Prodigal Blogger Returns

Okay, So I've done it again. I started a blog, wrote for a while and then life became busy and I couldn't spare the time to reflect.
Yes, Amma came, we had a sublime trip/family reunion in Pambula....aaaahhhh...Pambula!
And then life as a full time student, part time yoga teacher, parttime student, mother of two, oh and a wife...hubby struggling (muffled calls...in vain) under the pile of unattended dirty washing, unwashed plate...or is he in the empty fridge, just to keep out of my way.
I have resurrected my obsessive, compulsive self, charging through the sleepless nights in front of assignments, and heady days whirling from teaching placements, to dance classes for the girls, to study, work, kid exchange rendesvous.
No time for knitting. Reading. Movies. Although I did sneak one in last Monday night. The Edge of Heaven, a Turkish/German collaboration. What an amazing journey of a film. I officially wish to retire to some seaside village on the Black Sea in Turkey.

In Anticipation of an Ocean of Goddess Love

I stick one pale arm up out of the pile of textbooks and papers and assignment drafts to feel for the delicious biodynamic carrot dangling in front of me, in the form of AMMA, my favourite saint (it used to be Saint Sebastian with the arrows in his torso- ghoulish Catholic Saint books with explicit illustrations of torture), for me she is the embodiment of spiritual power- soft, awesomely great, of this world and out of this world all at once, practical, of service, accepting. My favourite saint is a LIVING SAINT, and she hugs! boy does she hug! She has hugged millions and millions, around the world, and she does it non-stop, and hardly eats or sleeps, but just hugs and sings and directs the most efficiient humanitarian work on the planet!
I am a HUG-AHOLIC, and will be taking my beloveds again to see her: to melt into her rose-scented marshmallow arms, to dissolve into the Ocean of Goddess Love. She reconnects me to the Source, and I am eternally grateful I have the incredible privilige to spend time in her presence.
On a more pedestrian but excitingly practical note, it rained so gloriously yesterday, my poor drought chickens relished under umbrellas with their little friend, watching,feeling, smelling and hearing the joyous tears of the clouds!

Down by the Inner City Farm

What a way to study Child Development, sitting at the best cafe in town, drinking coffee, my "chickens" chasing and massaging goats in the nearby paddock, the smell of peppercorn trees and hay down at the Collingwood Children's Farm..

I just had to take a few photos of the girls amazing story they set up yesterday, involving gnomes and fairies negotiating playground politics. I am so intrigued by the processing of experiences which goes on in play.

Harvest Festival In the Big Smoke

Such a wonderous unique little Primary School Harvest happening this morning. The children listened to the Scarecrow tale in amongst the growing community garden, they played games with hanging apple pieces and their hands tied behind their backs, and feasted on the abundance of food cooked by them, and brought in from the gardens and kitchens of the school community. What a feast, and a memorable experience for the children.

Children's Book Trawl

I got to a couple of school fetes this weekend, and I am so excited to have found a little pile of delicious kids books!A Bell for Ursli- a little Swiss book apparently famous and well known by all Swiss children, recently republished by Floris Books, an amazing little Puffin collection of Scottish and New Hebrides folk tales, The Mouth of the Night, actually containing the Celtic Dragon Myth, the story my daughter's class teacher is telling at this very moment. The Class 2 period in Steiner Education is immersed in Celtic stories.; a collection of Greek myths, told so very amusingly, and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark, or Blue Kangaroo fame; Mrs Pepperpot's Year, cute stories about a little old woman who becomes even littler at random moments, and has adventures; a delightfully illustrated version of Grimm's Jorinda and Jorindel (my second picture book version of this divine tale;Suzanne and nicholas at the Market by the incredible Japanese illustrator/author Satomi Ichikawa. I couldn't believe my luck to find this little book, having fallen in love with another of her, A Child's Book of Seasons. Her illustrations are miniturist in nature, and so intimately revealing of the realm of childhood; and Aesops Fable illustrated by Bernadette (yes just that), also featured in Steiner Education in Class 2 , this one with European style illustrations.
Oh Joy!

Early Morning Creative Industry

Chicken 1 - really into mermaids...
Chicken 2 drawing a fridge with ice pack, orange juice and a person sleeping next to the fridge...

I am not one of these mothers who sets the alarm to be up and baking before the kids wake up. Perhaps I secretly wish I could be, but I have come into the habit of regarding my children as alarm clocks.
Hence, the first sounds this morning were of the two Chickens out in the "studio" drawing. This is a common waking sound, the sound of creative industry. After drawing, came dressing for the one-off Saturday morning dancing class (note maroon leotard) and a bit of catching up with a scarf knitting project for Chicken 1, well in time for chilly mornings (who knows). We are BIG on scarfs, warding off the "evil wind" from getting in behind the neck.
The soundtrack to the morning was my mate Mick's luscious CD "Little Treasures". The Chickens love it and keep playing it over and over again.

A Sweltering Start to Autumn

What felt like an appropriate nature table a week ago now seems ridiculous! Ah, Melbourne weather...


Seriously hot days have been strangely enjoyable, taking us all by surprise after the cool week last week. From a feather down parker to nudies running around the backyard this afternoon, fans at night, and a homemade icy pole frenzy.
Our gorgeous Greek neighbours have plenty of ripe tomatoes, many of which arrive in paper bags at random intervals via Chicken 1 and 2.