Grass Under Your Feet

This Moment..

2012-02-17T15:08:00.000Z

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A   single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple,   special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and   remember.

 (Inspired by Soulemama). 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2012-02-11T11:14:00.001Z

I'm loving this-find out more about The Simple Woman's Daybook here :)

FOR TODAY

Outside my window ... it is sunny, beautiful clear blue sky, but oh-so chilly! Winter hasn't had any snow up here since November, but it has been in the minuses for a long time.

I am thinking... of my Dad, who is going through a rough time, after a rough 2011 as well. I hope he can hold up.

I am thankful... for my home, my husband and children, our health.

In the kitchen... there are vitamin/mineral supplements for me, as I have embarked on my road to healing, lots of yummies for the others.

I am wearing... my nicest dark jeans and a top that is in all reality not warm enough for this weather. I need to go get some layers on. I crave wool!!!

I am creating... on the needles is my baby girl's new pinky/reddy scarf (she chose her own wool). I'm a new knitter so am really pleased!

I am going... out with my small daughters today. Mr D is doing 'car stuff' so we are bailing out. Shopping, lunch and whatever else we find on our way :)

I am wondering... if I'll ever crack this optimum health thing.

I am reading... a lot of books, both on Kindle and hard copies. I have 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', 'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Dummies', 'Last Child In The Woods' and a good few more on the go!

I am hoping... to find relaxation time in my day as well as fun.

I am looking forward to... the cinema tomorrow with an old friend I've not seen in ages.

I am learning... to not take it all to heart, to chillll, to prioritise and put 'us' first.

Around the house... work-week dust settling, and the house is starting to feel relaxed, cosy and ours again :)

I am pondering.... how the week ahead will pan out. Babies off school, so the options are endless. I need to be productive as well as enjoy our time off!

A favorite quote for today... "The time to relax is when you don't have time for it"-Jim Goodman/Sidney J. Harris

One of my favorite things... is my husband in his chunky-knit, moss green Monsoon jumper. So lovely. And huggable.

A few plans for the rest of the week... clearing out rooms, paying bills, getting a new routine sorted for work.

A peek into my day... shopping, lunch, knitting, good tv, good coffee, hugs :)

Milkshake Baby!

This Moment..

2012-02-03T14:14:00.000Z

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

(Inspired by Soulemama).

Phases of Childhood

2012-02-01T21:02:00.000Z

"Toward the end of the child's first seven years, various changes take place. Teachers in Waldorf Education consider the most prominent physical change being the loss of the milk teeth. It is a fact well known by biologists that it takes seven years for the transformation of every inherited cell in the body. Now, for the first time in her life, the child is wholly herself. This is manifest as the child develops: on the one hand, a new and vivid life of imagination, and on the other, a readiness for more formal learning. She both expresses and experiences life through finely tuned and delicate feelings.

As the child moves through these years, the faculty for more sequential and logical thought begins to unfold.       Yet careful handling is necessary, for while this faculty needs nurturing, the ability to be fully at home in       the world of imagination remains the child's most vital asset."-www.whywaldorfworks.org

I have been looking into the different stages of childhood. Particularly from my child development font of knowledge, Rudolf Steiner's viewpoint (see above quote). This is because it has been increasingly obvious that my 6 year old is..changing. She has become more prone to an "it's not fair!" or an outburst, more thoughtful, inquisitive, sensitive about things. 

As if her emotions are trying to sort themselves out, sifting through the big chunks and teeny grains of thought and feeling to come out with the finely tilled, soft residue that is to become part of who she will turn in to.

The reason, amongst other things, that I have been pondering Steiner's words and theories is that us mothers of 6-7 year olds seem to be in a united place right now with difficult child behaviour. The playground is awash with bleary eyed Primary 2 mothers at their wits end-myself very much included! But we are not alone. It is most definitely to be expected at this stage, and these otherwise adorable, clever, loving little people are just doing what their bodies are telling them to do. Kind of like the struggle and effort it takes a caterpillar to transform and then make its way out of the cocoon. It is no small effort! And very dramatic.

By no means am I saying we should just shrug and say "It's to be expected-leave them to it", because more than ever they need our guidance, our steadying approach and our love. Whilst this is helluva hard when you have a sudden screaming banshee for a daughter (like tonight..I am drained), if we can withdraw afterwards knowing, okay, I may have lost the rag, but I did my Darned Best, that is all we need.

And yes, this too shall pass!!

Time..

