Middlepaw

Our LOVE: My Boo

2012-02-14T20:56:00.002+11:00

I want to tell you of my Boo and I.

Cameron and I met through our jobs. I temped at a function where he worked, and during our time spent blending into the walls, we talked and early on sparks flew.

On our second function together Cam asked if he could call me and for my number, in my shocked embarrassment I stuttered something along the lines of "are you a creepy stalker?" which quickly saw him putting his phone back in his pocket and avoiding eye contact with me for the rest of the night.

But as luck would strike, our third and surprisingly last job together, we did exchange numbers and started a friendship that has taken on many different twists and turns.

Moving forward to now, Cameron and I have been best friends for the better part of three years.

Despite all the changes that have come and gone over that time, he has always been the first person I want to tell my excitement or sorrow to. Though often he has been there to share those moments with me. Hopefully we will have many adventures in our tomorrow to explore together.

Cam has been working with my Dad and Brother for a year now. This very day he officially starts as an apprentice under my Dad.

My apprentice Valentine.

Our LOVE: More Than Twelve Short Stories

2012-02-13T21:47:00.000+11:00

If ever I was to point out an adventitious soul there would be no need to look further than Shell. Whether its taking you on a morning walk, to the beach with her family, or in her home with coffee (tea) and delightful eats spread across the kitchen table; every story Shell tells pulls you in till your sure you are there.

More Than Twelve Short Stories is where Shell shares her many aspects of a poetic life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love Story - Jamie and Shell

The first time I saw Jamie, I was both terribly impressed, and totally convinced that somebody that well bred, well read, with a face that perfect, and a heart that kind, could never become a beau of mine! So therefore I didn't giggle or pose, or play any games, I just spoke to him - and we became friends. There was a light which awoke inside me when we spoke, and before long I knew that he was to be my rescuer. And soon after that he did become that beau of mine, but it ended up being a case of two very best friends, falling in love.

We were to do the rest of our growing up together as a couple, having being married at ages eighteen and nineteen. For us this was the natural next step for our friendship, love and commitment - it was wonderful! We were blessed to be able to live together in a gorgeous little historic cottage on Jamie's parent's family farm. Our days and nights were filled with love and laughter, and learning every part of who each other were. Our cares were not for money, possessions or anything except time spent together - this was our treasure, and in that we were rich indeed!

The creative thread which runs through our partnership is music, and we have had the most amazing adventure so far being able to work together as musicians in our band and tour overseas. But perhaps the most special gift has been becoming parents to five special and amazing small people! Making a home with them and living the good life where family comes first, and love never fails.

I have had tremendous trouble putting into words what my love story means to me, it's so hard to explain without a poem or a piano near! other than to say that I know I was rescued by that well bred, well read, beautiful man (both inside and out), and as we enter into our fifteenth year of marriage I can honestly say he is still my best friend. And I am still his.

And we're just getting started!

Shell xx

Our LOVE: My Latest Obsession

2012-02-12T23:10:00.000+11:00

Today's story comes from Sam who blogs at My Latest Obsessions. Sam's blog has been a relatively new find for me. However I love her style, and the great projects she posts. You cannot help but feel drawn to Sam's happy outlook.

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Hello, I’m Sam from My Latest Obsession! I’m a mother of a two year old daughter and am engaged to my love, Brandon. I have store on Etsy called Sam Wish where I sell vintage & handmade goods, I like to call it my little treasure trove! I’m here today to share a love store, my love story in fact! It’s the story of how I met my fiance, and how our daughter came to be. Enjoy!

Once upon a time, I was just a meager high school student. I was involved in the theatre at my school and it was like my own little world, a magical place. Whether you were on stage or backstage, there was a certain ambiance about the theatre that just made you feel light and filled with adrenaline. Everyone was so nice and extremely accepting, we were all creative and… different. During the last half of my junior year, we put on the play of My Fair Lady. Before My Fair Lady, Brandon and I had never really spoken; maybe a few sentences here and there but I can’t recall anything more. He played football up until his sophomore year when he decided to quit and pursue theatre. He was popular and I was just kind of a wanderer between “cliques” at my school. Brandon was an extra in the show, he sang and danced (very well I might add). I worked backstage during My Fair Lady and boy was it a job! We had these giant room-sized sets that had to be rolled on and off stage between scenes. I have this one memory (my first memory of us ever… connecting), backstage during one of the shows. He was wearing this really handsome Victorian beggar costume with a little flat cap. In all the hustle and bustle backstage, I walked up to him and said, “You look so cute!” I didn’t even mean it in a flirty kind of way (not my intentions at all) but when I said it, I remember feeling so familiar with him even though we didn’t really know each other. After that moment, any spare time we had during the show we would “coincidentally” be doing nothing in the same place. Brandon and I would meet on one of the giant set pieces backstage and just talk in the dark. I was really not looking for a boyfriend but somehow we just cliqued and before I knew it, we were head over heels about each other! We would text 24/7 and then when I got my driver’s license, we went everywhere together. One time, I got in really big trouble and my mom read through my text messages. She found one from Brandon that said he was going to climb through my (second story) window… Being a mom, she kind of freaked out but I finally convinced her that it would never happen…. And it didn’t…. kind of. ;)

Brandon and I became really close, our Mom’s even became friends too! Then during our senior year, I got pregnant. We tried to keep it a secret for as long as possible but after about a month we told our parents and then the news slowly spread to everyone else. Our friends were super supportive though and backed us up through all the high school drama that ensued. I couldn’t of asked for more. I ended up directing my own show that year and of course, Brandon was the star! I graduated 8 months preggo and had my daughter a month later! It’s weird to think of us as “high school sweethearts” but I guess that’s what we are. I’ve always believed things happen for a reason and although I would never wish for anyone to get knocked up in high school, I really think it was just meant to be. I love my life and my little family! And I can’t wait to see where this will take us.

Our LOVE: Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard

2012-02-11T23:36:00.000+11:00

When I first came across Janee's blog I knew straight away that I would come back as often as she posted. As if the name 'Yellow Bird, Yellow Beard' was not enough to get me curious, upon reading through the countless posts of inspiration and flicking through photos of said Yellow Bird; I knew I had found a delightful soul. Yet before now, I did not know that the tale behind the Yellow Beard was as heart warming as ever a love story heard...

(I give you...)
Greg and Janee, A love story:::

To begin this story we have to start way back before Greg and I were born. You see our grandparents worked at a Christian camp in the mountains together. Then his mom and my dad attended the same one-room log schoolhouse together. Greg and I grew up going to the same church, being in all the same Sunday school classes. We were part of the "consistent group" and knew each other well our whole lives. I never paid much attention to him though, he was kinda nerdy... and I was well, lets face it, super cool. Hahaha. I think we can go ahead and replace "cool" with "prideful" now and move on.

Greg started forming a crush on me many years before I had the slightest inclination. In high school we spent a little more time together and formed a close friendship. Junior year he asked me to date him but I just wasn't ready and I told him so. Completely broke his heart. I was a bit evil, I'll admit. Then between Junior and Senior years we both went on a 3 week trip to Russia with our church. I guess at that point I'd started to regret being so determined to date every "bad boy" I could find and begun wish I'd taken up the offer to "see what a real relationship could look like" {that's what Greg said to me when he asked me to date him previously}.

My best friend took notice of my subconscious happenings and began to subtly hint them back to me. By the end of the trip she was relentless, "you want to date Greg and you're just too stubborn to admit it!". She was right. Shortly after we got back from Russia my dad took up my best friend's cause. Within two weeks Greg and I were dating. We dated from September 2, 2004 to March 2, 2010.

After high school he left for college and I followed him. After we graduated we went through some really hard times trying to get jobs {majoring in Art isn't always a glamorous as it sounds}. Finally Greg had saved up enough to buy me a ring and when he proposed to me on a very extravagant day date in San Diego I of course wailed "Yes". Then after the most fancy dinner we've ever had he took me to a surprise party where all our friends were waiting for us. It was the most magical proposal ever. Four months later, July 18 2010, we were married.

Every day since then has been the happiest of my life. That's not to say we never fight or have rough days, but I love my husband with all my heart. He is my best friend and I'm his. I can't imagine my life without him and I'm SO grateful he was patient enough to wait for me.

Our Love: Diamond In The Dark

2012-02-10T17:07:00.000+11:00

Today I have the lovely Jacqueline from Diamond In The Dark sharing with us a glimpse of her love story with her William. Not only does Jacqueline host a delightful blog, but she makes the most adorable robot-animals. You must stop by to say hello!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My name is Jacqueline and I'm a blogger, a crafter, and, as of recently, an artist too! I make robot stuffed animals called Lovebots and sell them in my etsy shop, The Lovebot Factory. I live in Nevada with my best friend and boyfriend, William. I am so honored and happy for Sarah to have asked me to share our story with you all!

William and I met in 2008 through my boyfriend at the time. They had been friends for a year or so and we became quick friends as well. We talked on msn and texted all the time because I was living in California and he was living in Nevada. Although quiet and a little reserved, we became close friends because he is such a goof ball. He is constantly joking around and joking about things you just don't expect!

Fast forward two years to 2010, I'm single and William has suddenly become my best friend. We started talking on the phone all the time and talking about more serious things than just joking around. We'd never been so close and we had started talking on the phone almost all night every night. Now I have to admit that I have been attracted to William since the day we first met in person in early 2009. He is really my dream man and I'd had a crush on him for a long time. To be honest, when I talked about him to my friends, I called him my "hot friend". I know it's a little embarrassing but it's so true! Now imagine my surprise when, on a late night phone call, he asked if I had feelings for him. Little did I know that he would say he had a crush on me for years as well. It was my dream come true. A few weeks later, December 11, 2010, he would ask me to be his girl and made my life so much better.

Now a year later we're living together and working on growing our lives together. We both work at Fry's Electronics and spend all our spare time together. We spend most days playing videos, window shopping, and always go to sleep watching the food channel. After a whole year of long distance, being together is a dream. A year of visits that always ended too quickly and lots of lonely nights apart. I love waking up to my best friend everyday and having someone to support me who will always love me. He's my best friend because he is the funniest man I know and makes me feel like I'm the only girl who matters. I truly have the best man in the world.

Our LOVE: The Machinist's Wife

2012-02-08T07:57:00.000+11:00

Simply put I HAD to start of this little love series with a love story that although not my own is very close to my heart. I am of coarse talking of my parents love story. My Mam, also known around blogland as The Machinist's Wife, has ever been a sorce of love. And together my parents have shown me all that love is... Please check out Helen's (Yes, MAM'S) blog here. And enjoy....

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Twenty days after my birth, in a freezing, sleet and sloshy England, my husband was born into the humidifying heat of South Africa. Miles apart, yet already hand-picked by the Creator of all.

Years later, due to my father’s love of travel, and the complete optimism of my mother, I met my husband after a Saturday matinee in the small country town of Dundee, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. The minute I met him, I knew he was different. I knew I would love him.

We were on school holidays and it was the typical summer romance: we swam and went to the picture theatre, drank milkshakes at the local tea room and took long walks. We also sparred and debated everything. He carved our names on an old English oak tree, just outside my old junior school grounds. For years, I kept an acorn from that same tree...

We married in Dundee, too. We couldn’t afford a fancy wedding, so we donned our brand new grey suits and met at the local magistrate’s office. It was a tiny room and we could hear ‘business as usual’, as one does in a court house. The magistrate began the ceremony and all I could think of in those moments was how strong his Afrikaans accent was. I had to concentrate really hard. He asked us a few questions, which were a blur to me and then announced “I now pronounce you husband and wife”. Those words made me sob with pride! I was now a Mrs. I shared my sweetheart’s name...

