Ebb and Flow

Greetings my fellow sojourners!

I have been exploring the concept of ebb and flow which I heard about in a blog somewhere. It has really piqued my interest. The idea is that you naturally have fluctuations in energy levels during the days and weeks. And you need to match your jobs to your natural energy level, rather than banging your head against a brick wall trying to do something when you are not able to, or wasting time on a routine task when your energy levels are high.
So they advise writing two lists so you have ideas ready to go for both these states.  I did this, but have yet to use them. But the concept is constantly in my mind.

The other method I am using is a week on/week off method. 
One of my absolute worst things to do is to have appointments. Things like the dentist, the electrician or the Dr all fall into this category. I felt I was drowning in appointments, so decided to give myself every second week off from them. I have just finished my first week off and although I was not as relaxed on the week off as I would like, it was refreshing to feel myself ready to tackle the appointment week once again.
It's also nice to be at the beginning of an appointment free week (as I am right now). It feels like a mini holiday!
It took me a while to realise that I do not have to have my foot on the accelerator 24/7. The appointments will take place, just at a slower pace. And although my natural state is push, push, push, my body doesn't like it. And this new system is waaaay better! I think I just need a little more stimulation with fun outings in the week off to help me relax. Still tweaking, but looking good.

On the topic of ebb and flow, I unearthed this poem again. I posted it a while back, but it fit so well I'm sure you won't mind reading it again.

As I walk the line

Along the shore

I wonder about permanence

And impermanence

Wash and backwash

Hearing the splash of waves

In one ear

And crunch of rock

In the other

I wonder that

The same waves that erode

Also build the beach

I ponder

The crab, shell fish, even seaweed

Have much to teach

About living with grace

in tumultuous times

Here where life provides abundance

And then lack

And so I tiptoe shore footed

Among my musings

Keeping a fine balance

Avoiding the blue bottles.

27/11/2016.

Something else I've been working on is I've decided to write down my life, or at least the bits I remember. It feels a little grand to be calling it my "memoirs", but it will be a place the kids can go to read about my interesting life.

Here is a snippet:
We had a lot of problems with security in our time in Mt Hagen. Our windows were covered with  "boi wire" which was basically squares of reinforcing wire. And eventually we had a home made alarm system installed. Little crocodile clips fastened on to pieces of wire protruding from the bottoms of the windows. ALL of the clips had to be attached when we turned on the alarm or a great noise ensued! It was our job to check all the windows to make sure before we flipped the switch. It was sooo tedious, and it was inevitable that someone had knocked one off when pulling a curtain or opening a window. All these precautions were moot the day we came home and found someone had cut through the wall under our dining room window and squeezed between the framing. They must have sent in a child!
We were broken into a couple of times. They usually stole food and men's clothing. I remember when Dad had to borrow a belt to get to work. He was rather a different size than our neighbour! The most memorable break in was when afterwards we discovered a plate of pineapple missing from the fridge. We could just imagine them running down the road balancing it.

I have just put together another of my videos from recent family happenings. This one is accompanied by me on the piano. I hope you enjoy this peaceful perambulate through our lives.

Til next time,

keep on creating!

Love Jazzy Jack

War, water and wheelchair

Hello fellow travellers.

This week we head to the woodworking room to watch Miles making his WW 2 replica wooden guns.

We also have some fascinating moments watching the interactions between water, plastic bottles, tissues and food colouring.

And finally, we view a burnt out car from a wheelchair!

All accompanied by Aiden's eerie guitar music - composed and performed by him and sound bending by me.

Sound exciting?

By the way, look at the gorgeous shapes made by plastic bottles left overnight in an aquarium!

We'd love your company on our Unschooling Adventures.

Click on the picture below to enter the rabbit hole...

Til next time,

Keep on creating!

Love

Jazzy Jack and The Bracks

A couple of unschooling adventures

We have been enjoying some unschooling adventures lately.

Firstly we visited the train museum with our local homeschooling group.

Here is Mr Actor in front of the largest steam engine in the Southern Hemisphere and the fourth largest in the world from memory. He is always moving and balancing and parkouring when he is well!