2011-11-06T16:45:00.000Z

..waits for no man, the quote says. And so it seems to be true. It has been 7 whole months since I last posted on here. I have, admittedly, posted more on my work blog but this, my personal blog, has suffered. It may be because I had been finding it harder to write about the non-work, the internal, the real.
My amazing mother in law, Beatrice Dartnall Duffy (aka Granny Binky, to my smalls) passed away in March of this year. She had cancer, and spent the last 6 weeks of her life in a Nursing Home, refusing to budge from her home til she really deemed it necessary. Mum was a Blitz survivor. She drove ambulances and lorries across occupied Germany. A retired police sargeant. Cancer wasn't going to push her out of her 50-year home.
The picture at the title of my blog is of my (now 5 year old) daughter hunting for Easter eggs with Gran in 2007. This was the kind of Gran she was. Dedicated to her grandchildren and family, never tiring of watching their goings on, hearing about them, doing things for them. An example of this was when my husband and I went to the house 2 days after she died. We were supposed to be looking for things we wanted placed in the coffin with Mum, a hard enough task already.
As my husband chose two of her much-used knitting needles I spotted a half-knitted grey school cardigan on needles in a basket. It would've been the last item Mum attempted to knit. Amid her pain, suffering and emotional turmoil, she was working on something for our daughter. Both of us cried rivers in that week, and even in the weeks since, there are days when things occur to us and we smile, laugh..and sometimes cry, for there is no Mum, no Granny Binky to talk to about things with. No Mum to give us her non-judgmental opinions on things, to astound us with her humility, her patience, her resoluteness.
This is hard to write about, as there was-and is-so much more to Mum than I can compact into a few paragraphs. Let it be enough to say, she was Mum to me, not just my 'Mother In Law'. She took me in as her own when I was in a strange country with no family but my husband-to-be. My husband and I both realise it will be a difficult Christmas without her, eating lots (after saying she 'couldn't possibly manage that amount!'), watching the smalls with wonder and obvious delight, expressing her gratitude for even the most trivial gift..and drinking endless cups of tea :-) I hope she will still sit with us at the table on that day. Still doing what she used to do. Being our amazing Mum.

This moment..

2011-04-08T21:00:00.000+01:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. (Inspired by Soulemama).

February 2nd-Candlemas/Imbolc

2011-01-31T11:37:00.000Z

"When candlemas day is bright with sun
then the winter has just begun
When candlemas day is dark with rain
then winter's power is on the wane."

The wheel of the year turns once more and the end of winter is in sight. Imbolc, most commonly observed on February 2nd, marks the beginning of the end of winter's grasp. It is now that we start making our plans for this springs' garden, we tend to our animals' young, and we start to feel stirrings of new life just beneath the snow's surface.

Imbolc is one of the great fire festivals ~ to celebrate the birth of spring and warmth. It's tradition for pagans to light copious amounts of candles and incense around the home. It is the perfect time of year to recommit yourself to your faith, goals, and dreams.

Candlemas is a very old holiday with a Christian-Pagan history. Its Christian version is called the Purification of the Virgin and is the end/culmination of the forty day period after Mary had her baby on December 25. (Women had to wait forty days after childbirth before entering a church or Temple again due to "uncleanliness"). This waiting period is still observed in Eastern Orthodox Christian churches today, and all Christian churches schedule the Christening for forty days after the birth in keeping with this ancient purification practice. Therefore today is Jesus's Christening or Naming Day when an exorcism is performed and the baby formally enters the Church.

Candlemas is the Christianized name for Imbolc, but the two are used almost interchangeably by many earth-based groups such as Wiccans today. Groundhog Day is a secularized term, but it draws from a Pagan tradition.

Imbolc is closely associated with the Celtic-Irish goddess Brigid. Imbolc is sacred to Brigid because she is a goddess of fire, of poetry, and of healing, all things that go along with the creative powers of the onset of spring. She is a powerful representation of the Maiden Goddess, and she has been almost perfectly preserved for us today by none other than the Roman Catholic Church. Rather than call her demon and risk the displeasure of all Ireland, they canonized Brigid and made her the patron saint of poetry and healing. This appeased the Irish, who at the time probably saw the Catholic saints as being very similar to gods.

*Information derived from here and here and well, here too :)

A 5, a 2 and a fairly new..

2011-01-23T18:31:00.000Z

Savannah turned 5 on Friday. Funnily enough, this was the day, exactly a year ago that we discovered we were having Maia, now 4 months old. My sister's little son, Bentley, turned 2 just before so we decided on a
joint party at Savannah's favourite play place-Hoodles! So the Sister and family travelled up from the English Midlands to the Scottish Highlands make it a day of joint festivities!
It was a day of high voltage for the two cousins, and even Maia's awful cold seemed to settle for the duration. Whilst 20 children and their siblings ran rampant over the play area in a sweaty-headed frenzy ("Savannah's mummy!We need more juice!!"), adults chatted with lovely coffees and cakes (Hoodles cupcakes are amaaaaazing!).

They rounded up our children after an hour's play and we headed to the Party Room,which was set up for us beautifully. Cakes were on the table,

party bags assembled in a row with helium balloons tied to handles, tables set with balloon centerpieces and Savannah ushered to head of table in a 'big girl chair'.

Homemade pizza and soft rolls were eaten, followed by build-your-own-cupcake for dessert!

Dancing,games and general silliness followed, with lots of laughter and mild hysteria :))

At the end of the day, we had a heap of tired-out but delighted children and one very memorable day.

We couldn't have asked for a better time! :)

Happy Birthday Savannah & Bentley!

January

2011-01-14T10:42:00.000Z

These people-one large, 2 small-are the center of my world. Everything I do revolves around them. To be able to spend beautiful, quality time together over the Christmas period was amazing, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the time with each other. There was much snuggling (with Snugees for some of us!), eating yummy things, drinking lovely things, exchanging of gifts, visiting of family and friends, sparkles of trees, carpets of magical, deep snow outside, breathtaking icy walks and oh so much joy! It is for this reason that I.am.not.ready.for.it.to.be.over. There are spring/summer catalogues appearing, lighter clothes appearing in the stores, people discussing summer holidays and flower planting....and I am blocking my ears to it all. I took my Christmas tree down on the 9th of January (it went up the 12th of December) amid much query from those visiting. Half my excuse was that Teeny Duffy loved the lights..but really, it was mostly me I think. I was left to do the packing up of tree/cards/decorations myself that Sunday the 9th, and I am not kidding-it took me all afternoon. Not because it was a huge tree, or fully decked out house, but because, well, it involves ritual. Things need to be wrapped up safely for next year, things get picked up and wondered over and re-read...and in some cases tears are shed for cards from a very seriously ill Gran who we love so much, and who will not be able to write messages like that again for her beloved grandchildren. I think the emotions Christmas evokes are hard to snuff out so suddenly. It needs to be a gradual process, like weaning..just enough to deal with at a time. I think I may be over it by Valentine's Day :)
Do you make a clean break of it, sweep up the needles and air out the house? Or are you also a lingerer?

