Right now…

Posted on June 26, 2013 by rosalindentree

Just hours away from going home!!
Home to our bus, home to papa, home together.

Jesse will be meeting us in the warm evening of cairns soon. I imagine there will be a green coconut or two for dessert and lots of smiling and that funny exhilarated giggly happiness of coming together again.
Ten days is not long on a calendar, but for me this time has seemed looooooong. I’ve been fighting off a bug And simple exhaustion from moving house 4 times this last month as we gratefully took up our friends house sits to see out the end of school term. Phew!! Thanks all of you.
We’ve stayed in a mud brick mansion, an A frame timber home with fire heated radiators, a shed house, a homely self contained apartment and finally a bus.
Gradually downsizing ready for our own bus!!

Holding steady for two little people when I’m feeling vulnerable is a task gigantum presently. The insight I’ve had is keep it simple. My anxiety lessens when I
Lessen my expectations on myself!
let food be simple. As one friend pointed out a lovingly cooked egg on toast is probably more nutritious than a stressed out complex cooked meal.
Make them eggs, smile and sit with them.
Connection.
Let there be mess. Really. It’s ok Rosi.
Leave dishes in the sink overnight and go read them stories and cuddle.
Let them play. Let them bathe. Let them help.
Ask for help.
Thank you everyone who cooked for us last week…
Have humor switched on.
Be honest with people if I’m not coping.
Remember this too will pass!
One day it will be in the past ( that day is today!!!)
Hooray. (Nervously)
Xx
What makes life more graceful for you at transition times?

So far.. away…

Posted on June 5, 2013 by rosalindentree

on departure the morning mist cloaks the hillsides

departing the fertile valleys of the mid north coast and headin south… it’s a beautiful perspective of the folds and crests of the land hearabouts from up sky..

the big smoke… a fleeting stopover…

on the plane i listen with empathy to the crying babes

and turn back to my book with glee… it’s not me with puking kids, this time…

at the airport Sydney I am famished as the few mouthfuls of breakfast I distractedly inhaled have worn off, i seek the noodle bar my mama described to me and am so enjoying my broth and reading and then the $2 massage chairs…

i forget to check in for my next flight…

oops, lucky i got a self proclaimed ‘nice’ man at the counter who lets me on anyway…

{feeling abit country mouse at this point but enjoying myself…}

arriving into a babble of easy banter with my oldest young friend, we join her friends inner city for lounging, ethiopian eating and dancing! wow feeling so bold and dashing in my red wool coat and that new wool skirt i made… {details one day. maybe}

in between i had a stroll in the road and delighted in my find of this Pincushion Hakea a favorite from Western Australia. What a quirky flower and great name. Some aspects of the medicine of this flower is

to have an open mind and be open to new ideas and interested in the world. {can you see how the flower reaches out in every direction confidently?}

Think that might come in handy this week for me?

dinner, Ethiopian flavours astound me, smoky paprika or warm cumin or slightly vinegar pickle or sweet beet or queer fermented pancake bread… mmmm new things to experience

and 5 other lovely ladies to enjoy with…

and then and then there was more at The Substation

Dead Quarry Mountain Rats play high speed twanging tunes, handsome talented lads with flying fingers

{but i snobbishly think they could do with some articulation assistance…}

I cannot keep up and go out for a breather and a cuddle with the radiator

enjoying people watching and trying to digest the days stimulation!

until the highly quirky and amusing Perch Creek Family jug band step up and have me soon in stitches

four siblings and a partner, all beautifully talented musicians and a couple sporting magnificent vocal range! harmonies to soar in this great hall and hilarious almost embaressing banter betwixt.

when did dorky become cool? i think i could really fit into this scene in Melbourne…

In another life I played double bass and when i see the instrument hopping and jiving in this folk/bluegrass/soul context i long to be there thumping out the bass line. it really wasn’t so much fun at the back of the orchestra…

this sign greets me in my dear friends kitchen. I say YES yes yes!

being idle in the sunroom for hours… luxury… my thoughts can come to a natural completion with no interruption! hoorah! i can think any think i can think…

and then such a long long invigorating seaside stroll with a myriad of greys and mauves and silver sheening water for company

and pressing my face into WA wildflowers growing happily in the garden

Geraldton wax my favorite since ever has taken me on a great healing journey {still on it actually}

in another life i spent a year working on an artwork of this flower and a dear friend put it onto my skin. daily reminders of the medicine of this flower…

have you ever crushed some of the leaf and smelt the divine aroma?

and then check out these enormous pillars of Banksia. Im not sure which variety but so striking.

and then later…

my daily victual awaits…

ahhhh so full of gratitude to all who have made this a possibility and to myself, yippee you’ve given yourself a mini sabbatical… xx

what would you do if you could run away from life for a few days?

