being away

A few weekends ago, my little family and I went away for the weekend. We packed the camper and hit the road, there was a bit of bush mechanics on the side of the road, a barring went on my husbands trailer.
We camp when we can and we are  getting good at setting up our camper, but there is always something we have forgotten. Oh well, it just means a rummage through the local country op shops!
The days were hot, and there was quiet a few people around, enjoying their time by the water. The more we camp, I realise that I prefer going right out bush, where we are isolated, and the only sounds you hear come from nature. I am not sure why, I'm not a anti social person, I just enjoy being outdoors without others around.

Every time I go away, I seek isolation, I delve deep into my own thoughts, I become grounded and at peace with where I am. I enjoy the company of my family or whoever we are camping with and creating experiences together.

We spent a afternoon searching for the elusive cowrie shell, it was like time had stopped, it was just us, on the beach. My son was with Jeff searching for crabs and little critters between the mounds and in the rock pools.
At one point I grabbed my daughters hand and made her lay next to me with her eyes closed and we listened to the oceans roar.
She said it felt like the ocean was going to sweep us away.

 I never wanted this to end.

We went out into the lake at night to catch prawns, the children became very dis engaged quickly, until we made up stories, of the little boy and the flying ocean monster, each of us taking turns adding to the story.
On the last night I lay with the window open as it lightly began to rain. I feel at one with nature, I feel at peace.

Childrens garden

Some of you might know, I work within a child care centre, I run a gardening program and look after the veggie boxes and do some general gardening.
We have been harvesting, tomatoes, zucchinis and recently beans and capsicums.
Even though the children and I have treated the plants with milk and water spray we have powdery mildew on our zucchinis. I feel it is time to pull them out, re condition the soil and plant for winter.
I gain so much from teaching children, where their food comes from and the basics of gardening. They enjoy being outside and are always full of questions and are constantly asking, if they can come out and garden with me. I believe a kitchen garden should be in every school, kindergarten and child care center.
Here are some pictures of my work, whats happening in your garden?

mj creative: how do I relate to my culture ?

mj creative: how do I relate to my culture ?: I recently had a conversation, and it got me questioning, my perception on myself as a Macedonian woman. For most of my upbringing my moth...

how do I relate to my culture ?

I recently had a conversation, and it got me questioning, my perception on myself as a Macedonian woman.
For most of my upbringing my mother tried to manicure me into the perfect housewife. To be able to cook the traditional meals, to upkeep a house, to raise children and be a happy and supportive wife. Those were the expectations I was to live up to, far from my male counterparts.
There was no mention of furthering my education or to travel the world, or to become a independent woman and to be happy within myself.
Unfortunately my mother failed and I do not live up to her expectations as a "good housewife"and as a rebellious teenager, I vowed to never become what she wanted me too. But in reality I have become some of those things.

I moved out of home before I was married, I moved out into a share house, which in my culture is very rare. I went to tafe, I tried university, but when I was in my twenties I barely knew myself let alone what to study.

I wanted to be free from the expectations that felt like shackles.
I wanted to be me.
I feel in love, outside of my cultural circle, we traveled Australia and created our own journey.
Those years on the road changed my life, they gave me the sense of freedom that I was searching for.
The open road, no expectations, people not knowing anything about you or your past.
Being with the family I created.
On the road I became pregnant and shortly after I got married. I became a mother and somebodies wife. But I was my own person and I was going to raise our child the way we thought was right. I delved into my role,whole heartily. I loved caring for my baby and I loved being a wife.

But I did not take on the role in the traditional sense, the Macedonian way.

Through cultural restraints, I pioneered my own path.

I relate to my culture in other ways. The sense of loyalty you have towards family, the unconditional love, the wanting to nurture them and protect them.
My mothers life was a turbulent one, but I feel that in her generation, she survived and  in today's world.A female has all the choices in the world, to become her own person, by her own merit.

I will tell my daughter that she can become whatever she wants in life and not judge herself on how well she maintains a house, but inner happiness.