tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21300774439158804632024-03-05T14:07:26.190+10:00Homemade RainbowsLeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-41217473222841455412011-06-10T12:59:00.000+10:002011-06-10T12:59:07.370+10:00An ending...I won't be posting here at my little space anymore.<br />
And I wanted to say goodbye to it....<br />
It's not a permanent goodbye as I will continue to post on my <strong>new blog</strong> that I have been ever so slowly working on.<br />
I won't be posting the link to it here publicly and it won't be searchable on any search engines either.<br />
I'm trying to transfer some of the *feel* I have here....<br />
and I'd LOVE you all to come with me to my new space too!<br />
You see my plan is only to say goodbye to *here* and not you....<br />
so I will be keeping this blog open and if I haven't got around to contacting you all individually (sigh...soon) please leave me a reminder here....ok.<br />
It's bittersweet....truly<br />
<br />
So just as I am learning to embrace my seasonal challenges I am going to embrace some other change as well.<br />
I hope I can bare snippets of my soul together with snaps from my camera as lovingly in my new space as I have here for so many years....Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-21102062321659081122011-06-08T11:00:00.005+10:002011-06-08T11:15:32.291+10:00:::Winter:::<div><div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsPg6vMRfydZFHCBa41nXOTNINLVaf5xKQ4055sYlaIVGam8aPQhxeDjmQPA_NS-Gi-6hjIEGj9gR8b20YSJFligqgs1QR5CgUncaV9G60pr90HR0fbBBPsYNWJk3YOCThKT07ye3vQgt/s1600/sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615647791918339778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsPg6vMRfydZFHCBa41nXOTNINLVaf5xKQ4055sYlaIVGam8aPQhxeDjmQPA_NS-Gi-6hjIEGj9gR8b20YSJFligqgs1QR5CgUncaV9G60pr90HR0fbBBPsYNWJk3YOCThKT07ye3vQgt/s400/sunset.jpg" /></a>Still not my favourite.</div><div align="center">But sometimes the sunsets just shine.</div><div align="center">Again I am going to remember to embrace even the seasons that challenge me.</div><div align="center">So here starts <a href="http://homemaderainbows.blogspot.com/2010/06/winter.html">another weekly series </a>of its little blessings.</div><div align="center">Three months of the small things that lift me above....</div><div align="center"> sometimes with a string of words.... sometimes not.</div><div></div></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-60288263450867832612011-06-02T10:26:00.007+10:002011-06-02T13:27:57.784+10:00farewell autumn<div><div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaB0EPYqjGqzaoQtHg4LGRvqSJXnimj5kSh4pF56xeInHiivaMpnhjhbvEVsQrP_Jc7_wsaclsa8SR39ZPdVMjJt09iz1ypgW32uSPD8Zn2EjYq7V-N4mjfiQBmTKEfvc8Wb4WN1fVeWa/s1600/fluffy+ears.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613426415241555298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaB0EPYqjGqzaoQtHg4LGRvqSJXnimj5kSh4pF56xeInHiivaMpnhjhbvEVsQrP_Jc7_wsaclsa8SR39ZPdVMjJt09iz1ypgW32uSPD8Zn2EjYq7V-N4mjfiQBmTKEfvc8Wb4WN1fVeWa/s400/fluffy+ears.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwp7-wjZKrwklud-0tRdjCJad0uv9k459cxOiSoMRC1NmiDoreX4fl4rFBuosTTKdUIzmVTIpPcVt2timXRerpbAUW2KeloVh4Q1_nrLpJMFYdTf21cNRwZicRgbHda75KGwSfAgflgpM/s1600/horse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613426405613135282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwp7-wjZKrwklud-0tRdjCJad0uv9k459cxOiSoMRC1NmiDoreX4fl4rFBuosTTKdUIzmVTIpPcVt2timXRerpbAUW2KeloVh4Q1_nrLpJMFYdTf21cNRwZicRgbHda75KGwSfAgflgpM/s400/horse.jpg" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNYjuzkXM_KLIDfENrKIjJnspTn5ZAhc93knhLmKxFIMp5LcPtw3Mzy6O39vgCdtVtNOWM9sNs3WUwYS6EMdx3VD9zdNBFSfwQJzI_UsdE59qkUjVrVjgyUvhlLhLVxEpoBul_JPnZNVN/s1600/donkey+nose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613426411874398130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNYjuzkXM_KLIDfENrKIjJnspTn5ZAhc93knhLmKxFIMp5LcPtw3Mzy6O39vgCdtVtNOWM9sNs3WUwYS6EMdx3VD9zdNBFSfwQJzI_UsdE59qkUjVrVjgyUvhlLhLVxEpoBul_JPnZNVN/s400/donkey+nose.jpg" /></a><div> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtpFFwdA0UFZwp2mRUME9BY06uYHL6yK7QTP7ckYr-Ag0vRhwOSwXhs3wT53XvtkVI8xjYxGaNXKOSay1lUhkVpwIDsvewveyqt3oz7PIKTeWN0NWIkym4y099pPsnEejmKsK6lABuLMV/s1600/morning.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613425247311292354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtpFFwdA0UFZwp2mRUME9BY06uYHL6yK7QTP7ckYr-Ag0vRhwOSwXhs3wT53XvtkVI8xjYxGaNXKOSay1lUhkVpwIDsvewveyqt3oz7PIKTeWN0NWIkym4y099pPsnEejmKsK6lABuLMV/s400/morning.jpg" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Dugp9iw3_gED8J3yf4h98U-nHLmB1L0rqHwu0GiQNBsM2zGZeHPvf9FQXW_7ZauWkjzAB4TOcthV99bNMuzF21UG-BPyQUqEBTNtFSNflD8IRMO-GmIvgzqBeZwAn9eQGrdbShCbs3xr/s1600/sea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613425238941891474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Dugp9iw3_gED8J3yf4h98U-nHLmB1L0rqHwu0GiQNBsM2zGZeHPvf9FQXW_7ZauWkjzAB4TOcthV99bNMuzF21UG-BPyQUqEBTNtFSNflD8IRMO-GmIvgzqBeZwAn9eQGrdbShCbs3xr/s400/sea.jpg" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwAEzHAriE04cgHEqmNXBikEH1_BfXHHV4U86c9-IPj8vFWvt8vwJhffyRP8Fa6KjwdDk2YNwZkRqyXCfuDle5x-bxjd_L4WzgfZJGW5qaQoOX-MAX1ldtPPLqYElyzqb08HqkJsUxmC_/s1600/Icitrus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613425236676241778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwAEzHAriE04cgHEqmNXBikEH1_BfXHHV4U86c9-IPj8vFWvt8vwJhffyRP8Fa6KjwdDk2YNwZkRqyXCfuDle5x-bxjd_L4WzgfZJGW5qaQoOX-MAX1ldtPPLqYElyzqb08HqkJsUxmC_/s400/Icitrus.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWhSZdGXchhPMGalECADL2Bg7iJ6oCJH2I7bOrdvU564qhLjIMgfBI7znH9PhR7_wYE-ifVrsoaBOuRYsZG4GDGQ1umo2-AZA7nLbSzRInvNQdqDGln1y9HXqjlfcCA0uMOL_R5HsKyIS/s1600/dough.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613426419900629298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWhSZdGXchhPMGalECADL2Bg7iJ6oCJH2I7bOrdvU564qhLjIMgfBI7znH9PhR7_wYE-ifVrsoaBOuRYsZG4GDGQ1umo2-AZA7nLbSzRInvNQdqDGln1y9HXqjlfcCA0uMOL_R5HsKyIS/s400/dough.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdzC4ZMwlRCShNB4vSzcKPDB-T7NF95yxaKDBpR8yssCZ7WWq7Ki2NHg_w3h8gjFEEW-vQbn7nJG_WTBxEh0FQvMQnLPy00Why2YWZCtR8ApjidN9O7AziQTgmmE0t8_9dcOlaoQVvvoX/s1600/pizza.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613426427039524578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdzC4ZMwlRCShNB4vSzcKPDB-T7NF95yxaKDBpR8yssCZ7WWq7Ki2NHg_w3h8gjFEEW-vQbn7nJG_WTBxEh0FQvMQnLPy00Why2YWZCtR8ApjidN9O7AziQTgmmE0t8_9dcOlaoQVvvoX/s400/pizza.jpg" /></a>Hello Winter.</div><div> </div><div>I bade farewell to Autumn in a cute country cabin up in the hills overlooking the ocean last weekend. Oh my!</div><div>Although it was Autumn drawing to a close my escape was all about things wintry and warm.</div><div>Velvet equine noses and fluffy donkey ears....</div><div>Bedraggled chickens amidst a winter moult.... </div><div>Misty mornings and golden sunsets over the sea....</div><div>A gold reflected in the hues of numerous citrus trees for the plucking, heavy with juicy fruit....</div><div>Homemade dough and wood fired pizzas, with accompanying red wine of course.</div><div> </div><div>The only sad farewell was in the returning home for now.</div><div>But there's plans already to go back and join in some exciting nearby festivities. A pretty big way to celebrate Winter Solstice. <a href="http://www.lanternparade.com/">Have a look</a>. Can't wait! </div><div><br /><br />I also paid a visit to <a href="http://www.friendsofthekoala.org/fok/">Friends of the Koala's Inc</a>. while I was down that way. My girl is working on everything *Koala* at the moment.</div><div><br /> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGuk38ays11a2opOFAPe-qjuOgW_q_KG3IrVhH8XvudBibV5uDAPu9H8mqMA9wEHtA1qptjZn1l_gu84-8nZI-Z21ihrSRr_VoOgh3cfEpqxsCJ25anzTnLayKVoElD_D8wYfCMDl9gJ1/s1600/Koala.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613425232446104978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGuk38ays11a2opOFAPe-qjuOgW_q_KG3IrVhH8XvudBibV5uDAPu9H8mqMA9wEHtA1qptjZn1l_gu84-8nZI-Z21ihrSRr_VoOgh3cfEpqxsCJ25anzTnLayKVoElD_D8wYfCMDl9gJ1/s400/Koala.jpg" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh7z_1MLwIz9I3M3uaxaVaRafzgOOBIzW3BMdRDVLeqZhPgJZl-HRcSOe_go-8PCoXKQuQ8y49UmzYc39QkFOwJ66s3kDR4lqG1n3NIXPSSK7a_qCy8zho4zxPTSB8LSzY2BINGcA1d7Q/s1600/Trio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613425227071297314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh7z_1MLwIz9I3M3uaxaVaRafzgOOBIzW3BMdRDVLeqZhPgJZl-HRcSOe_go-8PCoXKQuQ8y49UmzYc39QkFOwJ66s3kDR4lqG1n3NIXPSSK7a_qCy8zho4zxPTSB8LSzY2BINGcA1d7Q/s400/Trio.jpg" /></a>We had a one on one tour of their centre and facilities.</div><div>I can't rave enough about the amazing job these devoted people do with roughly a 50% success rate. With quite pathetic federal and local funding and a few home carers they rely heavily on donations, fundraising and sponsorship to provide medicine, food and shelter to their charges. Really with the fundamental causes of stress and the hideous diseases these little ones are suffering so prolifically today because of *us* (and honestly if you see them for real... it's absolutely heartbreaking)... diseases because of development, habitat destruction, road accidents and dog attacks...we owe it to them to help out.</div><div>We were lucky enough to see two little girls come in after 9 months home care to be transitioned at the centre before their release. So much work....such a great story.