Here ya go....

Have had a lot going on over the last couple of weeks (on various levels), but things seem to be settling down a bit, so here's a bit of a catch up....


Had the charity knitting group meet here again recently.  We sent away 19 beanies and 2 little teddy bears for the OCC Shoeboxes.  We are now busy sewing together knitted strips into cot blankets for KOGO.  Some of the ladies have been sewing them together for me and I am crocheting around the edges...

On the reading front... I've finished Book 1 in the My Struggle series by Karl Ove Knausgaard.
Very, very good!  I'm so looking forward to starting Book 2.
You can read an interview with him HERE

Recently finished Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli.  Also highly recommended...

 

 

 

 And am currently reading Augustus finds Serenity by Ted Scott and I Curse the River of Time...another Per Petterson good read...

 

 

I subscribe to Plough Quarterly.  It's very interesting and informative.  If you don't know about it there is info HERE...

 

 

Plan on heading out on another road trip in a couple of weeks to Hobart to catch up with friends.  More on that later.

 

Also linking this post with Yarn Along on Ginny's blog...a little late, but, you know what they say...

 

 

I'll leave you with a quote from a book I am re-reading - The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown...

 

"Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted.  Belonging, on the other hand, doesn't require us to change who we are to be accepted; it requires us to be who we are." (p25)

 

xx

 

 

Desiderata

Just to remind you all....

 

 

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious
to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter, for always
there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the  changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment;
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

(Max Ehrmann )

Stanley

Great weekend...didn't want to come home :) 

And I have a new passion...driving! In my beautiful new car :))


Here's a sunrise photo from Friday morning before I left Deloraine.  The start to a lovely weekend...

 

 

Stopped at Boat Harbour to visit my friend Fay, then on to visit Hazel, then in to Stanley to book into my cabin.  Got in my first hour long beach walk about 5pm, then chicken soup (which I'd brought from home) for tea.  A little TV...a little reading...an early night...

 

Saturday I was up for an early morning hour long beach walk.  Had the whole beach to myself, as I did on all my walks.  Bliss...

 

Here's a few photos...

 

(sunrise over The Nut)

 

 

 

(starting my walk at one end of the beach and walking to the end)

 

(turning around and walking all the way back to the town)

 

 

And all points in between...

 

 

 

 

 

Had a wander around town, browsing the shops, and visited my friend Simone for a coffee.

 

After lunch picked up two friends (Ursula and Shirley) in Smithton and drove out for afternoon tea with our friend Millie.

 

Back to Stanley in time for another hour beach walk just before dark.

 

More chicken soup...more TV...more reading...more sleep...

 

Sunday morning got in my last beach walk.  Packed up the cabin then off to the Presbyterian Church (that I had attended when I lived in Stanley) for the morning.  The folk there were surprised to see me and we had a catch up and cuppa after the service.

 

Then Carrie, Hazel and I had lunch together at the Dockside Café...

 

(Carrie and Hazel)

 

After which I went on a bit of a last minute shopping spree in the best shop in Stanley... Providore 24

before the 2 hour drive back home.

 

Took my laptop with me and didn't even turn  it on.

 

Took Jason with me and didn't even listen to him.

 

He has been usurped!!

 

Van is my man again!  Played THIS amazing cd all weekend...

 

And still playing it!!!

 

xx

 

 

 

 

Road Trip

1. clothes
2. food
3. music
4. books
5. wine
6. pen/pencil/writing paper
7. camera
8. laptop

I'm off to Stanley for the weekend :)))

 

To walk on the beach...catch up with friends...relax...

 

In my nice new car

 

With Jason along for company :))

 

xx

 

 

Spring has sprung!

It's spring here in Tasmania!

Monday (1st) we had rain, but the last 2 days have been beautiful, sunny and warm.  The trees are blossoming and the daffodils are blooming... but I'm going to leave my fog picture on my blog for a while longer :)

Denver had to wear a costume to school today for Book Week.  It was a garden theme so he went as a scarecrow...

I've sewn together (and crocheted around the edge) one cot blanket for KOGO from the strips the knitting ladies brought in to our last get together.  I have enough strips for two more...

Also have 22 x 10 inch squares crocheted.  I need 28 for a blanket for Wrap with Love...

And my friend Debbie sent me 27 x 10 inch squares she crocheted before she left for India a few days ago.  She will be living there for 6 months, so if you have a fascination with India, colour, noise, heat, people...check out her BLOG....

We have been friends for nearly 30 years and met through our daughters becoming friends at school.  We are both very different as you will see if you visit her blog.  She is very much a people person (I'm not), she loves the noise and colour and the crowdedness of India (I would hate it!), but we are the best of friends :))

 

 

 

 

Finished reading THIS.  Really enjoyed it!

Have started THIS and I know I'm going to enjoy it too.  It is the first of six autobiographical books by Knausgaard.  I'm in my Scandinavian season and seem to be particularly drawn to Norwegian writers :))  

 

 

 

 But also have to read THIS for the Book Group I've joined.  I read it a few years ago, but because I can't really remember much about it until the re-reading jogs my memory, I guess I'll have to read it again.  It's a good book, but not really the sort I'm into at the moment...

So...there you have it!  A bit of a catch up.  I fear I've been busy with other pursuits and have neglected my lovely new car.  Perhaps we will go for a drive together on the weekend.  Along with Jason Mraz :)))

Make the most of your day!

xx