was born on a Wednesday (Wednesday's child is full of woe) - so - I am really behind the 8 ball in trying to be happy & carefree - but I am trying, really I am. I am not always melancholy baby - sometimes I am a fun girl!

sometimes I do laugh and have fun.

these were taken at my daughter in laws 30th birthday party last month.

the photo above is of my son, Caine (he is 31 and is the volunteer bush-fire fighter) & myself

and below is a photo of my mum & I

what has happened to me?

once upon a time, I never complained. Never. I just took whatever happened in my stride, dealt with it and then got on with life. Just lately, no, make that for quite awhile - all I seem to do is complain. whether it be about my past, my health, the fires or the drought, the things that happened and heaven forbid, my childhood, I have been complaining. poor me. I woke this morning with a shocking headache and started thinking of myself again and then realized what I was doing. STOP! I shouted to myself - there are so many worse of than you, so much worse off. Even in blogworld ~ there are many more worse of than me..do they complain? NO. You need to get a grip, miss robyn, you really do. I have even had a few friends here in blogland - kind of distance themselves from me and I am thinking it is because of my complaining. so I am going to try so hard to find that me that is fun & not so sad etc etc. in the meantime - I am turning comments off - I love comments but my blogging is becoming so dependant on them as it has a habit of doing and it is making me sad & paranoid and making me feel like I 'have to perform' . Of course I will still be blogging as - well, you know me, lots to say and if you want to comment, you can email me through my profile. I will still be commenting on your blogs too - of course ! You are all so special to have been putting up with me over the past few months - thankyou xo

Monday musings

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
- Albert Einstein

coughing, spluttering - trying to play catch up

I watered my garden this morning - we are allowed to water on Sundays, so before it got too hot I went out into the garden for an hour or so. Then it got hot - so I came back in and thought I would play catch up on the blog visiting - I tried to visit most - but this damn coughing gets to me and I have to take a break.

I am trying to get to visit - please bear with me - I haven't abandoned anyone. It seems that my throat is kind of affected and it will take a few days to heal itself, you see, the other night when the fire first started, I mistakenly left my window open and woke during the night with my throat parched from the acrid smoke from the bush fire and now all I do is cough. I am not sick nor do I have a cold. So I am treating myself with manuka honey and some tissue salts for inflammed throats. But it is time that will heal. cough, cough, splutter, cough - that is me at the moment - a lovely vision.

ps - I really love you all - you are such great people - I feel blessed that our paths have crossed in cyber space.

yesterday & today - a rambling post that probably doesn't make much sense at all.

yesterday - I didn't get to visit many of you - I played house - I cleaned my kitchen - the stove, the pantry and washed the floors. All I have to do now is give the dishwasher a run through and I am done!

I also crafted & created! more of a mess than anything else ha! no really - I did quite a few of my Christmas decorations & did a little bit on my dolly for my patchwork group present (we each take a gift & receive one back). I have made a doll,who I might add is quite 'out there' and have even used melted beeswax on her face - she is looking good!
I went to the post office and sent my first batch of decorations off - I need to do this in batches as Frank, my post office man would be overwhelmed if I took them all at once. so as I package them up, I send them off.
here are my first batch at my front door ready to be sent - they are winging there way to 6 recipients ~ the next lot will be sent next week.

I also wrapped my glitter gal Christmas swap package up & one of my Society of Secret Faeries packages are ready to go on Monday. I get so excited when I send little parcels off to someone. It is like a sparkling little bubble in my solar plexus region, an effervescent bubble, that builds and builds til I can contain it no more - like I feel I am going to burst. Then I have to wait a week or more to see if it got there safely. And believe me, patience is not one of my virtues. Not at all. Patience is one of the lessons that I came here to learn. I am failing.

Oh and Sophie and I are sick - we have allergies from the smoke and both of us have been coughing all night.

Joe and I are off to breakfast in Leura this morning and I am going shopping for my stocking buddy! Also want to find a few bits n pieces for a friend for Christmas. Oh and I am going to the op shops also to find some old books for an altered book. Love those things! I want to do an altered book swap oneday..... oh the swaps I have planned for next year. there is the glitter swap & the friendship bag swap ~ and others of course.I can hardly wait (patience, child, patience).....

so there you have it - early morning thoughts from me

oh and the fires are still burning. The rain stopped at lunchtime yesterday and the fires were controlled but next week they are expecting unfavourable conditions - so we will deal with it then.
have a wonderful weekend!

faery Friday

would you like your very own faery? there are some up for adoption:

adopt a faery

ahhhh

it's raining


I woke this morning to the sound of rain on my roof, of rain running down the down pipes. not heavy rain, but nice gentle steady rain. Not rain to fill the dam but rain to help ease the fire threat. Thank God. And thank YOU

my son is home, safe. He slept most of yesterday after being out all night the night before. He was happy to say that they saved someones home. He is a nice 'boy', a lovely man. I am proud.

