Showbiz ain't for this girl

Just a little update. Last week we did the advertisement with our local council for the Mary Poppins Festival coming up soon and as much fun as it sounded in theory to get all dressed up again and smear ourselves in charcoal... again, it really wasn't all that much fun this time.


If you know me personally, you'll know the drama's we've been experiencing with getting our house to construction stage at Iri'ni, so with the market being so low we've been investigating buying a house in town again and selling Iri'ni off or conversely with the market moving so slowly, Iri'ni may actually be ours for quite some time yet and the other option may be to move a renovator, like an old Queenslander onto it or contract a plan from Builders like Annadale. So because of this housing dilemma, we found ourselves looking at four houses on this day that we shot the add, as well clumsily, comforting a dear friend over some sad news, and I needed to get packed for my trip to Byron Bay with my Mother to celebrate my Sister Sunshines' 40th!

A lot to fit into one day! Too much and extremely stressful .

So ultimately, doing this advertisement felt a lot like forced fun. Under different circumstances it would have been great but we were tired, had eaten not enough and on the run, and all three of us had had enough by the time the fifteenth take of repeating the same thing was over. The whole process didn't have a lot of relevance to my boys and I could see exactly why they didn't want to prance around on the sidewalk for the camera anymore. I could never be a showbiz Mum! And it was a terrible way to spend the day before I left my family for three days! I should have been reading and cuddling and chilling out, but instead we were running all over town like headless chickens doing all this 'stuff' which is pretty meaningless now.



Oh well, we learn right?! I have. This craziness has infected our happy homeschooling life and whilst this particular Tuesday was pretty extreme it seems to becoming more of the pattern. We experience a ridiculous amount of interruptions during what should be our happy homeschooling hours. I've had to be firm and finally say no more. I've canceled or rearranged everything we have had on in the mornings - markets, music lessons, drama with the school -, and have gone back to not answering the phone before 1pm and the real happy tick for a better me is going to bed early. Today is day three and while we have a long way to go before our homeschool looks the way I'd like it, it's better than the shabby mess it has been. Back to that getting to bed at a decent time thingy, I bid you nighty nite.


But before I go I have to share this lovely pic of an old renovated church near Byron Bay. It was our accommodation for our glorious visit to Byron Bay. When I post next, I'll share pic's of this beautiful place we had the pleasure of staying in. The whole area of Ballina, Mullumbimby and Byron were just extremely special places to visit and I hope so much to take my family there sometime soon. I'm glad to be home though and am very thankful for my husband making it possible for me to go away and have such a blissful time with my Mumma and sister. I have come back way relaxed and pretty darn happy too and it was an awesome way to celebrate my Sister Sunshine's 40th!

The Summer Solstice Ball

On Summer Solstice evening, the prospect of a Ball was whispered among the Faeries. They knew the children would leave out their most special of treasures to adorn the Faerie folks dresses and coats. The Faeries especially love anything that glitters and sparkles under the moons pale light.

The children carefully laid out their gifts and arranged them precisely, talking excitedly about the faerie folk and their special night.

An evening escapade to traverse the pier had been planned by the childrens' parents. When it came time to leave, the little boys cast wondering looks back at their offerings placed under the largest trees in the garden. They desperately hoped that their little guests would be pleased by what they would find.

Hand in hand they walked with Mother and Father over the beach and began the long way out along the pier over the darkened ocean.

It seemed that many others were out celebrating this night. Summer Solstice and a Lunar Eclipse is a special time to behold. Out on the beach men, women and children wove and spun and played with fire, celebrating the event in their own way. They were even bravely jumping a flaming skipping rope. The flames mesmerised the onlookers drawing gasps of awe and admiration.

Father gently drew his little sons on, holding their small hands in his, he led them further along the pier.

Mother is warmed by the sight and hurries to catch her little crew. She is embraced tightly by one of her beautiful small sons.

The little family lingers a while on the pier. The wind whips round them but fails to disturb the peacefulness that is upon this night. Fervent wishes are silently cast to the stars. If only they could climb the path the moon has cast upon the water and tread that silver staircase leading to heaven.

All too soon it's time to leave. The children remember that they must be abed before the midnight hour, the time of the Faeries Summer Solstice Ball. They know all too well how shy the little folk are and although they have tried, they have never seen one in the flesh. But they have seen their evidence apparent each morning as the flowers and butterflies are painted afresh, adorned in the most beautiful colours created by God himself.

Once home, the little boys are tucked up warmly, snug and safe in their beds. Dreams of faerie folk, moonlight and dancing play in their heads as they drift off to sleep.

As morning light dawns the children hurry outside to see if the Faerie Folk accepted their little gifts.

As hoped, things have been moved and show signs of use. New to the tiny scene is a shell containing the remains of a midnight bonfire. Cold ashes blacken the once clean shell.

One boy admires the bright blue flowers left as a thank you message from, he thinks, the King of the Faerie folk. Golden faerie dust glistens in the morning sunlight revealing where the little folk passed their merry time.

The other little lad discovers the tiny chair he left, lying askew and the iron work table laid with new items. His goblet also holds a gift of little blue flowers.

Satisfied with what they have seen, the children excitedly chatter and eagerly plan their next opportunity for a near encounter with the faerie folk.

Changing our Morning Chaos into.....

a time when we connect and are enriched.

For months our morning rhythm had been lacking a little glue. The 'something' that would bring my boys and I together a little more than a bowl of cereal at the kitchen table after chores. So I searched the Homeschool Mummy Blogger World for a solution and what I found has been so simple and has made such a marvelous difference to us. Drum roll please...... introducing........

'The Morning Basket'!

I wish I remembered whose blog it was that I first came across this idea so I could give credit where it is due, but unfortunately, I'm so sorry, I don't! Regardless, I still want to share what gets our brains warmed up for the morning. What gets us chatting and in sync with each other. Before we had The Morning Basket we usually shared a book over brekky but this idea has provided us a sense of structure and purpose and somewhere to go once we complete a book.

So this is how it works. I usually finish my cereal first and then I read while my boys are still slowly consuming theirs. We have a Poetry selection.....



followed by a character enrichment type of book....




By this time Kookaburra has finished his cereal and is ready to take his turn reading aloud. Kookaburra has been a very reluctant reader but taking turns and looking upon the reading aloud as sharing a story rather than practicing has made a lovely difference to his outlook on reading. Whilst Kookaburra still rarely goes and reads a book for himself, he is very willing and even Happy to take his turn reading aloud. I've thought that perhaps because we read aloud so often through out our day that maybe Kookaburra has less of an inclination for personal reading because for the moment he's satisfied with what we're doing.

Kookaburra reads a story from his children's Bible.....



followed by his own poetry selection.....




after Kookaburra's readings we end our Morning Basket with a Narration selection which both my boys generally participate in.....




Finally we close with a prayer.

By about half seven we're all finished and my boys are at a lose end and usually want to draw, build lego and sometimes squabble. To help me out and allow me some time to get the rest of my chores done and prepare for our day, I've been playing audio books which they listen too whilst (supposedly) doing a quite activity. Our current selection is The Cat of Bubastes by G A Henty (which is free!!!! Thanks Librivox :D).

The Morning Basket has made a great difference to our morning. At the start of our day my boys and I are gathered together at the breakfast table learning, laughing and chatting. It has been a wonderful way to help set the tone for the day. We are enjoying being together and are establishing our rhythm right from the very start.