Feeling Lost And Found

Up and down crests, rolling with the ebb and flow - occasionally panicking that I might drown, but generally trying to keep in peace. It's all happened this month.

There is just so much on. I am supposed to be having a rest today (must spray legs with magnesium oil, too much walking!) but it is nearly lunch time and I am only just catching up on admin- haven't managed to shower or eat yet - and my to do list is looking a bit daunting, and it's not even that big or unpleasant! Dousing myself in rosemary oil today in a bid to have some mental clarity. Can't say it's been 100% effective, but look what it had to work with...

That Familiar Feeling

So, we still haven't found a house. I know it isn't as urgent as it has been in the past, but it's still stressful when you have no energy. We have had so many people come through and look in the past week that I am worn out just from asking the kids to pick up XYZ etc so it doesn't look like we live in a perpetual whirlwind. Which we usually do. And that shouldn't be anyone else's business. Anyway. I have managed to pack four whole boxes! Go me. And I don't know what to pack next - will we need it in the next 'undefined period of time'? Will it take me longer than half an hour to sort and pack before I have to make dinner/get washing/teach next lesson - or heaven forbid, have a cup of tea and five minutes to myself?? Certainly have to move; we have had to make a formal noise complaint about the neighbours, and today I have been doing my admin with my sons noise cancelling headphones on and some music playing quietly to drown out the noise. All. Day. (and it's Sunday - no days off!) Oh for some peace an quiet!  *breathe*...!!! Complain, grizzle, moan - done now! Onto better things as I pour myself some kombucha....

So in this past month (aiyaiyai, where is my time going?) I saved up some Spoons and hubby and I shuffled timetables, energy and kidlets to enable me to go to the most AMAZING art class I have ever been to. Really. I have enjoyed many others, of course, and learned from them, but the combination of skills and techniques I learnt here, combined with the topic or theme, and the experiences of the ladies in the class, not to mention the gorgeous, most encouraging and empowering teacher - I have not fallen into bed after such a rewarding, fulfilling, edifying and supporting day in I can't remember how long.

Which leads me to introduce Shelley McDonald. (Seriously, follow her on facebook!).

I was blessed to be a part of her Frida Khalo Still Life class. Can you say - 'Le Freaking AWESOME!'??

 With Shelley's gracious permission, I have included a collage of a *tiny* amount of the GORGEOUS objets d'art available to  incorporate into our still life. I think this was probably the hardest part, deciding which objects to not include - as delicious as the were!

For obvious reasons I won't go into detail on how this technique is achieved, but I am glad I got some photos of the process because the process sort of ambles along and you think 'I guess this is going ok...', until almost the very end, when you go - 'Holy Moley! That's freaking awesome!' I know, I know, I have been saying that a lot. And bless her heart, Shelley was very encouraging along the whole way - especially where you start to question your decisions; and so helpful with advice and suggestions. Very grateful.

Not to mention several of the women had health and/or family situations similar to mine and there were some very empowering and educational discussions. I can't tell you how wonderful that was. It has been such a long time (three years +) since I have been able to paint and create with anyone, it was truly food for my soul. And to have people not look at me when I explain my health as if I have grown another head or something similar. *breathe*

Blinging wee touches of gold leaf - SUCH FUN!

And here is my baby. It is not finished - I have a few things to touch up (as ever, right?) but I have not had the strength to hold a brush this past week in my 'spare time'. I am as pleased as punch with her. Obviously it's a she. And I am really looking forward to finishing her off - then packing her up to hang in my new home, wherever it is - it had better have an ideal spot for her! I am honestly vetting every property we look at by a rigid check list, starting with: Will my kefirs and kombucha babies fit in/near the kitchen? These things are right up there with sunlight and PEACE AND QUIET!

Prelim sketch for another one...

What else have we been up to? (There must be more, MORE! Then remembers she would rather simplify, and tells herself to settle down. Again.)

Well, I spent a cool morning with my friends making felt soaps. These, and many other things I do are the creative babies of This Mama Made.

Then another gorgeous morning with her making -Da-da-da-daaaaaaaa (so excited) felted dreadlocks! This was seriously awesome. I have always wanted dreadlocks. Maybe one day. Such fun, and therapeutic too.

Sketch I made for Wonderlust Challenge - it was a challenge indeed- Why did I choose hands??

In fact, I am looking forward in anticipation to another felting workshop with her this week to make felted pods. Pictures to come. Hopefully. I. Can't. Wait. And it's also awesome (that word again...) that I get to make them sitting down - phew!

Oodles of chicken broth? Check.

'Booch Experiment: Cacao nibs, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, chilli, cardamon and cloves...

Yeah baby. Will be making this again in larger amounts! (Durant crocks ordered this week - HOORAY!) It slips over your tongue, slaps you around the uvula and says 'Hello! Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you - have a bit more..' then does it again! In a good way. A reeeeaaally good way. 

And the usual suspects: Water kefir (experimenting with mango and mint, pomegranate and lime, and grapefruit flavours this week, yeah baby), 'booch (building my SCOBYs and waiting for my crocks!), kefir cheese (which I may have left a bit too long this week as it can almost put hair on your chest... bit strong but pretty delish stirred through the huge amounts of slow cooker meals I have been making this week - big energy saving strategy!), muesli for an army (goodness, must soak some more nuts and buckinis - never ending!), broth, and my new regular: gummies! 

Seriously, where have they been all my life? I had to adapt the water-to-gelatin ratio to suit me better, but these Supercharged Peanut Butter Fudge are a hit, and these Coconut Marshmallow gummies are wicked, seriously good, stirred through a hot chocolate (made with Greens Organic Dark Chocolate, *sigh*). Have to try these ones next....

And you know I have such a problem about feeling lazy due to my lack of visible accomplishments (among friends, right?) that I tend to over commit. Because, packing up a house and everything else isn't enough for someone with energy problems.... So I sort of made a compromise. Sort of, because it's still work, but I can, for the most part, do it horizontally- which ticks a lot of boxes. Still nothing 'visible' to show for it, but at least the grey matter is working. A bit.

I have just completed a three week course on Food as Medicine from Monash University (which was a little disappointing TBH), and am currently doing two other courses through futurelearn.com, which for the most part I am enjoying. One is Beginners Italian, which I am loving, the other, is Propaganda and Ideology, which can be a little frustrating, as you can imagine (especially as an INFJ/INFP - depends on the day and hormones it seems...) anywhoo- I *might* not complete that one; its six weeks long and there are already a bunch of people rubbing me the wrong way, and I don't need that crap :) But I have the freedom to make that choice, so that is nice. Just have to override the 'don't leave things unfinished' gene. Which looking at the rest of my life is fair to imagine that shouldn't be too difficult...

And I haven't done any writing course for over a month! *it's OK, it's OK*.... 

And I am also going to post this BEFORE I edit it properly, because I may never do it and that is worse than bad proofreading. GASP - who said that?