Dandelion Fluff

2010-12-27T22:20:00.000Z

I used to be a very positive and vivacious person. This past year..or two..or three has given me immense challenges with some joyous moments sprinkled in between to keep me going. The after-effect of all this is that I don't really have the lustre and sparkle to me that I used to have. If you saw me in, let's say, December 2004 and December 2010 simultaneously, you would see huge differences portrayed both on the outside and the inside.

Then....

And now.....
Oh, right-there aren't any pictures of me from nowadays, unless you count giving birth to my second baby 3 months ago (THAT was worth photographing! Beautiful, beautiful day).

Maia a few seconds old!

The point is, I haven't felt like having my photo taken because not only am I not me inside, I am not me outside. And having had bouts of low self-esteem since childhood, the outside counts too.
2011 will be a year of development. Professionally, we have goals to achieve for our business. On the home-front, we have much needed adjustments to make the space in our beloved house more effective for us as a family of four. We will be intentionally taking time to relax and actually holiday this year (including seeing my family, who I haven't been able to visit in 3 1/2 years). And I will be working on me.
Academically, I have studies I'm currently undertaking (a higher level of my childcare qualification), plus a language course to do on the side (brushing up on my Italian! I love it but have never had time to do much with it since high school).
I have some inner-loving to do, which will be a first. This will be courtesy of the beautiful Goddess Leonie's tools (she is amazing).
The outter-me will be the largest job (in all ways!!). Years of eating-on-the-go and lacking in motivation have resulted in the unhealthiest me I have ever known. And I am 100% certain that this effects everything else in my day-to-day life. It's not so much the weight loss that is the point (although it is necessary), but the optimum health required to be functioning on full cylinders. I need to spend time changing my ways back to the vegan, full-of-energy, happy, laughing, positive Liz I was...

For now, may the preparation for that begin by heading to bed at a decent time, so baby's wake-ups and feeds tonight don't make me too sleep deprived :)

Back soon...nighty night!x

This Moment...

2010-11-12T21:49:00.000Z

Something I Needed To Read Today..

2010-10-14T11:01:00.000+01:00

Galatians 5:22        On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23        mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.  

This Moment..

2010-09-25T22:35:00.000+01:00

This Moment...

2010-09-17T17:46:00.000+01:00

This Moment..

2010-09-12T21:12:00.000+01:00

Due Date Today...

This Moment..

2010-08-28T11:46:00.000+01:00

Light From Above

2010-08-24T21:47:00.000+01:00


The Harbour Tank, MacDuff Aquarium.

I have had a non-conventional journey on my path to spiritual enlightenment (so to speak). I was raised within a fairly laid-back Catholic family, where you had your Holy Communion etc. because it was the done thing in keeping with family tradition, but had you asked anyone in the family what it all meant there would be a rote answer or blank faces all round. I don't mean to have a dig at my family-it's just how things work in a not very religious yet ancestrally traditional familial group. You don't want to offend anyone, so you do the necessary but haven't a clue what it's about (or care very much).
I took religion to heart. I was fascinated and quite studious about it from quite a young age, but still didn't get the answers I was looking for, despite avid searching. I asked many. The parish priests, the convent nuns (who I had a great relationship with, wanting to be one of them at one point), other people in my church group..nobody seemed to know anything concrete that they could back up, and that really annoyed me.
So when I was 11 and my best friend started speaking to me about Bible teachings I pricked up my primary school ears. She carried a small Bible in her backpack. She knew where to locate scriptures. She could back up her words with biblical evidence. And she was only 12.
This got me thinking. How was this possible? She was just a kid, like me...but she knew the answers. There must be something more to her religion, I reasoned, so much to my family's distress, I began learning more and understanding more. I was getting more information about concrete biblical teachings in a half hour with my friend than I got in years of kneel-stand-pray-sit-kneel Mass attendance. It wasn't just "this is what we do because it's just the way it's done"..it was "this is the truth because here in the Bible, God says..". Answers. Answers. Not just tradition based on shaky teachings. So I researched and found my own, non-hand-me-down faith from then on with years and years of Bible study, despite quite harsh opposition and persecution from friends and family.
I was baptized at 18, when I was old enough to know my own head :) after taking myself out of the Catholic religion. And I truly, truly believe everyone has the right to do so themselves. Why would you accept a passed-on religion without the facts? Why would you deem yourself a certain religion just because your parents are?
My belief system has since altered again, as I found more facts to resonate with me, so my approach and mindset were slightly altered again.
Today my 4 1/2 year old daughter brought home a school pupil questionnaire with a question asking what her religion was. I wrote "she is too young to have decided yet :)". And it is what I believe to be true.
I can tell her my thoughts, or show her how to look for answers when the time comes to question, still have a family value system in place, but she is her own person. And a true, solid faith in my eyes is worth so much more than a hand-me-down faith I know very little about.

