Raylene Waye - Lighthouse - official video

                                                                  - Serenity -

Some simple ponderings for today...

The simple things are still often the best...

Everyone is always so busy in this fast paced modern life...

But we still require the same BASIC things that our ancestors did... think about it... ;)

Don't forget to take time to rest and find some peace & serenity in your day... today!

Recharge, refresh and you will have the energy to be more productive and enjoy the process :-)

Have a great day!

cheers
Raylene

"Running Back Through the Corridors of Time... Oh the Memories that Capture my mind..."

There is something about run down old farm houses that intrigues me... there used to be quite a few around where I grew up... but not many are left now... they have been condemned and wrecked...


There were so many beautiful old homesteads, on country properties... yet sadly time has taken its toll and hardship taken one too many blows for their occupants... many have walked off the land, some have taken their lives as the extremes of drought and tough times has sent them to the wall in despair - with little to no relief in sight...


Life is fragile, and my mind ponders the lives of those who had once walked within the corridors and rooms of now abandoned homes... what adventures and misfortunes did they embrace? What miseries and blissful moments did they encounter? What accomplishments and setbacks? What tragedy and triumphs did they face? What dreams fulfilled or died? Yet now, only a fragment of those times remain... if at all... as a distant memory or tales and stories told by relatives and friends... should they have been survived by any...

Then I consider my own encounters and what I have achieved amidst my own years of struggle and triumph... for none of us are immune to suffering and we all experience the same emotions of joy or despair... some more than others... it is part of the human condition!


What legacy will I leave? Did I do the best I could with what I have? I know I have always tried to do my best and to do what is right... but that doesn't mean I have always succeeded in the way that I wanted to! By far! I have had many miserable failings, made poor choices and suffered the consequences!

BUT... I've also had times of sweet joyous success after the toil of following my dreams, for surely this is what adventures are made of! What inspires and spurs us on to accomplish something greater than ourselves... to push past the pain for the gain and the glory of leaving a legacy... and so another chapter is written in the story as life continues to unfold...

For me, that pursuit and passion has always been expressed in music... and it is here in my own unique songs that my story unfolds and is told... the good, bad and the ugly... I invite you to walk through the corridors of time with me as you listen to my songs and I sincerely hope you will find encouragement and inspiration as you share these moments with me...


cheers
Raylene

A Letter to a Friend....

I wrote a letter to a friend recently... who I've seen go through many personal struggles... but then I pondered... I have so many friends who I know have or are going through struggles... truth is we all have our personal struggles from time to time... because it's not the "perfect world" that we so often hope for... and unfortunately no one is immune to pain...

So, I decided to share it with many friends... hoping that perhaps it would encourage you also and give you hope in whatever stage you may find yourself at this time... or in the future...

                                                   * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A Letter To A Friend....

I am writing this to you, as a friend, because I care… even though I know I’m the last person you may want to hear from right now!

I toiled for several hours on what I would say… awaking extremely early and in angst because I see in you so many things I have and am struggling with myself… so I hope I can encourage you in what I wish to share… if you will be patient to hear me out…

But first, I thought it may be helpful for me to paint a picture for you…because a picture paints a thousand words and I hope it can relate to you better than my words alone will… so I share with you a dream that I had some time ago…

In my dream I saw someone, seated and sewing dark colours into a huge piece of fabric… I looked and I was depressed about how dark and dreary it was, bleak and ugly… and somehow I knew this was a representation of my life… the pain; the rejection; disappointment; sorrow; loss; anguish and despair; confusion and hopelessness; all my dark times… and a sense of abandonment in that everything I had worked so hard for was all in vain…

I wanted to run away from it, unable to look any longer - because it was not what I had hoped and tried so hard for… and I failed to make any sense of it – how anything good could come from all this ugliness - or how or why it even came to be there…

But then – suddenly - I was looking from a distance and I now I saw the big picture… I could see the whole piece of fabric… that was intertwined with beautiful colours and textures and an image was beginning to emerge from the woven threads…

What I had seen as ugly and painful and times I wanted to run away from… that formed the dark threads in this tapestry of my life… had now become the depth and the contrast enhancing the colours and the light… and the overall image that was emerging and taking form of what would become the final big picture…

I'm Back!!! (yay :P)

Hello everyone!