Waking up to… {ode to Autumn}

Posted on June 1, 2013 by rosalindentree

Yellow the bracken
Golden the sheaths
Rosy the apples
Crimson the leaves
Mist on the hillside
Clouds grey and white
Autumn good morning
Summer goodnight

Author unknown to me

I revel in this crisp changing
Colors of the season enthrall me and I have to pull over and pause to savour
This tree is on my friends property
Almost a year ago I arrived to be present with their big children while mama was birthing
In the morning this tree shone vermillion crimson russet gold against a soft ash sky just like today
I will remember this baby’s arrival when I see the trees like this and the warm stillness of her family home

and on the way home, i see the trees like this adorned with a rainbow. I am aware for the first time of Cedar’s conscious recognition of a rainbow! a special moment… mama, burple wed gween in sky…

this classic Australian Grug book has been preparing him for the Autumn/Winter rainbow season…

ps is it really Autumn goodnight Winter hello??

A knowing moment

Posted on May 28, 2013 by rosalindentree

today Some solo moments by a silver shiny sea

reveal an expression of self inquiry

i want to hear the truth within me

Beyond the babblings of this mind and fear

There lies the knowing and clarity

in a stillness i cannot force

if only i can move aside

To allow this space for it to arise

To put my ponderings down to rest

To connect with the heart of it

I am fearful, I see this

remind me, my soul is steady despite the outer bombardment

The path ahead is divided and I must choose a way once more

Please instinct please knowingness please wise owl

turn up the volume, allow me to hear

in this moment I have forgotten how

What Katie requested.

Posted on April 30, 2013 by rosalindentree

a recurring theme of my year so far has been the gift of friendship

again and again i am overcome with gratitude to these unique people who have time and space and words and ears for me and vice versa and the precious and mundane moments we share, the interest in each others lives, from the deep processes and vulnerable sharing to, how are you handling the lice on your children?

one of my dear friends is Katie

What she did is varied and inspirational

Loving motherhood, wise partnership, humorous perspective, deep knowledge, inspirational blogging at Obaitori, gentle guide in yoga and yogic studies, creative attentive mumsy, phone a friend availability and more and more….

anyway, we rarely have time together but

during our last visit in March, Katie requested this recipe

presented just like this {authentic glimpse into my bookshelf}

so here it is dear on the original kookaburra note paper

it has nothing to do with the River Cottage {though there are lots of good recipes in there}

i found it in a backwater town in highland Qld in an old camp cookbook

It is simply

Pour 1c Arborio rice or medium grain white rice into a deep baking dish/camp oven

cover with

approx 4c liquid {milk/water blend to your taste}

add a diced apple or two

dot with butter

cover tightly with a lid or foil

bake at 180’c about 40 minutes or til liquid mostly absorbed and rice cooked

easy

serve with whatever yummy toppings

honey, maple, chopped nuts, fruit, berry sauce, ice cream….

variation

add 1 tspn cinnamon and 1/2 c sultanas or black currants to the mix

endless variety or simplicity

xxx

thanks for being my friend

when we are old ladies we can take endless beach walks with a thermos and our knitting…

Reading solo

Posted on April 28, 2013 by rosalindentree

Traveling this summer has given Lily a lot of space to practice reading independently. She gobbles up books almost as fast as I can! We still read aloud to her every day and sometimes she will read to me while I go about my tasks or pause and knit. If she wants me to read to her she is learning that I am usually willing, if she offers to do my task. what’s your favorite place to read? or fantasy place? {some of my faves are reading in the bath with the door locked, cosied in bed or in the swing chair in dappled sunlight} any favorite early reader books you recommend? Peace and words

learning through letter writing… and lasting friendship

Posted on April 18, 2013 by rosalindentree

when Lily was on her way to two years old, we pulled up in the fringes of Fremantle WA to make our home for a while. We initially house sat for friends of ours and then stayed on for a few weeks after their return. Their wee boy Fern was only four weeks older than Lily and soon these two where playing, cooking, working, eating, walking, peeing and making mischief companionably alongside each other

We nicknamed them straighty and curly (their hair) and told funny stories about their adventures.. during the years we lived nearby, they surely where besties and devoted fans of the Amazing Drumming Monkeys! {do you like all my made-up words?}

we’ve all had a lot of adventures since then, but the connection is alive in our hearts and when I sat letter writing during the week, Lily joined me to write to Fern who now lives in NZ.

