1000 Fields of Roses

Singing In The Weekend

This week feels like it’s lasted a few thousand years…
the normal schedules have been a bit disrupted lately, so everything feels a bit wonky. I’ve been out of the house more than usual, and I’m feeling a bit of weariness.
Part of that could be a habit of browsing the charity shops while I’m out – I’ll have to get used to taking my trolley bag with me rather than carrying everything home!

Having just uploaded various things from my phone, it looks like I’ve been taking photos most days this month. Part of that has been trying to figure out the camera on my phone (I’ve just worked out how to use the video function. I think.) Mostly, I just enjoy taking photos… from the way the light hits my pendant collection –

to the shape of leaves

or a tiny butterfly, catching the breeze in the grass as I pass by…

I’ve just sent in my “high harmony” for Couch Choir (it’s due tomorrow if you want to participate!). Wasn’t too great, but sometimes you have to make the choice between doing something imperfectly or not doing it at all. I don’t know when the song will be put together, but will share it here when it’s done.
In the meantime, here’s the latest from Pub Choir (same people, just in person). It was filmed in Brisbane, but I wasn’t able to be there.

Wish I could have gone – it looks like So Much Fun!!
Maybe next time 🙂

Published in:

Music

on May 15, 2021 at 4:38 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Couch Choir, Pub Choir

Motherhood And Exploding Bottles

Yesterday was Mother’s Day here, and I had a nice day. Nothing earth shattering, and I didn’t really spend a lot of time with my boys, but they remembered the day ❤ We were able to get to church, as well, so that was fun 🙂

Today was a school day… my Sweet Bean is in his last year of school, so he’s pretty much self sufficient with schoolwork. I’m just there to keep track, check everything’s going well, and pick up the pieces when necessary.
Today an important experiment had to be done. It’s for this term’s assessment, and it has had its problems so far. This was the last chance for testing and collecting data, so the pressure was on…
Due to various reasons, my Babe has been unable to drive us places as often as in past years, so that can make it difficult to get things done. We’ve had to rearrange schedules a bit to add in the time needed to get buses and walk. This morning we were down the road on the hockey fields, which was the closest area large enough to fire off a rocket (basically a plastic soft drink bottle with modifications). We got a lift down there but had to prepare to walk home, hauling everything behind us in a trolley.
Here’s the set up –

A contraption made from pipes, a foot pump for pressure, a bag filled with dirt to hold it all down, and a bottle with a tennis ball taped to the end and filled with varying amounts of water…
There were problems to overcome and modifications to make, and it seemed for a time that nothing was going to work. Eventually we got some good results, and had fun firing the “rocket” as far as we could.
We were hot, thirsty and slightly sunburnt by the end.
But I enjoyed being Mum, once again needed to play my part to help things run smoothly (I timed the flights and made suggestions to fix stuff). Biggest Boy was there to help – he kept Sweet Bean from meltdown, made good suggestions, provided “big brother” pep talks and made us all laugh.
Then we trundled off home for a late lunch and lots of water!

Published in:

Homeschool

on May 10, 2021 at 11:51 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Mothers Day

Emptying The Thought Patterns

I wrote here a few days ago about being in my favourite cafe without anyone else around – it was “empty” for a good period of time.
Here’s a view towards where I was sitting.

It occurs to me now that this is obviously not an empty room – it’s just empty of people.

I was talking to my Biggest Boy this morning about unconscious bias – he’s studying screen and media, and has been learning about storytelling and scriptwriting. We discussed the fact that we all have prejudices and blind spots. We come from our own unique backgrounds and experiences, so the way we see the world will not be the way the next person sees their world. To a large extent that just creates variety… but sometimes it allows cruelty and offensiveness towards others. We just don’t see where our blind spots are obscuring another’s reality.
The cafe dining room was full – cluttered, in fact. There were many obstacles to my chosen seat (the couch at the back) but I was able to navigate there safely because I could see the chairs/tables clearly, and I have been there often enough to know my way around – I don’t really “see” those other things anymore.
What else am I not seeing? What unconscious biases am I letting slide because I don’t realise they’re there?
As Maria and Captain von Trapp (and also the Bible!) say – “Nothing comes from nothing…”

What am I unconscious of?

As it’s the weekend, and you probably need to sit down and have a cuppa, I’ll just share a couple of songs that came to my notice today.
🙂
❤

Published in:

on May 8, 2021 at 5:03 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Ellie Holcomb, NEEDTOBREATHE, rafter and rose

Sage Thoughts And Planted Bulbs

Today has been a busy day.
Due to various circumstances, I spent part of the morning picking up groceries that we hadn’t had time or opportunity to get to before. For me this means buses and walking, which was quite nice this morning, in the fog.
I started off early, having breakfast in my favourite cafe – I was the only one there for a time 🙂
It was like sitting in my own lounge/dining room, except with more chairs…

Off on the bus to Market Organics after that, then wandering back to town – bits of shopping, library, then the bus home. Everybody seemed chatty today – people I knew, people I didn’t… there’s always time for kindness, whether given or received.