Well here I am again... after a very busy year and finally time to catch my breath!

So, what's been going on since I had temporarily abandoned my blog... ??

Moving house 3 times in the last 12 months and in between that recording my new album "Redemption"... for which the master is finally finished... YAY!!!

I will be uploading soon & making it available for sale through various artist sites and digital stores... now just planning launch date etc...

So after much ado... Redemption draws nigh! YES!!

mum's the word!

Hello family, friends and fans :)

So, what's happening lately?

Life can get so busy and before you know it the days, weeks and months have snowballed... and it's almost the end of August already!!

These last few months have been rather busy... I have some exciting music offers in the pipeline... and new album "Redemption" almost complete... just got to get the artwork sorted after photo session snaps were all lost! :(

Sigh.... Oh well... back to the drawing board... and some new ideas for an album cover anyhow... :) got to keep pressing forward!!

You may have seen on my website and twitter that I have been fundraising for my mum's operation... well she is booked into have surgery first week of October... and we have almost raised enough for the first operation now... and a big thanks to those who have supported this through purchasing my music :) <3 <3

Other family members have been working very hard to help raise the money also...

If you would like to help, please visit http://www.raylenewaye.com - all purchases going towards mum's operation...
to help save her eyesight!

You can purchase just one song for .99cents or an album download for $9.99... or choose your own price on several of my most popular songs as a donation...

Mum's the word!! :)

keep well and many blessings!
Raylene <3

FREE album mp3 download - limited time!

Hi friends!

Well, I'm back from a break from blogging... with a fantastic offer for you!

For a LIMITED time...

you can download my entire first album "Mystery" for FREE!

Just head over to my website:

www.raylenewaye.com where you can take advantage of this limited offer!

I have a new album coming soon... but to whet your appetite... I am offering my first album as a FREE mp3 download for the first 100 takers!

While you're visiting, you may also like to head over to my facebook page and "LIKE" :)

You can also find me on Reverbnation... where you can sign up to my fanreach to get the latest news...

www.reverbnation.com/raylenewaye

Both links are on my website also!


thanks!!


Stay awesome!

blessings
Raylene

Live Interview on "The Thursday Slice"

Back into the swing...

Hi!

I hope the New Year is off to a flying start for you all!

Just returned from visiting family and friends interstate... it's time for me to get out of holiday mode and concentrate on finishing my upcoming album "Redemption"... with 12 great new songs!

Well, I've already given you some sneak peaks at what's coming... "Hope", "No One is Beyond", "Prevail" and you can listen from my music player to the right of my page... or at www.reverbnation.com/raylenewaye or www.raylenewaye.com

Here's one more preview for you... I've just uploaded "Arms of Love"...

Feel free to leave some feedback... this song is in preliminary mix at present... I hope you enjoy!!

cheers :)
xox

Live Radio Interview - Louisville Kentucky USA

• Live Radio Interview & Feature
• 7:15 pm
• Louisville Kentucky USA, USA
• Live Radio interview and feature - "The Wheat Report" - with Mz Audra Wheat - featuring Raylene
  
  Thursday January 17th 7pm-8pm EST (USA) = 11:15am Friday 18th January AEST (daylight saving time - AUSTRALIA)
  
  Call in 646.929.1566 questions, comments, or listen LIVE from your phone or log in to
  
  www.blogtalkradio.com/the-wheat-report
  
  listen in or participate in the chat room

UPDATE!!!

this interview has been rescheduled for Feb 4th at 6pm EST... cheers!

Embrace!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Last night, for me, was spent down at Sydney harbour, watching the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks...

In the meantime, several hours of time had to pass... waiting for the main event to take place... as you need to set up camp pretty early to get a good vantage point...

