Advent Wall Hanging

After making the Dilly Bag I got all fired up with sewing and made this Advent Wall Hanging. I saw the adorable fabric and just had to have it. By the time Id walked home Id already designed it. Just need a few embelishments to finish it off.

After church I went to a couples house to look at their Art. Botanicals by the lady, and very lovely and of a good quality. The husband does landscapes. It was lovely to experience their home and garden. Its a really nice place with lovely energy and light.

My sister was talking to me about my art and I told her what dad said about my art.... that it looks like it comes from White Cliff Wells (in the NT). They have alot of UFOs sightings there and I reckon its just that everyone there is in the horrors. Anyway she laughed, then I told her that he also thought if I was going to sell my art at the markets then I should take the barby and cook grilled onion, coz that the only way I would be able to get people to come and see... Then she was really started cacklin. Its pretty funny and probably true.....

Ordination

I went to Theresa's Deacon Ordination ceremony. I'm so glad I went. I forget how much I love going out onto the open road with excitement in my heart at what will be there when I arrive. As I was walking into the church Theresa was walking towards me. What a sign hey, I gave her the Dilly Bag right there and then because I knew I might not get the change after the service.

Theresa mentioned to me while I was putting the bag on her right arm about a priest bag so I looked it up on the net and there in Exodus 28.1 - 28.43 is a description of the bag. Not unlike the one I made. She knows her scriptures!

Even though I couldn't see much of the action in the church, I certainly felt it and cried and laughed and shivered and had a hot flush. I was calling it the four seasons. Did I say before that this woman ROCKS????

Gloria, a widow of a previous Bishop, and I were introduced by Theresa. Gloria is a real handful, encouraging me to stand up and take photos and she was climbing over walls and being really kind and funny for me.

I think they are positioning Theresa for something big - shes IS the Golden Haired girl!!!

Dilly Bag

Ive come home from work today coz the cramps are fierce. I overdosed on my Chemo drugs accidentally last Sunday and when you do that it strips the lining of the stomach. Spoze Ive only done it once in 9 years. So should be thankful.

Between sleeps, I'm making a dilly bag for Theresa's ordination tomorrow. Inside it will have the words Faith, Hope and Love and quotes about those things. I hoping to put it on her arm tomorrow. This is the little symbol I have been painting on my cards for the last few months. I don't know how come all I know its Jalbus bag of Faith Hope and Love.

Dancing

So far Ive had two women asking me if I am going to the FaHCSIA Christmas Party. I said yes and that I expect them to ask me to DAAAHNCE. I love watching the reaction on their faces as they don't know where to look and then they start laughin and saying they will. This is where I ask them to formally ask me to dance, like in the olden days. Im going to do up a card now and have their names listed. Keep ya posted incase a bloke asks me....

Boys and Girls

On my way to work this morning, I passed a creche. A mother with a boy and baby getting out of the car. A father with his little girl who was holding her dolly.

Girl trips and falls and saves the dolly. Daddy bends downs to comfort her while her friends through the bars say "are you OK Megan?"

Meanwhile the Mother was attending the baby in the car while the boy came right to the edge of the road and was screaming at the top of his lungs to the guys working across the road on the building site "What are you building?"

It made me smile.

Its Over

Last night when I went to choir practice with Canberra Celtic Choir I couldn't wait to get out of the place. I now know I have outgrown that choir.

Yesterday I also came to the conclusion I'm not doing my yearly pilgrimage to Braidwood any more.

I'm feeling restless, reckless and down right rudderless. I think there might be a hermit phase coming up again.

Songs and Tears

There have been two songs, upon the first hearing made me cry big ploppy drops.

1. Fields Of Gold - Sting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UppX6vP3c4g


2. Anachie Gordon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2DKkL7UEis

Proud

My FAB Minister Theresa returned from holidays today and told us she has been asked to be a Deacon in the Anglican Church and that she will be around for at least another 5 years. This is fantastic news and Ive been praying for her intentions in this department.