Happy Thankgiving xoxo

to each of you who celebrate - I wish a wonderful day!

this morning

so far so good - I look out my front window and can't see the billowing smoke this morning and no sirens. It is a little cooler however -today is supposed to reach in the 30's (approx 90 or so fahrenheit) . I haven't heard from my son - he is probably resting or still out there. I guess no news is good news. I will take a walk up to the fire brigade later and see the updated message board. Those guys from the brigade are true heros, dinky di aussies and thank God for the Salvos who are doing the catering this time. Feeding all these men and women is a mammoth task
Last night it was an amazing sight to see over 50 fire trucks from all over New South Wales going up in convoy. The lights flashing but going slowly - people were honking the horns and waving. Great to see this support for these volunteers - yes, they volunteer to fight these fires. aren't they wonderful?
here is a link and my home is south-east of the fire.


the fire report at 6.30am this morning

we sit and wait- an update

updates follow below -as they come

6pm - I came home from the dentist today to the news that a spot fire had started one town up from us and was threatening our village. An ember had 'flown' 10 klms to start this spot fire - shows you just how fast the wind is gusting. The smoke is thick and the sky is black. Sophie was sent home from school early. Joe has been up on the roof making sure our gutters are cleaned out. Our hoses are all ready incase embers drop into the gutters. We have been told that villages have been put on alert to evacuate . So, we sit and wait - do I sleep tonight? not sure - the temperature is supposed to stay around the high 20's to low thirties over night. The air helicopters are flying, dumping 200 million litres of water so far into terrain that is inaccessible to the fire fighters.

I tell you the world has gone mad -last week on Wednesday we had a temp of 7 degrees C and today it was 33 C!

thankyou so much for the prayers and thoughts of us all down here - the gorgeous Blue Mountains on fire and being destroyed.

10pm we have been told by our local bush fire brigade that the threat to our dear little village has passed at this stage. The fire is burning away from us and the wind has dropped. If the wind changes and we are in any danger we will be notified with plenty of notice. So we can go to bed. Not so for the firefighters still out there. My son is expected home around 1 am for a sleep.

once again - thankyou to each of you for your care and concern xo

Wednesday night update

I could just about cry ~

I woke this morning at some ungodly hour of around 4.30am and could not get back to sleep. The wind was howling outside and the smoke was horrendous. Great. the wind has not done anything to help these bush fires and sirens have been going constantly all night. So, I start to stress, as I do. I feel like crying. I feel the oppression of the fires all around and yes, I feel depressed, like there is no hope. I can honestly say - I feel like it is the end of the world. dramatic - yes. But we are in the grips of severe drought here - and the water is being used up fighting these fires. I don't have a problem with that at all. I just wish it would rain. I wish God, whoever he/she is - would look down and see that his world is in trouble and do something. I wish the idiotic politicians would stop digging dirt up on each other - who cares if this one had an affair or that one takes drugs - not me. I care that we don't have a dam big enough to hold enough water for our city & surrounds. I care that when it does rain - our rain water is going down the drain and out to sea, instead of being sent to a dam. I care about the world. I stress about the world and I worry constantly about the world.

so today here, it is windy - if the fires aren't contained then they could very well threaten our home. My son has been called in to go and fight the fires tonight - a worry for us. But he is a good community member and I am proud of him for doing it. I am proud of our bush fire fighters and I pray that not one life will be lost this time. please God, let it rain.

vintagey Tuesday

we don't have the antiques that the French & English do - well not in this house. oh how I wish! Tara and Corey are so lucky but sadly here, antiques like that are way out of my purse league. so I run around my home looking for the first thing I can share for my inaugral vintage Tuesday. what will I pick? my religious bits, my antique quilts, old clothes, my scrappy rag dolls or the only French thing I own - a plaster bust? hmmm.

then I remembered the drawer full of vintage millinery flowers.

I started collecting these to send in parcels when I sold on ebay but I did that once and not a thankyou from the buyer so I thought, why bother? (see, I told you I wasn't nice) and these were too precious to be sending to those who don't appreciate the specialness of each flower.

So they sit in my drawer being patted and admired by me quite often. Sometimes I even sink my face into the drawer breathing in that 'old smell'

I found most of these in op shops for about 20c or 50c a piece. Now - ha! the bandwagon took over and they are worth alot more. so now, I refuse to buy them.

I wish I could write some gorgeous words like Corey does - but I can't so all I will say is each of these raggedy flowers touch my heart, they tickle my soul but most of all they make me wonder - they make me wonder about the hat that they adorned and the lady who wore that hat. are they not divine?

a new Tuesday !

