Sharolyn Joy Newington

My friends the Shepherds

2011-12-31T19:32:00.003-08:00

I love reading this story freshly each year. This year I also borrowed a whole collection of illustrated childrens Christmas books from the local library. The lady serving me asked if I had a child. I shook my head and sheepishly asked "Am I still allowed to borrow this many?" Thank goodness she answered yes. My favourite people in the story are the Shepherds.

As always, my plans for hand made cards to be posted a month in advance and extraordinary-recycled-home-made-and-baked-ingeneous-gifts never seem to work out quite as (or anywhere near how) I hope or envision in the months preceding. I had also (theoretically) planned to take a break from technology over Advent but that was easier said than done. Until our internet connection failed that is, and our landlord went on vacation to Fiji for a month. Not having internet over Christmas made us feel really disconnected from family and friends in Australia but really wasn't the end of the world. Here are a few photos of Christmas in our home.

Looking back through photographs of the year it truly has been an incredible time of exploring Vancouver and Canada beyond. Making new friends, starting a new job, a new college for Josh, a new church, moving home a few times... There have been lots of firsts. I have had the 4 seasons I so hoped to find, and I have learnt about many other seasons of life. We've also missed out on many births back home and the joy and pain of ordinary life. We think and dream about Brisbane often.We look forward to returning. But for now, we love our home here.

We're grateful to so many people who allowed us to leave, welcomed us, befriended us, taught us, lead us, made us laugh and cry and prayed with and for us. We're learning more about each other and growing in commitment to our wonderful Saviour. Goodbye 2011. Hello 2012.

The photos above in order:
(housemate) Matthew with our Christmas tree and advent candles with a wreath made from herbs
the view driving home from school on my last day
stained glass cookies - also Matt's handiwork
bare trees outside
all 5 advent candles alight on Christmas eve (project for 2012 - make beeswax candles...)
frosty rooftops
local quinces from which I made quince paste... which was a lot of effort and not that impressive :(
making real egg-nog - delish!
evergreen boughs above the windows
our real tree - a Grand Fir
and our full house after morning prayer one December morning NB: not all these people live here all the time but all have at some point over the last month.

The last of fall

2011-11-17T18:51:00.001-08:00

It feels like summer was late arriving in Vancouver, but hung on tightly in September with a last glorious burst at the end there. Then fall happened all of a sudden. On the 17th of November we had the first snow (snow on the mountains doesn't quite count). At my school it snowed at home time. What a thrill! A lovely thin white dusting of snow. It looked like they had received some new electronics in heaven and the polystyrene packaging was being (carelessly, though undeniably beautifully) thrown down to Earth in the frenzied excitement of the angels. I need to add this type of snow to my other technical drawings. (A few days later we had even more snow - this time it was shaved ice style.) Perhaps there will be a thesis in this work one day... Anyhow, to keep the colour lasting a little longer, here is some more of this magnificent time they call fall (it's always been autumn to me) as we welcome in Winter and the Advent season.

This last image is the view out our kitchen window. A few windy days was the only difference between the first and last picture. One upside to the bare branches is a better view of the city and mountains.

Laundromat sketches

2011-11-14T09:11:00.001-08:00

Ok so only the top one was actually from the laundromat this Saturday but I found the others in my sketchbook from over the summer. The "Washing Well" as it's called down the road (as we don't have a laundry facility at our new place) fluctuates in my mind from being a really novel and exciting local hang-out, to a massive drag (lugging 2 large baskets down our slippery stairs (landing flat on my bum), walking in the pouring rain etc... you get the idea). I'm going to make a point of enjoying this time though. Cup of tea, sea salt chocolate and a sketchbook should help...!

Granulated white sugar snow

2011-11-10T22:29:00.001-08:00

I love the way untouched snow sparkles in the sunlight. Like finely granulated white sugar.

Last Sunday we visited Cypress Mountain to collect our ski/snow-board passes and to see the first snow of the winter. We walked a trail I had been on with my school kids a month or so earlier. Now the track was icy and the lake was frozen over. The yew trees are beginning to bow under the delightful burden of snow. It's still fall in the city, but winter has arrived in the mountains! As we've been dedicating our Sunday Sabbaths to ceasing from work and study, resting and celebration, Sunday is also our day to explore creation. This Sunday we hope to get back on our snowboards again - Yipee.

Change

2011-11-03T22:01:00.003-07:00

the mustardy house on the right is ours

this is the view from the balcony off our bedroom

This is my first Fall. In Brisbane, back home, what we call Autumn is a lovely season of cooling down for the winter but there aren't a great deal of noticeable changes. Trees don't lose their leaves. So, I love seeing changes around Vancouver as the trees tell us it is time to get ready for the shorter days, the cold and the rain. I think it's beautiful that even in a busy city, the trees are still so connected to the cycles of life on this Earth that we can't avoid the messages they tell us.

Kicking and crunching leaves is something I do with the enthusiasm of a child. I've never had to rake leaves off the pavement before so thankfully our neighbour Annie is friendly and helpful (and patient) and has lent me their rake and some technique training for filling bags. Through Sunday afternoon leaf raking I was also able to meet our neighbours from 2 doors down who have lived in this neighbourhood (same house) for 63 years. I hope to hear their stories some day. I'm saving the leaves in garbage bags for our compost throughout the year.

One afternoon recently when admiring colourful* leaves I had the realisation* that the more they change colour, the more they fall and thus loose their colour and before long the branches will be completely bare - for many long winter months. People do get a little sad about the winter here, and I was really feeling for those naked branches until I saw the first new snow on the mountains driving to work last week. I was cured of any winter sadness. The trees will be beautiful, are beautiful, even in their bareness. I love the change of seasons, there is something to be loved about all of the different times of year.

*I think it's great that Canadians and Australians share many spellings, where Americans don't.

Georgia St colours

2011-10-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

I love school

2011-10-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

This 'gift' I received from a cute little boy today just made my heart sing. I love being back at school and in the classroom with children again. My grade 2's are just gorgeous. And I love learning WITH them.

My Canadian experience is certainly all the more richer for being back at school. I get a big choked up every assembly when I sing the Canadian anthem. And last week we did an investigation into why trees loose their leaves - fascinating.

I love the crafts we make and the terrible jokes they tell on Tuesdays at sharing time. I love it when they sound words out themselves and come up with beautiful new spellings that communicate EXACTLY what they meant them too.

Thanksgiving

2011-10-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a thanksgiving dinner in our home. Our (Josh and myself's) first Thanksgiving and hopefully not our last! It was fun to all pitch in. Steve made a beautiful roast turkey and some yam mash, Matt made delicous stock and stuffing from scratch, Josh whipped up a gravy (using said stock and delicious juices) and I tried my hand at a cranberry and jalapeno sauce and some potatoes. Jen arrived back from a big weekend away in New Orleans (gifts in hand!) to a warm house wafting of home-baked joy. Someone read this poem which was perfect for the occasion.

We give You thanks

for You sustain us

with real food

and real drink.

You nourish uswith friends

as real as food

with joy as clear as water

with love as good as this meal.

This is enough.

We do not ask for more.

This is more than enough

reason to bless Your nameForever.

Make us always mindful of those

who do not have enoughfood

and friendship

water and love and joy.

Give them enough

that they too may be thankful

Amen.

Mary Jo Leddy from Radical Gratitude

Some other photos from Thanksgiving long weekend (Canadian date is about a month earlier than the US). The bean photos are of Steve roasting coffee !! on our (currently messy) back deck. Imagine that, home-roasted coffee! Oh and the pictures at the top are my first fall experiences captured. Have I ever mentioned I love the seasons?!

Harvest in the City

2011-10-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving weekend seemed the perfect time to share this harvest story. Back in April, as part of a Good Friday service we walked together around the local streets, stopping at various places to think and reflect on Jesus's journey to the cross and connections to suffering and hardship in our own neighbourhood. A part of this journey landed us in the community garden on the corner of a big intersection just across from our church (our new neighbourhood!). We were invited to throw wheat seeds into freshly ploughed soil. There is a lot of symbolism connected with seeds and the potential they hold and faith. Seeds must be buried and lay still before they can bring new life... What a joy it was to walk past the garden recently (months later) and see the tall stalks of golden wheat. So when an invitation was put out to be a part of the harvest I was very keen to come along. Two of the photos show Ryan separating the wheat from the chaff as the grain heads are rubbed vigorously between palms and the chaff is blown away. The left behind grain makes a nice chewy gum - or can be ground into flour. Harvesting the wheat it was also necessary to try and separate weeds which had grown in among the wheat - including wild oats. So many lessons are best learnt through hands-on experience. This wheat is yet to be prepared into flour for use in communion bread throughout the year (what a beautiful concept!), but in the meantime the drying stalks hang in the windows of the church - a visible sign of resurrection.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to beglorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the groundand dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds…”John 12: 23

Summer Snapshots

2011-09-28T21:56:00.002-07:00

So many things to catch up on. I feel like I'm just treading water at the moment and not making much progress forward. That's ok for now though and I'm so pleased that Josh is a strong swimmer! Lots of new things to share. But first some reflections. A celebration of summer.Oh and we moved house! More on that soon but here is a picture we used for our housewarming - taking place this Saturday.

Afternoon snack on the front steps

2011-08-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't betroot a delicious colour? Lots of beets at the farmers markets at the moment so I made this beetroot hummus for a tasty afternoon snack. I'm savouring time at home with Josh before I start my new teaching job next week and he is back into full-time study. For dipping I made some pita wedges which i think I was introduced to by my beautiful sister Cath. I look out for packets of pita bread on special (79c when they're getting near their used by date at Kitsilano Natural Foods) and I use my trusty scissors to cut the pitas into wedges. A sprinkling of extra v. olive oil, some chunky rock salt, a few minutes under the grill and they brown up beautifully.

Iced Tea is something I have wanted to try making for a while. (I've heard the commercially made brands can have as much sugar as soft drink!). I steeped 2 bags of Citrus infusion tea and stirred in some honey to sweeten it a little. Then I let it cool in the fridge and poured it over ice with some fresh lemon and mint to serve. Summer on the front steps.

Bunnies in Blackberry Bushes

2011-08-12T15:33:00.002-07:00

How cute is this little fellow? This is how i met him... A couple of weeks ago a friend Jen and I rode our bikes down to the beach (we live 5 minutes from the beach by bike!) where we read our books in the sun on a pretty patchwork quilt on the sand. Sound divine? It was! On our way from the beach to dinner at a local pilgrimage spot the Naam I spotted a little guy like this one, then I saw some children crowded around a few more bunnies. Altogether I saw about 10 in a small space of time. I called out to Jen who was riding ahead of me but my voice was lost in the wind. Jennifer continued riding on but I just had to stop and see these cute things. They were coming out of the blackberry bushes and quite content to be around others equally as enthralled as I.

