Happy days

 Over the weekend our town hosted one of Australia's biggest Gay & Lesbian festivals, Chill Out.

It's always an amazing event and I love the way our town becomes full of colour and life, happy people celebrating life, community & diversity. This year it seemed to be bigger than ever, the shops and cafe's were full and everywhere there was a lovely buzz. The beautiful weather helped, the sun shone and the sky was blue, blue blue. My mum helped out at the Festival Day at Vic Park, she looked pretty cute in her orange top!

Our weekend was super fun. Bill had a friend stay over and together they began to build a tree house in the tallest tree in our back yard. They were so inventive, and brave! I went out a few times, reminding them to be careful (sure mum) and worrying about them falling. 

But I was brave too and let them keep climbing, building and making, reminding myself that this is what child hood is about. Taking risks, making things happen, exploring, finding ways to make things work, creating. All of this at about fifteen metres off the ground. Gulp.

 They used an old piece of hose to hoist up a platform..I couldn't stay to watch this bit...ahhh!

Fun!

On Monday we headed down to Jubilee Lake for a picnic with our friends from Footscray. Carm is one of my oldest and dearest friends & it was her birthday! I was SO happy to be spending it with her and her beautiful family.

The park was full of other families enjoying the long weekend, 

it was truly blissful sitting there under the big old trees, looking out onto the sparkling lake.

Heavenly!

Last night I reflected a bit on our weekend, on our lives lately. I'm so happy we moved to Daylesford in 2005, it was such a good move to make. It's not always perfect, but then nothing ever is. I love so many aspects of life here and the beautiful friends we have made. And after a hard year in 2011 I feel like this new year has already brought so many good things.

Maybe it's my attitude too. Life is so fragile, so precious, that I want to get as much as I can out of it. I don't have time to sit around, I'm into it! I'm finding some new energy (and some sore muscles) through Boot Camp too, something I've been needing for a long time.

Within all the happy days and positive feelings there are always pockets of grumpiness, neediness,

sadness and chaos but I'm not focusing too much on these things. Every day is a new day, every day holds some kind of treasure, something beautiful if I look for it. 

So it's Tuesday and a busy week lies ahead. The girls are looking forward to the Taylor Swift concert  tonight! Woo hoo! And I"m hanging out to see Charlotte on Friday night. We're off to the Doily Exhibition in Brunswick (I have a little doll in it) and then on to dinner. We're going to chat up a storm about our trip to the USA and make some plans. Fun! Thanks so much too for all the lovely comments on my last post. It seems I'm not the only one who has anxious moments!

So what's happening in your world this week? 

Go on, tell me.

See you soon lovely ones,

xo

Getting active...

Ok, it's official..I am on a new mission. And the mission is all about getting ACTIVE! I am already quite active, running around after five kids, growing garlic, being on school & creche committee's, volunteering at the info centre, making & creating. Like alot of others I am a busy girl. No I am not a sitting around type. But what I am also trying to create is time for my health, mental & physical! So I'm back into walking...and it's fun!

We live near two beautiful lakes and I have started walking around this one every day. It is really beautiful all through the year and I'm enjoying it's wintery colours.





Lots of duckies to say hello to.

Old buildings have lovely faces don't they? The weathered boards and general falling downness are somehow sweet to me.

On a sad note I came across these flowers left for an unknown person who drowned in the lake on Sunday night. Our local paper had a brief article about it saying only that the man was 43, of no fixed address & that is wasn't suspicioius. I found myself thinking about this person and wondering about his life and what happened to him. Who knows what kind of life he led and why it ended this way. I said a little prayer for him - I hope wherever he is he is at peace now.

Walking is good for thinking but sometimes it's good to not think too much! That is when the good old ipod is handy. Now if only those naughty mice/rats hadn't chewed through a whole pile of cords/chargers etc I might be able to charge up my ipod! Oh another thing for the list...

Near the lake is a beautiful building that has some unusual iron work. I've always loved these grumpy guys....I sometimes feel like this too.

But not today, yay! Maybe it's all the good exercise that's making me happy.

Hope you are having a good day too xox

Mental Mama & the Great Outdoors

A quick post this week as things are pretty hectic & I'm struggling to have even one clear thought! What with end of school stuff, parties, present purchasing, reports, children to organise, hats to find, bums to wipe, lists to write, food to make, cards to send, tempers to soothe it's no wonder I'm frazzled. Did I mention exciting housework? I keep feeling like I've forgotton something...yesterday I almost drove off from school pickup without one of the kids! It really is a mental time of year. I was so determined not to get stressed but here I am .... feeling stressed! I guess it's kind of funny really. Ahhh! Anyway, breath, I tell myself, breath, it will all be ok.

Part of my de-stressment program (it's very official) has been getting out and about with the dogs. I absolutely LOVE going down to the lake area and being surrounded by big trees, birds, clean country air and of course the gorgeous lake views. It is so calming.



Watching the dogs have a swim and then run off their pent up doggie energy is good too.

We live in such a beautiful area and one thing I would definitly like to do next year is to explore more of the Central Highlands & take more photo's. Somehow I think the dogs might like that project too!

Newsflash! We just had a call from our local paper, The Advocate, to say that Lucy has won the Write a letter to Santa competition! Wow! She is so excited. It's particularly good too as she really tried hard to write a great letter and perservered even when she had some trouble with it. Her letter also shows her kind nature as she didn't ask for much for herself, more for other people. I am a so happy for her.

Well Christmas is almost upon us and I hope that everyone (including me) finds some peace, (remember to breath!), joy in the small things and most of all good times and love with family & friends. x