daily parcels * tied up in string *

I''ll be seeing you.

2006-06-15T07:49:00.000+10:00

dear friends,

This is indeed a hard letter for me to write , but it is time to close 'daily parcels'.

You all know of the struggle I have had over the past two months

and my lovely daily parcels went places I didn't want it to go

I was struggling to keep it on track.

like I said I have lost 'friends' and gained others. Many of you have either commented here or emailed me in support. Some of your advice really struck a cord with me and helped me to make t his decision.

thankyou for that!

some have said that they want daily parcels to continue but I really think I am needing to move on to a new blog -

starting afresh. Being me.

I won't delete daily parcels as it is dear to my heart and shows my journey this past year. to delete it would be to deny that part of me.

I love the format of daily parcels and don't want to change that but each time I come here to post, I feel, well not quite the same as I did before 'all that jazz' went on. It has left an awful taste in my mouth.

However - my new blog will be up and running soon, I promise.

And you know me - it will probably be within hours..... of course it will be the same ms*robyn but also different. keep a watch.

much love to you always xoxo R

I am not a tough cookie - words from my heart

2006-06-14T15:40:00.000+10:00

oh dear

you know what? I am not a tough cookie, I don't have a hard shell. I am lost, really I am. I visit blogs and know that alot of my friends have worries, just like I have but you have all been here for me, while I wallow in my self pity. yes, I know you will say I am being hard on myself, but bear with me.

I have lost many friends in the past few weeks over my spiritual beliefs. and it hurts, it really does. I can't help being like this. I don't seem to fit into a category anymore. Friends that would comment don't visit. that hurts - is it vanity?

But what do I do? beg people to like me? change my beliefs? I know I continually post about this (and I am not looking for sympathy or kudos) but I am no closer to an answer than I was when it first started. I know I have said this before and only stay away for a minute before the chatter gets the better of me

but friends ~ I am so close to giving up & leaving daily parcels for-ever.........maybe start over somewhere else.

alone

2006-06-14T14:51:00.000+10:00

tonight I sleep alone. my dear soul mate has gone on his yearly jaunt for one night and two days to play golf. not sure how I am feeling - at first it is like an adventure - I plan my dinner (mushroom risotto) & put all the pillows in the middle of the bed and then as the night draws closer, I realize that I will be in my bed all by myself. kind of bittersweet, I would say.

in a state, indeed

2006-06-13T17:18:00.000+10:00

dear friends - well I have myself in an absolute state of anxiety. You see, my yearly oncology checkup is this Friday and as usual, the week preceding my checkup I become - well not quite normal.

I forget things, drop things and have constant panic attacks...breathe, breathe, breathe I keep telling myself. You will be fine, I keep telling myself. of course I will but I am scared.
I know I am past the five year mark this year, but it still doesnt lessen the fear of recurrence.
so if I don't visit much this week, once again I am sorry.

full moon & the goddess ms*robyn

2006-06-12T21:14:00.000+10:00

tonight is full moon and once again I had a delightful evening with my friends - dancing around the fire to the beat of a drum. candles. writing affirmations on paper and burning them and best of all picking a goddess that I could relate to at this time..... mine was the crone - Hecate - although I did have trouble choosing - being a little like Lilith & Sophia as well, but I guess we all have a little bit of each goddess in each of us!!! then we had the obligatory feast - mulled wine, chocolate, brie cheese and kiwi fruit. what fun! the small group of women that I belong to are starting to bond & form special friendships. It is just wonderful........ much like this lovely little group of internet blogging friends that we are forming here.......... and now ms*Nicole (the smary pants one) had kindly made us a button for our ya-ya blogs......
the blog where you can have a meltdown or a rant or where you can be completely and utterly demented at *that time of month* or even just when a full moon occurs
RULES
1. be honest
2. no judging

........wanna join? just post here and ask Nicole for a copy of her badge and go ahead and create your meltdown blog
little miss ya-ya

Our gracious Queen

2006-06-10T08:39:00.000+10:00

celebrating the Queen's birthday this long weekend. I guess you could say that I am a royalist and proud of it! I can't see the point in changing something that isn't broke. I do think she is sweet!! I like Charles as I can relate to him quite alot - I love the fact that he talks to his plants. None of them can help the life that they were born into at all, exactly the same as all of us - we do the best we can with what knowledge and understanding we have. It is easy to sit back and judge others when we aren't in the thick of things. no-one in the world has all the answers.

I remember proudly singing God Save the Queen as a little girl in school, standing up very straight and feeling this overwhelming pride in my country. Can we say we do that these days?

I am thinking of having a simply scrumptious afternoon tea tomorrow afternoon - maybe a victorian sponge complete with fresh strawberries and cream - tea made in my vintage silver teapot - served in all my fine vintage china! It is fun to make believe sometimes, don't you think?

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and Glorious,
Long to reign over us;
God save the Queen!

pandoras box? or have I created a monster

2006-06-09T08:35:00.000+10:00

wow! I didnt expect the overwhelming support of my newest blog, my alter ego * whatever happened to ms*robyn!

seems to me that we all have days or weeks when we just need to honour our TRUE feelings and have a complete meltdown

or dummy spit as we say here in Ausatralia

* a few even asked if they could post on the blog - so I got to thinking (as I do)

and thought that maybe each of you who want to, should start their own little escape,

where you can go and vent, have your meltdown and come back home to your main blog and post about the pretty things in your lives.....

a suggestion from Lady Laurie was to call it the ya-ya club - great idea!

so I invite each of you to join the ya-ya club, make your own blog * have as much fun with it as you want * you can be totally insane if you wish

let me know and I will link it on mine * mine is kind of a kind of tongue in cheek blog * making fun of those awful times

* once I posted the first post on mine, I just can't tell you how relieved I felt, much lighter and in control once again....

I may not post often only whenever I feel the need to scream.

of course ~ Daily parcels will continue on as the part of me that loves all things vintage - just like it started out to be.

whatever happened to baby jane?

2006-06-08T17:26:00.000+10:00

I love that movie! but if you are wondering whatever happened to ms*robyn - you can go here:

so just what did happen to her?

keeping daily parcels how I always wanted it to be.

starting over

2006-06-08T15:10:00.000+10:00

oh lord! have been visiting a few blogs this afternoon - all full of cheer and gorgeous things - gardening and home-making and then came back here - the past few weeks are full of nothing but me being sorry for myself. Oh, I know you will all say that I am allowed to be - well, yes I guess I am. But I feel that it has brought Daily Parcels to a place that I didn't want to go. so do I start a new blog, delete the posts?(no, that would be denying that it ever happened & would be denying my authentic self) or do I just continue on with this blog - hoping to pull it up to where I want it to be?

ms*diva

2006-06-07T17:44:00.000+10:00

my favourite animal in the whole world (well except for my chooks of course!)

