making me smile

making cards

eating outside under the pear tree

watching the chickens

seeing her face, feeling her love, missing her already

holding my big girl

living in the country

 is amazing!
The landscape at different times of the day changes into differing views of beauty. The wildlife that comes and goes depending on the season is a wonder for all of us (at the moment it's mating season for the Echidnas and we are seeing many on the property). The connection with creation is ever-inspiring and helps put life's annoyances into perspective.
BUT.....
my patience and tolerance for a particular little bird has come to an end : the Swallows.


When we first came to view our would-be home and I noticed a swallow swoop into this barn-like house, I was a bit enchanted. These are cute little chaps that make such a lovely chattering sound as they busily go about the day. Of course I didn't for one second consider the practicalities of what it would like with those little cuties swooping in and out, day after day, month after month.
As spring arrived the swallows have once again returned and they are busy. They have decided that inside our home is the best place to raise their own little family and so as soon as a door is left open in they swoop with dirt in their tiny little mouths to build their own abode. And although the process of watching these clever creatures build their nests is quite amazing, all I am noticing is how the walls are not white anymore and the floor and furniture have splats of whitey black marks that are making my already not-keeping-up cleaning list even longer. Yes, I have had enough and am trying to come up with a solution to keeping these mess-makers out of the house. This is certainly one area that I didn't foresee when we listed the pros and cons of moving to the country.- the dealing with bird splat on the walls.

weekends are for friends and fires

gratitude and art

4yr old girl- 'Mama with her blue veins and twins'

8 yr old boy- crayon and water colours

4 yr old girl- learning to write

It has been a while since I posted some of the children's drawings and sorting through some paper piles the other day I came across these and they made me smile. I will never tire of my kids bits of paper and their art.

weekends are for

moments of grace
where mama makes favourites
kids gather around happily
mama smiles at the wonder of them, all four

some moments to remember from FIJI

a bit of now

~ a few weeks ago we got the news that not just one little bun in this oven but two. It has taken me some  t i m e to adjust to this news and to be honest am still adjusting but I have four more months to get used to the idea and then the reality will hit us all.
~ taking one day at a time and some days one moment at a time.
~ ice-cream in the middle of the day, ice-cream for dinner, after dinner and pretty much any time...

 ~ bed usually by eight sometimes earlier
~ the bath is getting a lot of use, usually with lavender added
~ looking forward to a week away with the family to rest and have some good family fun

spiky and cute

We found (more correctly the dogs found), this lovely but very shy Echidna on our property recently and spent the whole afternoon patiently waiting for it to unfurl so we could get a look at its cuter side. After a long wait and some words between siblings everyone except Zach decided to give up or be called back when something more exciting occured. Watching Zach sitting there by himself in the cold waiting reminded me so much of myself and my love for animals when I was younger.

A while later I spotted him with the proudest and amazed look on his face as his gently tried to carry his new friend to a spot nearer to the house so that 'Daddy could see him when he gets home'. Daddy wasn't going to be home for another few days but boys can hope.

monday

There's distance in the air and I cannot make it leave
i wave my arms' round about me and blow with all my might
I cannot sense you close, though I know you're always here

 But the comfort of you near is what i long for

When I can't feel you, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you, I know you still hear everyword I pray
And i want you more than i want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone
i still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right
So i whisper soft your name, let it roll around my tongue,
knowing you're the only one who knows me
You know me

Show me how I should live this
Show me where I should walk
I count this world as loss to me
You are all I want
You are all I want

(faithful by Brooke Fraser)

beauty is present

Despite some very hard weeks
there is beauty everywhere,
if I look, seek it out, gather it up in my heart, take note.

first frost

his cooking in all its first-born perfection

Camellia's from the garden

mental combat

Surrounding myself even bombarding myself with words that are positive and good, I am trying to rewire these negative brain patterns, this habit of negative thoughts.
It is said we can shape our brains.
So wherever I look my eyes find a reminder, a word to replace the tape that plays.