Here I am sitting down here - sweltering in the heat, surrounded by bushfires, just across the valley, with ash falling all over my washing, hayfever making me a sneezing & coughing mess when the sweet Corey is chilly in France. Corey's words constantly tug at my soul, making me gasp sometimes - I know not why but when I read her words, it is like, well - a part of me resonates with them. Is it because I lived in France in a previous life? I have no idea, however her words & photos constantly inspire me and because sometimes I am lost for words (yes, truly I am! I know it is hard to believe) today I am going to start sharing my vintage bits n pieces on Tuesday inspired by Corey but no where near as poetic. Won't you join me in vintage Tuesday?

the fires that are burning near our home are predicted to be like the 1978 fires - I sure hope not! they destroyed many homes and on Christmas day our firefighters missed Christmas with their families our fires

monday musings

keep life simple
Keep your thoughts positive,
because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive,
because your words become your actions.

Keep your actions positive,
because your actions become your habits.

Keep your habits positive,
because your habits become your lifestyle.

Keep your lifestyle positive,
because your lifestyle becomes your destiny

gratitude on Sunday ~ the Christmas spirit

I know how much fun it is to receive things in the mail. it makes me all fuzzy inside, to know that someone cares enough to write. I am in quite a few Christmas swaps this year and am really looking forward to them. so - I want to say that I am grateful for my creative self & the opporutunity to be able to join in such fun swaps.

However, I know a few of you don't have the time to participate in swaps right now for various reasons. And that is ok, but I hate to think that people don't receive mail, just for them, 'specially at this time of year.

So - to make sure each of you receives something in your mail box in time for Christmas, I am offering one of my Christmas ornaments to the first 6 people who email me ~ cause I know it is virtually impossible for you to visit so that you can get one off my tree.

nothing expected in return

I would love to be able to send every one a little gift but time is running out, so 6 it is.

There are conditions of course (aren't there always?) - you need to have a blog OR be known to me ! this sounds bossy - sorry

Or if any of you know of someone who you think would like one, then email me.

so - there you have it - hope to hear from you xoxo

christmas(shhh) - creativity

do you ever create something and when it is finished you get a rush of pleasure, a burst of satisfaction,

knowing that it is just how you want it to be,

and that inner critic remains silent?

well, - I have been making a few things for Christmas the past few days and this one is for myself. And I must say, I am very pleased with what I have created, very pleased indeed.
Each Christmas I make make a few different styled ornaments - I hang them on a tree in my foyer and when someone visits during December, I give them one of the ornaments as a keepsake gift. I keep one of each ornament for myself and these go on a memory tree.

sorry about the quality of the next photo - I tried a few times to get a clearer photo but couldn't - I think it is all the glitter that throws the camera off!

all I want for Christmas. . .

I have succumbed to Christmas fever way before I had planned to, BUT in this day and age of ordering online - I guess a gal has to do what a gal has to do BUT I simply refuse to even think about decorating until December 1 when my wreath goes on the door and out come Frank & Bing!
I have a few pals who sell their wares online ~ you simply must go have a look!
1) gorgeous, gorgeous cards from my first ever SOSF buddy:
THE red elephant Christmas store

2)lots of yummy scrummy art danglies and such from Colette - love her work!Christmas art danglies & cards

3) Ms*Diva's Christmas soaps
deck the halls
wassail
Christmas magic

THOSE lavender cookies

gee, sorry - I didn't even think to mention about the lavender. You see, I grow my own ! However - I would suggest fresh would be better over dried & if you buy dried please make sure it is organic as it could have been sprayed with chemicals. I have made cookies similar to this and quite often put lavender flowers into my butter cakes - they infuse the cake with the most gorgeous subtle lavender flavour.

FaErY FrIdAy

LAVENDER FAERIE COOKIES

1/2 c Butter
1 c Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 ts Vanilla
1 tb Finely chopped lavender flowers
1 1/2 c Flour
2 ts Baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla; stir in the dry ingredients until well blended. Drop by half-teaspoons on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, and cool slightly on baking sheet before
transferring to plates.

*From "Where the Wild Thyme Grows" article in "The Herb Companion."
April/May 1993*

last night at 11.10pm. . .

I was sitting here reading blogs and got an urge to draw - I was remembering when I was little and how loved to draw little girls. so, I got my derwents out and just started playing. . . Now, I am not fantabulous in the drawing dept. my work is very 'childlike' but oh, I had such fun! whatcha think?

sadly, I am ashamed of myself

I had a friend who found out she had ovarian cancer - 10 years ago. She had 6 boys then, all under 12 - the youngest was 2. Her desire was to live to see the youngest one go to school. So she suffered treatment - chemo and radiotherapy and she got her wish. Her youngest one started school. Her cancer was in remission but she was constantly having treatments all those years. Her husband supported her, keeping his day time job as well as looking after the boys & the home. With help from neighbours and friends. He attended the Dr's appointments with her. He loved her and really, watched her die over the years. She finally gave up the fight and died 3 years ago.