I jumped back on my bike and raced ahead to Jen who had begun to worry about how she'd managed to lose me. She seemed so cool about it all as I blabbered on and on about the bunnies. I vowed to return and see these little furry friends again. So yesterday Josh and I took our Aussie mate Liam to meet some more little bunnies and I'm sure we'll return again to sigh over their sweetness and pick blackberries (and small apples growing wild) too.

It seems these bunnies once had homes with humans but were released or escaped and have made themselves at home in the thickets in Jericho Beach Park near the Tennis Courts and Sailing Club. They hardly look feral do they?

In the Summertime when the weather is fine...

2011-07-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Afternoon tea in the garden

2011-07-21T09:39:00.006-07:00

In her last week visiting Lisa and I took a day trip to the beautiful (world renowned) Butchard Gardens on Vancouver Island. It was a delightful way to spend the day, wandering around like ladies and it wouldn't have been complete without a posh afternoon tea overlooking the lawn. See that centre table in the last picture, well that was ours, the best in the house. It was so lovely to be waited on by staff who treated us like royalty (just about).

And what really topped the day off for me aside from glorious flowers, delicous food and wonderful Lisa (which really was more than enough excitement), was reading Pride and Prejudice on the bus/barge/bus trip over and back again (it takes a few hours there and a few hours back!). I really half expected Mr Darcy to walk out onto the grass at any moment. Though I have seen the BBC series of the Jane Austen classic this was my first attempt at the book. I half expected the language would be barrier to my simpleton mind but it was not at all a problem. I loved it and couldn't put it down, and the BBC series really does do it justice. Reading all about the mysterious Mr Darcy really just made me appreciate my own mysterious and charming Mr Newington. I feel a bit like a real life Lizzy (minus the annoying sisters, impossible mother and Pemberley mansion).

BTW If you're wondering what we did with Catherine on this particular day she opted for theological books over flowers (?!?) and spent the day nerding it up at Regent and UBC.

pressed petal

2011-07-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

I have loved poppies since I discovered such a flower existed. I love the way they come out of a small little hairy green cocoon, balanced on a precariously tall stem, like fine, crushed velvet, too delicate to touch. Here we have a plant in our backyard. It has been such a pleasant surprise after arriving in the winter to see all these joyful plants come out of hiding in the spring. This one has gigantic orange-red poppy blooms with gorgeous dark stains on the petals as though each was individually painted with the brush of a Creator God. Though it doesn't show the brilliance of the colour, I think it's even beautiful pressed.

Kale

2011-07-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

A rainbow of our front steps kale

Rocky Mountain High

2011-07-05T15:03:00.001-07:00

I think Catherine, Lisa and I would all agree that one particular day stands out from our trip...

We had arrived in Jasper a day earlier and set up camp. We knew sunny weather was expected so we planned a hike, recommended to us by Robyn, up the Bald Hills. We called in at the Parks Information centre beforehand to find a proper map and any extra inside knowledge and were excited to see a notebook recording sightings of black bears, grizzlies and caribou in the area. The whole hike was 5- 6 hours return including many snack breaks, and a bit of fun in the snow - which was such a thrill! I don't feel like I'll ever tire of snow and it was a first for Lisa and Catherine to hike through it, at the very end, on the way to the summit. We were grateful for a few footprints from someone before us that we could use as stepping stones. The snow was still about 30cm thick at least in parts but the day was warm so we were fine in our shorts. This was also the day we spotted ALL of the creatures in the post a few below, a couple of which we also saw on subsequent days.

Oh and I should mention that the Hairy Marmot was the one who came up and said hello when we were near the snow. We half expected him to start talking to us like a creature out of Narnia. We didn't see any other animals on our hike other than some squirrels. Probably for the best as a Grizzly might have been a bit too much excitement and terror for us to handle. All of the other animals were quite close to the road side so we viewed them from a safe but close distance.

I love bears!

2011-07-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

On one of my first teaching pracs I had a year one class with a boy who was absolutely nuts about bears - grizzly bears, black bears, polar bears, he was a 6 year-old-expert on everything to do with bears. I now understand why. Having seen some up close I am now absolutely in awe of these amazing creatures which on the one hand are so beautiful and sweet - this fellow was very relaxed making his way through the dandelions and feasting on flowers as he went - and also absolutely frightening. I am really looking forward to starting teaching again in September and to being surrounded by inspiring children who are in awe of the world and creation.

Crazy Canandian Creatures

2011-07-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

These are some of the amazing animals we sighted in the wild on our Rocky Mountain adventure:

A pair of Hoary Marmots came right up and said hello up near the snow on Bald Hills
A family of Long-horned Rams sitting by Maligne Lake
My favourite spotting - this beautiful Black Bear who was eating dandelions
A papa Elk with incredibly velvety antlers
A Coyote
A Black Bear that was brown (we never found a big brown bear - Grizzly - next time...)
And a funny little Columbian Ground Squirrel in Lake Louise campground

It's strawberry season

2011-06-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Have not long ago arrived back from exploring the Rocky mountains with Lisa and Catherine so it's taking some time to trawl through the photos but do expect to see some very soon. In the meantime here are some strawberries I drew on our camping trip as we relaxed one afternoon in a little camp ground in Enderby not far outside Kelowna with a glass of crisp, local, pear cider to match. These are my first berries of the season, purchased from the Revelstoke farmers market on the way through. There have been berries in the shops for... well actually, non-stop since we arrived but they are all from South America and California. As this area is perfect for berry growing (IN THE PROPER SEASON) I have been trying to hold out. These strawberries were a true reward and I have been finding more in the shops ever since. Really looking forward to picking our very own blackberries which are growing down the side of the garage - we hear August is the month!

On the topic of eating locally I have found two books particularly useful. My darling mother gave me Animal, Vegetable, Miracle to read on the plane trip over here which was excellent and I have since read the 100 Mile Diet written by Vancouverites so particularly pertinent (though I must say not quite as thorough or enjoyable as the aforementioned in my humble opinion - it's all the rage here though).

Making magnets

2011-06-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

We have 2 Australian friends staying at the moment in our little bed and breakfast (our 1 bedroom loft apartment). Today Catherine and Lisa are exploring the Aquarium and hoping to run into some raccoons in Stanley Park. Yesterday they visited the pottery studio with me where everyone was busy getting things ready for our big fundraiser which kicks off this Saturday night. Volunteer help is always appreciated, so they were quickly put to task, thanks girls!

I enjoyed making these magnets - pictured above to the left which are thin slabs of clay I cut out, fired, glazed, fired, put transfers onto, fired and then will add magnets to the back (this process happened over a number of days). I'd like to experiment with this some more! Idea c/o Robyn - thanks Robbo!

More of what's happening on the JustPotters blog.

Brew-a-mug

2011-06-09T15:13:00.001-07:00

Brew-A-Mug - a find at our local higgeldy piggeldy thrift store. I'd been on the look out a few days and walked in to find this waiting for me. I love the original box.
Beautiful handmade linen filter - a generous and thoughtful gift from CoCo, all the way from Japan. To be reused many times over, a great alternative to throw-away filter papers.
Coffee - haven't been able to catch my usual coffee lady Laurie at the markets so this is from Ten Thousand Villages.
Mug - handbuilt at JustPotters

And remember to check out my posts over at the JustPotters blog. It's getting close to our big fundraiser so I've been busy over there and in the studio.

Picking flowers

2011-06-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

I love flowers.

I love to have fresh flowers in our home.

when I can't justify buying them I pick them discreetly

from places where they wont be missed;
from fields of weeds, back alley ways,

plants overhanging walkways or even my own yard.

advantages of picking flowers:

they are pretty
they brighten the house up
they bring the outdoors in

disadvantages of picking flowers:

if you don't get them home soon enough
and straight into water they can suffer dehydrationi
if you put them in the saddle bag of your bike they may come out a little bruised
flowers last for a shorter time in a vase
than if they had been left growing where they were...

which led me to thinking about why I pick flowers.
is it really just to make the house look pretty?
well I certainly think that's an aspect, but could there be another lesson here?
I wonder if it is connected to that same feeling I have
when I see (for example) a cute tea cup and want to buy it and bring it home.
sometimes (frequently) it doesn't seem to be enough to appreciate
something beautiful in someone elses home,
in a cafe, in a shop window.
I already have enough tea cups,
especially since I can only ever drink from one at a time,
and yet, I want to buy that pretty teacup.

I think this is coveting.

and I know for certain that coveting is not good,

so I find myself in a bit of a pickle.

when we moved to Canada we sold/gave away/threw out/stored
all of our earthly possessions.

we came here with little more than clothes
and I am afraid to admit that our little house is starting to burst at the seams
already with stuff.

I seem to have fallen back into the trap

that seems so normal.

advantages of appreciating flowers where they grow:

they last longer
more people can see and appreciate them
a good excuse to go for a walk

now perhaps flowers aren't the best example of consumerism
but I hope you might be learning something reading this as I did writing it.

as flowers in vases never last too long,
thankfully they will never overtake my house and fill it up,
(though how glorious to be over-run with flowers!).
when they die I recycle them straight back into the compost
and then ponder where I can find more...

my natural inclination towards seeing,
coveting and aquiring though
is something I am aware of and want to work against.

how can I surround myself with pretty things
but still exercise restraint
when it comes to aquiring, consuming, hoarding things?

what practical things can I do to appreciate beauty
without desiring or feeling the need to own it for myself?

how can I learn be content with what I already have?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

kindly,

the flower fairy,

sharolyn

Send and Receive

2011-05-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye!

2011-05-27T18:04:00.002-07:00

A taxi just came to pick up our Aussie guests and take them home.

It has been such a lovely visit I am a bit sad to see them go.

I'm sure they will be very well received in Brisbane.

I might be a bit biased, but don't you think this is a ~~beautiful~~ rugged, tough, handsome portrait of Izac?

More pictures coming soon...

(Straight out of the camera completely un-edited.)

Tomatoes

2011-05-23T22:54:00.002-07:00

This is my kind of food:

from the farmers market

locally grown

free!

(and though I'm not certain, there is a good chance they are organic or at least as pesticide free as possible)

On Sat we helped our friends Soph and Ant out with their wood-fired pizza oven trailer at the Trout Lake Farmers Market. At the end of the day a guy came around on his bike pulling a trailer in which he was collecting compostable items - including a whole lot of perfectly good tomatoes and some apples which a vendor had donated. We got chatting and I couldn't help myself. He had tomatoes coming out his ears and wasn't interested in eating them but was happy for me to indulge my inner freegan*. Thankyou tomato farmer and compost man for this beautiful bounty. A few days on the windowsill and they will all be ripe and ready.