We haven’t seen him since late 2008 but the occasional letter or gift or joke passes over the sea between them.

Lily drew in pencil on the pillow case and I carefully embroidered the artwork. Age 4

shortly after our arrival in NZ, they haven’t seen each other for a year

I was quietly hopefull this letter writing would go without frustration (hers) and outwardly, gently encouraging as Lily focused in on this task. She has only recently begun writing more than a few words spontaneously and she seemed abit daunted by the long blank page. Enthused, but asking me to help her decide what to write, she eventually decided to write about her life because he doesn’t know what she’s been doing. {dear Fern I live in a bus it is powered on blueberry gas… thats 8 year old humor for you}After the first paragraph she copies jokes down for him to giggle over, and then drew a cartoon story on the back about life in the bus and so it became a good laughing session and I was so pleased to see her persistence and interest and enjoyment of the ink flowing onto the page, even if some of it was blobs.

Sometimes I am anxious about her ‘official educating’ when she has spent so much time absent from school, yet we have not officially taken up the homeschool banner. I question whether she is stimulated enough or if her skills are developing as they need to. I doubt myself and my ability to guide her along the paths of interest and learning and sometimes wonder if she is simply bored bored bored! I fall into the trap of comparison with other families and how they get on with their lives and education, I worry and celebrate and come up with great ideas and sometimes am at a complete loss.

So you see, when these moments happen and I am shown how naturally her writing and punctuation and word structure and creative writing have developed without formal classes I am so, so excited! From last week to this her skill has remarkably improved in this area, and since this day of letter writing she has written a few more short stories and in depth captions to her illustrations. {she had a fever over the weekend and I do have to wonder about the picture from Anthroposophy in which children often come out of a fever having grown or developed or moved into a new place, or something fantastic like that}

cheeky happy monkeys!

the stump in the garden became the centre of long imaginative plays involving fairies and diggers

in Mike Lillian’s {wind willow basketry} abundant woven garden

I have subscribed to this wonderful blog Simple Homeschool {never let your schooling interrupt your education}

Here I find writings which are so encouraging with regards to some of these struggles I have. One point which is repeated is along these lines

“the connection and relationship and enjoyment of each other take priority over

getting the comma in the right place every time”

And so, I am enthused and inspired about this child’s learning which evolves in front of me, mirrored by my own personal learning amidst it all. Particularly the gift of humour!

did you enjoy the amusing photo’s of the little ones amongst my musings?

{i just couldn’t resist sharing them once I got back into to my old library of photographs}

do you home school, school school or some other?

how have you and your child/ren approached literature skills?

or how do you imagine approaching this with them?

any thing you want to share on this topic?

have you a love of the written word?

peace and ponderings

Roselinde

Waking up to…

Posted on March 23, 2013 by rosalindentree

Waking up to

The ocean does something really wonderful to me! Particularly in the glow and cool of early morn as I stretch open my body and mind.

Then reading this post which inspired me and articulated gently a common thread in parenting.
Blessings on your day
Can you give yourself a simple intention for this day?

R
Thank you J for the photos

Bruny Island bliss

Posted on March 3, 2013 by rosalindentree

Bruny Island adventures

a long story with lots of photographs

It begins with

crankiness along the coast

tired and tetchy

itchy and scratchy

we are at a frictious all time low {i think that every time we hit the downside of our cycle}

finally a camp at the neck campground and some play

i remember to bring out the watercolour paints and pencils

Jesse remembers to play music

(note the kids cubby next door)

which i tried to help with by request and ended up being screamed at

tempers are frayed these days

but Lily finds meditation in making a bush home for Cedar’s leopard

we look for penguins late into the night

and are just cold and disappointed

{take a red light torch and lots of warm clothes, a flask of hot tea and make everyone be silent or the penguins will wait until the noisy crowd gives up and not come to everyone else leaves! making their young wait hours while they wait in the water until it’s safe}

adventure bay offers us a little respite simply by being beautiful and we split up and take a child each and some space

but things are stilted and we are not flowing together

even filling our water tank becomes an issue

i am reminded that despite external surroundings it is one’s inner state which dictates one’s happiness

and that when one is happy one doesn’t mind so much where one is!

i start to pray

help us find a safe place to unfold

find a friend for Lily

find a supportive friend for Jesse

find me a hot shower and some nurturing

and then

like a mirage is Michael running down the road

ask and ye shall receive

oh thankyou!

