These days I am not so scared of blurry images, in fact sometimes I prefer them, there is a sense of movement and conveys so much of the energy and happiness of childhood.
Writings
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Sutton Walks
Many evenings after the dinner dishes are done the kids and I go for a final frolic out-of-doors. We have been doing this all Summer as, truly, the best part of those hot Summer days is when that fierce sun sinks down into the faraway hills and his glow dims to a deep golden. It is best for young porcelain skin and my light-sensitive eyes.
For us it is the best of ways to relax, a way for my kids to witness nature going to sleep, and a time to stretch our limbs in new ways. Sophia, such a monkey, climbs higher every time up the tree next to the park. We hunt for natures goodies, climb down rocks to be near the tiniest pond which flows under the bridge, and find that there is beauty even in the smallest details. We watch the bees, find where ladybugs set up for the night (a few dozen all on one plant), we see galahs cawing to eachother before they go off to sleep and we always see the rabbits out on the grass eating up before they wriggle into their burrows for bed time. I love seeing these things through my childrens eyes. Everything is unique and wonderful to them and I find myself joining in and encouraging this wonderment. We say goodnight to all the living things as we go back to our house. I point out the ants who are extra busy before it rains. I follow the flight path of the bee, one of my favourite of all living creatures. I share their enthusiasm entirely and I hope I foster it too.
I will miss this wonderful space we have had in this little village. It has been most pleasant for our family to have this massive expanse as basically an extension of our backyard. I am totally grateful to Australia for the vastness it provides. I love this feeling of space, room to stretch legs and be private whilst being utterly surrounded by practically nothing but nature and while still have neighbours in calling distance. It is perfect. I am thankful.
We actually found some leeches in this water hole, so this is the last time we will be doing this here!
Frogs eggs, it has been many months since there was such a big batch of eggs, today also we saw many bugs mating and I think it must be time for the Autumn baby boom.
That lovely, dominating, fatherly structure, the Sutton Village Hall. Here, in this village, the community spirit of the past still carries on. Just one reason why I love this village so much.
Lady bugs seem to love this plant. Plantain is great for so many things, not least totally alleviating insect stings. The leaves, roots, seeds are all edible & also can be used medicinally as a poultice.
Yes, we did eat these, and no, we did not die. I am growing more confident in my ability to identify and cook wild mushrooms, so far there are only about 3 that I am totally confident with. Books and experienced mushroomers are the most help here.
Another day:
To me, this picture is Sophia all over, free, abandoned, expressive, wild. She is a lot of fun.
The humble bee. This creature is not to be underestimated, as those around the world experiencing colony collapse disorder in their hives are now learning first-hand. (Many American fruit/nut growers ship hives upon hives of healthy Australian bees over to their shores where our bees are destined for certain death. They pollinate and await the Varroa Destructor mite which heralds their demise. Thankfully this mite has not made it to Australia…yet…let us hope it never will.) Decades of pesticides are biting us in the rear-end. I hope Australia learns before it is too late. Anything we can do to ensure the vibrant future of our natural habitats and animals is not enough! I never understand people who couldn’t care less about these creatures. If it were not for these tiniest of animals the naturalist and scoffer alike would have no food; no fruit, no nuts, no veges, even flowers would shrink from sight. God built all sorts of wonderful systems into the way this world works and it is out of a pure love of His creation that I am driven to protect it. I can not understand the apathy.
This one I did not eat, often these mushrooms, if they are too close to trees, will carry slaters, and this one did, though in every other respect a superb mushroom.
Sophias finds.
This is a tree I never see in flower. I suspect it is a brief, once a year event.
And an au natural slippery slide.
Beautiful Dancers.
This boy, that face, that hair! <3
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Skater Family
We went out for a skate. We haven’t done this in too long.
Henry went skating the other day and met boys of 7 or 8 with hair past their shoulders able to ‘shred’ on their skateboards and so he came home wanting that for Gunther. He already has the hair. He just needs the skills.
We dressed (the kids dressed themselves) and our little family looked so funny/cool that I had to take a few pics.
We do appear to be slightly sexist about the whole thing. The girls roller skate and the boys skateboard. But this is just the way it’s worked out, truly. I swear.
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Tea Time
Today one of our usual activities: A cup of tea!
Gunny helped by ‘stirring’ which I think is code for secretly eating the sugar.
Yes Gunny, you’re very cute and it’s hard to be mad at you.
Sophia helped by cleaning which isn’t code for anything, she is simply becoming a divine domestic goddess!
