bittersweet memories - New Years Eve

for over 20 years we have been going to our friend Peter's place to celebrate New Years Eve at Hartfields..

Sophie was just a baby in a basket. She would sleep in a little sitting room, oblivious to the celebrations going on in the grand dining room. And then as she grew up, Peter would set a little table just for her in her private sitting room.. she grew older and helped Peter in the kitchen.

the first time we went to Peter's New Year dinner - I was mesmerized - by the layers of tuille draped around the ceiling and twinkling fairy lights over head. the table set for 30 people; candles and flowers from Peter's garden on the table complimented the waterford crystal and damask tablecloths.

A very civilized dinner party.

Peter would prepare and cook a 3 course dinner which we would all sit and eat, with lashings of champagne and talk.. taking us into the midnight hour - ending with chocolates and coffee while we welcomed the New Year in.

As the years went by, each of us got older.. some of our group died, others moved on and numbers dwindled. -

Peter is now 78.. and this year, he has told us that he will not be doing it. at first, I was in shock and yes, very upset. truthfully, i cried in my room for an hour or more. I don't do well with change.. and this dinner party, has been a big, important part of my life...

I am so grateful to Peter for doing these dinners year after year. and I always knew that it would end oneday.. now that day is upon us, well truthfully, I am sad. bereft even.

You see, New Years Eve dinner was kind of the beginning of my birthday celebrations, because all those years ago, my mother was in labour that night.. giving birth to me 5 hours after midnight. a New Years day baby. this day, 54 years ago, I was preparing to come into the world. Each New Years Eve, I would wear a new dress and party shoes.. feeling very much a princess. I felt special because of Peter's hospitality

so tonight, a different kind of New Year Eve celebration - celebrating with other friends.. a quiet dinner at their home.. but home before midnight.. I am ok with that

I turn 54 tomorrow - I am quite excited about that number - not sure why, but i feel deep within my being that it will be a good year for me.

so what do i plan for 2012? - I hope to be more loving, kind, tolerant and understanding towards others, but more importantly towards my SELF. I hope to find time to nurture myself, to find time to meditate and walk more. to sit barefoot upon the earth.. but best of all - I plan to walk the land of my ancestors in Cornwall - later in 2012.

today - I went to a local nursery and bought a few hydrangea plants to plant tomorrow.. I plan on spending part of my birth-day in the garden, tending Mother Earth.. starting the year as I wish to continue it.. peaceful.


all photos are from previous New Years Eve celebrations at Peters

A Christmas Postcard

[please click on above photo to read your postcard]

a day spent with

family

friends

children and grandchildren

a day spent

unwrapping gifts

playing

and being excited

a day spent wearing funny hats...

a leisurely stroll

[please click on above photo to read your postcard]

holding my dear online friend
Ninnie Tharpe
and family
in my heart and prayers.
her daughter
Jamie Tharpe Chancey
was killed in a car accident yesterday
*
RIP Jamie

Mary looks after me

a vintage statue of Mary, adorned with old rosary beads. next to her a photo of myself as a little girl.. with bits that are part of me: a garnet, some rocks from Cornwall, a hag stone from Gemma a soul sister, a feather gifted me from a magpie. I am sure Mary can go into the past and help to heal traumas and sadness.. nothing is impossible.

Our real Christmas tree is up for 2011.. Joe and I spent the afternoon decorating - I leave you with this:

Mary of Our Christmas tree - each year, this decoration sits among the branches - accompanied by birds, santas and various other decorations.

I have enjoyed seeking out Mary to share each day - thanks so much for journeying with me.

a Virgin a day

a child-ish offering

Our Lady of the Snow Globe

years ago, we were in Sydney at Christmas time and Sophie wanted this little snow globe - inside Mary on the donkey with Joseph by her side - shake it and snow flutters all around the Holy couple... it plays Silent Night when wound up. to delight little girls heart.