</div><div>Please at least have a look at the <a href="http://www.friendsofthekoala.org/fok/">website</a> and the amazing work these volunteers do for our unique eucalypt munchers.<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-91431950650533568532011-05-25T14:26:00.004+10:002011-05-25T15:26:55.490+10:00procrastinating... again<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESLcSLRLoqxRuw_9z4ut4ED4Q-TSPK-BHvONhkUAAKTmxRtDgRX3rxeLZ15kMP4I1qe1eB84bcuzTYU8VJtFoQmcVcBln_46RX8-Gk2XqQA_wFG7V99II25rUcfG9sCicFaagK1zwSaUK/s1600/tea+in+the+sun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610506412897278482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESLcSLRLoqxRuw_9z4ut4ED4Q-TSPK-BHvONhkUAAKTmxRtDgRX3rxeLZ15kMP4I1qe1eB84bcuzTYU8VJtFoQmcVcBln_46RX8-Gk2XqQA_wFG7V99II25rUcfG9sCicFaagK1zwSaUK/s400/tea+in+the+sun.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zr40ajxQizIC5c2kO2PdqdzXtrQrBeOGizgHkzTOd9mZZg2a3sjhHQ8m0ffPBhFF4Wbz6r0ZBNZz42zhjVO6w2BocsxGIEohISqhEh8r27v4twz4bWG9ZMIMSiqcTpRB7CwUgg5FrAR6/s1600/sun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610506410135256146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zr40ajxQizIC5c2kO2PdqdzXtrQrBeOGizgHkzTOd9mZZg2a3sjhHQ8m0ffPBhFF4Wbz6r0ZBNZz42zhjVO6w2BocsxGIEohISqhEh8r27v4twz4bWG9ZMIMSiqcTpRB7CwUgg5FrAR6/s400/sun.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1k4W00tJAdP9nsLqQo24IdMTK6SeDnb3PFSx4SU2dTMKjr8ut_rhV5BYdWwvzqQt3iIJPGgYFFRDLx7J7cgfdDCIuCzZvnce2m2tyLZk_-bh5mg1vIoFDPWW0T8NrTzn4k7lCmUa_h8xV/s1600/girls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610506402662545666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1k4W00tJAdP9nsLqQo24IdMTK6SeDnb3PFSx4SU2dTMKjr8ut_rhV5BYdWwvzqQt3iIJPGgYFFRDLx7J7cgfdDCIuCzZvnce2m2tyLZk_-bh5mg1vIoFDPWW0T8NrTzn4k7lCmUa_h8xV/s400/girls.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57ofjpYiFicrEWiEQBd1li13OXIQ_qqzqnzz3hUvpP972tyDzviGNs4J3R53ogiyQdsLy0XwA1z6y9EpxVAuKPAaHK1-YSsX42y1kZTnujbBGe9aLLvemv4s9OAdV4zxJ3fBZVBNMneGl/s1600/chokos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610506394933926194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57ofjpYiFicrEWiEQBd1li13OXIQ_qqzqnzz3hUvpP972tyDzviGNs4J3R53ogiyQdsLy0XwA1z6y9EpxVAuKPAaHK1-YSsX42y1kZTnujbBGe9aLLvemv4s9OAdV4zxJ3fBZVBNMneGl/s400/chokos.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYbTnX4UeOFGh5Xygyf5p-I03dKzx8ETCEaMH7GJ04XgkWf1WKtcoxH_pqcJqoWEtZdgbtIdeDN7Ji8d-JJT0lyL2FYPlEae2cmz59Q79hfJ3TdWcVwAKXgzfxUrTKpgpj7qYPaBt4X0U/s1600/chutney.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610506391123068050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYbTnX4UeOFGh5Xygyf5p-I03dKzx8ETCEaMH7GJ04XgkWf1WKtcoxH_pqcJqoWEtZdgbtIdeDN7Ji8d-JJT0lyL2FYPlEae2cmz59Q79hfJ3TdWcVwAKXgzfxUrTKpgpj7qYPaBt4X0U/s400/chutney.jpg" /></a></div><div>This morning was cold.</div><div>Windy and brisk.</div><div>But not quite brisk enough to see me lose the thongs today. I'm not a shoe lover, me. And it takes quite a decent amount of chill to see me don them. It's one of the things I'm grateful for about Australian Winters up here. Perfect for the casual non fuss don't hole me in kinda gal.</div><div> </div><div>But aside, after morning school drop off today, and still flapping around in the flip flops, I found myself heading out as usual with a steaming fresh brew and a recipe book under my arm to my new *perch* in the garden. I'm starting to feel like there's something missing if I haven't ritually *taken my tea* in the garden before I <em>really</em> start my day you know? It's like that deep breath, splash your face with cold water awakening... and sometimes steadying.</div><div> </div><div>On cold mornings like this I find myself coaxed further from my usual stoop to follow the sun which touches now in its warmest giving on the steps of the cubby house at the very back of the garden.</div><div>From this warmest of high posts I can look down on the garden and still plan my doings... and plantings and pickings of course.... and chat to the girls right next to me as I sip, while the hot steam condenses on my nose and the sun seems to magically fix itself to my skin all the way through those layers of clothes.</div><div> </div><div>The plan today was to finish an assignment I should be working on straight after the last drip of my tea. But as I sat drifting in that intoxicated blissful sunned state, my vague scrutiny of the edible greens passing before my eyes, the heavy enduring line of chokos across my fence caught my attention again...and again. After all it was recipes of preserves I had that favourite of all recipe books under my arm for... though just not exactly for today.</div><div>But alas procrastination wins out again...</div><div>or maybe it's the need to not let any of my gardens yields go to waste?</div><div>Either way that assignment was (somewhat guiltily) put on the burner for tomorrow.</div><div> </div><div>So with warmed toes and a tea filled belly I headed back indoors for a spell, my jumper quickly converted to a carryall and sinking from the weight of freshly picked fruit to boil jars and bubble chutney over the stove instead. </div><div> </div><div>Well at least I'm a productive procrastinator.</div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-55816795903854894652011-05-24T12:16:00.006+10:002011-05-24T13:10:47.801+10:00oranges and lemons....<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG-c0ycfE_D9CzjriV95aq9Vn1vyVQFIOFRYai0MDLp3BpGSntEJUnboUsdJ2Vz0hXY0QPsKUWFHo2J5x0xkVDpCn-p9z0yY8JezfoKguScq4sQ3-XK4nA23sEGJTddGRm2e6ZdsDmTS5/s1600/citrus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 282px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610108256390372338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG-c0ycfE_D9CzjriV95aq9Vn1vyVQFIOFRYai0MDLp3BpGSntEJUnboUsdJ2Vz0hXY0QPsKUWFHo2J5x0xkVDpCn-p9z0yY8JezfoKguScq4sQ3-XK4nA23sEGJTddGRm2e6ZdsDmTS5/s400/citrus.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_XFAmyz-nHybz5QeRDi49q04GEoeXn95pEVuPHDOe_n5UwqdVWTVJAJql54kpxPzu06KszC0MIJNDi9_PvVvsbOEiVotihymxTNibcwHarbvCLoagVmdWkOQQnalgbZm9D_SqRoppbN/s1600/oranges+and+lemons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 238px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610108242837836866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w_XFAmyz-nHybz5QeRDi49q04GEoeXn95pEVuPHDOe_n5UwqdVWTVJAJql54kpxPzu06KszC0MIJNDi9_PvVvsbOEiVotihymxTNibcwHarbvCLoagVmdWkOQQnalgbZm9D_SqRoppbN/s400/oranges+and+lemons.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMeSNL9qiyYu6BT0FueMxGimgvoi_cXqdUMuQC5iPL2yx3luCyokIhmAULWaT8P6uzpurJwPAk-p31Ir_oSYqPTxfivoXJS7yuYIHdPhtkdu50r5E8SOWdeasW7sn789mfCZfaIXxhiSt/s1600/dessert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610108237483837426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMeSNL9qiyYu6BT0FueMxGimgvoi_cXqdUMuQC5iPL2yx3luCyokIhmAULWaT8P6uzpurJwPAk-p31Ir_oSYqPTxfivoXJS7yuYIHdPhtkdu50r5E8SOWdeasW7sn789mfCZfaIXxhiSt/s400/dessert.jpg" /></a><br /><em>the bells of St Clements...</em></div><div> </div><div>I keep finding I'm singing this to myself lately.</div><div>Winter is definitely all about citrus.</div><div>And winter is also all about warm desserts.</div><div>You know helping you add that extra unwanted layer for warmth over the cooler months? Hmm.</div><div> </div><div>Well this year, even though it's still not quite officially Winter yet, I've been blessed with picking my own citrus from the backyard. Finally. My first real lemon harvest and my first ever oranges.</div><div>A small modest harvest, yes.</div><div>A little <em>seedy</em>, yes.</div><div>But super sweet and <em>*real*</em> tasting, oh yes.</div><div>Am I a bit chuffed? Yes indeed!</div><div> </div><div>And for me Winter citrus just has to be turned into a warm citrus delicious. Aside from a rustic apple crumble it's my next favourite cold night dessert. A creamy warm tangy self saucing pud with the lightest spongy meringue top. So so good with a hot aromatic cuppa.</div><div> </div><div>So good indeed I've made it twice this week already.</div><div>So what's helping you layer your bones for warmth this season?</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-88550918123985365042011-05-16T14:16:00.009+10:002011-05-24T13:10:47.844+10:00chayote truths<div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO7UaHt1pPj6cVr9VhDGq3Q0hrxM6aNPlKlduCQD3LB4_XPYR2Z3sRBw6U96jSZ1TpcZvZ1BrSYvcaKmy3Asg9IhFGRP_E271Wy7kjz6ACd_UUKiPes_NDyaoyzcSn6UtMOkkj2gc6LLy/s1600/twirl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607163822158229090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO7UaHt1pPj6cVr9VhDGq3Q0hrxM6aNPlKlduCQD3LB4_XPYR2Z3sRBw6U96jSZ1TpcZvZ1BrSYvcaKmy3Asg9IhFGRP_E271Wy7kjz6ACd_UUKiPes_NDyaoyzcSn6UtMOkkj2gc6LLy/s400/twirl.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIBuj-ZKrgaJOeyCg03v3oWZmG_dYG2sQJVyofFlyp8kM_DG8y7UfBMJpKERUTVwS4vQiBL4j9ECmCj0imPu9lFuESwzNBVY4_oMtoUh0slE1vqonOgl_IT6c77vUR1fQqiwzABsaq3OO/s1600/choko+blossom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607163815682702610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIBuj-ZKrgaJOeyCg03v3oWZmG_dYG2sQJVyofFlyp8kM_DG8y7UfBMJpKERUTVwS4vQiBL4j9ECmCj0imPu9lFuESwzNBVY4_oMtoUh0slE1vqonOgl_IT6c77vUR1fQqiwzABsaq3OO/s400/choko+blossom.