Our early days of marriage were filled with excitement. Our ‘furnishings’ were very few; a piece of carpet on the floor (which we used as our bed), a couple of blankets and one pillow. We slept fully dressed in winter. Our main diet went according to an apprentice’s wages and consisted of a staple diet of rice with onion gravy, (usually boiled and burned in brown and orange enamelled pots), followed by coffee and Ouma's rusks (which she would make in bulk. She knew..). Occasionally, we would treat ourselves to a chocolate (either a Turkish Delight or a Cadbury’s Creme Egg) and a trip to the two Rand drive- in, where we would park the Honda 175 and lie under the stars, enjoying every minute of being together.

There's much to be said in building up a home together. Building it together. Not moving straight into a fully furnished, pantry well-stacked, efficiently heated home. Building the home together and doing it Hard Time. This definitely bonds in a way like no other. We knew then, as we know now, that it is never about the wedding, but the marriage...

Before long, we discovered that I was carrying our baby. Emma was born with large, dark eyes and little hair - blonde fluff, as we called it. We weren't in hospital long; we wanted to be home. The three of us were together just three weeks before my husband had to leave for a three month 'border duty' camp, in the then compulsory South African Defence Force. Each day, I would write to Emma's daddy. Each day, Emma would sleep in her pram next to me, while I wrote and told him of every little insignificant thing that we lived through. And then, as the letters were completed, we would post them, hoping that there would be a return letter for us in the mail. Letters from my husband were few and far between. Those that we did receive were censored by army officials.

After completing his National Service in the middle of his three year apprenticeship my husband qualified as a Fitter and Turner or Machinist, as I still fondly call him. This meant more in his pay-packet and a chance to get ahead in life. We were able to buy good food and lots of it. We were able to buy a new bed. We were able to buy many items that we had waited so long for. Despite our house developing into the cosy home we had long desired, it wasn't enough. My feet were itching, just as my father's had years before. My husband's feet caught the same fever. We wanted more.....

"It's the land of milk and honey, Helen...." my father would tell me, referring to the country in which we now live - Australia. "Things are going to get worse here. You'll have no regrets. We'll follow you soon. I promise."

Three years later, we had packed up our home and were waiting at my parent's home for the day that great silver bird would take us to a foreign land. My parents and brothers promised me that they would only say a 'quick' goodbye on our day of departure. They lied! I felt as if my heart was about to be ripped out of my throat. My mam slipped a book of verses by Helen Steiner Rice under my arm, as she squeezed me and implored me to "...go now, Helen".

Time is a great healer.

Today, we have a house full of young adults, as we were blessed with another two children – Sarah Mechelle and Samuel Thomas. All three live at home with us and we are joined by Hayley, who is our Sam’s young lady. Very soon, there will be a grand-daughter. I know she will be gorgeous. My parents are in their eighties and live ‘just down the road’. They kept their promise!

The Machinist, my Machinist is still as loving, romantic and exciting to me as the day we first met. Every day, he asks how I slept and how I am feeling. He makes me laugh without trying. He says what’s on my mind before I can utter words. We look forward to tea and lunch times, as we will be seeing each other. We work together and anticipate who needs what / what needs to be done. We no longer spar, as although we are – well padded – we know we could do ourselves an injury. We still debate, and oftentimes, the debating turns into heated arguments. But they never last long. We ‘miss’ each other too much without the One Heart.

Every day he wants to please me and make me happy. He will forever be my Valentine, and I will always be his; the Machinist’s Wife.

Once upon a time...

2012-02-07T08:15:00.000+11:00

I have lined up something very special to share with you all this week. For the next few days until Valentines day some of my favourite bloggers have been kind enough to share their love stories with me here.

So stay tuned... SMILES

Mwa!

Sarah-Mechelle

The Fault In Our Stars

2012-01-30T23:14:00.000+11:00

It is not very often that I would find it within to be bothered to write a book review. I long ago realised that many of the books I hold dear do not fit into other's hearts quite so well as they have mine.

However!

The moment I heard John Green had finished a new book, I could not help myself... I was soon in the bookstore placing my pre-order.

"The Fault In Our Stars", if you ever listen to me and read one book, let it be this one.

Before reaching the end of the third page I had frightened myself by laughing loudly in my otherwise quite room. This book is raw, yet brilliantly held together with John's wit. By the close of its covers upon reaching the end, I had laughed many more times, allowed a tear to make its way to my chin and marveled in the adventure.

In the words of John himself...

DFTBA (Don't Forget To Be Awesome)

Sarah-Mechelle

Sunday Morning

2012-01-29T09:08:00.028+11:00

Taking time on this beautiful morning to notice things I pass daily...

My kitty laying on the Union Jack mat that sits below our front door (after I banished her from zig-zagging between my pen and paper)

Australian breakfast tea enjoyed hot, strong enough to stand up for itself and in my favourite mug.

Rouge leaves from the rose above my head drop to land in my hair, the ones under my feet crunch.

Watching the fascinating lives of insects; fascinating so long as they stay out of my mane.

Our newly hung Country's flag so crisp in its whipping. Flying the colours I love for this Country I have been blessed to call my own.

Painting my nails in my favourite shade of red. (They call it FEVER)

Making mental lists of things I must fill my day with... My eyes taking note of jobs around me.
#Rake leaves
#Pin back roses that have a mind of their own
#Pull weeds from garden beds and those that grow in pavement cracks.

My cat now returns from banishment of the Union.
The bottom of my mug is seen.

To Every End... A New Beginning

2012-01-18T16:59:00.000+11:00

I had so many things I was going to share with you during January. Yet the honest truth is I have been over layed with new, exciting, scary possibilities; yet also going through a sense of lose and heartache. As for new things to start, old things must end.

By end, I am referring to our Pie shop, which after much consideration (and doubt) we have decided to close. To suddenly come to the end of running a cafe, which has ruled my days and decisions for the past 2 years, is like finding oneself without a routine. Be it busy as it was, to suddenly have nothing there, nothing to think to order, or chase. Nothing to prepare... It has been a very emotional couple of weeks.

In order of starting new things, I have decided to study Veterinary Nursing. (Huge change I know!) I have always known that I would study something 'one day', life moved everything on a whole lot faster than I was expecting is all.

Having The Daily Pie was the best thing that ever could have happened in my young life. How many get the opportunity as I did at my age. If I have learnt nothing else but to cherish what we have been given. I have been truly blessed to have the opportunity to work with my Mother and Sister; To be taught by a master Chef, who showed more patients with us 'shit cooks' than we deserved; To have people come back time and again for our pies. I would not have missed this chance for any amount of money or free time I could have gained.

New things will be happening here, as I fill up my suddenly empty schedule. Bring on 2012, it always did promise to be a year of change!

~Mwa~
Sarah-Mechelle
There is a post on The Daily Pie blog if you'd like to read more...

I shall always dream in golden crust and tender fillings!

52 Pictures: ONE

2012-01-10T13:19:00.000+11:00

This year I am determined to take more photos and gain a better understanding of my camera.

52 Pictures will be my favourite photo of the week, shared with you.

Hoping that the new year is off to a good start in your lives,

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

A New Book

2012-01-01T22:44:00.000+11:00

Ever since I was quite young I have had a need to scribble words over empty pages, as I got older this need hasn't lessened.

(Though time to do so is not quite as vast)

I can hardly wait to fill this new book with adventures and thoughts of 2012.

It is no secret that I am a notebook junky. I only have one rule, they must only be filled with things that meant something to me. If that means occasionally drawing, or gluing or quoting than so be it.
Do you have rules to writing a journal?

I lift my pen for a happy 2012 to you!
Sarah~Mechelle

2011-12-28T10:01:00.000+11:00

Where my family gathered this year. How wonderful it was!
My love to you and your families!
Sarah-Mechelle

Wardrobe LOVE: I'm Still Alive!

2011-12-15T00:01:00.000+11:00

A quick show of face to confirm the life still running through my veins.

This summer has proved to be one of the coldest we have had in years, jackets and jumpers are still making a daily appearance.

I loved putting this outfit together.
Camo and Lace should be found in every wardrobe, or at least that is my belief.

Those shoes are my favourites, I don't get chance to wear them half as much as I'd like.

Hoping your enjoying this festive season. Of which I look forward to talking more about very soon.

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

There Are Days

2011-11-26T02:31:00.001+11:00

There are days when jobs can wait to be finished,

When hair can go uncombed.

There are days when God's blessings overwhelm me,

When my heart swells.

There are days when the sun shines brighter,

When clouds cannot be found.

There are days for adventure,

When these days come it is best to share them with someone you love.

I Love these days.

Sarah-Mechelle

Nano Snippet

2011-11-15T11:59:00.000+11:00

I couldn't bring myself to start reading over my current Nano novel,

(knowing that there would be too many things I'd want to change about it.)

However I so wanted to share some Nano with you. So here is a snippet from last years novel.

I'd love to know what you think!

“Marry me!” He pleaded as he had come to the end of the page, upon which had been laid a thought of her mind.

“Marry you?” she repeated in the silence that followed such a question.

“Yes!' He urged, "Because I don’t understand it, and it might take me my lifetime to understand. I want that knowledge, I want to understand you, almost as much as I just want you to be in my life daily. To understand one such as yourself, to look at the deeper side of existence, to have you would be the completeness of my soul. Take me on this journey with you, let us discover it together...’

There followed an awkward silence. All he could hear was his heart beating now from within his brain; And she, dizzy with the thousand thoughts jumping all at once upon her, mouth dry, hands becoming sweaty.

Suddenly nothing... All thoughts had fled, not one left to distract her from the look behind his eyes.

“What if you never find your answers? What when you don’t feel you want to know anymore? What if you come to the end of your search to find you went looking for nothing, that there is no more to me then what you see of me right now??” The words came rolling over each other in their rush to escape her lips. Tears had found their own way down her cheeks, her skin bumpy and trembling.

He smiled, “Then I would have been blessed to have spent my time with what you have already laid upon my sad self. I would have walked with the angels.”

Sunshine and roses,

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

Wardrobe LOVE: Nano Nerd

2011-11-09T16:20:00.000+11:00

I promised myself that I wouldn't abandon this space for the sake of Nano, and I plan on keeping to that.

Week one of Nano proved to be more successful than it has been in past years. Although not on my ideal word count, I am happily writing my way to 50,000 words.

(For those of you who may not know, Nanowrimo is a month long challenge to write a 50,000 word novel) This will be my third year taking part in the crazy; I've got a good feeling that third time will be the charm!

The days have definitely started getting hot here now, and I've been enjoying bringing out all the summery things. Especially these bow shoes!

Happy Wednesday to you all,

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

Nano word count: 9,341!

Mixing things up

2011-10-29T22:24:00.000+11:00

As you may have seen upon arrival (for those of you who have been here before) I have given my space a little change. I enjoy rearranging things.

I've included pages at the top for my familys two business, a quick history if you will. For I'm sure I've confused people in the past when trying to share both these sides of my life.
I would like for you to take a look.... (Please?)

Also I would love to know what you think of the new look?

Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Wardrobe LOVE: 'Rock, Step, Kick!'

2011-10-26T21:39:00.000+11:00

Have I mentioned, I've started swing dance lessons?!

This is what I wore to a 'frocktober' special swing social. I've always loved the clothing from the swing era, the music was 'happening' and the dancing itself is definitely one of the funnest ways to swish your skirt on the dance floor.

Despite my total lack of body coordination, I've been enjoying learning steps for the Lindy hop and Charleston.

'rock, step, trip-le-step, step, step, trip-le-step' is the new rhythm of my life.

5, 6, 7, 8...

Love
Sarah-Mechelle

My FREAK!

2011-10-22T11:22:00.006+11:00

A little birdy is here to tell you of a very special lady!

Mam taught me pretty much everything I know.Never to give up, to be truthful, to be the better person.

