A lesson in time...

It had been 24 years since last I saw Belinda at Para Hills Primary School, until today.

Being a reader of this here little blog I insisted that she join Emma and I in one of our 'feet' photographs!

There was much to catch up on, and we laughed all afternoon while our daughters played together as once we did.  

It is strange, but wonderful to witness the passage of time, by looking at the face of  somebody you knew so well as a child.

To really understand that the spirit is just the same, only the body changes with years.

So let it remind us to take care of the spirit, not just the body; the character of our hearts, not just the outer presentation of our flesh, which is left behind here on the Earth...

I wanted to tell you this story through the pictures of our daughters today, since my realisation that there is little difference between us all in the physical sense; it is only the shape of our hearts, and spirits which glow unique.

A happy day indeed.  A lesson in time.

Shell xx

Piano post...

I do a lot of sitting in front of my piano and looking at it...

I do a lot of glamour photography sessions with it...

I have finally started recording demos of the new album tracks, I am learning how to record myself using Garage Band, a Fire pod and my Rode microphone.

When I was a kid I used to record my songs using a tape player, I would hit record, then play and sing directly into the internal microphone on my stereo.

Hours and hours I would spend writing and recording in my room.  I suppose I was learning my craft.  I was home schooling myself.

And now I am at home learning the newfangled way of recording demos.  What fun it is!

Shell xx

(Post Script) ~ And a Happy Earthly Birthday to my dear sister Sarah Jane.  Wishing you all my love, and every good thing!

Change of Scenery, of Colour, of Content?

• Random note -

I am obviously ready for the cold weather.  Every day I put the heaters on, wear a scarf,  but half an hour later I have stripped down to a t-shirt and flip flops, because it's just not very cold here, at all!  And yet, I persist...

In other news, I am feeling like a change...  Of scenery, of colour, of content?  

• Change of Colour?

I very nearly went so wild as to change my blog template today (shock!) however I didn't like any of the others so it became a - cut one's nose off to spite one's face - situation which I quickly thought better of.

*phew*

• Change of Content

I realise I am not sharing enough poetry and music with you!  Can I please be forgiven!

(It's not that I just found the font size button - only that I finally found a reasonable use for it!)

I am completely loving The Swell Season at this moment in my musical experience...  Visit their link, listen to the free songs, then go buy it on iTunes.  If you love that singer/song writer/folky/acoustic/type/thing then won't regret it...

They are primarily, the musicians from the film Once, who recorded an album together after the film, called The Swell Season, and it randomly, beautifully, seems to have inadvertently, become the name of their collaboration. 

• ...of Scenery?

I am very soon to be jetting off for a short chance of scenery, to beautiful Singapore.  My Jamie is going to be there for work and I am flying out early next week to meet him.

So I hope you're well, dear reader *and hoping there is more than one of you* I am feeling a little changeable today, and so is the Canberran weather...  it is blowing a gail outside, an hour ago it was sunny and warm, this morning - crisp and cold.

I am definitely sunny; quite warm; with a possible wild storm of creativity coming on!

• 
  

And the relevance of a photo of a tea towel, with a quote from Edgar Degas at the top of this post, to the content below it?  Very little.

Shell xx

He is Risen!

Give thanks...

Shell xx

Easter Sunday...

Started with fresh, hot croissants for breakfast with whipped cream and raspberry chilli jam;

All the usual confections;

Sitting outside in the afternoon sun while Tara amused me with a pair of her big sister's goggles;

Sunning my feet, and smiling at the quiet, loving, free - fantastically free life...  Praise the Lord!

Happy Easter.

Shell xx

A walk in the rain...

We were threatened with rain when setting out on our Good Friday picnic down the paddock yesterday, but had high hopes for returning sun.

We had chicken soup under a tree, as the sun promptly arrived;

I put my Nikon to the test by zooming up on mountains;

And stopped to hug trees - how impressively big is this one?!

Walked home with Tara holding my hand, and thanked the Lord for giving us such inspiration, and guidance in Jesus; and remembering, to remember this, at Easter.

Shell xx

for Sean...

Children's birthday parties in my opinion, can get way out of hand.  I think parents can fall into the trap of over saturating the whole affair, when to me, all a child needs is love, family, a couple of 'beaut things', and of course, cake...

