Daybook #7

Outside my window it's really not Autumn enough yet. Wherefore art thou, season of my heart?

I have been listening (between lectures on Hegel and political theory and Sigurd and Brynnhild) to Marc Streitenfeld's Robin Hood soundtrack. It's instrumental music that tells a story, and it yanks at my imagination and pulls me in.

I have been wearing whatever keeps me cool; away, deathly humidity!

I am thankful for interesting things yet to come.

I am pondering just why Words With Friends is so addictive. Also, how can I get more done in a day? And before you suggest that solutions to both ponderings may be linked, I hasten to assure you that I only play games during my breaks. Promise.

I am reading lots of little fluffy things in between meatier stuff, but also lots and lots of Icelandic sagas, and a Viking tale (not school-related) called Wolf Cry.

I am creating a really long to-do list.

I am hoping and praying for Japan.

I am looking forward to going to the movies with my folks tonight.

One of my favourite things, newly instituted, is cheeseburger date night with Ruth. One down, many to go, I hope.

A picture-thought I'm sharing is of this dude's latest work of art. It's sculpture, painting, and garden fusion. Cutting edge stuff.

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Conversations:

Lachlan -- I love that Crowder song, and I've been singing it pretty much since you posted the lyrics. It's a great one to hold onto.

HCH -- <3

Amanda -- I'm glad you were encouraged.

BushMaid -- it really is; it's been such a strengthening thing in my life.

Mitanika -- that definitely wins as the best surprise church happening ever. How cool! And such an awesome song.

Unshakeable

I have nothing to say about Japan that hasn't already been said.

We all know what happened and we know what it is like to grieve and feel helpless. We've all seen the pictures, felt our heartbeats quicken, and still wondered that in spite of it all, we can't quite believe it. We know what it is to feel this survivor guilt, to be ashamed that our days continue on as if nothing happened, as if the earth and sea didn't just combine to dance wildly and furiously over thousands of other peoples' lives. We know the sense of disgust and horror as those unaffected by the horror rush forward to lay blame or push propaganda out there into the wake of fear. We know what it is to have no words except a repeated calling out of God's name. We know how to help, financially. We know how to pray. And we know that this planet is a scary place right now.

So when someone posted Owl City's cover of In Christ Alone on tumblr, I clung to it, and I'm sharing it with you right now in case you, too, need a reminder that there's Something to cling to that nothing can wash away.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

I will stand, I will stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I stand

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Conversations:

Sandie T -- it's the bayside region south of Brisbane :).

BushMaid -- yes, I love my Canon! It's a 1000D.

Samantha R -- so true; beauty is everywhere.

Jessica -- sprung! I totally cheated; a caption explaining there will be no captions!

Anonymous1 -- thanks!

Anonymous2 -- and thanks to you, too :)

Mitanika -- it's always a pleasure to help you procrastinate, most excellent friend.

Katie -- thanks so much! We had fun making pictures :).

Asea -- I was so happy to capture the dragonfly. I've been trying since I first got my camera :). And I know what you mean entirely about the novelty of it being opposite seasons on different sides of the world. It never fails to amuse me :).

Dappled things (glory be to God for them)

I love words, and since they are very likely to always have first place in my heart, pictures must come a close second. Therefore, I usually disagree with that old cliche about a picture being worth a thousand words (give me the words, I say!). Sometimes, though, pictures mean words aren't even necessary -- and so I offer these to you, uncaptioned. Just me, one of my favourite people in the world, two beloved cameras, and the wonders of sunshine, shadow, and earth.

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Conversations:

Caitlin -- unfortunately for Tain, I had to ignore his stern injunction. :)

Samantha R -- our life is definitely a million times funnier because he's in it.

BushMaid -- hey, Jasmine!! Nice to reconnect with you! And please, stalk anytime :).

Staish -- we can choose to believe he wrote 'xo'.

The First Rose -- brothers can definitely be wily, devious creatures when they've got A Plan.

Awesome thing of the day #8

My little brother woke up this morning full of all sorts of great ideas (this is not unusual). "So, what's the plan?" he asked (this, too, is fairly standard). "I have to study," I told him, "and you have to do school." His response: -- "NO STUDY TODAY."

Later, when I made my way into my office, I grinned when I found two cute love notes stuck to my door. I raced downstairs to thank Tain. "You made me love notes!" I cried, "thank you!" "No," he said seriously, "NO STUDY! NOT ALLOWED."

Sure enough, when I looked a little closer, the previously-assumed adorable portrait of delighted older sister was actually a picture of me sitting in front of a bunch of books -- with a big cross over the books and a cross over me. And that friendly "yo" in the second note, which I thought was just Tain's cool gangster way of saying hi? I'm pretty sure it's meant to be "no." And the pink post-it notes were obviously just close handy. So... yeah.

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Conversations:

SandieT -- and thank you for your lovely comment :).

Unanonymous -- you almost cried? (Cool!) ;)

Elisabeth -- so true; one of those memories that will keep you warm during dark nights of the soul.

Bek -- :D

Julia -- I felt squeeish :)

Samantha -- I'll make sure there's some Milk Coffee biscuits here when you arrive ;).

Ransomedsea -- now to preach that admonition to myself every day and consistently do something about it... Also: viking love!!!

