Patience is not one of my virtues

It is Monday, one of my week days off. I am basking in the sun, temporarily and taking a lunch break (from retreating back inside and writing my book). I would stay outside but the screen of my lap top is being extremely difficult and keeps reflecting shadows across the words that I type. I could resort to a pen and paper? How peculiar? How last century! Kidding, I love quality paper, stationery, notebooks and pens, but sooner or later I would have to retreat inside any way, to type the whole menagerie up. Best stay focused or I will fall asleep on the banana lounge that I am currently reclining on.

You may have noticed that in order to be in this state of zen, I haven't got my regular 5 year old partner in crime with me. I have a reprieve for a couple of hours. Long story. This is rare, as Lil and I are joined at the hip on my days off - however, just another reason that I must make use of this time and kick myself into gear.

I typed my little fingers to the bone, proverbially, on the weekend, however, the maturing of the text still has a long life ahead of it. I lamented this thought to Paul at the end of the weekend, however, some such remark akin to 'Rome wasn't built in a day', followed and he is right, but ever impatient, I want my hard labour to miraculously, come to fruition!

The autumn leaves that I collected will adorn the table of a brunch that I am hosting next week, for some friends. The occasion is for Shelley in particular, who has moved away to be closer to her family. We miss you so much, Shelley and can't wait to catch up with you!

I am going for a rustic themed brunch - think:- a raw linen table cloth, matching raw, neutral napkins, tied with household, trusty string, with an autumn leaf placed cheerfully in the centre of each napkin on each plate. Still thinking centrepiece...?

The food I have selected is... gosh, but I digress...I am on a dead line. Stay tuned, the girls don't know it yet but they will appear on next week's blog.

Off to make hay whilst the sun shines x o

My Girls' Brunch, inspired by a moment of collecting leaves

The trees that are slow to grow bear the most fruit.

Autumn leaves - rustic, free and natural x o

Happiness is: leaves in a big, blue bowl x o

My Book and staying on the path

Down deep in every human heart is a hidden

longing, impulse, and ambition to do something

fine and enduring.

- Grenville Kleiser

This weekend, I will once again, focus on writing my book. I have given myself a dead line. I am telling you this publicly, so that I make myself stick to it! I am also telling you this because sometimes I go off the the blogging radar to dedicate my time to this. I will launch my book at the end of the year. Summer - at the surf club, over looking the ocean at the end of our street. Chardonnay and canapes! My mantra - (I am reminding myself): Begin with the End in Mind! Stay true to my dream and my goal. Don't let life get in the way!

"Would you tell me please
which way I ought to go from here?"
said Alice.

"That depends a good deal on
where you want to get to",
said the Cat.

"I don't much care where..."
said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which
way you go,: said the Cat.

- From 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

What do you do in the evenings?

Life without TV

Why blog? Why have a blog?

Why blog, people ask me? Why have a blog? What do you get out of it? You don't make money from it do you? Why do you do it, they ask with a perplexed, grimace on their face?


Well here goes:-


I didn't think blogging, as a social media, would ever appeal to me. I love people and I love fostering and affiliating relationships amongst real, live people during face to face contact. You can hug, smile, make eye contact with and pat the arm of these real humans, in an engaging and satisfying way.

However, I love writing and prior to beginning my blog, I would clarify my thoughts and channel my creative energy into my diary at the end of the day. Just short excerpts to process and put my thoughts to bed, each evening.


We don't have a TV, so we sit at night and read, write or watch Lily dance and sing or play. See photographs above. Correction - we do have a TV, although some people wouldn't call it that. It is so small and old fashioned that it causes people to laugh when they see it, in relation to the 6 foot plasma screens of today. It is not stationed in the living or lounge room. It is in the little, 'front', music room or study, on purpose, as the TV is not central to our lives.

Lily watches ABC kids and DVDs. There are no television restrictions in our house. Lily watches TV if and when she wishes. Paul and I watch the odd DVD here and there, the 3 of us often watch re-runs of the Good Life, as a family, but Paul and I never watch commercial TV as such.

The point is, I prefer writing and reading over TV. Books, magazines and my blog and yours, are my preferred mediums of communication, inspiration and knowledge.

