Dreaming, thinking, planning

Today I went for a lovely long walk around Lake Daylesford and found myself thinking about lots of things. Blogging, life, the kids, creative outlets, books, love. Walking is good like that. Lately I've been noticing how much I need that time to myself to think about life, to have space to contemplate what is happening for me at that moment. It's just nice to have some quiet time, something that is fairly rare in my world!

Do you find that too? I love the space I get on long walks or long drives, like to Melbourne, on my own. I get to think about all the ideas that are on hold in my mind. 

 I've got an idea for a film I'd love to make, about motherhood actually, and recently I got so caught up planning it that I totally missed the turn off and ended up in Bell St, Preston instead. Funny.

Anyway, Christmas has been fun but I'm glad it's behind us now.  I'm loving the summer holidays already, the more relaxed pace and just hanging out with my family gang.

 I'm also trying to tackle some of those projects that need some attention.

 Boring but necessary ones like fixing up the front garden, sweeping out the dogs 'room', etc and fun ones like my vintage sheet bed cover/quilts. I can't wait to finish the first one, it's almost done. Lovely Phillippa has let me borrow her overlocker which is ace!

How was your  Christmas? Do you celebrate it? The main thing I love about  Christmas is being with family. I love our traditions, like going to Mum's on Boxing Day.

Mum loved her Nanny doll, a little present from Rosie. Rosie sewed it all by herself and I helped her with Nan's glasses,

and the teensy tiny knitting needles. We made the needles out of skewers and added red beads to the ends. The knitting part was hard, but fun! I noticed Mum was itching to keep going on it too. Maybe she will! She could make her doll a scarf!

It was also good to see our extended family that we don't get to see very often, on Christmas Day.

Kate with Charlotte.

We drove down to the beachy parts of Melbourne to have lunch with my cousin Kim and her family. There were lots of people, about 32 I think, and we had a great time, eating and chatting. They have a beautiful house, I fell in love with their hallway, again.

I also made my first pavlova!  Wow, I wonder why I haven't tried it before. Char helped me whip the eggs and Alison From Next Door gave us some of her amazing logan berries. We covered the top of the pav with mixed berries and cherry juice, it was AMAZING! I'm hooked, now I just need to get a good supply of eggs! We only have on chook laying at the moment and the dogs are the only ones who know where she lays. We only ever see the egg shells...! Oh well, the farmers market is coming up so we'll have to get some more chookies.

Anyway lovely ones, I better skedaddle and make the most of this beautiful sunshiny day. I hope your end of year is a happy one and that you too get some space to think, to plan, to dream.

See you soon xo

(There's a good reason for Julia's sideways glance at my brother, Ben..he is a cheeky boy! )