DailyPhlog's PhotoBlog

June 29 - July 5

2008-07-07T00:20:01Z

. Another idyllic week at the farm. I feel so blessed! This week I have learned such things as: * It might only take 5 minutes to mow a patch of wild lawn, but this can blow out to 30 if you carry your mobile phone with you; * Babies know their own mind from very early on; * There is as much beauty in the shadows as there is in the light; * Sometimes dogs need dummies too; * It's never too early to play with dolls; * There is no limit to what you can put in your manifestation bubble; * Playing in long grass is fun! x

June 22 - 28

2008-07-07T00:15:02Z

. It appears we are obsessed with baby. Most of the photos are of her. Well, as a new mum I reserve the right to be goo-gaa over this Little Star ;-) This week I have learned: * Once you've got me choosing house colours be prepared to lock-in a demolition date; * It's never too young to introduce children to cooking; * Puppies get jealous too; * But mostly puppies make you giggle; * Beware of big brothers bearing chopsticks near wet cement; * Beware of bored dogs and soft soil; * Treat exercise like a second job to get great rewards

June 15 - 21

2008-06-21T12:20:02Z

------- I feel like we have made huge inroads -- FINALLY we have submitted our new house plans to Shire for a building license. Wow, it's all seeming so real now! This week I learned: * If you send a 14yo to ask the bus driver to turn the air-conditioning down, the bus driver will only tell him to put on a jumper; * Shopping is miles of fun with a giggling baby in the trolley; * Glimpses of the future send shivers down my spine; * Some kids find it hard to grow up; * A bed with a baby in it is never to big; * The details are in the planning, but the planning is in Shire! * Don't over-estimate how far a 10-year-old can walk before she has to hitch a ride on the pram

June 8 - 14

2008-06-21T12:05:01Z

------- Another wonderful week. I don't want to count the miles we've travelled -- from Melbourne to Geelong to visit Great Nana Mac, back to Melbourne for dinner at one of Melbourne's finest restaurants, back to Perth, then down to Margaret River -- but it's a lot! This week I have learned: * With enough guts, determination and duct tape, it is possible to eventually get an outdoor liquor license; * Babies are never so portable as in their first few months; * When deciding on a restaurant, go for the one that has fewer tables and no menu in the window; * Clouds still look like marshmallows from above, even when you're an adult; * Babies need all the time in the world to get over time-zone changes; * Dogs need all the love in the world to make up for their owners going away; * There is always a thousand things to be done on a farm.

June 1 - 7

2008-06-12T20:45:02Z

------- What a wonderful week! It started out with a 17km bike ride from the farm to Margaret River, and finished with Day 2 of a 4-day Mind Body Spirit Festival. This week I've learned: * Even though signs may point ahead, there is more than one way to go; * Driving out of your way leads you to pockets of paradise; * If babies want to suck their thumb, they'll find a way; * Babies don't always cry on aeroplanes; * You're never too young to love fashion and movie premieres; * Spirituality can be fun; * Keynote speaking can be fun too

May 25 - 31

2008-06-03T05:00:02Z

------- So, I've finished my initial challenge to take a photo of something I'm grateful for every day. The year-long project ended up encompassing "4 weddings and a baby" - something we would not have envisaged nor realised had I not documented our daily lives over 366 days. The day after I finished my mission, I felt lost. I kept taking photos of "little big things" happening in our lives out of habit, but what to do with them? Boy Wonderful and Gavstar asked me to keep going with my DailyPhlog, but I didn't want to fall into the trap of doing the same 'ol same 'ol. SO, after a lot of thinking and allowing ideas to present themselves to me, we've decided to continue with the DailyPhlog but in a different format. Instead of a photo-a-day, I'll be uploading 7 photos per week that describe something I've learned. Starting with Sunday May 25, here is what I've learned this week. I've learned that: * Breast-feeding doesn't guarantee weight-loss. Nor does second-helpings of dessert * Babies don't like needles * Playing wii is very habit-forming * Babies are like dominoes - set one off, they ALL start going off * The best toy you can give a baby is your face * Cattle find open gates and are happy to go through them * A shower with baby is an excellent trust exercise

May 24: Four Weddings and a Baby

2008-05-25T05:20:02Z

Woooo-hooooooooooooooo! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Today marks the 366th day of photo-blogging a gratitude journal. (One full year including the leap day) And how amazing is it that the final day of my one-year of photo-blogging landed on niece Jessica's wedding? This is significant because this is the fourth wedding we've attended in this year of blogging. This, together with the birth of our Little Star, makes this year the year of "4 weddings and a birth". Mmmmm, there could be a movie in that! ;-) Woweeeeeeee, what a ride this has been. I'll be writing about the experience for my column for United Press International next week. Read it here... Today I am thankful for bittersweet moments. On one hand I'm over the moon to have successfully completed this mission, but on the other... WHAT NEXT?! ;-)

May 23: Pamper

2008-05-25T04:20:02Z

Tomorrow marks my FINAL DAY in my one-year mission to take a daily photo of something I'm grateful for. What a journey! To celebrate, I left Boy Wonderful in charge of his little sister while I slipped out and updated the hair style... Today I am thankful I've found a colour whiz who made me feel like a princess!

May 22: Oneness Blessing

2008-05-22T21:50:02Z

Last night it was the circus. Tonight it was a Oneness Blessing meditation. As Gavstar didn't make it home in time to mind the children, I took them both with me. Get this - last night the Little Star slept through the drums, cannons and disco lights of the circus. Tonight we had divine chanting and she screamed her lungs out. I figure we have a future party animal on our hands. Today I am thankful Boy Wonderful actually enjoyed his first meditation experience. He shared with me that he saw a vivid purple when Gene blessed him, and a deep green with the other Oneness Blessing giver blessed him. It opened up quite an interesting discussion about colour energy and symbolism.

May 21: Circus

2008-05-22T21:35:01Z

Took my children to the circus this evening... under the light of the golden waning moon, the Silvers big top was absolutely magical. I wasn't sure how we'd go with the Little Star (three months old today), but she was wonderful - she slept through the entire two hours of African drumming, squeals of delight, cannons booming, disco lights and an electric feeling of excitement in the air. BW said he loved the show. This, coming from a lad who is still pretty fresh from seeing the mind-blowing "O" and "Mystere" (Cirque d Soleil) performances in Las Vegas recently. Just goes to show the local circus still has an edge when it comes to good, solid, fun family entertainment. Today I am thankful we went to the circus! One particular act will stay with me forever - the hoop girl (Gypsy Gomez)who danced on top of a disco ball. When the lighting activated, it was like a laser show with this incredible goddess shimmying and woo-hooooing in the centre of the Universe. Magnificent!