Desert Darling

Python Pool

Our favourite stop on our camping trip last weekend..

A welcome escape from the heat, the dust and the flies!

 

The pool is in the Millstream-Chichester National Park, where the Yindjibarndi people are the traditional landowners. The Juluwarlu Aboriginal Corporation has produced "Ngurra Wardurala Buluyagayi: Exploring Yindjibarndi Country", which is a book I'm going to buy. It records over fifty sites of significance to the Juluwarlu People and includes maps, photos, songs and stories relating to each place.

Every time we visit magical places like this one, I wonder about the people who were here first.. I think it's important to learn more.

 

My Storybooks

My Mum recently posted up a few Richard Scarry books that she had saved from our childhood..

They used to be firm favourites so It was interesting leafing through the old pages, remembering all the funny illustrations and the quirky little storylines.

Did anyone else grow up with Lowly Worm, Sargent Murphy and Hucklecat? I hear they have their own tv show now..?

 

Bay seems to enjoy these books too.. I have mixed feelings about reading them to her, as not only are they really long to read but also rather dated! I can sorta smile at the scenes depicting exaggerated gender roles and other unflattering stereotypes because they reveal the books vintage.. but I definitely don't want those sorts of assumptions ingrained in my kids psyche!

Mum does have some other (more timeless) books from our childhood in boxes, which I will look through next time we're there.. Many of them are still in print so would be easy enough to buy from any bookshop, but there is something special about reading from the exact same copy that was read to you as a kid!

Another memorable book from my childhood can be seen here

 

done!

Phew! Have finally finished off the last of the Thank You Notes for all the generous gifts and kind wishes we received upon Ivos' arrival!

I'm not very technical so just went straight to Vistaprint, chose a template, uploaded my photos and added text. I selected a high gloss photo finish with a blank reverse side for a handwritten thank you message

I love the weird and wonderful facial expressions that babies pull. I couldn't settle on one photo so used my top three.. the last pic is probably my favourite! hehe

I was looking back at Bays' Thank You notes and had a bit of a laugh over that photo of her. I'm scratching my head now wondering if that was really the best photo I could find? I remember at the time thinking she just looked like the cutest thing ever, but now with the passage of time I'm thinking Hmmm. Haha but I still love looking back at that funny little face!

Some more of our low tech home made Thankyou Notes here

reader

I've just joined a local book club!

I'm really excited.. I've wanted to be part of a bookclub forever.

A few years ago I tried to start one with my friends, but we kept getting drunk and not talking about the book. 

image via Bohemea

I found about this one through word of mouth.. it's a lovely mix of women from different ages and backgrounds, so lots of interesting discussions to be had. 

 We meet once a month I'm really looking forward to our next meeting!

more or less

This year I want to get some balance back into my life.

I've made this list and have stuck next to my bed as a daily reminder of the areas in my life that need a bit of re-adjustment.

Some will be easier than others 

Sometimes lots of little changes can be just as good as a few big ones. I want to replace my old habits with new ones.. habits of the mind, as well as the body!

Which areas of your life do you think could use more balance..?

Bays' Stars

When Bay was born I took very careful note of the exact time because I always intended to get her astrological chart done.

I know most people think it is Hocus Pocus.. but I'm not so sure.

I ordered a custom astrology book  via AstrologyZone, which is where I always read my monthly horoscope.

The book arrived last week and I really like it. It's lovely and glossy and personalised all the way through. It has a thorough analysis of her chart such as which planets affect which aspects of her personality, her communiaction style and emotional development. It also includes gentle suggestions to help support her growing up, based on her parents sun sign as well.  

It's over 50 pages and has been quite fun to read through.

It doesn't really go into huge detail about the planetary angles or the balance of elements, which I'd eventually like to find out more about because even Blind Freddy can see that everything is bunched over one side of her chart with the other half looking a bit bare!

Of course I am taking it with a pinch of salt, but even Mister 'If I can't touch it it's not Real'  has agreed a few of the things I've read out describe her to a tee!

 

Girl Talk

I just read this article by Lisa Bloom, from a link posted at A Cup of Jo.. and if you haven't already, then you should read it too. Especially if you have a little girl in your life.

   
image via Happy Days Are Here Again

I realise that whenever talking to a little girl, I unthinkingly base our converstaions around her hair or her shoes or her outfit.. rather than taking an interest in what is going on in her mind.

I would consider it a tragedy if my own daughter relied heavily on her appearance for a sense of self worth.. My goal is for her to be free of the body image crap that plagues her Mother!

From now on, I am totally on board for making a habit of having cerebral conversations with little girls.. (And come think of it, this is probably something I could apply to adult women friends as well)

I'm quite interested in reading Lisa Blooms' book, Think to learn more about her perpective.

Buddhism for Mothers

I usually consider myself a laid back person. Happy more often than not. Generally pretty relaxed. Good at choosing my battles. 

But having a baby has changed that.

I've become short tempered. Irritated by small things. Moody and impatient.

And although I am quick to point out I'd never, ever take this anger out on my Baby, my poor Husband hadn't been faring so well.

I couldn't really explain my rage. I hadn't been able to talk myself out of it. Ignoring it wasn't making it go away either. Blaming lack of sleep was only getting me so far.

So I finally made time to read the book, Buddhism for Mothers- A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children by Sarah Napthali, which I had purchased when I first discovered I was pregnant.

I'm so glad I did!

 

It has been the first book that I have read from start to finish since having Bay.

It is a truly lovely read, there is a lot of wisdom contained within its pages. Napthali's writing is concise and potent. 

