Lost things

Like baby teeth, for instance :) Sienna lost her first tooth on Tuesday the 17th November, at school. She made a little paper envelope to bring it home in, in true Sienna style.

32 years of home

Happy anniversary mum and dad - 19th November 1977 to now. Lovely lovely.

Whale Tail

In my dream last night we were going to some sort of island / cliff area, and had to park the car because we don't have a 4WD. Ben wanted to try and drive it but I pointed out an area where we would scrape rocks on the undercarriage of the car if we tried, and it was almost vertical so we'd need a 4WD. But there was some kind of bus or we could walk.

Then it's only Ash and I in the dream, and off to the left of the lighthouse on the island is an open access to the ocean, Ash starts swimming around in the ocean with these massive whale tails coming out of the water right next to him, he is having a great time but I ask him to get out of the water and we just watch the whales. I think how much Sylvia would love being this close to the whales.

We go around to the right of the lighthouse which seems to be a tourist attraction, which is a man playing the cello on a whale tale. I'm confused about the image, I think he might be sitting on top of the whale tale or he might be using the tail as the cello, with a bow. I think it was the latter actually. We decide it is not as interesting and go back to watch the whales close up in the ocean again.

Just made this digital collage / sketch to get the image out of my dream...

An hour or two and a pot of tea

Sometimes our thoughts turn back toward a corner in a forest,
or the end of a bank, or an orchard powdered with flowers,
seen but a single time on some happy day, yet remaining
in our hearts and leaving in soul and body an unappeased desire
which is not to be forgotten, a feeling that we have just
rubbed elbows with happiness.

Guy de Maupassant

Already

4 months old already... this little man of ours is growing fast. At this age Sienna was about 6.2kg and 63cm long, Ash was 6.6kg and 66cm long and Cedar is 6.44kg and 65cm long. He definitely resembles each of them at the same time as being completely his own little person.

At the moment he loves sticking his legs and feet straight up in the air when lying on his mat and either grabbing his feet or using them to play with his baby gym toys. He is teething a bit and getting better at sleeping during the night in longer stretches. He also has his own passport - so cute - all ready for our trip to visit Germany in just under 6 weeks!

Indecision, or how (not) to 'Make it Happen'

I read an interesting post on Decor8 about passion and profession, it is totally something that I think about and I found it quite timely. I am at a point where I don't know exactly what to pursue in that mum-at-home extra income way. Yes, I have an etsy shop so that is an avenue. I've had market stalls, only local but still. I have had exhibitions and one in planning. I've done photography. Graphic design, web content, writing scrapbooking articles. Some things I enjoy doing for money, some I only enjoy when money is not involved and some I don't have the opportunity often enough. Self-promotion can be an issue.

Finding things I like to do, and CAN do isn't a problem, but finding something that succeeds IS. Q Tea Kits was fantastic but I was ready to move on. Now I want something more hobby than business, for the time being at least (I told my accountant I would only have hobbies for this financial year, and she didn't believe me LOL). But with my love of travel, wishlist for the house (our bathroom is desperate!) and little people with their medical expenses and so on, a little bit extra would be nice. I feel like I have stuff to offer, but either I don't know how or I am not ready to be proactive, to make it work.

This isn't a sob story, don't get me wrong! But I think a lot of people find the same conflict, especially mums from home because of our circumstances requiring flexibility. So it is worth sharing, exploring, expressing. The feeling that I am creative, smart, capable - why can't I make something work? I've even done it before. It's a matter of finding the right avenue. Especially with the economy dramas in 08 and 09, making things people love isn't enough. Or it is but the right audience is needed. I think to find real success you need to know what you want to achieve so that you can go for it - that is where I am just not there yet. I am indecisive! When I get to the point of not asking everyone else what they think and just knowing what I want to make happen, THEN I can make it happen. So, until then...

Fifteen Melbourne

Bec took me out to Fifteen Melbourne for a fantastic dinner on Sunday night...

Papier Mache

Papier Mache issue 2 online now

So much gorgeous inspiration and window shopping eye candy - love it!

Shopping

shoe shop, originally uploaded by garageowns.

Bec is here (my cousin) from Adelaide, which means lots of laughter, irony and - of course - lots of shopping. Especially for shoes. For some reason, she has more than enough already, LOL, but actually that would be why, wouldn't it? Because she loves them! It also means I'm on here less, but will have more to share soon.

Love this photo from flickr, sums up the mood perfectly!

I can fly

"I can fly!
It's easy - like Peter Pan.
Mum, I want to fly
to the sunset"

Sienna Belle 31.7.08
(Photo 7.11.09)