Something relevant to me right now..

2010-08-20T21:28:00.000+01:00

With the arrival of Tiny D being quite imminent and the start of Big School this week, Mini D has raised the question as to how 'Taddy' and I will manage to love both she and her little sister equally..I love her with all my heart & soul, and this above list really made me think about how I could be making this even more obvious to her little 4 3/4 old self . The changes going on around her must be causing a deep-down glimmer of uncertainty in my normally so confident, outgoing little girl. Has anyone else experienced this?

This Moment...

2010-08-20T10:53:00.000+01:00

"This Moment" - A Friday ritual.
A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. What is your moment? Inspired by Soulemama

News From Prego..

2010-08-18T22:41:00.000+01:00

Just a quickie of a link before I give you the run-down of Mini D's first day of Big School, my emotional meltdown and other fun topics (surprisingly, the first two were not related).

My new-found obsession with food (well, new-found this 3rd trimester after 6 months or so of retching) has resulted in recipes being perused on the good ole web..my faithful Tasty Kitchen site (hello Ree!!) posted this fabby breakfast post today. Yummm...guess what 4-Weeks-Til-Baby here will be having tomorrow morning??

Just a quick dash of love...

2010-08-15T09:57:00.000+01:00

"The most precious gems you'll ever put around your neck are the arms of your children."

Happy Sunday Everyone :)

Some More Summer Yummies!

2010-08-13T20:13:00.000+01:00

Rhubarb & Blueberry Cobbler
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
3 sticks of rhubarb — approximately 200g (1 1/4 cup)
200g (1 1/4 cup) fresh blueberries
3 tablespoons of sugar

For the cobbler top:
100g (3/4 cup) plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
50g (1/3 cup) brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
100g (3/4 cup) Greek yoghurt
2 tablespoons of melted, then cooled butter (approx 25g solid weight)
Oats for topping — optional
Brown sugar for sprinkling
Method:
Preheat your oven to gas mark 6 / 200°C / 400°F

Wash and drain your fruit. Arrange your blueberries in a 12 cm wide, shallow tart pan or pie dish. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the blueberries. Chop your rhubarb into 2.5 cm pieces and arrange in a layer over the top of the blueberries. Sprinkle over the rest of sugar. Set aside whilst you make the topping.

Combine your flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl and stir to mix. Make a well in the centre and add in your egg. Mix and then stir in your yoghurt. Mix well before adding in the 2 tablespoons of melted butter. You are aiming for the consistency of a very thick cake batter, not a dough. If it seems too dry or too wet, add more flour or a splash of milk, respectively.

Spoon heaped tablespoons of cobbler batter over your fruit. You want about 4-5 spoonfuls of batter in total. Leave some little gaps as the topping will expand, and you also want the fruit to bubble up nicely over the sides. Sprinkle with oats if you'd like and a little more brown sugar. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the topping is cooked through and the rhubarb is nicely tender.

Cobbler is lovely served topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/uk-edition-rhubarb-and-blueberry-cobbler-9923/?ref=fp_article_title

2010-08-13T15:15:00.000+01:00

"This Moment" - A Friday ritual.
A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. What is your moment? Inspired by Soulemama

Ready for Primary 1...

2010-08-11T15:44:00.000+01:00

A week until this tiny person -who is now actually 4 1/2-is all ready for Big School..the question is, am I??

This Moment

2010-08-06T22:31:00.000+01:00

"This Moment" - A Friday ritual.
A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. What is your momentthis week?
Inspired by Soulemama

At J.M. Barrie's desk, Kirriemuir.

A Touch of Summer...

2010-08-05T21:55:00.000+01:00

Give me the joys of summer,

of summer queen so fair,

with wealth of lovely flowers

and fruits and sun-kissed air!

Talk not to me of winter

with ice and frost and snow,

nor changing spring and autumn

when howling winds will blow.

No, I will take the joys

of summer every time,

so to this queen of seasons

I dedicate my rhyme.

~ by Winifred Sackville Stoner

Blueberry, I Love You!

2010-08-02T19:29:00.000+01:00

I had a pretty hectic weekend (as much as can be hectic when you're 8 1/2 months pregnant and can't move a lot due to various niggles!). I really enjoyed it all, as we got to witness two great friends marry, had a girl-only shopping trip and a hair appointment (always nice)..BUT I overdid it.
Siiiiigh...
Sunday afternoon, I was exhausted beyond belief, in loads of pain (sciatica & SPD...fun!) and had that getting-a-cold-achey-body-sore-throat-swollen-glands thing. And all because I am run down, immunity has dropped, and body desperately trying to sort itself out. What to do? Superfoods!! (By the way, does it mean you're weird if your 4 year old daughter can list Superfoods...?Just wondering...)
I have had two spirulina tablets (magic from the sea!) an apple, kiwi and lime smoothie, and now have plans for...
Berry and Buttermilk Cake, Adapted from "Apples for Jam" by Tessa Kiros.
1.5 cups unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
freshly ground nutmeg - a few grinds
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 cup fresh berries
2 Tablespoons brown sugar (for topping)
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk eggs until fluffy in another bowl, then add all wet ingredients. Mix dry and wet gently until combined. Spoon mixture into a 12x8x2 inch pan. Sprinkle blueberries on top. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool in pan before cutting.
**This adaptation courtesy of the amazing Soulemama :)

Yummy yummerson...blueberries are by far my fave Superfood!! What do you do when you're feeling a bit under the weather? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Like a Kid in a Candy Store..

