The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow woods...
Robert Frost
(26 March 1874 – 29 January 1963)
American Poet
He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech.
Ahhh, Robert Frost. What a truly magnificent poem this is. If you’ve never heard reference to it before, then you must have been living under a rock. It’s one of the most famous and most quoted poems going around. And really, I can see why.
When you read it – the longing and almost regret of having to choose between two paths is palpable. The beautiful vividness of how he explains the details of each path and how each one is a perfectly viable option. There’s hopefulness in the 3rd stanza that he might be able to return to this point and try the other path at some point. But in the end, he has to make a choice – and that choice is really unknown whether it was the better option or not – but it “made all the difference”.
Love. It.
We’ve all felt like that before.. school, career, family, where to live, what to do. Choices – regret; hopefulness; acceptance; and then reflection. But in the end – all of our choices – whether right or wrong, have made all the difference to who we are and our path in this life.
Robert Frost was an American poet who is critically respected as being one of the finest poets of the twentieth century. He died in 1963 at the respectable age of 88. To read his poems – he appears quite quiet and methodical, almost studied and withdrawn.. however from what I’ve read it appears quite the opposite was true. He loved to be engaged in conversation. Raymond Holden explained in his 1931 New Yorker profile of Frost – that he had a strength and vividness to him… he loved to “sit up late and talk, eating apples, gossiping about everyone and everything, a little maliciously sometimes but always brilliantly and soundly.”
He sounds like my kind of guy!
The Road Not Taken was actually intended as a gentle mocking of his friend and fellow poet Edward Thomas who used to be very indecisive about which path to take when they would venture out for their walks together. Frost didn’t intend it to be taken very seriously – however Thomas took it quite seriously and personally and the story goes that it was final straw in Thomas’ decision to enlist in World War 1 where he was unfortunately killed 2 years later in the Battle of Arras.
PORTRAIT IMAGE BY: Robert Frost, Newyorker.com SOURCES: Wikipedia, The New Yoker
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."
― Robert Frost
Week 25, 2017
Week 25
June 2017
This edition: Little things, Winter swimming, warm jackets and a horrid novel.
It’s the little things…
Sometimes I feel like I get too wrapped up in the drama of life, when really it’s the little things that matter…
// Sleeping in the sun, my daughters laugh, a kiss goodnight, praise of a job well done, a big heartfelt hug, family dinners, a well-made gin & tonic, the smell of salt water, connecting with a friend. //
Take life back to basics – appreciate the small things, be kind and follow your instincts.
If for some reason you aren’t happy with something in your life and it’s too daunting to go changing cold turkey – start by changing the little things, and then work your way up to the big.
Always the little things, they are the key.
The weekthat was..
Get your chillax on. Score 80% off a lifetime subscription to Aura’s meditation app.
Amazing examples of how things can be worn down over time.
That time Ninja from DieAntwood played basketball with Kanye & Drake. (this video fascinated me!! It’s seriously weird and wonderful at the same time.
Imagine climbing the equivalent of the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – with no ropes and no nets. Alex Honnold did just that and National Geographic just did an exclusive interview with him.
Turns out, Bee’s are actually pretty cute.
Dont feel sorry for refugees – believe in them.
Listening to...
Just Some Motion – Parov Stelar // All Night
I love this video.
The dance moves, the black & white video, the music and of course – the light!!
I wish I looked this good when I dance around my loungeroom.. 😉
This month's photos
A Winters swim.
Winter jackets.
Time to get snug...
Righto, so it seems Winter is here to stay. Im freezing. I need a Winter coat.
Here’s my roundup of the best warm outer jacket coats to get me through to summer.
ALL of them are under $300.
Time to get warm.
ps. I still hate winter.
Books
Tender is the Night // F. Scott Fitzgerald
It’s not often I don’t finish a book. Generally, even if it’s crap I’ll still press on…. there has been a couple of notable exceptions to this rule – Fifty Shades of Grey being one of them… and now I can add Tender is the Night by the illustrious F.Scott Fitzgerald to this list as well.