When I have my 'one year' blogoversary, I intend to select the most memorable posts from my blog and get the material printed and bound to keep a time capsule of our family and daily life, complete with photographs of Lily as she has grown. [Fellow bloggers, see blurb.com for a cheap and cheerful result].

I enjoy savouring and recording the things that I love, or that are beautiful, that I come across in my daily life. I enjoy the mindfulness that accompanies this process. Being mindful of beauty, happiness and joyful and funny anecdotes, sustains me. This is an appreciative process. Recognising gratitude, kindness and goodness allows one to focus on the positive.

I love sharing and entering into the worlds of other like-minded, people's blogs. There is an element of voyeurism in us all. Humans are curious by nature. I am curious about the behaviours, homes, family habits and lifestyles of others.


Blogging allows me to connect with people when I have the time and your full attention, at the end of the day when every man and his dog has wanted a piece of me!! When I blog, I am me in my purist form. I am often sitting in my pyjamas at night, clean and showered, with my slippers on. No make-up, no work face or ironed and accessorized work clothes. Just me at my purist and usually most content. When I log onto my blog, a sense of calm comes over me.

When I blog, dear friends, I don't have to clean up the house for your visit or for our communication. If I do, or if there is something in my home that I want to share with you, I take a snap. I may not snap and send a shot of the basket of un-ironed clothes, no. I will pick something that I am proud of, or that I find pretty or interesting, that is part of my immediate surrounding.

Due to my career, I am careful. I can't be too personal or opinionated, which at times I find a great shame, as I get so much strength advice from fellow bloggers. I am exceedingly careful about what I reveal. I have to be. When my book is launched at the end of the year, I will have to write under a pseudonym. That is a shame.

I don't do twitter or face book. I blog, because I find it more personable than the aforementioned sites. I find blogging more controlled and more creative, akin to scrapbooking online.

Funnily enough, when I have a sabbatical (not out of choice) from my blog - it is you, my dear bloggers and followers and friends who I miss. I have got to know you through my blog. You are a constant source of companionship. I value you all.

Even those of you (my technologically inept friends) who haven't become followers or haven't worked out how to leave a message, or those of you who just prefer to pop in 'incognito' - I love you guys too, very much.

Hello again my blog - I've missed you, like a dear, old, absent friend...

Hello, my blog - I have missed you! I have some major plates spinning in the air at the moment and I have missed clarifying and recording my thoughts. I have missed taking photographs of precious things that I see (thus, just the 2 pics) - my little table vignette, that I am writing beside and the photograph below.

Maybe the above vignette describes me and my week in a nut shell. I was given the purple orchids by a friend, for good luck in torrid times.

The navel oranges - have been sustaining me and bursting me forward with their energy and enthusiasm. Navel oranges remind me of winter and growing up on the farm. Mount George oranges are the best navel oranges in the world - sweet and delicious, we grew up on them as kids.

My glass dome with the rose in it - pristine and clear, beautiful and inspiring.

Looking forward to a more peaceful, calm and stable time - my dear blog - to get back in touch with you.

Tracey x o

My new, 'old' photo frame

I bought this vintage frame when I was in Sydney. I love its worn edges and sense of history. Perfect for a black and white photo.

Lingerie for the feet, rest for the soul

Black and white images from our last Winter get away at the Blue Mountains. Has it really been a year? Ready to embark on the Shangri- La! Images courtesy of Paul. I shall once again seek solace by the fire, with a good book, after a dinner of fine food. Looking forward to taking the time to dress up like a lady. Outfits selected!! Heaven on a stick.

Lingerie for thy feet

Ooo Laah Laah - Shangri La !

When I pack these shoes, it's a good feeling - it means I am going to feel sophisticated and feminine and there will be gourmet food and a big bubble bath.

Going away for the long weekend and packing my favourite shoes.

Shoes - black, lace toes and baby, pink satin heels.

"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy"

I bought this tea cup and saucer in a pale, duck egg blue on the weekend. It has an eggshell like texture. It feels beautiful when you cradle it in your hands.

Paul and I had lunch at a cafe last weekend and afterwards I found this sweet little set, all by its self.

It has a happy new home.

Bring on the the long weekend!

