Choo Choo to Epping

A new train line opened up a number of months ago in Sydney from Chatswood to Epping.  I was pretty amazed at the enormity of the project when I caught the train this morning to work.

It was very early in the morning so only a few other commuters on the train but it was kind of nice to be able to appreciate it quietly.

I may not have caught a train in a while but was impressed with the moveable foot rests (smart move to avoid all those feet on seats), but moreso the very long escalators that made you feel like you were appearing from inside the depths of the earth.  The escalator in the above pic is just one of the two you need to ride up to ground level.

My friend KS tells me that the station design matched the ones in Washington DC.

Just call me an unexpected train geek.

Caring for others - with our words

Over the past month or so how to best care for others has been on my mind alot.

Do we care enough for others?

What is our motivation to care for others?

Do we only care for those we feel naturally drawn to?

What prevents us from caring for others?

I had a conversation to do with this yesterday with a friend I have known for pretty much my whole working life, since we met as graduates in our first job.  I'm not sure she was even a Christian back then but over the last 12.5 years she has grown immensely in her faith and has spent a few years on mission.

The last few times we have caught up our conversation has turned to how we both recognise the importance of being refined by God on an ongoing basis.  The basis of our faith is accepting that Jesus died for our sins and given us new life.  It's also in this new life that we need to remember that we are still not perfect and God calls us to continually be refined or 'bear fruit'. 

It's easy to feel that we ourselves are not cared for enough, but perhaps we need to look at how we ourselves care for others?

C brought up the importance of words.  Words that you think you may say out of jest, may actually be hurtful or offensive to another person.  

The words we use also affect us.  You often hear people say 'you need to think more positively'.  C and I talked about how if our words are not positive then what does that say about what is within us?

Matthew 12:33-35

'Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit.  You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.'

I was really encouraged that C has been praying and working through this refinement in her life.  

Mum's Ham Hock Soup

Mum delivered this soup on the weekend while I was in 'quarantine'.

The soup was simple but tasty and comforting.  Perfectly cooked chunks of potato and carrot, paired with melt-in-your-mouth ham and spinach.

Seeing the small rings of pasta caused my spirits to lift.  The pasta helped the soup look more pleasing to the eye and it also helped lighten the soup, instead of having that stodgy carbohydrate feel.  Funny how something so subtle can make such a difference.  

I think I will be keeping that in mind next time I serve soup with pasta.  Thanks Mum! : )

Inside Out - Jonathan Adler Inspiration

I've been thinking about mustard, yellow or orange for a while now but wasn't sure if it was retro overload.  I think here it is done well against the basic canvases of browns, beiges and whites which my unit also is.

Jonathan Adler has some amazing stuff.  The cushions in the Inside feature are mild compared to his standard ones.  But he seems to get the colour combinations right!  

Unfortunately I can't justify purchasing one of his cushions but I can always improvise!  His work is well thought out and quirky, but can also be simple too.  Check out his 'About' page.

Jonathan Adler

www.jonathanadler.com

P.S. Apologies for the clarity of the pics....taking photos of printed material proves challenging.  The cushions featured are no longer on JAs site.  I remember the shag pile one from a few years ago...not that I would select a shag pile cushion!

Wrapped within my walls

   

I've spent the last 5 days confined within the walls of my unit due to illness.  Waiting on the results.

The confinement has made me appreciate things in my home more.  I figure it must be a home if I can spend (for me) so much time in my cosy space without going nuts!  My recent coffee table purchase has made sitting on the sofa a little more convenient and it has served well as a meal table, laptop table, and even a foot stool with my Cloth cushion (seems to have been destined to sit there, a gift from some dear friends) sitting snugly in the slot.

Looking around I am considering introducing more colour into the lounge area...perhaps this Marimekko fabric, Spiral in a Honey colour, which I spotted at Nordic Fusion last week?

Have been inspired by this single cushion in the latest 'Inside Out'....next entry...

Same Ben, Different Haircut