This the interior of the diesel engine section. Very dark and claustrophobic but my brilliant camera managed wonderfully. This is a V12 engine with 2000horse power. Very impressive to my engine mad kids!

Mr Artist in his usual playful mood...grossing us all out!

The second adventure was a long weekend at Heartwoods our bush property.

It's always a special day when there is water in our leaky dam. Winter, our water dog, was in her element.

There was even water in the bath tub in the goat paddock (so called because it is a small fenced area...we don't have goats) which is unheard of.

Mr Artist has a passion for all things WW2 and has decided to build an Anderson Shelter at Heartwoods. He spent the entire weekend digging in the rain. He wouldn't accept any help. The wet conditions were ideal for digging.

And ideal for sinking as Mr Actor discovered!

Hope you enjoyed our wet winter adventures.

Til next time, keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

 

Simplifying and Centring

Greetings my friends!

I wanted to touch base and explain what is happening in my life currently.

I have been simplifying.

I'm not sure where it actually started, but there are so many blog posts and youtube channels spouting simplicity and minimalism these days. I thought it might help me get some clarity in my life.

So I started with my wardrobe. I have removed all red, orange and purple because they were making me feel overcooked and put them in a bin under the bed. Then I removed all duplicates in my wardrobe. So I only have one grey blazer etc.

This has lightened up the space considerably, and I now am left with naturals and neutrals. White, black, grey, cream, brown, green, blue seem to be the way my brain wants to dress. I find simple styles that layer, with texture, line, beautiful cut, lovely fabrics are the simplest.

I still have all my fun stuff under the bed if I need an infusion, but lately I need calm. This has all totally surprised Bushy as I have been the colour lover from way back. I have an extreme personality with opposite sides and styles, so who knows I'll probably reverse all this in the future...hence the bins under the bed!

Next area to simplify has been my diet.

I am currently eating a raw food vegan diet!

I'm not sure how long I can keep it up as I still have to prepare my family's meals and preparing two different meals is not my idea of fun. Maybe in the future we will settle on cooked vegan with lots of whole foods.

But I am noticing a distinct increase in energy levels, and it is interesting to sample foods here and there after a clean fruit and vegies diet. You really notice the salt, sugar and fat!

I've only been on it for a couple of weeks and will continue for at least a month before making further changes. I want to see what it can offer my aging body!

I have also been reducing my online interactions, taking myself off old email lists which no longer interest me. Trying to eventually reduce the outside stimulation and voices to make me centre into myself and find my own voice.

Unfortunately this has meant less action on my blog. I hope you will bear with me as I sort through this internal time.

I'm starting a love myself project, where I really step through my own goals and accomplishments and I feel gratitude for myself which leads to love.

This is a huge area for me because I have always felt lacking and unworthy, even though people constantly tell me how talented I am. So I am paring back the outside voices to listen to my own loving voice.

Along with loving myself is the whole realm of loving my body.

I am taking time each day to have long walks, doing yoga stretches, and also introducing meditation times as well. I have a plan to start weights, but haven't nailed that one yet!

It's been very interesting that as I chip away at the things and practices and people that don't serve me 100%, (not that they are repugnant, but just not quite right), I find I hear more clearly that little voice inside that is my own.

My mantra at this time is:

keep it simple

I am writing all this out to help me see it in its entirety, and I publish it in case it helps others to read.

+++

Sooo Bushy and I went on a date on Sunday to the National Arboretum where he has a research site. It is an amazing place with plans for 100 forests and 100 gardens. It's early days yet as they only opened it a few years ago. We are fascinated by the kinetic scupltures they have installed recently.

We did a little photo shoot for you near the bottle tree forest.

 

Are you doing any simplifying lately?

Do you spend time appreciating your own natural beauty?

I would encourage you to try it!

Sleep tight my dears.

Love,

Jazzy Jack

 

Rise and write no 1. Days 4-7

Good afternoon, good evening or good night my lovelies!

Wherever you roam!

Gorilla jacket, white dress, shirt and earrings - thrifted, knitted necklace - made by me!

Here are the final poems from my Rise and Write Linkup.

A couple of them I set to photos for Instagram.