Michaels blue bush palace has evidence of his seabound joy everywhere

boats, diving gear, surfboards, fishing tackle, shells, paddles, wetsuits, seaweed…..

He and Jesse met nearly 15 years ago and he generously invites us to stay a night

{which becomes two}

he has an abundant garden including a hothouse for the cold season

and thrives on this and seafood of all varieties

he collects and dries his own wild seaweed for added nutrition!

Michael shares his warm heart and uplifting life values so openly

we can’t help but ease open too.

Lily and his son Brody become instant mates and Cedar is happy playing with his tonka truck

or shovelling sand

I luxuriate in a long hot riverwater shower…

We are blown away to have abalone prepared for us {me first time! ahhhh yum}

though at first i can’t believe these yucky slimy mess are so coveted

the bounty of Michael and Flo’s {current French WWOOFer} recent dive

prepared with Michaels incredible {unusual} experienced process

{not what they do in restaurents}

we are soon feasting

Cedar decides to eat nothing else!

luxury tender surprising salty deliciousness!

i cant quite fathom we are eating about $300 worth of abalone!

Jesse and I look at each other and wonder how we got here?

while the men are cooking I wander about photographing the property

it is all blue, light, timber trims, glass and mirrors

a lush oasis on Bruny island

and then morning and Michael shares his passion for surfing with us

his clear enthusiasm is infectious and transparent

we meet the only other family on the beach on holiday from Sydney and wishing they lived here

i am fascinated by his {holiday fellow} hollow wooden surfboard, a beautiful play thing

Lily gets her first wave! she is helped up to standing and then pushed off to ride to shore again and again

she is totally high

and freezing

while the others are in the icy seaweedy water {swim anyone?}

i play ashore with Cedar

and engage myself with unknotting a 15m tangle of kelp I love this giant sea tree

i slice some of the new growth to take home and dry

to add to soups

next is our beach drive tour of Cloudy bay

ending with a paradisical swim in the pristine turquoise calm side of the bay

the land is a stunning contrast of sea sky and forest

it feels untouched and still enchanted here and i am deeply touched by the peace and bounty of this area

the children slide down a massive sand dune endlessly

Jesse and I swim and chase

while Michael catches up on some internet work

{and if y’all get over there quick you too can meet Michael at the awesome festival which he organizes!}

what a beautiful friend living an incredible lifestyle

I am so inspired by this man who is living his bliss

sharing his bliss

caring for and inspiring others

Thankyou for welcoming us in and encouraging the joy back into our hearts

so a long story that started painfully, had a happy ending

and the finale was sailing the bus and eating a pile of fresh baguettes and cheese…

sometimes i feel like the luckiest woman

Ship rock falls

Posted on March 2, 2013 by rosalindentree

After Dancing Ground
Bodies limber
And weary
After dancing and stretching
And expanding in happiness
And connection
Plans change suddenly
A double obstacle
And I am lost
Internally inflexible
The flow is gone from me
Decision becomes distant
Anxiety arises
Partnership confuses things
We argue mildly
I am tired and back in the big world after festival cosseting and catering
It’s inescapably hot
I don’t know this area or where to find a swim
It’s overwhelming as we try to lead our family with no reference point
We chase a train and find some shade
Hooray a patch of green ground
Jesse takes Cedar walking
I lay with my back on the cool earth
Old tree shade covers me
Air becomes cooler
Temper becomes cooler
Priorities become more clear
The panic abates as fast as she arose
Go gently
Transition kindly
Find water and shade and food and sweetness
Is it really so simple?
For today for me it is

Later there is Ship Rock falls
A screaming step too close to a tiger snake who also wants the damp shade
A joyful explore of granite bouldery mossy water roaring tree ferny banksia woods with little man
A digestive coma after delicious orreciette with pesto olives salmon capers parmesano basil goat fetta more
Music echoes through the trees
I improve School Polka number 2 on the button Accordian
Children accompany
The world is right again

Later there is Kurth Kiln
rain howls and thunder blows
A safe camp to sleep in misty forest green
A playful morning
Road river races
Water churning exploring
Lily wants to eat the swollen river froth
Dripping ferns and bird songs and our songs
Cedar is the leader
Heart skipping with the scent of freshness and cool
How quickly the wheel turns
The sun rises the clouds part
Or how quickly my moods evacuate…
Hmmm