Yesterday, I found out that he is getting married this weekend. 3 years after his first wifes death. I was so happy for him - he is still young and most of the boys have grown up - two only live at home now and lets face it men don't do too well looking after themselves.

However, I was in the supermarket yesterday afternoon and I ran into his sister in law and told her how happy I was for him - she pursed her lips and looked at me and said' it seems to me he rushed out as soon as *P* died, to find himself a new wife' - I was really taken aback - and thought to myself - *for heaven's sakes its been 3 years, are you there at night when the kids are in bed, talking to him? are you there to give him affection which all of us crave?* but I said nothing. I didn't stick up for him, I kept quiet and I am sad. I am sad that I didn't have the guts to say what I was thinking and to tell this woman that I know how it is - I went through similar years ago when my first husband was killed in the car accident. I met someone else a year later and got married. what the hell is wrong with that? and what the hell is wrong with people when they can't be happy for others? Chances at happiness in love the second time round don't happen alot but when they do - I say grab it with both hands and don't let go.

yes, I am sad and ashamed of myself that I didn't speak up.

mail for miss*R !

so - the little birdies delivered down here again - I just wish I could see just what kind of bird comes each time, but I always seem to miss it - just a thump on my doorstep is all I hear. I must be more watchful - I am thinking it was probably a magpie this time as there have been quite a few around me lately & I dreamed of one the other night - hmm must look that up in my power animal cards....... I always get off track, don't I? and that is how my mind works constantly. No wonder I am exhausted!

so the mail this time was from Rosa - a gorgeous faery magazine and a witchy desk calendar for next year and she even send me an ATC! - Rosa, I am truly grateful for you thinking of me.


and I received my formica swap parcel! thankyou to Lisa (the one who dreams of the ocean) for putting this swap together. I will be hanging these from my dresser - they are fun!

oh puhlease mr Bono!

I am probably going to have the wrath of God come down upon my head and the Irish will curse me instead of bless me -

but what the heck is Bono on about? As you know, I am all for doing our bit to save the world and to help the needy but I get sick to death of him preaching to us about saving the world, while he sits back in the lap of luxury.

Hello mr Bono, be like Dick Smith or even Steve Irwin, stop being a prima donna and donate some of your millions to help,
and please take those glasses off.

goddess-spirit-art dolly swap ~ for next year (closed)

I have been processing this swap in my head, all morning while in between boring housework and creating my Christmas goodies. I want to get it out there, before it goes somewhere, never to be seen or heard of again.
*I need no more than 11 people - once I have 11, the swap will be closed.

*You will have to make one Goddess art dollie per mth, to be sent out on the last day of each month. each month will have a different theme

*First doll will be sent the end of January and the last doll will be sent the end of November . each participant will receive 11 art dollies in all.

*Beginning each mth - I will send the 'theme' to you along with the person you will be making that dollie for.

*You will never make a doll twice for the same person.
*the doll will be no more than 8" high and will reflect you, the creator.
*It will be an international swap but postage should be ok as these will be light in weight.
I thought that these dollies would be great to hang on a treasure tree, similar to the one that Lisa (who dreams of the ocean) mentioned in her blog awhile back:~ treasure tree
so let me know if you are interested. I will close the swap at the end of this year.

those taking part:

1.Lila * 2.Lizzzy * 3.Ninnie * 4.Lisa(oceandreamer) * 5.me :) * 6. Sandi * 7.Gemma * 8. Daisy * 9.Stacia * 10.Kai * 11.Liz * 12.Ang

*ok, we have 12! the swap is closed, however if you wish to be put on a waiting list incase someone drops out - then let me know

REWIND groundhog-day style - my life today in a nutshell

I came home from the hospital today and felt so bad about my post where I complained again about the comment thing again that I decided to rewind and tackle it all again. I feel selfish. I am not even going to blame my inner child although I feel the way I behave sometimes is very childish, very. I slapped myself up the back of the head and told myself to wake up. I treasure each of your friendships, I really do. And I would not blame you one bit if you told me to pull my head in sometimes. But I am a fretter.
so I rewind my day and try to get it right this time:

* my fruit is still soaking in brandy for my first fruitcake to be made this Saturday and I am still far behind. Usually by this time, I have two made and another one soaking.

