rainy weekend at home

this weekend has been one of indoor quietude. not quite like that quietude that Wendell Berry encourages, of stillness, sans technology and open ears to the birds and the trees. (we live in suburbia, up the street from the coal train line and just over the hill from the steel works - there isn't much of that quietude 'round here.)

but, instead, we've stayed in bed longer than usual, drank more cups of tea than usual and explored new areas of this, our 'new town'. as the rain fell yesterday we took the northern distributor to visit some of the nicer northern suburbs that lay between the towering escarpment and the rocky coastline. we huddled under the leaky umbrella and our hoods, watching some mediocre waves roll over the famous Sandon Point. it was my first visit to the famed break. it was pretty beautiful, with the deep inky seas, rolling white horses and voluptuous clouds above.

today, i laid in bed again, keeping safe from the chill and read some of my favourite blogs. after a trip to the corner store i starting baking; some of the tastiest ginger cookies that suit this melancholy weather perfectly.

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. : heat energy : .

driving home from school this afternoon, with the windows down and the hot, hot air blowing past my face, i considered the power of this heat. the way that it has really dramatic affects on things; it's not just a temperature, but an energy source that has real time and place effects.

i was thinking about how timber and other materials expand and warp in the heat. the heat has the muscles to physically change such a solid material - but it can do it without the muscles. and how the heat casts its spell on our bodies; that with the same amount of sleep, food and drink we can feel so much more weary on a scorcher' than on a tepid day. you can see such fast effects on plants in hot weather too. mature leaf plants shrivel and crumble inward as if to writhe from the encasing heat.

its oppressive, i've decided. not in a completely negative way. but the way the heat pushes down on your shoulders like a heavy weight when you step out into it, really isn't that positive either. don't get me wrong, i love the heat. i am a summer girl. born and bred (literally). i guess it always happens, this time of year. we welcome, even if begrudgingly, the heat that is the Australian summer.

welcome, heat. i will escape you, momentarily - off to the water i go...

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heat - wave

so the weather is hot. has been, for about a week now.

the sun is punishing, the westerly air is warm and the flies are out. Days have reached 34^ at their peak, sapping what little energy and motivation i have - especially at school. Who want to argue with teens when there is sweat rolling down your back. (gee, sorry about that)

so ive sought refuge in any place i can - most often an early trip to the beach, or an afternoon dip in the in-laws pool. the cool aqua blue soothes so nicely. i dip, i bask, i dip, i swim and i dip. such awakening refreshment.

stay cool.

a.

and so, winter returns...

that sunshine i was telling you about, and the warm spring scented air - well this morning we awoke to a sad and noticeable change. there were heavy grey skies out the top window and damp on the ground from the early morning rain. it was a sad change, but not unreasonable considering we are in the tale-end of winter, but a little welcome today.

looking back at my day; i quite enjoyed the lazy sleep-in, the joint grocery shop, the sweat from my afternoon yoga class and staying home this evening listening to the rain fall outside. a lot of rain is quite dreary, but it's nice to have a little every now and again.

what did you do today? how do you fancy a little precipitation?

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cold weather/warm weather

we've had a few changes in weather of late, around my neck of the woods...

we had torrential rain for, say, 8 days straight. it was out wettest July, in along time. that was followed by chilly winds and cold nights. we had the heaters on for at least a week straight...(eeek, i don't want to see that energy bill). BUT - for the last 5 days, the sun has been shining, and bringing warm spring-scented air with it. i even had a little too much sun on my shoulders last saturday...what a treat.

in light of this new sunshine and new warm weather (which, by the way is forecast to end soon...) i have a new breakfast tradition. instead of eating a bowl of wintery of warm porrige to fight the cold - i've traded in my bowl for a travel cup...of berry smoothie! i know - seems too early to be having chilly berry smoothie's this time of the year but i can't get enough!

i still fit in my morning grains, by adding quinoa to the smoothie with yoghurt, berries (frozen and fresh), milk and a little honey...(ok, a lot! i like it sweet)

what are you having for breakfast?

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an ode

'Ode To A Howling Night'

what howling winds!

what churning seas,

that stirs the sky this night.

the moon but glows!

behind the clouds,

its frozen in its flight.

what ticking clock!

as time does pass,

i watch the night roll by.

what joyous roof!

over my head,

i lie but warm and dry.

14.6.2011

keep watch later this evening for my latest installment of my copperfoiled lamp progress. it is looking just delightful, all blue and sparkly goodness.

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. unfinished projects .

i thought i would pull out one of 'those' projects: the ones that get started - with great passion - and then end up back in the cupboard or the spare room, awaiting the motivation and time to be finished. and its very timely (weather-wise) to pull this little gem out and complete it...well, nearly complete it.

it has been getting increasingly colder these days as we draw near the end of autumn and approach the dreaded cold of winter, so another couch quilt wouldn't go astray. this was my second attempt at a quilt - and i rather like it. haha

i get to use my mothers old sewing machine, a Bernina Record that dates back to 1960, which makes this whole experience a little sweeter. i haven't got any fabric to make an edge for the quilt, or the patience to hand sew anything, so i think i'm going to make a shag-quilt edge. i have zig-zagged around the edge and now have to snip & wash to finish it off. warm winter nights on the couch aren't too far away.

a.

. : a blustery autumn wind : .

a blustery autumn wind is blowing this afternoon, covering the coast with grey lumpy skies. a little different from the clear warm air i left only last night in WA.


it was a tough night on the plane - a sold out red-eye service...and as the name suggests i arrived early to Sydney with tired red eyes after very little sleep en route.


i collected my luggage, which was over the weight limit due to holiday purchases, and headed straight for the underground train line which would whisk me home through busy wet city scapes and lush bushland scenes. it felt good to be home after quite a while away, and felt even better to pick up my pooch from his holiday at the local pet resort. fresh and fluffy from a bath; he was keen to see me and i was relishing the warm soft hugs.

oski: looking unimpressed with his photograph being taken

though, on a more sombre note, i'm still awaiting my love's delayed arrival from overseas. please bring him home soon + safe.

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