This has me excited about dumpster diving prospects again.

Some very good humour on the topic is this clip from Portlandia.

*Freeganism is an anti-consumerist lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources.
Freegans "embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed." Freeganism involves choosing to salvage discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters, known as 'dumpster diving'.
Thankyou Wikipedia for the above definitions.

Grandma Tui's Fudge Slice

2011-05-19T17:55:00.002-07:00

I was looking for something sweet to make to have with a cup of tea and came across this recipe in my folder. I typed it up many years ago when I began collecting recipes in preparation for one day not having mum's treasure chest constantly on hand. Before making it again recently I skyped dad to clarify who Grandma Tui was. She was my dad's grandma or my grandma's mum and she and her husband my great-grandfather did visit us once in Australia when my sister and I were little.

There is something so special about family recipes. I even remember making this with my grandma in New Zealand about 10 years (or more) ago. A Tui is a pretty bird native to New Zealand so I think it is such a precious name as well. I left the icing off as they are sweet enough without it and I like the biscuits a little bit chunky. I also had trouble buying plain biscuits here but any type would do. This has been such a hit with everyone lately that I think I will keep my biscuit and walnut supplies on hand so it can be made at the drop of a hat.

...Josh thought I should point out that this recipe contains no flowers contrary to the photos. These pansies on our windowsill have such cheery faces I wanted to show you and I picked an Iris and buttercups from the garden this morning.

Here are some Tui's. The second one even has instructions if you'd like to have a go at making it origami style. People are just amazing aren't they!

Tui pictures by Neil and Doron
And lastly, here is a funny clip about a Tui that can talk (it's real!)

A new project I have been working on

2011-05-17T08:48:00.022-07:00

Remember the crosses I have been making in the pottery studio every Wednesday over the last few months? Part 1, Part 2. Well, Leigh, the lovely lady who co-ordinates JustPotters asked if I would like to help them update their blog (whose most recent post previously was in 2009...). I was glad to have a little project to work on so I would love you to have a look at the fruits of my labour. The key reason for getting the blog up-to-date is to promote the lead up to a big 24-hour fundraiser coming up. JustPotters runs as a social enterprise to provide employment to people with barriers. All money raised will allow this great project to continue to provide meaningful work for local people.

What I love about this idea is that it is so local and practical. There are so many good causes worldwide and many not-for-profit organisations doing wonderful work, but many of them are so far removed from our life that we have little personal connection. What I love about JustWork is that it they operate in my current backyard - Vancouver. I have had the privelidge of getting to know 5 women who receive employment because of this project and I can attest to the power of this work in their lives.

More personally still, I can attest to the benefit that JustPotters has given me. As a new person to this city, with no friends, no job but with lots of time on my hands I started visiting the pottery studio on Wednesdays to see if I could help. While I was volunteering my time I actually became the recipient of so much more than I gave and I have seen first-hand the outworking of the values JustWork and JustPotters seek to espouse:

empowerment, interdependence, stewardship, transformation

I have felt the empowerment of doing something meaningful with my time, of learning new pottery skills and making something with my own two hands.
I have enjoyed the sense of community, the laughs, shared meals and the friendships I have made.
I have learnt to appreciate resources and to work hard so that the 11am tea break comes by sooner :) and
I have felt the transformative power of being involved in something bigger than myself. I am learning more and more the value of every individual, every story and every life. I am seeing God at work in the everyday aspects of peoples lives.

If you are interested there are a few ways you can help...

Donate safely online through Canada Helps on my giving page. I am aiming to raise $240 by having at least 10 people donate $1 per hour for the event (ie $24 total per person - but every dollar helps)
If this concept excites you, you also can become a connector and invite friends to sponsor you. Prizes involved for connectors...
If you're in Vancouver come along to the festivities 18-19th June, join in the celebrations, purchase beautiful pottery and maybe even have a go throwing on the wheel which will be going for 24 hours straight! This fundraiser is running in connection with Car-Free Day when Commercial Drive is blocked off and the whole street celebrates. It will be a lot of fun.
Spread the news through passing on the details for the JustPotters blog and like us on facebook for updates and more ways you can get involved (you don't have to be local to be a part of this).
All of the above!

Thanks friends!

Wood-fired Pizza in the Park

2011-05-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

Our friends Sofie and Anthony have a business making wood fired pizza ovens. Ant designed and built a portable trailer with 2 ovens which they will use to tour the summer music festivals and markets and delight hungry crowds. We were very pleased for them to test out some new recipes on us in the park the other weekend including an apple-crumble dessert pizza! The beach photo was taken off the jetty near Cates Park at 8.30pm. Look how bright it is! We're going to enjoy twilight hours here.

Iced Vovos

2011-05-11T00:25:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but think of Iced Vovos (A sweet biscuit - cookie, made by Australian brand Arnott's).
The cherry blossoms are finishishing their glorious season.
The soft pink petals blown by the wind like wedding confetti.
The streets are carpeted pink like they are purple in Brisbane's Jacaranda season.
I don't suppose the owners of cars like this one think it's all that cute.
Especially when they turn slushy after todays rain.
But I'm enjoying their last hurrah!
2 iced vovo images from here and here.

banner troubles

2011-05-09T00:26:00.000-07:00

I am mucking around with my banner and can't seem to get it right. (I'll stick with this hand written one for a bit and see how it sits). After seeing it a few times I realised my previous one which lasted about a week is a little babyish, and the one following it looks too dark. I do like those ink stains though, from my days cleaning ink pots with Raw Art.

I think it is the simplicity of the white backgounds and simple text which I like. They don't draw attention away from photographs and drawings. I wonder whether I should change it from my name (which looks funny repeated over and over again), but I do love my name and it saves having to come up with a silly punny title. The following are some of my experiments which never made the cut. The first is my original from when I started the blog. I think this is certainly an example of simple is best and sometimes first draft is best!

Fauna... oops I mean Flora

2011-05-04T20:02:00.002-07:00

I really struggled with how to capture the white blossoms in waterCOLOURS (or should i be saying colors now...) so I much prefer the grey drawings, it's always fun experimenting though.

Vancouver Vancouver

2011-04-30T00:35:00.056-07:00

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Some snaps from riding around the city today on my bicycle. I am so grateful bikes were invented! Brilliant contraptions!
1. A close comparitive in loveliness with snowflakes are the falling petals of white blossoms in our yard
2. Streets lined with blossoms
3. Bright pink leaves and our street now (which was grey and bare when we moved in...)
4. & 5. Don't the majestic mountains make a striking backdrop for the city?!
6. My bicycle posing in front of a painting of Vancouver

Wedding catch up

2011-04-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

Miriam and Fred were married in November last year at their home on 'Froggy Farm' up in the sunny coast hinterland. I went to primary school with Mim (and proaby hadn't seen her for 10 years or so!!) so it was wonderful to catch up with all of her family and friends again and meet Fred too. It's amazing how much and yet how little changes as we grow up. I do enjoy relating to grown-ups now like Mim's parents as a pretty-much-grown-up myself. I posted these pictures back in November but it was a busy time and I never got around to posting more. I have been looking through the pictures again recently and some of them need sharing! (The last few black and white ones which were taken in the (very) dark were done so by adjusting the ISO levels on my camera to compensate for the darkness. This is often frowned upon but you may like to read Why I like High ISO here.)

I also still plan to post more pictures of when my beautiful friend Catie was married in December, but those pictures are safe and sound on mum and dad's computer in Australia. Hopefully they will arrive here in June when my dear friends Catherine and Lisa come to visit. Woohooo! Also very much looking forward to being hosts to Andrew and Izac chatterton in May too. Spaces in the Newington Nook Bed and Breakfast are filling up quickly, so if you were thinking of coming to visit, Vancouver really is the place to be this spring (summer, fall AND winter...) so call to make a booking or email me today about our exclusive deals on offer for friends and family (wink wink nudge nudge).

Cristo ha resucitado!

2011-04-24T15:50:00.001-07:00

En verdad, esta resucitado! (Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!)

This morning we had a beautiful celebration at church; a big breakfast, lots of flowers, clapping and hip swaying, joyous singing, processions and tears of joy. The branches and crosses in the sanctuary which have been bare for the past few weeks were draped with colourful fabric. We all brought flowers to adorn the cross and poured out on to the street after the service. The pictures of course don't do justice to the atmosphere of celebration and thanksgiving. The building was full and this was certainly a wonderful culmination and fulfilment of the waiting and sacrifice of lent. Those first words are in Spanish. People were encouraged to share this greeting with the congregation in their native tongue, not that Spanish is mine but I like the idea of idea of it...

Poor old Joshua missed it all as he stayed in bed soothing his man cold (which apparently Canadians haven't heard of... if you're also unfamiliar with this life-threatening illness this clip explains it well.)

Here are some other signs of spring and resurrection which have been appearing around our neighborhood:

The outside photos were all taken on my walks around our neighbourhood, there are some little tomato seedlings in egg cartons on our window sill, pretty pale pink carnations Josh bought from an entrepreneurial man on the street and those purpley tulips came up in our front lawn all on their own. I do love spring and celebrating Easter during springtime has given it new significance. May the JOY and HOPE of the Resurrection affect how you and I live every day of the year!

Pesach

2011-04-19T23:32:00.000-07:00

Last night we celebrated a Pesach (Passover) Seder Meal with new friends. This is our 3rd celebration and we hope to keep it an annual tradition wherever we are to enrich our experience of the Lenten season. If you're interested I've linked to some documents I wrote explaining it a little. I spent most of yesterday cooking and preparing food: hommus, baba ganoush, pita wedges, quinoa tabouli, beetroot salad, roast lamb and gravy, haloumi, matzah (unleavened bread) and baklava. I felt like it was a wonderful evening, I hope our guests did too. My darling husband was kind enough to spend most of this morning washing-up.

Table of Symbols: explains the significance of actions and symbols used throughout
Haggadah: this is the liturgy we follow. Versions of these have been passed down for hundreds of years. We adapted this one from a hard copy version my family used many years ago.
Passover Explanation: this is a personal explanation about why we choose to celebrate this ancient festival and it's significance for us as Christians.

Here are some childrens drawings of the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples. I think leading this craft at Sunday School with the children a few years was actually what got me thinking in part about this beautiful, ancient, God-given celebration and it's significance for me and us today.