Day 4. Write about a tree (or another plant) that you see from your window. What kind of tree it is? How tall it is? Does it bear fruit or berries? Is it a home to birds or small animals? If not, could it be a home to mythical creatures? What would you think of it as a child?

I am a tree

who shades a house

my branches have grown long

over the roof

I cover the home

and protect it

my leaves fall in the cold

but my arms never falter

they stand tall

and true

In warmer days

when my leaves grow

I shade the house and its people

from the hot sun

In colder days I drop my leaves

to let the sun in to the house

this is what I do

I see the people who live under me

running around

sometimes they have picnics under me

on the deck

In Autumn I feel silly and mischievous

and drop my leaves in their food

sometimes the small people climb my branches

and jump off

sometimes I want to catch them

when they fall

but my branches aren't quick

so I stand seeming uncaring

there are insects that love my tiny flowers

and in Summer I hum

when they tickle me

I like being a tree

it's a good life

people usually appreciate me

and my people love me

so I stand tall and proud

and love them back

Day 5. Write about an act of kindness that made you look differently at what kindness is and maybe look differently at life. What was the situation? Maybe it was in your childhood, or maybe it happened last week. Maybe you were the person who was being kind, when someone needed it the most, and maybe did not expect it. If nothing comes to mind, invent!

Day 6. Write about your favorite dish as a child. Do you still remember the taste of it? The smell? The texture? Who was cooking it?

Day 7. Write about your morning ritual. You wake up… then what usually happens? Write about how your body feels, what you think about, what you like to do, to eat or drink the first thing in the morning. It does not have to be about you. Write about your character if you prefer – what is their morning routine?

Beeeeeep! BEEEEEEEP!

Oh noooo!

Is that the alarm already?

Do I really have to get up?

But I just got back to sleep!

And now suddenly

the bed that has been

SO ANNOYING all night

is soooo comfortable!

All warm and snuggly

and my pillow feels so soft

The air is so cold

Look you can see my breath

Good grief!

No-one should be expected to get up

in this temperature!

I'll just roll over for a quick snooze

Hmmm, what do I have on today?

Oh, the dog must have heard the alarm

I can hear her jumping at the door

Is that the cat yowling

to be let out of the lounge room?

I'd better remember to take the cello

Did I make lunches last night?

Argh! Brain shut up I need to sleep

Well I suppose I will get up

I can't seem to sleep

and now I need the loo

Ooh, ooh, my toes!

These tiles are freeeezing!

Good morning world

I'm up!!!

Lordess Winter - inspired edit by Mr Actor

Til next time, keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why not leave a three word impression (poem) or a smiley if you enjoyed your visit? :-D

Rise and Write Linkup no.1 and Plinka Pants

Hello gorgeous people!

Here I am in my Plinka Pants by Tina Givens. Made with the first pattern I've downloaded from the internet.

Unfortunately the fabric wasn't robust enough for the ruffles, and the weight caused the side seam to split. I had to remove them:-(

But the resulting shorter pants are so versatile. I'm living in them! And they are great with boots.

Just goes to show mistakes can be useful!

I am following the Rise and Write writing link up of Out of the Writer's Closet.

Every day we write for 5 - 10 minutes on the daily prompt. I am being unusual and writing poetry. Here are the first three!

Day 1. Write about the first thing you see when you open your eyes in the morning. Is it something in your room? Is it a photograph? A cat? A person? The world outside of your window?

When I open my eyes

I see a beautiful blur

Without my glasses

The world is all fuzzy

All the detail is missing

And edges have auras

Magic is possible

In my soft misty world

All is not definite

Or defined

There is a sense

Of the mysterious

Of something unseen

Something hidden

But wonderful

Yet to discover

A feeling of wakening

A world still unfolding

Where only the wondrous

Will finally be revealed

Day 2. Write about the first bouquet of flowers you received (or gave to someone). What flowers they were? Do you remember their smell? Were they from a garden, field, market? You may also write about the flowers you did not receive (or gave) – of a disappointment.

