Controversy

Don't you just love it?

I love stirring up the pot and getting people to think, to feel and to express. I've had a bit of criticism about my blog recently and despite what people may think, I love it! It means people are reading what I write.

I must admit, I did get a little upset by the mysterious comment from 'anon' a few weeks ago though. I'm all for free speech, and I'm definitely one who endorses freedom of opinion and freedom of expression. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be a blogger! What did upset me though was the lack of courage that 'anon' displayed. After all, if you have something to say, don't be afraid to say it. More importantly though, don't be afraid to own your words.

If you feel strongly enough about something, then say it. Tell everyone. But screw what they might think! What they think doesn't matter in the slightest. It's true. What matters most is that you've been strong enough and confident enough in yourself to be able to express what is important to you.

Controversy is good. Debate is good. Difference of opinion is good. Being able to express everything that is important to you, AND put your name to it, is even better! Be true to who you are. Don't be afraid to rock the boat. Don't be afraid to create a little bit of upheaval or a bit of controversy. And don't be afraid to be the one that starts it.

To me that's the most exciting part!

Bring it on!

It's that gypsy blood again...

The gypsy in me has gone and made me buy a caravan. Not just any caravan either. Nope... This little beauty is about four hours north of here, is about 50 years old, and is in dire need of some TLC!

Don't you think she's cute though?

I'm already imagining what we'll be able to do with her. Obviously we need to work out a way to get her home first, but when we do, I think she's going to become a beautiful labour of love. The other half of this little gypsy duo wants to do her up and sell her, but I have a feeling I might become a little attached during her make-over and want to keep her.

I've been scouring vintage caravan websites and my mind is over-flowing with decorating ideas. Do we go retro? Do I try and sneak in a little bit of shabby chic? Do we stick with keeping her original? Or do we go totally modern?

I love this look, but I think Mr Gypsy might find it a bit too girly.

Then again, I love this too. Maybe this might be more his style?

One thing I do know for sure though.... This is going to be fun!!!

The ribbon

So when you find that other end of your silvery soul ribbon and you've tied them back together, what do do you do when they come undone? Do you leave them, and let those two souls float apart, never to be reunited? Or do you go to the ends of the earth to find that other wispy, lonely ribbon, and tie them back together again?

What would life be like if you left it? If you didn't chase it, and both ribbons were just left floating around, lost and alone. What if others told you to just forget it? That you'll never find it. Would life be the same? Could you feel whole? Could you get through life knowing that one day, just one day, you might find each other again? Maybe this lifetime, maybe not?

And what if you did find it, and tied that knot back together? Tighter this time. Could you ever risk them coming undone again? And what do you do to make sure the knot stays firm?

You have faith. You have hope. And you have love. The greatest of those is love.

It's the only thing that will keep those ribbons tied.

Letter to 'Anon'...

In response to this comment left on last night's post -

Anon said...

"I am a friend, who offers support and love whenever possible." Glad you included whenever possible, but it should say whenever you could be bothered.

Dear Anon

I said, 'whenever possible', because it isn't always possible to offer the love and support that everyone needs, all the time. Quite often we need to learn to love and support ourselves before we are capable of giving it out. If our own tanks are empty, we have nothing to give. It's as simple as that.

You are obviously someone who I have hurt or disappointed in the past. If this is the case, then I am sorry. You must know me to some extent, but how much of me do you really understand? Do you understand on an intimate level, what pains and heartaches I have been through? Are you aware of the amount of inner strength I've needed to call upon to get through the last 8 months, or even the last 8 days? Sometimes we all need to turn inside and work through the darkness on our own, and sometimes this means that we need to shut others out. Turn our backs on the distractions, and deal with our own demons. Maybe you've misread my indifference to you?

If my blog upsets you, then you have the choice not to read it. I don't always share what I write for the benefit of others. I write it for myself. It's a way for me to clear my mind, put things in perspective, and make sense of the everyday. And it doesn't always make sense!

Like I said in last nights post - I'm not perfect.

I just do the best I can.