Op shopping

2011-04-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

Here people laugh when I say op-shop, because they call second-hand stores Thrift Stores or Sally-Ann's (Salvation Army) (North Americans seem to love double-barrelled girls names...) I was quite happy to find these 2 new tea towels for 50c each hiding under a pile of other linens. I am slowly collecting a few simple things we will need when we move in two weeks... upstairs! We are currently renting the middle story of a house and it worked out in God's amazingly perfect timing that the girl upstairs was leaving just as we were needing somewhere. What an easy move it will be to a cute attic space, all self contained, small enough we shouldn't collect too much stuff, but large enough to be liveable and still quaint.

Travel Snap Tuesday: Puerto Escondido, Mexico

2011-04-12T19:48:00.004-07:00

I just had one of those gut-dropping (can't think of the right expression...) feelings when I searched the computer and couldn't find any of the original pictures from our holiday in Mexico a few years ago. Eek, I hate to think the CD of digitals was destroyed or lost in all of my robust condensing for the move... but it's not the end of the world, I have various ones on facebook and the like. I had this feeling quite a lot shortly after our massive clean out/throw away/garage sale saga. I was so shattered that day (I don't mean to use that word in the sense that I was inebriated, more so that I was pretty shaky and close to falling apart) and left my dear friends and family to clean up the mess while I went to photograph Tim and Judes wedding, which was amazing and beautiful and all relatively smoothe, thank goodness, or else I could easily have burst into tears and melted away. The next few days we were between houses as we no longer had any furniture to sleep on and without thinking I accidentally deleted half of the wedding photos!!! Thankfully I have amazing people in my life and Seb Trovato saved the day! Goodness gracious though, I was close to going mad at that point. It's funny to look back with a little distance now. Sort of.

Not long after our move here I would remember something treasured and think 'oh goodness, I didn't give/throw that away did I?' I would have these terrible pangs of saddness over my silly ex-stuff. I realised this was a very unhealthy habit to indulge and prayed a quick prayer asking God to take away what felt like a heavy (even if silly) burden. I stopped having those terrible thoughts, thanks Lord. I really felt it was important not to let those things haunt me. Anyhow, those possibly missing photos got me off topic...

I liked Little miss Moi's idea of sharing a favourite holiday snap every Tuesday. This is one of my favourites from an afternoon on the beach in Puerto Escondido - quite a famous surf beach my Joshua still dreams about. It is so satisfying to capture something at the perfect moment like this. This website has some funny examples of perfectly timed photos. Photography is funny like that. Sometimes you're in the right place at the right time. Today I saw a beautiful photo opportunity - 3 little girls chasing after each other on a green hill surrounded by cherry blossoms. I could already see the picture in my mind and it was amazing! I was too far away though and my bus pulled in. I was really torn but ended up jumping on the bus, and shortly after playing over in my mind how the bus driver would react if I ordered him to immediately pull the bus to a stop so I could go back and get 'that shot'. But I was also aware I'd missed it. Even if I went back the little girls would be gone and the moment was lost.

Anyhow, back to that sunny Mexican afternoon... I had such a lovely time strolling bare-footed along the beach this particular afternoon watching local families pull in their boats and wade in the water as the sun finished it's shift for the day. I saw these bold young men diving off the rocks and had a few moments to compose myself for the shot as they waited in anticipation for the waves to roll in. Ah Mexico. I do hope we meet again some day.

On a completely different but a little bit related note everyone here in Vancouver is talking about how amazing the summer will be. After arriving in the grey winter, and seeing the signs of spring I am excited about summer too. However a beautiful friend Beth who I met today (hailing from South Africa) reminded me that while summer is amazing for Canadians we have fantastic summers just about all year long in our respective home countries. Very true. Never-the-less, I am sure the change will be greatly appreciated - especially the long twilight hours.

And lastly, (I don't know how I let myself get so carried away...) I had mixed feelings recently when I came accross this site featuring my photo (in it's original form). They have given me credit which is generous, and I suppose that's what is required. It would just be yucky if someone used your work and claimed it as there own. Anyhow, all good press I suppose!

Just Work part 2

2011-04-07T15:27:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the finished crosses I have been making after they were fired, glazed and re-fired:

I was also able to glaze some others for firing in the near future. This was all new to me. The glaze colours as you can see them below are very misleading. Some of the pinkish looking ones will become browns, greens and blacks and some of the green looking ones will turn that lovely raspberry red you can see in the picture above. So much science involved in the art of clay and colours!

I have been digging in the garden all day today after Gareth helped Joshua and I pick up about 100KG of manure I had set aside after the sale the other day. It is beautiful and sunny and I love some good, hard physical labour, especially when the resulting garden will provide so much future joy. It is hard-work however so I am having a much needed coffee and halva break. Too nice of a day to eat inside so I'm going back out. Aurevoir!

Falling Falling: A Poem

2011-04-04T13:11:00.003-07:00

By Bethely Cameron

bustle and fluster of flurries
falling in bunches
on branches extended like fingers
to catch white ribbons
that lay along their lines

fluff highlighting form
among February’s faint pink buds
and delicate twigs
outlining small leaves
huddled close on their stalks:
small symmetries that stayed the winter’s
edge

falling together in clumps
to cover bush, bike, and sidewalk
falling before footsteps
(with a cushy crunching noise)
revealing the morning’s movements:
records of the small dog’s line of round and
scattered steps

and the snow, falling,
falls still

met by curling clouds
that rise from rooftops:
a net of smoke somehow seeming to
slow the steady stream

out of a foreign gray region
that the trees do not touch
comes endlessly falling
pieces together
fluttering to follow
twisting paths

I claim absolutely no credit for these beautiful words. I met Bethely through Regent and this poem of hers was published in the college publication Et Cetera. I wanted to share it as I think she so beautifully describes the recent big snow we had here in the city not long ago. It's spring here now or at least becoming spring on the West Coast but winter (and snow) still cling on in the mountains and most of the rest of Canada.

A glorious day

2011-03-31T21:57:00.001-07:00

(The links take you to the source of the pictures which aren't mine)

A glorious sunny day in Vancouver today so 1 I rode to Greens on my new (pre-loved) bike which Jeremy gave me yesterday in shorts, shoes and a my favourite cardigan grandma knitted... 2 through the streets filled with cherry-blossoms... 3 thinking about where to get a cute basket... 4 to put the cream and milk* I bought to go into... 5 the cups of breshly brewed coffee we drank over breakfast... 6 following which I picked dafodils from the garden... 7 and then received these great bear stamps in the mail.

What a pleasant day. I hope we have more sunshine for snow-boarding tomorrow!

*Over here lots of people drink cream in their coffee or 'half and half' which I guess is like a lighter fat cream. I figure if you're going to have cream just have the real thing so we have been drinking coffee with a splosh of whipping cream. There is a great brand here called Avalon which is from a local dairy, organic, nothing added and comes in glass bottles which you get $1 for when you return.

It is illegal to sell raw milk here (which would be my preference if I could buy it) and the only way to get around that is to buy 'cow shares' or make friends with a dairy farmer who may just 'give' you some raw milk in exchange for another gift. I may look further into these options but am enjoying Avalon cream and un-homogenised milk for now.

I could go on about milk and cream as it's something I'm passionate about (yes I know it sounds a little ridiculous but it's certainly not my main passion) but i'll leave it there and if anyone else shares my 'passion' we can talk more later.

PS This collage was inspired by Anna Bond who has a gorgeous stationery line Rifle Paper Co. I have seen variations done by many designers so I know mine is a little tacky in comparisome but this is the first time I've attempted something like this and hopefully it can only get better.

Just Work

2011-03-29T22:42:00.007-07:00

On Wednesdays I have been visiting a pottery studio in East Van to help out where I can. I have wanted to work with porcelain for a long time, and had looked into doing a short course in the past, so this has been an absolutely wonderful opportunity and I have learnt so much in a short time (there is SO much more to pottery and ceramics than I imagined). I have been making ceramic crosses which will be glazed and re-fired and sold to support the Just Work social enterprise - Just Potters. This such a fantastic initiative, born out of a desire to help the people of East Vancouver in a practical way - through employment opportunities. If you have 5 minutes this video explains it beautifully:

They have a facebook page and an etsy site where you can order the beautiful work online. I would love to get some garden markers for my new veggie plot and I am just trying to choose between all of the other mugs, bowls, even a fantastic "berry bowl" which is a gorgeous green and will be great in summer time when berries abound. (There is even more available for purchase in the studio than what is listen online... honey pots, an orange juicer...) Have a look and see for yourself!

Flowers for the table

2011-03-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

This morning I bought this beautiful bunch of flowers at the Farmers Market. This is just how I love flowers to be, a collection of pretty stems bunched together fairly randomly. No need to worry about symmetry, or wire or any of the fuss that goes into so many of the fancy arrangements sold in florists. They're grown locally and they probably cost me a 1/10 of the price.

Later this afternoon I went along for a 3 hour shift to shovel horse manure at a fund-raising sale for some local not-for-profit organisations. They were so overwhelmed with volunteers that I hardly shovelled any poo except for the bag I bought for my new garden plot. Yes, I came away from today with a garden plot to my name in a community garden run through our church community here. I am so excited to have some soil of my own to dig in. There is already some thyme, oregano and sage growing which survived the winter. So excited about seeing it full of good eating things in the summer. Enjoyed the afternoon meeting people and chatting even if I was absolutley no use practically. Thanks Adam for your help digging!

نوروز (Persian New Year Celebrations)

2011-03-23T20:01:00.001-07:00

Thankyou Farzan for inviting us to celebrate with you and for putting on such a wonderful, traditional spread including the customary seven 'S's. Lovely to meet Anna and Ben and Samuel too.

Dafodils for spring

2011-03-17T22:08:00.003-07:00

Something delicous about the grass in this top picture. Maybe I haven't mentioned it before but it rains a lot in Vancouver. Summer we're told is beautiful. Winter is grey and wet and cold (but not very cold) with occassional sunshine. That doesn't mean not beautiful, just a different kind of beauty. A kind of everything-is-covered-in-moss beauty. I don't terribly mind the rain so far... but it has been known to cause high rates of SAD (Seasional Affective Disorder) among the people here. One advantage of rain is good soft soil for plants to grow in, something I'm not very familiar with coming from the dry, dusty plains of the land down under. So I was very excited to see these suprises poking up through the soggy marsh grass on our front lawn:
And a few days later they blossomed into these below. I was tempted to pick the purple flowers immediately, but they don't look like the kind that would last well inside... So I resisted. I showed restraint and I was rewarded. These beauties have been flowering for at least a month, beginning small and tight each morning and opening up full and bright with any sign of sunshine. At night they close up again to rest and greet me again in the morning. See they even cope with a light frost and though they were buried in the snow they've kept on warming my heart.