- ms*diva

is feeling poorly - please keep her in your prayers

& of course St. Francis of Assisi

the patron saint of animals has 'the diva' surrounded with his healing energy

matters of business

2006-06-07T17:40:00.000+10:00

now that I 'seem' to be back on track - I thought I would start with first things, first and that is the matter of visiting your blogs - I definately will - but because it is such awhile, it will take time to get to you all, so expect a visit in the next day or so and second

- a big heartfelt thankyou -

to each and every one of you for the support, words of wisdom or encouragement and the love that I have received during my days of dis -tress - you just don't realize how much it has meant to me, to receive emails and e-cards & comments here

THE rantings of a mad woman and indeed life is a journey

2006-06-07T09:27:00.000+10:00

isn't it hard to post on blogs sometimes? - wondering if what we are trying to say will come across sounding how we want it to. without tone, sometimes things just don't have the meaning that we are wanting to convey.

seems to me that my life is taking a different direction and along with it will be a change in *daily parcels* - I am on a journey of self discovery and I need to put it down here. I mean, there is only so much I can write about my housekeeping or puttering around my home - I am sure you all know my routine by now. Of course there won't be a radical change, because daily parcels is really who I am. some days I will probably be writing about my new fairy garden or an angelic experience, other days I will post some personnal experiences or thoughts which will make you cry, laugh or shake your head in disbelief and leave you wondering if I have truly lost the plot...maybe I have, but deep down I don't think so - what I think, is that my authentic self is screeching out to be heard and its about time that I listened.

come with me if you will .................

NB - and please comment if you wish, but I beg of you - please don't email me if you don't like or agree with what I post, it is just not fair on me, to wake up to an inbox of opinions from others who don't think what I have posted is 'appropriate'- but by all means post your opionions on my blog.

a woman of leisure & the rantings of a mad woman

2006-06-04T09:04:00.000+10:00

or there abouts - that's me. I toddled of to the healing centre and not one person came in. I have decided that hanging around doing nothing is not for me, so I kindly told the woman who owns it that I won't be back unless she has appointments for me. So, I called the cancer support centre here and put my name down for volunteer healing - we will see where that goes. I know deep in my soul that I will be doing healing work - but it is up to the angels just when and where - patience is what I am needing.
So I am back to square one. I feel like a demented soul right now - do you ever get like that? being pulled in many different directions, just not quite knowing who you are? searching for something and not knowing what? is it a midlife crisis? or am I completely and utterly batty?
or is it time for me to reflect? Maybe it is time to get right back into Simple Abundance -I am missing you all so, specially ms*diva - and feeling very, very guilty about not visiting * hey friends of mine - I am trying to get back on track here - hopefully I will be over to visit your blogs this week. Can you keep me in your prayers?

working girl

2006-06-02T07:23:00.000+10:00

oh! I am so very excited ~ for today I am off to work. For the first time in eons. I have been asked to work in a healing centre. So I have my certificates in reiki and my crystal healing in my hot little hand and I have my tools - my pouch of crystals and oils. Tucked into my soul,I have my many life experiences. I have asked God to be with me today, to bless and heal all those who I touch, whether with my hands or my words. Oh, this feels so right for me. Wish me well!

oh where have you been?

2006-05-31T07:00:00.000+10:00

after a few emails asking if I am ok - I thought I should probably post something here - so you won't all worry your pretty heads or think I am an absolute rubbish friend.....

it is winter and although I love it, when it gets cold, I ache. So I snuggle. The aches are deep in my bones - a legacy from the radiation, so I am told. So I have been lighting my fire as soon as I get up, doing my housework then snuggling under a vintage eiderdown and reading the Harry Potter series, yet again. Oh, how that resonates with me! I am sure I was a witch in a past life !

I haven't even visited blogs for a few days as I am not sitting at the computer for very long either. Just enough to answer emails - nor have I sorted the tea swap out. That is on my list for tonight. ooh I am so sorry !

I must also admit that the past few weeks in blogland, with all that happened ~ affected me more than I thought. It has taken the fun away and I feel I have nothing more to say...and surely that is not me !!!! I am trying so hard to get motivated but it is like I have a weariness in my soul. So dear friends ~ please don't give up on me - this is just a hiccough on my blogging road... I am sure those daily mutterings of mine with be back soon.

for tea lovers

2006-05-26T22:08:00.000+10:00

there are even different types of teas for all different saints and their causes - what fun! but sadly, I can't order due to customs regulations. drat!!!
saints & tea

puppets on strings

2006-05-26T09:08:00.000+10:00

seems to me that relationships are one of THE hardest things to manage in our life - I was never going to 'chat' about my second marriage but I think I will. If you aren't interested - don't read - plain as that.
I married my second husband not very long after my first was killed in the car accident - looking back - it was way too soon but I was young and 'in love' ... things were fine and dandy for a few years and my gorgeous daughter ms*louisa was born the first year of our marriage - so all the heartache that I endured was worth it......but something happened and he met someone else... my heart literally shattered. It was the most horrific time of my life. I was left with two children and a broken heart. He walked away, callously I think. Leaving me to deal with the pieces.
I visited pyschics and counsellors and psychiatrists - trying to find an answer. The only answer is time and a belief in yourself. One pyschic told me that I was like a lotus - buried underneath all the muck and oneday I would come up out of that muck and bloom like the gorgeous lotus blossom. And I believe I have ! I am actually happy that I went through that - first of all, I would not have met my 'soul mate' if it had not occured and second - it has made me who I am.
It is so common these days - men walking away from marriages or relationships, leaving children and breaking a womans heart (oh I know it happens the other way too, but more often than not, it seems to be the men walking away) I can't even post what I think of men who do this - you would probably never visit again. I could slap them silly !!! They give you ultimatums - mine was not to see any of my family again and he 'might' consider returning to our home. Can you believe, that I actually considered that? huh? They pull the puppet strings, one minute wanting to be in the folds of the family unit, next walking away again. And you really do feel like a puppet on a string - until you take your control back.
there is one lady out there who is going through a dreadful time right now and I guess this is what spurred me to post this ........but honey, just remember who you are - a strong, vibrant woman who is worth more than is being offered right now. Stay true to who you are * there is better in your future!

xoxo much love

happy birthday

2006-05-25T07:22:00.000+10:00

JEAN INGALL FRANKS

BORN 25TH MAY 1913

my nan was diabetic and every since I could remember, she was blind. She never once complained about her heatlh and didn't have a why me or poor me attitude. She just got on and enjoyed life, 'no use complaining', she would say. I loved her to the ends of the earth and back again - and she loved me in the same way. I remember her hugs & cuddles and unconditional love. Being blind didn't stop her from doing stuff, she would take me into the shops when I was little and buy each of us a cake - mine was always an iced finger bun and hers was usually a neenish tart - oh, how she loved those!She hated the colour green. She passed to the other side about 24 years ago and I can remember the feeling of total loss that I felt on her passing. It is still with me today. Oh lord how I miss her!!!! wherever you are Nana ~ happy birthday from me xoxo

memories are made of this

2006-05-23T15:23:00.000+10:00

pale little dandelion, in her white shroud

heareth the angel breeze call from a cloud

tiny plumes fluttering make no delay

little winged dandelion soareth away

today, I decided to go for a long walk. It was bitterly cold, having snowed last night just 10 mins away so I braved the elements, donned my scarf and jacket and trotted off up the road. It was deliciously lovely. All the autumn leaves swirling! I noticed dandelions growing here and there in gardens (I don't consider them a weed) and it took me back to when I was a little girl and truly believed (and knew) that if you picked a dandelion and made a wish as you blew the seed heads away in the wind then the faeries would grab this wish and make it come true. How about,we nurture that little girl inside of each one of us and go and make wishes with dandelions and send them off to the faeries? - Walt Disney believed that dreams come true (me too)