Thousands of people were setting up little tents and had chairs and eskys full of food and drinks and so forth...

I went for a walk along the esplanade, away from the crowd and where it was a lot quieter and got a great view of the harbour... and some really cool nights pics of boats aglow as they sailed the calm waters, also passing the time...

Then I looked up and saw a once in a life time opportunity... and would have gained an even greater snap if I had thought about it a bit sooner... instead of just admiring... :-)

The yellow moon, framed between the red glow of sails and rope... just touching the one to the right of it...  on its ascent into the starry night... a brief window of time to get this pic before the boat and the moon continued on their separate paths...

I caught one more snap, within seconds of the first, making it apparent that the opportunity was quickly slipping by...

After capturing the image, I realized that the writing on the side of the boat, also aglow in red, reads:

                                                                   "Embrace"

Then I got to thinking... that's a great motto for the coming year! Embrace... the opportunities that come and make the most of those moments... as sometimes they will only come once in a life time, or maybe fleeting... 

Time is a precious gift from God, and no one knows how long we each have... many predicted the end of the world (again) at the end of last year... but here we are... having crossed over again into a New Year... with new opportunities and new horizons to explore...

So, my wish and prayer for you, is that you will go forward with hope and embrace this year and experience the fulness of God's best for you!!

Happy 2013!!

Easy Tirimasu - yummo!

the last thing I decided to make for Christmas lunch, was a Tirimasu :) yum!

I got this idea from a friend, who has a degree in hospitality... and is a fab cook! But this recipe is VERY SIMPLE!

ingredients:

Italian sponge finger biscuits - one large packet
600 mls thickened cream (not light cream - it won't whip)
drinking chocolate powder for sprinkling
teaspoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of icing sugar or natural sugar replacement
one cup of cold strong black coffee
1/2 cup coffee liquor (I ended up using one that was a vanilla/chocolate cream liquor)

you will need a rectangular dish (I copied my friend and used a 2 litre plastic storage container with a snap lock lid)

1) In a flat dish or container, place the cold coffee & liquor
2) In another bowl, whip the cream, vanilla and icing sugar/sugar replacement until the cream is nice and thick - (but not too long or it will turn into butter!)
3) place biscuits on a tray ready to be dipped into the liquid...
4) get ready a small tea strainer or sieve to dust drinking chocolate powder
5) you are now ready to assemble your dessert!
6) soak each biscuit and roll around for about 5 seconds each in the coffee liquor mix... but not too long or the biscuits with fall apart!
7) place the soaked biscuits in rows until you have formed a layer, along the bottom of the container you are using for the dessert
8) place a layer of the whipped cream over the biscuit layer, then dust with the drinking chocolate powder
9) Continue to layer the biscuits, cream and choc powder until you fill the container... finishing with the dusted choc powder.
10) place in the fridge for 24 hours, and serve! Enjoy :)

Here's mine in the 2 litre container...

and served ready to eat, with some delicious strawberries and blueberries!

I also made this one, using cold drinking chocolate (with no coffee or liquor) and made it is similar fashion to the other one in the recipe above :)

Merry Christmas!! :)

Merry Christmas to all!! :)

Merry Christmas to all!!

It's at this time of year, that many like to have Christmas light displays, with some going all out - taking many months of the year to create something truly spectacular for others to enjoy and share in the Christmas spirit!

This pic is only a SMALL part of an incredible display - one of the best we found - with decorations, lights, nativity settings, raffles, lucky dips, and a donation collection etc - supporting a children's hospital (with their endorsement for her fundraising on their behalf)

It was quite a large property, with decorations and lights covering every part of it! Several people stopped to get out of their cars and walk into the place and check out the decorations, leave donations, buy raffle tickets and take photos...

What a wonderful way to share and care for others at this time of year! No doubt a bit of generosity and love goes a long way towards making the world a better place to live :)

It is easy to give to our loved ones - friends and family - and maybe even extend the Christmas cheer to a co-worker, perhaps even a boss, friendly neighbours etc... but to total strangers? Not a lot go to that extent...