*I am still confused as to what swaps I am in for Christmas. Thanks to some of my girlfriends emailing me and sorting it all out, I have organised myself a little better. I have had fun starting some Christmas items for the SOSF and the glitter gals swap - I received the details for those two yesterday. I really wanted to do a Christmas art dollie swap, but I guess there is not enough time to organize that. ahh well, next year. and I have joined Peggy's Christmas stocking swap

*I tried to merge my favourite blog lists and lost them - so forgive me if I am not visiting lately. I will get by sometime this week via comments left previously - found them! when I was 'organising' my favourites, I accidently dragged the whole Blog favourites file and inserted it into another folder! Now I have sorted it all out, I think

* how on earth can I complain about comments when each of you take the time to visit, when you can. I am so, so sorry for any anguish that I caused any of you for stamping my feet and complaining once again. Here I am complaining about the comments - thinking each of you are sitting at home, just waiting for me to post & not even thinking myself that maybe some of you have things going on in your life or you are busy or, well - you get my drift - and sometimes I even do the same - visit and not comment - I am the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. and I truly am sorry - xox

*nothing has changed here: I cannot for the life of me work out why I can't stay logged into Rosa's blog - I can sometimes, but then next time I visit, I get the boot. It takes me ages to even try to get to sweet Pea's blog and Carol's blog - well no way, it can sometimes take 10 mins to load (sorry girls, that is why I haven't been to comment). I have broadband internet access so I don't have a clue as to why I can't access these blogs

Beta blogger is still driving me to drink - I have a comment all ready to go, then I have to sign in, so I do then I find my comment has disappeared - but I will remember to copy & paste before I hit the publish button

* Joe is home from having his procedure done at hospital and EVERYTHING IS OK! I am so, so relieved

I went arty shopping today - and spent way too much on bits n pieces for my Christmas arty swaps! ooh the glitter gals would love what I bought - I bought glitter tuille & some gorgeous sequins. I bought braids and bells and I bought the most gorgeous piece of glittery fabric for my Christmas tablecloth!

~ so friends - that is my life in a nutshell as it WAS today

we are one but we are many

every single day, I am astounded at the similarities between you and I. Yes each one you have a little bit of me in you - well, not really me...but who I am. I sometimes read posts and find myself sitting there, opened mouthed - thinking that this is just how I feel or who I am. . . .It was bought home when I read this post at ms*daisy's :~ don't be a passenger. And the comments! Daisy could have written that post for me and for you and for you. great post Daisy!!!!


I often wonder if there is a big plan that has bought us all together via our blogs. It can't have 'just happened' and it can't be a coincidence.

monday musings

It is not always physical bravery that counts.

One must have the courage to face life as it is,

to go through sorrows

and always sacrifice oneself for the sake of others.
African Traditional Religions Kipsigis Saying (Kenya)

Remembrance Day

on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour
we will remember them
take time today to stop for a minutes silence

to remember

the sacrifice of those who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts

and all those who have served their countries

in the name of peace
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

REMEMBRANCE DAY

the photo above was taken in my garden this morning!

these Remembrance poppies always bloom for the first time on November 11.

faery Friday

let me introduce you to our very own Australia Bush faery folk - Snugglepot & Cuddlepie - the gumnut babies from May Gibbs. An Australian icon, I believe.I was first introduced to the adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie when I was a little girl of about 4. My dad was an interstate truck driver and when he was away, I would sleep in my mums bed and before I went off to sleep, she would read me a few pages each night. Oh how I looked forward to bedtime then! She would read from her very own book from her childhood. It is dated by hand - Christmas 1947. The illustrations were entrancing - I was mesmerised and felt that I knew these bush folk personnally. And I did. I saw them when I was a little girl. I played with them. I made homes for them, I fed them honey and water. I have faery magick around me, you know. Although I can't see it now, I can still feel it. I feel the faeries and pixies skipping around me sometimes. I love it! oh, but how I wish I could see them now.

And then, when I had my own children ~ I began to make memories for them, by reading the same book to them at night. They grew up with it and many times as we went on bush walks - we would look for the bush faery folk - mr Lizard the big bad banksia men and little ragged blossom.
read an excerpt from the adventures of Snugglepot & cuddlepie

and if you really & truly believe in bush faery folk & love magnificent illustrations you simply must buy a copy! If I were really, really wealthy - I would send each of you one for sure xo
go here to buy the book!

I am speechless & surprised

I woke this morning ready to post Faery Friday and to an inbox full of emails - with comments like ' congratulations on your winning blog of the day' & others. Thinking to myself "huh? what are they talking about?" -
I continued to read my emails and got to this one from Daisy xo:

"We nominated you because we love 100per cent of you, your kindness and your confusion and your truthfulness about how you feel. WE love all of you, your good days your bad days you are just a great person. You tell life like it really is, not always golden and sugary and we love you for it. You really derserve it for your caring attitude and your worries and your lovely beliefs. You are always there for us and we will always be there for you."

I was totally shocked ~ and started to cry. thankyou so much to all of you. Each of you is part of my heart.

'tis Daisys day

happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
happy birthday daisy-lupin
happy birthday to you

to my dear friend ms*daisy Lupin ~ I am wishing you a day full of all things magickal. I feel blessed that our paths have crossed xoxo

this flower faery, is yours to take!

ooh. . . mail!

