Olinda Love.

Well, the rain has been pretty much relentless. Apart from the incredible heartache that it's causing countless people around the country, with floods threatening homes and lives, I have actually loved the wet summer.

This past weekend I escaped to the tree-filled paradise known as Olinda where the MMs live - a town in the Dandenong Ranges mountain district about an hour from Melbourne.

Jamie has been diligently drawing new birds for a special top-secret project and Little One kept me entertained with hilarious skits that involved headbands and nasal spray. And I powered through quite a busy to-do list, always a relief!

I'm going back this weekend :)

Moonrise Kingdom.

The ole 'buzz' is certainly building for Moonrise Kingdom. Oh, the stars, the stars.

Happy Birthday, Mum.

It's my mother's birthday today. This is her and I, snuggling. Circa 1983.

We were supposed to be sharing meals and hot drinks today but the relentless rain belting down all over the north-east of the state has kept us apart.

But there are these words, in the meantime.

I have inherited mum's love of rustic country-ness, laneway walks, reading, a penchant for acting-the-fool, staunch vegetarianism, famed craziness and questionable dance moves. Where I see the macro, she sees the micro.

My mum is famous among my family and friends for being pretty darn unreal. She is the confidante, the cook, the cleaner, the teacher, the yogi, the lightness, the realist, the questioner, the read-aloud-erer - for so many apart from just me.

But, I am one of only two lucky enough to call her 'Mum'.

Happy birthday Brenda Jean.
xo.

Florence.

Florence.
Summer, 2010.
xo.

Tiny Town Fete.

Hello loves. Golly gosh, I have been a slack little writer haven't I? I'm sorry. Do you forgive me? I hope so. I've been buuuusy!

So, my hometown fete was a great success last weekend. It looked and felt just how I wanted it to; well worth the severe lack of sleep and brainpower!

Most importantly though I had some insanely beautiful friends make the long journey to my small town to get involved, hang out and just be wonderful.

One such friend was blog superstar Whole Larder Love who took these gorgeous shots and posted about the little town. His post is well worth a look!

Alexander Ebert.

Whitney.

Music has played a huge part in my life and I've spent most of my life thus far working in the industry.

Discovering Whitney Houston is my first musical memory. I was four years old when her second record, Whitney, was released and I had a book about her. It must have been released with the record; I just remember it having lots of pictures of this incredible woman who I just adored. I have an extraordinarily clear memory of clutching my Whitney book in the kitchen of my aunt and uncle's house.

I loved 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' as much as a small person self-named Ownself who liked wearing purple eyeshadow possibly can.

That love for Ms. Houston never waned, I still re-watch The Bodyguard and sing along to 'I Have Nothing' when nobody is watching or listening.

She will be missed, miss Whitney.