Despite the fact that we may be from two different generations, I'm quite sure I could never find a more kindred soul to mine. We are two the same my Mam and me. We come from the same kind of pod.
I call her my FREAK, as so often we will be thinking along the same lines, or finding beauty in thoughts, words or objects at the exact moment.

I love working with her, sharing cups of tea while having discussions. Ever talking of future plans and goals. My Mam works harder then most people I know, she is the in-house Dr, the bookkeeper, peacemaker, organiser, event coordinator, business owner, pie maker. She is a true woman of substance...

Happy birthday FREAK!

My love and devotion,
Your daughter
Sarah-Mechelle

P.S Go give my Mam some love over here!

Drinkable LOVE

2011-10-19T21:57:00.001+11:00

The sun has started to warm our days a little more, and this has resulted in lunch and 'smoko' breaks being enjoyed in our front courtyard/garden.

In celebration of this new found warmth - a jug of blueberry iced tea.

I had never tried it with blueberries before, however the end result is a refreshing delightfully blushed treat.

How I did it...

Two lemons, juiced

300g (ish) of frozen blueberries
2.5 litres of water, boiled

8 Australian Breakfast tea bags (my favourite daily blend...!)

Caster sugar to taste.

Simmer lemon juice and blueberries for 5 minutes, till the berries turn soft.

Boil water, after boiling remove from heat.

Steep tea bags to desired strength.

Sift berry mix into 'tea'.

Add sugar to taste.

I added a few whole berries to my glass for extra decadents.

OH YEAH!

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

Wardrobe LOVE

2011-10-18T08:19:00.000+11:00

In my absence, thoughts of you have been chasing tail in my head. How I want to share my stories. If I could be so bold to say, how I long to encourage and inspire.

Wardrobe LOVE a new weekly topic to share what I'm loving (and wearing).
I do not believe for a minute that I have 'perfect' styling, however a love of things (dare I use the word....) vintage, red and girly are some of what you'll see here.

My heart never grew out of the joy found in dress ups!

Lets have a tea, and try this on for size....
Love
Sarah

Delightful Sights

2011-09-30T00:21:00.000+10:00

A walk around our over grown garden resulted in me finding these gorgeous wild poppies that have made themselves at home in our orchard. How lovely are these colours?!

This was also a pleasure to find; a group of bulbs I planted a few months ago, reaching for the sunlight. Now if only I could remember what they are...

Love
Sarah-Mechelle

'DIY what?!'

2011-09-21T21:43:00.000+10:00

Jump into bed, make your self cozy, reach for the book on the side table... Oh yeah, new side tables!

My Mam picked these up for a scream, off memory under $20 for the pair. And as she had no immediate use for them, I claimed them as my own. (Love you Mam)

I decided to paint them a super shiny black, firstly because black furniture goes well with my piano and
secondly because I LOVE shiny things.
As often is the case, I forgot to take 'before' shots, but that shall not stop me sharing my excitement at their completion with you.

The 'Telephone' cabinet is a recent gift from my sweetheart. It didn't take me long to pimp it out with my collection of nail polish, perfumes, and bangles.
(It makes me think of the Tardis... I CANT HELP IT!)

Happy Wednesday,
Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Forgotten Words

2011-08-17T18:11:00.002+10:00

Sorting through old files, I found these words from a Nanowrimo procrastination bout. I love coming across words I forgot I wrote. Like some how words will keep my memories safe for me in times when I don't remember.

"So this is 'A', a friend of two years. She writes and beyond all else is a good human being. Even if that means she is a little crazy at times. 'A' manages to have really heated arguments with my dad and brother, which end mostly in both parties having red faces and sore throats.
I wish it was different, as sometimes I’m sure one will at any moment dive over the table that separates the screaming pair and tackle the other to the ground. I’ve watched this fight many times in my head. It never ends well for all involved. However in my version there is always an amount of hair pulling and slapping and even more screaming than what they started with in the beginning."

*Polka dot nails for me today, its so simple and fun*

Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Wilson!!!

2011-08-16T22:41:00.000+10:00

The sun was out for the first time in a few days, and as promised, I got a few photos of our dear little lamb, Wilson!

(Named after the 'Wilson' from Cast Away, with Tom Hanks... Anyone else felt heart sore at the loss of Wilson in that movie?!)

*Kisses!*

*Sniffing my tattered boot*

*He NEVER keeps still*

*Wilson eating my camera strap*

As you can see, for a two week old he certainly has a personality. Chewing things, head-butting things, clicking his heels in the air as he runs around.

We created a pen for him on the front lawn. The fencing for said pen is created entirely by bread crates cable tied together. (No one would guess we are in the baking industry.) In side of which is a tiny shed where we lock him at night so as not to get cold. (It is his third night outside tonight)

As I mentioned briefly before Wilson's mother was found in a bad way before he was born. This has lead to Wilson forever bleating. Mam said just this morning that he doesn't seem happy, crying all the time. However he will never his mama, this makes me a little sad. I know it is a fact of life, don't get me wrong... But watching him cry for a mother is heart wrenching.

Despite all of this, he eats like a grown horse, gets fatter by the day, and stronger with every bounce. He's going to be a handful in his adolescence... Watch this space.

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

It Comes Down to the Pie

2011-08-09T09:19:00.001+10:00

Good morning friends!

I have struggled for a long time in finding a way to write on here, so it does not turn into a journal entry of me ranting to myself. I've wanted to tell you of things close to my heart, yet some times in doing so the meaning gets caught up in words undecipherable.

I run a business with my Mam and Sister. We hand make pies from flour to to puff, marinate to filling.

Although our shop doors are only open from Fri-Sun, our job there is never done. If you will bear with me, I want to share with you the joys and sorrows of running a pie shop in a small country town.

Owning a business is not always butterflies and roses. In fact there are more things pulling you down on a daily basis than helping you along.

We have found this out once again these past two weekends, with a police man walking into the shop and informing us that all of our signs along the highway needed to be removed effective immediately or there will be fines incurred. This began a week of door knocking, every block of land along the highway for a 7-10k radios for somewhere to build a sign. (One lady admitted to being relieved we weren't Mormons come to convert her)

The end of our day saw us with a few yes's, some maybe's and some silent nothings.

Our work now is in designing, making and erecting asap.

It was not all work in going from farm to farm. Upon a revisit to a 'yes' farm, my parents came home with a lamb. Born only minutes before they had arrived.

His mother had been found in a bad way, and 'Wilson' was an orphan before even seeing the world. For a five day old baby he is growing up so fast! Head butting, running like a pro, and gosh does he know how to eat! We love him! (Photo shoot with him today! I promise pics of cuteness tomorrow!)

This is our lives, maybe not the 'perfect' mix of work and pleasure, but certainly an adventure.

Love

Sarah-Mechelle

Silently Reflecting

2011-08-07T08:06:00.000+10:00

Hello friends,

I have not known what to write to you. Every day has brought with it a new challenge, to the point of my heart being overwhelmed with good exciting things as well as the not so good and exciting things.

Sometimes in continually walking through daily steps, one forgets that maybe that is what others need to hear about to know that when life is the same thing day after day it is not in loneliness they continue on.
How many times have I read all the wonderful exciting things people are doing, and wonder 'when will it be my turn to start 'living'? But I am here! Life is happening, wonderful and a new adventure every minute I have a breath in it. And sorrowful thoughts on my 'boring' days shall not get the better of my heart!

So if like me, your days turn into weeks, of things unchanging. Of overwhelming decisions... Know this, we are all here, learning and falling, moving and staying, making good and bad decisions in this experiment of life. It'll all come out in the wash...

Gosh, I'm starting to sound like one of those 'self-help' books.

I want to share what is my truth with the world. That is why I write. Up until now I have only been sharing one side; so in not telling the whole truth, is the half-truth a lie?

Light hearted (exciting things) to share with you tomorrow. However for today, I reflect on the grey skies.

Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Relax, Just do it!

2011-07-09T23:46:00.000+10:00

Everyone is talking about the fast past times we live in, and although I am an old soul at heart and love the simple things in life, I often fall prey to stress and worry. Sleepless hours laying in the dark are testament in their own right to my over active brain, (and imagination).
Something I may not have been able to portray through my writing patten is how excitable I can be in person. Growing up I was constantly being told by my parents to 'calm down Sarah', or to 'lower the volume'; you see, when I get lost in my excitement I loose all consciousness of the pitch/volume I am talking in.

So this brings me to the point of where I'm going with all of this... Relaxing.

Being in my family has meant my siblings and I were raised always aware that one must work for their 'keep'. And now, being older and my family having the two different businesses.(Here and Here)
'Free' time is short, 'Job/To-Do lists' are long.
After a long day, be it at the shop or running errands, doing any number of odd job both for business and personal gain. I find it hard to slow things down and take it easy. Even if it is just my brain going hell for leather bouncing ideas back and forth.
It is as though the ancient art of relaxing has passed on by me, and I don't know what to do with it. Or how to go about it.
My brain interprets it as relax = nothing.
My question, which is getting lost in all these words is this: What do you do to unwind at the end of your day? And how do you like to spend your evenings?

I need a chill pill!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Knickers = Piranhas

2011-07-07T23:44:00.002+10:00

I would like to address a topic which may be taboo, not to be discussed outside of ones own home. However here goes.

I've come to a great discovery that knickers, after coming in contact with the floor, become piranhas. NOTHING IS SAFE! Within seconds of their decent they will claim any small item within their reach. Clustering to a pair of shoes, tripping up your feet, eating socks for breakfast. It is as though they are the only item that ever falls out of the laundry basket, then they quickly hide in a dark corner waiting to attack the next poor soul to walk past. In our family we have a term for dodging these spoiled undergarments, "Tip-toe through the Tulips". Its like our code warning of an unseen (or sometimes seen) landmine.

Unfortunately knickers have had quite a run over the years. Causing unwanted attention.

A classic story told in our family is the day a 'piranha' attempted to eat Collin. Growing up my siblings and I were home schooled, we had a room in the house dedicated as our schoolroom. (In said room we kept the computer.) The wall along which the computer was set up had a half meter gap below the ceiling height to allow light to reach into the next room.
Fed up, and fooling around when folding the washing in the other room we had decided to see if we could 'shoot' a pair of knickers over the wall. This fun lasted a little while, then the fooling around would have lead to other distractions to keep our minds off folding.
That very afternoon Collin, our nervy NERDY computer repair guy had traveled out to fix the Windows 95 that wasn't working. Staring him in the face, 'sunny side up', was a pair of 'piranhas'. It had landed perfectly upon the keyboard... Mam rushed in front of him to stop the attack. The shame!

Another occasion upon which a 'piranha' has done the stealth, public embarrassment attach...
I would have been 13. My Sis had hung the laundry out, and as often is the case a pair of knickers got caught up with the bigger items. They fell on the ground under the cloths line, and it was there they waited for the ambush upon my pride. Later that day, a friend of my Bro's had come around, we moved to the back yard in our games. My puppy was parading around flying my knickers from her mouth like a flag. OH THE SHAME. I could have died!

So tell me, how is it that the simple knicker can be the cause of such embarrassment, when really we all have a pair waiting to lunge from under the bed and attach its self to your ankles...!

Do these things happen to you? Do your knickers turn into dangerous ankle-biting, tulip planted, object eating piranhas?!

Keep safe, you never know whats on the floor waiting to bite.
Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Comings and Goings

2011-07-02T23:56:00.000+10:00

My blog is becoming a month to month catch up post... This is not right, things are going to change around here!

This week we had to say goodbye to a loved kitty cat, 'Kath' our mother cat has gone to Kitty Heaven. She now lays next to other loved family (pet) members. I had taken her to the vet worried about a lump on her side, it was a hernia, which when the vet had opened her up to fix found it to be more complicated then he had first believed it to be. The vet called me, I knew that could not be a good thing. After explaining all this to me, and telling me that her value of life would be terribly compromised... He waited, needing an answer of what to do. I told him I'd call him back in a minute. Truth was, I couldn't do it, I could not give him the answer I knew to be best for Kath. My dad made the call for me. Its never easy letting go of these tiny creatures that weave there way around our hearts.