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmj9NIvm_bQy7xXO3nAQg1LynPVFfaF4nxqB4XWwH2X49XNRdE8OWuQVpd_EYYPUhygtBrHWCuG0lMtWCkO1i1N6iGL4MRvm-HgWZnnBo0A_7_J8ikIo3aYqAY-04ktm2yGArqVIc5SxK/s1600/aussie+backyard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607163811232228594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmj9NIvm_bQy7xXO3nAQg1LynPVFfaF4nxqB4XWwH2X49XNRdE8OWuQVpd_EYYPUhygtBrHWCuG0lMtWCkO1i1N6iGL4MRvm-HgWZnnBo0A_7_J8ikIo3aYqAY-04ktm2yGArqVIc5SxK/s400/aussie+backyard.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rqXL08sZSGAPv674u1QSRc5xGkjEmnBzX5r2jzsAt6pqBqilAmoe1lYcfEsX_oU2u0kOaVWv8ny3U6DCDjLkldmxGlMWequiTLlx-E6yJE3KxNP7b3vWPhiGtHHZYaDq5HqUCgImv_6z/s1600/chokos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607163807014215026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rqXL08sZSGAPv674u1QSRc5xGkjEmnBzX5r2jzsAt6pqBqilAmoe1lYcfEsX_oU2u0kOaVWv8ny3U6DCDjLkldmxGlMWequiTLlx-E6yJE3KxNP7b3vWPhiGtHHZYaDq5HqUCgImv_6z/s400/chokos.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIioFzt5_dRkbPeEP6jyVGinoCxFtZJM3gJo1rqsWG9axqYVB-iDGK6ASk9T8coJjFcfEP6qedOZbpmEcccgFTItSwHrBCWG6041QRRgKfbwK2f9wSaWq9xcqFsNBz7YIDNswPblSK_4L/s1600/Chokos+bowl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 399px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607163802148506882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIioFzt5_dRkbPeEP6jyVGinoCxFtZJM3gJo1rqsWG9axqYVB-iDGK6ASk9T8coJjFcfEP6qedOZbpmEcccgFTItSwHrBCWG6041QRRgKfbwK2f9wSaWq9xcqFsNBz7YIDNswPblSK_4L/s400/Chokos+bowl.jpg" /></a>Steamed...<br />Boiled...<br />Stewed...<br />Roasted...<br />Casseroled... (is that a word?)<br />and my new favourite Stir Fried with garlic and a smidge (now that's too cute not to be a word) of cumin. Yum.<br /><br />My side fence is literally abuzz with bees.... which is exciting enough in itself... but when they are pollinating and helping my garden produce masses, and that is no exaggeration, of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chayote">chokos</a> it's kind of inhale, settle the warm fuzzy nerdy gardener tummy, and enter grin <em>really</em> grin territory here for me this Autumn.<br /><br />OK I'm just a little overrun. And the girls at work have all had verbal lessons in preparing my giveaways. But I still have plenty of recipes and prep methods I'm excited about and yet to try out. </div><div>I'm really loving their homeliness right now and am honestly finding them most delicious. Maybe it's because of their homegrown stature? Certainly not because of any unfortunate choko reputation.</div><div>In fact the only reputation I do believe is their complete willingness to take over the garden and perhaps bury you under an abundance of green pear shaped fruits. I simply won't listen to any talk about them being boring or goodness forbid *yukky*....<br />and that's my <em>not so ugly</em> chayote truth.<br />Honest you can read more <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/28/1062050612273.html">here</a> if you're a disbeliever.</div></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-59602649093629361722011-05-11T20:35:00.003+10:002011-05-11T21:19:50.875+10:00plus one<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtVKrSDCaYV5WvomZxmbnzSuvkgNXue1K1NTrAYP513ux864cNp706pEcjquoFUmsJSGVosoj_RGwE0q98BoDZncIOUVkgUngGuW-tK-4HuN5zOZlqFz4zoT9UmO833gHKc5AC68qYqe3/s1600/April+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605405525715146258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtVKrSDCaYV5WvomZxmbnzSuvkgNXue1K1NTrAYP513ux864cNp706pEcjquoFUmsJSGVosoj_RGwE0q98BoDZncIOUVkgUngGuW-tK-4HuN5zOZlqFz4zoT9UmO833gHKc5AC68qYqe3/s400/April+1.jpg" /></a>Mothers Day this Sunday just past saw me sharing in the very essence of being a Mother...<br />the birth of a precious wee baby girl.<br /><em>Plus one</em> into the arms of our family fold.<br />Number one for my sister and her husband.<br /><br />I've been wanting and trying to write this post for days,<br />but waiting for my beloved sister to share her news first...<br />and then waiting for the right words to come.<br />They still haven't.<br /><br />Was it because it was the first birth, other than that of my own children, that I've attended?<br />Was it because it was my sister birthing and my niece being birthed?<br />Was it because of the concurrence of the day and the act?<br />Or just the miracle of delivering life into the world... this feeble sentimental statement being the very reason I spent so long unsuccessfully searching for the elusive right words for this post.<br />But whatever the reason for my awe and amazement and the complete euphoria of my experience....<br />the power of standing with my own mother, beside my sister and her husband as they became parents on mothers day, was palpable.<br />I breathed with her<br />and massaged her.<br />I encouraged her<br />and reassured her.<br />I held her<br />and swayed with her.<br />I tried to meld all my strength with her<br />and let my knuckles turn white with hers.<br />Amazingly I laughed with her<br />and of course I shed tears with her.<br />But there was only one thing aside from her pain that I wanted to take just a little bit of... and that was her strength and courage...and later pure joy. We could all do with some of that.<br /><br />So welcome to motherhood my sister.<br />And welcome earth side little April Ruth.<br />We've been waiting for your <em>plus one</em>.<br />How we are going to cherish you so...<br />and how I am going to cherish the sweet gift of sharing in your arrival.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-86051253495161246902011-05-06T13:22:00.006+10:002011-05-06T13:43:04.662+10:00preserving autumn<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeWRSwkNZUo-K9L0ipOZQCGav_La3n-jYu8c2uMkjZe2kapHL4lAx-WCCBYhyphenhyphenF27YR6WfhZH4TtGQ4lDrvGeMeIoWeHBXyyi8t1DhOsWNyDX1yEX78UVP1sz0vVdaYpBzctBeLd91NriR/s1600/blossom.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603439501288413842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeWRSwkNZUo-K9L0ipOZQCGav_La3n-jYu8c2uMkjZe2kapHL4lAx-WCCBYhyphenhyphenF27YR6WfhZH4TtGQ4lDrvGeMeIoWeHBXyyi8t1DhOsWNyDX1yEX78UVP1sz0vVdaYpBzctBeLd91NriR/s400/blossom.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOaUdiMzXdGDHPUkV_yMF9ey40jYjSNGgN_D0y9LTv000-VmbnaQgq-0zQDAS5IqCi4y_vw5pUquVR52USJ_vBHpr-P0GyStjJtMggwj8bAKIdCGmHYTco79PhyphenhyphenU5P09Ihvw-cgs6sKSP/s1600/calyx.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603439115292550642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOaUdiMzXdGDHPUkV_yMF9ey40jYjSNGgN_D0y9LTv000-VmbnaQgq-0zQDAS5IqCi4y_vw5pUquVR52USJ_vBHpr-P0GyStjJtMggwj8bAKIdCGmHYTco79PhyphenhyphenU5P09Ihvw-cgs6sKSP/s400/calyx.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYxORC_IcIdYSADReAZ9kkGTNk5vATogRj8kqDnM76q2pV1oqZxxlwPBuI6JNazXGopmeVQEiu6V5WoTFgzmXshtFc8EVH0N1r96R-uCbGVTTyM_VCFjyLU1OYHFe2kUev1d8dTOEft3l/s1600/fruit.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603439107957861634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYxORC_IcIdYSADReAZ9kkGTNk5vATogRj8kqDnM76q2pV1oqZxxlwPBuI6JNazXGopmeVQEiu6V5WoTFgzmXshtFc8EVH0N1r96R-uCbGVTTyM_VCFjyLU1OYHFe2kUev1d8dTOEft3l/s400/fruit.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6MvKQeEXbsbGeCEs1qNmSsZYMGYkEO1M96HviU7t04cW_rPzyqzVmYrcmIuUcB6JQCAD1ol9OjPG4N_pdNdltfYOactI2PMKH9bjNB-4bVjKMUAg6GMD6ytA1xMM98Osxq53qDko_UKo/s1600/harvest.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603439103730140866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6MvKQeEXbsbGeCEs1qNmSsZYMGYkEO1M96HviU7t04cW_rPzyqzVmYrcmIuUcB6JQCAD1ol9OjPG4N_pdNdltfYOactI2PMKH9bjNB-4bVjKMUAg6GMD6ytA1xMM98Osxq53qDko_UKo/s400/harvest.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXFm9DuDhTM2QwGjpp8tl6djbpWbNEn1C6XZ9O031KfD5mnm8mKoSoOEaGanW1UwD5LVx4gQvZgkAUnaSq1yTH4A7_wZ9b5RhysVkEZhVhm7hqcB8O8oQPkAhYQV1-v8hAuc4ERqEvQeI/s1600/picked.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603439101979759058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXFm9DuDhTM2QwGjpp8tl6djbpWbNEn1C6XZ9O031KfD5mnm8mKoSoOEaGanW1UwD5LVx4gQvZgkAUnaSq1yTH4A7_wZ9b5RhysVkEZhVhm7hqcB8O8oQPkAhYQV1-v8hAuc4ERqEvQeI/s400/picked.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71a-nnMd0kgWtzp9AcNEq_UMlQ_-3d8dfwAsyLPUyqTEHA2_1cNGA__H_4hTEt4qRpS4oLpcVfQS7-chnLweqdZ3UMmnsorcvc_anjzs9J_8NqUhL9zdHal_mKkiqaNy4NHPfkp0dfC1C/s1600/jam.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603439091442590562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71a-nnMd0kgWtzp9AcNEq_UMlQ_-3d8dfwAsyLPUyqTEHA2_1cNGA__H_4hTEt4qRpS4oLpcVfQS7-chnLweqdZ3UMmnsorcvc_anjzs9J_8NqUhL9zdHal_mKkiqaNy4NHPfkp0dfC1C/s400/jam.jpg" /></a>The last minute risky decision to sow my final few <a href="http://greenharvest.com.au/seeds/info_sheet/RosellaGrowing.html">rosella</a> seeds in the Summer garden has proved most fruitful this Autumn...
<br /><div align="center">by way of blossom, fruit and jam for our chilly morning toast.
<br /><div align="center">And even though the Autumn shade is encroaching on the garden... a little more than my green fingers would like... my bushes are continuing on with perfect bleeding throated blooms and fleshy finger staining calyxes.
<br /><div align="center">There will be more peeling to be done on the deck... stirring over the stove and steaming thick red liquid locked in glass jars to make that sweet popping sound of a successfully preserved Autumn.