"these little earth stars...shimmering on the lawn"

E.P.ROE

a thankful heart

2006-05-20T07:12:00.000+10:00

here I am, seemingly complaining about how bad my life is lately and I read this post:
picking up our harp * Corey has such a way with words - thankyou so much for bringing me down to earth, Ms*Corey
You see, dear friends - I have much to be thankful for - actually more to be thankful for than not. And you sweeties are one of them! For being true friends - thankyou. I also have my health, a family who love me and enough food on my table. I have my eyes to see with and my hands to work and create with. Just like Corey says. sharing with you, some of the things I have to be thankful for today

women ! not mean girls but mean women

2006-05-19T08:45:00.000+10:00

I have been crying, all night. what is it about the female species of the human race? I have been going to a patchwork group for 8 years now. I haven't been for about 6 weeks or so * due to the fact that I have have been feeling 'under the weather' so to speak and dealing with my mum and her wanting to get her funeral in order(that is very hard to deal with!) * and not one phonecall to see how I am. Yesterday, I decided to go along and honestly, it was awful, I felt like a social outcast. Most of the girls there were kind of cold and uninviting. They had even organised an outing for next week and didn't invite me. When I asked what was happening next week, they kind of mumbled and said they were going to a quilt shop..and I just left it. My heart hurt. i am always a phone call away for these women whenever they have something awful happen, I listen and I know I am not perfect but I try to never leave anyone out. Why do we do this kind of thing, why are we like this? why can't we just accept each other for who we are? Teenage girls can be horrible and nasty to each other but women in their 50's? Has it always been like this, down through the ages? or is it a new phenomena, with all our materialistic attitudes - that we have to be like this to make ourselves feel better? maybe it is time for me to move on..I just don't know. Now I know why my best friend is my husband.

produce from my vintage garden

2006-05-17T08:02:00.000+10:00

yesterday, I had Ms*marion from down the road, call in and ask if she could get some persimmons off my tree - of course I said yes! so we grabbed a couple of buckets and headed to the tree. Mr Chough was eyeing us both with disdain - that beak of his, looked positively dangerous - but we braved the elements and found a ricketty old chair to stand on and proceeded to pull the persimmons. The chair was wobbling all over the place but we succeeded in getting ourselves a bucket full each. There are still quite a few more but they are up high in the tree and save getting a tall ladder and taking my life into my own hands by climbing it - there is no way I can reach - so those will be for the birds, nothing like sharing is there?

vintage hygiene

2006-05-16T07:05:00.000+10:00

"Loke thyne hondis be wasshe clene, That no fylthe on thy nayles be sene. "
(The Little Children's Little Book, circa 1480)

handwashing - is it a thing of the past? As a child, I was always told to wash my hands before each meal and always, always after using the bathroom. My nan would wash my hands immediately after returning from a trip to the shops and my mum was forever washing my hands after an icecream or a lolly. Wash your hands after using a tissue or hanky was another. Whenever we went out, my mum would have a little plastic bag with a face washer in it - much nicer than those horrid 'wet ones'. But, lately I have been noticing while out shopping that people are not washing there hands very much at all, even after a visit to the bathroom. huh? do parents not teach there children the basic hygiene rules? or are people lazy? ooh not nice at all and I have become obsessive - trying to 'hold on' til I get home. I don't want to touch the door handles and I don't want to touch the key pads at the teller machines nor do I want to hold on the escalator.
as I do, I looked handwashing up on the internet and it was a lovely vintage ritual in days gone by - sweet smelling waters were available always - some with homemade herbs, others with essential oils - some in jugs to pour into a bowl accompanied by piles of fresh individual towels and others having individual bowls with fresh flowers floating in the water.
A little different to those awful finger bowls that accompany prawn dishes - one for the whole table - not nice after a few have used it.

"To make water for washing hands at table: Boil sage, then strain the water and cool it until it is a little more than lukewarm. Or use chamomile, marjoram, or rosemary boiled with orange peel. Bay leaves are also good."

-- Le Menagier de Paris

hand waters

the persimmon tree

2006-05-15T08:41:00.000+10:00

I have an ancient persimmon tree, it must be one of the original fruit trees from the orchard that was once here - it is truly gorgeous looking, especially at this time of the year - when the fruit is a glorious deep orange and the leaves have all fallen to reveal the sharp, angular branches. It is even more picturesque when the black choughs are pecking at the fruit.

However, this year, I have been madly trying to beat the birds to the fruit - I have actually found some people who actually like to eat them! I had an elderly german man knock on my door this morning asking if he could pick some * sure I said, help yourself! my mum loves them, so I sent her home yesterday with a bag full. They are not ripe yet, apparently they need to be really squishy before you eat them otherwise they leave your mouth furry. I have a recipe for persimmon chutney which was given to me by an old lady, written on the back of an envelope and I have found some delicious sounding recipes on the internet, none of which have been tested by me (as yet). - the chutney recipe is posted at FLORENCE'S COOK BOOK *

persimmon bundt cake

happy mothers day

2006-05-14T10:48:00.000+10:00

my great-grandma

VIOLA JULIA INGALL

my darling nan

JEAN INGALL FRANKS

and my mum as a baby

IRENE RUTH TRUSCOTT

happy mothers day to the 3 most important women in my life!

a woman of substance

2006-05-14T10:45:00.000+10:00

in honour of every woman - strong, beautiful women - who all have an inner strength that sometimes doesn't surface until a time in our life when we need it - this is a story of one of those women

my soul mate's mother was an amazing woman - her name was Desiree - born in Indonesia of dutch heritage - the story goes that her mother was a concubine of an indonesian prince - and she spent her early childhood days in the palace grounds. Her family eventually moved back to Holland where she grew up. WW2 erupted and she met a german soldier and they fell in love - she fell pregnant to him and her village scorned her, punishing her for fraternizing with the enemy.She was marched through the streets and her head was shaved. She gave birth out of wedlock, to a son. Eventually the war ended and her german soldier wanted her and their son to go with him, back to his home 'behind the wall' into east Germany. For various reasons, she decided not to - she could see what kind of life they would lead there and wanted freedom - for herself as well as her son. She bought her son up by herself, eventually meeting my soul mates father. They married and had 3 more children in Holland. He painted houses for a living and he decided that a better life was to be found in Australia.So they sailed here in the early 50's. She was an english teacher and a talented artist - using oils and water colours - creating the most beautiful artwork. Her husband was an alcoholic and abusive - however they went on to have 6 more children ! ! yes, she had 10 children in all. Her husband eventually left her and returned to Holland - leaving her and the 10 children who she had to support herself - on a meagre pension from the Dutch government - she subsidized this by selling her artwork. Each one of her 10 children are all successful, well adjusted people - with families of their own. Sadly she developed a brain tumour in 1990 and died that year. how strong some women are! She accessed that inner strength that we all have.

words to ponder

2006-05-13T09:47:00.000+10:00

From Lewis Carrol - Alice in Wonderland

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what
it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it
wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?

actually, I don't see, Mr Carrol. I am confused, I haven't a clue what the above means.