Coming home in the dark, mid-week, when it is cold - has made me yearn for the sunshine on our shoulders that we soaked up last weekend - both at the park and on our deck.

Tis mid week, I am cold and need to cradle a cup of tea in the sun again

I came home, cold to the core tonight. Still thawing out by the fire.

Two sleeps until the long weekend

Mummy, when is the weekend again?

My thoughts entirely. Lily on the swings at the park last weekend.

Yearning for a weekend again.....

Yearning for a walk in the sun to the park. All images above were from last weekend.

Today I feel inspired! Tonight, I crave total escapism and abandonment of the everyday...

Tonight I am going to indulge in 2 hours of total nonsense.

I am going to watch Sex In the City 2' and be drawn to all of the materialism, ridiculous 'high fashion' and glam, that I so vehemently choose to avoid, in my own life.

I will relish turning off my mobile phone for 2 hours, as I languish in the cinema on my own. Lily will be safe and sound and warm and content at home with Paul. They will play and greet me at the door, with big hugs, when I get home.

When I get to the cinema, I will buy a cup of plastic tea (ha! Ooops, Freudian slip)... A cup of tea in a plastic cup and sip on it, tasting every drop as it warms me down to my toes.

This afternoon I will cook a big, rich, meaty spaghetti with tomato sauce and serve up Lil's and Paul's portions, placing the covered bowls in the fridge. I will have mine early, before I go.

Total decadence.... (you may have guessed that I have now finally finished my reports and have my life back) !!!!!

Ahhhhh! Looking forward to some 'me' time tonight.

Today - life is so sweet. x o

See jolly, little post from today - below.

A Pet Rock, named 'Fluffy'

Today, Lily, her pet rock and I went to a medical appointment, for me. We were there for over an hour and Lily behaved almost as well as the pet rock (aka 'Chloe'). Lily sat and coloured in and sucked on a lolli-pop in a small cubicle/medical room, whilst the nurse and I talked.

A bit of back ground knowledge about the rock: We picked the pet rock up on our way to the clinic, from Lil'y's pre-school. Their were tears last night because she accidentally left her pet rock "on its own", over night, at pre-school.

When we called into pre-school, I discovered that one of the other kids had called their pet rock, 'Fluffy', which I thought quite amusing, given that it was as smooth as a baby's bot bot and it had 2 plastic eyes, glued onto it.

Lily's pet rock Chloe, (I should mention) does infact have 'hair'. Strands of wool have been clumped together and glued on the rock's .........well, the rock's forehead.

Lily told me that "in this weather, being so cold, a rock really needs hair". I couldn't agree more.

The character who made 'Fluffy' - BALD - obviously didn't feel the same empathy.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Today I came home from the 3rd and final day of Covey's course, 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' (as a result of professional development, in my role as Assistant Principal).

The course was about being a better and more effective leader at school, however, today's teachings were about 'synergy' and 'sharpening the saw'.

I am happy to say that my slothful day of rest and renewal on Sunday (see post below) was applauded by Covey and the school Principal who ran the course. It seems we all need these days, where we regroup, restock and replenish our energy.

I feel a whole lot better now about those guilty moments when my body and my mind slackens off. It's all in the name of research and it makes us more effective, when we emerge from hibernation!

Have you noticed: when you most feel like comfort food, you least feel like cooking it?

On the weekend, in the pouring rain, I read a magazine by the fire and was entranced by the 'Comfort Food' section.

Beef Bourgignon, Apple & Rhubarb Crumble and Baked Rice Custard, were calling me! The styling in the food section was warm, cosy, rustic and delicious.

I, however, was feeling lazy, tired and totally unmotivated and couldn't be bothered getting off the lounge to get a tissue, let alone whip up a steaming hot bowl of comfort food (not to mention having to firstly go and fetch the ingredients in a torrential down pour).

Bless your heart Paul.

Coming home tonight (in more rain) to Paul's Beef Bourgignon with mashed potatoes and mopping up the sauce that had been simmering in red wine and sherry, for hours - was pure, unadultered gold!

Yummo ...... the meat, mushroom and carrots had caramelised together, the meat falling apart on my fork.

Thank God for you, Paul Maxwell M.

I would like to keep you forever! x o x o x