Morning : a non fiction narrative

A sharp thud between her shoulder blades and her eyes spring open. Then another, and another. Violently tearing her from the deep, dark solitude she escapes to in the wee hours of morning. 

The searing pain lingers as she realises where she is and what on earth is going on. Toddler feet. Toddler feet jabbing her back like some kind of blunt weapon. "OW OW! STOP IT, STOP HIM!" She attempts to say with some kind of authority, although in her half awake state she has little chance of sounding coherent. Turning to face her attacker, sweeping his legs back under the doona in one swift, surprisingly coordinated movement, she takes in his face. His lovely face, smiling, sleeping. 

What might he be dreaming? Perhaps her vertebra were a trampoline or a splashy puddle? Maybe all that remained on her back was the ruins of a magnificent sandy masterpiece? 

Smiling to herself, she pulls that warm little body close, breathing in his sweet toddler morning breath, his hair and the faint smell of laundry powder on his flannel pyjamas. Her heart swells. 

She forgives her attacker.

*written as part of Blog Fast- http://www.katesaysstuff.com/2013/07/the-blogfast-club-morning.html?m=1

Winter upcycling challenge for charity : It's a thing!

Hello dears,

I had an idea.. Seeing as there are quite a few of you crafty people around these parts I thought we could perhaps try and do a good thing with our great skills and creativity!

It's pretty cold in Melbourne right now so this challenge is inspired by trying to keep warm!

Here's the challenge outline:

Make an item that helps you keep warm

It must be made from mostly upcycled/reclaimed materials

It will be auctioned on my blog and the proceeds will be donated to Green Collect (*see below for details)

I will choose a random contributor to win a great prize (details TBA at a later date)

Submissions will be accepted until August 31st 2013

Please email me at gomumma(at)gmail(dot)com if you would like to be involved!

I would love you to get involved and for you to share this with your crafty friends. I don't have a massive pool of crafty readers so please tell your friends and share on your social media pages if you think you know people who might want to show off their skills and raise money for a great charity!

Lovely upcycled products made and sold by Green Collect

We recorded a song for you.. and Ms.Clare Bowditch

Hello friends!

Please enjoy this little song Mezz, Byron and I recorded. This is our entry for Clare Bowditch's Winter Secrets competition. Enjoy! Feel free to click "like" if you're so inclined!

xxoo

Nice things in pictures...

Family celebrating over Japanese food. Three birthdays; Pop, Little Bro Dave and April.

My latest crafty endeavor- a huge latch hook rug of Mary and the baby Jesus.. totally kitsch and wonderfully awesome!

Me and my wee doppelganger

 A secret recording project with Mezz & Baz.. will be revealed very soon! Stay tuned!

Ash & Mezz selfie.. We've recently re-discovered the value in making time to spend together. We've now been best mates for 15 years. I'm very much looking forward to going to the Women Of Letters event that is happening later in the month with Mezz. We used to sleep over at each others houses and have teenage adventures on trains.. Now we do grown-up things like go to literary events. Haha.

Let me tell you about my Nan

Taking the lead of Pip from meet me at mikes, I'm going to tell you a little about my nan..

Beryl is her name.. She's always hated being called Beryl and has gone through phases of wanting to change her name.. Angela was one she liked. 

She's funny like that. 

In fact she's just funny in general. Loves a laugh and to debate. She finds it frustrating when people have strong opinions about things without having a reason and loves to hear what I think as long as I am willing to justify why. We have had our disagreements but what I love about my nan is that she adores me no matter what. And I adore her. 

She's full of old fashioned sayings like "Just let me get my hat 'n pants on", meaning "Let me get ready to go" and "We'll, this isn't buying the baby a new dress!" Meaning "we're not being very productive are we?" And "goodness gracious groceries".. I find myself saying them often. We chat like peers.

She goes through phases of having crushes on good looking fellas on TV.. Like the boys from  Il Divo. And spends most of her time playing on her iPad.. She and pop upgrade whenever a new version comes out. She doesn't get out much. In fact, I think it frightens her a bit these days as her mobility is quite limited and she is scared she'll fall. But the iPad really keeps her connected. I love it. Even though she harasses me to play my Words with Friends turn. I like to keep her keen. 