<br />Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-44517301857407311912011-04-27T12:35:00.015+10:002011-04-27T14:30:27.649+10:00after the delugeIn a <a href="http://www.karawatha.com/">forest </a>last week...<br />scribbly gums<br />paper wasps<br />swamp hens<br />lagoons<br />makeshift bridges<br />frilly lizards<br />paperbarks<br />kangaroos<br />wild may<br /><br />and a storm...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWi-RN-rlEpIZi9vRJ28LV41DWKvjjErRz9m6A9DtuRl25BStRW-hx3KCKzBLdQSJStF8VRotmDNYGlnxx76O4tyQayndFtZGnFzLQzMQR6qKYmWb3CNIEGbd2HWSQIHNL61gnX6ssHla/s1600/scribbles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 271px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097440867707650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWi-RN-rlEpIZi9vRJ28LV41DWKvjjErRz9m6A9DtuRl25BStRW-hx3KCKzBLdQSJStF8VRotmDNYGlnxx76O4tyQayndFtZGnFzLQzMQR6qKYmWb3CNIEGbd2HWSQIHNL61gnX6ssHla/s400/scribbles.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jmfj7uY1zUZvpuNNeOIAbc_jTIb5kP5TxBr7n920SnBFh0ATAqY69qOl0ZAEPVXRYY5hk-5Otzsw_Dz-QbfwvL_aKsiJly4hAr_RhIeSBd1MGMYE0Ynjslsb1ZsJbiqDzhqiJUE22leR/s1600/gum.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097431387294418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jmfj7uY1zUZvpuNNeOIAbc_jTIb5kP5TxBr7n920SnBFh0ATAqY69qOl0ZAEPVXRYY5hk-5Otzsw_Dz-QbfwvL_aKsiJly4hAr_RhIeSBd1MGMYE0Ynjslsb1ZsJbiqDzhqiJUE22leR/s400/gum.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquqNrGgwDcLmtYFbaqBqJh7_-YULC_gRQpLKqfxHQztKccKlcX_u8sT71hn4EG1SKHZuH7zce62Y_UzqWupD8CqvTHSPSYh8a_uMvyH1FBQEfgELQK8RY_y04MmPR01vM5OicsFjGVQUj/s1600/paper.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600093937443214930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquqNrGgwDcLmtYFbaqBqJh7_-YULC_gRQpLKqfxHQztKccKlcX_u8sT71hn4EG1SKHZuH7zce62Y_UzqWupD8CqvTHSPSYh8a_uMvyH1FBQEfgELQK8RY_y04MmPR01vM5OicsFjGVQUj/s400/paper.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRKVCza8f2e4yMLODR55S7kizOlyuCXox40Ze0_GpDHYYMmEANQW6n2HCw4mVQkKDciNGyWyv3gqGfpu-NtT_-1-WFYmVrBXsXMUj3beMeda7Qdc8aeNjCRE5nRwLxzdJyNmcHgxj_wvn/s1600/swamp+hen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600093925985707106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRKVCza8f2e4yMLODR55S7kizOlyuCXox40Ze0_GpDHYYMmEANQW6n2HCw4mVQkKDciNGyWyv3gqGfpu-NtT_-1-WFYmVrBXsXMUj3beMeda7Qdc8aeNjCRE5nRwLxzdJyNmcHgxj_wvn/s400/swamp+hen.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QiEoPIt5yjxfB_sJHhyJzQjt-QhqZBpInzwUfibpsnRMcxhVXv_tm0j-H3OjOxamrqlSILPiz3xOGYCs0zdjdDI4jsdHbb2V4DNa52ouz_WmuhHJTbW-_DarKZke2r84IH1v_Iq4IbHU/s1600/lagoon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600093920780346738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QiEoPIt5yjxfB_sJHhyJzQjt-QhqZBpInzwUfibpsnRMcxhVXv_tm0j-H3OjOxamrqlSILPiz3xOGYCs0zdjdDI4jsdHbb2V4DNa52ouz_WmuhHJTbW-_DarKZke2r84IH1v_Iq4IbHU/s400/lagoon.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mmIa0utT50TzW3BmbZZdwjAAsdWTAZMxAOodnyRqSdTcqxygkOstRYWaZNk8XdHPZJLEb5PgrjEzuNIU5BHwl5pIb9Ed4dpBw6M3DCjW2owiBMxpCmMjx-y0OPIrMGaOwknM6Wvgmflm/s1600/drops.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600093915387447586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mmIa0utT50TzW3BmbZZdwjAAsdWTAZMxAOodnyRqSdTcqxygkOstRYWaZNk8XdHPZJLEb5PgrjEzuNIU5BHwl5pIb9Ed4dpBw6M3DCjW2owiBMxpCmMjx-y0OPIrMGaOwknM6Wvgmflm/s400/drops.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8Pj1aNLja5PkGzdzU2hXf3KxpMTPRm4-NVrKGfHDFkN8ca1bg_lLbkHlfHo4BvZxdUniO7PbKH4Oi91JnKV4SCQ2Ekbq_IZ2lAI_qa_qDhVkDr6RcRLHXkswkEbo-u4D4WXs_2gPjwkg/s1600/rain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600093908019614578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8Pj1aNLja5PkGzdzU2hXf3KxpMTPRm4-NVrKGfHDFkN8ca1bg_lLbkHlfHo4BvZxdUniO7PbKH4Oi91JnKV4SCQ2Ekbq_IZ2lAI_qa_qDhVkDr6RcRLHXkswkEbo-u4D4WXs_2gPjwkg/s400/rain.jpg" /></a><br />A storm indeed.<br />A storm that has made these the last photos my beloved camera (as she was) and I will take together in quite a while.<br />I dropped her off at the repair shop this morning.<br />Seems despite a snug fit down my front, fast running legs and desperately hunched shoulders one cannot keep a camera dry when several kilometers deep and just so slightly lost within a forest when a thunderstorm decides to hit.<br /><br />Oh my goodness... soaked as soaked could be we powered on along paths that turned to mini muddy torrents, over creeks, up hill and down...between thunderclaps and heavy drops upon our faces that we drank right off our skin as we ran. The little ones were frightened and cold but perhaps like the Mama kangaroo that almost bounded blindly into us I reassured them and reminded them to laugh and feel, <em>really feel</em>, that beating wet and roaring wind for what it was...<br /><em>wild simple adventure</em>.<br /><br />So while I may be camera-less for a bit... I am also a little *water* wiser... and somewhat more astute at reading maps... and I wouldn't give it back, that little adventure.<br /><br />In fact I went back.<br />To the scene of the crime.... the next day.<br />Seven kilometers of beautiful forest filled with post rain frog call I walked, and emerged just post sundown. Tired yet dry, satiated and smiling again even if at the fact that that's how it should have been the first time.<br />It may not have been revenge but it was indeed most sweet and still wild after the deluge.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-976216215286653452011-04-22T10:14:00.003+10:002011-04-22T10:29:53.301+10:00so far...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUk3fvfAgr3HtjDpcnoaZeE1x4kU63MAL22ee8U4Sp3hn2DGUq6j60sMjUvMUCBNmZQ9prtldxUiCS5tKPMPCV7XGJrpk7CgVnKRKYfpxqaHwBWyaDoHyGgID4BzHPH74by5I2BILBixQI/s1600/cupcakes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598195583546984258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUk3fvfAgr3HtjDpcnoaZeE1x4kU63MAL22ee8U4Sp3hn2DGUq6j60sMjUvMUCBNmZQ9prtldxUiCS5tKPMPCV7XGJrpk7CgVnKRKYfpxqaHwBWyaDoHyGgID4BzHPH74by5I2BILBixQI/s400/cupcakes.jpg" /></a>I love school holidays.<br />The slow pace...<br />the pyjama's until lunch time...<br />the baking...<br />and the making....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8axYlbJj9f7H1jTkRi1zxmRZmNrYTESiSM0lL2xMwh1MAu6Md-ZYAUFYo_VR4Stv_xi4J4XUPLCoK05pjPNc9Hen2ll97zrSrFQwT47K7GUsrMWKq784KglpACJckR4ZGV28CBh1SV_V/s1600/rocket.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598195576308181618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8axYlbJj9f7H1jTkRi1zxmRZmNrYTESiSM0lL2xMwh1MAu6Md-ZYAUFYo_VR4Stv_xi4J4XUPLCoK05pjPNc9Hen2ll97zrSrFQwT47K7GUsrMWKq784KglpACJckR4ZGV28CBh1SV_V/s400/rocket.jpg" /></a> Block rockets of course for the boy...<br />complete with stones for fire because a rocket must have the fire coming out of it's turbo boosters...did you know?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCgTl5OlUWtuDU6xQEzLQzfNodUMAOXnH9A_qoaZuMKwcDrMzIoU7sTGjNK-N9IiaA5GPTkMKMb2KgXYdMbDNyKAKrOeSQbSo4pV1Y7m0QoxwRRc7qpTH2ke4AxjhQo4LRwnacJSMAzHE/s1600/wish.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598195567215577954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCgTl5OlUWtuDU6xQEzLQzfNodUMAOXnH9A_qoaZuMKwcDrMzIoU7sTGjNK-N9IiaA5GPTkMKMb2KgXYdMbDNyKAKrOeSQbSo4pV1Y7m0QoxwRRc7qpTH2ke4AxjhQo4LRwnacJSMAzHE/s400/wish.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1-Cq619Uhln97l5UT4ysxHYmQuxlZ3KWGPMYgtQRYPWw6wi28cBHxwIfOT9Ea70TcTThieJeKYHsNNQWB-8VW6Z4K2_E7tIAyY3m1i4Q0SxnaAiwAPthZE0vDHtD3EbyNcRzGN4o6ha/s1600/the+seed.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598195562661924146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1-Cq619Uhln97l5UT4ysxHYmQuxlZ3KWGPMYgtQRYPWw6wi28cBHxwIfOT9Ea70TcTThieJeKYHsNNQWB-8VW6Z4K2_E7tIAyY3m1i4Q0SxnaAiwAPthZE0vDHtD3EbyNcRzGN4o6ha/s400/the+seed.jpg" /></a> and of course there's the extra time for the garden.<br />And the girl has been working on the same at school...<br />which has carried over to the holidays too...<br />makes a Mama very happy.<br />So far, so good.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-81917563760476197182011-04-16T10:13:00.008+10:002011-04-16T10:38:23.194+10:00beaches and books<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNzpWzT9OUUZkQdAnbArK6f8S3Ppdhts6_Dn2EAeMeaCVJuWCrgHPUljrra8OqGYUj193-jKJFDXI3kuSn6F2tILTUW7TBVztL3hk6ujUIJ5iLSRczWg6govHUXUDn9l3MuR8f_M5zXxA/s1600/lighthouse.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595971243595148546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNzpWzT9OUUZkQdAnbArK6f8S3Ppdhts6_Dn2EAeMeaCVJuWCrgHPUljrra8OqGYUj193-jKJFDXI3kuSn6F2tILTUW7TBVztL3hk6ujUIJ5iLSRczWg6govHUXUDn9l3MuR8f_M5zXxA/s400/lighthouse.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGXRDndFt0mUifHlR0IlkIzkPwA-UC3VxE3ntdX1Fa9lW3J_VqIqpUGYVGpISWVScnFhzFX2ph_fqxuULB44TvFXQevGvfcwkJqUS4csRD_0fkQlGy5soZW-6_j3FOiuEe9Lt8aMH9Gz4/s1600/study.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595968871573706178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGXRDndFt0mUifHlR0IlkIzkPwA-UC3VxE3ntdX1Fa9lW3J_VqIqpUGYVGpISWVScnFhzFX2ph_fqxuULB44TvFXQevGvfcwkJqUS4csRD_0fkQlGy5soZW-6_j3FOiuEe9Lt8aMH9Gz4/s400/study.jpg" /></a><span>I'm back from Byron <br />and was straight into the books. <br />Another exam down now... <br />no seaglass was found while I was away <br />but there's a lighthouse <br />shining <br />somewhere. <br />Can you see it on the distant cape up there? </span></p>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-55273644211410361162011-04-05T11:54:00.003+10:002011-04-05T12:18:40.553+10:00sea glass<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BeDAR7ho40lm2KI2tWT5lLitIs0nWN-05Dt0BJPt1OnAP8VBI8XNJRa_58MTqOvbSbmP1vwVlLv-4sk6S8iMNJTztfDqs9dwpxgMjXdTN9S3x0-2bo26EQwK0a_o3NEAE_Niq21hbviC/s1600/sea+glass.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591912244373539170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BeDAR7ho40lm2KI2tWT5lLitIs0nWN-05Dt0BJPt1OnAP8VBI8XNJRa_58MTqOvbSbmP1vwVlLv-4sk6S8iMNJTztfDqs9dwpxgMjXdTN9S3x0-2bo26EQwK0a_o3NEAE_Niq21hbviC/s400/sea+glass.jpg" /></a>I'm off in search of sea glass tomorrow... <br />Rubbish carelessly discarded then tossed, trustingly, by the wilds of the sea and sand, smoothing it's broken and jagged edges until it is a gem... ruined by man... a treasure of nature. <br />A bit like me. <br />Sunday I saw in 39 years tossing around in this universe. And let me tell you it was indeed quite a weekend of tossing around! Dinner, comedy, nightlife, 3am, family, half naked men sharing their skills in a ring, breakfast, cakes and a long long driveway at the farm filled with balloons and banners in my name! I don't think I've ever felt quite so loved by so many as this Birthday... and all over three days! I tell you I am blessed after all. <br />But tomorrow it is down time. Beach combing. Sea glass hunting. <br />A recovery of sorts. A breath. <br />Though a working holiday it is, I think the mecca that is Byron Bay is just the place for me to smooth my jagged edges for a bit, allow myself to be tossed again in the wilds of the sea for a week and then return home... hopefully another step closer to being my own little piece of sea glass.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-17411597364159239132011-03-31T11:06:00.012+10:002011-03-31T11:54:58.560+10:00yesterday<div align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAOHvULOm5bkESnVE7aVq0Bf6OLUNS190WYQ2kFGtWczABpop20o43RUJ_phUTCYQQCE5hw1dqSb_XXnmOgp_OCIVtiRgYyetNPjqW40t1iOF3-VpoTDJtfNmIvsI6Gc3xxdIxohpkXKO/s1600/rain+diamonds.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590050989592954642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAOHvULOm5bkESnVE7aVq0Bf6OLUNS190WYQ2kFGtWczABpop20o43RUJ_phUTCYQQCE5hw1dqSb_XXnmOgp_OCIVtiRgYyetNPjqW40t1iOF3-VpoTDJtfNmIvsI6Gc3xxdIxohpkXKO/s400/rain+diamonds.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgHZz7l3lZUO4AwhLdJvtfewlLuKQVY2yxiI3SKw4Y9IjGWCXf-z76IMwCFzsPaeMeLt6I0HG_h7ovNMj54lE-jPI9x93EkKnSjaLiogczQeq5OxA4JdxSzSOfwzji_v85xASCA3xKrLg/s1600/drip.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590050978491372322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgHZz7l3lZUO4AwhLdJvtfewlLuKQVY2yxiI3SKw4Y9IjGWCXf-z76IMwCFzsPaeMeLt6I0HG_h7ovNMj54lE-jPI9x93EkKnSjaLiogczQeq5OxA4JdxSzSOfwzji_v85xASCA3xKrLg/s400/drip.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N_w0WNV12f9KlxBevkAWfNXK_cILUe6wgwLiTVLozubKHED4lA-RMjUoIJ366SjiGmAOcWkqx4o5f6dAalEhGmjUBe26BYTtnrBURi37kny6LhJdvYquVOmZgfh20TfvUff-uSQrPnfu/s1600/gold.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590050974553015330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N_w0WNV12f9KlxBevkAWfNXK_cILUe6wgwLiTVLozubKHED4lA-RMjUoIJ366SjiGmAOcWkqx4o5f6dAalEhGmjUBe26BYTtnrBURi37kny6LhJdvYquVOmZgfh20TfvUff-uSQrPnfu/s400/gold.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfZ2fts0QbYTo9fPXNQ5-TfkCq-leXtdd1nI0diKl527C8hu0XAmSf-fW9OKRqIDbyFQ0D82Ocg-N9WANE3qFkyjos5k2-NaMCdwhvtpuhYcAn2q-V9d0XY9MSjo0cEC2k8QJ-Nbts0FN/s1600/inside.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590050968385359298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfZ2fts0QbYTo9fPXNQ5-TfkCq-leXtdd1nI0diKl527C8hu0XAmSf-fW9OKRqIDbyFQ0D82Ocg-N9WANE3qFkyjos5k2-NaMCdwhvtpuhYcAn2q-V9d0XY9MSjo0cEC2k8QJ-Nbts0FN/s400/inside.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IrMNylEgYFl9uHv4F-IbzVSW4PNI9GUSeabj_k6GPnXQm7sE-PtPglESVS0PQnvhwWsql_TjSlc7aoLcwbqJVaPpNx0Og7JPLo1pbqr1Srnr81ei2-_t2T41B-xVi8rZKcg2fhDpAQXc/s1600/tea.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590050961109821202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IrMNylEgYFl9uHv4F-IbzVSW4PNI9GUSeabj_k6GPnXQm7sE-PtPglESVS0PQnvhwWsql_TjSlc7aoLcwbqJVaPpNx0Og7JPLo1pbqr1Srnr81ei2-_t2T41B-xVi8rZKcg2fhDpAQXc/s400/tea.jpg" /></a>Yesterday it rained.
