leave of absence

breather, furlough, sabbatical leave, time off - call it what you will but the time has come for me to step away from the blogging world. Not sure how long I will be gone - it could be only a day but after the emails that I have received about my prayer blog - most of them lovely but some have actually hurt my heart. I started the prayer blog because many of us, of all beliefs, need some kind of prayer and support. I think the world wide web is a wonderful tool that can be used for some good. I make no apologies for what I believe. Like I have said - many paths one heaven. And I believe that. I believe in God & I believe in Jesus but that makes me no better than the buddhist monk who lives across the road or my grandmother who was a member of the spiritulist church. Or the person who believes in angels. Or the person who lives on this earth and believes that our purpose here is to make the world a better place.
I will still be around commenting sometimes and always around for those that need me to put prayers on the blog and please email me at anytime......trying not to be a drama queen here - but I am hurt (yes, I can still hear my nan telling me to not be so sensitive) and when I return I will have a swap organised ~ love & hugs to all.

a healing touch

sometimes things that I read on other blogs either inspire me to write similar or remind me of something I have experienced in the past...such is this post by sweet Corey sharing sacred.

You see, I experienced a healing - something personnal and something I probably couldn't even begin to explain here..... but as you know I have a certificate in Reiki 1 and today I am off to do reiki 2. I feel I want to give something back for the miracle that happened to me 5 years ago.

your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it
- Buddha -

I don't think so

me on the back of the soul mates Harley? I don't think so. You see, I grew up with speedway bikes. My dad was in the pit crew for many solo riders, even a crew man for some of the international riders who came to race. We got to meet men from Austria, England and America. From the time I was about 3 I can remember it. We would pack up our car - dad had two metal tins behind the front seat of the car with a plank placed across and on top of that they would put a mattress and made a bed for my sis and I to sleep on. Can you imagine doing that today? And once the car was all packed up, we would head to Sydney showground, every Saturday night. Most times it was lots of fun - the meat pies, the hot dogs and the icecreams. Sometimes it was not and those times were when someone would come off their bike and be rushed to St.Vincents hospital with severe injuries and we would race there to be with them. Me, a toddler or little girl in my dad's arms, visiting a man who I had come to love as a friend and seeing him bruised and swollen and sometimes, well not the same person that I had known. And sadly, sometimes not even surviving at all. I have a fear of motorbikes, a big fear but I can't let that fear stop the soul mate from a passion of his. So I surround him with angels and send him on his way . Although I did tell him that if he bought me a full set of Harley leathers I might just be tempted - I know I am safe from that happening - they are just way too expensive ! ( and yes, that is me on the bike - but it was stationary and tied securely to the trailer. Note the look of pure fear on my face and how my hands are gripping the handle bars)

TA-DA !! the unveiling of a new blog

I have noticed at times while reading your blogs, that lots of us need prayers *oh I know, we all need prayers but sometimes we need extra - whether it be for illness or major upheavals in our lives & sometimes our world needs prayers & healing. I felt compelled to start a blog just for that - a gorgeous place full of love & healing - where we can have the world wrapped in prayer - gently cocooned in angel wings - doesn't matter what faith or belief you have - God hears all. sometimes prayers will be directed to a specific saint or sometimes an angel who I think may be able to help. or even someone from another culture - my favourite at the moment is Quan Yin - the goddess of compassion (you see, I believe that there are many paths one heaven)

oh and please,please feel free to put this on your blog and if you wish, also on your sidebar

don't hesitate to email me if you would like something or someone included

prayer requests

vintage stuff for sale

further to my ridiculous de-cluttering stage that I am going through right now - the soul mate and I are having a garage sale. I have been clearing out my store room all week and the garage now has room to park a ..........motor bike (yes, I finally relented and said he could get another * a harley no less and no, I don't wear the pants in this relationship - we are equals - well most times) - so we are ridding ourselves of years of collecting stuff - and you know what? It feels good. I am keeping my favourites and will be able to enjoy them without the constant cluttered headache that I have suffered from, for years.
So the dear soul mate will be up with the birds tomorrow, as we all know when you say 8am start, that means 6am to most and I will be either gardening or making copious pots of tea and plates of scones to keep his energy up! you just never know - after I sell this junk we may be able to move to that little french farmhouse that I hanker for !