Have you read it? Oh man.. I just could not get into the rhythm of it. It had little bursts of brilliance but then it slid right back into chaotic rambling with no rhyme or reason. The heroine is not well developed and the Drivers are 1-dimensional characters. I guess I shouldn’t have expected too much when the main hero’s name is Dick Diver. Seriously. Dick Diver. *face palm*
I looked on GoodReads after I gave up to see if it was just me – and it seems like there is quite a few people that share my lack of enthusiasm for this novel.
I’m disappointed – I really like the name of the novel. “Tender is the Night” is such a great title. It’s just the inside that’s rotten. I sincerely hope they re-make the movie on it so I can find out the ending.
All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Week 23 & 24, 2017
Week 23 & 24
June 2017
This edition: Saying goodbye to our beautiful dog, Otto.
Goodbye Otto <3
It’s taken me a while to actually post this one up. It was hard to put together. This week we said goodbye to our beautiful family dog, Otto.
We got him as a wedding present from some of our friends and he was with us pre-kids and then during the baby stage for both our kids. He was such a wonderful family dog and he’s left a huge bear-shaped hole in our lives.
Otto was a Bernese Mountain Dog and unfortunately, their lifespan is only short due to their large size. We knew this when we got him – but it really did go so quickly. He would have been 8 in October.
About 3 months ago we found out that he had a tumor in his chest but he was fit and healthy so we thought we’d have a bit more time with him. Unfortunately, it seems to have been a fast moving cancer and more tumors developed pretty quickly. We made the decision to put him down on Wednesday as he’d stopped eating and while still maintaining a tough exterior, he was in a lot of pain.
His presence was so large in our house that now our house feels empty. We’re all in a state of grieving.. I know it does get easier. But still, he’ll be missed for a long time yet.
So this weekly wrap-up is all about our mate and how he touched our lives.
We loved you Otto and you were such a big part of our family. RIP buddy. You’ll never be forgotten.
// Otto: 2009 – 2017 //
xxx
Otto
- A life filled with love
Golden Years...
This song was released on Like A Version this week. Made us cry.
(What a voice this kid has huh!?)
Otto - Part 2, The Later Years
We’ll miss you Otto. Thank you for the love.
RIP.
Life goes on - but I'll still remember the way we were.
Week 22, 2017
Week 22
May 2017
This edition: Winter is here, a night on Sydney Harbour and some backyard lounging.
Winter is here…
So, that is it.. Autumn is officially over and Winter has begun.
Ugh – my 3 least favourite months of the year.
As you may have guessed from the title of this blog – I’m a Summer’s girl. I hate the cold. I consider anything below 20deg celsius to be positively freezing. Luckily, I live in a place where our Winters are pretty mild and most days through Winter still feature bucket loads of sunshine – even though its cold.
So here’s to staying in, drinking red wine and hoping these 3 months go by super quick.
ps. This week im focusing on photography. So below are photos from 2 sessions I had – one on Sydney Harbour watching Vivid Lights and one in my backyard with the family. 🙂
The weekthat was..
This playlist featured on RAGE on Saturday morning. Some great songs here!!
Speaking of RAGE – do you know you can now watch every RAGE playlist from the last 20 years?? No excuse to EVER leave the house now!
My Christmas present this year is sorted!
Long term research has now confirmed that babies born with bigger heads are smarter! ( My Mae must be a genuis then!)
Incredible time-lapse photography
Some great tips for a positive start to your day here. I think we all need a little reminding of this sometimes.
This is the best thing on the internet. ever.
A night on Sydney Harbour.
Listening to...
Meg Mac is one Australian artist ive been following for a while. Her voice is phenomenal.
I first came across her via “Like a Version” on Triple J… the song below. And now she’s just launched her debut album – be sure to check her out! Wonderful Aussie talent.
Backyard lounging
We made the most of some sunshine today – amongst the cold – to hang out in our backyard and take in some much needed Vitamin D.
No winter lasts forever, no spring skips it's turn.
― Hal Borland
Week 21, 2017
Week 21
May 2017
This edition: Cocoon floating, Manchester, a womans place and 90’s funk.
Floating the days away..