I am thinking that Mr L. Carrol may have had a drug problem of sorts. Or was totally out of his tree or off the planet. or maybe, just maybe - he was very intelligent.

But I thought these words were apt, for my return to the blogging world in the mental state I am in. Bare with me

on taking time out

2006-05-08T21:48:00.000+10:00

dearest friends,

I look back over the past two weeks and read the posts here on daily parcels and it seems that I have said, a few times, that I am taking time out

- and I haven't - for one reason or another.

But I must. You see, I am rundown.

I woke yesterday with a mouth full of ulcers and a coldsore (too much information, I know), caused when a person's immune system is depleted.

I look like I am a walking advertisement of why not to have botox.

and I am teary & fretful.

AND my house is out of control. My washing is piling up and I can't get on top of it - unless I turn into the Capricorn that I am and become a mountain goat!

So, I must take time away. I just have to!! I need to take walks in the crisp autumn air - not worrying about who likes me and who doesn't. Not to worry about what I am writing incase I offend.

it is hard to convince myself that I need time away, let me tell you.

cause I keep telling myself that if I disappear , even for a short moment then I will be forgotten - into the world of the now defunct bloggers - very insecure !

I don't know how long I will be away but it will be more than a day or two

I may visit your blogs to comment - but I need to get myself better.

The vintage tea swap is still on - so if you want to join - just email me.

please tell me that you will be here when I come back and you won't forget me -

promise ?

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbons

2006-05-08T07:24:00.000+10:00

a tea time swap - for all the tea lovers (and even if you don't like tea - you can do coffee or hot chocolate) - let me know! if you would like to join up -should be fun. you should know what to do by now! closing the end of May.
tea time swap

on making scones partie deux

2006-05-07T16:29:00.000+10:00

oh funny! I have been asked to take part in ms*eagles great aussie scone fest - now, ms*eagle is a regular here and I visit her blog as well - but ms*eagle hasn't read this post: on making scones by ms*robyn or else she definately wouldn't have asked me to participate - had it been a Christmas fruit cake, or rock cakes? sure - I would have made my scones for that, you see that is what my scones are like - rock cakes
if you are interested - please read the links - not sure how it works but I am sure ms*eagle would welcome you and your recipe!
pumpkin scones at ms*eagles

aussie scone fest

gardening the vintage way

2006-05-06T08:19:00.000+10:00

a day to garden for me! we have been moving my veggie garden this past week or two - I wanted it nearer to my kitchen, which made more sense. I just mentioned it to my soul mate and he thought it was a great idea and started then and there! we had a few shrubs to pull out - a lilac which I was sad to lose but I will plant another somewhere else. The way the world is today - I want to start growing as much of my own produce as I can. Too many chemicals used in commercial growing and with this genetically modified stuff that is going on - well, that is a whole new world to me and I think to the powers that be - no one knows the long term effects.
off the soap box ! I have finished one bed - enriching it with mushroom compost, composted leaves and a good handful or two of lime. then covered it with lucerne and will let it rest til spring time - I want the worms to have a good old time for awhile and let them do their thing. I also hope to start another comfrey tea mix - wonderful stuff ! THE ORGANIC GARDEN
I hope to get to buy some herbs today and will plant them around the perimeter of the garden - not sure which ones as yet - but I am hoping to get a good variety - for cooking as well as healing. and some to make sleep pillows as well.
I just wandered around this morning and took a few photos of the garden in progress.

URGENT

2006-05-05T20:51:00.000+10:00

please pray for Sophie Delezio - oh my heart is heavy for the anguish her parents must be going through - please pray!!!!!
pray for Sophie Delezio

and could each of you put a link to the pray blog so that this prayer gets around the world. thanks so much for this!

update

2006-05-04T18:17:00.000+10:00

through the blogging glass (once more)

2006-05-04T08:50:00.000+10:00

ahh funny how when you start decluttering and changing things - the winds of change gently blow through - taking the old and not needed and bringing in new - a kind of feng sui in the blogging world.
I found these two blogs when someone commented on my blog - being the sticky beak that I am - I went to take a peek.

wonderfully refreshing ! enjoy - with my love xoxo

story book woods

these foolish things

memories are made of this

2006-05-04T07:42:00.000+10:00

I found the lyrics to this song from my teenage years! oh it brings back memories of my long straight hair - with a plaited headband - lots of indian bangles, patchouli oil & incense. Oh yes I was a fashion victim. But take a step back in time to the '70's - turn up the music and listen!
melting pot

(oh and the photo is not me - but I sure aspired to looking like that - sad but true * oh my poor mother!)

through the blogging glass

2006-05-04T07:33:00.000+10:00

I have found a few new fun blogs and have just added them to my sidebar - when you have a *spare minute* go and have a little peek - they are all different - but all lovely - ahh a melting pot.

after all, tomorrow is another day

2006-05-03T22:34:00.000+10:00

and with that dear friends of mine - I am off to bed. After a particularly gruelling day of doing no housework - I am hoping to get a good nights sleep, my soul mate is sick so I don't know how restful it will be. I hope to wake tomorrow with everything behind us ALL and I plan on scrubbing my kitchen and then spending time in my garden - yes indeedy - I am nearer to God's heart in my garden, than anywhere else on earth

a soothing balm for the soul

2006-05-03T10:33:00.000+10:00

I think it is time for a bit of soul pampering - after the past few days I think we need to take time for ourselves - we are going to take a de-stress bath. first we need to set the mood - gather a little posy of whatever you have in the garden, turn the lights out in your bathroom and light a few tea candles - use an odd number, 3 or 5 works for me. No music this time... we are going to be alone with ourselves and just be. a few thick fluffy towels, a face washer and something to tie your hair back. Have your favourite body lotion handy for when you get out and something really snuggly to put on when you have finished - oops and tell the family you need space. Now pour yourself a deep bath - nice and warm and throw a handful of your mix in. settle in, lie back, close those eyes and just BE - breathing in the scent for at least 10 mins.

DE-STRESS BATH
2 cups sea salt
3 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops sandalwood essential oil
3 drops rosewood essential oil

Mix oils with salt and store in a pretty glass jar or screw-top container. To use, simply add a handful to your bath.

and a calming aromatherapy room spray:

Place one cup of water in a spray bottle, and add the following pure essential oils:
3 drops lavender
2 drops palmarosa
2 drops jasmine
1 drop geranium

Shake well and spray upward toward the center of the room

in my mail box

2006-05-03T06:42:00.000+10:00

oh a big thankyou to Wendy from fairycakegirl - I received my vintage housekeeping swap package a few days ago. Gorgeous! Wendy sent me a lovely kitchen set - pink! a teatowel, hot pot stand and matching apron. as well as a delightful vintage book. I flicked through it and can't wait to sit down and really have a good read. thankyou so much wendy - it is all just vintage lovely

sharing my love of vintage

2006-05-02T07:22:00.000+10:00

vintage bling! a few years ago while visiting New York I was at a flea market somewhere in Pennsylvania. Bitterly cold. An old man was selling some junk jewellery and I bought a few pieces. I love old brooches! these are my collection - oh I have lots more, but ms*sophie has discovered that they look great on her denim jacket. I keep these in a pressed glass sugar bowl, just to take out sometimes, feel them and dream They are not expensive pieces, some are missing stones, others missing a clasp but they were loved - by who? and just where did they wear them to?