I came home yesterday afternoon to surprise packages on my door-step! lucky gal, me! I was wondering which birdies or pixies had delivered this lot - if you read Daisy Lupins blog, you will find out that all manner of bird life actually deliver the mail and here I was, all these years thinking a postman delivered mine - silly me!
a daisy-lupin friendship piece from Kai, a gorgeous vintage book all about Australia from Maryellen and a delightful package from Corey ! I felt blessed. thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

I couldn't take a clear photo of the book - but it was printed in the 50's I am guessing & is full of pictures all about Australia - I cannot wait to have a long, slow browse. thankyou so much Maryellen, for being such a thoughtful soul xo

this is the daisy lupin friendship block from Kai! isn't it exquisite? thankyou dear Kai xo

and from dear Corey ~ a collection of vintage ephermera, bits n bobs! thankyou Corey, I cannot wait to use these bits. You are a gem xo

however - Corey's package had been opened by customs. And apparently she had made me a lovely card with flowers and leaves stuck on the front, with a handwritten message inside. This was confiscated by customs because of the plant matter. They were kind enough to photocopy the card both inside and out AND they are willing to treat it with gamma irradiation to kill any disease. ooh, I though, aren't they kind..... until I read the fine print:

The cost to me will be $42.50 ! !

hmmm - guess I won't get to see the real card.

so be warned anyone sending packages into Australia - we have very strict customs regulations.

Mother Earth art dollie

yesterday, before I had even thought of the challenge, I made Gaia. To get my frustration out - infusing her with my healing energy & thoughts. She will sit on my altar with a candle burning each day - for Mother Earth to heal.

I made her in a similar fashion to a dollie that I received from Lisa (oceandreamer) and the wool around her neck was a gift from Colette. On her head, I stuck a gumnut stick, a pebble that I found on the beach and a piece of amethyst crystal

soap of the month

my bathroom smells dee-lishus! I have just started to use my soap for this month from Peggy (I won a years supply of soap in an auction & I receive one cake of soap per mth for a year). the perfume is pomegranate & pear and if you haven't already bought soap from Peggy, I suggest that you start with this one.

A CHALLENGE ----> treat Mother EARTH with respect

after my little environmental outburst, this morning - there was a lovely quote left as a comment, by Pretty Lady:

"I pledge allegiance to the Earth, and to the flora, fauna, and human life that it supports, one planet, indivisible. with safe air, water and soil, economic justice, equal rights and peace for all."

Women's Environment and Development Organization.

* which got me to thinking: how about an artistic challenge!

to make something in any media that you wish - a collage, a drawing, a quiltie, an art doll OR one of each ! ! - representing how you feel about our Mother EARTH. with all that creative energy going out, it will surely cause a shift in our thinking.

just a fun thing to do, no swap * post it on your blog when you have finished!

suggestions, please?

if anyone out there in the big world of blogland, has any suggestions on how I can stop my constant worrying about global warming, our drought and lack of water here, the environment and humanity ~ please, please let me know.

Our Great Barrier reef is dying, according to one expert and there is nothing we can do about what is going to happen in the next 30 yrs or so - apparently the damage was done by our parents, in the 50's. Our media is bombarding us with Kyoto, the drought and the water summit, global warming & rising ocean temperatures.

I know that I can stop watching and listening and stick my head in the sand. I know that I can just worry about my little corner of the world in Woodford and forget the rest. I want to do that, yes I do! But then I feel selfish & guilty for not doing my bit.

Some have lights blazing, waste water but me? Oh, no - I run round like some kind of demented greenie turning off lights and watering with a watering can. I compost & recycle ! BUT does it help at all? I have been reading alot, on what we can do to help our planet but the little bit that we can do, seems to me, to be a futile attempt unless the big industries do their share. And the powers that be, begin to realize that this is serious business.

This worrying is beginning to affect my life - I feel such a lack of hope about the future of our planet.

monday musings

Each state we encounter will succumb to the next. There is no way to avoid the transitions of our life. The chief means of entering them gracefully is to practice them mindfully over and over again. It is like learning to ride a horse: over and over again walking, trotting, cantering, over smooth and rough terrain, mounting and dismounting, starting and stopping, until it becomes possible for us to move through life in a graceful conscious way. In moving through the difficult stages of our lives, we can learn to trust our heart to these cycles and their unfolding as surely as we can trust roots to go down and leaves to push up through the earth in our garden We can trust each petal of a flower will open in the right order from outside to inside. We can trust that whatever calls our attention to practice ~ our body, our personal history, the community around us ~ it will bring to us what we need to live fully and genuinely in the timeless here and now.

Excerpted from A Path With Heart ~ Jack Kornfield

dumb idea

well yesterdays post was a dumb idea - it's been deleted. I had many loonies wanting to chat - will I never learn?