The first bouquet of flowers I ever gave

Was to my husband

Oh, he wasn't my husband then

I turned up at his door and presented them

He opened it wide with surprise

I wasn't sure if he was surprised to see me

Or surprised by the flowers

He is a man after all

But he was delighted

And I thought why can't a man

Who loves nature

And works in forests

Love nature's smaller gifts

The brighter ones

Besides just trees which are big

And masculine

So he received flowers

And you know

That day

I knew he was for me

Because he didn't reject them

Or the idea

He didn't posture or grimace

Or act uncomfortable

He just loved and treasured them

And their beauty

And you know what?

He loved me!

Day 3. Write about your first visit to a dentist – or the most memorable one. Do you remember the dentist’s face, voice, the smell of the office? Do you remember your pain, fear, or a pleasant feeling of knowing that you are taking a good care of your teeth?

Eeeeeee

Aaaaaaah

Oooooooo

Says the boy

Xeeeee

Zaaaaaah

Zoooooo

Says the drill

Eat me

I'm yummy

You want me

Says the sweet

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Bizzzzzzzzz

Buzzzzzzzzz

Clean your teeth!

I'm just loving this. It helps having a topic set. I'm even setting my alarm ten minutes earlier so I can do it!! I know!

Hope you all enjoyed my first instalment. More to come!

Pop over and visit the others.

Today's face - our punk fireirons!

Til next time, keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

PS also linking to SpyGirl's Crimson 52 Pick Me Up and Turning Heads Tuesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why not leave a three word impression (poem) or a smiley if you enjoyed your visit? :-D

BeautyScope 243: Opposites attract

Today, for National Tree Day!

 

neighbours lean inwards

to try and see

the other's point of view

 

 

 

Why not leave a three word impression (poem) or a smiley if you enjoyed your visit? :-D

BeautyScope 239: Lantern festival

Our school holds a stunning Winter Solstice Lantern Festival where each grade makes and carries a different design.

Have you ever participated in one? Or made a paper lantern?

paper globes

bob and wave

holding the light

 

Why not leave a three word impression (poem) or a smiley if you enjoyed your visit? :-D

Bloomin' Garden!

This is a new series I will run occasionally about my garden. I have a love/hate relationship with it. I seem to spend an awful lot of time in it for not much reward. 

I'm hoping by focussing on my garden in my blog, I might see some progress.

I love getting outside and putting hands in the dirt, but we have a) very heavy clay soils in Canberra, b) we have a big garden, c) I have a very small amount of energy, d) we have very hot dry summers of 35-40 deg Celsius , and dry cold winters with frost, and e) we have a very energetic dog.

I had a play planting some pots up with succulent cuttings from my parent's garden this weekend. 

I seem to do better with pots. You can move them around to get the right climate, you can adjust the soil easily, no heavy digging.

I also forget about things with my Aspie brain. If I'm not obsessed with it 24 hours of the day, then it's out of sight, out of mind. 

I will look after plants for maybe a week, and then they're on their own. I also never remember when to prune and feed, and I don't spray for health reasons. 

So for all these reasons, gardens have an uphill battle with me.

To make matters worse, my sister and mother are great gardeners, and my dad's parents ran a nursery!

Flowering at the moment is a succulent. (I just noticed it has aphids while cropping the picture!)

A geranium has been trying to bud burst for weeks

some succulent cuttings I potted last weekend

Lavender is flowering (lovely lavender)

and so is rosemary

a wider shot to show all the bare ground around the plants...drives me mad!

here is a dandelion flowering happily, in amongst the few bits of grass

a snow in summer plant with dog protection

two kangaroo paw plants I received on Mother's Day

but was too scared to plant in case they died. 

I finally planted them in the ground

under dog protection, near the cat outdoor cage. 

Look at all the grass not on the lawn!

the cat cage near the bird cage

they sit and talk to each other

the animals, not the cages!

Blueberry and Jade

I love my water pot near the back door that houses 11 fish at last count. They thrive on neglect. We feed them once a week if we remember, never clean it out, and they have babies. They water plants give them oxygen and keep the water clean. That's a win in my book!

Thanks for pottering around my garden with me in the middle of Winter.

We are blessed that anything flowers or grows at this time of year.

I remember when we moved to Vancouver and asked what would grow in Winter on our balcony, they looked at us in surprise and said "nothing"!

:-)

Crazy people from Down Under!

'Til next time, keep creating!

Jazzy Jack