Quiet desperation

"This is not the age of information.

This is not the age of information.

Forget the news and the radio,

and the blurred screens.

This is the time of loaves and fishes.

People are hungry,

and one good word

is bread for a thousand"

                                                     **David Whyte ~ "The house of belonging"

As the world becomes increasingly complex and impersonal, many people lead lives of quiet desperation.  Just getting by, just getting through each day, just hanging on.  The antidote must surely be kindness, connection and words that heal.

** Taken from my (unpublished) book "Whispered Comfort" **

Parcels from the post office

Parcels from the post office are like little out-of-cycle Christmas presents to me.  More books.  I know.  Get over it.  I'm just saying... I love books so that's that. 

2 books for my trip to Italy with Ali Edwards in October, Easy Pilates by Mina Stephens to take on my regular travels (I DO occasionally get down on the floor of the hotel room and do some pilates stretches...need to do it more regularly though), The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club by Lucy Edge (a true story, reading it now), Sabbath by Wayne Muller (bought an extra copy as a gift), and a number of creative books.

The icy fingers of Winter are tightening their grip on my life.  Curled up in a chair with hot coffee and a good book - delicious.

Princess Elizabeth

My niece - Princess Elizabeth.  How can such a little person be so bewitching and invade my heart so deeply.  Too gorgeous for words!

Miss Elizabeth is off to the seaside tomorrow for her first beach holiday.  She loves water; I wonder what she will think of the sea?  Will she love it or will it terrify her?  I'm sure she will love all the beach sand.

Love you baby girl!

"It's in their eyes that their magic resides"

"A baby girl...
one of the most beautiful miracles in life,
one of the greatest joys we can ever know,
and one of the reasons why
there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness
in your world today."

** Author: Unknown **

Pet layouts to share

I'm totally in love with 2 short furry people - Bella and Ruby.  Here are some layouts to share of my furry children.

Layout to share

I am really enjoying some good old fashioned scrapbooking at the moment.  I attended a class by Tim Holtz last Saturday - I'm in love with his fun personality, laid back style of being creative and his great products (by Ranger). 

I'm enjoying the gentleness of scrapping, playing with paper and colour and stamps and ribbon and brads and chipboard and paint.  I'm loving the photo's all over again, remembering the actual event.

A little layout to share - a holiday in the Kruger National Park

Mini goals notepad

I love lists and make lots of TO DO notes.  I found this gorgeous mini goals notepad at Cape Town airport recently.  I'm sure that some of these notes will end up on my scrapbook pages

MINI GOALS for this week : 

• get up to date with buying gifts for the next 4 weeks and sending greeting cards
• exercise at least 4 times
• unclutter my office
• start Becky Higgins Project Life album

Hello April

Hello April.  Hello Autumn.  I see your pretty coat of red, orange and yellow leaves.  Hello to shorter days, longer nights and warm jerseys. 

I love Autumn and Spring, that time of year where nature pauses inbetween the hot and cold seasons.  She stops, looks around, shakes herself to shed last season, and then slowly steps forward into the new season.

Goodbye summer.  Goodbye salads, sandals and open windows.  Hello soup and hot toast, fleecy blankets, socks and boots.  Hello April.