~RIP Katherine~

On a lighter note... I FINALLY finished my quilt! So I've been putting it off for a ridiculously long time... I blogged about it here, Gosh even that was a long time ago. Pictures to come soon.

A fortnight ago I won a flying lesson. The competition was hosted by a local radio station, (my Boo had entered my name) being 'picked' to partake in the challenge, the rules were simple. Step one: Make a paper plane. Step two: throw said paper plane the furthest. Mine did go the furthest against all odds, and thus I won.

I'm not sure if you've ever read my '100 things', but being a pilot has been a dream of mine for a long time. I do not know when, what or why I came upon this idea in my head that I wanted to fly a plane, yet it was there all the same. Even though I had never been off the ground before February of this year. Dreams do not always need to make sense or fit into logical thinking, they sometimes just ARE. This is my beliefs on the topic.

Also in my absence from the interwebs my Sis bought me an e-reader. This thing is pretty neat. Although it will never stop me from buying books, (I love the smell and feel of them too much), I am loving that it keeps you organised with what you are reading, were you are at, and a really 'easy to find' way of keeping stories together. Opposed to how I pack my bookcase, same author together, yet beyond that no one else understands why Neil Gaiman goes between Oscar Wilde and Nan Witcomb.
How do you organise your books?!

Read on Bookworms
Love
~Sarah~

Adventures and Happenings: May Edition

2011-06-07T00:12:00.000+10:00

#The photography class I've been taking is coming to an end, one last remaining class and a final collection of printed work to collect. Last week my work was included in an exhibition. It was the first time I've had my art exhibited, I'm determined for it to be the first of many.
As part of a assignment we were to direct a portrait shoot. My models were wonderful, and excellent posers... I give you my adorable grandparents!

#Sam (My Brother) turned 21 this month. It does not seem too long ago I remember playing commandos with him in the backyard. Pirates upon the good ship 'bunk-bed' we shared in a room together. Or the time he got a Toy Story t-shirt for his birthday; he wouldn't take it off! We were children then, life was simple.

#We stole away to Ironfest this year. (Oh happy days!) Within mere minutes of arrival my inner fan-girl was thrilled at the scene of Captain Jack Sparrow taking on a Darlek. That's double fun right there! Captain Jack stayed long enough to pose for pictures before turning tail to run.
There was the jousting as promised every year, which I always take delight in watching and cheering.
Em and I spent over an hour learning how to make chain mail; my hours worth of work is smaller than a postcard. (so if your ever going into battle and need a good chain mail suit... Ask someone else to make one for you! Smiles!)
Simply put there are too many amazing things that happen at Ironfest to fit into a catch up post.

#Winter has arrived, this my fingers and cheeks have been suggesting to me for a few weeks now. Trees stand nakedly stark against gray skies, their leave like dropped robes lay on the ground. I love this season, the fog and crunch of frost beneath my feet in the mornings. Having fires lit, the smell of burning wood through the house. Cuddling under blankies to watch a movie at night.

#I've started reading Neil Gaimans "Smoke and Mirrors". I cant believe I forgot how wonderful his stories are. Even his shortest tale has me captivated. My need to remember Gaiman's style was brought on after watching the episode of Doctor Who he wrote. (Two great things in one)

#Frustration has been caused with our Internet connection being down for the better part of a month. It doesn't take long to find this annoying. I have missed reading your blogs, (not on the tiny screen of my phone). Looking forward to catching up with the blogland goss! Smiles

Hoping you have all had a wonderful May.
Happy Adventures,
Sarah-Mechelle

P.S Had to share this photo from Ironfest... Knight school!

Party time

2011-05-10T23:31:00.000+10:00

Golly gosh it's been a big week.

Thursday was my Boo's 21st birthday.

We gathered for lunch break, ate pies (who would have guessed?!), and gave gifts. This year I wanted to get him a watch, however as he's never picked one out before I wanted him to choose it. Since I didn't have anything for him to unwrap, I cut out different pictures of watches, glued them to cards, named them and on the back of the cards wrote something about each different one. (The names and descriptions varied from 'Pimp Daddy' to 'Old Man', I believe Bruce Willis even got a mention.)

~Side note~
This brings me to a question, is it just me, or are most guys rather hard to pick gifts for?!

I made a choc mud cake, layered with blackberry jam and gnash topping. Super sugar kick!

Friday night Boo's family drove over (they live 2 hours away), we participated in a game of ten-pin bowling. (I am TERRIBLE at bowling, I swear next time I may get the bumpers put up, much to the embarrassment of Boo who along with every member of his family is great at it.)

It's been a busy few weeks at the Shop, Easter and Anzac Day, our town hosting its annual Pumpkin Festival, and Mother's Day. Posts about these on the Daily Pie Blog! Go have a look-see!

Party on blogger friends.
Love
~Sarah~

In So Many Ways

2011-05-08T22:26:00.001+10:00

Every minute I spend with You is special.

(especially the stolen moments)

In so many ways I am my mothers daughter,

my 'freak' twin.

In so many ways you have shown me,

how to be.

In so many ways I am blessed to have YOU,

for MY Mam.

In so many ways you have helped me to make sense,

of my problems.

In so many ways I hope I can be like you,

when I grow up.

I love you!

Every day.

Kiss kiss

Challenge Accepted!

2011-05-03T22:03:00.001+10:00

The lovely Lina challenged me to complete this here questions and answers. I hereby accept....

#1. What did you do ten years ago?
Twelve year old Sarah, created things, read many books, dreamed of adventures, filled countless pages with words, acted way too old!

#2. What did you do one year ago?
A year ago we had not long opened our pie shop. I wondered what it would be a year from then.

#3. Five snacks that you like?
Doritos and salsa, CHEESE!, olives, nuts, chocolate.

#4. Five songs which you know the whole lyrics to?
'The Killers - Mr Brightside' (been one of my favourite songs for years!)
'Harry Connick Jr- Booker', (I couldn't find a link for this one.)
'ELO- Mr Blue Sky',
'Imogen Heap- Just for now',
'Cat Empire - Chariot'. All wonderful songs!

#5. Five things you would do if you were a millionaire?
Open a old age home that was less hospital like and more HOME.
Fill my family's every need.
Visit places I have only dreamed about.
Become a 'secret millionaire'.
Buy a grand piano.

#6. Five bad habits?
Never finishing quilts I start.
Chocolate!
Bossing people around... Sorry!
Not taking washing to the laundry.
Writing 'to do' list that are so long they never had a chance at being completed.

#7. Five things you like to do?
Take photographs,
write words,
listen to music really loud,
create,
learn new things.

#8. Five things you would never dress in or buy?
HUGE fly Sunny's,
mini skirts,
bikini,
Lycra,
leather pants. Laughs!

#9. Five favourite toys?
Pens and paper,
my Cannon,
the Tardis (my car),
Laptop,
Daisy (my childhood bunny-bear).

#10. Five people I'd like to see taking this quiz?
Katia Melissa Emily You!

I now set the challenge to YOU, yes you! Have fun....
Love
~Sarah~

Chefy's Rules: One

2011-04-28T23:37:00.001+10:00

I wanted to share with you some creations I have had in the kitchen of late. 'Chefy' (who I shall be talking about a lot from now on) has been teaching me to make these beautiful eats.

Hot cross buns just in time for Easter. These were perfectly light and fluffy inside. Coated with a divine spiced syrup.

Prior to delights with buns, my long ago wish to one day make a wellington was granted with one that turned out as delicious as ever I could have dreamed!

As I enjoy my lessons with Chefy, I will be aiming to share our creations, and one of Chefy's rules each post here with you. Cause Chefy knows best!

Rule One: Lets keep it simple... NEVER cook in a cold pan.

Have a lovely week food lovers,

Love

~Sarah~

He Died For Me

2011-04-22T22:21:00.004+10:00

"I saw one hanging on a tree,

in agony and blood;

He fixed His languid eyes on me,

as near His cross I stood.

Sure, never till my latest breath,

can I forget that look;

It seemed to charge me with His death,

tho' not a word he spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt,

and plunged me in despair;

I saw my sins His blood had spilt

and helped to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did -

but now my tears are vain;

Where shall my trembling soul be hid?

For I the Lord have slain.

A second look He gave which said,

"I freely all forgive;

This blood is for they ransom paid,

I die that thou may'st live."

Oh can it be upon a tree the Savior died for me?

My soul is thrilled, my heart is filled,

to think He died for me!
-Edwin Excell-

A day to reflect on a sacrifice made that changed this world and the next for all eternity.
Growing up, knowing why we celebrate what was the saddest day the world will ever see, there have been times when I can hardly conceive of this love and mercy God extends to me.

Today Christ was crucified for my sins,
Today Christ lifted my burden,
Today Christ took my place,
Today Christ paid it all.

I will never be worthy of this gift, however I will be eternally grateful.

Love
~Sarah~

Come Fly With Me

2011-04-04T22:54:00.000+10:00

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE surprises?!

My Boo gave me instructions to meet him early (before sparrow's fart early) for something special he had planned for us. My family all knew of what this adventure entailed, I was left totally in the dark except for orders to bring my camera and not to be late.

Cam told me only minutes before walking into the hotel where we were to meet with the pilots who would be taking us in a balloon carried basket. Excitement levels were too high for that hour.

I felt like I was in a scene from the Wizard of Oz, where the wizard floats off alone at the end.

My love for the sky and being up above the ground is ever growing. It is were I feel much closer to Heaven. Not because it is higher, rather because it is peaceful and somehow makes me forget of the ugly ways of man.

Never has my camera shot that many photos in such a short time, so I hope you won't mind me sharing a few here with you. (I'm still on cloud 99)

Fly high dear Dorothy's, you never know when the next adventure will be upon you.

Love

~Sarah~

Doctor LOVE!

2011-03-29T23:42:00.000+11:00

"We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one. A daft old man who stole a magic box and ran away. You'll dream about that box. It'll never leave you. Big and little at the same time. Brand new and ancient. And the bluest blue ever."

Finally I bit the bullet.... All five seasons worth of bullet!

I have three Doctors to fall in love with all over again.
Have a great week Tardis travelers,
~Sarah~

Turning One!

2011-03-24T21:11:00.001+11:00

This day (March 25th) a year ago The Daily Pie's (BIG) door was unlocked to the public.
Maybe I haven't shared the journey of our first year as well as I could have here with you, but sometimes it is hard to express the enormity of things when you are in the thick of them.

However in Celebration of our cafe being opened a year, for the following week I will be doing a 'daily' post on all aspects of the shop. Showing you fine people around.

Photo taken by Barbie Robinson

(Our Mayor John Shaw cutting the chain to officially open The Daily Pie)

Please keep arms and legs inside the vechicle and enjoy the tour.
Love
~Sarah~

Wildfire

2011-03-21T23:59:00.000+11:00

My Boo went with me to Skyfire this past weekend.
After walking for a while in crazy large crowds we found a free spot right on the lake's edge where we sat with our feet dangling above the water.
I'm sure it is my childlike heart that has me convinced I will never tire of fireworks.

I enjoyed capturing the evening through photographs and in the album of my mind. The lights reflecting, burning, shining were the cause of such smiles on my behalf. Simply dreamy.
Burn bright darlings,
~Sarah~

Have I not reason to Lament

2011-03-11T00:14:00.000+11:00

Pondering the mind of William Wordsworth, reading my favourite 'lines written in early spring'.

(Although autumn is upon me)

I have been learning so many new things, ways to view the world, to show what it is I see. Capturing little pieces to share with you, or any who would care to take a peek. I never imagined there to be so many tricks to take the picture I see with my eyes. Yet each week I walk away from my class full of new information, slightly concerned I many not remember it all.

