It's A Matter of Perspective

They gave her the label that implied she was broken, maybe not defective as such, but not perfect, not like the rest. And people accepted the label and stopped looking for the real beauty, stopped seeing her for what she really was.

And we all went along with it - after all she was
too tall
flat chested
boobs on legs
black
white
a whore
fat
skinny
"emotional"
a victim of ....
pre-menstral
menopausal
high-maintenance
blonde
frigid
not smart enough
too smart
a barbie
"independent"
a lesbian
barren
a bitch
a slut
just a pretty face.

No wonder she felt like she should be in the gutter.

But if you look at her, you may see a tear, but you will also see her radiance. Pick her up, nurture her - see her for all of her.

Writer's Prompts Daily

The Parcel

"I am going to send you a present"

"You don't have to do that"

"I am not doing it because I have to" (laughs)

"That's not what I meant"

"I know. So what present do you want?"

(aaah) "I don't want anything"

"Everyone wants something"

"Not me"

"Okay let me think - books, too easy. Jewelery, not you.

"You don't have to do this you know"

"We have been through that. Lingerie, na, you wouldn't wear it. A painting, no your walls are full"

"Are you finished yet?"

"Not till you tell me what you want"

"I have no idea"

"Yes you do, you juts don't know it yet. Plants, well you like your garden so that is a good idea, and you have some inside plants too. A food hamper - no you can cook better than anything I can buy"

"What if I did have a little idea"

"Well ...." (silence)

"I do want one thing, maybe"

"Finally" (laughs)

"I want to be loved"

Writer's Prompts Daily

That Day

Now that I am even more securely holed up in my hermit life I had initially dismissed "that" day but my mind has been wondering this evening. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the sisters here, to celebrate that - and I could coincide the dates.

Yes I know we could go out for dinner but I cook, I am me, it isn't an option. I am thinking that if I chose my menu carefully (well more carefully than usual) and spread the cooking over a few days I could pull it off!

So, at this stage I am thinking an Italian theme, four courses, 7 guests (my table seats 8). Hey I can do that standing on my head.

And then I have further thought that last time I had one of "these days" I had three parties in the one day. Now that is pushing it (it was 10 years ago and a lot has changed lol) but I am thinking about a morning/afternoon tea for another day - and I might even invite boys to that one.

Yes I reserve the right to change my mind but so far I am liking it .... now for the "save the dates" ....

I Have been Awarded

Yay! The wonderful Welshcakes has honored me with the Sweet Blog Award (which is an award that brightens her day).

So in the tradition of the net, I too pass it on (in no particular order) to:

It Was Always Simple written by a true wonderwoman (if if she can't see it all the time)
Sicily Scene (yes I know this is Welshcakes) but it has introduced me to food I didn't think was possible, and a land I have never seen
Rat Sass written by a generous soul who always makes me smile

:-)

Story Time

The stories are not just fairy tales they are the history of a people that stretches over nearly 100,000 years. They are the stories of the Dreaming and why the world is the way it is. They are the lessons on what to eat, when to travel and how to treat each other. The songlines are maps that allow peoples to traverse thousands of miles. They are passed from generation to generation with a scared trust that will allow their transmission for time forever more.

In my culture (a white Western one) we are reliant on the written word - in books, in newspapers, in documents of all kinds to keep records - if I want to check something I can look it up, if I want to understand something, I can research it. So many cultures, including the many indigenous peoples of Australia, have traditionally relied on oral traditions.

I understand it but I cannot comprehend the nature of being the storyteller or the keeper of the tales - the honor, the responsibility, the need to tell the stories just as they were told to me, to teach the dances the way they have always been taught, to ensure that the generations that would come after me would understand themselves, their land, they culture.

I am fortunate to live in an age where people of my culture can learn some of the stories too - from books and tv and radio and the internet. In my community one of the Uncles even does a traditional storytelling sometimes. And I can learn the stories from my land - Noongar country, and the land I live on - Gumbaynggir country, from all over Australia. And I can learn stories from all over the world from peoples that all have something to teach, something to contribute.

Those who call them "primitive" have got it oh so wrong.

Writer's Prompts Daily

Just Breathe ....

Breathe. let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.

Oprah

Photo: "Love" by lazychris35

Splat!

Learning how to walk is something that most of us only have to do once. An inherent lesson is that you will fall- sometimes it will hurt, sometimes it won't but you need to take the risk in order for that extra degree of independence.