Our Lady Star of the Sea prayer were not my own words - they were taken from the hymn 'Hail Queen of Heaven'




a Virgin a day

Our Lady Star of the Sea

just recently, while visiting the far north coast and Mullumbimby, - we stayed in a seaside town.. and each morning I went for a walk on the beach. Opening my arms to the gift of a new day, doing a little Tai-Chi, meditating, letting the sun warm my belly and solar plexus and of course paddling in the waves as the gently broke on the shore [standing with my eyes close, like I did when I was a little girl.. waiting for the first touch of a wave.. shocking me with the cold & laughing in delight]

And I collected shells. as I do, every time i go to a beach. I keep them in a large glass jar - along with a small print of Mary.



Mother of Christ, Star of the sea
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

a Virgin a day

the seasons flow at Avalon..

time has flown since moving into Avalon.. the apple tree is now covered in her summer finery.. and alot of apples that are showing a tinge of red. I cannot wait to harvest them. The plum tree is also heavily laden. I just hope that the birds will leave some for me...I vision plum sauce and stewed apples and maybe I will even try my hand at drying some fruit. if there is some left.

we have had alot of rain the past month, so not much has been done in our new garden. The very sick flowering Cherry seems to have picked up and is looking as if she will survive. I have pruned one of the lilacs & divided more irises. at last we have visiting magpies in our garden! slowly they are coming and I am hoping that they will become my friends like the ones I had at Inglewood.

in a section of my garden, near an old tree stump, I have created a small shrine with a Buddha statue. peace flags fly above in the branches of the flowering cherry and on the tree stump in front of Buddha, I placed a clay Earth Healing disc [HEALERS OF EARTH] and quite a large quartz crystal point. this morning when I went out to light some incense, the quartz crystal had gone. someone obviously bent over the little brick fence and took it. a part of me asks why? - most of me sends the crystal on with love. it obviously needed to move on to the next keeper.

under the apple tree, I am creating a prayer space, where I can go and sit with Mary... a little shrine created by Joe for me.

Our Lady of the Apple Tree

the times, they are a'changing..

how times have changed in our little family. where once i would decorate at least 6 or more trees - this year, I have one, maybe two.. my first was put up today.
opening the boxes, memories of Christmas past flooded out
in the way of the smell of cinnamon..
the memories of each ornament, handcrafted by me - each year a different one.. once this tree would have been 4feet tall
I gave all my trees away when we moved from Inglewood
[I do believe, I had a slight breakdown that year, which continued on in my time at Villa Maria. but that time has gone and now I am in the home of my soul - Avalon]
I have had to go and buy a smaller tree to bring in the Christmas Spirit
once this tree would have sat upon an old Kooka stove.. vintage, unused.
once this tree was in a magazine
even though those times have gone.. these Christmas ornaments hold the energy of all those years -
of laughter & love










and a Virgin a Day:~

Our Lady of the Hot Flushes - created by my friend Colette @ a bird in the handand how I have prayed to her over the past year and a bit. She listens to all prayers - even those of complaint, I am sure. has She helped? yes - via a brilliant naturopath & acupuncturist who have levelled out the intensity of my menopause symptoms with herbs.

a Virgin a day

Nativity time..

today, I unpacked my nativity scene.
a primitive clay set, made by Sophie when she was in year 6..
each year since then, it has taken pride of place at Christmas time.
I adore it.

"Sophie's Mary"

a Virgin a day

a picturesque walk through Nimbin Museum..

Nimbin has it's own museum. unlike any i have ever seen - ever.

at the front door is part of a Kombie - with a crazed looking man/model driving it, promising of what is inside..



this cubby house reminded me of a cubby I had when I was a little girl - the sign was even more poignant for me




I actually lay down on the floor to take this.. but you can do that in Nimbin and no-one bats an eyelid

I am going to make one of these! a perfect peace sign. peace, perfect peace.


beautifully peaceful. Buddha does that to me.

and sharing ~ a Virgin a day - Mary n Me:

this print sits on my art desk, surrounded by all that is me.. paint brushes, pictures of my ancestors & stuff.

join in!

a Virgin a day

[don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge..lots to see!]