Yet, the greatest love of all can never be surpassed... before we even cared to know of Him...

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

May you know the greatest love of all this Christmas season!

Blessings xox

almost Christmas :)

hello again!

I've added some finishing touches to my table decorations for Christmas tomorrow... some neat stuff I found at an op-shop... with that old world charm!

The table runner - cost $5 and looks like it was lovingly hand made... the reverse side is a mottled purple design... very cool...

the angel candle holders spell out:    J   O   Y  and candles are a lovely addition to any table fare... especially at Christmas! I've used different coloured candles that match the rest of the decorations, but are also a bit funky rather than all the same colour :)



The other candle holders are solid brass and they were given to me by someone who no longer wanted them!


and the little ornaments with the seed pods with flowers and ribbon I made myself :)


Merry Christmas everyone!! I pray you will know the love of God in greater measure... which is His desire for you!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:14

Pavlova :-)

Hello again!

Having family visit for Christmas over the last few days, has had me making some special things for us to enjoy... and some of these you may have seen in my previous posts :)

          - ginger-shortbread - caramel fudge - homemade Christmas cards and decorations - etc...

Now, I'm not a huge fan of tradition... but I do like SOME of the traditional things just the same... but I also enjoy doing something different and NEW and FRESH... and creatively bringing old and new together!


Instead of Christmas cake, I've decided to have pavlova... always a favorite hit!! I made this one myself... that way I avoid the artificial ingredients I don't want in my food and I actually used a natural sugar replacement for this so it was much healthier!

[It's amazing when you watch scientific documentaries on the way refined sugars (and especially high fructose corn syrup) are dealt with by our digestive system... and since sugar is one of the main ingredients in this dessert... I had to use a natural sugar replacement that would mimic caster sugar... now I wasn't hugely happy with the overall result... but it looks pretty impressive and was palatable enough just the same! But a bit more experimentation before I post a recipe I'm happy with...]

And I've taken a close up of one of my little table decorations I made the other day....

Time for a Rhyme... :-)

Well, I've been playing a game on google+ with some other song writers... a rhyming game... which someone started with a suggested topic, then a short poem... then leaves a topic for the next to follow with a poem and so on... so here's my little poem, to the topic of: good vs evil...

One has peace, love, joy and hope believing for a better day
Yet one is so sad filled with anger, hatred, rage, and malice
They grew up side by side and yet, worlds apart in heart

One gentle, kind, forgiving and understanding
Yet one is so mean, unbending, unyielding
The same blood pulses through their veins - yet relationship is strained

One was cherished, wanted and adored
Yet one was rejected, forsaken, forlorn
Character molded in formative years, eternity of hope or drowned in fears

As trauma leaves its indelible mark
Twists in time and turns in fate
Hearts are broken and choices to make

Forgiveness and love or bitter and hate
Whilst breath fills your being it isn't too late
Settle the struggle once and for all and be at peace in your soul

Ginger-shortbread...

Well, at previous Christmas times... I've tried making a decorated fruit cake or a gingerbread house..
but this year I've decided to make some ginger- shortbread!

So, I've come up with this recipe:

250 grams butter
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar (was going to try all honey, but had some brown sugar to use up... I think golden syrup or treacle would be nice as an alternative also...)
1 tablespoon ginger powder
1/3 cup chopped crystallized ginger pieces
2 cups self raising gluten free flour
1 cup plain organic wholemeal spelt flour

1) Melt butter, honey, sugar and add ginger in a saucepan over low heat
2) Remove from heat and place to the side
3) place wholemeal and gluten free flours into a bowl and mix dry ingredients together until blended.
4) Pour over the butter mixture and mix together with a wooden spoon.
5) Roll small balls of mixture (gently) and place onto baking trays - spacing a little apart, and flatten gently with a fork to create a pattern on top. Cook in 170 degrees Celsius oven for about 12 minutes.
6) Drizzle with white chocolate if you wish... my food critique who tasted the shortbread ate my white chocolate before it got to the biscuits unfortunately! Hmm... another thing to remember when I go shopping later! LOL

here's the finished product of my ginger-shortbread biscuits... (minus the chocolate...) The biscuits are very "short" and the ginger pieces add a nice bit of extra "kick" to them!