I finally got the bulbs in the ground the other day, where they will sleep their winter sleep and hopefully emerge in spring, looking like this (but less cardboard-y)

The sage is now safely gathered in – past its best, but quite abundant.
I’d previously frozen the basil in olive oil, and yesterday chopped half the sage into olive oil to freeze as well. The rest of the sage went into honey to steep for a few weeks, when it will be ready for sore throats and medicinal tea.

Tired now, but happy!
I think tomorrow will be a quiet day at home…

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on May 4, 2021 at 8:03 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: market organics, rafter and rose

Cooling Down To Light The Fire

We’re definitely hurtling toward winter, but there are still days when I need the fan on.
It’s time to set some things in place, though, as the light dwindles… I’ve bought some bulbs (iris and jonquils) to plant. They’ll need to go in soon, or at least I think so! I have no real experience with these sorts of flowers, except for buying them, years ago, with part of my pay packet on a Friday afternoon – they were cheap and bright and cheerful, and shone through the gloom of an English winter.
I’ll harvest the sage, although it’s past it’s best. There’s quite a lot of it. I’ll freeze some in olive oil, but might also try preserving some in honey, for use in tea.

I’ve been watching seminars this week – some on a livestream from a conference associated with our church, some on a Facebook series on changing artistic mindset. I’ve already talked about the way the colder weather tends to ignite possibilities in my mind, and these various teachings have been inspiring, in different ways and for different disciplines.
Perhaps there will be wonderfully innovative creations flowing onto paper or canvas, as I sip honey sage tea!

I’ve been singing some different songs this week. The first one I’ve sung repeatedly, along with the online gathering, in the last few days. The second one I heard for the first time last night, and the last one I was introduced to this evening…

Published in:

on April 29, 2021 at 11:27 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Bryan & Katie Torwalt, Gateway Church Australia, NEEDTOBREATHE

We Will Remember…

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”

(excerpt from)
For The Fallen
Laurence Binyon

Published in:

Thinking....

on April 25, 2021 at 8:11 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Anzac Day, For The Fallen

A New Season

I have a phone!
I realise this is not amazing for most people, but I haven’t had a mobile for over ten years… it’s exciting, and a little bit frustrating, as I’ve been trying to work out ways of transferring files from an old Ipod to a new LG phone… Apple and Android don’t seem to get on too well!

It came at an opportune time (courtesy of a lovely friend ❤ ) – this weekend turned out to be a bit hectic, so being able to be in contact outside of wifi range was wonderful! I do have to get used to having a ringtone – my Babe tried to call me just after I got it all activated… I sat there thinking, “That’s a nice tune. I wonder where it’s coming from?” 😆

As the weather has been getting cooler, we’ve put the duvet back on the bed and are sleeping more comfortably on our old mattress, due to a thick, squishy mattress topper (courtesy of another lovely friend! ❤ ) It’s like sleeping on a cloud!
This is a lovely time of year, when everything cools and slows, and it’s easier to catch glimpses of possibility…
I will continue to grapple with Apple, and explore the capabilities of Android…
In the meantime, here’s some photos on my new phone camera!

I wonder what other wonders I can unlock?

Published in:

Thinking....

on April 21, 2021 at 3:37 pm Leave a Comment

Time Goes By…

On a day when we woke up to the sad news of the passing of Prince Philip, we also had the happy anticipation of a birthday celebration for my Mum. While nowhere near the venerable age achieved by the Prince, it was one of the “big” birthdays! We were able to get the family together for breakfast/morning tea at our favourite cafe, and we even got there at the right time to get the biggest table – necessary when there are ten people to be accommodated.

Such a lovely time, catching up, enjoying the food and company. Also – singing Happy Birthday, because it had to be done 😀
We stayed for a while (cheesecake can’t be eaten quickly!) and then all wandered down to the Handmade Expo in the middle of town. Wandered through the stalls, exclaimed over the different crafts, sat for a bit and chatted some more…
We eventually had to go home, but it was a nice little reminder of what’s important – even if there are big things happening in the wide world, there’s always time to stop and enjoy the good things right in front of us 🙂

I hadn’t planned to buy anything, but I couldn’t resist some tiny little things from When Laura Meets Clay –
a “Unicorn Meadows” sign for my fairy garden