We settled into our couches – which I have rearranged to attempt to shut out all the mess and chaos of moving boxes and Henrys inventions which are currently lying around the house. We have actually never used these couches so much, it’s amazing what a simple rearrangement can do!
While they sipped & supped I read them Rapunzel, we are working through a book of fairytales.
And Sophia is loving it. Reading and being read to are some of hers (and mine) favourite activities to do together.
Oh yeah, and my dear friend (who is studying Beauty Therapy – lucky me!) came over last night and gave me a pedicure. I have never been one for nail polish, having never had the knack (or skin tone) for it, but I am enjoying toting these traffic light toe nails around town.
xo
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Around our house
It’s been raining, raining, which is more than welcome, but it calls for lots of creative indoor play.
Henry set up a bit of his sound gear and got the kids singing, playing and ‘engineering’. Kids love buttons!
My children will not be shy of this technology, and all I am expecting is a couple of musical-genius kids. No pressure.
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Travel & the World
My increasing belief that prosperous nations must indeed change their ways in order to prevent future (not that far) total environmental catastrophe has led me on a journey to relinquish the travel I once held dear.
George Monbiot in his book, Heat, examines all aspects of modern-living to see if there is some way to reduce greenhouse emissions in the areas of life where we are accustomed to unprecedented luxury: hot showers, running water, electric lighting, retail, transport housing & the rather interesting phenomenom of the modern individuals expectation they they ought to be allowed unrestricted access to any corner of the globe. I am speaking of aeroplane transportation.
In all areas Monbiot was able to find a suitable replacement system or source of energy which would, by and large, allow society to continue with most of its current activities…except in air transport. The only practicable solution to that conundrum was simply: massively reduce flights.
He says, “We might buy eco-firendly washing-up liquid and washable nappies. But we cancel out any carbon savings we might have made ten thousand-fold whenever we step on to an aeroplane. ”
Oh dear. If I am to stick to my principles I might have to give that longed for European adventure up for good, I may never be able to see the Canadian wilderness, I might not even be able to go to greenland, to do so would be anything but green.
On the plus side I can instead use the time I would have devoted to that pursuit toward enriching my own soil, investing in my own culture – isn’t that more worthwhile than a fling across the Pacific, after all?
Monbiot sums up a lot that I have already been convinced of regarding environmentalism: “Our efforts are tokenistic. By and large, whatever our beliefs might be, we consume as much as our incomes allow. Environmentalism is for other people.”
It is a belief that I find pervasive, but I disagree with it. Environmentalism is for everyone in my mind. We are ourselves creatures of this planet, from dust to dust. Like it or not we are made up of the same chemicals as other creatures and we are the smartest species (though perhaps not always the wisest…?), from a Christian point of view we have been ‘given dominion’. To some that means we have been given a toy to play with, to exploit, to waste. To me that means I have been given a responsibility to care for, to nurture, to love. I am accountable.
Sadly though, we humans seem unable to control our compulsive nature. Monboit again: ‘Manmade global warming cannot be restrained unless we persuade the government to force us to change the way we live.’
Therefore, like children or the overweight man at a health farm we are crying out for limits on our freedom, limits for our own safety and preservation, the limits we know we need, though we do not want, or cannot enforce them on ourselves.
The paradox of human desire, once again!
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Go George
Go George Monbiot. Thank you for caring, even at the expense of your own well-being.
And some excellent Career Advice from the same for those who want to live free.
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Like Nowhere Else
Seeing as we will are heading up here I have a bit of invested interest in this. Honestly though, I’d like to see the whole world protected from the greedy human industrial machine. Australia does a fair job of reserving tracts of land for wildlife sanctuary, but this is one thing that could always be improved upon. We could always do a better job of looking after this planet and we could never do too good a job.
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Today I used an Angle Grinder
I have never been one for power tools.
But today I used an angle grinder.
There was a sanding job to do and so, like a woman, I pulled up my socks, sucked it up and got on with it. This is my building education, my exercise regime and my day job (in between my other day job of being a mum and my other part-time job of being a wife).
We are back in Young and slowly (oh, so, painfully slowly!) we are getting it stripped back and fit out. <sigh>
These photos are from the last time we were here in Young, little has changed from the last picture. There is incredibly more dust (from sanding) and there is now a large hole in the floor where the shower will be and the bed frame is nearly ready to go in. My MIL said today ‘There’s one thing worse than women talking – and that’s men talking!’ And it is oh, so, frustratingly true!
Please excuse Henrys lackadaisical approach to OH&S…at least there were no children around…Gee Whiz.
Tulitha King 