My sister in law did go all out however, sporting a devotional T-shirt in the birthday boy's honour!

And other than that it was a sunny afternoon, home, laughing with family, having cupcakes, whipped cream, strawberries, pots (note the plural!) of tea...  

Making time to thank the good Lord, for Sean.

Shell xx

Seany Boy

My chubby, bubbly, funny baby Sean, turned four today.  I can remember the midwife weighing him in a baby shaped basket when he was three days old (only because she forgot to bring it the day he was born)!

Tahiti baby;

New York baby;

Always with wild hair, 

And cheeky faces;

This day has had me running around, baking and entertaining to industrial levels!  So I must go now and relax with a cup of tea.  Tomorrow I shall post you my creations, and the fun which was shared by all!

Shell xx 

Album emerging...

From a random collection of thoughts and inspirations, 

experiences and ideas, over the last couple of years; 

I can see an album finally emerging!

From numerous exercise books scribbled in with creative-frantic handwriting,

Chords, notes, phrases and progressions, woven slowly, but surely, into songs.

From messy exercise books, into slightly neater Moleskin excersice books,

Lyrics (now legible) typed into the computer and printed on A5 paper, 

added to a brand new folder,

Chords, notes and phrases carefully written out;

I can see my album, finally emerging!

Shell xx

Time Capsule

Another beautiful Sunday is here!  Hope all you Eastern Australian friends remembered to put your clocks back...  Anna is organising a family time capsule for everyone to contribute something that represents them.  It is to be opened in five years, I think it should be ten, give things a chance to really change...

Anyway, this is my contribution -

A purple shawl - very me;

A copy of some new music for my new album - hopefully this will be a well loved, old favourite by the time we reopen it;

A 'Fall Too Hard' EP and Tullys business cards!

And of course, a pair of my BIG earrings!

I feel well represented by this little collection, and besides, I am not putting my iPhone in there, so that lot will have to do!

Shell xx

"More than twelve short Haircuts!"

Jamie had to take about twelve photos of me to get two worth posting; and while doing so I must credit him with the amusing remark which I then had to title this post with!

So anyway, I got my hair cut!

I am so happy with the change, the shape, the lovely hairdresser who nervously cut it for me - she knew I was a performer and was then worried that if she made a mistake I may not be able to perform!  I told her that was silly, then we, and half of the salon laughed - it seemed my hair cut had became somewhat of a spectacle since I am a local musician!

So happy with the result, hope you all think so too!

Shell xx

Fact:

Green frosting tastes better!

And purple shoes make you smile while walking! 

Shell xx

Sometimes....

...I take my camera for an early morning walk to explore;

My feet find soil and leaves and rocks and gravel to walk upon; 

My hands find big, old trees to touch and sometimes hug!

My shadow is at one with the paddocks of golden, Australian grasses and thistles;

My path is narrow and winding, slowly ascending;

And at the top I am in a triumphant state!  I admire the 360 degree view.  

Wind blown, squinting at the morning sun, no make-up, just me, and my camera.

Meditative, and inspired, for all the day long.

Shell xx

April first...

It's a wonderful day!  The first of April marks many things in my family.  It is our dear little sister Anna's birthday, and this year she is sweet sixteen.  It is my job to make sixteen cupcakes for tonight's dessert.

And I promised to tell what else Jamie brought back from China for us all, and here is one of the two items...

Anna is a gifted photographer, unlike me (hence the finger print on the corner of this shot)!  So Jamie brought her back one of these beautiful Nikon COOLPIX P90s, and I commandeered one for myself, but as you can see I have much to learn!  

After a whole lot of research I did on digital cameras, I found this little Nikon to be a fabulous gadget for those wanting something in between a point and shoot, and a serious SLR.  I am delighted with it, and had to wait until Anna's birthday today to tell you incase I spoilt the surprise.  She too is delighted and we are going to have a lot of fun with these babies!

And here April is, today.  2009.  I can hardly believe we're already here...  

I must also wish a Happy Earthly Birthday to the author of one of my favourite blogs, Miss Emily.  I am smiling at you today, glad to know, and be inspired by you.

Wishing all a plentiful, beautiful, April.

Shell xx