<br /><div align="center">A steady all day kind of rain.
<br /><div align="center">It was a day for nesting indoors
<br /><div align="center">and drinking tea
<br /><div align="center">and listening to the lorikeets gently chattering as they gorged their colourful selves on the fruits from my golden canes.
<br /><div align="center">It's how I know it's almost April.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-15709247011816786352011-03-29T10:27:00.008+10:002011-03-29T11:34:56.827+10:00steadying myself<em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHvESGoO6Vf-t0S3Fj17SIgU9wb5qTENFG7ZYAEuhyRZfdqRoKGRmNfYud4f-BYkOTlB9ydb9P-WB2HiU-Pehod2Zd5j52-2LPE-EPvGYPS-QGmj1Jlb_bbk5Xg-RrKFfW3eYkfN7W11Z/s1600/hold.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589292816980175890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHvESGoO6Vf-t0S3Fj17SIgU9wb5qTENFG7ZYAEuhyRZfdqRoKGRmNfYud4f-BYkOTlB9ydb9P-WB2HiU-Pehod2Zd5j52-2LPE-EPvGYPS-QGmj1Jlb_bbk5Xg-RrKFfW3eYkfN7W11Z/s400/hold.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxype-MuFdw2RGVdN51ZqUTbf3BFbZBo_FhBRWNMQJ_yBRkUqUEWJP6-4n0KFj_HrkNTPv8oRQf1lLxVgHFPT2HoVblBu28bKkVRqYLcG3IT4y-Z5uosP-Ihyphenhyphen079dJVJ44XBXTgd-qslof/s1600/peas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589292813315584866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxype-MuFdw2RGVdN51ZqUTbf3BFbZBo_FhBRWNMQJ_yBRkUqUEWJP6-4n0KFj_HrkNTPv8oRQf1lLxVgHFPT2HoVblBu28bKkVRqYLcG3IT4y-Z5uosP-Ihyphenhyphen079dJVJ44XBXTgd-qslof/s400/peas.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-A5HnuSKzCLUn_zuMGa1bsRN8g_C89y2jZ8HWp-KFD0a-Ab_iwzRawIp9_zQwZoCZ6ug0K15SZQBkA3jYySCzrBGjZaPMY9xB_GNcKJ4tgev5y3nXfSg8ApkuLYwY8E4gR-AeU9btzuZ9/s1600/prudence.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589292807172498274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-A5HnuSKzCLUn_zuMGa1bsRN8g_C89y2jZ8HWp-KFD0a-Ab_iwzRawIp9_zQwZoCZ6ug0K15SZQBkA3jYySCzrBGjZaPMY9xB_GNcKJ4tgev5y3nXfSg8ApkuLYwY8E4gR-AeU9btzuZ9/s400/prudence.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfcKfdNsh4ZgaD66W9lueLaWafJA6k_LrProbViEEU5l3dqEiY6QbTAo9kUU3gRktFUldzi7csW6kjPahER-aTc6eN98bUXIiMdgafZVA3KE4apBa4XzX7DmTWGbddIKG3nejnU8SRexm/s1600/cosmos.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589292802608344834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfcKfdNsh4ZgaD66W9lueLaWafJA6k_LrProbViEEU5l3dqEiY6QbTAo9kUU3gRktFUldzi7csW6kjPahER-aTc6eN98bUXIiMdgafZVA3KE4apBa4XzX7DmTWGbddIKG3nejnU8SRexm/s400/cosmos.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YhflTfprWPa41V2aRREi-n42BWoG2ml2U0uhyphenhyphenKK3IK2d4U44dVt7U7VXq5gw-mdE_wTzLHSEMuqPtfyHXXKH4mQcytzkLYMn6Du-A82afNdh4yXFvPNKUEyUlw6ZZ7zASieg1GYgRGY8/s1600/thai.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589292797508869074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YhflTfprWPa41V2aRREi-n42BWoG2ml2U0uhyphenhyphenKK3IK2d4U44dVt7U7VXq5gw-mdE_wTzLHSEMuqPtfyHXXKH4mQcytzkLYMn6Du-A82afNdh4yXFvPNKUEyUlw6ZZ7zASieg1GYgRGY8/s400/thai.jpg" /></a><em>"Mama has the earth moved?"</em><br />That was the first question I was greeted with this morning as a sleepy eyed three year old boy ran in to me in the kitchen, fresh from dawn cloud gazing. <br />Of course it was just the clouds that were visibly moving... but little did he know just how timely his observation was for this Mama. <br />You see the earth has moved...metaphorically....right under my feet. <br />The demons that plagued this little family here won out just before Christmas and those demons saw me here managing alone with my babes and a big wound in my heart.<br />It's funny almost 4 months on that I feel I can finally put it out here now. Not that the earth has quite stopped moving on me yet... no way, those complications seem to have their exhausting way of prolonging their untangling.... but it just hasn't felt right before to share this change here, even though as a result this blog has also outwardly changed somewhat in focus, feel and commitment during that time. I wonder if you felt it? <br />I'm hoping now to turn that right around, though there may be more soul sharing in amongst it all as I travel and ever so hesitantly explore this scary path further. So as those clouds still blow overhead, the first guava's fall from our tree, the autumn snow peas poke their heads through the earth and the girls lay perhaps the last of their summers eggs, and as we prepare ourselves for the cool of winter ahead, I will continue to steady myself on this shaky new ground until the earth moves right around to spring for me again.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-63912202279823861242011-03-21T17:26:00.004+10:002011-03-22T14:35:22.389+10:00bassinettes, beads, bellies and babes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxl0gyyKGbKFndfwqGR_FlT0n9EM4SF3AbKbooDUPBo3spd_3KTbflttTgeq5k495rb40oIj2nFwDpGQhPrExVzpmBAnd7c4rECYlyAAGSDoGILFedIzUMiPICxQALiOwZOaTa6bAfWIH/s1600/cupcakes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432792818289458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxl0gyyKGbKFndfwqGR_FlT0n9EM4SF3AbKbooDUPBo3spd_3KTbflttTgeq5k495rb40oIj2nFwDpGQhPrExVzpmBAnd7c4rECYlyAAGSDoGILFedIzUMiPICxQALiOwZOaTa6bAfWIH/s400/cupcakes.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCDVoo31iso61XQPW1xpPYQXhm-7akY1emxe1cL0NOBgWUIsFOOea1CbDvzcZWcc36BsQ2KVhlxFcyc42__Ef6hswRtxaelobQjuFNZEmN2FeYd-0tHoUH75OHBw2qSithl6dJZVUBaom/s1600/balloons.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432785606531954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCDVoo31iso61XQPW1xpPYQXhm-7akY1emxe1cL0NOBgWUIsFOOea1CbDvzcZWcc36BsQ2KVhlxFcyc42__Ef6hswRtxaelobQjuFNZEmN2FeYd-0tHoUH75OHBw2qSithl6dJZVUBaom/s400/balloons.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd_4vC5KrVA5TwNGPOJfEg-vDyjOUAVf7dcRangyBYG_c72UJb6lFS0BC0ziCowc_-7UnGFmEFcsQ6T5jvnU5uDYdMFE1T-g1wJYsbZNEEkUKQdiw3BZ0AYjDfQ7sCd-akfD2ht9EHa_G/s1600/bassinette.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432784106817602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd_4vC5KrVA5TwNGPOJfEg-vDyjOUAVf7dcRangyBYG_c72UJb6lFS0BC0ziCowc_-7UnGFmEFcsQ6T5jvnU5uDYdMFE1T-g1wJYsbZNEEkUKQdiw3BZ0AYjDfQ7sCd-akfD2ht9EHa_G/s400/bassinette.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznnQGhewJkFphYB3eP6RyHRpQw-aArFOIZuk1ggRcFU012GMP558Jvwa9bcDYZ4H4UVIaFYZfnxFfYIuRxZGazAVT_EreTf4gIsoh1bR1ZE45kPx2OLgz48E7RtwJUzV4yaxI6b7wF-us/s1600/beads.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432779101223890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznnQGhewJkFphYB3eP6RyHRpQw-aArFOIZuk1ggRcFU012GMP558Jvwa9bcDYZ4H4UVIaFYZfnxFfYIuRxZGazAVT_EreTf4gIsoh1bR1ZE45kPx2OLgz48E7RtwJUzV4yaxI6b7wF-us/s400/beads.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HmoCH8hAuye7N5e5hRONxIWm_MTCKb09NIjUqTTYGjIN6Za4s9WcIDfT3SrPiHSnOelWuoinBBq4cjXHkPNjC3-2KZU4_9yfXwS6YYCtJmx1wdfKC4yp3RgWN80N-TUI7iDzYV5d4MFf/s1600/henna.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432151045883650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HmoCH8hAuye7N5e5hRONxIWm_MTCKb09NIjUqTTYGjIN6Za4s9WcIDfT3SrPiHSnOelWuoinBBq4cjXHkPNjC3-2KZU4_9yfXwS6YYCtJmx1wdfKC4yp3RgWN80N-TUI7iDzYV5d4MFf/s400/henna.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4_bMyggt_af92azPq-dvi9dLTkKPuE-Utge2wd84SI-Cd2kH0YU4dcnOEcSFiyRmwUNCKomx9X6eZAEbWKMNhmi16h3LdLFAPEkKht9f6FYBxuV5oSHU5RoIy_X2LJ26RD_AFhjBKs-N/s1600/belly.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 204px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432145283944690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4_bMyggt_af92azPq-dvi9dLTkKPuE-Utge2wd84SI-Cd2kH0YU4dcnOEcSFiyRmwUNCKomx9X6eZAEbWKMNhmi16h3LdLFAPEkKht9f6FYBxuV5oSHU5RoIy_X2LJ26RD_AFhjBKs-N/s400/belly.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGEFz_mTGJqgJJRMaiz1ZE8WfoCOA6JqOFO46B3CdJDp9JJIa18VQIpfgBUTwhGES3dYmWj56DuU2jrljCK4rymRa0AngKysL8FuEaLSQbDhu7pNsjHGzKenXfZsXCeLtq9sX-yQZH_23/s1600/Bam.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432142267502482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGEFz_mTGJqgJJRMaiz1ZE8WfoCOA6JqOFO46B3CdJDp9JJIa18VQIpfgBUTwhGES3dYmWj56DuU2jrljCK4rymRa0AngKysL8FuEaLSQbDhu7pNsjHGzKenXfZsXCeLtq9sX-yQZH_23/s400/Bam.jpg" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432137192962562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJso-pCJ51NZ-xkYgZIjGJqBp3Od-9UcoAEps09B71lZwwPVmtRFKkHj5toTcXtyKhiluQRMIZ5AfPB-gnltY-jLZrgTPp3-11nC6Q51zP8w9NtTcP4Oh3gQHWY49ooLDE1Kq8FoCx4tdb/s400/us.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaUliiW0UNu70wVqID_juYCvPW2f5vGaCFPSY-obuzTzcllIpdZDIxKyskdpxrGAtv6a21GBhf1h6cA8gt6qQwfjKpmL7X2kPLaw5VDxFRS0jI2sMXiC_Y8hE9iYqTNsYHVSPXlsoeRmN/s1600/henna+foot.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586432133555081410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaUliiW0UNu70wVqID_juYCvPW2f5vGaCFPSY-obuzTzcllIpdZDIxKyskdpxrGAtv6a21GBhf1h6cA8gt6qQwfjKpmL7X2kPLaw5VDxFRS0jI2sMXiC_Y8hE9iYqTNsYHVSPXlsoeRmN/s400/henna+foot.jpg" /></a>There's a new little soul about to join our clan in just a month or so<br />and we've been busy trying to honour the Mama-to-be in just the right ways.<br />The century old bassinet has re-emerged, waiting, fluffed and filled with images for every Mama-past of this family of their own sweet newborns tucked tenderly within it... myself and my own included.