If in the day I must do, work, be;

then the evening I save for dreaming.

Have a delightful weekend,
~Sarah~

I heard a thousand blended notes,

while in a grove I sate reclined,

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran,

And much it grieved my heart to think

What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,

The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;

And 'tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:-

But the lease motion which they made,

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,

To catch the breezy air;

And I must thing, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

If such be Nature's holy plan,

Have I not reason to lament

What man has made of man

~ William Wordsworth~

Melbourne Day's 3 & 4

2011-02-21T00:00:00.001+11:00

Our last day and half spent in Melbourne was filled with walking streets, (and shops).

We stopped here for a rest and a glass of cider.

My eyes couldn't keep still the whole time we were sitting.

So many alleys with doorways that made me create stories in my head of the people who may have lived there in the past.

Walking the city at night, in the rain, the lights danced for us.

All in all exactly what we needed!

Happy Monday to you all,

Love

~Sarah~

Melbourne Day's 1 & 2

2011-02-12T23:33:00.001+11:00

As our flight arrived in Melbourne at 7am, after checking into the hotel it was quite obvious that the first thing on the cards was finding a good coffee. As it turns out we found a rocking little place just up the street from where we stayed. Needless to say they saw our faces every morning.

The most of our first day was spent looking around Victoria markets, and walking numerous streets that looked like this. Every second step there was something to 'ohh or ahhh' over.

Day two we found ourselves at the Melbourne museum. walking its lengths took up the greater part of the day. There were quite a few areas where photos were not allowed to be taken.
Although I did enjoy looking around, quite a few things were more 'sciencey' then factual.

The animal section definitely took up most of my time. The 'hall' its self was a little creepy, a white room with literally hundreds of stuffed animals displayed there in. But it meant I got to see this guy up close, I wanted to call him Morris. Morris rocks the mohawk!

There was a room dedicated to different insects. I couldn't help but take a few snaps of these gorgeous butterflies. So many colours!

There were also SO many bugs...! Two of them in particular took my attention. Not because I knew what they were, or thought they were cute. No! All I could think upon seeing them was 'I would not be cool if one of those guys flew into me.' Even behind glass you can see the idea of them near my hair is... unpleasant to say the least.

There were models of dinosaurs, fossils, rock formations. It was quite thrilling.

I even stopped for a moment to look upon the bones found under my feet.

I don't think I visit these sorts of places enough, places that house tokens of the past, of things invented, found, lost... Of stories told.

~Sarah~

Mr Cloud

2011-02-11T22:45:00.003+11:00

"Looking down at the clouds for the first time.

Their roughed up surface, soft.

If I dove into you, would you catch me? Could I run along you, for at your edge I'm sure I saw time's sly smirk daring me to chase him.

I thought I'd seen the end of the earth before,

the point where I'd fall off if I were to pass further.

Where your sister the ocean may have dropped me into the center core.

However your blurry white end promises of a place where only peace is known.

(Do the stars shine brighter, look bigger, sing louder?)

"Mr Cloud, do you mind sharing the blue skies with me?"

I have never seen the folds in the earth like this, the wrinkling of the ground like the leather-look of a face well worn.

The tips of the mountains stretch out their height to see this beautiful day that is hidden from the land. Can I ever again look up at a grey sky and take it seriously, when I now know it's secret.

I know of the beauty it hides."

This week we took a trip to Melbourne. Along with the many new things/places I got to see, it was my first time in an aeroplane. Above (^) are thoughts scribbled while I was up in the sky, a little closer to heaven.
I have lots of pictures to share with you from the trip!

Have a glorious weekend birdies,

Love

~Sarah~

The Daily Pie News

2011-02-07T12:02:00.000+11:00

We've just launched the new Daily Pie website!

Whether you'd like to find out our opening hours, see whats on the menu, become a Daily Pie Upper Crust member and get invitations to all our events, or read the daily happenings on the blog... All the information you could want is up there!

We are closed for the month of February for renovations, and a little 'get away' time. (Most of the month being for renovations!)

However we are greatly looking forward to seeing everyone again in March when we will be celebrating our First year of pie making! ...and eating!

Oh Sleepless Hour

2011-02-06T23:08:00.000+11:00

Oh sleepless hour,

You allow a circus of thoughts

to take center stage in my conscious.

You are the unsettling of the compass;

North's magnetic rival.

Fear of darkness feeds your infliction upon the body.

Awake, aching as though to have landed.

Stunned, a rabbit in the high-beam.

You take charge over the imagination;

Foot steps along the floor.

Who is he, residing under the bed?

Oh sleepless hour,

What tricks you play upon my soul.

~Sarah~

Small things...

2011-02-05T22:29:00.003+11:00

Finding something small that brings such a big smile!

I've heard people mention The Worlds Smallest Post Service before, though I'd never got around to looking into it. Until now!

Lea creates these DELIGHTFUL teeny tiny sized letters, complete with a stamped, addressed and wax sealed envelope.

Along the line there are also these pint sized packages tied up with string, (I'm sure these are the ones Julie Andrews sang about in the sound of music!) with the dearest little objects within.

As if these tiny delights weren't enough joy to find, Lea also hosts a number of creative/inspiring projects.

If you have a minute or two to spare, you'll spend more looking around at all the tiny joys.

(Also)

I was passed this award from Lina, thank you! So here follows seven things about myself.

Number One: I talk at least three times more than most people
Number Two: In front of my piano I am at my happiest
Number Three: You cannot beat a rare steak YUM!
Number Four: I don't like looking for lost things, I make sure I know where everything is
Number Five: I have (WAY) too many books for my bookcase
Number Six: If I get my way, one day my house will become a zoo
Number Seven: I've had more stitches than the rest of my family all together (terribly clumsy)

So there you have it, seven things you many not have known about me... I'd now like to learn seven things about the following ladies.

Emily
Katia
Rachael

Enjoy your weekend,
~Sarah~

The Storm

2011-02-03T22:45:00.002+11:00

Cyclone 'Yasi' hit the Queensland coast last night. Although we are many many kilometers from Queensland we also had a storm of our own, flooding the workshop. Drenched, heaving rock solid sandbags to block in the top of the driveway; my thoughts and prayers were offered up to those going through a much greater storm then I faced.

At this stage life has been spared, as no reports of deaths have been received.

Just out side my window this morning, after a night where so many homes have been destroyed... We noticed that a new home had been made during the storm....

Prayers of strength to get through the dark days that follow for those affected by this Storm.

Love

~Sarah~

This Poem

2011-02-01T11:13:00.003+11:00

This Pen
heavy between my fingers

This Page

mocks me with it's lines.

My Head

dizzy in the silence.

The Thoughts

swimming round and round.

My Eyes
burning around the edges.

My Cheeks
pulled tight along the stain.

These Tears
the breaking of my spirit.

My Heart
Calling... No one hears.

This Poem
physical emotion.

This Ink

testament of the pain.

These Words

written in a hurry.

The feeling

long will remain.

~Sarah~

All the Cool Kids...

2011-01-28T08:11:00.002+11:00

Journeyed down the coast for Australia Day. Where along with other things we decided to get tattoos...

Em (sis) a foxy number

Hayley's traditional rose

Cam (My Boo) Dragon-fire

Sam's colourful Coy

My intricate peacock.

So if you haven't guessed by now, we really are big kids. Still getting a kick out of fake tattoos.

Have a great day cool cats,

~Sarah~

Rear View

2011-01-19T22:40:00.000+11:00

I leave the last street light behind me,
You, a silhouette in it's light.
Into the dark i continue,
Into the cold lonely night.

White-line, white line a trail beside
Me, reflectors, fox and roo.
The red lights of the car in front,
A bug now plat across my windscreen.

I do not know how far I go,
I can only hope you care...
However my heart can rest in peace,
My phone rings: "ARE YOU THERE?"

Headlights come fast toward me,
Remind me in my lonely longing for you....
I am not alone.

I have an exciting project to share with you soon! Reason behind my absence here.
Have a lovely week,
~Sarah~

"Hello Darling!"

2011-01-13T23:11:00.000+11:00

Did you hear that?!

"Hello Darling", "How's it going?"

I'm sure it came from just outside my window....

The newest member of our family, (probably the oldest too).

My Mam surprised me just before Christmas, "I've got something special for you!" Not for one moment did I stop to consider that it was such a handsome lad she had up her sleeve.

Mam had found a advert looking for a good home for this gorgeous man.

The previous keepers only had him for two years, the people who gave him to them said he was somewhere around 50 years old. Certainly kept his looks for 50!

They had just been calling him Cocky, however with such looks as these I thought he needed something with a little more bite, thus we call him Buddy.

Terrible cute, he managed to steal my heart within a few short days.

Buddy is quite talkative, however it is his chuckles that are the most sweet to see.

He'll laugh along with you, and his whole little body shakes.

There has been a few occasions where he's used the 'F' word... Strangely enough, he mainly says this to my Dad or brother... It's all "Hello's" then suddenly there will be a "F@#k-off" in the middle.

Hello's all round, from me to you.

Love

~Sarah~

"She was"

2011-01-04T22:33:00.000+11:00

(And) This is how you shall hear of me,
"She was;
She who can no longer be."

It was not Death's cruel grip that took her,
But Life's burning flame lost.

Seeking mercy from the tempest of a storm,
Both prisoner and pray to is mighty anger,
The roar ended at her whisper.

Great are they of noble heart,
honoured greater than noble birth.
Wherein blood and bone do pass,
The spirit of a noble heart always remains.

She who in Death's absence
Is AWAKE!

~Sarah~

Shall We Share Our Findings?

2011-01-01T23:00:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year of our Lord, 2011.

A year to find:

Adventures in all things we do,

Words of inspiration

Loved ones to share our hearts with

Beauty all around

Lessons of the unknown

Hopes we thought were lost

Strengths we never knew we had

Joy abounding

and Understanding through compassion.

Shall we share our findings?

~Sarah~

ELEVEN!

2010-12-28T23:09:00.004+11:00

Everything changes so quickly,
two days, two weeks, two months!

However, dwelling upon my short comings of the past will get me no where now.
Because of the festive season and getting caught up in looking back on a year past, and a new year before, it is clear to me that a goal was bound to be set.
More blogging is promised in 2011.
A year I will find rather hard to take seriously because of this clip...

Hoping you had a safe and happy Christmas!
Love,
Sarah-Mechelle

28th October: Its that time again...

2010-10-28T21:57:00.003+11:00

November 1st is approaching fast... time for pen and paper (reality: laptop) to get ready for some serious word count.

I can hardly believe its time for NANOWRIMO again. (If you have no idea what this is, I highly suggest you follow the link to novel dreams!)

This will be my third year attempting Nano, and I'm a little less prepared than I had hoped I'd be by now, however I shall do my best to pump out my words each day, and hopefully find a plot line along the way.

My main idea for this years story, is that of a life where nothing grand happens, but how in so many ways he's crossed paths with many other lives (even in the smallest way) where huge events have taken place. How one man can be involved in so many big things, while living his own calm life.

We'll see what happens with that.

Have a lovely weekend,

Sarah-Mechelle

Flower shop LOVE!

2010-10-23T21:58:00.003+11:00

One day, I long to have a workspace that looks somewhat like this!

6th October: Bad Threes

2010-10-06T21:07:00.004+11:00

My Grandma has always told me that bad things always come in three's.

Coming across a snake-nest right near our house was definitely one way to start off a shocking week. (Thinking about it we found 3 snake-lings, snake-lets?) We have done our best to make the garden as snake free as possible, yet when they are as small as these were, it is near to impossible to keep them out.

The following night, Bob and Polly (our older puppies) got into a rather serious set to, from which I could not separate them. Normally I can keep my head in stressful times, however when there is a dog fight, I fall apart. Luckily for me, my Dad was only just up the road, and a phone call saw him running down the dimly lit street in a matter of seconds. Both puppies came out with a few battle scares and limps; this has brought them to be best buddies again.