I purchased this cute little ceramic gingerbread house (filled with gingerbread stars) a few days ago, for just $10 and the Christmas card in this picture is one that I made myself.

Stuffed Pumpkin!

While I'm on a creative roll in the kitchen... I decided to try making a stuffed pumpkin for dinner...


1 small Jap pumpkin - (big enough to feed 4-6 adults all up)
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
200 grams free range bacon
200 grams free range chicken breast
1 shallot
3 cloves garlic
2 small tomatoes
1 small eggplant
4 stalks of celery - diced into small pieces
2 teaspoons of powdered chicken stock
1 tablespoon butter to cook the meat and veges in
200 grams cheese
chives, freshly ground black pepper and garam marsala  for sprinkling over cheese
  

2 round casserole dishes to cook it in

1) Boil 1/2 cup of quinoa in twice as much water, for 12 minutes or until soft... then drain and put aside
2) Wash and cut in half a small Kent or Jap pumpkin and scoop out all of the seeds and pulp.
2) Microwave it in a casserole dish for 8 minutes with both halves facing each other to retain moisture.
3) Whilst the pumpkin is cooking, place the butter, diced chicken, bacon and veges into a frying pan along with stock powder and cook until chicken is done. Stir in the quinoa.
4) Remove pumpkin from microwave and place each half in a casserole dish.
5) Fill with the meat and vege mix, and sprinkle with cheese, and herbs & pepper
6) Cook in a moderate oven (180 degrees Celsius) for about half an hour or until cheese is brown and pumpkin is soft but not mushy. (I actually used the grill in the top of my oven to brown the cheese).
7) enjoy! This should be enough for a few meals or perhaps serve with a roast etc... if you have guests over...

The next day I reheated the leftovers - topped with a new addition of inspiration that came - of several thin slices of  rosemary and garlic salami, then topped it off with sour cream and fresh mint leaves... also very yummy!

Getting into Gear!

So, it's time to get into gear for Christmas... with family on their way tomorrow!!

I have already had the tree up for a couple of weeks, and a nativity set... just haven't been too motivated beyond that yet!

Now, we' won't get to be together for Christmas, but we will have some time before and after... which I'm looking forward to :)

It's also my mum's birthday on Christmas day!! So, I try to make the day extra special for her... since she's often had others forget about her on her special day :(

Anyhow, I've been back in the kitchen and made some caramel fudge...

I've put it in this cute little Christmas tree container, that I picked up from an op-shop for less than $1!!

The fudge was a bit of an experiment... as I'm trying to cut out refined sugar and replace with honey...

This recipe - I think I'll try tweaking it a little on my next try... but it's still quite yummy!

1) I used about 200 grams each of honey and butter, and placed them in a saucepan over low heat.
2) Let the honey and butter simmer for about 10 minutes on low heat... you will need to watch it doesn't boil over, I stirred it occasionally.
3) After the mixture has been boiling for about 5 minutes, I gradually stirred in about 4 tablespoons of gluten free flour and mixed well after each addition (tapping it through a small sieve on the side of the pot, as I mixed with the other hand... now there's probably a better way of doing this.... but this is how I made this lot!)
4) Mix in a teaspoon of organic vanilla extract
5) When the mixture started to become like a thick sauce and leave sides of pan, I poured it into a non stick loaf pan... (line with tin foil first will help you get it out later)

6) Sprinkle with cashews or nuts of your choice or not...!
7) Refrigerate and allow to cool... about an hour or two.
8) Remove from tin and slice up!

It actually made about twice as much as what you see in this pic... I had a willing accomplice in sampling for quality control :)

The little decoration is made from seed pods and flowers that have fallen from a tree in a park across the road... and tied with silver gift ribbon... I made one of these for each place setting on the table.