2010-07-30T14:11:00.000+01:00

Ohhh....too cute! I opened the post today to receive the first lot of my nappies for Baby To Be. They are candy pink, and just fluff, fluff, fluff :-) More colours to come, which funnily enough gets me quite excited. Maybe it's because they're not plain, chemical-smelling white things. Maybe it's because they are so soft to the touch, so well made, and so good for baby's new skin. Heavenly..now we just need Baby D to arrive, though she is making her presence known and seems to be preparing to pack her bags for departure from her uterine-home!! Aches, shooting pains and all the last-few-weeks-of-pregnancy symptoms I had first time round are here. 6 1/2 weeks to go! :-)

A Hungarian Doula...

2010-07-28T16:41:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone!
For all that don't know this about me, I'm the Membership Coordinator for the National Childbirth Trust in our area. This is a cause very dear to my heart, as choice in childbirth and support during this time and the time surrounding it are, to me, vital.
I am originally from Hungary (though born in Australia).
I received an e-mail today from an old friend back home in Hungary asking for help. For a little background info, Hungary was a communist-bloc country up until 1989 and has been striving ferociously ever since to regain some of it's economical status that was depleted to almost nothing during the Communist years. So finances, although better than they were then, are still very thin on the ground (part of the reason I moved countries years ago-there was absolutely no way of making a living at the time).
A lot of what we call 'western' ideas had been unknown to anyone in communist-bloc countries so the thought of any choice in childbirth was-and for the huge part-still is unknown. I have heard many a horror story (to my 'western' ears anyway!) about childbirth at home from cousins, aunts etc. So when my friend told me his wife is one of the very few women in Hungary wanting choice, and change, and training as an actual Doula, my heart jumped for joy.
Reka Dezsi has a blog where she details her experiences-although in Hungarian (google translator does big chunks at a time if you're interested :)) called Holdanya (MoonMother).
Reka has been invited to the USA (Albuquerque)for a huge Doula training event (by DONA International) in the beginning of August, but obviously, needs to be able to fund this in order to make the trip (international travel is a huge deal from Hungary to most people). She & her husband have asked for my help, in order to possibly see if anyone could make a donation to Reka's travel fund. Any,any little would help (I'm talking even £1 here!). The details to make a direct transfer (account details) are posted at the top of her blog. If there's anything further I personally can help with in regard to this worthy cause, please let me know. For now-thank you for reading, and thank you even more if you pass this on to otehrs or are moved to help with a donation. I will keep you updated on Reka's progress! Much love! :))

The Turning Of The Tides

2010-07-26T21:00:00.000+01:00

And here we are with less than 8 weeks to go before our new baby's birth...time has flown by unbelievably. In the past months, transformations have taken place in every part of our lives. Our business has a very healthy waiting list in place for our future childcare enrollments, thank the universe. We have had to look more realistically than ever at expansion and full private day nursery registration (and all that involves--eek! so much work!). We have had to realise that the only "baby" in our little family until now-Mini D-is actually old enough and mature enough to start school in August (so emotional for me). That whilst our families are part of us genetically, we do not actually have to force a relationship with them if it is clearly to our detriment emotionally or mentally. That being on the same page as your spouse is the nicest feeling in the world. That health is everything. That there is more to the world and the universe than we think. That rest is vital. That we need time out as a family to recharge, rather than just always trying to catch up on "jobs". That "this moment only once" is something very important to remember.
That we are so lucky to have what we have, this loving family unit of 3 (soon to be 4!).

Us, 2006....stayed tuned for the new version!

Whirlwind Winter!!

2010-02-16T09:11:00.000Z

Well, I have not visited Blog Domain in over a month, but it has really and truly been a crazy, outta this world beginning to the year! I think the most notable was around Mini D's 4th birthday when I realised I felt like absolute c**p and it was NOT going away. Some calculating and testing later, realised we were going to have a Tiny D by the autumn. You think that's ages away? It is!! But I knew, knew from possibly conception that this little peanut was on it's way-which is how we have known since I was 4 1/2 weeks along...a long time until we get to meet Tiny D, but one day at a time.
Meantime, very first Midwife appointment today-Mr D can't get out of work, so Mini D & my Bestie, Di are coming with me (Di is hopefully going to be at the delivery with Mr D).
I am sick as a dog with this little one, and feel/look awful compared to Pregnancy Number 1 where I was all aglow and energetic and well, relaxed..now it's more along the lines of greasy hair, lethargy, constant nausea and hormonal moodswings. Isn't my husband a lucky man???
More to come as I get more used to my current state-and hopefully more info on the Twin Rumours.'Cos there's a chance it's twins...

Hogmanay!

2009-12-31T13:37:00.003Z

The last day of the year has arrived..I still have lots of Last Year left to do, including posting our Christmas on here before 2010!! But I think it's time to breathe, step back, and just let the New Year unfold, rather than frantically trying to Get It All Done. We'll see how it goes!

The Most memorable Childhood Christmas Gift!

2009-12-23T22:04:00.001Z

Just reminiscing a bit...

