Who is eating the snow peas???

Last year I had a very successful crop of snow peas. They grew very tall and produced lots of snow peas over a couple of months. I hoped to replicate that experience this year. 
A couple of weeks ago I bought some seedlings from Bunnings and planted them. I put half in exactly the same spot as last years. I thought I put them a bit close together last year so I planted the other three in a nearby garden bed. Now I am glad I planted them in two different spots. The ones in the barrel, the same spot as last years, are, well... not exactly there anymore. One plant is hanging on but one has been completely eaten, apart from a small stem and another one is almost all gone. The ones in the garden bed are doing quite well. I hope I get some yummy snow peas in a couple of months! 

All but gone 

Almost gone 

Next??

The three plants in the garden bed - yes, some weeding is in order! 

Fiona and Kaspa are married now!

I hope they had an absolutely beautiful ceremony and enjoyed their day with family and friends. I found myself wondering about their day a few times yesterday. It feels a little strange to be thinking about people I have never met but then I have been reading a lot about their story through the blog A River of Stones and the weekly newsletters Fiona sends out. 


Thank you Fiona and Kaspa for sharing your story and joy with the world! 


For part of their wedding present Fiona and Kaspa asked people from around the world to write a small stone and send it to them. See this previous post for more information. 


I write a small stone each day on my other blog, Pausing to pick up small stones. Yesterday I posted my wedding stone there and also sent it to Fiona and Kaspa. I thought I would post it here as well with a little of the story behind it. 

Tree wears a stunning necklace 
Bright orange beads 
Sparkle in the sunlight 

I have been noticing the shapes of leaves and trees a lot recently. That's one of the side effects of regularly writing small stones - more noticing of what is around us all the time. I was thinking about what small stone to write yesterday, knowing it would also be the one I sent as my wedding small stone. I was a passenger in a car and was noticing all of the trees at the sides of the road and how the sun played with the colours when suddenly I noticed one tree in particular - a palm tree I think with lots of orange berries which just seemed to hang around it like necklace. A bit of playing with the words when I got home and I had my small stone. 


I have enjoyed reading other small stones written for Fiona and Kaspa on their wedding day. You can read lots of small stones at www.theriverofstones.blogspot.com. I look forward to reading about the wedding soon and send best wishes to Fiona and Kaspa for their life together. 


Are you interested in doing a little writing every day and noticing and connecting more with YOUR world? Why not join the river in July? 

Six Word Saturday - June 18th, 2011

The tooth fairy came last night. 

I am feeling a little flat today. Not surprising really as I had a tooth out at the dentist yesterday. I hate the dentist and have put off going for too long. 

The actual experience wasn't too bad. The anticipation was actually worse. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as I imagined it was going to be. In fact I thought the dentist was just getting ready to take the tooth out when she said it was out. Today I haven't had any pain at all. The dentist said tomorrow would be the worst pain. Based on today though I don't think it will be too bad. It seems to be healing very quickly. 

My younger daughter (aged 10) thought I should bring the tooth home for the tooth fairy but I wasn't keen on that. She wrote a gorgeous note from the tooth fairy and drew a picture of the three of us to cheer me up. My older daughter upon reading the note said, 'I'm guessing she knows about the tooth fairy!!' 

I need some more dental work in the near future and possibly some quite extensive work later - I will be finding out more about options and cost at the next visits. For now though I am proud of myself for getting myself to the dentist (after much too long) and making sure I am taking a little more care of myself. 

Happy Six Word Saturday everyone!

Three Word Wednesday - June 15th, 2011 (2)

I really liked the words for Three Word Wednesday this week: Grip, Prefer, Thread. 
I said in my post on Wednesday that they took me in different directions. Here is a second poem I have written this week. The same prompt words but a very different poem! 


CROSS stitch 


'NO, ME DO IT!' 
her indignant response 
to gentle offers of help 


Tight grip on plastic needle 
and she pulled it through 
too far


Rapidly building emotion 
barely contained 


then the thread slips through the needle eye 


A rapid alternate shift ensues 
arms folded, body stiff
pursed lips, flapping arms 
stomping feet 


screams subside to tears 


and silence 


Again and again 
the scene repeated 


Each time 
She would prefer to try again 
than give up or accept help 


It was her CROSS stitch 

Three Word Wednesday - June 15th, 2011

This week's words for Three Word Wednesday: grip, prefer, thread. These took me in a few different directions. Here's the one I have settled on for now - 


The tapestry of you 


The threads of your life weave together 
you may prefer the grip of some 
while others remain at the edges 
some may tangle, others break 
Let them weave together 
to nurture and protect 
Let each contribute to uniqueness 
the tapestry of you 

Sunday Scribblings - June 12th, 2011

The prompt this week for Sunday Scribblings is 'The next step'. 


