Mo Over

This is simply a piece of closure for closure junkie Peter. The morning of the first day of December has arrived (Australian Summer Time) and he took out the clippers. One thing he told many people during the last 30 days was how annoying the patch of twitching bristles were. Sometimes a hair or two would work upwards and stroke the nose in a very distracting way. Movember growth is done for this year! It was good. For a few extra thoughts about this are found on Peter's Mo site here. There are a few more pictures there too. Peter is not sure how long this Mo sponsored site will stay up. This is the first year he has done this. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Tiger's Eye

Just recently Peter purchased a 'cut slab' of some Tiger's Eye quartz, a gem stone with reflective and translucent properties. Maybe it is really a Tigers Iron stone, a bit of a mix of materials. It certainly looks that way. Nevertheless, Peter found a way of mounting the stone to look nice on a wall so he is happy enough. The overall image gives the impression that we are looking at a part of a fossilized tree trunk. Could that be how Tigers Iron/Eye forms in the first place?

Sobering Thought

This is a recent really crazy occurrence at a pedestrian crossing that we regularly use. If this could happen, a truck careering over the embankment from the car park area, down a flight of steps and made to stop by the traffic light pole, then where can anyone be safe if they walk to the shops. This is sobering reminder that some drivers lose control of their vehicles (or their minds) in the most unlikely places. Sobering.

Crystal Image

This amazing image came from a 'thunder egg', a quartz gemstone cut down the middle to reveal its contents frozen for thousands (millions?) of years. If you were not aware of this you might consider the image to be a slightly blurry snap of a seascape... and so much more mysterious.

Garden Fun

Barb as done a lot of clearing in the back and side yards and planted a selection of pansies. We often go to the back just to admire them... and have our cuppas there as well. Now that the hot weather is more often with us we count the back as an extra living space... with living colour all about us.

We might just mention that we placed a hollow branch cutting at the fork of our largest tree on the chance that a bird might take a fancy to it and settle in.

Letting God

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Be still and know that God is God
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Spending time waiting on the LORD
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In the shade of life 
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In the gentle flow of the Spirit of God
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Resting against the trunk of stability
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Bound to God's call to wholeness
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Mr Mo

Before the month of Movember had officially started, Peter had already registered for the Men's Health fundraising initiative involving growing a moustache from the start of the month to its end. So far it has been a very determined effort on the part of Peter in order to cope with the continual 'pricks' about the upper lip. Barb is not so impressed either about that. It is for a good cause though so we will endure it till the end of the month... then it's off! Peter has also noted that there is an alarming percentage of white bristles! If you would like to financially contribute to the cause, Donate here.

Weekend Rhythms

For the long weekend (Melbourne Cup) we both went our different ways. Peter to Menergy and Barb to Tasmania. 

Menergy Rhythms included 37 very special men sitting with their drums sharing a common beat. The ages went up from 20 to the oldest man there at 90. The drums were not the only thing that happened. This was a time of great healing and inspiration to do life better.

Menergy Connecting

A true and wonderful gift is to listen generously to another.  

When we do that, we encourage him to find meaning and hope

and help him to know that he matters.  

When we travel with another and share joys and sorrows,

our hearts will touch and find fire in the centre.

Let us try to do this as naturally as breathing.  

No matter how our own journey has transpired,

we have the power to... collaborate... with life in this way.  

If tears are falling, we add to them. 

When another is happy and celebrating, we celebrate too,

and congratulate him. 

We listen generously and by doing so we heal.  

The discovery for doing this, the motivation behind this,

is that our response reflects back... on us. 

If we judge, we judge ourselves. 

If we encourage, we encourage ourselves,

and the happiness reaches out and touches us.  

This attitude has the power to raise us

to a new level of consciousness,  

that we may be able to more easily escape

those negative feelings that await.  

We can dream creatively and help others that way,

when we invite wonder and possibility.  

Strengthening life connects our puzzle pieces

and blesses the life in us.

Peter Ackland - school chaplain 

The labyrinth was carefully cleaned up and repaired by a devoted number of men and Peter walked it twice on the last day.

The dining room had beautiful living Australian bush vistas, each window a new pictorial experience.

The chapel was home for many of the workshops and served as the venue for Peter's daily reflection group. They were a special group of guys.

While that was happening, Barb linked up with her sister in Tazzi and they did a bit of natural dying of old woolen blankets. Parts of particular Australian plants, such as some types of gum nuts and leaves have the potential to leave a lasting stain in greens and many earth colours, provided you do it right. Barb and Donna had a very creative weekend.