REMEMBERING * Port Arthur

remembering

all those that died in the Port Arthur massacre

April 28, 1996

10 years ago

for those who don't know:

Port Arthur

psst.....

there is another swap in the wind.........

just wondering

how many blogs you have in your favourites list and how many you actually visit regularly. Last count, *which was last night* - I have 68 favourite blogs and I don't visit them all. Some I try to visit daily, others I catch up on and some have come into my life at one stage but have faded out over the time. I know there are regulars who visit here and I thankyou. I know there are some who just read and don't post - welcome and enjoy.... but to make my life simple - I am going to start decluttering my favourites list..........please don't take this the wrong way - my regulars will still be here for sure but the ones that have faded away...well - I know that daily parcels has changed over the past year and may no longer be what YOU want or enjoy.

I believe that people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime - and to each and every one of you - I thank you for whichever reason you are in my life. x0x0

A REASON * A SEASON OR A LIFETIME

Peddling your wares

so many of you are opening on-line stores! well done xoxo I am going to put some favourite things *for sale* in my side bar as well as a little 'commercial' here, every once in awhile - oh, I know everyone hates commercials as much as I do...but sometimes there are things I just have to share.

introducing darling ms*peggy and her equally darling ms*diva and the home-made goat's milk soap * awhile back ms*peggy sent me two cakes and they are simply scrumptious !! pamper yourself **
ms*diva's goat's milk soap

Patron Saint for cancer patients

Like I have said before, cancer is a beast. it can hit any of us at any time and when it does - it is frightening, for all involved - but it is just a word NOT a death sentence. When I was diagnosed, I turned to the saints, as I usually do whenever I need extra help with prayers - they all have special interests and will pray FOR us to our God.
our dear sweet Nicole,needs prayers for her pop - right now.
sending him - my dear St. Therese and of course - God has him surrounded with his mighty angels - St. Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel. God Bless Pop

we WILL remember them

the beginning of the term we know - 'the little aussie battler' - strong, young men, sent to fight for our wonderful country. Some never to return.
and of course, today is the day that we simply must make ANZAC BISCUITS and if we have the chance, we play two-up - oh my pa loved that game !! illegal as it was!

LEST WE FORGET

something I read today

Never Give up
No matter what is going on
Never Give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country
is spent developing the mind
instead of the heart
Be compassionate
Work for peace
and I say again
Never Give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on around you
Never Give up

*Dalai Lama*

early morning musings

just lately some things have annoyed me and while I don't want my journal here to turn into a discussion of my beliefs...this next post is something that has been bothering me since I heard about it on the news a few nights ago..........politically correctness - what on earth is that?

the powers that be or all those people who don't have anything better to do, have decided that a fairy penguin can no longer be called a fairy penguin because the gay community may be offended..... I have many, many friends in the 'gay community' and they think this is totally ridiculous and feel they are being used as an excuse for 'political correctness' I just wonder what on earth they are going to do with our state that is known as Queensland? will that become Sovereignland or Personwhositsonathroneland? .... the same powers have decided all these too, are politically incorrect : a blackboard is now a chalkboard, a whiteboard is now a penboard, you can no longer say ' good boy or good girl' it is now good child. There was even an instance of a child singing 'baa baa black sheep' and was totally confused so sang 'baa baa rainbow sheep' - oh puhleasse !!! We are creating a breed of confused children. Really, it annoys me no end, all of this. These people need to get lives - if they want to change the world...maybe get out and do some charity work and help the world that way. Cause the way they are helping us isn't working at all
bring back the vintage way, where a spade is called a spade!

you're IT - tagged !

ms*nicole tagged me for this
it is all about 10 SIMPLE PLEASURES ...
Name ten of life's simple pleasures that you like most,
then pick ten people to do the same.
Try to be original and creative
and not to use things that someone else has already used. I have put a slightly different slant on my answers as most times I live in the past..some of my simple pleasures are from times gone by. So, here goes, in no particular order ...

1. years ago, when my children were newly born, I loved nothing more than burying my face into their skin and just smelling them. There is something special about that new born smell.

2. when I was little, I loved to sit on my grandma's lap and dig my fingers into the skin on her neck. It was so floppy and soft - I use to tell her that she was the most beautiful grandma in the world and had the softest skin ever. She was about 80 when I did that.

3. just being in my garden, weeding or pottering just makes my soul sing. When I am in the garden, I can honestly say that I am not on this planet...... I kind of meditate as I garden.

4. my memories - who would I be without them?

5. faeries - as you all know, I believe in faeries - go on say it!!!

6. massage - pampering yourself is so important in today's world.

7. autumn leaves - the colours and the crackle as you walk through them - love it !

8. sitting in front of a fire in the middle of winter, with a cup of warm milk and a good book, tucked up under a favourite vintage blanket - ahh bliss. I feel like I am in Heaven.

