an open letter

to my darling girls
I awoke this morning with such mixed emotions.
Seeing An Inconvenient Truth, I think, may tend to do that to one.
At once I am filled with excitement at the propects of travelling this exciting path with you in the belief that the steps we are taking are true; that choosing to lead a simpler life with all the benefits of living in the amazing place we do, is right. There is no question in my mind. That i feel such positive emotions at the same time as being so concerned that the world is heading down a path that can only lead to tragedy is so confusing to me.

The only thing i can do is stay on this path that seems so right.
And by taking one step at a time i seem to be learning some unexpected lessons. Of couse there are the environmental benefits... but
in walking rather than driving I get to hold your hands more.
I get to look around and appreciate what i have, more.
That buying vintage clothing is like going on a treasure hunt.
That buying local vegetables from an 'alive' market makes everything taste better. I swear it.
That starting the community garden has me more excited than anything in a long time.

I hope that taking these simple steps (amongst all the others) goes some way to help preserve our beautiful planet.
and that soon I'll start to feel that we are treading lightly. That its not too late.
that your children too will have a place to live.
and that we will leave this world a better place.

all my love
me

tea

my day with t
1. Cleanse. Steamy water with lemon and ginger. To clear , start the day full of promise and hope and full of good intentions. If i get this right maybe i'll be good for the rest of the day.- If not , at least i got this right. Also good for the liver.
2. Walk home from school drop off and Marty with any luck has the kettle on. This is the ritual part because Martys is THE t wallah of the family. Warm the kettle. Sellect the t based on discussion on what may be appropriate for this particular day, will it be earl grey or english breakfast. If Marty is feeling dominant, he'll try to convice me that a smoky russian caravan is best (why you'd drink it anywhere other than a smoky russian caravan, I'm not sure.)If he's succesful, the next morning i'll insist on a floral lady grey. Brew the tea (not for the impatient). Warm the cups. Pour the milk......and the t.
Now its our time to debrief on the previous day, gigs or what ever. We are invariably interupted at this point by (generally Martys - my frinds are rarely so impertinent) well meaning friends who must smell the tea from their homes and decide its time to chat.

3. PM. Chai.
It can only be chai.
I make my own caffeine free brew with Rooibos and the usual suspects. Cardamon, cloves, Cinnamon stick, dried ginger, and sometimes if i'm feeling brave star annise and pepper. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Honey. Soy. Country Living or maybe organic gardner magazine. Should see me through the evening craziness... at least until its time for something a little fiestier. Is that a word ?

4. Late. A sleepy time infusion does the trick. Chamomile, caledula with some peppermint and licorice root for good measure...now I'm feeling dreamy

portrait

My beautiful girls in our beautiful home....
its always like this ofcourse,
sun a shining,
birds a singing,
girls playng peacefully together
he he he

summer in the garden

What can i say.
Life is sweet.

the end is nigh.....

It seems this sunday , the last in january is global turn off the internet day.
So go out and do something with your life.
Go here for instructions

Cry of the snow lion

After seeing the footage of Tibeten refugees being shot in the snow while attempting to cross the border to Nepal , I was wanted to better understand the situation and so borrowed this film.Tibet. Cry of the snow lion

Something to be inspired by.
Visually and politically.

a new year

At the moment this is my favourite. In fact every new piece i do is a favourite for a little while so you may have to ask again in a couple of weeks.

Its probaby the first piece i've done that relates directly to an event in my life, (that i remember around this time of year) so it feels really personal to me. I dont what to be too specific 'cause
it interests me to hear other peoples understanding of a piece of art.
Marty had a really different perspective to what I was feeling when I painted it... and since hearing his ideas my understanding of the piece has changed a little too. I love that.

hand made

this - i made for shanti for christmas

365 days

this must be checked out, mused upon, passed on. I feel so inspired by Micheal Norton. His book was a last minute prezzie I picked up for Marty, and I havent been able to put it down. he he he. "Wrapping" it and hiding it away for just a day was torturous. Pleaseeeeeee have a look.

Christmas

Off tomorrow bight and early for celebrations in Brisbane with Marty's family.
Peace and joy
Mandy

blossom

For Inspire Me Thursday.....
actually while I was doing this piece the temperature was around 38 c ...hot hot hot. so winter feels like such a long way away. I just couldnt bring myself to paint her wearing a woolly jumper. The thing i like about winter (apart from warm fluffy clothes) is the soft light... and thats what inspired the colours here. It made me feel cool anyway. Phew.

cat

dont look issey
this is your christmas prezzie

shrine

a little bit christmassy dont you think ?

earth

yesterday
i lay in the sun
as the girls played in the garden
the earth warmed my belly
mmmmm

World Aids Day

For more info check cousin leonard

U2

Wow wowowowowowowowowwwwww
What an amazing night. The boys went off.
The culmination of such a beautiful journey.
It was a 60000 strong love in and Bono was shining.
Such a positive affirmation for where we're at...
I'm still buzzing as you can tell
(Marty says I'm a Bonophile - )
so......and......

eco

Whoooooo
I'm getting a bit passionate about our environment.
Went up to the ecocentre in St Kilda & came home with great ideas about how to reduce our footprint. Check it out !
The thought of treading lightly gets me all excited... I'm loving the thought of re-using materials. In our home.
In my art. Buying local where I can, or making my own.
I'm finding inspiration in so many places...old bottle tops, trashy jewellry and my favourite at the moment...old christmas decorations. My studio space is in danger of spilling over.....

Yay

visit

Look whos in our tree out the front. Right now.
As I type.
Isnt she Gorgeous.
How lucky am I ?

whoops

Ohhh
Sorrrrrry bout that last one.
The good news is I was so grumpy afterwards that I needed to go for a lovely long walk on the beach to clear my head and it worked and now I'm only going to do quick posts so that I dont make the mistake of missing a walk, or making something or planting somehing.
Oh oh I'm rambling.............

So this is a god box



Into which you place your hopes, dreams or parayers...so that the universe can take cae of them.
My next dream will be for a good spot at the U2 concert
a little bit excited bout that
Yippppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It was Shanti's Number 1 bithday yesterday
Beautiful
She had a magical day...
Shall post pix later

arrrggghhhhhhhh

Just wrote the best longest happiest post ever



and i lost it in the ether


thats crap