Rebecca Simon -- you are such an encouragement. x

LindaOz -- I love that analogy! And being someone who has learnt to play the piano but who will never be gifted musically, I definitely understand it. Thank you for your comment!

Flashback Friday :: the blessing

It's been a long time since I've written one of these...

Though it was only four years ago, I felt unmistakably like a very small child in the presence of a very big grown up. It wasn't because she was patronising. In fact, she was far from it -- more like the embodiment of Emma Thompson's character in Stranger than Fiction, with all the best authorial characteristics but with more femininity, less neuroticism, and no chain smoking. Her voice -- clipped and clear with a gentle British accent -- only added to the impression. Here was a real author with real experience. Compared to her, I was most certainly a child.

Although it was ostensibly an author's panel wherein we -- the small knot of students -- would ask questions and she -- the teacher -- would share from her experience, she didn't get to say much. One of the other women kept bringing the discussion back to her "mermaid novel", leaving the author little space to talk. During a break, the author leaned over and whispered to me conspiratorially, "It would have been fun if it was just us two."

When the evening was coming to a close and coffee was being served, I found myself in the coffee queue near the author and we got chatting. She asked about my life and I told her about our crazy gypsy ways and the time spent in some of Australia's most unique places. When we got to talking about words, I confessed that my lack of writerly education and my own naivete sometimes held my back.

"Don't let it," she said seriously. "I believe that the craft of writing can be taught. You can learn to write. But you cannot learn to be a writer; some people are and some simply are not. To be a writer requires something else entirely, something that makes you different from others. You need a unique backstory." She looked at me closely, and I had the undeniable feeling that I was standing at a turning point in my own coming-of-age story. "I can see that you have it," she said. "In your experience, you have everything you need."

Perhaps, here in the retelling, what the author said sounds merely motivational, something to cheer along a hopeful girl. But in that moment, nothing felt further from the truth. Her words were a blessing. Her words were a benediction. And when I remember them, they give me courage.

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Conversations:

Jessica -- but I'm jealous of how golden your peanut butter bars turned out! Mine look too pale :(

Meaghan -- I KNOW RIGHT?

Rebecca Simon -- absolutely!! They are totally an excellent alternative for Reese's Pieces.

Unanonymous -- do you basically just have a stash of these in your fridge at all times? Yum!

Asea -- this pathetically teeny image is a slice tray. :)

Carla and Alastair -- the peanut butter bar love continues around Australia! Hee :)

Brooke -- totally working on the technology to do just that. ;)

Samantha R -- I've been wondering if Milk Coffee biscuits are similar to graham crackers? You'll have to come to Australia to find out...

Amanda -- you DEFINITELY need to make these :D

Chocolate and peanut butter oh MY!

Um, these no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars were (note the past tense) totally as NOMsational as they look.

I had seen the recipe floating around the internet in various places, and I finally gave Jessica's version a go, Australianising and Danielleising the recipe in the process. Since they actually worked and they were actually yum, I'll share the recipe here (so easy. So good. SO GOOD).

225 g melted butter
250 g packet of Arnott's milk coffee biscuits, crushed
1 1/2 cups icing sugar mixture
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
250 g block milk chocolate
4 tbpsns peanut butter, extra

Mix butter, cookie crumbs, icing sugar mixture, and peanut butter (I used a food processor to make the crumbs and then blend the mix). Press into a slice tin lined with baking paper. Melt the chocolate and peanut butter together and pour over the top of the slice, spreading the top smoothly. Allow to set in the fridge and then cut into fudge-sized squares.

It's actually that easy.

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Conversations:

Samantha R -- ooh, I hope you enjoy the album :).

Lovely listening

'Sup, homies? I'm taking a little break in the middle of my study Monday to tell you about an album you should definitely listen to: Andrew Peterson's 2006 release, The Far Country. If the amazing otherworldly cover art doesn't make you want to listen right away (though it should), here are some other reasons to listen to this album:

• it's unlike the music I normally enjoy. I'm generally drawn to stuff with a harder edge to it or deep folkiness, and I like listening to male vocalists who have gruff voices. Andrew Peterson's music is none of those things and yet it still pulls me in.
• this guy is more than just a musician. He is a true lyricist with the soul of a poet. Perhaps you'll appreciate that even more once you've read his blog or his stories, but the songs on this album are like individual poem-stories of their own, and are truly beautiful.
  
• it will make you think good things about Jesus and the people you love.
• it's totally free at the moment. WIN. (I love generous artists!)
  

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Conversations:

Unanonymous -- hey, you! Yes, that is definitely a wee peek of the new VW. Cute, huh?

Samantha R -- it's funny what we are bold enough to pull off. I'd be too shy to wear neon yellow, so there you go :).

Abi -- Ooh, those books sound great! It's been years since I read Caddie Woodlawn, but I loved it so much when I did.

Asea -- your possible classes sound like grand fun! I bet you can't wait to get into exciting new things :D.

Eweight -- argh! I'm so sorry you keep losing comments! Blogger is sometimes nasty. YES. I think we definitely need to email our fingers off.

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Small details of a housekeepish nature:

In an attempt to make this blog more comment-friendly, I've recently changed the commenting option to open in a comment page instead of simply to be embedded under the posts themselves. This is good news for some anonymous commenters who don't wish to log in with a Google or OpenID account, but how about for the rest of you? I've suddenly been inundated with spam, too, which seems too coincidental to be purely coincidental. Thoughts?