small tiny little

it's all about the little for me. i work from my kitchen table and have to pack up my art stuff like a good little mumma before dinner. i sometimes wash my hands too.

i keep my drawings in a couple of little boxes which fit nicely into a little cabinet.

so, i am entering a small works competition becasuse, well, it fits into my life.

there is also going to be an accompanying exhibition of all of the small works at red brick gallery in ballarat. i'm really looking forward to being a part of a something so lovely.

rachel xx

when i open my eyes...

after i sharing a draft of my book 'when i close my eyes...' to my good little mate sarah she told me that next i will have to write a story called 'when i open my eyes...' well, this isn't quite a story sarah i think it might be more of a poem. but thanks for the suggestion. i wrote this remembering what it was like waking up as a little kid. my childhood memories have never been stronger since having children of my own...he he, children. i'm just getting used to the plural! xx

so i guess this grown up photo might not be quite fitting but i just love it. x

when i open my eyes...

i blink at the light and wait for my eyes to catch up with the rest of the world

my throat is dry, 

i drink my bedside water 

and it tastes like a river.

when i open my eyes...

the smell of toast

and the sound of dad’s radio station

reach my bedroom;

it’s the home part of house. 

when i open my eyes...

i roll over and day dream

i have a thought...

today is the first today

there has never been one before.


rachel xx

life and other side projects- dirt

the lovely maeve is out again with some beautiful reading and looking assured. have a peek at my column if you feel like reading about our family adventures in the desert. i do so love that red dirt! we had such a great time that i think it will become an annual thing for us...we want to migrate north when the southerly ballarat winter sets in! although there is something lovely in cooking stews and soups and staying in... rugging up and seeing your breath when you do venture out. 


rachel xx

the poetry of three year olds.

i found this interview on the dumbo feather website. i love the way children think!

Harrell: What did you have for lunch today?

Beatrice: Chocolate milk with chocolate cheese and chocolate daisies. (Taking the I-phone away from me that I use for recording our conversations and sticking it in my face) why don’t you tell me how dogs eat?

H: uh, with their mouths, and their teeth and tongues. (Recovering the I-phone) What do you like about ice cream?

B: Colors.

H: What did you see at the beach today?

B: Colors.

H: What happened last night when you called for me when you were in your bed trying to go to sleep?

B: It was too noisy in my room.

H: What was the sound that you heard?

B: My heart beating blood through my body.

H: You could hear your own heart beating? What did it sound like?

B: Marching bands.

H: Did you like that sound?

B: No.

H: How do you know when a dog is healthy?

B: When them have happy eyes. Huuleesh (our Rat Terrier) has happy eyes, but Hazel (our Shepard/Husky mix) has sad eyes.

H: Does that mean Hazel is sick?

B: No, because I don’t hear her coughing.

H: What happens when you go to sleep?

B: Bats.

H: What happens when you wake up?

B: Bats.

H: Bea, you have to answer my questions, I’m interviewing you.

B: Bats, bats, bats.

mother's milk

whoa. my world my world has turned into a little cycle of feeding, burping, changing, rocking, goooing and gaaring and finally sleeping. my little rosie sure is a hungry girl!! my milk supply can barely keep up, so i did an internet search and found this great site which has a homemade mother's milk tea recipe. i haven't sourced all the herbs yet but i had a few in my pantry already such as raspberry leaf, fennel seeds, cinnamon and honey. and just brewing up these few ingredients really helped. who would've thought...age old remedies being delivered to me in an instant via a screen of light. sounds almost religious!

rachel xx  

my darling

my darling rosie. you came into this world listening to the blues. you were bloody and hungry and hairy. a beautiful mess, all slippery and happy to be out. finally out, after all our hard work. i love you dear girl.

drifting

i'm a week and a day past my due date. been drawing to pass the time. pregnancy is a funny thing, much of it is out of your control. i think it's about submitting your body to the journey. so i'm just drifting along...waiting, waiting. and in the mean time revelling in the beauty of pencil. finding pleasure in the rhythm of making marks.

rachel xx