So when the delightful dreaming tree Jen suggested we meet at Cafe´ Gratitude in the city a few weeks ago I was all in. I had heard great things about it and although I am no vegan-raw-veggie girl on any sort of regular basis I was excited to see what it was all about.

We had such a lovely time visiting and sharing stories and wonderful little gifts with one another. When it came time to order I enjoyed getting to say "I am worthy and I am giving" instead of "I'll have the veggie juice and Asian kale salad". What a treat to have the order placed in front of me and to be told "You are worthy" and "You are giving" instead of "here's your food".

But, come on, NOTHING beats ordering dessert from the extremely cute and - ahem - young waiter by saying "I am super hot" and you know what's coming next right? He brought that little bittersweet chocolate nib dessert with cayenne sprinkled on top right back to me, looked me in the eye and said...

"You are super hot."

Ah, yes.
Positive affirmations rock.
Even IF you have to pay for them on your way out the door.

...to spend even just one day as if every single thing were brand new?
All of it something to behold, to ponder, to unravel.
The every day little nothings as mysteries.

What if?

...and from behind the lens. Between my busybusybusy days of clickclickclicking I wave a heart-shaped-leafy hello and a wish for your weekend to be bigfatfull of things you didn't even realize you wanted until they dropped right in your path.

I have made an important update to my Australian Bushfire donation post.

Thanks, everyone :)

...the grandest and truest love begins with the love of one's own self.

Happy day to you,
all my lovelies :)

***UPDATE***Sunday, February 15th***UPDATE***

A fantastic group of individuals in Australia have started a blog called Handmade Help - 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal. I have elected to change my donation organization from AWHC to the Wildlife Victoria organization which will possibly be able to help even more of the affected animals. In addition to the $5 per print donation I have promised, I will also be offering free shipping on all orders for the remainder of February...everything else in this post remains the same...thank you, and squeeze your loved ones for me,k?

(original post...)

What you see here is the Melbourne, Australia skyline seen from the suburb called Kinglake that was burned out over the last few days in the largest bushfires in Australian history. I called Melbourne home for two years of my life (93/94) and gave birth to my lovely half-Australian son there. I don't often talk about that time in my life, so long ago, things so different now but all of the good memories have come flooding back over the past five days - what a wonderful place in the world. I have been shocked by the terrible stories of the fires that have, up to this point, taken 181 human lives. That number, it is said, might climb as high 300 during these next days.

Of my memories, some of the best and most impressionable for me were my visits to the Healesville Sanctuary. Only an hour's drive from Melbourne and dangerously close to where the fires have been raging, the Sanctuary houses 200 species of Australian wildlife.

Me petting a wallaby there almost sixteen years ago to this day...


Another of the lovely resting wallabies...


And some crazy/fantastic kookaburras about to laugh at us...


With more than 1000 animals, it was not possible to safely evacuate all of them but the staff did transfer many of the threatened species to other area zoos. Luckily, as of this writing, the Sanctuary seems to be out of imminent danger although it does remain closed to the public - only the keepers, veterinarians and curators remain there with the animals left behind.

People from all corners of the world are rallying to support victims of these senseless - some arson caused - fires and I cannot sit still.

I have pledged to donate $5 of each print sold and free shipping in my Etsy store for the remainder of February to the efforts of Wildlife Victoria. Perhaps you've had one of my prints in mind for yourself, perhaps for someone else - this would be a good time to pick one up. Alternatively, here is a link to a list of other organizations that are accepting donations during this tragic time.

Please spread the word and if you are unable to make a financial commitment at this time please keep everyone directly affected in your loving thoughts - I really am certain it will make a difference. Thank you.

"...if the divine cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed for just one moment through your efforts then ole´. And, if not, do your dance anyhow and ole´ to you nonetheless. I believe this and I feel like we must teach it. Ole´ to you nonetheless. Just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up." - Elizabeth Gilbert

______

I know this is long but please open your lunch box or make yourself a cup of tea, perhaps remember to come back when you have the twenty minutes to watch. I felt little bells ringing within me as I listened. I feel lighter and freer to create than ever before.

(and, B? Minutes 12:33 to 14:36 are just for you :)

Oh, to see the candy pink poufs of the cherry blossoms all along the city streets...all girly and giggly with the news of a secret celebration. All you need do to receive an invitation is stop and revel in them...

...much needed heavily rained upon morning. The ground lapping up the bounty. Eggs from my parents chickens, fluffily scrambled, steaming black coffee.

The green ones always saved until the last.

...morning sunshine streaming through the kitchen window and a new lens to make the future look bright.