I practically cried with happiness when I received my long-ago, shop-chosen Cabbage Patch Doll (red curly hair, green eyes..named Timothy Corey! Great ole names these guys had..). My younger sister (mother to Cara Marigold the 'preemie' Cabbage Patch) & I had been sneaking out to try to feel the boxes to check if we both had the chosen dolls..until we actually FOUND the right size & shape boxes, and one of us knocked over a photo frame on a shelf by the tree..waking mum who roared out of the bedroom “get back to b****y bed or Santa will take it all back!!!” Oh, the excitement of it all..!! Australia, 1985.

What was your most memorable gift??

Images of Christmas (So Far!)

2009-12-22T23:35:00.000Z

2 Days To Go!

2009-12-22T07:53:00.003Z

Christmas 2006

2009-12-16T14:24:00.000Z

This was taken of my youngest sister and I when she was across for the holidays from Hungary in 2006. Baby D was 11 months old-her first ever Christmas. It was so great. I haven't seen Smallest Sis since February, 2008. That is a long time. I miss you, Smallest Sis.

Some magick for 2010..

2009-12-12T22:53:00.000Z

This is the second, unbelievably generous giveaway I have come across in my list of lovely blogging ladies. This is from Kat-aka The Celtic Witch-at Magickal Enchantments. Her etsy shop is divine-I have just recently purchased some beautiful gifts from her shop, and seriously want to keep them all for myself. Kat's blog says..

'Are you feeling stagnant and unmotivated? Perhaps you feel as though something is missing in your life, but your not sure where to begin looking for it. The time has come to connect to your spiritual roots and inner light. Your life is a gift and how you live it is your choice.

I am pleased to offer to my blessed followers a new giveaway. I wanted to give away something really special for the new year to one of you. I decided to start off the new year with my biggest giveaway yet.

A Custom Spirituality Kit!'

More info on exactly what this entails on the blog itself. If it's something you find appealing, pop on across and give Magickal Enchantments a visit :-)

Oh My Goddess!!

2009-12-07T12:44:00.000Z

So exciting-the amazingly talented, beautiful soul Leonie is having a fabby giveaway over on her site! To quote...

"....And one goddess will win an enrolment in our newest Goddess School e-course: the Radiant Goddess e-course! Term 2 begins January 17 and should be the most stunning way to begin your New Year
We set up the Radiant Goddess e-Course as a 21 day structured, supported plan for you to feel cleansed and revitalised and awoken on all your levels - body, mind and spirit. You’ll get gorgeous nutritious menu plans, movement plans, meditations, soulful goddess tasks and support and guidance."
Now, if you are anything like me, you could definately benefit from all the things this course will embody. I am so, so excited-I will be enrolling as a birthday gift from my dear Mr D-and what better gift?? Head on over here to check it all out...

It's Coming!!!

2009-11-19T20:27:00.000Z

Uggh...

2009-11-18T22:34:00.001Z

Me at J.M. Barrie's desk, Kirriemuir.

Oh MAAAAN...!! (said in Mini D's 'Swiper' from Dora The Explorer voice..)
Have you noticed my lack of posts?? I am in a mid-season rut. I have busy, busy days..staff out ill...elderly relatives to care for...letters, emails, calls, general admin going unanswered..this kills me. I am a stickler for having all my paperwork up to date, all my t's crossed and i's dotted... money to school for Christmas Panto trip paid well in time..
And I find I'm lagging, for the first time in ages. Lagging with my Mummy job, my Teacher job, my Owner job, my Family/Friends/Contacts job...how do I regain my lost terrain? How do I get back on top of things without being up til all hours (and becoming Useless Wreck the next day?..vicious cycle..). And the creative side? Long faded..my writer's desk practically sighs every time I walk past it. I hear ya..I'm just too busy looking for blankies and sudacrem..
Any tips or words of wisdom would be much appreciated. I aint too proud to beg!
Even if they involve the phrase 'Swiper, no swiping!'...I know, it's late...I need bed.

The Cutest Book For Autumn/Harvest Time

2009-10-30T08:15:00.002Z

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner??

2009-10-29T10:36:00.000Z

Well, guess who's coming from Down South (England) to see ~~only his Aunty Lizzie~~ his Aunty, Uncle, Cousin & Nanny for a few days? Boo-Boo, my 9 month old nephew-complete with his gorgeous smile and big blue eyes. I am so delighted. It's been a few months since we saw my sister and her family (summertime), so Boo-Boo The Godson has grown tremendously and has acquired 4 teeth in the process. He is coming just in time for our Halloween Party.
He is going to be a cat-could you die with the adorableness of it all? I know,I am so cheesy.
By the way, Boo-Boo does have a Real Name. But he is my Boo-Boo boy.

Some Halloween Fun..

2009-10-21T14:31:00.004+01:00

Feeling sick with desire..

2009-09-26T20:00:00.002+01:00

LOOK at this. Please Santa...?