This week I tried something new… a Cocoon Float. For those that don’t know – it’s where you float in a sensory deprivation type pod for one hour. It was my first time doing something like this and it was………. an experience!
It took me a while to process exactly how I felt about it once I’d finished the float. I still find it hard to put into words – I’m a bit conflicted. I went through such a range of emotions while floating. From anxiety, doubt and claustrophobia to bliss, boredom and then mindfully thoughtful.
All in all, I don’t think I’d do it again – but I am kinda glad that I tried it once. One thing that I will say is I left with a heavy sense of peace and when I climbed into bed that night, I slept so well. A deep, calm sleep. So maybe there is something in it after all? Have you ever tried Cocoon Floats before? I’m interested to hear other people’s opinion…
The weekthat was..
I checked out Vivid in Sydney on the weekend. Awesome to watch.. and its always fabulous being on the iconic Sydney Harbour.
#goals – Just be yourself, no matter what your age.
I participated in a 5 day Instagram course by Jenna Kutcher. It was interesting doing some of the challenges and made me stretch myself a bit which is always good I think. I think I will look at doing more challenges in the future. Any recommendations?
5 tips to help you thrive
Stuck for a book to read. Get un-stuck here
This Constance Hall post resonated with me
This month's photos
My hearts bleeds for
Manchester
I can’t let the week go by without acknowledging the atrocities of the terrorist attack on Manchester this week. I actively avoided the news for most of the day until I felt ready to hear it. With tears streaming down my face I finally watched ABC news at about 10 pm that night… So despicable.
I will never be able to understand how someone can actively want to do harm to someone else. It’s not in my psyche to even wound anyone with words, let alone physically.
I feel such pain for the families affected and I wish them love in the healing process – if you ever can heal completely from something like this. And I thank the helpers.. the people that were there to help, aid and assist in any way they can. Always, the helpers are there.
Big love to anyone affected by this horrible event.
Listening to...
Hubby & I took a little trip to Sydney on Saturday night to watch an old school Aussie band play. Skunkhour.
If you were anywhere near the vicinity of Sydney in the late 90’s early 2000’s you would have come across this band playing their smooth, funky bass riddled tunes in a hotspot such as the Annadale hotel or headlining a summer festival somewhere.
“Up to our Necks in It” was one of their biggest hits and truly worthy of a place in my musical recap this week. Enjoy!
Winter is Coming...
Winter Boots perfect for the office.
Im on the hunt for some regular Winter boots that I can wear to the office – which means comfy for daily trekking up the street plus versatile and stylish at the same time. Here are some of my top picks so far and ALL of them are under $150.
Get on it.
ps. I hate winter.
TV Viewing
Genius // The life of Albert Einstein
I mentioned in a previous post that I had started watching Genius on National Geographic channel. This last week’s episode – Episode 5 – was kinda important and I feel like I need to address it. It covered a subject that is very hard to get right.. That is, a woman’s struggle with ambition vs family.
The episode covers the struggle for Albert Einstein’s first wife Mileva Marić – who was a brilliant physicist in her own right. She fell in love with Albert and nature being nature – had children with him. However, then begins the internal struggle between academy / career and family. As mothers, we all want to fiercely be there and love our families, but we also want to hold on and embrace what makes us tick.
This particular example was made even more pronounced by the time period that Mileva was born into. Nowadays, we are lucky that we don’t have to make such a black & white decision, but we still carry the hangover of prejudice and stigma from ages past- where a woman’s duty was first to her family and second to herself.
I feel for Mileva – just as I feel for Albert who couldn’t quite grasp her inner turmoil. It was a tormented struggle for Mileva and a strain on their relationship and her mental health. A powerful, emotional moment in the episode is where Marie Curie – the epitome of what Mileva wants to be – is sitting in front of Mileva and tells her that she envy’s her – namely her relationships with her sons. Because she (Marie) worked so much and put her work first that she now had no relationship with her children.
Powerful cinema and very thought-provoking indeed.
Behind every great man is a great woman rolling her eyes.
Degas
If you see a ballerina, it’s Degas.
Edgar Degas
(19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917)
French // Impressionist (although he identified more as a Realist)
More than half of his works depict dancers.
