Half Life.

Dear friends, I have had quite a week of it.  

I have been too silent in this space, too absent in my studio, too tired through my days, and restless in the nights.  The good news is I know now I'm on the incline.  And feel as though, figuratively I'm reopening my eyes, and picking everything back up off the floor...

- I'm taking photographs of food again, which is always a good sign of my mental health! -

A new coffee pot.  Pure cream, and the best of supermarket Scandinavian confectionary - 

'Anna's Ginger Thins'...

Organic corn and spinach chips with eggplant Kasaundi, pickles, pepitas & macadamias have helped nourish me back into fine and artistic spirits.

My friend and I have walked, and talked at length, about the world, our place in it, and within that - our place with each other.  And we are at a good place, as ever we were...

Owing to that, I am in good mind to say; that here I am!  Humming this, thinking of that, reclaiming my strength, and venturing back.  To here.

Hope you too are well.

Shell xx

Service at Dawn...

We got up in the dark,
and assembled in our grandest place,
I stood amongst thousands of like minded souls,
and prayed my prayers,
of Remembrance, and sadness,
and Gratitude
and an absolute, fervid desire to fight for what is good.
Always.

It was the perfect way to commemorate this 95th ANZAC Day.

Lest We Forget.

Shell xx

a Chicken, and her boy...

She was not completely disappointed that her boy had not yet even named her - for he was so very kind and attentive to all of her pecking and scratching needs, that it hardly mattered.  In fact, her re-homing to this new place her boy called 'Hillview' had in her opinion, gone so well, she fancied that if he never called her anything other than "chook, chook, chookie" while he held her, or dispersed the food, it would not mean that he loved her any less.

In short, she had decided that her boy, was the best boy, she had ever had!

Shell xx

A most excellent Saturday...

Saturday last, has been named a most excellent day, by me!  And I should know, since I was awake for all twenty-four hours of it!

It started rather early in the morning, when Tullys from the inhabitance of Hillview set out on a long drive to country NSW.  Which for the day, was expected to be something else entirely!

Namely, a hidden town of Scotland...

Yes.  I know.  When we heard of this, we too were desperate to find out why/how a country New South Wales town holding a Scottish themed festival whereby they actually changed the town's official name from Bundanoon to Brigadoon, for a day was going to go!?!

So by mid morning we were there and in full Scottish swing!  Awesome!  I just spent the whole day admiring the differing tartans and kilts and knee high socks, and the sporrans!  How I need a kilt {even though they're not traditionally for the women to wear} and how I need a little leather pouch to hang around it!

And a themed festival is indeed not a themed festival unless one dresses up in the theme, of the festival!  

So behold - my wee Scottish legs!

There was also the "Highland Games" to attend, with such events as Haggis Throwing, and the Caber Toss.  Below is Jamie not tossing the caber sufficiently well enough as the idea is to make it stand at 12 O'Clock - I think he would have done better, had he been wearing a kilt!

Soon after that we headed for home.  But that's not the end of the story...  And little did I know, at this time on said most excellent Saturday, my day was more or less just at it's beginning!

It was home for a quick unloading of children, reloading of equipment and exporting of ourselves to the gig - where antics included a girl jumping onto the stage at us in excitement that we had sung her happy birthday {as in The Beatles version!}  And a fellow who asked to jam with us on the piano at some point during the second set, who ended up playing with us for the rest of the night!  Encore lasted a whole hour!  And by the time we finished at 1am my feet and throat were as tired as could be.

So, did you think that was all? 

You'd be wrong!  My next adventure of the day/night/morning, was a date at the National Gallery of Australia - MasterPieces From Paris - Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne & beyond!  

The boys dropped me off at the gallery, after the gig at approximately 2am - where the party was just getting started. (Note:  You can always tell if there's a happening in Canberra if ABC radio is there doing a live broadcast!)

And they were!  And so it was, as I say a happening.  

The National Gallery was staying open for the remaining 32 hours of the famously popular French Impressionists exhibition.  So I met my dearest Tully women there and we spent the early early hours of the morn with some of the best post-impressionism paintings from the Mussée Dórsay...

I arrived home at 4am.  And when I placed my head upon pillow soon afterwards, realised I had been awake the entire day!  Which made me wish I never needed to sleep - for if days were all as excellent as this, I would not ever again, want to close my eyes!

Shell xx

{ps: I got up three hours later, farewelled my Jamie on his latest work trip, and cleaned the house, hung washing, and drank hot chocolate with my loved ones!  What a life to love!}

Hello! Studio Video Blog # 2 is in da house!

I've been writing, recording, living, loving and talking all about it to you, by my self in a completely round room made of concrete!  I give you studio vblog #2...



Thank you for allowing me to make this journey...

Shell xx

Lord, I thank you. For Sean.

 I asked Sean today; "What does it feel like being Five?" and he answered; "It feels like fun!"

Shell xx

Easter Moments...

 Late night egg painting...

Over night bush camping... 

Easter Sunday bush egg hunt... 

Filling my lungs with gums, and clean bush air...

Long walks through winding gullys, feeling my country, under my feet...

Finding a trap door spider's hole..!

And a deserted orchid... 

Encouraging my obsession with mossy twigs...

Dreaming into waters...

Painting the afternoon through... 

An evening performance by the Tully children of the Easter Story...

{Seen here, Finn portraying Mary Magdalene weeping at Jesus' empty tomb.}   

Campfire songs... 

Copious amounts of tea {which tastes entirely better when boiled over a campfire!} 

Just general, uninterrupted Australian beauty...

So much sky...

And my loves near, 

For such a special celebratory time,

While we remembered and rejoiced,

In our Lord's sacrifice, 

For our own lives.

And I whispered to myself as I fell asleep underneath the stars;

"He is risen!"

...and loves all that is good.

Hope you had a magnificent Easter.

Shell xx

Studio Video Blog #1 - and other stories...

Hello dear friends.  I come to you today with much to share of recent doings.  Mostly music related.  But first, I want to wish a most magnificently Happy, warming and reflective Easter to all.

I have been in the studio much of this Good Friday, as well as general mothering, and preparing for our very family focussed rest-of-Easter-weekend-special-trip {more details soon!} and I am, at this minute baking a delicious Good Friday dinner, and remembering that my precious life was bought, by our Lord, at the cost of His only son, to save all our lives - which I reflect on, often, and especially this day.

So, today there are wooden Easter eggs hanging from anything I can find.  And some serious vocals going on!

My Jamie friend is here too.  

Aiding my pursuits, and twanging guitar strings...

And - Studio Video Blog #1 - has arrived!  Fresh off the digital press!

...Hideously full of my human-ness, my blunders, my hopes, laughter and passion to create a piece of sonic art.  I am new to this way of expressing via video - and hopeful, grateful for your acceptance, company along the way.

Voila!

Bless you, and thank you and hold tight, more to come...

Shell xx