We turned the clocks forward one hour for daylight saving on Sunday so it is officially Spring now and the days are getting longer. Even the dafodils know the seasons are changing, they were perfectly on time popping up to say hello to Spring this very first week. I'm excited to plant my paperwhites in the ground to suprise someone else next year. Thankyou Heavenly Father for seasons.

Simple pleasures

2011-03-16T21:33:00.001-07:00

A $3 teapot, paper-whites with beautiful perfume & dark chilli chocolate (mug from Just Potters)

Our little friend

2011-03-15T09:38:00.001-07:00

If you squint you can see little "Waynie's" head popping out over the balcony even in that last picture. What a cosy home.

Pancake Tuesday

2011-03-11T19:05:00.001-08:00

On Tuesday afternoon we crossed the border into Washington State for a stroll through the beachside town of Bellingham. There are streets there called "A" street, "B" street and so on through the aphabet. A cute idea and helpful when you're learning your way around. We also indulged in pancakes and various deep-fried pieces of things. One of those treats you do once a year. It seems like a good idea but leaves you feeling regretful and squirmish. On the way back through customs we had our passports officiated with our documents - a work permit for me and a study permit for Joshua. So it is official now. We can work and study and stay in Canada for a few years. I also captured the first of the spring blossoms here.

Purple for Lent

2011-03-08T22:19:00.000-08:00

While we are experiencing new weather seasons here we are learning to be more aware of other seasons in our lives. I bought this Christian Seasons Calendar from the Regent bookstore when we arrived and added all the Jewish festivals to it as I couldn't find one that combined both. Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, the 40 day count-down to Easter (and the Passover celebration). Josh and I are both hoping to give some things up. I'd also like to find some tangible actions to take,verse 6 below offers some ideas (commands even?) This 14 year old boy made a beautiful candle holder for lent countdown. I'm wondering if I can whip one up or buy one for next year? I've enjoyed establishing some new traditions with Josh in our two-person-strong family. I think these are the kinds of celebrations which children would really benefit from too. My little (but probably more responsible and mature and absolutely gorgeous) sister is expecting her first little one. First granchild on the Cain side!

I read this verse this morning as one of the readings for Ash Wednesday. I know it looks a little long but it is all so good (and hard) and so challenging. The emphasis is all mine. I can see why light and the idea of abstaining is significant for this season...

Isaiah 58

1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Pear Portrait

2011-03-07T19:22:00.001-08:00

I couldn't help but buy these beautiful pears. They are just calling out to be photographed and drawn. I have been trying to buy locally (not much in season at the moment...) but thankfully Washington State is just over the border so I think these are a fine exception.

Types of Snow Diagram

2011-03-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

Winter wonderland

2011-03-04T20:38:00.001-08:00

Something I've wanted to do for a long time is to live somewhere that has 4 seasons* - an autumn that's red and orange and golden, a white winter, a spring full of fresh bulbs and a summer of long daylight hours. My winter has been fulfilled. It REALLY snowed on the weekend. It didn't last long, but it was all we needed to experience it in all it's fluffy freshness. *Brisbane has seasons of it's own - summer, a little bit cooler, a little bit warmer and then summer, summer summer. But really, I do especially love the change of seasons in Brisbane but a tropical climate just doesn't have the stark differences that Vancouver has to offer me. Brisbane I still love you and being away makes me appreciate you more.

These were all taken on an early Sunday morning stroll. The snow began on Saturday, very fine like castor sugar (refer to Types of Snow Diagram), by Saturday night we'd experienced feather pillow snow and it looked to be sticking around. We ran around the neighborhood Saturday night like little kids - and were pleased to see lots of others doing the same at 11pm. You have to make the most of it while you can! I woke up early with that excitement you get on your birthday. I had had nightmares about all the snow being melted, but thank the Lord it had snowed all night! It was thick and glorious, and I was keen to make sure my footprints were some of the first.

I wasn't the only one leaving foot prints. I was pleased to find evidence that another friend had visited our place. I thought moving to the city we might have had to say goodbye to wildlife, but thankfully there are lots of city-dwelling squirrels and raccoons who choose the fast paced lifestyle of the suburbs.

Red berries

2011-02-21T16:37:00.000-08:00

We are in a strange in-between time at the moment. Perhaps it's not so strange. Perhaps this uncertainly is life for many people. But I am glad and thankful for it. I'm looking forward to the spring, to a new season, to sending down some roots here. But I'm also trying and hoping to learn to be content always. To see beauty everyday. To learn to wait. Thankyou Lord for sunsets through berries, for grey rainy days and glorious sunshine and for the suprise snow today.

♥‏

2011-02-17T12:52:00.001-08:00

Photo taken at Chris and Charlie's wedding last year by Aron

I boycotted Valentines Day this year (and maybe the last couple). I asked Josh please not to buy me any overly arranged flowers or too sweet chocolates or furry synthetic teddy bears. Instead we planned to go to brunch together. But I spoilt the plans by waking up in a bad mood and tears before breakfast. Like a child I am easily distracted from my self pity by a silly dance and then Josh went to the local market for a few supplies. We ate breakfast in. My mood cheered. And we went out for Vietnamese around the corner at night. I'm certainly not opposed to love, or expressions of love, I'd just rather not support the consumerist culture we live in. I'd rather gifts were given with spontaneity ANY day of the year.

Thanks for loving me in all my difficultness Joshua!

POSTSCRIPT EDIT: Maybe I am too much of a stickler, I'm not sure. Anyhow, my lovely Joshua bought me some tulips post Valentines day and tonight he's cooking a vegetarian vindaloo mmmmmmm.

Starting a new Starter

2011-02-11T10:40:00.001-08:00

A disaster

A little less of a disaster

A beautiful loaf at last

I think I would describe myself as a tactile person. I like to get really involved in the garden, the kitchen, the art room, and I usually wear the evidence on my face, grubby hands and clothes. I love to experience life through my senses.

I was prompted to try making my own sourdough bread last year after I began researching a low Glycemic Index (GI) diet to help improve my skin. The process of fermentation which occurs in sourdough has many beneficial effects on the flour/grains. I won't be able to explain it very well but this lady over at Nourishing Gourmet has done a lot of the research and explains it well here (will insert link later, having some trouble...)

I had a few failed attempts as you'll see in the first 2 pictures before Natalie's mum stepped in to help. She kindly offered me some of her starter and a proven recipe which helped me to achieve a beautiful loaf. I've since left that starter with my mum who is now regularly making fruity toast which she and dad enjoy for breakfast.

2 days ago I began a new starter from scratch - simply mixing 1 cup of organic rye (organic is preferably as you want to encourage growth of GOOD bacteria which might otherwise be inhibited by traces of pesticide), with 1 cup filtered warm water. Mix well and leave in a warm place in a bowl covered with cheesecloth. Even though it's cold and wet here today it is quite warm beside the heater vent. Each day I mix in equal parts flour and water to feed it. This morning I was excited to see that after only 2 days it has begun to bubble and ferment. Within a week I should have an excellent, slightly smelly culture so I can begin my bread.

Bread making can be a little fiddly for beginners, and sourdough especially as it requires long times to rise in between, but I think this quote sums up nicely why I enjoy it:

“Someone once asked me why I bother mixing and shaping my bread by hand. I didn’t have the words to answer them, nor could I understand why they didn’t just know. I will not let my fingers be reduced to simply button-pressing, dial-twirling or switch-flicking. There is no instrument in my bag of baker’s tools more useful and adaptable that my tow hands, and as long as I can use them to make and shape bread, I will.”

Dan Lepard in the Introduction to his book “The Handmade Loaf".

This afternoons project is my first attempt to make some mozzarella cheese from scratch...

Where are they now?

2011-02-08T08:52:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd fill in a few details for family and friends back in Oz about where Mr Newington and I are at. It's always difficult to know much or how little to share so I'll try and keep it short and sweet for starters.

We've been here for about 7 weeks now. WOW time flies! Our original plan was to arrive mid-December so we could settle in here in Vancouver; find a place to live, get Josh set up for study with textbooks and a desk and find a job for me.

We left Australia in a bit of a whirlwind; we only found out he'd been accepted into College in the September/October holidays so we hurried to apply for the necessary work and study permits with immigration and to arrange teacher registration for myself. I generally enjoy filling out forms but this kind of paperwork can be slightly painful. I have a new sense of (can't think of the right word...) respect and understanding for the hardship and uncertainty faced by refugees when filling out paperwork and corresponding in an unknown language. And then waiting...

There were a few hiccups with our application - we accidentally paid too MUCH for the fee for one. Anyhow, we left Australia without our documentation a little nervous about our arrival at Vancouver airport but assuming it would follow shortly after us. Thankfully there were no problems entering Canada as we came in on the proviso that Australians can stay here for 6 months without a visa.

We were welcomed with open arms at the airport by Josh's gorgeous cousin Teresa who has looked after us since then. Tersa, Marc, Seth and Rebecca were all very gracious as we shared their space, their TV, couches, food, computer, wine, car, Seth even gave up his bed for us, for the past 6 weeks before moving into our own place last week. Thank you. It's such an honor to be welcomed and included like old friends.

Josh's course orientation came and went in early January and he started doing the readings and attending lectures and classes for a couple of subjects. He is studying for a Masters of Christian Studies (MCS) (theology) with an Interdisciplinary focus. As far as I can understand Interdisciplinary means a mix of art and culture and history etc. He is hoping to finish it with a thesis. His student permit had not yet come through but we assumed it would be any day now. Unfortunately it still hasn't arrived. The college were very helpful, but in the end he had to withdraw from his subjects.

What this means is he will now start the course in summer, a few months away (assuming our immigration papers are finally through by that time- which they should be). In the meantime I'm not yet allowed to work so we have a couple of months to fill in.

In the mean-time we had arranged to sub-let an apartment close to the uni and town for 3 months, which we've just moved into this week. It's a great little spot.

Although things haven't gone according to OUR plan they're still going along fine and it's a great learning and growing process. My sister asked me what I'd been doing all this time, which is a good question. I like to keep myself busy, and I take a great sense of joy from seeing the work of my hands, however I don't want to do THINGS and keep BUSY just because that's what people do.

We've spent some time exploring, the city, the woods, the suburbs. We spent time celebrating and indulging at Christmas. We've made new friends and caught up with old friends.

Last week we bought for me a great 80's snow boarding outfit at an op-shop (thrift store or Sally-Ann is what they're called here) so we're planning to hire boards and go again tomorrow. Update: we went yesterday. I have the bruises and sore bum to prove it. There hasn't been much fresh snow here lately and ice is HARD. It wasn't long before I was in tears and planning to throw it all in in true toddler tantrum style. Thankfully Josh is patient and by the end of a long day I'd made vast improvements and was snaking down the mountain, having a blast, (mostly) in control, weaving, slowing down, turning and occasionally landing on that poor bottom of mine with a hard thud. I've also been reading lots and hope to fill you in on that some time.