Finally, Sunday, not long after farewell-ing my Tin-man, I answered the phone at work to him telling me he'd just crashed his car. Again, I fell apart... (Maybe I'm not as good at keeping my head in stressful times as I'd like to think I am!) He didn't so much as have a scratch upon him, the car on the other hand wasn't so lucky. This brought to mind how blessed I'd been in my own accident; there very well may be two angles up there now, with tire-marks on there backs!

Today I am grateful for the Love and Protection from God above.

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a friend on the other side of the world. May you find many adventures in the years that follow.

I hope your week was slightly calmer than all that!

Blessings to you,

Sarah~Mechelle

That Feeling

2010-09-23T23:15:00.005+10:00

I can feel it in my bones;

As the buds form and bloom,

on that not long ago a twig.

An idea grows...

the excitement in my mind to plan

the aching within my fingers to create

the longing in my heart to begin!

I feel a new project coming on.

Floriade!

2010-09-17T22:56:00.004+10:00

Where flowers abound!

Spent an afternoon, windy as it was, viewing all the colours that Floriade had on offer this year.
Even though at times it is hard to see what the designers have had in mind, I cannot help but walk around in awe as it always comes together so beautifully.

(Now is when I bombard you with a number of colourful pictures!)

~Standing at the top end~

~Lollipop land!~

~ Somewhere over the rainbow, I found a leprechaun (on the right)~

~I loved this slightly 'wild' looking area~

When we thought we'd seen all that there was, the walk back to the gates proved to be that bit extra, as we passed under these bright hung umbrellas. Made me want to sing and dance like Mary Poppins!

Have a lovely weekend,

Love

Sarah~Mechelle

Life is Wonderful, Kick the Blues

2010-09-09T21:09:00.003+10:00

When everyday happenings seem to overwhelm... Sarah's top five "Life is wonderful, kick the blues", steps to brighter days.

Number one:

Clean your view of the world.
NO, I'm not talking about getting in touch with your attitude and thinking about all that you have.... (although that's not a terrible thing to do.) Now is not the time to be thinking about that. You're "IN THE BLUES" everything will seem gloomy.

I meant more literally.

Clean the windows in your Room, Kitchen, Office.... Where ever you look out from. Your favourite view, make it clearer.

Number Two:

Change your bed sheets. Put on the fluffy-est, most comfortable, clean smelling ones you can find. Puff all your pillows. A good nights sleep is one of the best things that can bring a brighter morning.

Number Three:

A change is as good as a holiday! And that's the truth. If you can manage to move things around so that it makes your everyday a bit easier to live with, than that is far better for the soul. (cost... Zero)

So start moving that furniture around.
Re-organise your work space, bring out your favourite things from hiding and put them on display.

Number Four:

BE CREATIVE! finish off that project you've been 'meaning' to get to. Start something new. Either way, create.

Number Five:

Certainly not least... Make someone else smile.
As a kid, we'd sing along to this song "Happiness came looking for me, when I started bringing happiness to others." As cliche as it may sound, nothing brings such pure peace as that of a selfless act.

There you have it, my tried and tested methods to give the blues the kick.
Have happy days, would you just look at that rainbow already!

Love
Sarah-Mechelle

Lane One Form!!!

2010-08-25T16:15:00.002+10:00

Simply HAD to share with you this (my very favourite) photo taken of my Tin-Man's big concert night, held on the 6th.

Doing their thing, in front of 1200 people. It was a wonderful performance, great feel, excellent night!

Who knows where it will go for them now, all I can tell you is Watch this Space, I'll keep you updated.

Now I can officially say I'm a FAN! (I have the shirt to prove it!)

Love,
Sarah-Mechelle

3rd August: 100 Things

2010-08-03T00:17:00.000+10:00

I've realised, its not how great an idea (or project) someone has come up with. What is inspiring is when someone manages to keep to said idea; to finish what has been dreamed.

Whoever said dreams come true were easy.?

#21. Ride a carousel for an hour
#22. Read Shakespeare's full works
#23. Write every day for a year
#24. Host a surprise party
#25. Spend a night under the stars

I've added a few more things to my Living list, I challenge you to do the same.
Love,
Sarah~Mechelle

War and Peace: Page 17/1358

2nd August: Stormy days, stormy nights

2010-08-02T22:42:00.001+10:00

The symbol of a promise made,
bright colours in a bow.
Never will the memory fade,
never will we know.

Of stormy days,
of stormy nights

Were they tears of God that covered the earth,
those forty nights and days.
Mankind proving of no worth
no point for sunshine rays.

So stormy days,
so stormy nights.

The start of something I've been working on. It feels so good to create again. Like visiting and old friend, like finding a little piece of who you are, of what you've forgotten to be.

War and Peace: Page 17/1358

1st August: The PLAN

2010-08-01T00:05:00.000+10:00

Gosh I've missed this place!

August is proving to be quite an eventful month; and its only just begun.
I have tickets to gigs, a short (however still exciting) visit planned,and as is always the case many projects in mind.

In light of the eventful nature of what shall follow, and my total lack of postings of late, I'll be posting a new post every day in August. Lets put the dancing shoes back on.

Number one big gig, most excited for, will be my Tin-man's Gig!! In what has been a whirl-wind of excitement, Tin-man won a spot in Scotty and Nige's Rock Band. Come Friday night I'll get to see him play his guitar to a (sold out) audience of 1200.
With 4 other supporting acts, and LANE ONE FORM's very first performance, its sure to be an enjoyable night.

I've recently acknowledged my lack (laziness) of all things creative, this has extended even to those activities that I most enjoy. Reading being one of the top three that has been discluded completely of late. Hence, I plan on working my way through "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy during August. It has been on my list of 'to read' for TOO long. The copy I've acquired is thick, and the writing small... I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Hoping this day finds you happy.
Love,
Sarah~Mechelle

(I woke up to all the colours of the rainbow, wanted to share them with you)

War and Peace: Page 1/1358

All about the Pie!

2010-06-16T22:55:00.007+10:00

It has taken me some time to decide upon how I go about the task of intradusing you all to what is the center of my world. (Sorry sweetheart, the other center of my world.)

As anyone who reads this here blog would know, my family has recently opened a cafe. (I'm sure nothing more really needs to be said, however, that is not my style!)

I will be uploading a series of posts over the next couple of weeks, showing you as best as I know how this new adventure we are experiencing. HOWEVER, I will not be uploading them on this blog, but THE DAILY PIE! blog. (work should not take over this space of mine too!)

I will end by giving you a 'taste' of what we do, and are about at The Daily Pie. And I will mention on here when I have updated/posted new photos-stories-oddities.

Till the pie is high in the sky,
Love
Sarah-Mechelle

2nd June: Quite a Bite!

2010-06-02T17:06:00.005+10:00

Everything changes so fast!

As I mentioned (rather briefly for the enormousness of its affect on my life) The Daily Pie has been opened for a little over two months now. What a fully loaded couple of months they have been. Although having worked in hospitality for well over 5 years of my short 21 years, never before in my life have I felt so unprepared mentally, emotionally, physically for all that running a cafe involves.

Yes it is very similar to what I have done in past years; make coffee, serve food, smile, be polite to customers, clean tables, smile, prepare vegetables, wash dishes, smile...
Talking about how things would change, and it coming to an actuality are so different from each other. Getting up early, finishing late sounds easy enough. (However putting foot to cold floor in the morning is a little harder to follow through with.)

Along with all the newness, we are gearing up for our first ever "Upper Crust" (The Daily Pie's members club) event. Being held on the 18th of June 2010. The night will feature a variety of Chai teas, locally made and owned, matched with our range of pies. (Becoming a member is simple, sign up at THE DAILY PIE!)

2010 has started out proving to be year of the Doctor for our family. First with my Dad snapping his Achilles, High blood pressure all round, and with what has been an eventful bad foot on my behalf. I had to get x-rays taken a couple of weeks ago; they helped little in identifying what has caused pain in my left foot; however they did show that I have a needle in my right!
(now how did he get there??!)
With the inconclusiveness of the x-rays showing that anything was broken/fractured the doc narrowed it down to maybe being some kind of (spider?) bite. However after 10 days of antibiotics with no avail; tomorrow I'm booked in for a 'bone scan' to see if that can identify and shed a little more light on the matter. Turns out that a little bite can cause quite a fuss!

I would like to finish off this post by sharing with you a little something I found funny on a friends facebook page. Boy's logic in their thinking, I don't think I'll ever understand!

L’s Status Update: I love the rain, but not when it cost you money cause you cant work =(

A: I get my p's soon I’ll come up and visit

L: You can drive a f*’n GT an in New south we can only drive 6s =(

A: :) wooooo :D lol I’m buyin an xr6 turbo and goin to hopefully get a stage 3 turbo put in it

L: nice =) I’m gettin an xr8 in mine once I’m off the greens... I’m gettin red leather in it in a few months =D

A: thats mad. love the sound of xr8's

L: yeah ill get an exhaust in it too

A: f* yeah thats so good man well done

Mam: I'm getting a Ford XR8 Ute - 32 valve 5.4 litre with a shiny Momo shifter, linked up to a 5 speed manual transmission (Tremec T3650). I can just smell it now: burnt rubber and scorched clutch. Sweet.

Do we even know what this means??! Do we have to?
If I was only allowed 100 reasons why I loved my Mam, this would make the list!
(Slight editing being used)

Love
Sarah~Mechelle

Kings and Queens

2010-05-26T21:19:00.005+10:00

Probably the most fun I've ever had playing with Chess! Mainly this is because I had never been shown the proper way of playing chess; it was the game in which you'd make up your own rules as you went along.
However if every game was played with such pieces (and company) as this, I'd play more often!

Keep smiling,
Sarah~Mechelle

To Share With You

2010-05-18T17:59:00.003+10:00

A poem lost to the pages of a note book.
I wanted to share this one with you.

If only I could be these four walls,

that look upon you while you sleep.

These walls that keep you safe at night

protected from the wind and rain.

If only I could be these four walls,

that you paint as often as your nails.

To be the canvas for you to pin,

memories, curiosities, pretties that make you smile.

If only I could be these four walls

that listen intently when you read out loud-

That gets to see your face

when in your mind you are dreaming of adventure.

If only I could be these four walls,

the first place you run when you feel alone,

to be your comfort through all pain,

to keep the world out when you need a break.

If only I could be these four walls.

I trust you are well friends,
As is always the case, my love to you...
Sarah~Mechelle

Party Animal

2010-05-07T23:11:00.000+10:00

Just to make you smile!

My puppy is a rocker!

Love

Sarah~Mechelle

A Little Lovin'

2010-05-07T00:23:00.005+10:00

Too long I have put off the breaking of my absence here. I have missed this space, I have missed reading the spaces of others.

I don't know words enough to sum up how much has passed,
moved,
started,
changed.

Life truly gives us no chance to suspect we know all that it will bring our way, God has a bigger plan for us then we give Him credit for.
It is always what may seem the smallest moment that changes everything.

One day I was standing watching our Mayor cut a chain, which was to represent the official opening of THE DAILY PIE. Before I have known where the time went, we have been open for nearly two months already.

(Photos to come real soon)

Keep safe,

Love Sarah-Mechelle

10th January: Moments like these!

2010-01-10T13:16:00.001+11:00

Number four:

This needs no explination, but to say, in 2010 I want to have a thousand more moments like these!

9th January: Sow, a needle pulling thread

2010-01-09T09:23:00.000+11:00

Do creative people always finish what they start? As a little girl I always had big ideas of things I wanted to make, or try. I loved drawing (not particularly good, mind) things that I would turn into actual objects.