Goddess gathering

last night I went to a Goddess gathering, what fun! don't you think, it is amazing how sometimes, things are just meant to be? we think it is a co-incidence when things happen in a certain way - but I believe there is no such things as coincidences - it is synchronicity.

anyhow, 'bout last night ~ the goddess that we celebrated was Bast - the goddess who encourages us to have fun, to play, create, to nurture our inner child. hmm - now was that for me? of course! things must have been moved quickly in Heaven, as the co-ordinator only just decided the day before to make this a fun night, rather than a sacred ceremony as usual. and I wasn't going to go til the last minute.

the first part of the night we spent outside - playing games. Games from our childhood - like charades and pass the parcel. Then we had to close our eyes and dip our hands into a box - each of us received a magic faery ring that can grant us any emotion we wish - then we had to cast our own magic circle & fill it with whatever we wanted to - mine was a golden circle, with crystals all around and it was filled with pink bubbles. Once our circle was complete, we had to fill it with our desired emotions - mine was joy, happiness & spontaneity. Then we stepped into the circle and absorbed those emotions. we then had to take the circle and place it inside of us - to be used whenever we feel the need. what a great idea!

next we had sparklers and we drew our names and desires and we played as we did as children. we giggled incessantly as little girls do.

next, we went inside - for the actual ceremony and the room was decorated all pink and faery like, just like when we were little girls - and we got to share our thoughts. We were asked when was the last time we had fun and we talked about our childhood - digging deep to find our childhood fun times - oh it was so good for me. So healing. I remembered all my birthday parties, the family picnics, our Christmas celebrations and all the other fun things that my parents did with us. We cried. We talked about my doldrums the past week & I was stunned that most of the ladies there had similar experiences as children. It made me feel ok. It made me realize that yes, some sad times happened to me as a child but I was not the only one who had a 'difficult' childhood . It made me realize that there were more good than sad times and it made me realize it is ok to talk about them and hurt but not to hold onto them. so we did a clearing meditation.

then we played with playdough and got lolly bags!

I had such fun, such healing & I feel blessed that the Universe sent me this help so soon.

I feel that my sacral chakra is alot more in balance after last night. I feel wonderfully happy! do you ever think I may be manic depressive? I often wonder if I am, but not so says the Dr. Be easy on yourself she says.

my magic faery ring

faErY FridAy

come join me each Friday - for faery tales & lore ~ you just never know what we will find
to open my faery fridays ~ a quote, ~ go and find a favourite faery tale, snuggle & nurture your inner child.

* Faerytales are a salve for the injuries reality has inflicted upon us *

WARNING - heavy going! True Balance - my sacral chakra

the next chakra - my sacral - of course this is for the benefit of those who are travelling the true balance journey with me - these are my thoughts & feelings over the last two weeks & I dare say, if I did this book again, my thoughts could be totally different. My childhood was fun, I do have lots of great memories but True Balance asks questions and I answer them, honestly. getting out the dross and healing myself as I go. I only write what I am feeling in that present moment.

"oh boy - like I said my sacral chakra is way out of balance ~ at this moment in time. How long has it been unbalanced? I wonder. The chakra connected to the reproductive organs. Of which I don't have. When I first had my hysterectomy - I felt like a hollowed out pumpkin. I felt like half a gal. silly now that I look back - but I felt my femininity was being stolen. I know now, that a womb does not make one a woman. It is our true essence, our very being that makes us a gal. That, and being connected to the moon makes us a woman. well that is my theory . . . today - who knows what I will believe tomorrow.
our emotional well being, our senses; pleasure and sexuality - all connected to this chakra. It is the domain of our inner child and as my inner child is in constant need of nurturing - it is no wonder why this chakra is spinning OUT OF CONTROL. I don't let my inner child laugh with abandon or scream with fury - control, Robyn, control. I know that I am on a journey of self discovery and I wonder. . . is this journey, actually my sacral chakra trying to bring itself back into balance? I constantly live in my head, I have disconnected from my sensual self. I suppress ME most of the time, trying to please others or I act as I think I 'should', worrying constantly about being accepted. I do ignore what my body is telling me, like I have lost touch with it, until oneday I wake up and think, gawd, my neck is sore and stiff. Time for a massage
And just this past few weeks with my doldrums, I am wondering if my sacral chakra is saying, enough is enough. You gotta laugh! have fun! PLAY!
Most of my life, the majority of it actually ~ I have looked upon life, as something to be ' gotten through', something to be endured. It was like I had a sense that there were many trials to be faced. When I am in an emotional storm, I go into 'fix it' mode - where I do absolutely anything to fix the problem so that I don't have to face the emotional pain of the situation. It is something I did as a child and it seems I have bought it into my adult life. I have always put others before myself, even as a child. I can remember hugging my mother telling her it was going to ok. I was 4. I believe, I need to be looking at my childhood stuff & deal with it once and for all. I want to do that - so out into the Universe goes a request to send the right person to me to help me.
This whole post of course makes me sound like someone who doesn't show feelings - not so. I cry and laugh but like I have said this past week - it is like I have lost my 'joie de vivre' .
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - STOP! it is time for this gal to have fun, to play, to enjoy."

