soaking in spices and goodwill...

So many beautiful moments amidst the busy.

Hope you have time soon to soak yourself in joy, roll in spice and warm nicely with those you love.

Look out at the world through the eyes of small ones.

Just wonder.

Wonder.

Wonder and love.

Fill the season with grace.

Go well

xx

a little mystery and little glow...

W has a lovely Christmas book (by Kathryn Jackson who also oddly wrote many Golden Books such as the Saggy Baggy Elephant and also wrote for Richard Scarry!).

The book is all about Christmas traditions of the world.

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I know we are in Australia and I do love our bush and the traditions we have that originated and continue to originate here. I had a great discussion with this wonderful woman who is in England enjoying many of the traditions in their homeland. She is keen to come back to Australia and find Australian traditions - which is a wonderful idea.

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For me, being raised by English immigrants and now living in the Adelaide hills where only three days ago I was wearing a beanie in the mist and being an absolute lover of history and tradition - I must say that having a bough of eucalyptus in our home would be a bit odd. I love the smells and rhythms of Christmas - we are a multicultural nation and I love that bits from all around the world end up here in our home in new variations. Gum is good but I want everything else as well! So here is a bit about the traditions we are creating here in our house...

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In the book it talked about different ways of counting down to Christmas Day. We really liked the tradition of having a wreath made of evergreens with four fat candles in it - one for each Sunday of Advent. However, last year, we felt that the Sundays might be a long time coming each week for two year old W! So, we decided that counting down seven days to Chrstmas was perfect for being two. We continued the tradition this year now W is three.

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We also read about 'Bringing Christmas home' or 'decking the halls' which is about bringing in fresh green branches to encourage the woodland sprites into our homes and also to bring cheerfulness into the home. Traditionally, children would look for holly, ivy and mistletoe. A long time ago, rosemary - for friendship and other sweet smelling herbs were also Christmas greens and were once used in Christmas decorations.

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With all that in mind we gathered our Christmas greens from the garden. K in the front pack, secateurs, basket and W and I were ready to gather. We picked holly, ivy, rosemary and of course fir.

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Back inside, K sat beside the basket of fir while we arranged the table for making...

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I had opped a few base wreaths of different sizes - one for the candle wreath, one for the door and one for Nana and Poppa. Away we went.
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We were very busy and occasional prickles and pokes could not dissuade us...
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W made the wreath for the door by himself and also the wreath for the candles by himself. I contented myself in making a teeny tiny one for Nana and Poppa. Sometimes it is hard to let go! A few guiding moments and W's creations were finished and perfect...

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His finished wreath...

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...with candles added...
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Each of the seven days we have special Christmas tasks to do.

We make time for the tasks, bringing our minds and hearts to them.

This imbues the moments and days with joy and reverence.

Christmas spirit doesn't arrive by itself - it needs to be invited.

Each evening we light the right number of candles for that day.

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The first day was making the wreathes.

On the second day W and T went out into the bush behind our house and cared for the Australian environment by chopping down a feral tree. Which was dragged up an enormous hill on the way home and ceremonially dumped in a bucket of water outside for a 'drink'. Mum and K were whisked outside to ooh and aar. Believe me, when you see a photo you will oo and aar too - especially when you think about dragging it up a hill (oh and over a fence too)!

On day three we invited our lovely tree inside our home and got him settled in a great big pot. Poppa was instrumental in this!

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That evening we lit our third candle.

After W went to bed, K had his moment with the mystery...
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Hope the mystery is finding you all in some sweet way.
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For another bit of mystery - try your luck in my giveaway...

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Give away!

Oh I have looked and loved some of the so many giveaways out there but as yet am unprized!

Still, as I generally find more joy in the giving - I finally have an idea of how to share the love!
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I have been making crowns lately from 100% hand felted wool...

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Yesterday I (with strict guidance from W) made a crown for our neighbour. She helps me in so many big and little ways - lending the trailer, garlic to plant, makes us pancakes, take W for a walk to throw balls for her dogs, good sarcastic type talks for me, lends movies to us, garden advice for our area and oh so much more. She is wonderful. We think you are great J!

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But we didn't know what to get her as a present as she loves cooking but has EVERYTHING she might need for the kitchen. So, since she doesn't wear an apron we crowned her Queen of the Kitchen in a crown that says 'who needs an apron?'.