This year ahead is the year of reckoning. Of freeing myself of the weight of unfinished projects, half done nothings that have burdened my creative juices with the guilt of knowing I shouldn't start something new, until the something unfinished is complete.

So here it is, NUMBER THREE!

Every month to complete something creative, weather it be a new project or an old haunt.

My fingers came out unscaved after spending hours today ironing and pinning. This particular quilt I started at somewhere between my tenth and twelfth year... (YES, I know, I KNOW!) with all the squares cut entirely from dresses I wore as a girl-child.

I can hardly wait to show you it finished at the end of the month... Wish me luck here people!

My love to you,
Sarah~Mechelle

8th January: Resolution two

2010-01-08T15:23:00.000+11:00

Number Two!

In 2010, I hope to read 50 books or more. Although I have set a number to this, it is not so much the number that I am concerned about. Rather the actuality of making my way down (and reading up) a whole chunk of books I have had on the list "TO READ".

(Number two.five)

This comes hand in hand with the resolve to find new accommodation for some old loves, as well as some new I hope to find throughout the days that follow. I'm sure I will find some lost loves hidden within, if they were given a little more room to breath.

I heard someone say once, (forgive me I do not remember whom) "if you have more shelf space then you have books, you are doing something wrong."
According to said advice, I think I'm on a good path...

Love
Sarah~Mechelle

7th January: Resolution - one

2010-01-07T11:01:00.003+11:00

I have decided that this month I will share with you each day (from today) a new years resolution for this 'the year of our Lord 2010'.

Number one:

Comes after a phone call at work from my uncle, who after booking a table, and telling me about his Christmas and life, hesitates before saying "had a rough day yesterday." This was slowly followed by him telling me how he had had to put to sleep his 'baby girl' Polly the English sheepdog. "It happens so quickly, she was in my arms, then she was gone."

I'm sure I need not have to mention how close to tears I came, with the scare of nearly loosing our own Bobby recently.

So that is it, 2010 I want to be able to be strong for the ones I love. To comfort in any small way, to find compassion and a level of understanding even if there is nothing else I can do or be for them.

Because I can't move the mountains for you, but I will climb them with you!

Love,
Sarah~Mechelle

p.s Thank you for the lovely comments on my last post, always encouraging!
Its good to be back!

At the Eve

2009-12-31T00:17:00.000+11:00

How do you sum up a year in a few short words? How do you take all that has been, all that has passed, all that became you during these past twelve months, and write something worthy of what it has taught you, of what it has changed.

Here I stand at the ending of a used up year, a year that can now be written in the history books. I stand as though looking out to sea, looking at a whole new world approaching...

How many things can I say I've learnt this year, how many things have been done!
2009 has seen me grow up, its kept me busy beyond anything I've known,it is through its days I have shared special moments with the most wonderful people in the world.
Its seen us been given the miracle of life, with the survival of our Bobby after a snake bite, its seen us get that much closer to the dream of opening up a pie shop/gallery. It brought about my 21st birthday. Within its days I've met a boy who makes my days happy.

These are the big events, but the truth of it is this... Everyday I have been blessed with small mercies, shown such beauty in the things around me, listened to tunes that brighten the soul, found colours where seemingly there should have only been gloom... Everyday I've seen the evidence of God's love for me, and that is what my heart sings the loudest for, because that's my strength from day to day...

So to all that I have shared this past year with, thank you for being a part of my life. God bless you.

To this new year a head, although (in reality) it is just waking up in a new day, I hope to share many more precious moments, find adventures, and walk in the brightness of the colourful world with you again.

Love,
Sarah~Mechelle

1st November: NANO!!!!

2009-11-01T23:03:00.004+11:00

Day one of NaNoWriMo and I couldn't be more excited to begin. After trying and coming in short last year I've come into this Nano a little more prepared. (Well, that being said, I don't have a plot as such) what I have is a book full of ideas which have been collected over the past year, ideas I thought I would be able to expand upon.) We'll see how what one turns out!

I do how ever have my title...! I am excited about this. Even though by the end of Nano I may have changed it a thousand times. As it stands my 2009 November novel has the title: The Keeping of Together.

Write-in one was held at a Pancake parlor this morning. There were authors of all different genres, and ages. Although we call them write-ins we all know the truth of the matter is minimal writing is actually done at said events. Yet it is encouraging to have this group of people come together all attempting this same challenge.This year we have badges and stickers! Oh yay!I love both!

I have been feeling horrible about the lack of attention I have given this poor blog. Though I am determined to keep it updated during the month of November, even if my eyes start crossing with seeing too many words on a screen, and my fingers cramp up.

NaNo word count to date: 1745 words
Words left:48,255
Days left before the end of Nano: 29

27th October: Life happens

2009-10-27T20:39:00.001+11:00

Upon finding yourself in the bathroom with an empty cardboard tube of toilet roll, you call for help...

What can you do but laugh, when being in such a vulnerable position, and through the door your sister hands you a giant roll of kitchen paper.

For the love of small mercies!

25th October: Returning

2009-10-25T19:17:00.002+11:00

Has it really been that long already?

UPDATE TIME:

Over the past few weeks I have had some hospitality temping shifts. This has taken me to a military base, Sport function centre, airport... Its been interesting to say the least. It has caused me to have to organise my life a little better then it has been for a long time. And although I am in no way 'sorted' out, I feel in my mind that things are starting to straighten out.

Along with many changes, I have come to a point where I can feel a great change of who I am into a new someone I'm becoming. My Grandma has always said that you change every 7 years. (As it turns out I have kept more on time with this then many things... as soon I will be celebrating my 21st birthday.)

Without really realising how quickly it all happened life has turned itself into something completely different then where I thought it would be at this time.
Mam keeps telling us all to remember to keep our eyes on the prize.
It is too easy to get caught up in the here and now. (Our prize has the name of THE DAILY PIE!, and what a prize it will be)

In other news, I will be taking part in NaNoWriMo again this year. Starting a week from today, along with many, many other people who take up this challenge, I will be trying to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

Have a lovely week every one,

AND

Let the games begin!

Sarah~Mechelle

Someone Wanted to Say Hullo

2009-10-02T23:27:00.002+10:00

1st October: The hunt!

2009-10-01T23:59:00.005+10:00

The wonderful curiosities one can find, hidden in a dusty old furniture shop!

One of the rewards of a spontaneous hour spent with Mam in a overcrowded second-hand shop.

Although it can be a bit of a fight finding a way around said kind of stores, squeezing between cupboards and chairs, and any other number of unique, loved items; The truth of the matter is, we would have them no other way.

What fun would the hunt be if there was no fight to be had?!

Not that we went looking for anything. Spending the time together, talking and laughing and imagining what could be done would have been enough for me. Though there are somethings that cant be walked past!

I love the way that shopping with my Mam is each of us finding something, pointing it out to find that exact item already either in the sights or hands of the other! This is quickly followed by one of us saying "FREAK!"

Often I have thought that one of us was born in the wrong generation... Either Mam too early, or me too late! For there is no one I would call a better friend then she...

I LOVE my Mam! kiss kiss!

29th September: The Day

2009-09-29T07:31:00.003+10:00

The sun is bright, glowing through the blinds, and the feathers, and the drops I have in my window.

The day is waiting for me to get up, and start enjoying it.

The crows are cooing,

The dogs are getting anxious to be let out of their kennel

The coffee machine is on,

The black and white keys I love, are calling my name, "Sarah... play us a tune!"

The dust upon said keys is gloating its swift return

The words in my head are spinning, twirling, running from me to catch them

The washing is waiting

The 'to do' list is growing

The family is sleeping

The time is passing

The song goes round and round

The excitement is growing

I can wait no longer!

We will talk soon! Enjoy your day my Poppets!

~Sarah-Mechelle~

23rd September: Where is my wand?!

2009-09-23T15:24:00.006+10:00

If today from my cage of closed-minded-ness I am set free; The first thing my eyes would like to see is the smiles that have occurred in silence. My wings stretch in the freedom; having had them folded for so long caused stubborn creases of bad habits that are taking time to straighten out.

This cage of mind started much like a rash, which so suddenly grew, taking inch after inch; changing everything I knew about the world, everything I knew about myself. It took time before I stopped noticing the itching, and accepted my bounding.

Looking back I am someone quite different then who I was before. Although this happens with time, it is not time alone that has caused this transition, but the experience itself.
There is no going back from where I have been, no one can alter that which is now past.

What happened to my wand? The one that changes things... The wand that brings smiles and happiness to the ones I love. I thought I had it once. I thought it was possible to fix everything.
But I cannot do this alone.

I have shed my blinkers, I can see the pain in the world around me. As much as I didn't want to search for it, I can no longer ignore it now either.
But I can try to throw out a life line...

Once I questioned why other people didn't seem to see the beauty in the world... I wondered if they truly could not see it. I have come to understand, that they too could see it, it just takes effort to see it. Which sounds strange, that you have to focus to see the good, but it is very much in the same way as we know, it takes less muscles to smile then to frown... Yet why are there so many sad faces.?!

Today I look for the rainbow, because the clouds are hiding the sun.

~Sarah-Mechelle~

21st September: To You

2009-09-21T18:51:00.004+10:00

To the clouds that make shadows of the rays

To the colours who's glory I will forever be in awe

To the wind, in your warmth as you mess up my hair

To the sun in who's light my skin tingles

To the birds and the bees, your tune in my ears you sing

To the smells of dirt, and cut grass, to fresh air, and the promise of rain

To the words that floated around in this moment, words I had no chance to catch

2009-09-11T22:49:00.005+10:00

I wish I could make you understand-
there is a whole big, beautiful world here-
ready for us to live in-
not wishes for tomorrow
nor memories of yesterday-
but now-
a billion fleeting moments
merging together
to make a life time-
Love this moment
and it is forever-
I wish I could make you understand....
~Nan Witcomb~

9th September: These are the moments....

2009-09-09T23:36:00.003+10:00

These are the moments that get us through the dark times. That make the good times ever sweeter.

7th September: Flickr

2009-09-07T21:51:00.004+10:00

Its photo time!

I opened a flickr account a little while back, with great intentions of putting many photos I take up there. Sadly this didn't happen as I had the great plan for it.

YET...

I will slowly be adding photos up there if you would like to take a look-see.

Middlepaw on Flickr!

3rd September: Reps!

2009-09-03T21:51:00.001+10:00

Perks of being just about to open a new food business?....
Free samples from food reps!

The first of many to come: - meeting with suppliers. Although at some stage this may become a very tedious part of my life, for the time being I am enjoying getting to find out about this whole other side of buying, sourcing, and using this vast array of products that are on the market these days.

Before heading into the business of pies, I had no idea there were tens of different types of butter, each processed in a particular way. I would not have known to be able to mention the enormity of everything they have a product for.

Oh and the thrill of having found a product that may just be what you were looking for.

Time moves at a faster pace while the man is sitting there going through a pile of different papers with the products he supplies. As he tells you the story behind each different manufacturer of the goods.

You sit there listening, throwing in a question or two when you remember to. (Telling yourself the whole time that you will not be sucked in by his 'sales man talk', yet there you sit, getting more and more excited with each new product shown to you - or sample that is offered.) Oh yes, the perks!

27th August: The Ceiling of Pandora

2009-08-27T22:44:00.005+10:00

There are things one learns about old buildings.... Nothing will be as easy as it first seems it might be.

Along the process of fixing up our old servo, which will soon house the long awaited "The Daily Pie", there has been no end of things that need more work than we had thought from our first assessment of the job.

This rings true of the ceiling which will soon be the ceiling above the cafe/gallery area. What was going to be one day spent on step-ladders with mops and rags sugar soaping... Has turned into 5 days worth of up a ladder grinding off paint that was under prepped when applied 20 odd years ago.
The other thing about old buildings is lead paint; and the fact that having lead paint means a mask must be warn throughout the tedious job of removing it. (Lets face it, no body can breath properly with those darn things on.)