“Yesterday I spent the whole day in the studio of a strange painter called Degas,” wrote Edmond de Goncourt in 1874.
For all his ‘strangeness’ and abruptness Edgar Degas is widely regarded as being before his time and having a vision that surpassed his peers and intimidated them.
Degas liked to capture strange postures from unusual angles, this is seen keenly in his ballet paintings. Usually, when we think of ballet – we think of everything being pristine and perfect. But Degas took inspiration from the sloppy behind the scenes views. The bent and broken bodies of the ballerinas as they waited hunched over in the wings or as they awkwardly stretched before their performance.
Degas took this fascination with the ugly side of beauty in other paintings such a “L’Absinthe” which features two people at a table and a glass of Absinthe in front of them. It’s sad, and lonely and demoralising. When it was first seen in 1876 – it was called ugly and disgusting and caused a huge controversy due to the seedy nature of its subjects. In fact, it was hidden away from public eye for 16 years. In 1892 it was once again exhibited and this time elicited public boo-ing from the crowd. From these low beginnings, its now proudly on display in the Musee D’Orsay in Paris as one of their finest pieces.
Even though we know him best for his dreamy ballerina paintings – there was never an artist more intolerably brilliant than Degas. He was a sufferer for his art and thought that it was his calling in life – he lived and breathed his art to the detriment of everything else in his life.
During his lifetime, his persona was legendary. In company, he was known for his wit – which could often be biting, but never catty. He even rivalled Oscar Wilde on quite a few occasions! “I want people to believe me wicked,” he once declared.
As he aged, his friends are said to have lamented the fading of his “beautiful intelligence”. But for all of his brilliance – Degas’ journals are laced with self-lacerating comments. He never doubted his genius as an artist, but he doubted his worth as a human being.
During the last decades of his life, Degas lived and worked in a large fifth-floor studio in lower Montmartre. He lived a life of solitude, and eventually lost most of his friends – due to his anti-Semitic ideas and argumentative nature. He never married, opposed social change and technological innovations, always painted indoors, and ceased painting by 1912, at which he time he was nearly blind.
He died wandering the streets of Paris in 1917.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Art Story, Smithsonian Mag, The Monthly & Wiki-Art for the images
"Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things."
― Degas
Week 20, 2017
Week 20
May 2017
This edition: Motivation, staying focused, record-breaking art and Chris Cornell
Eye of the Tiger…
Motivation. Let’s talk about motivation… how do you stay focused on what you have to do? I’m a constant list maker – I love lists. But then I get bored and distracted and forget that I made a list. Or I get overwhelmed by putting too many things onto the list! When I’m motivated – nothing can stop me. I’m going to rule the world!! And then I look at the list, plus everything else rattling around in my brain and get overwhelmed and come to a grinding halt! So – what are the tried and true techniques for keeping you on track?
What keeps you focused and moving forward?
The weekthat was..
This resonated with me this week – small steps to happiness
Raw emotion portraits of America’s transient kids
If I was ever to get a tattoo -I’d want one of these
This made me LOL. Who knew Cinnamon could create such havoc.
This is one of those clever little videos that I just love
The Arctic “doomsday” seed vault is supposed to ensure the future of humanity. It just flooded.
Watching “Genius” tv show – chronicles Albert Einstein’s life. Thoroughly enjoying it. Really love the actor who plays the young Albert Einstein.
This month's photos
Listening to...
Sad news this week with the passing of Chris Cornell – one of the founders of basement grunge in the early ’90’s. I don’t know about you, but Soundgarden was a soundtrack to my teens. Full of grungy teenage angst. And then when he moved into Audioslave – I discovered that the voice was connected to a pretty swoon-worthy package and I became a fan of the man + his music. That voice! Seriously!
I’m sorry to see his talent gone from this world. I hope his family can find some peace. Thank you for the music, Chris!
Dreaming of Far Off Places
Cinque Terra
One of my distractions this week has been helping my bestie look for the perfect holiday house in Europe for her 40th birthday extravaganza. I think she’s found the right place and it’s on the Italian Riviera. Not far away from Cinque Terra.