9. sitting holding my dear soul mates hand. just being as one with him

10. going to my chook pen and getting a freshly laid egg and cooking it for breakfast.

now I tag 10 people and forgive me if you have already been tagged:
lil ol' berriehead * queen dolly * ms*eagle at the tradpad * leanne at roman holiday * Corey with her tongue in cheek * barb and her green wellies * Patra and her other place * mindy in her peaceful corner & I was going to pick Alison of brocantehome fame, but she has taken a break from blogging *so the other two - well anyone else who wants to

something for your journal

I'd pick more daisies

If I had my life to live over, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would be crazier. I would be less hygienic. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more sunsets..... I would eat more ice-cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. You see, I am one of those people who lives prophylactically and sanely and sensibly, hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I have had my moments and if I had it to do over again, I'd have had more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I have been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places and do things and travel lighther than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play hooky more. I wouldn't make such good grades except by accident. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies.
* Nadin Stair 87 Louisville KY *

take this, if you will and print it out and paste it into your discovery journal. And if you haven't got a discovery journal? Oh! you simply must get one ~

the journal of ms*robyn

early morning musings

a solution to my dilemma - after not having a very good sleep at all, due to the fact that my mind was in overdrive because of the snake - I have finally come to a solution. As St. Patrick is known for driving all the snakes out of Ireland, I think I just have to enlist his help to drive them from my yard, banish them forever to the ends of the earth. And if that doesn't work ? Maybe an ancient witch doctor/shaman can come and do his magic. And if that doesn't work? Then dear friends of mine - I am moving to New Zealand where they don't have snakes!

vintage gardening

we have decided to move my vegetable garden closer to the house - it is a little way away at the moment and not close to the kitchen. I wanted a potager or kitchen garden, where I could just slip out the back door to pick fresh herbs and veggies for dinner. Today was spent moving the old gates that surrounded my veggie garden and digging out shrubs where the new one is going as well as relocating garden beds and compost heaps. Alot of work involved but it will be wonderful when it is all done. I was feeling really happy with all the work achieved today and about 5.30, I had a lovely long shower, washing my hair and pampering my poor old body when Joe came running in and told me he had just seen a snake in our yard! It was under his car and he thought it was a stick so he kicked it, looked back and saw it slithering towards my garden. He said it looked like it was a death adder so we looked it up on the net - the conclusion that I have come to is that it is either a tiger or a banded snake. Hopefully the latter as they are not as venomous as the tiger. I KNOW that it is expected to find snakes in our area but I just don't like the fact that there is one here, somewhere amongst the agapanthas. Oh golly gosh, how am I ever going to face going into the garden now? I absolutely hate snakes.

Easter Day

and a happy Easter day to you xoxox

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbon

so, so sorry about the delay in getting the list out for the vintage housekeeping swap. I am now ready to partner you all up but just before I do and if you want to be part of it - please go to the blog and check if your name is on the list. One more day for everyone to double check and then I will send the partners list out. thanks & have a wonderful Easter xoxo

Holy Saturday

I am a Catholic by choice. I was confirmed at the Easter vigil mass 15 years ago and one of my favourite times of year is this Mass. I love the ritual and tradition that comes with this mass. The fire, the candles and incense- ahh the incense and the bells. I love the Litany of Saints and I love the 'Light of Christ*thanks be to God' but sadly in our church, *the powers that be*, have decided not to have candles but to have torches instead. I remember when people would walk down the centre aisle and light candles that the congregation were holding and that light would be passed from person to person. I ask you, how does that work with a torch????? it doesn't. The reason behind this decision is that the carpet will get spoiled due to candle wax spilling - oh puhlease ! I also remember one year when the collection plate came around - as well as putting in my money, I also put in an easter egg for our priest. He was delighted! He always said to me - that just because we believe in God, it doesn't mean that we can't have a little fun every now and then. Even at the end of a meeting, he would take out the bottle of port and say that we were at our 'spiritual' part of the meeting. And he would proceed to pour himself a small glass of port. How I loved Father Michael !!! - in those days, he truly was my spiritual mentor. I grew up in a very strict Church of England family and our minister, Mr Rawson who was about 103, preached hell, fire and brimstone every Sunday. I never could quite grasp that if God is Love, why the the fright?
I liked this when I found it:what happened on Saturday?

GOOD FRIDAY

something I read today

how true are these words? written almost 80 years ago. The garden is a magical place - I am sure this lady saw faeries in her garden and probably spoke to angels as well - she was definitely nearer to God's heart in her garden.

WHY PLANT A GARDEN?

