Woke up to an eerie light glowing in the darkness. Took a moment to focus and realised that the world outside was … orange!!

The last time this happened was in 2003 and was from the massive bushfires in the local area … so a moment of panic until I realise that I can taste and smell – not smoke – but sand.

The sand storm that has been raging across the earstern States of Australia, originating in South Australia, had finally arrived.

Visibility was down to 200 metres and all airports in our region closed.

The sand storm, when it passed through lower/mid NSW was white.

Why did we wake up to bright orange?

Overnight it had hit outback NSW and sucked up tonnes of red earth, stripping the land bare of top soil, before raging onwards and upwards across the State.

Everything was coated, thickly, in red sand. It was hard to see and harder to breath. The winds were gale force. Miserable for sure.

By 3 p.m. however the skies were lightening and the sky peaked through. By 4 p.m. or so it had reached Queensland, to wreck havoc up there.

Pollution counts were 1500 times higher than normal. 1500!!!!

A surreal day for sure.

I really enjoyed this arrangement, all done with voice, no instruments at all. I hope you enjoy it too.

These are just so much fun!!

Playing for Change

Listen and watch the video below, the first of many “songs around the world” released independently, from the award winning documentary Playing for Change: Peace Through Music.

An Old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is two wolves.

One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,
false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope,
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you – and inside
of every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then
asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Author ~ unknown.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ~ Martin Luther King Jr

Breaking the silence and its importance and its power is something that everyone should remember.

I enjoy reading blogs … I love to peer into other people’s lives and to live vicariously through them, to be encouraged by them, to be entranced by them, to have my heart lightened by them … these are just a couple that I enjoy.  I hope you do too.

Kathy Neudorf – photographer with wonderous vision

I can has cheezburger – cat funnies

Patti Flynn – the daily life of eco friendly soapmaker

Gardengurl – the musings of a extraordinary gardener

I rescued a human today

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.

I would promise to always be by her side.

I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

~ Janine Allen of Rescue Me Dog ~

The Aromatic Outback

The Aromatic Outback is getting close to launching – only two more weeks. So these couple of weeks are busily being spent doing paperwork and business related administrative tasks etc in order to be good to go come 1st September 2008.

Our soap is the first product ready to be sold. Over the next month or two we’ll be gradually introducing more products, such as facial products, skin balms, lip balms, perfumes, some household products. They’ll be fun to make and get ready. I am looking forward to doing all aspects of it – designing labels, playing with ingredients. I love to formulate. I have some tried and true recipes that I have used for many years and they’ll be going into the mix and I am wanting to look to new formulations as well. There are a lot of new ingredients out and about that sound so interesting. Of course these will take some time before they hit the shop, as I’ll need to do appropriate product testing and ensure that they do what I want them to do and also hold up over time and exceed expectations.

Anyway it is all very exciting for me and I have been thoroughly enjoying the process of beginning a new business.

So come and visit us at our shop!!  The website is 90% complete and we have product shots of all the soaps available to see and some descriptions to entice you.  http://www.thearomaticoutback.com.au

So I’ve been soaping again.

I have some great new moulds which give me a much smoother professional look than I’ve probably ever gone for before (except for when I use my Nizzy moulds of course).

Reason for new moulds is … yep … I am starting back up as a soap business after a four year break.  Previously known as Aromatique Accents, now our business name is The Aromatic Outback.  We’re launching 1st September 2008.  A lot of soap to be made for then too … as well as product photography, labels, brochures, etc etc etc.  A lot of work to be done.

The new website is www.thearomaticoutback.com.au.  Come and check us out.  Not a lot there right now but we’re taking newsletter signups and will be offering opening day specials.