Beauty in the chaos

This is our back fence. A jumble of old iron, fences posts and the massive double stumps of the cypress tree. Max is pretty intrigued by it. I must admit I am too. Because it represents change! And new beginnings.

I'm feeling ok with the chaos in our garden, and in our house today.

            Maybe because it's holidays! Maybe because it's Spring!

Everywhere are little signs of hope, of the cycle of life moving on. Not just in our garden and our plans for it, but in our family, in our community and in the wider world.

Just as I have an slightly anxious, sinking feeling as autumn ends and the long cold days loom ahead, I love the sweet feeling of beginning of Spring and the sunny days to come.

There is a lot to discover at the moment. If I stand on the huge cypress log I can almost see the top of Wombat Hill!

There is so much goodness to enjoy if you look hard, often in unexpected places.  For example I'm loving the new wall of the back of the chook pen. A whole new wall to watch shadows on, to grow a passionfruit vine on, to watch as it ages in the rain, as the seasons change.

I can't wait till this is finished. Then I can fill it with happy chooks and ducks and have the pleasure of collecting eggs, seeing them fluffing around and filling our garden once again with their clucking and quacking.

Max is howling with joy at the thought of having chickens again. Bring on those happy days of sneaking into the chook pen to get scraps! Woo hoo!

Loving the green, green vine climbing over our fence from next door. Getting ready to grow big, fat logan berries.

                 Finding pieces of iron, like silver waves in the dirt.

Oh boy, life is such a roller coaster isn't it? Tired kids, happy kids. Rainy days, sunshine. Fighting, loving.

Problems, solutions.

 I guess we just have to hang on tight for the ride. And hang on tightly to each other. 

I was so touched to read the words yesterday, of a mother who has recently lost her beautiful son, the footballer, John McCarthy. I hope she won't mind me sharing her words here. Of her son she said..

"He just generated love. Everywhere he went he touched people, and I believe he made them better, because he was not ashamed to show love. As a family we have no regrets, for we could not have loved him more.

There were no handshakes in our family, only hugs, kisses and love."

What a remarkable woman to find such beautiful words to share , at such a painful time. I found this so inspiring, on so many levels. 

I hope you do too and that you are also enjoying the simple things, the sweetness of new seasons, and the ones you love.

   See you soon xo

Nice weather for ducks

While it's all very well and good that we have had such a lot of rain lately I am feeling that end of winter mood that seems to sweep over me every year about this time.

It's cold, it's wet, everything seems damp, mouldy...muddy.

The charm of winter has faded somewhat. If, however, you are a duck it's probably heaven.

The changing of seasons in the central highlands is a long and drawn out affair. Kind of like a relationship breakup that takes forever. One sunny day....two weeks of grey. A little tease of warmness and then some long blasts of arctic air. Getting the picture?

The up side is that living here we really do get to feel the seasons. I know from the little bits of blossom around the place, and the jonquils and daffs, that things are changing and spring is on the way. I just wish it would hurry up!

Meet Wolf Man, he called by on the weekend.

Bill spent quite a while in this guise, I really like the colour - it made up for the lack of blue sky!

Extreme weather conditions call for extreme hot water bottle action. Do you like my tea towel cover? I had plans to make more, or should I say HAVE plans, it's a matter of finding the time. Where does it go? Have I told you that shortly I am going to be returning to study? Yep, it's official. I will be attempting to get a Diploma of Children's Studies. This will hopefully lead on to a further year of study doing a course called Pre & Post Natal Care. I really want to work with women and help them through this important time of life. It's going to be a lot of work and I'm a bit scared about how I'm going to fit everything in. But I'm also excited and looking forward to this new part of my own life.

A lovely girl from school made me a little origami horse recently so I made this lavender birdie for her from scraps of alpaca. It smells gorgeous. I've been sewing some lavender hearts too that the kids put in their pillows to help them sleep.

So even though the sun isn't out and things are a bit ho hum I can see light at the end of the tunnel. At least this winter we haven't been as sick as last year, we had a lot of gastro and colds which was horrible. And we are lucky enough to be going away in a few weeks to the very beautiful Mooloolaba! ( The last time we went was before Rosie was born and Sunday was just a wee little baby floating in an orange ring in the pool. Awww. She was so cute.) I can't wait to feel some tropical warmth.

How was your weekend? Did you enjoy some time with your family or friends? Maybe it's becoming autumn in your part of the world. Lots of love to you all xo

ps: I bought this frame recently for two dollars at the opshop. I didn't realise until later that it had a face!