As we are getting around on foot or bus it also takes longer to do things like shopping. Especially if I take my camera. I'm always wandering off track looking at interesting things.

I also have a habit of going shopping for a FEW food items and coming back with more than I can carry. I'm pretty stubborn* about not using plastic bags and was walking home recently with a full back pack and arms full of bags of red lentils, French lentils, sultanas and more, when the sneaky red lentils slipped and exploded on the road. A friendly man helped me gain a little dignity by offering a plastic bag along with the mandarins he had just bought. I love friendly stranger encounters.

*A character trait I've become more aware of in myself lately. Something that can be good and can have pretty negative consequences. Something I'm working on and learning from...

I've never thought of myself as a writer but I find lately I've had lots of time to think. Josh and I have had some great talks, and new experiences provoke new perspectives so I have lots going through my head I want to put down somewhere. I don't assume people want to hear these musings but it does no harm for me to air them and no one has to read.

Ok I said short and sweet. I'm off to buy some milk for our morning coffee. Filtered of course, because that's the North American. Remind me to tell you another day about the lovely coffee lady I met at the markets. A cute story.

UPDATE: As of last week we have a WORK PERMIT and STUDENT PERMIT in our hot little hands! Hallelujah! Trip to Seattle coming shortly.

Proverbs 3:1-20
My son (and daughter), do not forget my teaching,
   but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
   and bring you peace and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
   in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
   and nourishment to your bones.

Honor the LORD with your wealth,
   with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine.

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
   and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
   as a father the son he delights in.

Blessed are those who find wisdom,
   those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
   and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
   nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
   in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
   and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
   those who hold her fast will be blessed.

By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
   by understanding he set the heavens in place;
By his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
   and the clouds let drop the dew.

A rainy, grey market day.

2011-01-31T14:26:00.002-08:00

So glad I went inspite of the rain. A winter farmers market.

Sketches on Saturday

2011-01-29T22:11:00.001-08:00

Why I like high ISO

2011-01-28T21:17:00.009-08:00

Last week Seth and I went on a photo walk with Amanda as part of a (very thoughtful) Christmas gift from Teresa. There was only one other German lady in the group (the aim is to keep it small) so it was great to get some contact time with an expert. We spent the first hour chatting about photography basics which are relevant to both digital SLR cameras and many 'point and shoots' as well; aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and the next hour practicing manipulating these and some other techniques such as panning (taking a photo of a moving vehicle so it is clear and the background is blurry...) and something else I can't quite remember the name of. It was a great refreshment on some important basics and intoduced me to some new things as well. I'm keen to try "light painting" so stay tuned for some of that.

One point Amanda made, and I have heard this over and over again, is that while a high ISO (probably 800+) on a film camera can have a cool, film grain effect, generally on digital cameras it's not advised to use anything above 400-800ish. As a guide my camera has a range between 100 and 3200. I use high ISO often when shooting in low-light. I actually quite like the look and think it is a good alternative to using a garish flash.

More information on ISO if I'm starting to sound like one of those jargon people that annoy me. This is from Amanda Kerr:

ISO stands for “International Organization for Standardization”. ISO is an indicator for the film’s (or in the case of digital – sensor’s) sensitivity to light. The lower the number the less light the sensor can ‘grab’during your exposure time. You would use a low number ISO like 100 for shooting in bright daylight and the higher numbers like 400 and 800 for shooting in low light. The higher the ISO the more chance there is of getting noise in your image, so when shooting with a digital camera keep your ISO as low as possible to avoid unwanted noise. Adjusting ISO should be your last resort, but without adding external light (i.e., flash) sometimes cranking the ISO up is your only option. NOTE: Nikon shooters of older Nikons like D200 need to be extra careful as these cameras can be quite noisy.

While I would be silly to think the experts are wrong, I think ISO is a great tool. I am going to try and prove, to myself and the experts that high ISO photos can be artful and excellently unique inspite of and because of the 'noise'. The one at the top of this page is from the other evening in deep cove, after the sun had set, which I think captures the clouds beautifully. It really was blue like that. ISO 2000. Here is another high ISO favourite of mine. Below are some panning photos. I know they're not perfect, but I'm working on it:

Meat Pie

2011-01-25T23:37:00.000-08:00

It's Australia Day in Australia today so Josh made meat pie for dinner. (Note to Jimmy, see opposable thumbs :)

Suprise

2011-01-21T08:44:00.002-08:00

Yesterday morning we slept in. I was sure I'd heard it raining all night so was very pleasantly suprised when I raised the blinds to see that it was white outside. I'm glad the weatherman didn't predict it. It was like a little gift from God now I think about it. I jumped about excitedly like a silly idiot. Today it is raining again.

Meet our friend Zorro

2011-01-18T18:41:00.001-08:00

Zorro the raccoon came and shyly introduced herself a week or two and we know she's been back since because after the snow on Tuesday night(real snow falling here) we found her footprints. (Aren't Josh's blue eyes stunning!) I was sorry I couldn't take more snow photos but my camera battery was on it's last legs. (I have since bought an adaptor for plugging in our Australian things.) Snow is wonderful and soft. Looking up into it at night it looked a bit like the angels had ripped open a giant feather pillow and they were tumbling down so gently.

The blue gumboots I bought at a thrift store along with dry stockings the day after the snow because it was so slushy that it didn't take long for my leather boots and socks to soak right through. 2nd day snow is still fun but turns from soft to hard and icy.

The light and people at table are from a cafe called the Red Wagon which I love. It's 50's diner style with bottomless, organic, fair-trade drip cofee. It's our Grub St in East Van.

Branch from a walk, lovely wooden table, friendly table of old men

Raspberries and crushed almonds, raspberry, ricotta and brown sugar and lastly a favourite of mine. One good thing about these sticky things is that it's a fair walk to get there. Yesterday I took an especially long and beautiful way there, finding some new pathways through the woods. That might have helped me justify having a second...

Two things I didn't photograph but stopped to enjoy - a wood-pecker whose tapping caught my attention. What a strange piece of creation. And a very small grey squirrel making squeaking sounds like an old 90's computer game. I think he was trying to impress a much bigger, grey, lady squirrel.

Cured of the study bug

2011-01-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

Did I say I wanted to do more study? Not to worry, I've been cured of that.

I went along to a lecture with Josh last week for a subject I'm really interested in. It's called the Christian Imagination. It's about the theology behind art, and using art to explore theology. It includes a visit to a monastry, a local sculptors studio, singing lessons, dancing, poetry and more.

And yet half of the assessment is a response to the readings. A lot of readings. And that part really scares me. Because the readings are heavy. The type you have to read and then re-read. Some are olden day style too, they just don't read smoothly to me. And poetry. Perhaps I'm not a real artist if I don't understand poetry, but to me it's like strange modern art. I find it so cryptic. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to poetry, I just don't speak that language.

Josh read me a quote from one of his text books which had way too many big words in one sentence. It made me angry. I feel like it is pompus and elitist the way "educated" people use exclusive language that the average 'Jo' can't understand.

I took a 4 year teaching course and it took me until near the end to work out that the 'pedagogy' they'd been talking about all along just meant 'teaching'. Why on earth can't they just say that then?

I think people at universities make up words.

So, all of this to say that I no long desire to study. BUT I do desire (and plan to continue) to learn and read and be taught by inspiring people.

Beautiful Brisbane

2011-01-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

After all of the devestation of the floods it is so beautiful to see photos online this morning of voluteers in their gum boots and to read of communities getting together to bake. Beautiful Brisbane. That mud can't hide your shine. I'm so proud to call you my hometown.

Song Dong's mum

2011-01-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

The other day we visited the Vancouver Art Gallery and I was really struck by this installation. I have hoarding tendencies, which I had to defy when we cleared our lives of lots of things to move to the other side of the world. I'd like to try and live a lot more minimalistically from now on but I think it's going to take a bit of work. This exhibit scared me - to think that I have the tendencies to collect this much. And yet it was beautiful. Generations past (like my grandparents) have stuck by the motto "waste not, want not". They've been through difficult times and learnt to be ingenious, thrifty and unbelievably resourceful. Another extreme is the "throw-away" attitude prevalent today. There has to be a mid-point somewhere. This really made me think.

Quote from Vancouver Art Gallery website. All photo's sourced here.

"Song Dong’s monumental installation Waste Not is a collaboration between the artist and his mother, Zhao Xiangyuan. The installation comprises the frame of his mother’s house along with all of the everyday objects she meticulously collected over the course of her lifetime: a collection of over ten thousand worn and broken objects, each one with unlimited potential value. Together, the assembled materials—clothes, books, kitchen utensils, toiletries, school supplies, shopping bags, rice bowls, dolls—were used, recycled, and saved. Meticulously arranged in careful groupings throughout the exhibition space, the objects form a miniature cityscape that viewers can navigate around and through.

Waste Not—or wu jin qi gong in Chinese—describes the philosophy of life for a generation of people in China, of which Song Dong’s mother was a part, who grew up during the Cultural Revolution with the experience of displacement, poverty and the constant shortage of goods. The installation stands as a record of his mother’s life, as well as a tribute to his father’s death."

Along a similar theme I came across this fascinating book at the library of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design at Granville Island: OBSESSIVE CONSUMPTION.

Author/artist Kate Bingaman Burt documents her daily consumption over 3 years in this illustrated book. Everyday sundry items such as parking tickets, packs of gum, shoes, electricity bills and burritos sketched alongside their price. It really is astounding laid out like that to see how much we consume. How much our identity comes from what we consume. And yet in a beautiful way each of those items "tells a story" Kate describes. Here are a few recent examples from her flickr.

I love how simple and clear her images are. Do you have any thoughts on saving, hoarding, throwing-away or consuming?

I love the woods

2011-01-09T19:41:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we walked through the woods on the way to Deep Cove. We sat in Honies Cafe with a coffee and a fresh, fat, doughy on the inside and crispy, crunchy, honey outside doughnut. I drew, Josh read.

Our first falling snow

2011-01-07T22:11:00.003-08:00

Ok, so I used some very mediocre manipulation, but that's only because it was such a light snowfall that no one would believe me otherwise. I promise you it was real and that's why I was jumping for joy.

We have also seen some snow (on the ground mind you) on a bigger scale when we went snow boarding, but this snow was special because it chose to fall on us on "our" first day of College. I say our because they specifically invited family to attend the orientation but it is really for the course that Joshua is about to undertake.

Warning: long paragraphs coming up. Summary at the bottom of the page if you're feeling lazy and want to scroll down.