The last few years have featured a lot of change for me. There has been a return to University, a return to work, moving house and beginning blogging amongst other things. As a result of these many changes I have spent quite a lot of time thinking about that space just before starting something new. Here is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago about that time just before you take a next step and begin. 


The Start 


Starting right now 
It is time to begin 
Preparation time is over and now 
There is nothing left to do 
But to begin. To start. To go. 
Am I ready? Or not? 
No turning back now 
On your marks 
Get set and 
Go...
Leave safety and move forwards 
Leap and fly, soar towards 
Another safe landing 
Where the climb to the 
Next start begins 

Six Word Saturday - June 11th, 2011

I am learning all the time. 

and what a great thing that is! I enjoy the process of learning. I seem to be both experiencing it and observing it in others rather a lot at the moment. 

Today I attended the monthly poetry group I am a part of. I look forward to this group and although it is challenging to offer my work up for critique, I have found it to be very valuable. I am often re-motivated to write some poetry. I learn something new that I can apply to my writing every time I go to this group. 

I am also learning a lot about teaching. I qualified as a teacher about 16 years ago but due to various circumstances haven't done a lot of teaching. Last year I began to teach more. At the moment I am doing some relief teaching. Every day is filled with much variety - the ages of the children, subjects and much more. It is challenging. I certainly learn a lot each day I work. I didn't think I would ever do relief teaching. I do prefer to get to know the students and I do work better with a regular class. At the moment though it suits my lifestyle and I am enjoying all of the learning involved (for me as well as the students). 

I also look forward to more learning about writing when I start the World Changing Writing Workshop. My first participation in an online workshop! 

Last week was a week packed full of learning. I hope this coming one will be as well. 

Three Word Wednesday - June 8th, 2011

It's been a few weeks since I participated in Three Word Wednesday. I thought I would give it another go this week. The words this week: fond, tranquil, alter. 


Creative flow 


Opportunities abound 
To alter by colour, cut, paste 
Fond of chances to create 
To transform both paper and self 
Frantic begins to shift 
slowly eases into tranquil 

Six Word Saturday - June 4th, 2011

Magic Harvest babies are growing up.

I have mentioned before that I am participating in the Magic Harvest program which encourages people to grow their own vegetables at home and to increase their gardening and cooking skills. 

In some very exciting news, this program which began last year in a couple of Adelaide's southern suburbs and this year has expanded to a couple more is going international. The Magic Harvest concept is going to Japan! For more information about this go here. 

The seedlings I planted 3 weeks ago seem to really like their new home. They are growing very well. A few little nibbles here and there but generally all are going strong. Look how much they have grown: 

photo taken May 14th, 2011

photo taken June 3rd, 2011

Magic Harvest involves regular catch ups. The members of the gardening hub decide how often and where these occur. The group I am in meets fortnightly at the local community garden. It's great to catch up and talk 'gardening' with others. There's always lots to learn! Also, every few weeks there are workshops to learn more about gardening and cooking. Unfortunately I will miss the cooking workshop this week. :(  

This post can double as my gardening update for May. The planting and growing of my Magic Harvest seedlings are the main news for May. I haven't yet got around to getting snow peas planted. I had planned to post an update each month but then on Wednesday I realised it was June already and I hadn't done the May one. Oops. I'm still wondering where May went. It seemed to go so fast. Is it really June already??

Another month, another challenge!

I wasn't planning to participated in a writing challenge this month. Then I found out about the #trust30 challenge. Thank you to Patti Digh for posting a link on facebook. I am glad I found out about this just in time to start. 

From the website www.ralphwaldoemerson.me - 


"#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey."


I did say earlier this year that I wanted to do more personal writing. The type of writing that I do for me without thoughts of readership. The type of writing that helps me to understand myself better. This sounds like just the write challenge to help me to do that type of writing. I look forward to receiving the prompts by email and getting to know myself a little better this month.


Will you get involved too? Click on the badge for more information. 


I just noticed I made a spelling mistake but what a good one it is! I'm going to leave it. Can you find it?