" I plant a garden because I have the spirit of adventure. I like the smell of fresh turned earth. I love to plant, then weed and water, watch and wait. I delight in the miracle of green shoots quickly upspringing, unfolding; the transparent tender shades of tiny seedlings growing, all even , row on row; to see plants branch and blossom and put forth their fruit. Then my garden gives me beautiful and good gifts, choice offerings for my friends, best food for my children. Soul and body are fed.

I plant a garden because I like change and a garden is always changing. I like progress and progress is the gardens watchword. I like colour and my garden holds shades of colour found nowhere else - the unmatchable red of the radish pulled from the ground in the early morning with a bit of moist, black earth clinging to its slender white root, the silvery lavender of the kohlrabi stems, the golden yellow of the carrots and corn, the royal purple of the eggplant, the endless shades of glorious green in vine and bush and tree and in the multicolour flowers.

I plant a garden because I love its spirit of camaraderie. It calls me when I am away; it greets me when I return. Every hour and season, it has new beauties to reveal. My garden asks for little and gives much. Its dependence is like that of a loving child. Still, I go to my garden with problems and there, as I prune and weed. I find calm counsel. I go to it in sorrow and leave it comforted; I go to it weary and come away refreshed. When I am hurried, I go to my garden until the wheels of time run again in rhythm; when harried, I go to my garden until quiet confidence has returned; when impatient, I go to my garden and see how surely, if at times slowly, good things grow to their fulfillment. Gardening steadies my nerves and increases my physical strength. When I seek pleasure, I find it in my garden. Garden time is the happiest time. There I can exercise, or simply rest and dream by the sunlit pool or in the deep shade of tall trees.

For these and other reasons, which garden lovers know, I plant a garden"

BETTER HOMES & GARDENS - OCTOBER 1928

on being vague and absent

I wasn't going to post this here - but as I have received a few emails from some of you, wondering where I was and how I am - I thought I would just let you know I am here & fine. Just this past week, I have been pre-occupied with yet another breast lump. I kinda freaked and lost it and retreated into my shell, worrying about no one else but ME. I just didn't have time for a breast lump and all that went with it. So I gave it to my angels & faeries and of course God and got on with doing my part - I called my Dr, who got me in there and then. She felt it too so she ordered a mammogram and ultrasound and the dreaded biopsy if needed. I had my mammo and ultrasound yesterday and guess what? the lump had disappeared. Yes, gone. They couldn't find it. Now I don't know if that was a good thing because they did an ultrasound that took twice as long to make sure it wasn't lurking somewhere, but it was no where to be seen. hmmmmm -

another of my authentic self moments

BEWARE - the following may sound that I have completely lost the plot - I am blaming the voices in my head.

soul searching - what a merry road that can lead you along. I am a thinker, I actually never stop, hence the voices in my head. But I have come to a realisation that FOR ME it is very important to have a balance in my life. Otherwise I feel totally out of control, overwhelmed and completely loopy. I sometimes think I lean towards the obsessive compulsive personality * whatever I am involved in, at any given moment, I am consumed by, I live and breathe my passion, whatever it is at that time. With the soul searching and the discovery of me needing a balance * I am trying to put voices into practice. I have decided to nurture myself and listen to those voices in my head - sometimes they really know what they are talking about! We all need nurturing and balance - whether it be our physical bodies due to stresses of daily living with chemicals and pollutants or our emotional bodies which needs a break for the stresses of modern day technology - a break from news and world events and yes, sometimes a break from other people's problems - a break to recharge the batteries so that we can be the best possible person that we can. And our soul needs nurturing, whether it be meditation, prayer or even going out under the pine tree and talking to the faeries or elves. Or just sitting and saying nothing, just being. How perfectly hard is that? But it is important. And more importantly - it is important to have balance. so for the physical body - a lovely long soak in the bath, candles and music, followed by a favourite body cream * gently massaged into the skin. And for the emotional body - time away from all - sitting in a chair, reading a favourite book or taking a nap on a cold afternoon, snuggled under a blanket and for the soul? tomorrow - I am going to go sit under that pine tree and listen - I wonder what I will hear?

happy birthday

to daily parcels! yes, one year ago today I started putting those voices in my head, down here, as musings from a vintage addict......thanks to Alison at brocantehome ..... back then, she was looking for 'volunteers' to be part of her website and one of the requirements was that you needed a blog. I had absolutely no idea what a blog was but if I remember rightly - I said I would give it ago and by the look of it, I gave it a very good go, * this is my 557th post - there are 356 days in a year and seeing that I was away a few times - that could make it two posts a day - I am a chatterbox it seems, either that or I don't have a life. But it has been lots of fun - meeting all my journalling friends ( let's face it, this is not blogging, I refuse to call it that) and the swaps. But most especially the support and counselling that we get (for free) off each other. Women are amazing, don't you think.
so as a celebration - I want each of you to go out and buy yourself a little patty/fairy cake today - put a candle on it and sing happy birthday to daily parcels!