Has anyone else been around this area? What would you recommend? I’ve driven from Nice to Cinque Terra but we didn’t stop at the places along the way and it’s this little stretch of the Mediterranean that we’ll be staying… I’m keen to learn what I can!
Art
Untitled // Jean-Michel Basquiat
Something pretty phenomenal happened in the art world this week – Jean-Michel Basquiat‘s famous Untitled skull artwork sold, amongst audible gasps from the crowd, for a record $US110.5 million ($149 million AU) at auction in New York.
This places the African-American artist in a very elite club of the +$100m artists. It puts him in the same league as Picasso, Van Gough & Rembrandt.
It wasn’t the only records being set though – Basquiat’s vibrant painting also set the record for a work by any American artist, for a work by an African-American artist and as the first work created since 1980 to make over $100 million.
That’s quite the accomplishment.
A little progress each day, adds up to big results.
Week 19, 2017
Week 19
May 2017
This edition: Precocious children, Cypress Hill cover, The Luminaries and a video in celebration of all you Mothers out there.
Family first…
We’ve been struggling with Family time lately. Our very precocious 4-year-old is bombing every event, outing and nice activity with a mixture of attitude, insolence and general unpleasantness. We tried to go on a bike ride this morning which ended in tears and screaming – and this was just from me! 😉
So, I’m madly researching how to give a stubborn and willful kid an attitude adjustment. This afternoon we tried to some new methods and she seems to be responding… We seem to go on a rollercoaster – some weeks we have the most amazing and delightful child ever, and then other weeks, it all seems to overwhelm her – and us!! I’m hopeful that for Mothers Day on Sunday i’ll have my beautiful girl back after a bit of discipline and thoughtful conversations about expectations.
What’s your tips for handling difficult attitudes from your kids? Do you have a tried and true solution for controlling the crazy? That keeps you from going crazy?
The weekthat was..
There’s been a new colour discovered! And Crayola are making it into a crayon. So pretty!
The girls’ soccer team that joined a boys’ league, and won it Girl power!
Reading books makes you a kinder and more empathetic person
I certainly don’t agree with her most of the time. But every now and then Jacqui Lambie says something so right on, you just have to wish there were more like her in politics.
I could watch this guy all day.
They’ve done a study and figured out how to live a happy life.
I finally got the time to listen to Serial’s new podcast “S.Town“
This month's photos
Book Club
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
I don’t like to dissect art, books or movies too much after I read/view them – I believe they are for entertainment’s value and that it can take away from the general “feeling” of a book to dissect it while immersed in it.
Generally, my barometer on books is – did I enjoy my time reading it? Yes = good book, No = rubbish book.
So – The Luminaries. Yes, I enjoyed reading it. Did I love all of its parts? No. But it was well written and kept me intrigued for the most part. I just finished it last night and I was sad it was over. So again, another indication that I enjoyed the experience of reading it.
But then, I just read on Goodreads.com that there is a mathematical structure to the book that I didn’t even pick up on! Apparently, the first chapter is the longest, the second is half as long, the third half as long as the second, etc all the way to the last chapter. And within the chapters – the number of sections in each part when added to the number of the part, adds up to a constant “13” (to reference the 13 key players).
Mind blown! Its a smart novel anyway, but then to add this extra layer of complexity onto it makes me really appreciate the author’s challenge in writing it. I like it more now. I’ll definitely be watching out for future novels from Eleanor Catton.
Listening to...
Kasabian cover Cypress Hill's Insane in the Brain
I like this way more than I should!
Cypress Hill was my gangsta jam growing up – and this live cover sounds like a cross between Cypress Hill / Kasabian and Gorillaz.
Whatever is happening, it’s pretty fucking cool. Enjoy.
Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay
― DALAI LAMA
Happy Mothers Day all :)
We're all doing the best we can
Whether you have kid babies or fur babies – Happy Mothers Day all my lovelies!! Hopefully, you get celebrated for the fine mumma you are. And remember, be kind to yourself… you’re doing a great job! Here’s a little video – an oldie but a goodie to remind us all what really matters. Love ya’s.