daily parcels

2006-05-01T18:11:00.000+10:00

this is the post that I was going to post today:

ok , a short time away - reflecting, meditating & soul searching has made me realize I must be true to myself, true to who I am and what I believe and I am very sorry if some of my readers don't agree, but the world is a big melting pot - I believe in what I do because that is who I am - my grandparents were part of the spiritualist church - I am on a journey and I have no idea where I am going but I don't try to sway people to my beliefs, because my beliefs are my own. I don't try to convert and now I guess I have broken one of my pa's golden rules - don't discuss religion.
I am still a vintage girl, just like my profile says - always have been and always will be but I guess I am a vintage girl with a twist.
I use crystals sometimes - and they work. I use herbal medicine (very vintage, I think - look at mediaeval times) and I use prayer, angels and whatever works for me at the time. If I think I need help from a certain saint, well I call them in too. I call them my healing modalities. And I believe that if something natural works, why not use it before resorting to chemicals or radical measures? God has put everything on this earth for us to use - even St. Hildegard used things from nature - rocks, stones and plants.

The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them. ~Ecclesiasticus 38:4

then I read this:
judgement

and realised that I am as guilty as the next person for judging others for what they believe. like I said a melting pot.

so with all that said - I am back and I am still the same ms*robyn that I was last week. posting about my life, my beliefs, some vintage tips and tales and hopefully making friends along the way. I have zipped my lip on religion and will follow my pa's advice from now on.

a big thankyou from the bottom of my heart

2006-05-01T06:52:00.000+10:00

I have been humbled by the support out there - from people that I don't know and from those whom I proudly call my friends - I thank each and every one of you for the emails, even all those who hurt. They made me soul search yesterday - which is always good. But I am sorry that all of this has seemed to have caused a division out there in what we call blog world. Hopefully as time goes by, it will mend. I am going to keep the prayer blog open as I feel there is a genuine need for it and it is still going to bypass organised religion. open to all, from all beliefs. Just imagine, if I put it into a box and someone came along who desperately needed a prayer or two but was 'frightened' off by the 'christian' theme. Because someone doesn't have the same belief as any one of us, doesn't mean that we should not welcome them.
That is why I have a picture of the goddess Kwan Yin on the blog - the chinese goddess of COMPASSION - someone may relate to her.
I will be back in a few (that could be hours or days but definately not weeks) - I need to get a few things done, like send my vintage housekeeping swap gift ... I am the organizer and always late !!! blessings of all kinds to each of you today....I think I need to re-read this:DESIDERATA

leave of absence

2006-04-30T06:56:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-30T06:55:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-29T07:34:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-29T07:26:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-28T16:21:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-28T07:08:00.000+10:00

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.....

2006-04-27T16:28:00.000+10:00

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

just wondering

2006-04-27T07:28:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-27T07:16:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-26T07:24:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-25T15:00:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-23T17:50:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-22T06:59:00.000+10:00

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 !

2006-04-21T07:40:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-20T09:38:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-18T06:14:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-17T18:58:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-16T20:58:00.000+10:00

and a happy Easter day to you xoxox

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbon

2006-04-15T08:16:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-15T06:29:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-14T08:17:00.000+10:00

something I read today

2006-04-13T07:18:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-12T07:04:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-11T18:55:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-07T07:34:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-06T06:52:00.000+10:00

"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

2006-04-05T15:16:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-05T06:59:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-03T19:07:00.000+10:00

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

2006-04-01T13:27:00.000+11:00

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

2006-04-01T08:10:00.000+11:00

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 !!!

life experiences - my authentic self - chatter from my head

2006-03-31T08:34:00.000+11:00

first of all, this is just chatter from my mind - how I am feeling right now - read it if you want to and please comment but don't feel you have to. This is not about getting recognition for me or about slighting anyone with certificates......just getting those voices out, once more.

I constantly worry about the lack of study I have done - I have no certificates on my wall - oh, sorry, I have one that I received a few weeks ago - reiki 1. And sometimes because of this lack of certificates hanging on my wall, I feel somewhat umm - not good enough or not experienced enough.
But yesterday - I was at a meditation class and started to chat with a girl- just everyday stuff and I asked her what she did. She said she was a counsellor - being very interested I innocently asked what kind of counsellor and she replied quite abruptly - 'one with alot of experience.' This girl was maybe 15 years younger than me and out of the blue I realized I am very experienced in life. very, very experienced. I have life training.
I could say I have degree in collecting vintage as I have been collecting since I was about 10, maybe younger. This could be about being experienced in vintage housekeeping ways as I have been doing that for 31 years! - but this is not what this post is about.
I have a 'degree' in life experiences and learning from very knowledgeable people - namely my paternal grandpa who taught me alot about organic gardening. I like to help people with what I know or have experienced. I can't prescribe herbal medicine but I can help them with what herbs do what - all from life experience and my grandpa's knowledge. I can't counsell anyone professionally about anything but I can be compassionate and supportive whenever they go through the death of a spouse, a divorce, losing a baby mid term, cancer and many others that I won't even go into here. I can't do it professionally because I don't have a piece of paper in a frame hanging on my wall.
My spiritual journey has been quite a journey too - being born into a Church of England family - doing a full year course of seventh day adventist when I was 13 (another story) and searching til I converted to Catholicism 15 years ago and still searching right now - finding out lots and lots. Being very interested in the 'olde religion' as some call it.

So today, I am going to design myself two certificates. one from the Cecil Strummey Noble school of organic and herbal gardening and the second from the school of life experiences. I am going to hang them on my wall to remind myself that I don't have to study to be able to be 'good enough'

my authentic self

2006-03-30T06:21:00.000+11:00

The Fairy Call

A Spell for Summoning the Fairies

Sit where the cat sits. Cross your toes.
Close your eyes. And smell a rose.
Then say under your breath:
"I believe in fairies, sure as death."
Gadflykins! Gladtrypins!
Gutterpuss and Cass!
Come to me fairily
Each lad and lass!

From "Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book"

wasn't quite sure what to call this post - a toss up between 'believe', 'believe in yourself' or 'my authentic self' - but as I am on a journey of discovering my 'authentic selves' - my authentic self won!