bed time worries

"Take drie rose leaves keep them in a glasse which will keep them sweet and then take powder of mynte, powder of cloves in a grosse powder, and putte the same to the Rose leves thanne putte all these together in a bagge and Take that to bedded with you and it wyll cause you to sleepe and it is goode to smelle unto at other tymes". -- Ram's Little Dodoen, 1606


sometimes when I wake in the morning I swear that I have not been asleep. I 'do' all the right things - no computer after 8pm - meditation - nice warm bath - no caffeine - lavender on the pillow * then why, oh why do I toss and turn? this is not rapid eye movement sleep, this is rapid tossing and turning sleep - the kind of sleep that every little sound goes right throught that tired brain - you are sure the wind outside is gale force, the possum on the tin roof sounds like a colony has just moved in and the train going past sounds like it is right near your bed doing a little bypass trip through the door and out the other one! And you wake up a 'grumpy old woman' with no time at all for your 16year old's princess ways and the 'partner for life' isn't looking like he is going to be here for much longer - and I am wretched - after searching the net, I have found that there is no patron saint for the sleepless nights nor for insomniacs!! that dear friends of mine, is why I am off today to make myself many sleep pillows and to research some more on the sleep depraved (or is that deprived?)

herbs to induce sleep: catnip, chamomile, hops, lavender, lemon balm, rose petals.

I like to sew a vintage hanky in half, leaving a short end open. Fill with a mixture of any of the above herbs and sew the opening shut. Keep under your pillow or tucked into the pillow case.
and if you are really into alternative things, a tumbled howlite crystal slipped in as well can help with insomnia.
I guess when you are sleep depraved you will try anything!

autumn

ahh autumn is here * this morning I noticed that the leaves have started to turn - gorgeous colours already! I love the slight nip in the air * the shorter days * the anticipation of winter just around the corner * the afternoon walks where I have to pull the cardi a little closer to keep the chill at bay * love it!

AUTUMN IS A SECOND SPRING WHEN EVERY LEAF'S A FLOWER

Albert Camus

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbon

the vintage housekeepers swap * hmmm this seems to be quite popular! 5 more days til the swap closes * vintage housekeeping swap - it should be lots of fun!
ideas for the vintage housekeepers swap

housekeeping

ahh autumn is sneaking in! you must know by now that Monday is the day that I scrub my bathrooms, change the bedsheets and clean the bedroom. And like I have said before, it is soul satisfying for me, when it is all finished and I can putter about doing the little things that make my house - my home. I have my lavender sleep bag on my pillow, ready for me to waft off to sleep. As the days are getting shorter, (thanks to the end of of daylight saving for yet another year) I have pulled out a favourite antique quilt to fold on the end of the bed for the cool nights ahead. And during this time of year, I like to light beeswax candles. Something about pure beeswax candles - that honey sweet smell and the gorgeous amber glow......and its also time to think of hand knitted socks to keep my toes warm. So,this afternoon - after all the housekeeping was done - I found myself a lovely warm corner and snuggled under a blanket, sipping my tea and just sat, looking out the window at the leaves falling gently off the trees. kind of a meditation, I guess - my mind was completely blank for awhile. and believe me, that doesn't happen often.

words to ponder

There is a garden in every childhood,

an enchanted place where colours are brighter, the air is softer

and the morning more fragrant than ever again

- Elizabeth Lawrence -

in my mail box

random acts of kindness - seems that our little journalling community is full of sweet souls - I know alot of you send little gifts or cards in the mail to each other. Love that! even emails are wonderful sometimes too.
Yesterday at about 5.30pm my mail lady yelled a big 'hello' bearing a parcel for ms*robyn. I swear she wonders about me! I wasn't expecting anything so I was quite touched that someone had sent me a gift. The gorgeous ms*nicole who calls herself littlemissartypants had sent me a package because

"friends should be reminded often of how much they are well and truly loved"

A lavender package - full of all things lavender. I especially love the face washers with lavender plants printed on them and a gorgeous crochet trim and can't wait to use the meditation CD..I am often amazed how things 'happen'. I have been wanting to buy a meditation CD for a few weeks now and just haven't got around to it. My biggest thanks sweet Nicole. You are a treasure !!!