The first time I saw Jaida fall on her butt while learning how to walk (on of those non-hurt-yourselves-fall) I cracked up laughing - it was such a definite "splat", I said it out loud in between guffaws. I noticed her face was about to launch into one of those "I fell over so I must cry" moments but then there was a flicker and then she laughed too. And so "splat" entered our world.

By the time Jaz came along and was going through the same stage, Jaida was an expert. There were "splats" flying left, right and centre. Jaz, ever the entertainer, started doing it just for the reaction. Jaida joined in and instead of playing "statues" we played "splat".

You can never have too much laughter in your life. And it continues over the years as they ask me to tell them a story about when they were little - which is usually a repeat of a core three or four stories.

And I know that as I have grown there are times I too go splat - maybe not literally but certainly metaphorically. I try so hard not to screw up my face and wail in embarrassment and pain that isn't there - I just call out splat and see how long I can laugh for :-)

Writer's Daily Prompts

Thought For The Day

Love truth, pardon error.

Voltaire

Art by Vian Sora

The Law of Attraction

Laws of fact are based on consistency - gravity, as an example, is always there, always the same. The second Law of Thermodynamics has no exceptions.

And then you have the ever-popular "The Law of Attraction" which is basically summarized as what you put out to the universe is what you get back - to differentiate it from karma in which case you get what you deserve, or from prayer in which case a god or other deity determines your blessings.

So each day otherwise rational human beings people are sending out positive vibes for money or a partner or a job or a new car, and when this does come to fruition, credits it all to The (alleged) Law of Attraction. If the reward is not forthcoming, then obviously the time is not right but it will be along when that changes, or, you are also sending out parallel messages that you are not worthy so you need to do some self work before your reward can be received.

Crap!

Now there are some things in this world we can control, and there are others we cannot. Not matter how many people "wish" for a sunny day for their wedding, the weather is controlled by factors well outside of their desires and will continue on its own path.

And there is no way that you can tell me that when I was raped (asleep in my zipped up tent) , I was sending out messages to the universe that I wanted it to happen. And the same thing applies to people that starve to death, old people who get beaten up during home invasions, children that are abused in any form, or the people in Hiroshimo who had their day interrupted some years ago by the dropping of a nuclear bomb or two. But if I give The Law of Attraction anything more than disdain then I would have to acknowledge that all of these people "asked for it", they weren't victims, this was exactly what they had ordered from the ever-providing universe.

It is insulting, it is degrading and it is so very, very wrong to even suggest a thing.

Oprah and The Secret and Eckert Tolle and everyone else who spouts this crap, or says they believe in it,  have a lot to answer of by spreading this bullshit.

Image: "Seeking refuge" by TheHarlequinsMask

Color My World

Some colors just go together, others don't look quite as right. And this applies whether you are a painter, fashion designer, decorator or whatever.

Nature though ignores this rule completely. Nature is not aware of the color wheel, of complementary colors or contrasting options. Nature has never heard the "rule" 'red and green should never be seen and blue and green should never be seen without something in between'. Nature's palette is determined by other factors and the result is amazing.

The ocean continually amazes me with its changing palette of shades of blue and turquoise and grey and green and silver and aqua.

The sky mixes various blues and white of clouds during the day and then exploding at sunset in reds and purples and oranges and corals and silver. Nighttime makes it black highlighted with the sparkles of stars, the greys of clouds. Sunrise is a muted palette of pastels in all shades.

Flowers of all sizes mix colors like an abstract painter under the influence of hallucinogens. And that doesn't even begin to describe who they choose to grow next to, or the planting patterns that we come up with.

And of course, fruit comes in all colors - eating a fruit salad is more than a collection of vitamins and different textures - it is a rainbow for the body. I personally, wouldn't have it any other way.

Writer's Daily Prompts

Philosophy of Food

Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian, wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good.

Alice May Brock

Art: "Colours of Tuscany" by Lisa Lorenz

Level Paying Fields

Australia does not subsidize their farmers like the EU and the US do and it is a great source of angst when one is trying to be competitive on the world stage.

Australia does though subsidize many industries, including agriculture, through direct investment, tax breaks for the film industry, items like the diesel fuel rebate for mining and agriculture, subsidies like the one that was implemented to "save" the sugar industry or to compensate dairy farmers when faced with deregulation after a 10 year warning that it would occur, import duties which affect any number of industries. There are also incentives for manufacturing, technology and education industries, to name but a few.