It was so encouraging hearing from the president and various other faculty about the beginning of the college 40 years ago, about their mission and philosophy and other interesting bits and pieces. Out of everyone I'm pretty sure I took the most notes and asked questions and I'm not even studying. That was the torture of it really. It made me want to study, and I never thought I'd go back there again. Anyhow, I will get my man through the next few years, and we'll see what I can squeeze in as well - they run some night subjects and summer courses too.

Prior to leaving Australia a number of people asked us "Why do you have to go to Canada for it?" and "What is so special about Regent?" I wasn't totally sure how to answer these questions but Josh and I were both really excited to come to Regent - it seemed right. Now I know the answer. And I'm sure it's the right place for Josh to study (and possibly even me - they have such amazing arts programs)!

In my own words some notes on Regent and why it's amazing:

First a little on the Brethren. To be honest if I'd heard anything about these guys in the past, (please, no offence intented at all) then all I imagined were old-fashioned Christian people whose men drove horse buggies with long beards and women wore long dresses and scarves. I don't know if there is some truth in that or if I am confusing them with the Amish but that was all I 'knew' or perhaps didn't know. What I learnt this week however was that the Brethren church movement began in the 1820's in Ireland with a group of believers who felt that ministry should apply to all believers, not just the ordained person standing at the front of the church. So they started the brethren church - a group of believers who were all brothers I suppose and respected the role each person had (in whatever sphere of life) as 'ordained' by God. That's my take anyhow. And I like that idea a lot.

In the 1960's a guy belonging to the Brethren church here in Vancouver recognized within the church a general emphasis on spirituality, piety (prayerful, worshipful, generally devoted to God kind of actions), but at the same time an anti-intellectualism. I guess some of this exists even today - people feel academia is a threat to 'faith' which is more abstract. But they go together brilliantly. Josh shared along these lined in his last sermon at Cornerstone before we left (which was another thing which made me think this is all coming together so well)- it's important to have an informed faith - to know what we believe and why we believe it.

Anyway, back to this 1960's guy who may or may not have had a beard, he thought to himself "Hmmmm, could we start a theological institution that took both piety and intellect seriously?" Turns out this guy met up with a bunch of other like minded thinkers and they started Regent College in the late 60's. Unlike many theological colleges which train people to be ministers of specific churches, Regent prepare people for 'ministry' (what does that even mean - I'm going to assume it means living out your Christian faith - striving to be more like Jesus and to worship God with practical intention and action) in ALL of life. Oh and they're transdenomination so you don't have to be a bearded Brethren :)

Yikes, anyone still reading. Anyhow I enjoyed learning all about this.

Summary: The Brethren have some cool ideas. Regent is an amazing college and if Josh wasn't brilliant enough already he is going to be super brainy and super good-looking and a super kind guy when he's done. Maybe that is enough words in one stretch for the moment. I'm usually the picture girl not the word girl.

Love Sharolyn

Penguin Plunge

2011-01-01T20:35:00.002-08:00

On this first day of the new year we thought it would be good to join local history books by participating in the annual Penguin Plunge at Deep Cove.

To set the scene: Let me remind southern hemisphere readers it is Winter here. The last few days have been sunny, but averaging about -1 degrees celcius. Today you could have been excused for thinking there was snow on the ground.

This photo is not particularly pertiment to the story except that I wanted to point out how much I like secret tunnels leading towards light like this. We did walk through here this morning.

The fountain was frozen.

Everything was covered in a thin layer of ice.

There was even ice on the top of the water we swam in. One of Seth's crazy (I've got a mix of admiration and something else I can't find the word for...) 15 year old female friends not only plunged but swam out to a nearby plontoon. She came back with bleeding hands having had to crack through sheets of ice in order to reach her destination. Thank goodness for a large communal bonfire.

A band to play some merry jigs. There was a great old fashioned village feel to it all.

A picturesque setting.

At 1.30 there was a costume parade: here are 2 penguins, baby penguin can't be seen.

A green dinosaur man...

One of a pair of guys dressed up as presents. Yes he has those flouncy things on his nipples. And yes they wore this in the water.

How cute is the little kid in the fluffy costume?
A photographer doing his thing.

Lining up by the water at 2. It was packed.

After a count down people galloped into the water enthusiastically, and did not last long before racing out again with a sense of urgency into a crowd of yet-to-plunge participants and dry onlookers. People pushing in all directions. Lips turning purple. Steam rising from a pack of wiggling sardines. Mayhem.

The thing that hurt the most were my toes. I had thongs (of the footwear kind, I think they might be called flip-flops here) but my toes felt like stiff, frozen, fish fingers and I couldn't bend them to get my shoes on. Some dry clothes and we warmed up quickly. Seth was seriously shivering and I was worried he might have hypothermia. He was one of the first in the water and I think he had trouble getting back out through semi-hysteric crowds. I kept thinking about Bear Grylls stripping off (seems to happen every episode) after one of his routine swims in much too cold water but there were a few too many people around to convince Seth that was a good idea. Thankfully, we all made it back with 5 toes on each foot. Thankyou Deep Cove people for a great adventure and a badge to prove it.

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T22:01:00.001-08:00

While all our Australian family and friends are well into the first of January we're still enjoying 2010 here in the land of bears, mooses and squirrels. We're sending it off in style with cheese fondu and mulled wine while we play 'Rock Band' on playstation. I'm not too proud to boast that I scored 97% singing a Killers song!

I want to get back in and join the fun so I'll try and do this quickly. I've briefly gone through all the photos I've taken this year - all 33395 of them(!!!), and have chosen one for each month of the year. (Impossible task!) So much has happened this year. So many wonderful things, a few sad and difficult things, but overwhelmingly Josh and I feel like we're abundantly blessed and forever grateful. Here are 12 pictures of the year. Thankyou for sharing it with us. They are but a (tiny, random) glimpse.

January: summer skies in Brisbane

February: kitchen table come screen printing lab

March: church working bee. Painting the toilets.

April: Mr Newington's beard is starting to get serious

May: Chris and Charlie get hitched

June: kitchen table

July: one of the locals

August: the photographer and her man on holidays in Bangalow

September: tea party with cute 4 year-old twins Reuben and Katie

October: I fell in love with these fellas

November: packing up our lives

December: Enjoying our newphews

My new favourite Carol

2010-12-27T23:41:00.001-08:00

On Christmas Eve we went to the Varty's church and sungs some beautiful carols. After the service we drove up to Mt Seymour. As we drove higher and higher we started to see patches of snow on the side of the road. At the top we had a snow ball fight in the carpark in the dark and then home to warm up. We didn't have a white Christmas so this was a great way to get some white!

I think mum is the one who instilled in my sister Kirsty and I an appreciation for Carols. I especially think of her when singing Joy to the World. Here are some great carol inspired crafts Kirsty made this year and last (they're on her blog here and here.)

Some more on my new favourite carole: The words to O come, O come Emmanuel were originally written in latin in the 12th century (over 800 years ago - wowsers!). It was called Veni, veni Emanuel at the time. In 1851 it was translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale.

The text was added to music: Veni Emmanuel, from a 15th Century processional of French Franciscan nuns (the setting for the funeral hymn Libera me); arranged by Thomas Helmore (no wonder it sounds sad).

I love the bible and am particularly fascinated by finding truth and prophetic meaning in the Old Testament. The website listed below pointed out that the lyrics echo a number of prophetic themes:

* The title comes from the well known Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel is Hebrew for “God with us.”
* The “Rod of Jesse” refers to Isaiah 11:1: “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse”; Jesse was the father of David, second king of Israel.
* “Day-Spring” comes from Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, in Luke 1:78: “The dayspring from on high has visited us.”
* “Thou Key of David” is in Isaiah 22:22: “The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder,” which in turn refers to Isaiah 9:6 “The government shall be upon His shoulder.”

Information from here. You mightn't be as interested in this as me, but just incase, here is the full version with some extra verses I haven't heard before. Such amazing poetry.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain

(PS I know the drawing doesn't come out super well but all of the bits in the picture are things I picked up on my walk home from the grocery shop on Christmas Eve.)

Emmanuel

2010-12-24T17:05:00.002-08:00

The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.

John 1:14
The Message

Slices

2010-12-23T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Varty's Street

This suburb is called Deep Cove and is right at the base of snow capped mountains, not far from the harbour(cove I guess). Alongside the usual suburban characters there are delightful excesses of moss, red berries and squirrels. Deep Cove is also (in)famous for it's honey doughnuts. The greyness makes the red berries and green moss all the richer and I can't help but think of the 'bad colour' from M. Night Shyamalan's the Village. Jeremy also told us J-Lo has a house here so I'm hoping to bump into her.

We've spent a few days this week riding into town with Teresa and exploring the city on foot. We've done Main St, Broadway, Commercial & Hastings and various back streets together. Josh has done more on his own.

Christmas lights

2010-12-23T11:51:00.002-08:00

Last night the Varty's gave us a tour of Vancouver's pretty Christmas lights. Unfortunately for them, taking me through a crowded place when I have my camera is like taking a little kid who is prone to wandering off obliviously...

Keeping warm

2010-12-21T11:29:00.002-08:00

Yesterday Josh and I went in to town early (in the dark at 7.15am) with Teresa. This is what I wore to keep warm, all 5 layers. Purple Gap soccer socks, Australian flag singlet and all.

I like the cool sting of the wind on my cheeks and I was mostly warm until the afternoon when the cool soaked into my toes and fingers. It's cold all day here too. It doesn't really warm up. The rain makes it damp all of the time but it's soft a lot of the time and you don't necessarily need an umbrella. (Please note I'm not complaining about the weather - I like it, just telling it how it is :). It doesn't look like we are getting snow here anytime soon after all but that's ok, we'll just have to go up the mountains to it. Staying inside in my pj's with S & R today. Snuggly inside.(Funny how drawings always get squished to the right).
*Was looking at this picture today (Wednesday) and thinking I must have had cold legs. Then I remembered I also wore jeans!*

Hello Vancouver

2010-12-19T23:50:00.002-08:00

Went on a big adventure yesterday to buy a new cord to connect my camera to the computer so I can share pictures. I thought I was looking for an electrical store at 'Cat' Mall, and that's what I kept asking everyone, but turns out it was called 'Cap' as in Capilano. I made it there no thanks to some unhelpful bus drivers and weird bus routes (ok maybe it was not their fault...) but I am appreciative of some other helpful drivers and citizens. I also bought a big map of Vancouver. I am trying to get my head around this big new place and seeing where things are in relation to each other really helps.