Each day I have been walking home for lunch looking much like the ghosts of stories passed. White (red) eyed and teeth, all that remain un-dusted.

What started out as a few flaky bits of paint, actually ended up being everyone of the gall strips holding up each ceiling panel. The more you look the more there is to be found. Its a scary place to be, in that... Yes it needs to be done right, though we also need to free up other jobs by finishing it.

It is here I will mention, there are other things you learn when doing up old places... The tricks of the trades. Here follows a new segment I will have to consider keeping as a regular feature on this blog.... "product 'shout-outs' that save hours worth of work."

The Josco Brumby Strip-it Disk! This humbly named disk beats any sanding tool of choice when it comes to removing layers of old paint from anything, wood, steel, aluminium, fiberglass, cement. You name it, and I'm sure it could do it. It can take a few tries to get it right and not 'dig' in, but if it is kept flat, and you avoid beveling the edges, it can remove a tremendous amount of unwanted pile-up.

(Please note, I have not been paid to mention the fabulous results that can be achieved by said disks. Truly they have been my sanity in paint-removal solutions.)

25th August: Reading material!

2009-08-25T21:35:00.003+10:00

During the past few busy weeks I have been storing up reading materials.

It is exciting getting to start turning a few pages again, as I have been in a limbo state with my last book for a good month or so now.

I was thrilled to have picked up a full collection of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. Their simple structures and directness of story telling has made it a simple pleasure to read them.

Sadly I have also been stowing away copies of that wonderful paper my grandpa picks up for me. I have done a quick scout through each, but they wait now for me to find the twenty hours required to read, cut and paste within my book of inspiration.
What would the world be without the written word!

24th August: All there is to do is Smile

2009-08-24T22:05:00.003+10:00

I have been sadly neglecting this space of mine. Despite the bus-y-ness, and excitement of all that is going on I have missed coming here to share it.

So without farther ado, here are some things that made me smile:

# Early morning rush to finish music theory for-
# Early morning music lessons
# New shoes which make you want to go dancing
# Spending the day with a dear friend
# Coffee!
# Talking with said friend non-stop for hours
# A lunch of Italian proportions, focaccia and spaghetti
# Being greeted by complete strangers in the street
# Going through racks of gorgeous dresses
# Chocolate cupcakes with thick white icing
# NOT finding a parking ticket upon our late return to the car
# Borrowed books
# More importantly borrowed whole 4th season of Doctor Who! (thankyou thankyou!)
# Drives home with the windows down and music up
# Excited puppies upon arrival home
# Conversations with a special boy
# Hot baths and pajamas
# Watching the first episode of season 4 Dr Who!

Truly there is much to smile about.

7th August: Life is good

2009-08-07T23:25:00.001+10:00

Hello hello!

Life is good... Extremely busy, and new... Far too exciting. I seriously have no doubt that if my heart wasn't caged in it would be flying in the Heavens by now.

All minds and hands have been on the enormous job of getting the shop ready to open. This includes any number of tasks from gardening, to plumbing, leveling cement floors, fitting new ceiling and wall panels, cleaning the mess created from these jobs... We could never claim that life has been boring, when each day you head out to face a task you may have never done before, but today you will find a way to figure it out.

Since taking on this building with the great plans to opening a Pieshop/metal gallery, I have learnt so much. Firstly that nothing is impossible. Though it has also taught me a lot about my family as well as myself.

As I'm sure many people find when taking on such a project, it brings out the very best and worst of us all. Tiredness, frustration, and sometimes genuine discouragement toward the whole job brings with it a gloomy mood, which spreads like wild-fire. Though as my Mam points out... So long as one of us is fresh, and in higher spirits, to make the fire when everyone is cold and tired from working... Or spend the time to make a hot meal.
More than any test of skill or work ethic, this project has brought with it the test of patience toward each other.

We have spent countless hours of working together, and overcoming obstacles together... We cannot wait to open it together!

"Cherry, please!"

2009-07-14T23:43:00.005+10:00

God's given me a Pie in the sky.
How did I not see this before?!

They say that you sometimes forget to look up

to thank...

Today I remembered.

And I was shown what I am thankful for.

12th July: Father, Daughter Time

2009-07-12T20:22:00.007+10:00

Time with my Dad over the years has been spent on some kind of a project or another. Whether it be tiling the kitchen floor together, or fixing a chimney to the roof; passing him tools while he works on a car, putting up new walls or laying a brick boarder around one of the garden beds. We have tried our hands at many different tasks, and this weekend came as no exception.

We had to cut through the concrete floor of the 'Daily Pie' shop to relocate the positioning of the drains. The cutter that we hired for the job was much like a chainsaw, only with a circular blade. Along with filling the whole gallery area with fumes, more fascinatingly this blade makes the most enchanting sound. Under the thumping of the motor, and the grinding of blade to cement, it sounds like a haunting whistling. It was not just one pitch either, but an array of harmonising chimes, that could be heard as though far away; The music didn't belong there, able to be heard beneath the loudness, the echo, and the wonderful bright orange ear-muffs upon my head. But with head down, and eyes front on the job, I pictured a small village on a hill side, and for some reason some monks, with this tune playing over the whole valley.

There was also an amount of jack-hammering done, in conjunction with the cutter. One can not help but feel powerful with one of those in your hands.

As well as relocating where the drains needed to be, we had to also locate where exactly said drain came out. This brought with it the adventure of having to uncover the grease-trap. The lid upon which is made out of 10mm solid steal plate. Lifting it (I can only imagine) is much like opening up a coffin. Not the scary part of finding a body, but the smell is enough to empty your stomach of its contents, and take any appetite away for a good week. Nasty!

Mapping out were the water came out was time consuming to say the least. When you are working with pipes that haven't been used in the past 10 years there is a certain amount of 'who knows what' build up which needs to be flushed out.

We soon discovered what we feared, one particular drain point was blocked beyond a simple flushing. Out of said hole was pulled (without getting into too much detail) the better part of a ten litre bucket worth of solid fat and gunk. I now refere to a certain brick of the 'fat and gunk' that was removed as 'beef wellington'.

I have found that at such occasions one reacts in one of two ways... Either you remove yourself quickly from the scene, with hand over mouth and a tear of utter disgust in your eye OR you find yourself getting on with the job of cleaning/removing while making a ridicules amount of corny jokes.

As the picture might indicate, I went with option two. As I was the only one with arm long enough, and narrow enough to fit in said hole.

At this point I would just like to mention how thankful I am that my Dad isn't a plumber! That it wasn't the family business I grew up in. I don't think I could handle that everyday!

After spending my weekend in such a manner it brought to mind a question... What do other daughters do with their Dad's?

29th June: Greek Wedding

2009-06-29T21:47:00.003+10:00

Over the weekend I served at my first Greek wedding. It was interesting seeing first hand these things that I have only ever heard happens.

There was a tremendous amount of food and wine consumed, many words of blessings to the happy couple offered, hours worth of dancing danced, harmonising charms of glasses being tapped all at one time, and {of coarse} the smashing of the plates.

What an experience!

18th June: Who needs Jamie Oliver?

2009-06-18T23:34:00.007+10:00

I do not believe that Jamie Oliver

could make a meal that made me smile as much as this one!

Blended burger, dagwood dog (aka corn dog), and corn chips

When feeling sorry for myself at the prospect of not being able to eat solid foods, (due entirely from wisdom removal), there was a friend who promised me blended food wasn't that bad...
And sent me this to try to prove his point.

Sorry, but I don't believe you!

15th June: French Films

2009-06-15T16:50:00.002+10:00

There is something quite different about foriegn films. They tell their stories in a rather particular way, quite unique from us. Maybe it is something to do with the translation that is given, or even that it is all spoken in words uncomprihencible in my mind, but either way they have a way of touching ones heart.

The order of the day has been french films. Starting with Amilie, which captured my imagination, and lifted what had been a gloomy day (tired of sitting idoly still with face-ache).

Amelie is a girl after my own heart. Wanting to find ways to brighten the days of those within the reach of her life. Although maybe not knowing how to approach certain situations, she does what she can to bring happiness, love.

One of my favourite scenes is where Amelie's father will not consider taking a trip anywhere after having been a widower for many years. To encourage a holiday Amelie takes his dearly loved garden gnome, and sends him on a world tour. Every week or so after the gnome's 'mysterious' disappearance, there is a letter received containing a photo of the gnome in different cities of the world.

I also loved this:

I promised myself I would try this first chance I get!

14th June: Answers by Me

2009-06-14T21:50:00.008+10:00

Emily has tagged me to answer a series of questions for a meme.

After taking a while to finish this, here are my answers...

What is your current obsession/s?

Taking photographs, finding colourful things that make me happy, writing down words, making up tunes to play on my piano

What are you wearing today?

What's for dinner?

Grilled chicken with creamy potatoes, and cauliflower

What would you eat for your last meal?

I don't think you could beat a good steak, egg and chips!

What's the last thing you bought?

What are you listening to right now?

You Picked Me by A Fine Frenzy

What do you think of the person who tagged you?

Emily is always looking for something beautiful, and brightening many peoples day while she does so. A caring, passionate, creative, gentle soul; who I am honoured to call friend

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

Right where I am!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

I would go to see the Aurora

Which language would you like to learn?

Hebrew and Italian

What's your favourite quote, for now?

"My greatest wish is for those I have loved to find someone worthy of them"-Nan Witcomb

What is you favourite colour?
Pillar-box RED, (can I pick Rainbow?)

What is your favourite piece of clothing from your own wardrobe?

My leather jacket and crazy-colour scarf

What is your dream job?

Working in my own business. Or having the honoured role of being a mother

What is your favourite fabric?

Colourful for cloths, satin for curtains, and fluffy for throws

If you had $100 what would you spend it on?

A family outing to dinner and the movies

Describe your personal style.

Red lips and nail polish, sparkly shoes, scarves, vests, layers, steel-toe redback boots. At anytime flirting with up to seven scents.

What are you going to do after this?

Hopefully adorning glasses to lose myself in a few chapters of my book.

What are your favourite films?

As it is in Heaven, August Rush, P.S I Love You, Footloose

Favourite fruit?

Watermelon and pears!

What inspires you?

God's eternal love, my family, music, the little things I come across in my day

Your favourite books?

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian, Thoughts of Nanushka by Nan Witcomb, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde,

Do you collect anything?

Coins and random curiosities

What are you currently reading?

Purfume: Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind

Go to your book shelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line.

" 'Salina will be quiet as a convent,' and he smiled with amiable irony." The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa

What makes you follow a blog?

Sometimes it is pretty pictures, or inspiring words. Writing that has passion, or someone who is trying to write their truth.

What is one thing you did as a child that you miss doing now?

Making everything seem like an adventure, seeing the world from my dad's shoulders, climbing trees

What would you most like to accomplish in your life?

Bringing happiness and encouragement to the souls around me

13th June: Small Mercies

2009-06-13T21:38:00.002+10:00

Amidst the busy time we find ourselves to be in at the moment,
days spent groggily between bed and couch
bring with them a certain amount of frustration.

Swollen cheeks,
liquid foods,
tiredness,
dazy from the pain-killers...

My sanity today has been found in mash potato and gravy.
In finishing books that have laid un-open for weeks,
Adding many albums to my itunes library, (that I have had piled high for too long)
In having the puppies happily fall asleep on my lap
Having time to think, I mean the thinking that you often put off because you tell yourself that you cannot waste your time on such foolishness
In waking up from numerous naps
Being taken care of by caring family members,
Drinking cups of tea, made and delivered by Dad
In watching films all of my choosing
Snuggling under doonas,
Wearing thick knitted socks from Grandma
In listening to opera while it rains outside
And in reading inspiring words that made me look for the good things, when I wanted to be miserable.