And is landcare a subsidy or an investment? I think it would depend on your "green" credentials. And is government "incentives" for the car industry in South Australia self-serving? I think it depends on whether you are one of the workers or not.

I am not arguing that this is right or wrong - it just is, a reality of the global world that we live in. And it could be argued that is still doesn't compete with the direct subsidies given to US or UK farmers (I am not even getting into French farmers lol). And it is difficult to compete financially with, say, Asian economies where the wages and standard of living is so much less than our. Layer onto that the requirements of various trade agreements we have entered into (is there any other way of describing the one with the US as "we got screwed" and everyone involved should be in sack cloth and ashes and tried as a traitor") which require a minimization of trade sanctions. And trying to play a "level playing field" when no one else is is self-defeating at the best of times.

So while it is important to acknowledge that we perhaps subsidize less than out international competitors, I think it is equally important to acknowledge that many, many industries are subsidized. So while we debate the pros and cons of a super-profits tax on the mining of our natural resources, keep in mind that many industries are dependent on government protection funds for their success.

One way or another, the taxpayer always pays ....

Image: "Wheat" by Konijntje

What Is The Truth?

Sometimes it is really easy to determine what is the truth or not but for the most part I am not convinced it is not easy and if I look to the philosopher's for guidance, I think they agree with me.

Consider a traffic accident as a random example. The two drivers and various witnesses may agree that a bingle had occurred but it is somewhat inevitable that the details between the stories will vary. Is anyone lying, probably not - it would depend on what they saw, what they think they saw and what they remembered.

Consider todays debate on how much tax the mining industry pays - the ATO gives a flat figure, the Treasury gives another that takes into account what subsidies are paid. Both positions are equally valid as being the truth, neither organisation is lying, there is a difference in interpretation.

Consider any random argument between a couple or friends - say something as stupid as "you never listen" (not a debate, just to clarify) both parties have their own opinions on the issue of contention. Both have their own moods, memories of examples and whatever else to bring to the floor, and all of that will also affect their ability to hear the perspective of the protagonist.

Consider the rights of refugees to seek refuge. Black and white it may seem. Layer on comments "queue jumpers", "illegals" and what may have seemed black and white may still be so, but from a different perspective.

Consider something as simple as "the sun rose today" ... well it didn't rise at all did it, maybe the earth and the sun are both in their respective cycles and there was a meeting of the two.

So is there any real truth? Science tends to define truth as results that can be reliably replicated but is that enough for humans and all of their pudgy greyness of existence, comprehension and reaction.

Photo: "Naked Truth" by Charlie C M

Orange Soup

Last night as a night for orange soup - and for just such moments, I keep a supply in my freezer. And no, orange soup doesn't have any oranges in it - it refers to the color. I make it in the crockpot and it is a mix of roast pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots (yes I know I have carrot issues but it does got in this soup), onions, red lentils, chickpeas as well as some random herbs and spices all cooked in a rich vegetable stock until it is almost a chowder consistency. Oh, and some bread for dunking purposes.

I tell ya on a crisp autumn evening, its good for the body and good for the soul.

Art: "Orange" by fallinreality

Morning Tea

I remember when you didn't meet up for coffee, you went to someone's house for morning tea (or afternoon tea depending on the schedule). Traditionally there would be three to five options available for guests. There was always hot scones, scalded or whipped cream and homemade jam (two varieties). And from there the creativity of the hostess took off. My personal favorites were: lemon marshmallow slice, shortbread with passionfruit icing, hedgehog slice, orange syrup cake, vanilla slice and custard creams with real butter icing and a touch of passionfruit.

There was mugs for the coffee drinkers and cups and saucers for those partaking in tea.

Any unlike today's High Tea tradition, you didn't need to get poshed up. Okay you didn't go in your gardening clothes either but you get the idea. And this wasn't an "event" it just, well, "was". The hostess didn't go to any trouble as such (it is no big deal to whip up a batch of scones or bake a cake) because baking was a regular part of life - you always had a cake and a slice or biscuits around the house.

Some of these women worked from home, others part time - all worked at the school canteen, the local show and a dozen other community events. And all were members of at least two community groups, and then there was the sporting clubs and maybe even a church group or two.