I have actually started to have a massage every two weeks so at least that is a start.

I just need to stop chattering when I am being massaged and allow myself to be pampered.

Gemstones: Carnelian, Coral, Gold Calcite, Moonstone, Orange Jasper
Herbs: clover, rosemary, violet, mint, cinnamon, daisy,
Essential Oils: Cardamon, Clary Sage, Neroli, Fennel, Sandalwood

taking care of business

so much to catch up on since the black cloud descended but thankfully it seems to be shifting. I was worried there for awhile that it would be here forever. I didn't seem to be able to move it along. Firstly, I want to thank each of you for your loving support, e-cards, emails and comments. I felt I was wrapped in a snuggly cocoon. I am blessed.
so being super sleuth, I hunted down an online support group for survivors of women's cancer - it is called Women Conquering Cancer & I began to feel that I was ok. I wasn't wrong in feeling the way I was - you see sometimes I feel very guilty when I complain about my cancer as I know there are many worse of than me. But these gals, told me to own my feelings - to take a dip in the pity pool (that is what they call it), sometimes we need to do this. I also have linked with a few Australian girls which is good. So my 'cancer head' has moved on again thank God.

yesterday, I was outside and a tiny baby honey-eater was trapped on my verandah. I gently caught it with a plastic rake and it sat on the prongs, just getting its breath - then it started to sing & chirp. I was entranced. I put it into one of my camellia bushes to get its breath back and to recover from the stress and it eventually flew off. When it was sitting on the rake, I had a thought that it could be a faery ! being sent to me to heal me. And I was. what do you think?

Then I had packages that had been delivered during the last few weeks - and they were waiting patiently for me to unpack. I cannot believe that I had lost interest. But it was like Christmas!
I received my ebay win from Colette cecibeau and she had included a package of wonderful ephemera. Thankyou sweet girl - you are one of life's treasures, you really are.

I have also received two of my 6 X 6 blocks from my daisy-lupin friendship piece - one from Daisy herself - along with a podling! I was so excited and she also sent me a kitchen angel block * the other was from Lottie - a gorgeous block. I do have photos but blogger is under a dark cloud today, guess because Mercury is in damn retrograde.

I also received my order from Peggy & Ms*diva - I ordered alot of soap in Christmas fragrances - to place in a basket at my door to give out during the yule season. Peggy had packaged each soap up into little brown packages - to go with my daily parcels theme. Peggy - I love that! I also received my soap of the month from her - a pomegranate fragrance. go and see Peggy at her etsy shop - the link is on my sidebar.
I also have a dilemma: to beta-blogger or not to beta-blogger? that is the question (that I keep asking myself) - I have noticed some of you have switched to the beta system. But I have also noticed that it has many bugs. One is that some of us can't comment if we switch. what to do? I don't know.

I have finished my sacral chakra chapter - it was a difficult one to do - but it was really healing & cleansing for me -which is a good thing. Tomorrow I will post my thoughts so beware - it is not for everyone.

I am also trying to visit you all - I promise I will get there over the next few days - I have so many to catch up on.

blessings, bliss & Beltane blossoms xo

my Beltane art

this is the first thing I have created since the dark cloud that is my sacral chakra journey descended upon me - this is for Beltane and I have put it into my Book of Shadows.

Beltane blessings

"May the fire of Bel be kindled in your heart in this time of fertility & growth"

so down here, because our seasons are opposite to my friends in the northern hemisphere - it means that our sabbats are also opposite - today is Beltane for me.

the fair maid who on Beltane day goes to the fields at break of day and washes in dew from the hawthorn tree will ever after handsome be

I had planned on getting up really early to wash my face in the early morning dew but seeing as there is no dew at this time of year nor a hawthorn to be found I decided that my trilogy toner & cream will have to do the job and considering I am not really a maiden then the dew would have a hard time working. Bring on botox! (jus' kidding)

I also am going to tie coloured ribbons in my apple tree - I will wait til the family have gone though, as I am sure they will have me commited if they see me dancing round the apple tree chanting - but with each ribbon that I tie on the tree, I can make a wish ~ sounds good to me.

I have my meals planned around tradtional Beltane food ~ oatmeal for breakfast with strawberries & red clover tea - cheese and bread for lunch & for dinner: I will make a zucchini slice, oatcakes and brie and marigold custard and vanilla icecream for dessert. All washed down with a chilled glass of white - to toast the glory of spring.

after dinner * a little ritual in my sacred space - candles and brushing away of negative energies - all ending up with an offering to the fay.

(thanks to daisy lupin for her help in my Beltane ceremonies)