Sending you love,

The Everyday Mum

I am amazing!

I am a mother, who would do anything for her children.

I am a friend, who offers support and love whenever possible.

I am a lover, who gives and receives affection with all my heart and soul.

I am a daughter, who strives to be what my parents dreamed I'd grow up to be.

I am a sister, who will always believe that my brother is capable of anything he puts his mind to.

I am an ex-wife, who credits so much of my growth to a wonderful man.
I am a worker, who tries to achieve what is expected of me.

I am a woman, who has accepted my ‘womanliness’ with everything it deserves.

I am a human being, who treats all others with the respect and dignity they are entitled to.

I'm not perfect. But I am me. And I'm amazing!

Say it to yourself... "I am amazing!"

Feels good, doesn't it?

Star-gazing

We sit outside on the porch everynight. It's our favourite time of day. We sit on our broken down old couch and light a fire to crackle in front of us . We face north and at a certain time in the evening, a bright star moves her way up over the roof top in front of us. We have watched her move through the sky, and she's been appearing earlier and earlier each night. We always comment when we see her - 'our star'.

Thanks to the magic of the internet and the iPhone, we found out a little more about our star. I used my Pocket Universe app and we tracked the night sky above us, then we googled and found her story. It's beautiful, and her name is Vega.

She is the brightest star in the constellation of Lyra, and will be the North Star in about 12,000 years. Vega was also the first star other than the Sun, to be photographed and the first to have her spectrum recorded. All interesting facts, if you're into astronomy. But I'm not quite so easily pleased. I wanted to know about her mythology. I found several versions, but the one that seemed to draw me in more was her Chinese love story. In this version, Vega is separated from her lover, Altair, and their children, and can only be reunited once a year in mid-summer. On this day each year the magpies build them a bridge, and across this, they meet each other through the Milky Way.

We've ruminated on Vega's story for a while now, and we look forward to seeing her each night and reminding ourselves of the power of destiny. Just the other night though, as we realised our visits from Vega were going to soon end, we noticed another brighter star appearing below her, rising in almost the same place. This star is Deneb. He is the brightest star in the constellation of Cygnus, and he is 60,000 times more luminous than our Sun. More significantly though, Deneb is the star that marks the magpie bridge that allows Vega and Altair to be reunited on that one night a year! The story was coming to life right in front of us.

So tonight, on the eve of my beloved's departure, as we watch the full moon rise in it's golden glory, and await the arrival of Vega and Deneb, we ponder on where he will find them in his part of the sky - 10,000 miles away from here. I know how Vega feels when she is separated from Altair, and I'm getting sad realising that I need to feel that way again for a little while.

I just need to remember his perfect words to me last night...

"Baby, it doesn't matter where we are, we can find each other in the stars".

Foolproof choc chip cookies

My friend Kelley shared this recipe with me a little while ago and I've since made them 3 or 4 times. It's a winner in this household and makes enough cookies to last almost a week. They're not something you'd choose if you're on a health kick, but at least I know what's in them, and a little bit of butter and sugar isn't going to hurt anyone if eaten in moderation. Well, that's what I tell myself anyway...

Let me share the recipe with you -

Kelley's Choc Chip Cookies

500 grams of butter

1.5 cups of sugar

1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

4 cups self raising flour

1 whole packet of choc bits

Cream the butter, sugar and condensed milk together in a large bowl. Fold in the flour cup by cup and then add the choc bits. You'll need to get your hands in toward the end to form a nice cookie dough. Measure out walnut sized balls and place on a tray lined with baking paper. Using a floured fork, press them down lightly. Cook in a 170-180 degree oven for about 12 minutes. My oven is a little unpredictable so I keep an eye on them after 10 minutes so that they don't over cook. You want them a little golden but not too brown. Let them cool a little on the tray before moving them to a rack to cool. Or, if you're like me and can't resist, let them cool enough so you don't burn your fingers, and then sample them while the chocolate is still all melty! This recipe makes about 60 decent sized cookies, and they'll keep in an air-tight container for up to a week - if they last that long!