I remember the first time someone served Tim Tams - there was a mixture of shock that she served a "bought" item to serve to guests and relish that this holy treat was sitting in front of me, and that the plate would soon be offered in my direction. I had a similar experience with Kingstons :-)

At these morning teas (usually for between 5 and 15 guests - plus little kids) there would be lots of chatting about life and gardens and family and the goings-on of the world. There would be support for those who needed it. There was the organizing of babysitting swaps, recipe swaps, clothes swaps, magazine swaps and general advice swaps. It was women being a part of the sisterhood that has carried through generations since time immemorial.

This was a time of history that has well and truly gone - the sisterhood is still there, we just have recreated it to suit our world and lives - but I am so glad I got to experience it before it vanished completely.

Writer's Prompts Daily

Dreaming

I have been challenged recently about where I am heading in this life. It wasn't a personal challenge as such, just someone posted something and it has got me thinking.

I haven't really had any firm goals for my life - just looking for opportunities and assessing them on their merits. There are certainly some things that I would like to be different, that I regret if you will but nothing that will make a victim to the cause. I would certainly like to change some things about my present position but, for some aspects of life, you have to deal the hand you have.

I really like me and the person I am so I put a tick in that box. I get on really well with most people and have some of the best friends a woman could want so I put a tick in that box too. I live in heaven, I fill my days with activities that I enjoy and challenge me (more ticks).

But if I think about 5 years, 10 years, 20 years down the track, well things get fuzzy. How much can I determine my future, will I even be here, will any of us be? Should I focus on tomorrow (when the things I might want seem both unimportant and unachievable and won't determine who I am or my happiness anyway) or just suck the marrow out of today?

I have been contemplating this for a week and am no closer to an answer ....

Photo: "dream on" by indiae

It's All In The Attitude

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Duke Ellington

Photo: "Growing on a roof" by Anayil Liyana

Moments in Time

There are two moments in the day when time almost stands still - the first is just after sunrise and the second (you guessed it) just before sunset. The light seems to hang in the air for a few moments longer than it should before it continues on the inevitable path of time, of cycles, of change.

If one is lucky, you can have moments in your own life when the same time-stopping magic happen - maybe a first kiss with someone special, holding your child in your arms, crossing a finishing line. I have heard some deep philosophical discussions on this but I don't want the moments analysed - I want them there to be experienced and remembered.

And I do, everyday, in that moment after sunrise and the moment before sunset.

Writer's Daily Prompts

Miss Manners

I know I sound like I am 100, and some days I feel like it and even thinking about posting this proves it but it has been on my mind so I am not going to censor myself just because it might make me look foolish.

When I grew up we were taught manners - please and thank you, Mr and Mrs (or even Auntie and Uncle), kids stood for any adult on public transport that kind of thing. Now I am not talking about giving anyone power over you, or undeserved  respect, I am talking about basic manners.

To give an example, you walk past someone staring at the opposite shelf in the supermarket - well you would say "excuse me"; if someone asked you for something, they would use the word "please" and then offer a "thank you" upon receipt.

I am not perfect in doing this EVERY time but I certainly do make an effort. So what is it with the younger generation who seem to have forgotten so much of this. Okay I know that is a broad brush and I can think of a number of "my" kids who are exceptions, but (to pick on the Gen Y'ers) if you are under 25 then things are different to 'my days'.

I understand that music moves on, and language changes, fashions come and go and that sort of thing - but I do miss manners, a lot. Please and thank you makes so much of a difference ....

Photo: "Curtsy" by oceangiant

These Boots Were Made for Walking ....

I have dreams of bushwalking.

The big one would be hiking through the Tasmanian mountains carrying my pack on my back. Being that it is a dream I would probably start with a weekender but I would love to do a week long hike - taking photos on the way.

WA's Bibbilum Track would be longer (I think they say 4 - 6 weeks) but much easier (WA is pretty flat compared to Tassie) but to go in wildflower season with a camera in hand would be a once-in-a-lifetime investment.

For an afternoon, the Bundagen walk - admittedly I wouldn't need the boots for this one. It is a very easy 6 km - 3 km on mossy tracks through the rainforest, 3 km on the beach and not a hill in site.

Yes, these boots would have a good life and end up with many stories to tell - although I can't promise they will stay looking clean and new for very long.

Maybe they dream of bushwalking too ....

Writer's Prompts Daily