A Rainbow's Promises

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.
~Irish Blessing

We were all thrilled to feast our eyes on this delightful rainbow yesterday afternoon.  The rain has been coming down nicely over the last little while.   It is not constant and still hasn't stopped me walking, but it is raining here in South Australia. 

Yesterday afternoon the sky was filled with dark clouds, there were some downpours of rain.  As the sun began to shine through strongly I urged my little tribe to head outside as there surely would be a rainbow appearing through the rain.  Indeed there was, a double bow!  Can you see the second one there?

We saw the end of the rainbow, right there, almost within an arms reach.  Ess and little Eee and I longed to run over to the greening hills to catch the end of the rainbow.  We decided we'd explore the end of it to find that elusive pot of gold.  "A pot of chocolate gold", Ess declared elatedly, bright eyes beaming with excitement.  Her little legs pounding up and down.  We could hardly hold her back.  Had she been just a little more athletic, I am sure she would have run off down our hill.  But, wise sage as she is, she knew just how far it is to the foothills.  So that pot of gold remains at the end of our rainbow, waiting for another day.

A promise of sunshine, a promise of rain, a promise of brightness, love, excitement and colour.

A promise of happiness, a promise of love, a promise of mercy, in covenant with our maker.

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." Gen 9:13-16

Does a rainbow have a promise for you?

Snowballs

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.  ~Doug Larson

Wouldn't it be nice!?  A romatic notion.   I have the urge but never an opportunity to throw a snowball.  There are none here, neither will there be.  Apart from the above, that is.

Knowing the unique texture of this snowball/pompom yarn would delight the senses: the eyes and hands, face and fingers of my little treasures, it has managed to enter our house.

However I am not sure just what to do with it?

It knits up quite nicely...perhaps I just like the uniformly ordered pattern.  Mind you, it looked nothing like this until I watched this little tutorial.

I have an idea or two.  But I am curious to know...

What would you do?

Macro Improvements - Embracing the Small Things

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

Still enjoying the macro setting on my camera.

They call to me, those little things.  

Begging me to see the tiny detail, to illuminate them, to make them larger, fill the screen, fill my mind.

Much like my delightful children.  "Mummy look at me!"  "Look at this Mummy." "See what I can do!"  The constant chatter and conversation which must be attended to, reiterated and acknowledged.

They demand my heart, my attention, my all.  They beg me to see the finest parts of them, to know them, to celebrate all the tiny bits of newness they enjoy in their lives everyday.  Sometimes it is a real challenge to watch a leg flick this way, then that, as a new manouevre is undertaken, or to echo that new word just one more time to acknowledge to little Eee that she is speaking brilliantly.

Yet, while it sometimes frustrates and tires me, I revel in my role of mothering my girls.  I love to watch them grow and learn and discover anew the things which are very commonplace to me.  In a way, it seems, that I get a second chance at learning too.  It is interesting that the camera was rarely in my hand before they were born.  Now it is rarely somewhere I am not.  Yes I have great subjects in them but I also have a new way of seeing things.  I have slowed down, I have taken time, I have learnt to see and embrace all the small things in everyday life.  Whether that be something of nature outdoors or something within the nature of my darling girls, I am looking more closely.  I am eager to behold every small detail about them in order to know them.  To love them more deeply, to guide them more knowledgeably and to ensure they know that are wonderful little people, very much loved.

Unexpected Beach Delights

The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out.  ~Annie Dillard

Perhaps it has a message for you.

The day was planned.  You know, with washing, tidying, vacuuming, cooking for the long weekend.  Those things I do when I have an extra pair of hands around the house to play with little Eee.  However, upon being asked how she might like to enjoy her day off school today, Ess declared she'd like to visit a playground or.... go to the beach.  The sun was shining and my Generous Gentleman concurred that a morning at the beach would be fabulous.  And so it was!

We rode bikes, played on the playground, enjoyed fish and chips and salad, and of course, dug and dug.  Have you ever dreamed of finding a bottle lying on the beach...with a message contained therein?  Possibly you might find one ;)

Once again inspired by the ever-creative, wonderfully spirited Juliane we prepared to send a message in a bottle.  Not to participate in one of the lovely giveaways she has each month but to feel the joy of sharing, of creating, of sending to an unknown someone and perhaps inspiring you to do something similar.  To make them smile, laugh and feel a sense of anticipation and wonder.

From Semaphore, South Australia to ???

Hoping you find something unexpected, turning up on your beach to delight your senses ;)

Macro on a Gumnut

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it.  ~Author Unknown

It might also have helped me, with my little...well...um...problem.  

After about 7 or 8 years with my faithful Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom by my side I have discovered how to use the macro setting.  Not for lack of wanting.  I have tried and tried to use the macro setting. I love photographing fine detail, close-ups, blossoms.  I knew about macro settings, I knew the symbol on my camera for it. I could see the button for heavens sake.  For the life of me it would not turn on.  I read and read the manual at different stages over the years.  I decided mine was simply a faulty camera and this button was just not working.  This morning I resolved to take it to a camera shop to have someone finally teach me about the macro button on my camera.  I then went home and got the manual out...again.  This time, while reading and playing (with little Eee, not the camera) my mind was illuminated.  I don't know why, I am very tired today after a busy teaching day with a guest, a new student.   Today must just be the day for me to start. 

