Gosh, we had a long weekend and it was a full one. One of the reasons I love blogging is the fact that it is documented. If it wasn't I would not remember half of these sweet events in our busy lives. Hopefully as an old lady I can sit in my chair, read my Blurb Obaitori books and reflect on a beautiful life. Here is a little what we got up to.
On Friday evening we met for the preparation of the Montessori European Culture Day and to discuss the next exciting stages of our school. We laughed, ate, drank tea, brainstormed, wrote, came up with lots of wonder for our children and forged friendships within our community.
I listened to this; little piece of pure delight by Mozart - please listen - and this cd Raising Sand.
Saturday morning bought a warm spring morning, perfect for the Monty Community Garden. We drove to school - all of 4 minutes, actually make that 3 minutes - and met with others and planted another garden bed - for strawberries - and prepared a potato bed at Monty Community Garden using the famous Australian no-dig garden method and the Permaculture philosophy. Some swapped recipes, we all took a bit of lushness home and our children left muddy and happy after all spending some time in the guinea pig cage.
At home we had a special aunty come over to visit. I made this nutritious fresh spring pesto from the kitchen of Jaymie Oliver and Dazla made a fattoush. We will definitely be adding these to our spring/summer kitchen recipes. There was a lot of moaning going on over dinner that night. We stayed up late and happily settled down to sleep that night with the scent of burnt cyprus from the fire in the house.
Sunday morning bought storms and sadness as we celebrated the departure of our dear friend Willow, a golden retriever with saint like qualities who touched the lives of all around her in a deep and profound way. We gathered at a friend's house, it was full, it was bursting at the seams with some of Willow's dearest friends. We sat in a circle, chanted om, told stories of this incredible dog, sang songs, cried, prayed and laughed too.
The morning turned into the afternoon, then a party and that night - another late one - we danced, jammed, sang kirtan, ate, created crazy ideas and laughed at them all. The children did the same.
That night we parked our camper and slept over at the beach to wake to the ferocious winds whipping up the sand. In the morning we walked on the beach, it was still overcast but it was pleasant. Hunger took us over and we rang some friends and invited ourselves over to make them breakfast.
Dazla and Clint cooked breakfast on the bbq. They shared herbs from their garden and we left feeling full on all levels.
Once home we turned into grateful lounge lizards for the afternoon watching Arthur - thank you Russell Brand - and The King's Speech - some more fine Australian exports.
Again in the kitchen we ate fresh Atlantic salmon, with some of that lovely broad bean pesto and hot out of the oven, potato scones.
On Saint Francis' Saint Day - 4th October - and in honour of our dear friend Willow, it is apt to remember the Patron Saint of Animals. Willow followed these spiritual guidelines to a T. She was a teacher to us all. We love you Pillow! See you again soon.
Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
