Published at Exhale Magazine

I recently reviewed Susannah Conway’s This I Know – Notes on Unravelling the Heart, and the review has been published by Exhale Literary Magazine - you can check out the review here.

Little Art Journal

My friend Kathryn Costa – Collage Diva - recently posted that she was starting a new pocket journal and asked for followers of her blog to join her, I knew that this was something that I had to do, Kathryn’s blog posts and journaling ideas are full of inspiration. I had the perfect journal for this project – a pocket journal that Kathryn sent me ages ago – sometimes you have to wait until just the right project comes along.

I added a mailing label from a package that Kathryn sent me to the inside cover, just in case.

For my first spread in this little journal I took some scrapbooking paper scraps and an image of buddha from a magazine.

What I like about this little journal (it measures 8″ x 5.5″) is that there is still plenty of space to journal – I’m still working on the minimalist journal entry – I write all over the available space.

After creating that first page I took some magazine pages from my collage bag and created some journal spreads that I just have to add journaling to – which makes it easier during the work week.

If you are interested in participating in the pocket journal project check out Kathryn Costa’s Collage Diva blog or come back here to see what I’m doing with my little journal.

The Unfinished Journals of Elizabeth D.

I’m participating in another read-a-long with Bree from All the Books I can Read, thanks to Allen & Unwin.

I’ve started reading and have to say that I am enthralled in the story, it is of particular interest to me I guess because I keep journals. In a nutshell the story is of a woman who inherits her best friend’s journals after her death, with instructions to read them. As she reads she discovers that she never really knew her friend.

It makes me wonder what happens to our journals after we are gone – do we give them over to someone for safe-keeping, should they be destroyed? – it’s something that I don’t have the answer to.

Come back next week when we discuss the first section of the book.

My Hundred Lovers – Read-a-long

I am participating in a read-a-long of My Hundred Lovers by Susan Johnson with Bree at All the Books I can Read and a group of bloggers.

This week we have read and are discussing pages 1 – 88. You can see Bree’s discussion post here, be aware that it does contain SPOILERS if you have not yet read the book.

Here are some thoughts on the book so far:

I admit that I was drawn into participating in this read-a-long by the blurb about the book –  ”A woman, on the eve of her fiftieth birthday, reflects on one hundred moments from a lifetime’s sensual adventures. After the love, hatred and despair are done with, the great and trivial acts of her bodily life reveal and imperfect, yet whole self.” – and the review by Geraldine Brooks on the front of the book ”A woman reflects on her life as an erotic adventurer, and through these vivid stories of the flesh, a mind and a soul emerge in full.”

I am enjoing reading this book, Johnson writes in a very vivid, descriptive style and nothing (and I mean NOTHING!) is off limits. The writing is very sensual, but so far I have to admit that I am disappointed by Geraldine Brooks describing the book as ‘erotic’, sensual yes, but erotic no.

I have yet to finish reading the book, so my disappointment may be premature. Call back over the next few weeks to follow the read-a-long and when I have finished the book I will post a review.

Project 366 – 2012

One of my goals for 2012 (no resolutions here!) is to improve my photography and use manual rather than full auto! In 2009 I took a photo a day for the month of February, remember this post.

have embarked on a photo a day project for 2012, thats 366 photos – it’s a leap year this year!  Today is Day 8 – I have survived my first week of the project.

I signed up for Nicole Samuel’s Photo-a -Day class through Studio Calico. I also discovered Shuttercal - a calendar based daily photography based project community. Here’s the link to my Calendar.

So here is Day 1 to 7 of 366.

Orb SpiderLearning to play boulesScrabble Win!

My First Blog Award – The Versatile Blogger

I have been blogging since 2002 when I started my first blog The Raven in the Rose Garden so imagine my surprise the other day when I opened my emails to find that Nicole Cody of Cauldrons & Cupcakes had nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. I had been thinking that I had not blogged in some time and that I should make more of an effort in 2012, so this was the perfect opportunity to get back to it.

The Rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are:

1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

So here goes!  Seven things about me:

1. I love photography – I was given my first camera – a polaroid – for my 10th birthday

2. My favourite colour is pink

3. I would love to have a raven as a pet.

4. I live in Esperance which has the best beaches in the world

5. I am a self-taught artist

6. Writing and art journaling are among my favourite activities

7. Heather Blakey from Soul Food Cafe first introduced me to blogging.

11 recently discovered (and some not so recently discovered) blogs – in no particular order – I couldn’t come up with 15 and these 11 are important to me :

1. Collage Diva - the blog of my dear friend Kathryn Antyr; writer, artist and connector

2. Susanna’s Sketchbook – creator of the public art project Winged Messengers

3. Spiritual Evolution of the Bean - Mandala Artist Stephanie Smith

4. Provenance – The genealogical search for her family and its history

5. Sarah Salway - Writer and Canterbury Laureate

6. The Midnight Orange – sculpture artist

7. CarlyMarie Project Heal - Healing after Pregnancy & Infant Loss

8. Zentangle - creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns

9. Susannah Conway - Photographer, writer and workshop creator

10. Soul Food Cafe - where 10 years ago I started blogging.

11. On and Off the Page - Writing, Life, Art, Photography & Journaling by Lynn Fisher

Hellenic Republic

A highlight of our recent trip to Melbourne was our visit to George Calombaris’ Hellenic Republic for lunch on Father’s Day.

Not knowing much about Greek Cuisine we ordered Trapezi – a four course meal to be shared by the whole table.

Mezethakia – Small Tastes

Taramosalata, Pita, Olives & Domathakia

Tyri Saganaki – Greek cheese with peppered figs

Thalassina – Seafood

Fish from the grill, prawns, Cypriot salad of grains, pulses and nuts

Kreata – Meats

  

Meat of the day, patates, lahanosalata & tzatziki

Glyka – Sweets

 

 Loukoumathes - Hellenic donuts, local honey, walnuts & cinnamon.

Ouzo

We highly recommend a visit to Hellenic Republic. Great food, great atmosphere and excellent service.