Give us this day...

I remember an old woman many years ago when I lived in Santa Cruz saying to me that she had the same thing every day for breakfast. I thought that was so odd and infinitely boring. I don't know what point it started at for me, but I have had toast every morning for at least the past ten years. Sometimes it is a toasted scone. Sometimes, rarely, I have an egg, cereal, oatmeal, or some fruit with toast. For a while I had pancakes on Sunday. But, basically, I don't need or want anything else than one piece of toast with butter and jam with my tea.

The catch is that it has to be delicious, high quality bread. White, wheat, rye, multi-grain, doesn't matter as long as it is not full of air and dough conditioners. My favorite is a dense, German style rye. To my delight, Sydney is a heaven for bread (a.k.a. toast). I can get it in the supermarket, the green grocer, the bakeries, or the week-end street markets. It is only a problem to choose which one to buy. I go to Bourke Street Bakery, Sonoma Baking Co., and The Grumpy Baker. Last Saturday, I got a lovely, heavy rye from Neu's at the Taylor Square Market.

I don't see myself changing my habit any time soon. In fact, I have to refrain from having the same thing for lunch.

I have been doing some sketching and researching certificate programs for textile design. I am really excited that I have a routine and a plan to propel me through the next two years at least. (more on that later).

Newtown Suburb Monday with Mira

Thank goodness the rain let up today. Yesterday was wet, windy and cold. Today there were pretty, puffy clouds and 60f/18c degree temps. Mira had to drop off her scholarship application at the student center so we decided to stroll around Newtown afterwards and get some art supplies for screen-printing some of our designs that we have both been planning. The first photo is of the roof of one of the beautiful buildings on the campus of University of Sydney. After we dropped off the paperwork, we headed to a nice little shop in Newtown called Art on King/Modern Times. It is an art supply and book store combo. I got a beautiful card to send a friend in The States and I saw a book called "Textiles - The Whole Story" (something to put on a Christmas list). We also got the paint/ink for printing. I have an old screen and squeegie that we can use. We had lunch at Luxe cafe. Delish goat cheese, shaved fennel root and fig jam sandwich with tea and linzer torte for dessert.

I was spaced out and not paying attention to the scene, but Mira noticed two "knit bombs"! Look it up if you haven't heard of it. I am posting a photo of one of them. It is a scuzzy looking pay phone dolled up with a little crochet on the cable. Also I am posting Mira's little work of art - her original drawing/embroidery of the cat from one of her recent reads called The Master and Margarita. The other photo is of a creatively dressed old woman I saw walking by with her shopping bag. I loved her wild colored skirt.

A New Blog for A New Chapter

Since I moved to Australia, about 3 months ago, several people have told me I should have a blog to post about my adventures and misadventures. I tried to revive my old blog that was based on my Shecological business and my love of travel and textiles, but I found it pulling me back. This is the start of a new approach to recording and sharing my life. I hope to post at least once a week so that I am not backtracking.

I heard somewhere that the secret to good blogging is to remember that the blog is not for the writer but for the reader, but I can't bear the thought of approaching the computer screen psyching myself up to be clever and pithy so that some anonymous reader will find it engaging. I will just write as if I am talking to my friends and family (because that is primarily who I expect will be reading it) and I hope that they will find my honest, natural approach clever and charming.

I plan to write about the areas of my life that are interesting to me and that I want to focus on:

1. Exploring and appreciating this new part of the world

2. My social/human/friend contacts

3. Physical activities - swimming, biking, zumba, etc.

4. Textile arts/ Art.

Stay Tuned...