<br />We've celebrated in her home by filling it with loving friends each supporting and connecting with her through wishes, stories, henna, maybe a few cupcakes and a precious strand of birthing beads....<br />and again later we've symbolically shared and extended that connectedness amongst this tight clan of ours with henna too.... even though the men folk may have found the car racing just as enticing after... the imagery of them above touches my heart in the warmest way.<br />Our beautiful Jen is about to join the blessed ranks of Motherhood<br />and she is entering it surrounded by the most amazing women friends and loved ones...<br />and one sister whose soul is just shining to bursting for her right now.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-72109102307236392072011-03-07T14:11:00.002+10:002011-03-07T14:33:55.238+10:00the last of summer<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqJXy82LOS1bC8XMQeBWcD1SvZm0BfvrMSfUASb2LhnksBj5_pCmgWIzifHlHau4o0cACpoJgdOVRkFt7OqtxpR6uscBFxbvQsueYZBmqS-Dl-uLE046e3CErHsJ4N-jLKgv3eLBYPZ0F/s1600/melon1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581186882845376130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqJXy82LOS1bC8XMQeBWcD1SvZm0BfvrMSfUASb2LhnksBj5_pCmgWIzifHlHau4o0cACpoJgdOVRkFt7OqtxpR6uscBFxbvQsueYZBmqS-Dl-uLE046e3CErHsJ4N-jLKgv3eLBYPZ0F/s400/melon1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6qp-SVtWd4KJVpQai66K5067DeSUjrYut3OESLIcFeJuI9wnOqZNSa5ExoxJ0R5Ha3VTT3-c6Bm7sfSr6v9TYi6zcnQFEhpzT8mcTJiSj-pKyWrgTmzyE4VU8N7gguvJarHhnIlyybKP/s1600/rockie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581186880646006642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6qp-SVtWd4KJVpQai66K5067DeSUjrYut3OESLIcFeJuI9wnOqZNSa5ExoxJ0R5Ha3VTT3-c6Bm7sfSr6v9TYi6zcnQFEhpzT8mcTJiSj-pKyWrgTmzyE4VU8N7gguvJarHhnIlyybKP/s400/rockie.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnLH5RKfNkBpo4q1zb-_EUwYqf7aTVavQ5A5GBJkNnwJ5UOeipguvFMNkQVmTkEngGF95zTZ6vvXOM21z28b1K_D49wI8SuxN0peJo2a3H640NuOf6Hz7rXnNR4K04OSxzzVYNZbw_kbS/s1600/rockies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581186874821093602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnLH5RKfNkBpo4q1zb-_EUwYqf7aTVavQ5A5GBJkNnwJ5UOeipguvFMNkQVmTkEngGF95zTZ6vvXOM21z28b1K_D49wI8SuxN0peJo2a3H640NuOf6Hz7rXnNR4K04OSxzzVYNZbw_kbS/s400/rockies.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcA9L9x9o4O9RQ8s9fXsg-uPPKmw8_ASNGoeNkP4m7P8cEVTpFJ2KtNdjefqUOZi4I9Tp5JzKUHedpzCuCod6kh8rZu96LJhqa0cJcR-n0hs7ZdwI_LuHPBhOO60rTl-k3iy1OgC3b1ha/s1600/wedges.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581186872490074066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcA9L9x9o4O9RQ8s9fXsg-uPPKmw8_ASNGoeNkP4m7P8cEVTpFJ2KtNdjefqUOZi4I9Tp5JzKUHedpzCuCod6kh8rZu96LJhqa0cJcR-n0hs7ZdwI_LuHPBhOO60rTl-k3iy1OgC3b1ha/s400/wedges.jpg" /></a>We've been munching melons...<br />straight from our garden. </div><div align="center">Opportunistic rogues who made themselves at home here thanks to my Summer compost shuffles and garden renovations.<br />The last juicy fruits of the season it feels like as today saw me in my morning spot outside with my hot tea at 6am...with sleeves! Yes sleeves.<br />There's a chill in that breeze that's come to visit for a few days after the rain.<br />So with thoughts of Winter veg in my head the garden has been planted again while fare welling the last of Summer...</div><div align="center"> other than just one more taste of melon that's stored in my fridge...<br />and welcoming what is to come with the Autumn.</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-41474765367294936122011-02-22T06:52:00.005+10:002011-02-22T12:09:05.961+10:00gathering<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXYToP7spShed-Vr5ngmsHa6nECBt9o4kRuNP3-PVBxmogO0n70AoKCX3Tme342Gyl5cx8RffHfYtgy51Q_ruRjSrPMfnVGohGQkXptyB36xGC4c2Tt4gub9klsZ_VdYGiml0BNoC9yHL/s1600/marigolds.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576271542339038274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXYToP7spShed-Vr5ngmsHa6nECBt9o4kRuNP3-PVBxmogO0n70AoKCX3Tme342Gyl5cx8RffHfYtgy51Q_ruRjSrPMfnVGohGQkXptyB36xGC4c2Tt4gub9klsZ_VdYGiml0BNoC9yHL/s400/marigolds.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWTZpTjmTH_OeK5sd62I3IfKJ2lzBmJUsHg4F6x_O7VXVZ8tNNv0qgQBSj3BZsHEbq2SgWazcjitcWZ1ihQvEO03VbN4pm2q9Qeycb-w-QEJTYf7vX3l2rEwdPlnNQAsik6LAUqA6KndL/s1600/IMG_7013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576271532688189682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWTZpTjmTH_OeK5sd62I3IfKJ2lzBmJUsHg4F6x_O7VXVZ8tNNv0qgQBSj3BZsHEbq2SgWazcjitcWZ1ihQvEO03VbN4pm2q9Qeycb-w-QEJTYf7vX3l2rEwdPlnNQAsik6LAUqA6KndL/s400/IMG_7013.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaB3pDvyxyGKtWBjOwOBCn4zeXBPUKaeXtUVSbN7eSR-iy1urtNSTCh0fIdphIxr3SpupQseNh-IBR5LtRQylP7YPBNwB-UpJpBJWesePpg795tBnya5Votkfxnac9BVJ2iwNhUHwgxyU/s1600/coriander.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576252683358925266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaB3pDvyxyGKtWBjOwOBCn4zeXBPUKaeXtUVSbN7eSR-iy1urtNSTCh0fIdphIxr3SpupQseNh-IBR5LtRQylP7YPBNwB-UpJpBJWesePpg795tBnya5Votkfxnac9BVJ2iwNhUHwgxyU/s400/coriander.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQyDT5d8eF5H_OwtbdaLAKvo1uCL5Onpi7NgjJAV2QVoyIpnAnCot2PhH3jeYHbelr9UcKDvojkpfNw7_7ehUK0ua_PhTz5AERl44XPdYdzB_LdhM-ODMVgfMfcSQJsZCl71wSzyTwerx/s1600/sun+seeds.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576252675763230642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQyDT5d8eF5H_OwtbdaLAKvo1uCL5Onpi7NgjJAV2QVoyIpnAnCot2PhH3jeYHbelr9UcKDvojkpfNw7_7ehUK0ua_PhTz5AERl44XPdYdzB_LdhM-ODMVgfMfcSQJsZCl71wSzyTwerx/s400/sun+seeds.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8WNlcf17gSsgTd6EfrEZnr4H1bPxeQOYauJNjvRPp2QdCRhr3PDRsv7pNbDfz1_WZhUeoBvOQW7KLPQjXv5H6EZdY5DlltQQRu87IAe4ikGI6Zab9nRUSI2oKK3qBuZ69zzJpej4dAW-/s1600/heads.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576252666568832258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8WNlcf17gSsgTd6EfrEZnr4H1bPxeQOYauJNjvRPp2QdCRhr3PDRsv7pNbDfz1_WZhUeoBvOQW7KLPQjXv5H6EZdY5DlltQQRu87IAe4ikGI6Zab9nRUSI2oKK3qBuZ69zzJpej4dAW-/s400/heads.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23R0vaNJeD_l_pYfwnrsClShe1cQatJH-PwQSG5HLSHtVdUSV1C_tu_TH6FB_dypkec6-k0sB-_A6ENvqZceurweU_eFc0S8nCD95npyVgwgzmb8YXTkCNVWmLlnqrfcuroFsyf9yBffp/s1600/gathering.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576252659607847922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23R0vaNJeD_l_pYfwnrsClShe1cQatJH-PwQSG5HLSHtVdUSV1C_tu_TH6FB_dypkec6-k0sB-_A6ENvqZceurweU_eFc0S8nCD95npyVgwgzmb8YXTkCNVWmLlnqrfcuroFsyf9yBffp/s400/gathering.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcsQDxW890DXv5KYitAuErBvtmB-YhyphenhyphenvuRSCjAMmmkZeaoH2fP30yq4nqFg3rSlMTwjD62MyprsDSh7ONqncCyZgrQTMrhEPGpRcyR3aMElpOQMir7dAxxjKxCTZIqvCi7-gVRpf0H3mR/s1600/rosella.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576252647259576178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcsQDxW890DXv5KYitAuErBvtmB-YhyphenhyphenvuRSCjAMmmkZeaoH2fP30yq4nqFg3rSlMTwjD62MyprsDSh7ONqncCyZgrQTMrhEPGpRcyR3aMElpOQMir7dAxxjKxCTZIqvCi7-gVRpf0H3mR/s400/rosella.jpg" /></a>I've been finding myself gathering things.<br />Flowers seeds shells leaves feathers.... and strength.<br />But it's all the seeds from the garden, aside from their own abundance and beauty and purpose,<br />that have me thinking most.<br />There is something about their cycles and potential.<br />How much potential there is within a single one is something quite astounding.<br />And as I quietly gather and admire these seeds from my garden<br />I am also aware that to a certain extent I am gathering them for within myself as well right now<br />A little symbolism of life lately...<br />Gathering up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">exhaustingly</span> for the harsh Winters of existence and hopefully awaiting the potential of a new Spring and a deep exhalation.<br />For like those I gather from the garden,<br />the seeds we gather for our souls can only attract the most beautiful things into the gardens that lie within us as well... right?Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-19834031525201653272011-02-06T08:29:00.003+10:002011-02-06T08:52:55.125+10:00sunset<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINrxSkoQvG1VkZWA-zeG-zGVzYT_wo9z03nD0QfP6D1jYjJZnUyM5tZH63NP68309ShqqCRJud65fm0sCqoXbj0ok3xlxACX-Y8VdnVE_ZIKjPZEeeiqh39R3ziMgjbjJaS9BL5cH4-Mf/s1600/sunset.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570339361724531986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINrxSkoQvG1VkZWA-zeG-zGVzYT_wo9z03nD0QfP6D1jYjJZnUyM5tZH63NP68309ShqqCRJud65fm0sCqoXbj0ok3xlxACX-Y8VdnVE_ZIKjPZEeeiqh39R3ziMgjbjJaS9BL5cH4-Mf/s400/sunset.jpg" /></a>the sun is noticeably shifting again<br />sunset is reaching the sill of my kitchen<br />and from the other direction sunrise is casting crystal rainbows through the same<br />it's still all about the flowers from my garden here<br />and sun<br />and heat<br />and trips to the sea<br /> but then it is February now after all<br /></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-91705175371628713932011-01-31T13:29:00.003+10:002011-01-31T13:53:30.999+10:00just us here<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7f8aiVw78MUO_m-pyLiqdX2LA4tBONwBo-fjzunkDs_eTzpJYxB5CWFXb_uGbvIRHJN0_yYupWTrG4gJCvQy2ty2KoNn7744Mss0HVUEpA2QnFNrL4lP8Pco1iMfODDe-9acczAYCqGh/s1600/carrotty.