Eco Versus Freako

2009-09-25T20:38:00.003+01:00

Well, Mamas and any other person reading who deems themselves a responsible adult trying to do the best for your brood and the world at large--BE WARNED!!
I am a reader of some lovely, informative, funny and witty blogs. I have friends in the real world who also fit into that category (shockingly, as my husband seems to think I spend all my time on HERE)! But some blogging ladies ARE also Real Friends..so the two are blurred in a lovely way and I envision us as a circle of wise women, sharing their thoughts/ideas/feelings/advice with others through the goodness of their hearts and the fun of it all (and Microsoft).
So here I am, perusing away-laughing, reading, learning, admiring...and along the way I am learning quite a lot about how to be more gentle with the earth (please do not be picturing me in flowing gypsy skirt, hemp sandals and surrounding incense smell). I really just loved the idea of reducing the useless stuff in our everyday life as a family. Anyone would think that was a good idea, right? A clear-out, some frugal living, and a simpler, happier lifestyle for all.
Well.
Maybe if I had married him or him, that would be a-okay. But I am married to him. And he has issues with things that cause more than the usual effort/are a bit unorthodox/mean you may come into contact with some bodily fluid. Please do not ask me to re-tell the story of Mr D and Mini D's first poo..lets just leave it "at scarred for life".
So when I mentioned recycling more..it was not too bad, we got (reused!) big ole containers sorted out for the job (picture Mr D nicking Tesco's delivery crates after dark in full face helmet).
Segregation began in earnest..we realised we were saving loads and loads of space in our wheelie bin by taking our stuff to the "recycling placey" (Mr D language). It was all good. Until I opened 1-the shed 2-the boot of the car and 3-the hall closet. If I were a swearing person, now would be the place.
Needless to say, I am now Head Of Recycling. And composting (the little food-scrap box in the kitchen is usually placed by the front door when it needs to be emptied into the big composter outside..one day I thought, I've not emptied it, maybe Mr D has as it keeps moving away from the door and back to kitchen. Mr D- "I wondered why on earth it kept turning up by the door. Silly place for a scrap box. I thought Mini D was just using it as a play shopping basket so I kept putting it back for you".) You get the jist.
So my new venture was the Handmade Challenge-met fairly well, except you can't get handmade PS2 games or specialist car polish or iPhones on etsy. So this is what Mr D is getting for Christmas. I will make it myself.
I thought long and hard about the argument for and against toilet paper-yes, you are hearing me correctly-and thought it may be nice to use cloth wipes for Number Ones (possibly just me and Mini D-I'm a reasonable woman). I mean, cloth wipes for babies, what's the big deal? They'd go in my laundry basket, in a (very cute) smell-proof wet bag and get tipped in to wash with everything else. Gentle, thorough (!!) and no chance I'd ever be repeating the 12 week pregnancy/gyno exam scenario again (picture Nurse and Mr D in tears of laughter as I am asked if I minded her "just removing the stray bits of toilet roll" with her gloves before we began!!!! )
Mr D was approached by me the other night (NOT in that way) about the no-toilet-roll scenario. He blinked.
"What on earth are you on? Have they upped your medication?"
No comment.
"What were you picturing the used bits of material-"
"It's called a Family Cloth, Mr D."
Uproarious laughter.
Eyes wiped, breath back, he continued.
"What would they be chucked into? If people came round would it be in a pile in the bathroom or what?"
Deep breaths and Patient Mummy voice on.
"No, there are lots of options, like ceramic jars with essential oils to prevent smells.."Mr D hears essential oils and thinks this."..or I saw one post about an old yogurt container with an X cut into the top-"
At this point I think I reached for the phone to call NHS 24 as Mr D was no longer able to breathe, tears were running down his face and he was turning purple.
The final topic before bed was cloth pads (no) and then the Moon Cup. I am actually very keen on this side of things, as I don't like tampons for what they're made of. However I am not a Pad Girl, so this sounded like a great plan. I ordered it, got it delivered, sterilized, worked out the ways of it..and presto. I love it.
Telling Mr D about this, I mentioned that it isn't really very far in, just a bit as it does the job very adequately positioned just inside. Have I mentioned Mr D hates bodily fluids? Blank look again. Mouth open.
"Just inside..so....your 'bits' look like a mouth with an orange quarter in them?"
Oh.My.Goodness.
I will end there in the hopes that you are not mortally offended by my honest rantings and that you will not unsubscribe!!! I vow to be less graphic next time. And no, I am not carrying any citrus fruits down below.

Harper Valley PTA

2009-09-14T16:59:00.004+01:00

My first PTA meeting tonight...am I wearing my mini skirt??

...September 11th Again

2009-09-11T07:52:00.003+01:00

We've heard enough about 9/11 I know, a tragic and insane event that will never leave our minds fully. Just a quick post to say I Have Not Forgotten. Paul & Ian,friends from my time in the US,were killed in the towers. Brave,going back in to save others moments before the first tower collapsed. Thoughts are with your families on this day. Revelations 21:4 cannot come soon enough.

11 Months and Counting Down..

2009-09-09T13:40:00.003+01:00

Does this little person look ready for school??

Today I had my first Parent-Teacher catch up at Mini D's Pre-School. She has attended other nurseries full time since 5 1/2 months old, as I went back to that job after maternity leave, but THIS is Pre-School...the clue's in the name. Pre. School. It scares me.
Her amazing teacher, Mrs B was really full of the praises for Mini D (if she was seeing her during the times I sneakily dare turn the telly onto something other than Disney Channel, not so sure she'd be sayin' all that..the words 'banshee' and 'screaming' come to mind!!)
BUT Mrs B assured me delightedly that even though D is a January birthday (like mamma), she will be More Than Ready For School in 2010. More Than.
Looked at school calendar...August 18th is the start of the next school year. We have 11 months until uniforms and homework and structured timetables and...big girls. (Please God, no High School Musical or Hannah Montana rubbish...pleeeeaaaase!!)
As you saw in my last post, Erika is having her baby. Maybe that's what I need to get over the trauma. What time does Mr D come home...?

Baby On The Way!