this past week has been a big soul search for me. Not sure if some of you will like it. sad but true
I know I have told you before - what I 'blog' about is who I really am and I want to stay true to that. I feel I am taking a different turn with my journalling and although it will still be the same, you will notice differences. I am sure. Cause although I am absolutely obsessed with vintage stuff - I am starting to de-clutter in a big way - only keeping the stuff that I either love or use. I have also realized that the reason that I love housekeeping the vintage way is because I need to get back to basics - basic green stuff - as few chemicals as I can and whole, good foods that nurture my body and my soul - including herbs and alternate methods of dealing with illness, *boy, now I really sound like a complete nutter but this is ms*robyn and her authentic self.
I have a strong belief in God - BUT I also BELIEVE absolutely in faeries and I believe in Mother Nature. And Buddha. And most definately angels. And I know that I have to be true to what I believe in, without the fear of whether or not I am liked and accepted, for what I believe in.
Like I said - my blogging is taking a slightly different turn - I am the same ms*robyn from last week. And there will be swaps always !!!! I hope you continue to visit as I treasure each friendship I have made so far but if you don't or can't then I am truly sorry and I wish you well.
But I truly believe that we are all sent to each other - whether it be for a reason, a season or a lifetime. big hugs to each of you xoxo

sweet peas

2006-03-29T17:23:00.000+11:00

yes, every single one of you are a sweet-pea. Thankyou so much for the emails and comments. I think I had burnout. Not sure but that is what I am telling everyone. I lost interest in sewing and housekeeping and heaven forbid - even blogging. My neck hurt and my eyes hurt and all I wanted to do was sleep and rest. so I did. I spent time in my garden, time soul searching and time just being. You see, I am one of these people who listen to my friends problems, they come for a cup of tea and go home feeling wonderful. I listen, console and hug. When they go home, I worry. I take their problems on like my own and then feel drained. And that is why I had a sore neck. It is better and I will be back tomorrow - with bells on! love to you all - my how I have missed you too!

oh the pain of it all

2006-03-24T22:31:00.000+11:00

neck pain is dreadful, kind of debilitating

and I feel so sorry for people who suffer constantly,

day in day out.

thanks to a friend doing some acupressure yesterday

and also to the tiger balm company

and of course those wonderful saints of pains in the neck

- it seems that mine is getting better.

So I am back and will visit over the weekend.

hmm maybe time away from the computer helped too?

no, surely not !!!!!

thanks for all the care xoxo

constitutional exercises

ms*peggy

2006-03-24T21:58:00.000+11:00

dear ms*peggy - wishing you a truly wonderful birthday. I hope it is as special as you are xoxo
birthday wishes at peggy's place

(ps - I am a naughty friend and your card has not been sent. I promise with all my heart it will go next week.)

in my mail box

2006-03-22T20:21:00.000+11:00

I am a lucky girl! today, as you know I am feeling sorry for myself. But my day was brightened by two parcels! my care package from retro Amy - lavender soaps & bath salts - can't wait to use them! and some hand made goats milk soap from hidden haven Peggy - ooh yummy! she is a clever gal. Big thankyou to both of you. Also an envelope full of vintage Christmas cards from Gina E *thanks sweet Gina* - addressed to ms*Robyn in very large letters...the postie is used to this by now - AND a very, very late thankyou to Flossy for a wonderful package of fabric and bit. My how you girls spoil me!

pain in the neck

2006-03-22T06:27:00.000+11:00

dear readers - thankyou so much for wondering if I am ok - in the wake of the cyclone which is named Larry. I live in another state, a way away from that area. But the care and concern is much appreciated. Sometimes I think the world is out of control & mother nature is menopausal.Let us keep those affected - in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.

I have been absent because I have a sore, stiff neck and have been to an osteopath who has helped a little. I am wearing a scarf around my neck *thankfully it is not 40degC and am using tiger balm like there is no tomorrow.

I have just found a patron saint against stiff necks St.Ursicinus and of course if that doesn't work - as a last resort, I am off to Cornwall in the UK to visit the well of Saint Madron - the patron saint of pain *Madron*

ALL things vintage ?

2006-03-20T21:36:00.000+11:00

did I say that I love all things vintage? that I am a vintage gal through & through? well, sorry then, it seems I am a fake. I have been deluding everyone, including myself for quite awhile - you see, I find this:

vintage decorating

absolutely & down-right scary!

today I am a survivor

2006-03-19T08:20:00.000+11:00

not only is it my mum's birthday and our anniversary but today is the anniversary of the day that I was told that I had cancer. 5 years ago!

what a horrible thing cancer is. I remember clearly the phone call. "Robyn, we have found cancer" - just like that. I was alone. I collapsed on the ground in a heap. I just felt so alone, lost, hysterical. Who would look after my kids? I wanted to grow old with my husband. Why me ? I couldn't believe that this was happening. I was stunned , I wanted someone to take the pain in my heart away, to make it all better. to tell me that it was a bad dream

Why me ?

I had to have radiation treatment - which was the absolute pits but it eventually ended and I went on to heal. The psychological effects last a long time and lots of counselling.

I looked online and found wonderful support at Hystersisters*cancer concerns -

I could post there and within minutes I had a reply from someone who knew just what I was going through. Some of these women, I still keep in contact with today. They are my good friends.

I think the penny dropped for me the day I was chatting to my cancer counsellor and she asked me what I was afraid of - my answer was that I was so scared of my cancer coming back - her reply - there is no guarantee that it won't come back but nor is there a guarantee that you won't walk out this door and be hit by a bus. I carry that with my everyday.

Life goes on and one day - you realize you are pretty well normal (I said nearly) - I have my days of waking in a cold sweat and reliving all the treatments but then I remember how lucky I am. Then, one day, I wake up and it is 5 years since diagnosis. What a wonderful day, today is!

today - I am grateful for being a cancer survivor.

to love with all my heart for the rest of my life

2006-03-19T08:11:00.000+11:00

18 years ago today, I married the man of my dreams - my soul mate, my rock.

I dressed in a gorgeous mauve tutu, even down to little mauve ballet slippers.(I realised it was my only chance that I would ever be a ballerina) and my son, ms*louisa and joe's daughter were our attendants.

we were married in a vineyard and my dad was the photographer.

18 years later - after many of lifes twists and turns, we are both still in love as much as we were the day we married.

I am so lucky and blessed. He supports me in everything I do and I send him demented in most things I do. but he still loves me !!

happy anniversary to us !!!!!!

happy birthday

2006-03-19T08:06:00.000+11:00

IRENE RUTH

BORN 19TH MARCH 1936

a milestone reached today

Happy birthday mum !!!

love you so very much xoxo

the ultimate vintage housewife

2006-03-17T22:44:00.000+11:00

auntie Pam was my mum's cousin and my godmother. She was a real doll. Before she got married, she would come and stay at our home sometimes and every night before she went to bed, she would set the table in readiness for breakfast the next morning. Cups upside down on the saucer. Her clothes would be all set out ready for her to wear the next day and her hair would be in rollers with a nylon scarf tied around her head. She always called me 'love'. I remember, when she came to stay -if she was there on a Saturday, we would walk to the local church and watch the wedding ceremonies. Her dream was to get married and have a home of her own. It eventually happened and she moved away - and time went on and we lost touch. But I never forgot her. I received news last night that she had passed away - she had breast cancer.I think she was about the same age as my mum - around 70. I am sad and reflective but realize I was lucky to have known her. Vale auntie pam xoxo

something I read today

2006-03-17T13:39:00.000+11:00

when sorting through old cards

*remember that you can keep the LOVE from the people who sent you those cards

*but you can throw the cards away

a happy St. Patricks day to you

2006-03-17T07:09:00.000+11:00

May the Irish hills caress you.

May her lakes and rivers bless you.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you.

