first day of new schools

izzy and olympia both began at new school this week. one was happy and one not so...yet... they hate the obligatory first day photos.

back to reality

the end of another long summer holidays... three weeks on the beach in a tent flew by so quickly, although the rhythm of that lifestyle does feel so languid and lovely. now it's all rush, rush to prepare for school and teaching and endless housework in between. the weather is glorious and i'm glad we don't get heatwaves like they have in melbourne right now.
i'm posting some camping photos to remind me of how lovely the south coast of nsw is..

our car with laden trailer
view across the tilba valley
amazing geology at glasshouse rocks
the stylish interior of our trusty tent
the beautiful beach we camp on

we're off camping tomorrow!

a few pictures to remind me how exquisitely beautiful the sand dunes around the lake are...
birds and lizards and kangaroos and emus all share the sand, leaving traces.
the wind moves the starchy fronds of grass endlessly...
can't wait for our early morning walks up the long beach and around the lake
can't wait for the lazy, long sunny days filled with children and friends and food and coffee and swims and walks and more...

more specific new years resolutions

i have decided to put these 'out there', just so i really feel i have to follow up on them...

first to nurture this wonderful family of mine, both immediate and extended; to encourage the girls in their pursuits and creative endeavours...

to be more creative and productive:
more music
more song-writing
more gigs for both the folk duo and the blues band
to sell my soaps and jams and artworks at markets and online
to continue to develop our range of t-shirts, to print and distribute them
to get my website up
to start my etsy shop (can't believe it has taken me this long..)

to exercise more, after all i have a great new second-hand bike just waiting

to get the girls to do more to help out at home...

to post a comment on someone's blog every day

and we would love to find our ideal country property this year

to entertain and make music more with friends and family

there, they sound achievable i think. no all i have to do is achieve them. as we are abut to go camping down the south coast on the beach i will have plenty of time to reflect and actually be creative there. the car will be full of art materials and musical instruments as well as a huge amount of food...

happy new year

this is not my photo but one by ben rushton for the sydney morning herald. we watched the fireworks from our top balcony as the girls were reluctant to brave the crowds this year and preferred a night at home. in fact mookhi didn't even watch them as she was skyping her cousin jasmin in london. jessie the dog always joins us on the balcony if things are a bit different - she figures she can get away with it as we are distracted by the noise and colour. talking through our resolutions this morning on the way to find the one coffee shop open in marrickville in new years day, pete and i decided we wanted more of the same this year - and lots more. more music, more creativity, more fun with the children, more prosperity from our creative enterprises, more of the children excelling in all they do, and so on... and of course to find the ideal country property.