The first section I opened up happened to be on Anger, so it had me from page 1.. It then went on to discuss a range of topics such Worry, Finding Calm, Your Relationship With Your Partner and Losing Your Self Image, amongst other issues, all of which are very relevant to the modern Mother.

Napthali is refreshingly honest about the drudgery, loneliness and self doubt that so many of us experience alongside the well documented joys. Her perspective is gentle, practical and non-preachy. There is no hard sell with regards to Buddhism.. it simply offers a different way of integrating more kindness and calm into your daily life.

I enjoyed reading it slowly, just a few pages at a time and allowing it all to sink in. It is a book I will read over and over again.. and I suspect each time I will get something new out of it.

I found this comment particularly memorable:

"Motherhood makes your life twice as bad and twice as good"

It was a relief to read that, because it resonates with my experience so far. 

The book contained other home truths, such as "many of us feel outraged at the level of self-sacrifice required of mothers" and "We often see anger as protection against being exploited", which have not only helped explain my anger but eased my guilt about it. 

Simple advice such as "our mode of speech is contagious" and "ensure you speak to the right person- sometimes this is yourself" help me deal with my negative feelings in a more helpful way. 

The book is full of gems that will benefit all my relationships.. not just with my child, but with my husband, with my friends and also make me happier about life in general... without having to run off to a tibeten monastary or fast under a tree! 

This is definitely a book I would consider a wonderful gift for friends having a baby, as I think it has something to offer everybody, regardless of your spiritual leanings.

cloudstreet

Tim Winton is one of my favourite authors, and I thought Cloudstreet was one of his very best books!

So I was excited but also a bit nervous when it was made into a TV mini series.

I taped all three episodes and only just finished watching them this weekend.

It did not disappoint!

Cloudstreet is set in post war Perth, in the suburb of West Leederville. It's the story of two very different families who are forced to move to the city after separate family tragedies.

I thought the acting was really good and the show was styled perfectly!

It was nearly enough to make me wish I lived in the 1950s.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
I especially liked Rose and Dolly Pickles' costumes, hair and makeup. Though Lester was my favourite character. And Fish of course.

I loved the setting and have a soft spot for all the scenes on the Swan River.. the old house seemed to have a character of it's very own. . the screenplay was beautiful... the characters were all flawed but mostly likable. 
 
Usually I can't stand film adaptions of good books, but this one is an exception. 

4 stars from me.
 

 

library lovin'

I had to make some photocopies the other day so went into the local library.

The plan was to be super quick, but it was so quiet and peaceful in there I ended up staying for over an hour.

Just browsing the aisles, looking at books, enjoying the calm.

I had Bay with me, and I think she enjoyed the atmosphere too. She slept in her sling the whole time.

 

I've signed up for a membership and now have a nice stack of books I'm going to read.

Well, try to read.

I don't get big stretches of time like I used to, but even if it's only a chapter a day, I want to get back into reading, because I have really missed it!

Go the F**k to Sleep

I am so going to buy a copy of this book.

Actually I'm going to buy several copies..  I think it would make the perfect Baby Shower gift

It's obviously written for parents living in the Real World.

 
 
 
 

So funny.

It's written by Adam Mansbach and illustrated by Ricardo Cortes.

And if you can relate to this book, you'll probably find this quite funny too.

Millicent

A few months ago I was in a bookstore, where I happened upon this book. 

Millicent by Jeannie Baker.

I had totally forgetten about it, but I used to love this book when I was a child.

The pictures are like no other.

Does anyone else remember it?

 
 
 
 

So of course I bought the book. For Bay.

Information and more artwork by the Author here 

 

Pen & Paper

I have been tagged by Sass from Sass and Spice and Ash from Harriets Place

The answers to the following question using good old fashioned pen and paper!

-Blog Name
-Blog URL
-"A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
-Favourite quote
-Favourite song, singer or band
-Anything you want
- Tag Someone

 

Over to you Lila from Rasied by Wolffs and Shan from Pilbara Face!

I hardly ever use a pen and paper to write anymore.

Unless it's a shopping list. Which I usually forget to take to the shops anyway.

I went down to the Visitors Centre last week and bought a stack of postcards, which Im going to use to write to some of my friends back in Perth.

 

twenty five weeks

So here I am at 25 weeks.

  
Pregatron and Baby Skeletor

The baby is rocking out in there. Kicking and punching a lot. I felt something move around 18 weeks, but at first I thought I'd just had too many dried apricots. But it's so strong now it is unmistakable. It's strange that I'm never alone anymore. The Mister can feel it move from the outside. Which he loves.

I went to buy a few baby clothes. But as we have decided not to find out if Skeletor is a boy or girl the unisex choices are kind of boring.

So I bought myself a few new books instead.

The last in the series by Steig Larsson. I was a bit slow to jump on the Millenium bandwagon. I get put off by too much hype. But I finally did and enjoyed the first two and want to finish the series before I see any of the movies.

I also got Three Dollars by Elliot Perlman because I really enjoyed his other book 7 Types of Ambiguity. A really good Australian author!

And because I like to do things by threes, I also bought Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffennegger because I quite liked her other book The Time Travellers Wife. Not so much a fan of the moive, even though it had Eric Banna in it, who i have a massive soft spot for.

And now it's packing time as I am off to Broome with my girlfriends for the weekend to celebrate our friends birthday!! Yipppee!!!

Edmund Dulac

I love the exquisite dreaminess of these Edmund Dulac illustrations.

Perfect for childrens fairystories.

Mostly sweet but just a little bit scary.

  

   

 
  
All prints for sale from Arty Crafty

These illustrations have brough back memories of my favourite childhood stories.

I loved the Ice Queen and Princess and the Pea