I'm so proud of her. I don't know if I have the right to be, but I am anyway. Mostly when people are proud of someone its like an adult to a child. Or someone at a higher level to someone at a lower level. She has put in the work and I'm sure its not been easy being a pioneering female minister, but shes done it and its only natural she should aim high. For myself Id like her to be the first Catholic Female Priest in Australia. I believe she could do it.

Braidwood Airing Of The Quilts

Fab day at Braidwoods Airing Of The Quilts. I felt the quilts were not up to their usual standard but it was still really nice to see them all. The pick of the mob was this one by Jenny Bowker about the stages of her life. Very charming and thought provoking. Judy and Mary accompanied me there and on the way we were discussing what a taste sensation organic food is. Judy came out with this quote about a soup that was made out of organic veggies "The soup tasted so good that it felt like it was dancing in my mouth"

Mouth Words

My Dad uses these words in describing the mouth or parts there of. The first one makes me smile every time he uses it.

1. Chats - Teeth. "Shes just cleaning her chats"

2. Grill - Teeth at the front. "Hes lost some of his grill" (in this pic Dads plate had broken - hes applying sunscreen before both of us go for a swim and he is very proud of his big scar)

3. Gob - Mouth. "stick that in your gob"

Whats a word that makes you smile?

Pleasant Thoughts

A couple of days ago a friend of mine emailed me at work. In amongst some stuff she used these little emotion statements like *flicks hair* and *sighs*. Its kept my imagination up and running, with a chuckle here and there when I'm alone *smiles* for the past few days.

Imagining - my favorite activity. Esther and I did some drawing after dinner tonight. I always like spending time with this lady because she has a very gentle and creative spirit.

*scratches head* what to write next.

3 times today I have either read or heard the word brave. I remember 3 words on my mothers headstone that we felt described her in a nutshell.

" A Brave Lady"

......*loves*

.............................................................

Mum and I , above, 1964 *yearns*

Sting - The Lowest Trees Have Tops

Funny how you can listen to a song for months and not hear a beautiful line of words.

"the firmest faith is in the fewest words"

from the song The Lowest Trees Have Tops or the other title which I like better, A Silent Love(Words by Sir Edward Dyer, music by John Dowland).

THE lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall,
The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat;
The slender hairs cast shadows, though but small,
And bees have stings, although they be not great;
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs;
And love is love, in beggars and in kings.

Where waters smoothest run, there deepest are the fords,
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move;
The firmest faith is found in fewest words,
The turtles do not sing, and yet they love;
True hearts have ears and eyes, no tongues to speak;
They hear and see, and sigh, and then they break.

Ive been pondering these words over the weekend.

Thinking of times when solid faith had no words in my life

1. When I first believed

2. When I have loved people, others said I had no right to love

3. When I knew I was going to be the one my mother would leave this world with

4. Something big and good is going to happen by the time I am 50. I don't know what, I just know.

Dad

Things that made my day.

1. Dad was wondering who the inconsiderate person in the apartments was playing their music so early in the morning, only to walk out of the bedroom to find it was me. He smiled at me rather than got cranky with me.

2. Dad and I spent a number of hours in front of the computer looking up all the old Jazz artists he has wanted to find again. His eyes have never looked so sparkling blue before.

3. I am so tired I'm straining to keep my eyes open and I love that feeling where I feel I have given everything I have to give and now have not choice but to close eyes and surrender to sleep and dream time.

Treble Recorder - Instrument Of The Heart

This morning I got up real early, 5am. I wanted to do some painting first and then some recorder practice.

Over the past 3 weeks of playing Ive defined what this is all about. It started off as just another thing I can do now that I see with both eyes, then it was to improve my singing and acceptance to "highbrow" choirs, so that was the brain talking.

Then the heart kicked in and thoughts about how I would like to farewell my father when the time comes. The recorder has such a lovely pure sound when played correctly. I spoke with Jo about this and she said you have a nice voice why dont you sing. I said I don't think I could sing at a time like that. The reason being I cant talk when I am emotional and sad at the same time.

So it was a surprise to me this morning when I closed my eyes while practicing and listened to what I was playing the feelings just rolled out. It was so beautiful. Not so much the sounds but the feelings I was able to enjoy. Its hard to put into words, but the outcome is - I know this is my instrument.