PS Lots of pretty scenery and quirky Canadian things to share but for starters I thought this sticker on a street sign was great. Apparently the bears do come down from the mountains in Spring and Fall looking for easy food in peoples rubbish, so it's not uncommon to see them... something to look forward too :)

Bircher Muesli

2010-12-19T17:50:00.001-08:00

My mum makes a delicous bircher muesli which inspired me to make this one in our last few days at Orchid St. It's a summer version of porridge and you can really add whatever you like. I used mangoes here - I think it's worth buying them just for their air freshening qualities. Such a de-licious kitchen smell to come home to!
Ingredients:
*1/2 cup oats per person - soaked overnight beforehand (this sight has some easy to read articles about the great health benefits of soaking too)
*grated apple
*cinnamon
*yoghurt (I prefer natural sweetened with a little raw honey)
*fruit
*chopped hazelnuts or almonds for sprinkling on top
Pile it all on top of the oats and enjoy!
For other inspiring visual breakfasts have a look at Jen Causeys mouth watering pictures or Natalies amazing recipe blog Tea For Six.

Catie & Michael

2010-12-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

Summer in Brisbane

2010-12-11T17:12:00.005-08:00

smells like mango and gardenias

looks like purple jacarandas handing over to red-orange pointsiannas

sounds like cicadas

feels hot and heavy

tastes like nuts and bolts with champagne,
prawns & avocado,
salt water in my nostrils.

More of the story

2010-11-28T21:29:00.002-08:00

Tim & Jude

2010-11-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

Thoughts on stuff

2010-11-27T15:16:00.001-08:00

We are moving overseas in 3 weeks. Exciting.
In preparation yesterday we had a big garage sale.
I'm still a little shaken and traumatised.
Thinking about it now I even feel sick inside (or was that something I ate?).
I've been saving and hoarding all kind of things for 24 years - partly because I'm a hoarder, it's in my genes, but I think it also comes out of a desire not to waste things. To re-use rather than throw-away. A desire to be frugal and resourceful.
I'm excited about this opportunity to clean my life of stuff but shocked by how much I actually have/had.
We sold some stuff.
But the garage is still chockas with things. Nothing particularly valuable. Just things.
The saga to clean our lives of stuff continues.
I'm over my things and ready to move on. It's all just stuff anyway.
I hope in Vancouver, Canada I really do learn from this to live simply with very little stuff and more time for people.
I hope that we are more available to be used by God because we have less stuff.

Thankyou to my gorgeous sister, beautiful friend, amazing mum, dad and husband for helping me in my erratic state. Thanks for doing dirty jobs like cleaning fridges and showers and taking signs down off poles and for letting me put just a little rum in my cordial at 8am. I love you.

Ranunculus

2010-11-22T02:22:00.001-08:00

I visited Bondi in Sydney for work recently - quite a treat, and bought these flowers back on the plane - just because I could (we just don't get flowers like they do down south up here in the tropics). Here they are wilted but still eerily beautiful don't you think? (I love the morning light so I suppose these could go in my light series).

I haven't spent much time in Sydney and could tell straight away that it is very different to Brisbane. Equally beautiful, but different. I left a sunny, warm Brisbane and arrived in a cool, cloudy Sydney where everyone was wearing boots and jumpers. I especially loved and wish I had taken more pictures of all the bagel shops, Jewish men in their traditional hats, and the inside of all the taxsis I drove in - it's cute the way they personalise their 'workspace'. Here is some interesting comissioned street art down by Bondi Beach and I can't believe noone ever told me about double-decker trains in Sydney - I was so excited when I went to hop on and realised.

Picasso had a very long middle name

2010-11-17T03:30:00.003-08:00

I learnt this from my class on Tuesday. Picasso also had many wives and mistresses. In my opinion a dirty old man. These children made beautiful artwork with him as inspiration though I must amit. By year 5's.

Mim & Freddy

2010-11-08T04:59:00.000-08:00

Adventures with grandma Shaz during the magic hour

2010-10-27T02:10:00.001-07:00

I am a grandma in many ways and we sometimes joke that I went from about 16 to 60. I like to go to bed early, I like knitted rugs, I've been known to wash out plastic bags and hang them on the line... I'm sure Josh could give you many more examples, but I like to think I'm also an adventurous child. Today I rode my (Josh's) skateboard clumsily (practice makes perfect...) to Everton Park (about 2km) to go to the post office. I also took a bit of a fun risk taking my camera. We all returned completely unharmed and I re-discovered a most amazing treehouse in the process. So many more pictures but here is a preview:

Diggers

2010-10-24T05:43:00.001-07:00

Some snaps from a recent holiday to a secret little spot on the NSW north coast. A week in this pristine national park without electricity and faulty solar power meant no lights after dark so early to bed and early to rise and a lovely break from the hum of city life. A week of red dirt, salt water, mouldy cheese, wine, oysters, sunshine, rain, oil lanterns, reading and STRATEGO - our new favourite board game. Oh and kangaroos. I have seen kangaroos many a time but was absolutely enthralled by these beautiful things - no wonder they're an icon, they're incredibly cute. So ridiculous seeing a big joey in it's mothers pouch with legs poking out. My only regret - not taking more people to share this secret with.

Goodbye

2010-10-24T05:37:00.000-07:00

The ad went online on Tuesday and she sold by 6pm that night. We got more than we advertised for as 3 men all turned up to buy her at the same time. Continued to get enquiries after the ad was down. So pleased there are people out there willing to put some love into this old lady. She had to be towed away but she was sure looking glorious. So glad we bought her 2 years ago and not a poncy new car. I felt like royalty behind her wheel.

Beautiful lady for sale

2010-10-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday sweet suprise

2010-09-24T18:41:00.001-07:00

Thankyou Dory!

2010-09-22T17:40:00.002-07:00

On Sunday we photographed a beautiful wedding. It was so great working together and we're yet to combine pictures which will be very exciting. More pictures coming soon...

Litton's vegetables

2010-09-08T14:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was working at Eumundi State School. It's a pity to drive all that way and not spend more time in this lovely spot but there are definitely a few perks to this job of mine. On my first break I ducked down to the Eumundi Markets. I also bought an overflowing generous punnet of delicous homegrown (most likely) organic cherry tomatoes for $1 and a $1 pumpkin too. A young boy called Litton grows and picks the vegetables himself and sells them in the staff room. What a fantastic way to teach a child about money, and beautiful vegetables for everyone. Thanks Litton!

LIGHT part 2 :afternoon:

2010-09-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Young People's Science Encyclopedia

2010-09-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

I found this complete set on the side of the road as a giveaway outside a 2nd hand store. They were printed in Italy in 1970. I couldn't walk by and leave them, but can't bear to cut them up. They're presently piled up as a small makeshift table. Not sure what else do do with them...

August

2010-08-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

After voting on Saturday I was feeling a bit down so we went for a coffee at Blackstar and sat (Josh in the shade and me in the sun - I can't get enough of the winter sun) and read and drew. We sat for sometime. Sitting and soaking it all up. It was lovely. Something I have long been meaning to do!

These are pictures from my garden this month. I'm sure I have said this before but gardening is such a joy. I really neglect the yard most of the time but it continues to grow and yield beautiful things.

Freshly dug turmeric root, jasmine, lime blossoms, nasturtiums, tomatoes, beans and feverfew.

LIGHT part 1 :morning:

2010-08-13T18:34:00.002-07:00

I keep coming back to the light of Brisbane. If you are born into it, this palette of gentle pinks and oranges at dawn and dusk, the blast white of midday in summer, the lemon luminescence of mid-morning and mid-afternoon, you keep it with you, and measure all other light by it. If you live away from it, then step back into it, it is the first thing that tells you you’re home.
This description is from the back cover of a new book by author Matt Condon titled Brisbane. Richard Fidler was interviewing Matt on 612 ABC radio the other day and I just loved and resonated with his words on the light of Brisbane. I have been photographing the playing of light recently and think I will start a bit of a series.

This is what my mum does for kicks...

2010-08-13T18:28:00.024-07:00

She organises a 12 hour(!) crafting marathon with her crafty friends. She bakes delicious sweets full of sugar and butter (she has recently lost 20kg by avoiding these and I ask if she feels guilty fattening all of us up - "no" she replies, it's our choice and they're a much loved sweet treat. She takes 2 carloads of stamps and other paraphenalia to set up a spare room at the church. She arranges little handmade gifts for everyone, prizes throughout the day, challenges, and offers all of her things for everyone to share and use. She is so busy getting meals ready for break times, demonstrating techniques and helping others that she only manages to make 2 cards through-out the day. But she loves it. And I love her. She is so hospitable. She is so generous with her time and resources. My mum Jenny also "goes to prison" every Thursday to make cards with the women there. Isn't she gorgeous?! Here are some of what I made:

Installation

2010-08-06T01:36:00.001-07:00

Acts 2

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Cherry blossom picker

2010-08-04T00:03:00.003-07:00

Near our old unit in Red Hill there is a cherry/apricot (or perhaps some other) beautiful blossoming tree which used to flower about this time every year. I have seen blossoms in other gardens so knew it was time. On my way home today I detoured especially past the bush but alas there were no flowers. I hope my years of picking haven't killed it. Or maybe it's late blooming this year, lets hope that's all. I remembered a new tree I had found last year in Alderley and retraced my steps to find it's glorious bows overflowing with pink.

After sweeping the floor and olive oiling the table this morning while my bread was baking the house just needed some fresh flowers and these are perfect. The other great spot I have for picking cherry blossoms is in Holland Park, which I came across quite by accident when losing my way there. Next time I'm over on the southside I will visit that old favourite spot of mine.

Important note: I only pick these flowers from trees in public parks/areas and I only pick sparingly and kindly so that the trees remain healthy and beautiful for all future generations of cherry blossom pickers and appreciators. Last photo is of our old unit in Diamond Vil. So cosy!

News in pictures - that's my kind of News!

2010-07-31T22:41:00.001-07:00

A friend introduced me to this BBC News In Pictures site a few years ago.

I used to have it as my homepage when I worked an office job as it was a great way of keeping in touch with what was going on in the world. They always ask for photo contributions from anyone willing and one of mine was featured (number 3) a few years back. Have a look!

Lismore, Louisiana

2010-07-26T06:58:00.010-07:00

On our way home from Bangalow we took the scenic (educational) inland route through Lismore, Nimbin and Murwillimbah. We were heading out of Lismore, dissapointed by the apparent lack of coffee spots when we came accross Blue Tongue cafe. It was a fantastic place and reminded us of New Orleans, Louisiana - ecclectic, perhaps a little tired and worn, but warm and homely and I'm pretty sure it had the obligatory friendly, kind-of-creepy, grey cat. Attention to detail included perfectly preserved dead butterflies in the front window, newspaper to steady the table and wild jungle out the back. Be sure to stop there next time you're visiting. It's on the way out of town opposite a mechanics shop. Delightful!