
Life can be a bitch… and then it’s not… and then it is again… and… oh… wait… no it’s not again… all clear… as you were.
And so are the days of our… damn, that ship has already sailed. Can’t use that one.
So hello there from the front veranda where I’m coming to you today sharing my exciting, exuberant life and musings ( raises one eyebrow). Check photographic evidence at top of post.
I was around the back veranda where the cooler breeze was blowing on this muggy first day of March but, neighbours (again, raises one eyebrow). It’s not all bad – I just may catch a glimpse of the fairy wrens who have been frequenting the little birdbath in the flourishing front garden bed. I can’t believe how much this garden has grown.
From time to time I have heard the little wrens flitting about under the gum trees over the fence but they were quite elusive. I did have a little weep when I first saw them in our garden enjoying the cool water and the protection the small shrubbery gave them. I so miss the darling little family of wrens we had at our old home.
For some technological, totally bewildering and beyond my depth of intelligence reason you, dear long time reader/sufferer of my musings, have not been receiving my very important emails notifying you when I have published a new post.
I know?! Crushing!
Don’t fret, you haven’t missed much. I only posted three blog posts last year. You know what it likes when you want to do something so desperately and then when you make time to sit down and do it your brain switches off? Happens to me ALL. THE. TIME. Mostly when I head in the direction of the desk that holds paperwork and filing… that’s another story.
I’m not going to apologise for being absent because upon reading back through my blog I seem to apologise A LOT for not being consistent at turning up here. It got very old very quickly for me so can only imagine it gets old quickly for you too.
Instead I’ll just say…
“Hi, thanks for sticking around! Here’s some things I’d like to share with you!”
A few weeks ago I was honoured to take part in the amazing “Women of Courage” series over on Denyse Whelan Blogs. Denyse is a lovely caring soul and fellow cancer survivor. If you’d like to check out Denyse’s blog and my post in the series you can do that here.
If you do nothing else today other than head on over and follow @rust_emporium on Instagram and Facebook you’ll have done yourself THE biggest favour you’ll thank yourself for again and again.
Here’s why…

And suddenly, there it was. All those times she’d felt hidden eyes upon her, the quick flickers of movement half seen, the searching, the knowing, that there was another layer of this magical place she hadn’t yet explored. Finally, hidden in plain sight, that little secret door into another realm had revealed itself. Now, how to fit through there? Alice would have simply nibbled a mushroom and shrunk to size. There were certainly plenty of mushrooms to be had, but she suspected Lewis Carroll had been partaking of certain fungi himself and this was, after all, no fairytale, this was real life….

This morning we roamed the forest in the half light of dawn, watching the wombats frolick on the hillside as the moon waved farewell and the dawn’s tendrils reached through the trees. There was a strange light this morning, as though a gossamer web hung between this world and the next. A strange light that I couldn’t capture. Maybe the light of those shifting worlds can only be seen by the minds eye, maybe it’s reserved for those that venture out in the camanhaich. Let me know, if you roam with the dawn, if you too glimpse those hidden paths….and have you ever followed them? .
Told ya didn’t I. This last one is one of my very favourites. (Pics and words by @rust_imporium) What a wordsmith. I just love her magical posts that transport me to another place and time and leave me in a state of such wonder. So gifted.
Nadine curates collections of antique and vintage wares (as stated in her profile) selling online and at the @dargo.store Dargo. She hopes to be operating out of her new shed/shop from home in beautiful Briagolong very soon. She also enjoys wandering through the local forest with her dogs and shares her gorgeous pics and wondrous words with her followers. Soooo pleased you share Nadine.
It’s no secret that I love the writing of Mrs Woog from Woogsworld. Recently she decided to send off a very funny and brilliant email pitch to some editors of “Impressive Online News Sites” (her words) whom may be in need of her very witty freelance writing and wordsmith skills. Mrs Woog shared that email on her blog with her readers and it is hilarious. You can read it here. (And yes, she did hear back from some prospects – I did comment that if they didn’t hire her after that pitch they don’t deserve her).
And finally, before I escape the escalating heat to lay under a ceiling fan in my yellow polka-dot bikini (laughs hysterically), because I have not spied one fairy wren so far, here are some links to a few posts you may have missed from me that may help to explain why life has been a bitch… and then not.
Gratefulness – Can It Co-Exist With Less Than Feel Good Emotions
Love always,
Sandra ? Xx
(And thanks to Shauna Round the Corner who I drew inspiration from today. May it help to know that you are not alone, my bloggy friend, when it comes to owing some special people a blog post… or three ? )
Linking with #lifethisweek at Denyse Whelan Blogs Pop on over and discover some great blogs joining the link up.