May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

did you know, that in years gone by - if St. Patricks day fell during lent, it was one of the only days you could be married on? the other being the feast of St Joseph - now, I don't know if this is fact but a little old lady told me that yesterday.

hoping you all have a Happy St. Pat's day - whether you celebrate it or not! xox

ya ya sisterhood

2006-03-15T22:37:00.000+11:00

oh what a fun night! it reminded me of the movie divine secrets of ya ya sisterhood. It was very ritualistic - we had a little meditation then we all had to write down our wishes for ourselves, others and the world. Then we walked down a track to the circle. along the path were candles hanging in the trees to light our way and as each of us stepped into the circle one of the women cleansed us with sage. We had little ceremonies for air, fire, earth and water. Then we all read out our wishes and put them into the fire. Then we had african drums and dancing. Some sung, others danced. while this was all happening the neighbour came down and shone his torch at us - I am sure he thought we were a bunch of witches stirring the cauldron. But you know what ? I met alot of lovely women, who were proud to be women - all of us with stories to tell. all strong, beautiful people. signing off tonight as :

Duchess Standing Turtle

(that is my ya-ya name) . want one?
ya ya name - just click on ya-ya

lunacy?

2006-03-15T15:40:00.000+11:00

after this post - you will all definately think I have lost it. But, you see, it is a full moon here tonight and I am going to a women's get together. Women only, because our cycles follow the moon. Not women who hate men - most of us are married with children. Where we will have little rituals of burning candles and incense and singing and dancing -then a cup of herbal tea & chocolate. Giving thanks for all the abundance in our life. out in the bush in the night. My task is the water element. For this, I am taking one of my vintage pressed glass bowls, a gardenia and a floating candle. I have to give thanks for the water of the earth. I guess you could think it is paganistic but its not. Just a group of women getting together to honour their femininity & to give thanks for all we have. We have to go dressed up and I am wearing a gorgeous vintage nightie with my hair tied up in pink ribbon. Lots of beads and baubles. It will be tons of fun - like little girls playing dress ups - getting in touch with our authentic selves.

my authentic self

2006-03-14T06:51:00.000+11:00

my pa's sister auntie bertha

the other day, I was at a local fruit market & across the shelves I spotted an older lady *probably well into her '80's*. She had no makeup on * but she was beautiful - well earned wrinkles, sparkling eyes and white hair pulled back into a bun with wisps framing her face. She kind of glowed *a soul comfortable in her own skin* as my grandma would say.

I don't use fancy skin care - I did, but stopped it a few years ago - now I use home-made or natural products and I hardly ever wear makeup * its not that I don't want to 'look my best' - I want to look like me. Natural is definately part of my authentic self. I wear natural rose & geranium lip gloss from Nimbin, no less and sometimes I wear henna lipgloss. I do wear MOR marshmallow body souffle though - so girlie - definately for my inner goddess.
And you know - that is what I want to be when I grow up *comfortable in my own skin* knowing my authentic self. I want to end up a little old lady with my hair pulled back in a bun, whose eyes sparkle and have well earned wrinkles.

and a crooked apple tree

2006-03-13T16:07:00.000+11:00

I want to have a little house

with sunlight on the floor

A chimney with a rosy hearth,

and lilacs by the door

with windows looking

east and west

AND A CROOKED APPLE TREE

and room beside the

garden fence

For hollyhocks to be!

- Nancy Byrd Turner-

I have loved this poem for years, since reading it in Country Living, Gardener in 1998, years before I moved into our home, here in Woodford. And guess what? I have just about all of it now.Except for hollyhocks, I struggle with those, year after year. This year I am determined to get some growing.I was a little worried what you were all thinking about me yesterday, dancing around with my tail feathers 'round my apple tree * seems most of you think it is perfectly normal. Just like something out of the divine secrets of the ya-ya sisterhood. But just wanted to share a few pictures of my gorgeous old apple tree - then you will know why I will be sad if it died. However, I have all the nature spirits, saints and angels & devic forces from every religion and belief imaginable, healing this tree - it will surely be ok.

words to ponder

2006-03-13T07:55:00.000+11:00

some people see an old coffee pot, ewer or pail, but a collector sees much more: an artifact of domestic archaeology, a key to rooms locked in the past, a piece of a life story - a treasure

taken from country living April 2001

vintage gardening

2006-03-12T20:23:00.000+11:00

“We plant, upon the sunny lea,
A shadow for the noontide hour,
A shelter from the summer shower,
When we plant the apple-tree.”

william cullen bryant

it was hot today - too hot for gardening,really, but I spent a little time in my garden anyway.Down the side of our home, near ms*sophies room we have a gorgeous little path lined with perfumed plants - daphne, roses, gardenia and luculia. When we first moved in, this was a wild area full of honeysuckle, privet and raspberries. After months and months of work, we eventually got rid of all the privet and honeysuckle but the romantic gardener in me wanted to keep the raspberries - but what a mistake that was - for all the trouble of growing them, I get two berries. so I decided to cut them out - what an awful job, they are so spiky and difficult to dig out the root ball, but eventually that was done. I tied up my Zephirine Drouhin rose - along the window of ms*sophies study. It will look gorgeous when it is out in flower - the perfume of that rose is divine. then I decided to 'heal' my apple tree - my poor old apple tree has borer - it is over 80 years old - being the only survivor of the apple orchard that stood here originally. I have tried sticking wire up into the holes and squirting metho into it but the tree is quite big and these methods are just too time consuming. I have also tried companion planting with queen anne's lace,nasturtium and alyssum but obviously the borers don't know that this is supposed to repel them. So they continue worming their way through and depositing little piles of sawdust all around. So I am taking a leaf out of Prince Charles book and talking to the tree. I know I sound completely demented but I just have to do something - if this tree dies, I will be so sad. It is gorgeous. I have an old park bench under this tree, where I sit, often & have my cup of tea So, I mulched and fertilized and then I lit a sage smudge stick and walked all around the tree - praying to the nature spirits and St. Dorothy * the patron saint of fruit tree growers and orchards, that they come and help heal my tree. I am sure if the neighbours were looking out the window they would have thought I was a complete nutter. But I truly believe in things like this. Ancient civilisation, the american indians and aborginals can't be wrong, can they? So I smudged and prayed. Then I got some frankincense incense and lit a few sticks and put them round the tree. That was for cleansing. Then I told the tree I loved it so much and wanted it to heal itself - so that it could bring happiness to our family for many more years. I am sure you are thinking that ms*robyn has forgotten to take her HRT again, but no, I promise, I have been taking it like a good gal- this is just another part of my authentic self

memories are made of this

2006-03-10T22:06:00.000+11:00

I remember those indian hippy shops in the 70's. Loved them - loved the cheesecloth dresses and wrap around skirts * the thin plastic bangles [and one of those was never enough - I think I had around 100] * the many strands of black & coloured beads * the toe thongs * I loved wandering around those shops for hours, seeking out all the hidden corners and finding treasures, sometimes losing track and thinking I was in a bazaar in Morocco or Turkey or some other exotic place that I only dreamed about. I loved the delightful sandalwood soap and all those gorgeous hindu statues and the pipes that were displayed. I loved the incense, if I remember rightly my favourite back then was sandalwood or jasmine But the thing that I remember vividly was the 'spiritual sky' patchouli oil. I would dab that stuff behind my ears like it was going out of fashion - I loved the whole smell of those shops and the atmosphere, like I said - a moroccan bazaar. so how do you think I felt, when I found a shop just like that, near where I live? just last week! hippy clothes, incense and patchouli oil. along with buddha statues and silk cushions - I felt like I was in Heaven * it even smelt the same * I was transported back to my carefree teens - when hippy was in. so far, I have bought myself a gorgeous long skirt and some sandalwood incense - tomorrow - well maybe the patchouli oil - you know, I just may have found my authentic self - or one of them at least !