We spent most afternoons and many many sick days off school at nan & pop's place and we were spoilt rotten with lots of love and kisses (and choc wedges). Every afternoon after kinder nan would pick us up in her gold Mazda 626 and she'd take us to Chaddy (a big shopping centre to the south east of Melbourne city) for warm double chocolate muffins (with two butters). She'd always let us eat her cappuccino froth. 

Her love and affection has extended very naturally to my children- and she loves our foster daughter just as much as she loves the two that came out of my body. 

There's so much more to say but I'll leave you with a few lovely pictures instead. 

Nan & I circa 1990

My adorbs little brother Dave around the same time as the last pic 

Nan & I last year.. She was upset with us for taking it as she hadn't "arranged her face".. I think her face is fine.

A typical scene at Nan's these days..

Tell us about your nan! Go visit Pip at Meet Me At Mikes to read about Pip's nan.

:)

Monet's Garden at the NGV

I was still in bed when Molly excitedly ran into my room all dressed up (in this super cute mis-matched outfit that only Molly can pull off) saying "I'm ready to see Monet's Garden Mummy"...

The kids have been learning about Monet at school. I'm really impressed with the school's art program. They begin learning about art genres and influential artists right from prep and Monet's "Waterlilies" is one of Molly's favourite paintings. They of course still get to play with paint & pastels but their work is inspired by the work of the artists they're learning about. You should see some of the stuff they produce!!

When I saw the advertisement for the National Gallery of Victoria's most recent exhibition "Monet's Garden" I knew it would be a must-see these holidays.

There was a point on Monday night where I thought I was going to need to cancel and go in to work as one of my staff came down with a chest infection and it was looking like there would be no one to cover the shop. I was at work long after closing, calling everyone I could think of to try and fill the shift.. I got quite upset actually. I really didn't want to let the girls down.. At the last minute it was sorted! So off we went on Tuesday..

The kids always love a train trip to the city. That alone would be enough of an outing for Richie. Pulling into Flinders Street Station it hit me that I was about to see the artwork from one of the most influential artists in history. I was totally buzzing!

                                     

Neither of the girls had ever been to the NGV so it was all very exciting. Don't you think this photo of the girls touching the glass water wall actually looks a bit like a Monet? Yes?! I do!

I took a sneaky photo inside the gallery.. I felt very naughty! There were a lot of security guards lurking around so I was stealthy.

The exhibition was very well set out. It stretched over four rooms. The first showed paintings from his early years and also a very special treat, two portraits of Monet and his wife Camille by Renoir! The middle room featured the middle years, the next the later years and the final room was an amazing cinema room which played an absolutely stunning film that was recorded only last year at Monet's Garden in Giverny. 

We actually did a fairly quick first walk through and then after seeing the film of the garden, went back and saw the paintings with a new perspective. I really didn't expect the girls to connect with it as much as they did. I should give them more credit but you just never know with kids. Molly was so intrigued with Monet's story. Particularly his progression from the early years where he painted with fine detail to the later years when his eyesight was so badly affected by cataracts that his art became very clunky and childlike, and then, after he had cataract surgery his work became more recognisable again. It was completely fascinating to see the world through his eyes. 

I think it was a bit of a revelation to the girls to paint as you see... To not view objects as just objects but to see the colours, light, darkness and shapes and not to worry too much about the detail if you don't want to.

April spent her time wandering from work to work reading all of the information. This is actually quite a big deal as it was only a few months ago at the museum she was saying she hated reading information and she just wanted to look at stuff. In this case, the story is so important in understanding the artwork so I am really glad she decided to give it a go. Needless to say, she was also captivated and very much inspired.

Here are a couple of happy snaps we took before we left.

Here's Mol hanging with Claude

After the exhibition, feeling freshly inspired and positively right-brainy, we headed across to the Botanic Gardens where we attempted to see things as Monet saw them. Molly made me take lots and lots of photos so she could paint them later... Here are a few.. 

Have you been to see Monet's Garden yet? I'd highly recommend it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ooh! Mail!

I am very excited tonight! When I got home from work there was a lovely brown paper package postmarked "The United Kingdom" waiting for me.