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Hope she likes it.

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So, since I enjoyed hand stitching so much, like this lovely hand stitcher, I am going to make a crown for who ever wins!

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So, this give away is to celebrate, among other things, my 142nd post!

Thanks to all who encouraged and commented - I appreciate it no end!

I have loved blogging. Community where I least expected it.

I especially loved writing and reading comments on my slow series. Blogging as learning and reflection.

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So, the give away...

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Rules: (of course there have to be dozens of them or it doesn't look important!)

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You don't need to become a follower, or post about me or twitter unless you are a bird.

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Of course you can do any of these things and that is lovely if you would like to, especially if you are a bird.

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I won't be giving extra entries for these kinds of things though.

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If you do anything especially interesting or daring like running through your home town naked with my URL address written on your bottom I will of course award extra entries once I have received the photographs. (Please be aware I will post these photos on my blog unless asked not to)

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The winner will receive a crown (colours and style chosen as usual by W) with a phrase stitched on the front - your choice. I personally like Fran saying (once again from Black Books) 'oh would you just looks at these breasts' but of course the choice is entirely up to you.

I wouldn't force that phrase on anyone.

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You can put your suggestions in your comment and any that make me double up laughing may be awarded an extra entry.

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I may award extra entries to some people who encouraged me way way back in the beginning as you are wonderful and made this blogging world real to me.

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I will send any where in the world that post can get too.

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The crown will be hand stitched and made of 100% wool felt - the front part hand felted with a one size fits all elastic fit. (Please let me know if you have a strangely small or large head - odd shapes are fine) The phrase of your choice will be hand stitched on the front.

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I will draw the giveaway at some indeterminate point in the future, not this year but definitely in January.

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I will make and post the crown to the winner at some indeterminate point in the future after that.

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Doesn't all this mystery add to the excitement??

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So basically the rules are kind of a bit like the US government when Bush was in - you know 'I will do what I want, when I want because although I am short I am immensely powerful and have to prove it in insane kinds of ways as often as possible so you forget how short I am.'

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Actually those aren't the rules but sort of - less warfare, less scary madness and more humour hopefully, although he was sometimes good for a laugh.

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I guess what I am saying is that there could be a few more rules that I have neglected to mention here. So, to let George say it: "I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president."

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So there you have it. I am Commander, President, Ruler and Queen of this blog and I will give away a crown for the winner to enjoy - please comment away!

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Oh and W will choose the winner in a fair and reasonable UN sort of fashion from some sort of fabulous hat.

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expect away...

Bernard Black of Black Books fame was part of one of my favourite and oft quoted conversations:

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Bernard: [speaking through a megaphone] Right, the shop is closed, everybody get out! Time to go home, come on!

Old Woman: But it's only quarter to three!

Bernard: Yes, but it's my shop.

[now shooing them out with a broom]

Bernard: Come on, go home, bye bye, get out...

Old Woman: That's hardly fair!

Bernard: It isn't fair at all. Get out!

Rich Guy: I expect better service!

Bernard: Well, expect away.
Goodbye!
Come on, all you time-wasting bastards, back on the streets.
Thank you!
[slams door]
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I try and use it as often as possible...

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Well, expect away.

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It works well for me! In fact so many Black moments remind me of parenting - like the photo above - I WISH it worked!

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For more gooey lovely belly wobbling Black quotes go here...

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Sometimes you don't realise....

how beautiful and rich life is until you download the photos from the last 8 or 9 days...

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We had the alpacas shorn - this is Jackson...
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W did threading and made beautiful long ropes...

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Ww had our last Steiner playgroup for the year and made gingerbread...

(note W in the background inhaling the dough!)

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W shared his stickers with me and when they wouldn't stick he remedied it for me...

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We harvested our first bunch of fat beautiful rhubarb...
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We picked roses; every colour every scent...
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W ate a carrot under the pram...
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W build a world...
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...and occasionally hung onto my skirt to make true the phrase...
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We made face biscuits...
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Including many friends, but especially Grandma - with brown hair...
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W built more worlds...
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For people of many nations...
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I made jam from local organic apricots...
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K learned to roll over...
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W and a friend floated boats at the botanical gardens...
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and they snuggled...
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snuggled...
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and snuggled...