2009-09-09T08:54:00.003+01:00

Erika (one of my wonderfully talented, lovely blogging ladies listed below) is in hospital as we speak, preparing to give birth to Baby Sloane. Prayers are with her, cannot wait to see this little bundle of love!

Family

2009-09-06T10:38:00.010+01:00

I spent the latter teenage and majority of my twenties in countries away from my family. This was really hard. I am a very family-oriented person and not being able to speak to them whenever I want physically hurt. I missed everything-from laughing with Nagyi (my maternal grandmother) to sharing morning espressos with my Dad..but it had to be done. The bottom line of it was I needed a job. Or two. So I had to go. Different countries, different places..
And then it got easier, as the years went by I tried really hard to concentrate on where I was and forging new links around me. When I met Mr D I finally felt the seeds of a new little family unit were being sown. Being away, though still heart-wrenching at times (I wanted to share so much with them face to face!) became a little bit more bearable.
Then Tiny D was born and the desire to be with these amazing people and roots to my-and Tiny D's-past grew even more. We talked about moving to Hungary (Mr D feels as at home there as I do,it's a beauty to behold). However, making a living is the crux of it all, so until we felt we could do that there the plan was on the back burner..so we made do with visits. That ended too soon!
After a series of events, my sister (the Middle One-there are three of us) moved to the UK as well. We're about 5 hours drive from each other, which is amazing. Reenie and her husband had their first little baby earlier this year (my beautiful godson-Tiny B) so it's extra-nice for the two cousins to spend time together every couple of months, as opposed to once a year etc. I love having them nearby.
THEN my mum moved here-literally into the same town as me. So unexpected! This has been great, you absolutely never ever get over being away from your mum, the person who has known you since the very first moment. Regardless of misunderstandings and arguments (being far too similar doesn't help!), you still turn to your mum when you need a shoulder. To cry on, to laugh on, to share on.
So after weeks of being 'too busy', I bit the bullet, accepted the invitation and went across to mum's last night for dinner with Mr & Tiny D. It was great. We had great talks, lots of laughs (Mr D is very silly) and as we were leaving Tiny D burst into those floods of can't-breathe-I'm-crying-so-much tears at the thought of leaving Nanny. We all just melted. At the end of the day, being so close after years of distance can be hard to get used to again, but the essence of it all, the underlying bond, the love, is always there. You will rarely find anything to replace this. And I am so happy Tiny D has already realised this for her little tear-stained self.

Dorothy In The Poppy Field..

2009-09-01T21:39:00.013+01:00

Man, oh man..am I tired or what??
I'm sure all you mamas with Back To Schoolers (including Pre-School and all other forms of childcare that mean "routine") are feeling the same. Every day I am up, out the door, then back home, cleaning, tidying, washing, errand-ing..and then my day job starts (recently opened a childcare facility which is home-based at the moment). I love my family, love my home, love that I have the option of being home and around for my daughter, love my vocation...but man, I would love some sleep..
Do you remember the episode of 'Desperate Housewives' where Lynette takes her child's ADHD medication, in order to have enough energy to get through the day? (Obviously, I am not advocating that!!!) But it made me think, the pressure on mamas to Do It All is immense. You want your house to look presentable (and not harbour illness-inducing germs at least!), you want your children/spouse..oh, and yourself.. to have clean clothes, meals to eat, heating bills paid, you want some time with your children just to play, you want some semblance of organisation..and that means climbing out of bed, sacrificing the much-needed rest and Getting On With It.
Mamas I know and mamas in the blogs that I follow (listed below) are wonderful sources of inspiration and advice. When you think there is no way on earth everything can be accomplished, you either find an easier way to Do It All, or else you realise you can actually cut yourself a little slack sometimes..thank you to all my inspirations.
If this is a bit incoherent, it's because it's real late and I've been awake since 5:45 a.m... Dorothy in the Poppy Field, that's me!

The End of August

2009-08-19T22:11:00.007+01:00

I so remember that Back to School feeling. In Australia, it fell at the end of January/very beginning of February. It meant attacking K-Mart with mum and dad for shiny new pens, pencils, sharpeners, rubbers, felt pens..ooh and all the different styles of ConTact! You tended to get a bit carried away and lightheaded with it all (Yes I DO Need A Paper Guillotine In Primary 4, Thanks Very Much Mum!). A bit Crazy-I-Need-It-Magpie. Possibly fueled by too many Paddle Pops..
The obsession with stationery has not ended I'm afraid. Maybe I am trying to re-capture that excited feeling, that feeling of collecting the tools that will allow me to create and do amazing, new things (like almost fail maths!!). Or at least the feeling of approaching it all with your best shot. Either way, I have something on my desk now I call My Precious. The Garbini!
It is a totally recyclable (made of corn husks, which Mr D refuses to believe) and holds ALL my lovely, shiny, fancy pens and pencils. Pencil cases-and I've tried a few-are far too limiting. Mini D has sussed it's location with wide eyes though, and has shimmied her 3 year old self up onto desk and beyond to high shelf to reach...a shiny pair of black and silver seamstress scissors (did I mention she has no fear?). The Most Precious.
Luckily, this Magpie will have to use her own stash of crayons et al for a while yet..funnily enough, once I saw her on the desk, My Precious moved to locations undisclosed. But the feeling of New Supplies to fuel the academic journey, so to be fully up for the task at hand remains. I love it. And possibly Mini D is heading that way too..