I saw you coming from afar...

Michelle and me

My wonderful cousin Michelle had her baby today. She named her sweet baby girl Kaylee Maree. Her middle name is for me.

I am overwhelmed and grateful. I feel so honoured. I feel like a priceless gift has been given to me and I can't believe the depth of love that Michelle has for me. A love so deep that she named the child that she and Leon created after me. The most important person in their lives bears my name.

I often think I do not belong in this world. In this time and this place. I am impatient to leave sometimes. But I know I must stay for this tiny life who is newly arrived, for this sweet child whom I started loving the moment I knew she existed.

Kaylee Maree, I saw you coming from afar and you are beautiful.

This Rocks

This is my latest creative project.

Joy Freedom Hope Grace Dream Love Believe Peace Courage

I am painting rocks and then painting words on them. The idea is that I will then take the rocks and put them around my neighbourhood. I hope that people who need their messages will find them, in the park or on the sidewalk, or in a tree or by the river.

Of course they might be found by naysayers and meanies, but I hope not. I hope the rocks make a small difference to someone's life.

Update: Here are my latest rocks. I am getting more fun and frisky with colour and design. I painted these rocks while having creative time with my friend Kelly.

Believe Honour Truth Knowledge Freedom Serene Tranquil Trust

Don't you just love them? :)

These are my hounds.


If they were to find inspirational rocks, those rocks would read "Eat" "Love" "Sleep" "Play". Everyone should get themselves a hound or two. I highly recommend it.

Sunday Scribblings: Time Travel

What did her heart beat for? She was no longer sure of the answer to that question. Before Mexico she might have listed the boyfriend of the week, her planned vacation to Paris or her next weekend away with the girls. But after what happened in Mexico the only thing in her life seemed to be the tattoo on her wrist and the obligations, responsibilities and duties associated with it.

Oh to be free. To have the shackles fall from her hands and feet. Perhaps if they did fall she could dance - dance her way back into her old life. But would she fit in there? Sometimes she imagined going back in time to tap herself of a year ago on the shoulder. What would she say? Don't go to Mexico? Don't let those bastards hold you down while they tattoo your wrist and force you to inhale their legacy? But in the quiet moments of the night, when the clock had struck two and the wolves were howling at the door in more ways than one, she knew. She knew deep down and heavy inside that they would have found her anywhere on earth and jammed her birthright down her throat.

So telling herself of a year ago not to go to Mexico would be a waste of time. Telling herself a year ago that she was about to become a bone singer was probably also out of the question. Who would believe that crazy shit?

What could she have told the her of a year ago? What would have made a difference in the massive whirlwind of changes and the sense of responsibility that had thundered into her life like a storm from hell? Smile more, perhaps. Care less about what other people think. Eat more ice cream. Have less expectations. Some things are valued too late, and by the time you realise how precious they are, they've slipped through your fingers and shattered on the ground at your feet.