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568191121989904658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7f8aiVw78MUO_m-pyLiqdX2LA4tBONwBo-fjzunkDs_eTzpJYxB5CWFXb_uGbvIRHJN0_yYupWTrG4gJCvQy2ty2KoNn7744Mss0HVUEpA2QnFNrL4lP8Pco1iMfODDe-9acczAYCqGh/s400/carrotty.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMfLn2qnx-hkTs0h3-nem59v518pvNEXT7Ok4dF6Fvez8zpWFxzQtoPxPDcpaTrAFIlJHynebUkyBnX0sQg6r1kf5VoLqglIAJnS7FqZoytqhTzj2Mw1ByvgqIVLGiZ9qWnT91A6oWN5_/s1600/bee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568191114518267522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMfLn2qnx-hkTs0h3-nem59v518pvNEXT7Ok4dF6Fvez8zpWFxzQtoPxPDcpaTrAFIlJHynebUkyBnX0sQg6r1kf5VoLqglIAJnS7FqZoytqhTzj2Mw1ByvgqIVLGiZ9qWnT91A6oWN5_/s400/bee.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zhT81TzP5UFSFv-JEEVnb7QBlEFJCOrOoLFd6xFJoZFKNM8GdWXRmWQqNrFMte2dwtQ2GFKsFe8hTanteXjpfbNQtgrJdxrJk8QcrEgUgd1blpA6pnVS0u-RYkRDUusp_Y7VmHMuAl7R/s1600/me.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568191110540083458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zhT81TzP5UFSFv-JEEVnb7QBlEFJCOrOoLFd6xFJoZFKNM8GdWXRmWQqNrFMte2dwtQ2GFKsFe8hTanteXjpfbNQtgrJdxrJk8QcrEgUgd1blpA6pnVS0u-RYkRDUusp_Y7VmHMuAl7R/s400/me.jpg" /></a> Wandering the garden this morning with my tea</div><div align="center">As I find myself needing to do each and every morning</div><div align="center">The bird song</div><div align="center">The chickens</div><div align="center">Fat boy awaiting my treats</div><div align="center">And the bees</div><div align="center">Just us here</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-7380724216556453782011-01-21T06:37:00.003+10:002011-01-21T06:55:36.693+10:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeQbJhtyD5e-G0_h_TfmrlbnweBuV5d4Deof1fb_ZpDEmcAyLSYZnYL6HYfaPVEHsihVr49efbpmNPy2IFFcCwoFZxeBAfKpHtnJVA1zAGoDJYIX6sKZD0ZPNVaycxUp_N70oiZR4Hd6f/s1600/bee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564371547830369682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeQbJhtyD5e-G0_h_TfmrlbnweBuV5d4Deof1fb_ZpDEmcAyLSYZnYL6HYfaPVEHsihVr49efbpmNPy2IFFcCwoFZxeBAfKpHtnJVA1zAGoDJYIX6sKZD0ZPNVaycxUp_N70oiZR4Hd6f/s400/bee.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeh2VbtkWcQanclyuDowzns_NdZksikcbT8kOw6ZSZA7Fwa3QDmF43frVs-BtmaASizY54gMJ5wJ0vU8-BRMOUUVWc1_mP1QuSq3QpU4SpzxvIFIqsw7ANnlV7nhS472gypqnWyraLHHQ/s1600/sunny.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564370869851582994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeh2VbtkWcQanclyuDowzns_NdZksikcbT8kOw6ZSZA7Fwa3QDmF43frVs-BtmaASizY54gMJ5wJ0vU8-BRMOUUVWc1_mP1QuSq3QpU4SpzxvIFIqsw7ANnlV7nhS472gypqnWyraLHHQ/s400/sunny.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxiqogfjbeeZUfQkuCNFuJxymoP2OdsWjGktot27S3dEM4a35L30Y-IcWQ5QzqfcghHF4Q2gG6aY15U9p_Wpg0_jEV0VgcublVF2uTfdCh-OXXl471edKh5JChEn6Yu2UVKfeyEN2cLRp/s1600/skyward.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564370863140420690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxiqogfjbeeZUfQkuCNFuJxymoP2OdsWjGktot27S3dEM4a35L30Y-IcWQ5QzqfcghHF4Q2gG6aY15U9p_Wpg0_jEV0VgcublVF2uTfdCh-OXXl471edKh5JChEn6Yu2UVKfeyEN2cLRp/s400/skyward.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJTblF3JJgipq7vL5mT90uFxV61ZOnta6YC_Q0S9AsSs_DOZmFLx3_TGSicNkXYzMH6wvEAQnn_y4z7rH0WyY1dQ4n4LafK5ln3i57yxQ-eJUP9SFmcK9PIf-1HXzCM6zOg8Ryb7PJ6vZ/s1600/petals.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564370854815946082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJTblF3JJgipq7vL5mT90uFxV61ZOnta6YC_Q0S9AsSs_DOZmFLx3_TGSicNkXYzMH6wvEAQnn_y4z7rH0WyY1dQ4n4LafK5ln3i57yxQ-eJUP9SFmcK9PIf-1HXzCM6zOg8Ryb7PJ6vZ/s400/petals.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bFSbklOXKiJUJL_whVzeH4-wvCcNQcLXxCkKmNqLMkwPmbu-zT-wl9nP8ve75OrGqaNcb9BKrSpoBFUaKFba2C-SF9-bxSdTuVNtPoQLM3saby4f_q9GJaWYd3K5WNeaKfMSLkKELGPW/s1600/rays.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564370850632200754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bFSbklOXKiJUJL_whVzeH4-wvCcNQcLXxCkKmNqLMkwPmbu-zT-wl9nP8ve75OrGqaNcb9BKrSpoBFUaKFba2C-SF9-bxSdTuVNtPoQLM3saby4f_q9GJaWYd3K5WNeaKfMSLkKELGPW/s400/rays.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx09c35amR0YWVZ41nGN_qTtFqi5ur_uwTSY7wz2yy1mb5HJigdQvIBTEfiaMxFcrmd0K18UWT0Qy0FpQdnLWfSCkVk2it0bhMZlHlqoVQmltYYmT2rJLpWPEWIhybWssnkQE4vqeAJ0F-/s1600/rainbow.jpg"></a>There are sunflowers standing tall and proud in my garden again</div><div align="center">There's something about them that just makes me smile</div><div align="center">I think it's a combination of their larger than life existence</div><div align="center">The way they tower over my head</div><div align="center">Their green leaves that could easily cover more than one dinner plate each</div><div align="center">My eyes can't help but be drawn to their vibrant yellow and then skyward</div><div align="center">and I dream of climbing them, just like Jack and his beanstalk</div><div align="center">I wonder what sunny land would live at the top of such beauty</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-31272790163926821582011-01-13T08:54:00.006+10:002011-01-13T09:43:39.551+10:00Floating in the FloodSeems all this rain has taken it's toll...<br />I've returned from a stay at the farm to a former river city that has quickly gone underwater....no *river* to speak of.<br />A raging brown torrent exists instead and deserted city streets strangely filling with calm yet dirty rising water.<br />The sun has eerily been shining here since yesterday<br />and the footage I have been watching on the TV has been so incredibly surreal.<br />Streets and places I have walked and driven are not even recognisable now.<br /><br /><iframe height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mANvEa5v-mM?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />but ever so gratefully me and mine are safe and dry and if not for the footage and the strangely quiet streets and empty supermarket shelves we would not even know what is occurring just *down the road*.<br />Homes submerged... restaurants, pontoons, jetty's and boats washed down river and out to the bay.<br /><br /><iframe height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AG7ezAFfQw8?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />And compared to those in a neighbouring city up on the range we are the lucky ones.<br />My heart breaks for those with no warning. Lost.<br /><br /><iframe height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GuYkKir3LF4?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kYUpkPTcqPY?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />Queenslanders are a tough bunch though. Even our <a href="http://http//news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8195243/frog-hitches-ride-with-snake-to-flee-floods">animal friends </a>are banding together.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHF9N-5l-18fbWO5cGbgTokgfUD8Sk53Kdaa3t1pARDfoCv53wbwUA1vpBwyyfQkz4oJ1Sr0KNgFKT-caUUJdqVR6gTZe1JAvQasWxq47Ul_a0ovkncwg-x0VlL86Ie4a9iFJ-8b-Ib1pv/s1600/resizer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561441869199967954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHF9N-5l-18fbWO5cGbgTokgfUD8Sk53Kdaa3t1pARDfoCv53wbwUA1vpBwyyfQkz4oJ1Sr0KNgFKT-caUUJdqVR6gTZe1JAvQasWxq47Ul_a0ovkncwg-x0VlL86Ie4a9iFJ-8b-Ib1pv/s400/resizer.jpg" /></a> It's a humbling experience.<br />The power of Mother Nature and our vulnerability even in the *big* city.</p><p>My heart is with those suffering...please spare a little of yours too?</p><p>Here's a little <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/flood-death-toll-rises-to-12-as-killer-tide-continues-its-march-20110112-19my3.html">more</a> on the disaster...</p>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-51453850099736649272011-01-01T08:07:00.002+10:002011-01-01T08:14:18.558+10:00new days<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1PEEXlnIt0vG37HxFVCp8QkJi3MRkyuuKWOB7kMKiHTWQYpWAUoNk8wqcd25O2e_esEfWcwpw2zEZLFXybaxha-bkhLjwksFdi12wSmTtuQA530N_jGy1yF_RN88mmz4EKc62X8CTkvF/s1600/raspberry.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556768601706100690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1PEEXlnIt0vG37HxFVCp8QkJi3MRkyuuKWOB7kMKiHTWQYpWAUoNk8wqcd25O2e_esEfWcwpw2zEZLFXybaxha-bkhLjwksFdi12wSmTtuQA530N_jGy1yF_RN88mmz4EKc62X8CTkvF/s400/raspberry.jpg" /></a> a new year...</div><div align="center">new days...</div><div align="center">1.1.11 </div><div align="center">Those very numbers must denote a new beginning mustn't they?</div><div align="center">I was home alone last night</div><div align="center">not through want of celebratory invitations and phonecalls and possibility,</div><div align="center">but through a need for quiet</div><div align="center">and contemplation</div><div align="center">and quietness as my babes peacefully and innocently slept around me, oh so soundly.