I cannot believe it!  Just after I made a post about some beautiful native blossoms I have made this discovery which begs me redo it (and the previous one)...only the time it has taken.

I am now learning how to use my macro setting.  It's not hard.  It makes all the arduous work of my previous photos seem ludicrous. I took so so so many photos to get the few that you see which are actually in focus...zooming in and out in order to find just the right place...not too close, too blurry...not close enough, but at least it is in focus.  I have learnt the macro button actually DOES work when I am in the P mode (Program Mode) not the half a dozen other modes on my "point and shoot."  In my defense, it actually did not say this in the manual, I intuitively put two and two together as I explored the P mode.

Tell me, what do you think of my results?  I know I have a lot to practice, but these were taken in the extraordinarly dim room in the centre of my house with very little natural light due to our lovely retaining wall (i.e. I cannot see the sky *sigh*).  I am pleased and can't wait to take more photos.   Yes, I'll be working on my focal point and my shaky hand.  It's tricky with a toddler at your legs!!

The joy of learning something new, you should try it if you haven't done so lately.

Stories of the Native Blossoms

The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.  ~Basho

I'm not sure what these are.  Please fill me in if you know.

Each morning as we walk, the little blossoms lift their heads from amongst the leafy green leaves and branches, turning towards us, calling us.  They beckon us to come closer.  To look within, behind, around about.

We see their intricate makeup, their tiny stamens, their delicate, unique petals, their exquisite colours.

An amazingly enormous Eucalypt/Gum blossom.  I know you can't tell scale. One day I'll show you the accompanying gum nuts - huge!

These are new to me.  Let me know the variety if you know...please.

We see the fairies as they wake from their night's rest, quickly darting away, out of sight...but we catch a glimpse...if sometimes only of the fairy dust left behind in their wake.

Native Correa

Some may look and yet fail to see, to really know, appreciate and explore all that is there to behold.

Some may not see at all...lacking time...lacking interest...failing to realise the beauty and the power of the small things.  Those things the children want to linger over, yet we rush them on...eager to at least commence the next task.

Native Correa

I have been given the gift of time (by my husband who is our breadwinner).  Yet sometimes the tasks are many and I fail to allow the message behind the blossoms to penetrate.  I am thankful that on most occasions when my daughters want to linger, I am able.  I am thankful that I can make the decision to linger, to capture, to remember, to share with my daughters the beauty of nature, to teach them about the Creator.  I am certain they are taking it in. Do you remember back in February when my dear Ess was lamenting the fact it was not yet Winter in order to be able to see the "Christmas Bells" as we fondly call them?  Here they are!  She sees them everyday now.  She picks them, inspects them, counts them, shares them with her friends.

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

I am certain God created blossoms to nourish the soul.

Tend your spirit, linger longer and allow yourself to be nourished.

If you would like some beautifully evocative Australian music to listen to as you linger (including my own voice), then pop on over to my brother to hear Kondalilla.  It is an absolute treat!  My favourite.

Welcoming Winter with Sunshine and Salad

There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and autumn people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.  ~Ruth Stout

Today we are welcoming winter with a burst of sunshine!  Despite the fact I am an absolute cold frog, I do love winter.  The quietness, the closing of the house to keep out the chill,  the snuggling up with one's family.  I love quiet stretches where I savour belonging to myself and to my family.  The brisk chilliness, the nestling cosiness, the fun of rugging up in blankets I'm knitting.  There are some things I miss such as seeing and touching my children's sweet, soft skin, eating and playing outdoors, hanging the washing on my outdoor clothesline :)  

There is also the food we consume. I love the wintry curries, casseroles, slow-cooked for hours, nourishing tired bodies at the end of the day with warm saucy yumminess.  Delicious soups containing vegetables and pulses both warming and nutritious.  Yet I miss salads, raw veges.  Strange really as all the greens grow so well during winter in the cool clime in which I dwell.

So I farewelled Autumn and today welcomed winter with a delicious salad which I must share with you. You see so much of it came from my garden and when I finally get around to deciding where to plant more, much more of this will come from my garden as well.  The Emerald City Salad contains lettuce, capsicum, rocket, parsley and chives from my garden.  I added to that english spinach, fennel, baby cabbage from the market.  Next time I'd like it to contain swiss chard and kale from my garden. Well, maybe down the track.  I had never thought of adding rice to my lemon~EVOO~garlic salad dressing to let it absorb the flavour and I wondered whether it might become gluggy but it didn't, it was fabulous.   As wild rice is ludicrously expensive here in my opinion at $40/kg, I combined wild rice with brown rice.  This salad is so nutritious and tasty, so healthy and inviting.  A fitting way to use the burgeoning greens outside my door.  Yesterday I served it with our BBQ steak, today it was a delicious lunch with my tuna, tomato and cheese on organic sourdough wholemeal spelt toast.

So snuggle up, eat well and savour belonging to yourself during these months of winter.  To my friends in the north, enjoy all that the warmth of summer brings you.