vintage housekeeping swap

2006-03-09T21:53:00.000+11:00

the vintage housekeeper - some of us met through the vintagehousekeepers and some just found each other through our blogs, wanting the same things in life. So - just what is a vintage housekeepr? I don't have your answer but mine is that I want to be able to be myself - a mum & wife - staying at home and not be judged by that. baking cakes and growing lavender. Others need to work outside the home and they should be able to do that without being judged.... BUT whatever we do, we all seem to love our homes and want to make them special havens - for our families as well as ourselves... somewhere to escape the maddening world and it seems most of us like to clean the vintage way - using green products or just ordinary stuff we have in the cupboard. We all seem to love pretty things too...so this swap is just that!

the vintage housekeeping bits n pieces swap

memories are made of this

2006-03-08T21:25:00.000+11:00

I first ever heard of Desiderata in the 1970's when I was a teen. oh those awful years!(for my mother, I mean) It was put to music by Les Crane and I can still hear:

'you are a child of the universe, * you have a right to be here and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding - as it should.'

I am sure each of you have heard of it - but it is so beautiful and because ms*sophie is having one of those 'oh dear' days that all of us women have, I thought I would put it on my blog - just to remind each of us to " go placidly amid the noise and haste" and "to be gentle with yourself"

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

life

2006-03-08T15:58:00.000+11:00

I grew up not far from where I live now - on the other side of the mountains. In the Hawkesbury area. a few years ago we went to a garage sale in an old house that I loved as a teenager. It was a deceased estate sale *the old lady who had lived there had died quite a few months prior, aged around 89* and her children opened the whole house and sold everything off. What treasures were to be found ! I rummaged & scrounged and found all manner of things - but the one thing that I found, pushed up into the back of the pantry, was this bottle of preserved pears. after the owners got over the initial shock that someone would actually want to buy this, they charged me 50c - lid all rusty and I am sure, full of botulism *if I dared open it* but I won't because to me, it represents those days spent with my grandma bottling fruit.*preserving fruit with grandma* It sits on my bench for me to see everyday & I often stop and wonder who the lady was, what her dreams were and if she had found her 'authentic self' * did she sing while she cooked and cleaned or was it a drudge like it is for many of us sometimes. I wonder. That is why it is SO important to do little things to make you smile - to light that tea-candle or burn that incense, to have one special little chocolate on a little vintage saucer with a cup of coffee full of wicked cream or to take the time to treat yourself to a foot bath - things that are so important in todays * way - too - fast world

life

2006-03-07T07:29:00.000+11:00

our house has a name -. I wish I could have called it Sparrow Cottage or Anglers rest like out of a favourite book ENGLISH COUNTRY COTTAGE but I just had to call it INGLEWOOD - after my dear nans family property in Wallabadah - where my ancestors settled - a small wattle and daub hut, I am told , not standing there today....and not in the family now, due to it being left to charity when the last of the brothers died.... as far as I am concerned that is sacreligious. I would have loved to have seen it. I only have one photo of the front verandah taken at my great nans wedding breakfast. She married 'down', marrying a fettler on the railways - the family didn't like him - her parents were saddened so she moved, newly married to the big smoke and duly gave birth to 3 children Ken, Jean *my nana* and Elsie. Her husband was an abusive alcoholic but she stayed with him as you did in those days. He was hit by a bus and died - and I remember being told 'always be nice to people cause look what happened to great grandfather - God struck him down in the prime of his life by hitting him by a bus -- he wasn't missed. sad but true. so my great nan spent time between her two daughters homes *dying from pneumonia when still quite young.
the Ingalls still welcomed my mum - their great grand daughter back to Inlgewood for holidays and she has many a good memory of going to the farm. I have been back to Wallabadah & Quirindi, to trace my roots and I had a feeling of belonging . I even walked into a local shop and the lady behind the counter immediately said - 'you must be Viola's relative, you are so much like her' - I tell you, that made my day! To actually look like someone I didn't know but who I was related to directly. I have lots of photos of Viola. And I know that I do fold my arms just like she did. Odd, that. We wandered through the cemetery and found graves of my ancestors - these people were actually related to me. Don't you wish you could go back in time, just to see - how they really lived and more importantly how they decorated & cooked? what fun that would be !!

housekeeping

2006-03-06T19:44:00.000+11:00

I hate Mondays. Monday is the day that I do quite abit of housework & washing and just lately I have been playing around on the computer for a little too long in the mornings and then have to rush about dementedly getting the housework done. yes ladies - you heard it * I am admitting to being on the computer for way too long during the day. Today, I turned it off once I had checked my emails and then I decided to ask my angels to motivate me & help me get the housekeeping done - Not expecting Samanta Stephens or Jeannie to do my housework - but just a kind little shove to get it done... and it really worked. I actually breezed through my housekeeping today ! I stripped the bed and sprayed it with lavender water and then let it air for an hour or two while I cleaned the bathrooms and dusted the bedroom. I love making a room special by adding little treasures to make me smile - today it was a lovely bunch of gardenias in Nan's bowl along with a newly made bed - crisp*white bed sheets that had been hanging in the sunshine to dry

words to ponder

2006-03-06T11:15:00.000+11:00

the more one believes in miracles

the more frequently they occur

daily parcels * tied up in string *

I''ll be seeing you.

I am not a tough cookie - words from my heart

alone

in a state, indeed

full moon & the goddess ms*robyn

Our gracious Queen

pandoras box? or have I created a monster

whatever happened to baby jane?

starting over

ms*diva

matters of business

THE rantings of a mad woman and indeed life is a journey

a woman of leisure & the rantings of a mad woman

working girl

oh where have you been?

for tea lovers

puppets on strings

happy birthday

memories are made of this

a thankful heart

women ! not mean girls but mean women

produce from my vintage garden

vintage hygiene

the persimmon tree

happy mothers day

a woman of substance

words to ponder

on taking time out

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbons

on making scones *partie deux*

gardening the vintage way

URGENT

through the blogging glass (once more)

memories are made of this

through the blogging glass

after all, tomorrow is another day

a soothing balm for the soul

in my mail box

sharing my love of vintage

daily parcels

a big thankyou from the bottom of my heart

leave of absence

a healing touch

I don't think so

TA-DA !! the unveiling of a new blog

vintage stuff for sale

REMEMBERING * Port Arthur

psst.....

just wondering

Peddling your wares

Patron Saint for cancer patients

we WILL remember them

something I read today

early morning musings

you're IT - tagged !

something for your journal

early morning musings

vintage gardening

Easter Day

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbon

Holy Saturday

GOOD FRIDAY

something I read today

on being vague and absent

another of my authentic self moments

happy birthday

bed time worries

autumn

little parcels tied deliciously up in ribbon

housekeeping

words to ponder

in my mail box

life experiences - my authentic self - chatter from my head

my authentic self

sweet peas

oh the pain of it all

ms*peggy

in my mail box

pain in the neck

on making scones partie deux

happy birthday