I knew exactly who it would be from- Sarah from The Faerie Factory, and it would contain some lovely vintage buttons! Taz at Butter and Buntings has arranged this wonderful Vintage button swap. Don't you just think it's the coolest idea?! (I would linkup but can't from my phone- will get on the computerator tomorrow & fix it)

Not only were there buttons, but a delightful bundle of other bits & bobs too!

Thanks Sarah! I love it all! I've popped your package in the mail today. Hope you enjoy it like I'm enjoying mine.

Look! 

Sweet enough:: I'm sugar free

Hello all,

I should probably start this post by saying that most of my last entry was written about 2 weeks ago and I had saved it & published only a couple of days ago. I hesitated about whether I should post it as it was a bit whiney and negative.. but I figure it's good to have a benchmark from which to mark changes. So without further ado.. my next post! lol
 
After my last post things have picked up a little. I'm feeling much clearer and I have not been on the emotional rollercoaster quite as much. My skin is beginning to clear up (I started to get these really big blemishes on my chest- probably stress related or hormonal or a symptom of not looking after myself) and I am beginning to feel my skin loosen a little. That last one probably sounds strange for anyone who hasn't been over weight. Whenever I start to lose weight my skin goes from feeling tight and stretched to soft and a little bit stretchy.. Yeah.. that really does sound weird.. it always tightens up eventually. But I count this as a good sign that what I am doing is having positive implications for my body. That's good because it means I can get on with trying to get my head right without worrying too much about my body.. not that they are separate.. actually, its a reminder that they are so connected.

12 Days ago my friend Belinda asked me if I would be interested in joining her Facebook group. It is a support page for people who are having a go at quitting sugar. She sent me a bit more info and I had a read of Sarah Wilson's ebook and it all just clicked. I remembered back to times when I ate very little sugar and how I felt and it made so much sense for me to try the 8 week "I Quit Sugar" program. I remembered that I have polycistic ovaries (not the syndrome- I don't have enough other symptoms) and I have always felt really amazing eating "clean". So I bought the cookbook and started exploring this new fructose-free territory.

I am in week 2 now. It's been a very gentle start. I decided not to weigh myself at all because I really want it to be about how I feel. Sarah suggests quitting sugar should be treated like an experiment and that we should remain curious and not harsh or critical of ourselves if we slip up. I really love this attitude. It's what I need right now. I'm sick of feeling like I need to punish myself. It's not useful any more.

Here is one of my favourite recipes so far;

Chocolate Superfood Mousse
(adapted from  Sarah Wilson's website)

Ingredients::
2 ripe avocadoes
1/2 cup coconut cream
1-2 tbs rice syryp
1-2 tbs cacao powder
1-2 tbs chia seeds
1/2 tsp cinnamon or vanilla

Blitz in a food processor or use a stick blender. Pop in the fridge for half an hour to set a bit.

I have also made one with just 3 ingredients- a small can of coconut cream (tip out the water & just use the cream), 1 tbs cacao and 1 tbs rice malt syrup. Mix & refrigerate for a bit... So delicious!!

Are you a sugar addict?
Have you done the I Quit Sugar detox?
Have any thoughts on all this business??
Hit me up in the comments!

Ash
xo

Pete Seeger and the wintery season..

To everything (turn turn turn), there is a season (turn turn turn).... (Pete Seeger)

There are seasons in life.. Looking back over the last 10 years I can clearly see definite seasons.

Uni was one. I didn't realise how care-free and easy life was. I was sharing a house with a friend, paying $90 per week rent and working 12 hours a week while getting a couple of hundred from the government each fortnight. I could do anything I wanted. I was young and in love with my newish boyfriend Johnny C. We got engaged during that season.

Then John and I got married. We had a season living in a tiny one bedroom apartment in Mitcham- it smelled a lot like curry no matter how hard we scrubbed those walls. We loved being close to one another, washing dishes shoulder to shoulder in our miniscule kitchen and I went through a "tinnie" or lucky phase during this time where I seemed to win every competition I entered, this included winning a car, 5 litres of ice cream, $500 and a diamond ring.. all from different competitions.

We lived as lead tenants supporting a man with cerebral palsy.. that was a season that was very rewarding but also very challenging. We lived there for two years until we were blessed with wee Molly and it wasn't manageable any more.

