Holistic lifestyle. Imperfect parenting. Health from nature.
If you work in an outdoor environment, you are at the mercy of whatever nature throws at you. Hot work can be dangerous, and employers can be reluctant to make allowances for extreme conditions. But there are some ways that you can tackle the heat and go home in one piece (hopefully!) Wear light coloured, … Read more
Heat. It’s on my mind today. It’s a hot topic on everyone’s minds. We are all longing for a cool change. Some are even dreaming of the long term, when summer will give way to the milder days of autumn. I learned a lot about heat when I worked in a nursery that grew aquatic … Read more
THE TOOTH FAIRY IS COMING “Open your mouth, Rosie,” I told her. I peered inside. “My two bottom teeth are wobbly,” she said. I caught my breath. Surely not. She stuck her finger in her mouth and wiggled one of her teeth. They were indeed wobbly. I couldn’t believe it. Tooth fairy already? She’s my baby. I’m … Read more
THE SPITE HOUSE In 1882, a New York City businessman named Joseph Richardson owned a narrow strip of land on Lexington Avenue. It was 5 feet wide and 104 feet long. Another businessman, Hyman Sarner, owned a normal – sized lot adjacent to Richardson’s skinny one. He wanted to build apartments that fronted the avenue. … Read more
Regardless of your preferences, one beverage undoubtedly features in your morning routine more than any other. Coffee fans swear by that first cup of the day to get them going, while others prefer water. So which is better for that morning magic feeling? MORNING MAGIC: COFFEE? Coffee drinkers love that morning magic feeling to … Read more
I saw them together regularly. The woman was petite, dark haired, and probably in her late twenties. Her baby was the opposite: big for his age, blonde, and with the cutest chubby little hands. One day, we got talking about babies and life in general. She had a quiet, calm manner, and seemed perfectly self … Read more
Our neighbour made hay yesterday. He (along with many other local farmers) followed the advice of the old adage – make hay while the sun shines. I walked outside in the evening, after the heat of the day had diminished. The evening sunlight washed over the newly shorn paddocks like liquid gold. The smell of … Read more
I was sick. Worn out. Exhausted. It was the last day of school, and somehow I’d made it through a year of being a Road Mum. I dragged myself through those last few days of school, I can tell you. I was supposed to be going shopping. TD was at school, and Rosie and I … Read more
She looked to be about fifteen. She was walking down the street in the evening, still wearing her school uniform. Her naturally slim build emphasized her bulging belly. I caught my breath at how young she was to be in that kind of a predicament. Still at school and pregnant. It must have been a … Read more
There are monsters at home in my house. I’m sure of it. I’ve never actually seen one…but the evidence speaks for itself. I have my suspicions as to where they lurk, but despite my best efforts, they remain elusive. Widowed socks and orphan pens speak volumes about their activities, however. THE SOCK MONSTER My pile … Read more