” You know what it likes when you want to do something so desperately and then when you make time to sit down and do it your brain switches off?”
My entire life, haha!!
Ha Ha Vanessa, I’m hearing you! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂 Xx
I loved the whimsy of this post and have followed your insta suggestion #lifethisweek Shared
Hi Jennifer!
Thank you so much for your kind words. So pleased you have followed Rust Emporium. You really won’t be sorry.
Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂 Xx
I’m pleased I’m not the only one with a switchy off brain! I don’t mind how often you show up because whenever you do it’s always a pleasure! Besides you know the old adage, is quality not quantity.” Now I’m off to check out your Women of Courage interview, I don’t know how I missed that one!
Sammie it’s always a pleasure when you pop by. And switchy off brain is a real thing!
Love 🙂 Xx
Welcome back Sandra. I tend to always be apologising for not being a consistent blogger or book reviewer or being late with my reviews when I realise they’re supposed to be things I do for my pleasure… not things I HAVE to do.
Hey there Deb!
I know right? I guess we just like to be nice people and worry that people might be worried or annoyed that we haven’t shown up? I think we both have good, kind intentions though. That’s gotta count for something. 😉
Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂 Xx
Hey there Sandra…it’s great to see you this week on the link-up. I’ve followed @rust_imporium & think I’ll be glad that I have. #lifethisweek
HI there Jo!
Oh you definitely will be glad you have followed Rust. I always look forward to her posts.
Thank you so much for stopping by via the #lifethisweek link-up. 🙂 Xx
Lovely to hear from you, Sandra. I do adore wrens. We had a whole swathe of scarlet breasted wrens come to visit the other day. They were so busy! It was beautiful 🙂 Have a lovely weekend, won’t you … x
Hello there Margareta! So lovely of you to stop by. 🙂
How magical to have scarlet breasted wrens visit your garden! The seasol is getting a hardy work out around here encouraging (or begging on my behalf) the plants to grow strong and swiftly so the little birds will feel safe and protected enough to frequent our garden on a regular basis. Fairy wrens are my most favourite little creatures.
Hope you are having a lovely long weekend Maragreta! 🙂 Xx
Aww thank you for your kind words Sandra. Always a bit daunting putting your crazy thoughts out into the world, as you know. A bit of a relief that people like them and don’t think you should be locked up! Loving your garden, and so glad you’ve got a new family of fairy wrens to watch over XX
-Nadine (Rust Emporium)
Hi there Nade!
I’m hearing you, re- ‘putting our crazy thoughts out into the world’. After six years of very spasmodic writing here on my blog I still hesitate pressing that publish button, but it’s so lovely when your words resonate with someone.
The sharing of stories weaves a strong fabric of strength, connection and support. And if you can take someone on a magical journey, like you do with your pics and words, then that’s a necessary and beautiful gift to the world.
You just never know how being transported to another place and time or looking at something from another perspective can make a difference to someones day. I know for sure that the words of others I’ve found online do that for me – somehow it’s when I need to read them the most.
Thank you so much for stopping by Nade! I look forward to reading more and more of your words and coveting all the lovely antique wares I see on your posts. 🙂 Xx
Love your words. Keep on writing my friend…please!
Thank you for joining in Life This Week. Next week’s optional prompt is Share Your Snaps. Hope to see you linking up too. Denyse.
Hello lovely Denyse!
It’s pretty cool having you in my corner! You inspire me everyday!
Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂 Xx
Naaaaw…
Well I for one am glad that your post popped into my inbox. You just made my day!
I love reading your blogs. They are just so honest and humble and I could totally see you sitting on your veranda sharing your thoughts.
It am always amazed when inspiration strikes me. It comes from the most unexpected places sometimes! I am feeling very happy that I was able to do that for you.
It’s been lovely to read you again Sandra. x
Hello lovely Shauna!
Yes, it is surprising sometimes where the inspiration comes from. Thank you for being my inspiration with this post and thank you for your kind words as always. I look forward to reading more from you also. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Xx
Blogging is hard work so congrats on your three posts last year. Always an inspiring read x
Hey there Kookychic! Lovely to have you stop by!
Yep, blogging and all that goes with it certainly is a labour of love. And when I do write and post I love every minute.
Thanks so much for your kind words. Hope all is well in your camp. 🙂 Xx