I have always had a thing for the Medieval period and especially the music of John Dowland. This is working baby! I also play guitar by ear but its just not the same - no feeling there. I'm also resisting the urge just to play by ear because I really want to learn to read.

The minister last week at St Ninians had a great sermon. In amongst it was a quote by Bach (I think) someone asked him "how do you find so many melodies? He said its not so much about finding them but avoiding stepping on them when I get out of bed in the morning."

Staff net

A few days ago I got a work email from the lady who has been guiding me through the Dyslexia scene asking me to write something that might go on staff net. I wrote something yesterday and ran it past a couple of people to see what they thought. One lady suggested that I ask for anonymity, which I duly did. Anyway they got back to me with a list of questions I was supposed to answer. I sent them a return email and said Im not good with the questions and find it easier to talk straight from the heart and attached a copy of what I wrote.

It will be interesting to see if they use it. But it brings to mind something that I read in the early days of blogging which was something like " If you write for yourself every one wants to read it. If you write for the world no one wants to read it"

Its The Small Things Hey?

Today these are the things that made my heart glow.

1. Jody changed my email contact name to read Nessy! (my nic name) instead of Kim.

2. Jo said "its really nice sharing a meal with you, Kim" I could hear she meant it.

3. My boss drank water because of my prompting and looked so much healthier when I left her today.

What small things make your heart glow?

Virgin No More

Friends, I have big news to tell you. I have attended my first Tupperware party. I kind of thought it was crapsticks and only went along out of loyalty to my friend Doris. HOWEVER, after the lady gave her short spiel I decided I would purchase a lunch set, and because I was a Tupperware Virgin she gave me the jar opener for free. Apparently this gadget makes men redundant. Thats the orange square you can see here.

The other picture is of an unplanned appearance singing with the Wayfarers. My recorder teacher saw me sitting in the crowd and summonsed me to sing. It was fun. Luckily I remembered the words from 6 months ago. Ive so missed singing and plan to get back into it now the dyslexia treatment is over.

24 Hours In Heaven

Back in my lovely Canberra. I don't think I can bear to be away from this place for more than a week. The girls down at Michelles Patisserie needed retraining as they had forgotten if I had sugar or not in my coffee. I'm also very happy because today I brought many plants for my edible garden. Ill insert the photo once I get all the pots set up properly.

Dr Colette Livermore - Author

My friend Colette has just published her book about her time with the Missionaries of Charity as a nun.

Im so proud of her. Ive seen the book evolve over the last 4 years and have so much admiration for her.

For her hope "takes the form of just trying to enjoy what beauty there is. I think you find hope in the people you love and who love you, and beautiful things, and making differences in small ways."

A short interview with her is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=daqicjVT__M

Laurens 21st

Lauren had two parties, one for the family on the actual date and one a week later for all her friends. The family one was rather low key at the Scattinis place with party around their fabulous pool. This family need a gold medal for hospitality as they hosted all the Crofts and Scotts together and let me tell you that takes stamina.

Here is a pic of one of the many dresses that were totally unsuitable for Miss Crofts dress up party. In the end she conceded that her mother was the most fabulous dress maker and settled for a black and white number, made with love and way cheaper. Simmone and I now know all our taste is in our mouths in relation to 20 something clothing styles. Shes come along way from the girl guide outfit tho.

Laurens second party was very Sex In The City style with allot of glamorous young girls in stilletto's. I was surprised at the amount of shoes she recieved as presents. They partied on till 2:30 am then off to the Base (what I used to call the disco). Lots of prezzies, hangovers and helium.

Her brother got suitabaly smashed in honour of his big sisters day. I think I might rename him octopus because he was clinging to everyone. Come to think it wasnt really a cling but more of a drape.

Up Up And Away

First signs of Territory behavoir set in when I boarded the plane in Adelaide. As soon as the plane leveled out this guy started ordering two cans of beer at once. I was thinking this is going to be nice... somehow he behaved the whole flight so that was a relief.

Dad cooked us all a barby for breakfast - from that point on the sandfly bites kept me busy for the next 7 days.