During Molly's infancy I was a stay at home mum and got to spend my days hanging with my mum's group while John worked as an integration aide.. another quite pleasant season.

Then we moved to Footscray.. We have been here 5 years and we have experienced different seasons even in that relatively short period of time. Another baby, kinder, school, friendships lasting and some I've lost, different phases; gardening, cooking, craft. John studying while I worked a little bit. I had a great work arrangement where I could work weekends and have the week free to spend with the kids.

Our time in Footscray has been really great. Aside from the factory smells and lack of trees, Footscray is a vibrant, lively community and it feels like home. There have been ups and downs but life's been pretty good.

Well, we are in a season right now.. and it is definitely a winter for me.

I never want to seem like a complainer.. I generally avoid people who complain a lot online and I've never wanted to be one. But there's complaining and then there is telling people about things that are hard. And that's how it is for us right now.. it's hard. I went out for dinner with some friends the other night and one of them said "Does anyone else feels like things are all too hard at the moment?"... We all nodded. Everyone seems to be feeling the same.. Perhaps it's the time of year.. Holidays feel so far away.. Winter solstice.

This "winter" just feels endless and I have been trying to put my chin up and get on with things but I can only keep it up for a few days between regular melt downs and teary spells. I'm actually having a good day today. The sun is out and I have had enough sleep. Today is one of those days where I feel like I can persevere through the rest of the year until John finishes studying.

I think the problem is that I feel like I'm stuck. I am working full time, which I never intended to do, but it has become necessary as we just can't afford to be earning any less than we currently earn. I am not doing particularly inspiring work .. I mean, it's ok.. many people would love to do what I do. I'm glad to have skills and to be offered enough hours to earn enough to (just) make ends meet but I'm not really happy. I want to work creatively. To do my own projects. To use my social work degree but not be so busy that I can't hang out with Richie.

I am struggling a lot to find reliable childcare and every time I need to make a new care arrangement for him I am reminded that he is not with me. I want to be the one taking him to the park and having babycinos. I am constantly running around, I feel like I pull up to school in the morning (a rolling stop) and push the girls out of the car so I can quickly rush to the next thing. The washing is piling up because neither John or I have the time or energy to do it and I am still struggling to make time to do anything nice for myself (although, credit to me, I am going to see Katie Noonan on Friday night with Mezz!).

But it's a season... it's a very hard season.. But I can see an end to it.

And it's my project to use the next 6 months to plan out how I want next year to feel and what things I need to put in place to set that up. It will be better.

I guess it's a good lesson to the girls that sometimes you just have to put your head down and work through the shitty stuff until it's over.

And it's not over for us yet.. but every day it's getting closer.

Little Things Splendid

Hey all,

Thanks for the overwhelming support in response to my last post. A few of you commented on the post which is lovely! But the thing that really took me by surprise was the number of emails and Facebook PMs I received saying things like "I'm a binge eater too!", "I have struggled with this too and here's what helped me" and "Thank you for making this very taboo issue public". I really feel so much support from you crazy internet cats. I have so much love for you guys.... no really.. I do.

I'm doing ok. I am on the waiting list to see a brain de-muddler (a psychologist) and have been back to my GP to get my pathology results. All were fine.. I even had ok vitamin D which is apparently quite a feat in Melbourne- especially if you work inside as much as I do.

Anyway. I was talking to one of my most special friends today Philippa about how having things to look forward to really makes it easier to get through the hard slog times and so I thought it might be a good time to tell you all about an exciting thing that is going to happen soon!

My lovely friend Mayra and I are launching a little Etsy shop called Little Things Splendid.. see our brief bio below;

Little Things Splendid is owned and run by Melbourne duo Ash and Mayra and was born out of a passion for all things cute, vintage, kitsch, hand made, splendid and delightful. In their "spare time" they scour Victoria's op-shops, flea markets, fetes, garage and jumble sales to bring only the loveliest to Little Things Splendid. They do the leg-work and scrounging so you don't have to.

If all goes to plan we will launch on June 14th. If you are a vintage lover you'll love our shop. We plan to keep the prices very reasonable and will ship internationally for you folks across the seas.

Our address will be www.etsy.com/shops/littlethingsplendid but it's not open yet! Stay tuned!!