</div><div align="center">Contemplation of life's twists and turns and meaning.</div><div align="center">Today is a new day...coincidentally a new year... open to me...</div><div align="center">a crossroad</div><div align="center">a blessing and a curse</div><div align="center">a challenge and a reply...</div><div align="center">a look at what was reaped and sown throughout the last...</div><div align="center">a slow deep breath after a long swim against the tide.</div><div align="center">I'm not usually one for new year sentimentality</div><div align="center">and truth be told I struggle to stay awake to even see one in,</div><div align="center">just as I did last night...</div><div align="center">but sometimes, just sometimes</div><div align="center">the universe throws us a new beginning we need...</div><div align="center">a reason to be sentimental</div><div align="center">and grateful</div><div align="center">and strong</div><div align="center">and vulnerable</div><div align="center">and <em><strong>me</strong></em>.</div><br /><div align="center">Happy new days everyone.</div><div align="center">May they bring all the new opportunities and peace you <em>need</em> also.</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-53826828836261138672010-12-27T15:23:00.005+10:002010-12-27T16:38:40.962+10:00yule<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1avZaBK7_iVNH5Iu_HgTMY66LZlNSRektyj7xTEABLKFLHHnilQYSmxVWx6jq5sV4vsc0LScNzc1g3RtUy-t3SQUTrPOtVmHqTDDEi08ptOdA0JQWjmczZYS4PaGXPQvm-EapiYUlESO/s1600/IMG_6581.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555230945495794850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4yZDVb-UdkBelKIN0uuFu4FERCWsCN97YWncELUvw9txRKG0NOCIFqFm1OW9pRthRYBH-KV0kauezZLqb3cXn8sk6vF9OKaLIk5QxzoMdhSnolJrMdO1ProlzyoMXBh2wKGfB24iwkQl/s400/IMG_6561.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TgZ-qap0QuOLTI7c4zMg-_rOLdXo5l-PNeTm1PIgKI3pteRB36AmtfU0l6TcPoWUe_2f6Dcwux92SrDM4wnSF0TdVoQC2xaML0jt_FJaSD7SVME2U4SYoW0wCEt9cTBJGcsnU0IePYbu/s1600/IMG_6585.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555230955395751954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TgZ-qap0QuOLTI7c4zMg-_rOLdXo5l-PNeTm1PIgKI3pteRB36AmtfU0l6TcPoWUe_2f6Dcwux92SrDM4wnSF0TdVoQC2xaML0jt_FJaSD7SVME2U4SYoW0wCEt9cTBJGcsnU0IePYbu/s400/IMG_6585.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT87HO-O7o9R7kLlD8sBgXN0Jd13u-wSHqReV0RslXTBJfbdeh1Ex4gA_ujeaPVr0MxGMwMd0OfW7ARrMKwNpTJh_ZiFR5vWLhc0_SiQjZy3ornqd5-j8rTRoGPfVVPEN_oP3bKKSqyjp/s1600/IMG_6511.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555230961344811602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT87HO-O7o9R7kLlD8sBgXN0Jd13u-wSHqReV0RslXTBJfbdeh1Ex4gA_ujeaPVr0MxGMwMd0OfW7ARrMKwNpTJh_ZiFR5vWLhc0_SiQjZy3ornqd5-j8rTRoGPfVVPEN_oP3bKKSqyjp/s400/IMG_6511.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyWSbgcw7TGJkV4edsZsGY6LAXerTauunXNGeolwSHy-wU6vmcbwsjpdS23cBHyuTmVEZMLhzZdVzjtSfGGPLIVMviOfdoGUa036DcuRqsBSkTJp1EfbIEZYS5pCwX0b2UQWkC7w-sjhZ/s1600/IMG_6595.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 383px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555230939828876834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyWSbgcw7TGJkV4edsZsGY6LAXerTauunXNGeolwSHy-wU6vmcbwsjpdS23cBHyuTmVEZMLhzZdVzjtSfGGPLIVMviOfdoGUa036DcuRqsBSkTJp1EfbIEZYS5pCwX0b2UQWkC7w-sjhZ/s400/IMG_6595.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRaRzUWKEynoiyPkNvu-IaF0W9XquuqT6zpCrqaKFSU0IHCtb4MkFzpQzAxdbz8vTkLcGQl7TBlMdXLVt6ssyzE-Ty_sWWz9WATbeMsxcRvgM7DUyUWoNCe_tJz1WIQpU1N5Id1i619fP/s1600/pav.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555234855095971586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRaRzUWKEynoiyPkNvu-IaF0W9XquuqT6zpCrqaKFSU0IHCtb4MkFzpQzAxdbz8vTkLcGQl7TBlMdXLVt6ssyzE-Ty_sWWz9WATbeMsxcRvgM7DUyUWoNCe_tJz1WIQpU1N5Id1i619fP/s400/pav.jpg" /></a>I'm feeling this was the best Christmas in a long while<br />despite the persistent drenching from the heavens</div><div align="center">and a few personal challenges prior<br />gifts of laughter<br />dear family<br />and a little decadence for the belly and soul<br />here's hoping your day was as blessed as mine</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-27433059902557463492010-12-22T08:05:00.003+10:002010-12-22T08:20:21.713+10:00midsummer<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_vPE2EWLsAgeOTlYJGPYkVTft8CGOlIsYOXJdTeaQbezkE-jFpvJV6fMAviXDe4dqJgOCo-al9X6QCiIm9SAnEMpKORujyuZyEbQvH88XrbaFHtvnp5004_HgJ7r7D7G_KoJldB5osg5/s1600/solstice.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553261255630972882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_vPE2EWLsAgeOTlYJGPYkVTft8CGOlIsYOXJdTeaQbezkE-jFpvJV6fMAviXDe4dqJgOCo-al9X6QCiIm9SAnEMpKORujyuZyEbQvH88XrbaFHtvnp5004_HgJ7r7D7G_KoJldB5osg5/s400/solstice.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvY-pXOfOFgM49tX7-yVcf5Jx_y9FcTtUEbfzrcx-fcCGVMLUE5BUJoa8T3d_8noH0U61cnhF98Ea2khDq8L5IpdwbrZ3V3zJgZ9dW_X8r_h3d_1DA_1hiw79VREdKhI9ioppF6oE2-Nd/s1600/IMG_6524.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553261258339404434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvY-pXOfOFgM49tX7-yVcf5Jx_y9FcTtUEbfzrcx-fcCGVMLUE5BUJoa8T3d_8noH0U61cnhF98Ea2khDq8L5IpdwbrZ3V3zJgZ9dW_X8r_h3d_1DA_1hiw79VREdKhI9ioppF6oE2-Nd/s400/IMG_6524.jpg" /></a>Happy Solstice!</div><div align="center">We're enjoying some merrymaking and preparations this week.</div><div align="center">As well as celebrating the sun...</div><div align="center">when it appears that is.</div><div align="center">Happy celebrations and preparations to you too.</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2130077443915880463.post-5666711693246878452010-12-07T12:56:00.002+10:002010-12-07T13:10:58.571+10:00the lunatic farmer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrxDFrCt4z3mcatuLhRKyImz4K9e1UkhQRRuWVC1-PhCSNWKxa2_xzUmO6zO9_ZvHbseIJTbbC6rGsRtMtAEMgjScudG3D76FwoA6DT73V1EDn5ZaadTsUPpg6LnIQO9QUKl5Ph5BN83y/s1600/local.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547768180616757586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrxDFrCt4z3mcatuLhRKyImz4K9e1UkhQRRuWVC1-PhCSNWKxa2_xzUmO6zO9_ZvHbseIJTbbC6rGsRtMtAEMgjScudG3D76FwoA6DT73V1EDn5ZaadTsUPpg6LnIQO9QUKl5Ph5BN83y/s400/local.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGySS58qmlGyQCUnV5Sk_CocuVoTICbYeAaRENs1VBab5rndIEA86XJCBrUD24TOqatMJ1glr1czjTdmkrA2DHQClEypV5kf4P6J_Qwii_83GuRVu2o1E_CLbWp-Kvy2BtVzWf9KUjIYb/s1600/Joel.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 263px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547768172092904978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGySS58qmlGyQCUnV5Sk_CocuVoTICbYeAaRENs1VBab5rndIEA86XJCBrUD24TOqatMJ1glr1czjTdmkrA2DHQClEypV5kf4P6J_Qwii_83GuRVu2o1E_CLbWp-Kvy2BtVzWf9KUjIYb/s400/Joel.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ94vsuhwshdBempxPZPzY2Cz_xdG2XTN1G9Er7ShO2gDzJP8d6_J1nZYiFsweyQCIW-MatMUz449PZuGvhyWuWJ5_oAEIiEeWZMoj4WO85gk9U5tF0v3S_rvTBzEi8rrwGu0MBuT7fZ4l/s1600/Costa.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547768156486537554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ94vsuhwshdBempxPZPzY2Cz_xdG2XTN1G9Er7ShO2gDzJP8d6_J1nZYiFsweyQCIW-MatMUz449PZuGvhyWuWJ5_oAEIiEeWZMoj4WO85gk9U5tF0v3S_rvTBzEi8rrwGu0MBuT7fZ4l/s400/Costa.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtsJcFA68bkWLDD3XyERKFu90qwMinUxtoFV0-SdU2S29ezRWu3mLJiP0085j48JYs6Ozb1HombC4hkoE0ZXhfQeW6Joxwcyo-CfwgN-arXzLCuM6oCKho4ESb67MJgYvTuYOX_kxJheJ/s1600/Northey+St.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547768142052668386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtsJcFA68bkWLDD3XyERKFu90qwMinUxtoFV0-SdU2S29ezRWu3mLJiP0085j48JYs6Ozb1HombC4hkoE0ZXhfQeW6Joxwcyo-CfwgN-arXzLCuM6oCKho4ESb67MJgYvTuYOX_kxJheJ/s400/Northey+St.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1wOHeW5b68pAYw54-OHawS52rgjrs6a2POPT28CxmIx13BZ7MnS91QuV73x2jSgXU8sGI-ZIXFXI1VADT6_jvceZqf5hRiYotp9tI0jG6HRcQUIq3uZRyuq1_lDg_3UiXgXhNVa7sahyphenhyphen/s1600/thongs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547768134697860466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1wOHeW5b68pAYw54-OHawS52rgjrs6a2POPT28CxmIx13BZ7MnS91QuV73x2jSgXU8sGI-ZIXFXI1VADT6_jvceZqf5hRiYotp9tI0jG6HRcQUIq3uZRyuq1_lDg_3UiXgXhNVa7sahyphenhyphen/s400/thongs.jpg" /></a>Saturday evening saw me lucky enough to be sitting dry beneath an enormous red tent in the middle of <a href="http://www.northeystreetcityfarm.org.au/">Northey Street City Farm </a>listening to just my kind of lunatic.<br />The awesome <a href="http://www.regenag.com/workshops/joel-salatin-public-talks/">Joel Salatin </a>spoke of many things that made complete sense to me... and everyone else there....several hundred in fact.<br />Wow that man is blessed... with the best job in the world and the ability to <em><strong>speak</strong></em>. Inspiring and truthful....<br />even if his neighbours believe him to be a bio terrorist.<br />I think perhaps the term lunacy has been applied to the wrong people don't you?<br />Bless you Joel.<br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BIbXU5iR2P4?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><br /></p>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14323586212535272755noreply@blogger.com9