Belly Blessing

A close friend of mine is having a baby mid August - around my birthday (LOL).

Today we went to her belly blessing party.

The dads took the children to the park as the women

sat around the kitchen table, listened to a beautiful song and wrapped a ball of wool around our wrist a few times and passed it on to the next person so we were all connected around the table - a circle of friends. One by one we introduced ourselves while we told our stories of our mother's names and how far back we could remember the names of their mothers. It was interesting that most of us could only remember as far back as our grandmas, maybe our great-grandmothers. Some of us read poems, blessings, gave gifts and talked about birth.

After the next six weeks or when the baby decides to come into our world, we can cut the string that bound us around the table.......:)

When the dads and children came back from the park we painted her belly (and another friend who was there and due about the same time). The kids had a great time painting the pregnant bellies. There was lots of giggling by the mums to be and the children. We watched the babies wriggle in their mother's belly as we were trying to paint.

It was a beautiful afternoon. I even caught myself getting clucky for a brief moment...LOL

Katie took a photo of me painting.

The painted bellies!

Katie got inspired to paint her brother's face and anyone elses face she could find.

Katie wanted to be a tiger so she got me to paint her face. I have a new admiration for face painters - it is not as easy as it looks....:)

Winter Spiral

Through the darkness we shall go

with our lantern all a-glow

Hearts grow warm our way grows bright

As we jounney in the light.

Though its dark and cold this night

We can trust in this small light

If we hold our Lantern true

courage grows our deeds to do.

{This Moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama.

Autumn Owl

I have just finished my first custom order. I hope she likes it.

I have been needle felting on and off for nearly over a year now and I have either donated my work to the school craft stall or given them way as pressies. This is the first time I'll be actually making money from my craft. I meant to do this for her over a month ago. I have kind of been procrastinating. I had a little fear that it might not be what she wanted. I just had to push my fear aside and just get on with it... and here she is - Autumn Owl.

I love owls and I thought the branch needed a bird on it. The owl is made with mulberry silk. The eyes and beak are wool. I love the colour of the red wool on the doll's dress - I used up the last of it. I'm going to have to dye some more wool.

Winter Mushrooms

Winter has arrived. It was a lovely sunny day today up here in the mountains. What a way to welcome winter by cooking a green chicken curry from scratch. I have just joined a women's cooking circle and I have met some wonderful ladies. We are from all ages (12-70 years) and different backgrounds, and we all come together to share our knowledge of food and cooking. We all had a go at pounding the ingredients to make the green curry paste with the mortar and pestle. It smelled so delicious as we were making and cooking it - and we get to eat it.... and this is a free group . Meanwhile, Lou was happily making playdough from scratch with the mobile minder (child care worker) in the next room.

Afterwards, Lou and I went to the park for a play and we came across these amazing mushrooms. They were so beautiful. I was amazed that they got to grow so big and flawless. There were a few that looked like some snails had eaten them.

I don't know what they are called but I was blown away by their beauty and their size. I don't think I have ever seen mushrooms so big in real life. Some of them were the size of a bread and butter plate.

Here is one next to my shoe to show how big it was.

I warned Lou not to touch them but he couldn't resist jumping over them....:)