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it's a good life...

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a little lightness in our activism...

The Walk Against Warming is this Saturday - be there to make a statement to encourage those in Copenhagen to make a decision that their grandchildren will be proud of.

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Be there to say your piece and make a sign to grab some attention.

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As you plan what you might like to write on your sign...

Consider these and enjoy!

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from here.

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Ten days and ten ways of slowing down. Ten: It is all in your mind.

This idea of the slowness of your mind and heart has been alluded to in most of the other nine posts. It leads to or from or imbues all of the other aspects of slow that I have talked about.

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Ultimately it is the most important thing to remember.

It is the most powerful thing within you.
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If you can create a slowness inside yourself, the rest will follow. Perhaps not today but soon.

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So feed your heart and mind by being in slow places, be with slow people, reading slow books, eating slowly, loving slowly, looking slowly, thinking slowly.

Practice being slow, celebrate being slow.

Accept that perhaps you cannot always be slow but you can always return to being slow.

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Be slow whenever you can.

And remember that even if you spend an hour, a day, a month going crazy fast - the second you slow down - you are slow - nothing else - just slow.

It only takes a moment.

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Have some tricks to help slow your mind:

Have an image you draw up in your mind when you want to slow down - a flower opening or yourself floating in a warm sea.

Count your breaths.

Close your eyes for a moment.

Listen to your own heart beat until it slows.

Use a mantra that suits you - 'no one will die, no one will die' or 'peace is within me, peace is within me' - whatever suits you!

Be quiet and count all the different sounds you can hear.

Smile, smile, smile.

Imagine yourself soaking in the bath for just a moment before you continue what you are doing.

Look with a loving gaze on the face or world in front of you.

See yourself being warmed and swelled as if a tea bag in a warm cup of tea.

Scream into a pillow until you are empty then breath out and start again.

Jump up and down ten times and then breath out slowly.

Laugh and laugh then breath slowly.

Breath.

Breath.

Breath.
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Slowness in the mind, heart and soul can change a life just as a drop of dye in a glass of water forever changes the water...

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This series has been my creativity when actual creating is tricky.

Slow opens the way for creativity for me. Slow is good.

Thanks for sharing this journey with me.

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Ten days and ten ways of slowing down. Nine: Accept chaos when it occurs but strive to create and maintain beautiful places and spaces.

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Rule 1: Beautiful, simple and serene places and play things encourage beautiful and serene and slow people, calm behaviour and joyful, lovely, slow play..
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Rule 2: Chaotic surroundings breed chaotic behaviour and stress..
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Rule 3: Fighting to change chaotic surroundings when your children need you with them, creates worse behaviour and higher stress levels in all humans present and can even create high stress levels in people not present (eg. the one yet to come home from work and participate in the 'aftermath')..
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Rule 4: Temporary surrender to chaos and being present with your family with a peaceful mind creates peace for everyone present. Your mood can outweigh the chaos..
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Rule 5: Even in a beautiful, simple environment your negative thinking as parent will overshadow everything. Create a serene mind. Find a quick way to change your head space if you get caught in a bad loop.
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Rule 6: Everyone should help return order to the best of their ability at some time each day..
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Rule 7: Ten minutes at night or in the morning without children, spent creating clear and beautiful space in your home will pay in tenfold of slow peace and quiet during your day with children..
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Rule 8: All rules subject to change without notice..
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Rule 9: Many more rules exist. Please add as required.




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Ten days and ten ways of slowing down. Eight: Spend time outdoors.

It doesn't matter when, how, where or with who - just get out and stay out as much as you can.

Outside just doesn't look right without you in it...

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The amazing thing about 'outside', is that there is hardly anything you can't do there!

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Being outside is like Valium for your whole family!

Special Valium that awakens, inspires, warms, slows you down, makes you remember what the real things in life are, helps you get dirty, helps you like each other more, encourages you to get some perspective, helps you grow, reminds you to help other things grow and reminds you of your place in this great wonderful world.

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Don't worry about the weather - get suncream or rain hats or both and just go out.

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Then wait, watch and be joyfully surprised at the amazing ways the world will slow down for you...

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Ten days and ten ways of slowing down. Seven: have the grace filled strength to say no to some things.

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No.

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Thankyou,

but no.

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