Head in the clouds..

We're home from our holiday and but my head is still in the clouds. It feels like we've been away forever and that I've stepped back into someone else's life. I'm thinking about the sunny bubble we were in while away, and the special time we spent together.

Bill, I had so much fun hanging out with you, looking a shells, making card houses and being close. So close that we both got the same cold, the same asthma and now we have matching puffers!

Little Rosie, how much fun did you have? I loved watching you be a baby dolphin in the pool, jump over a million waves & swing yourself up to the sky.

Thanks for sharing you love of life with us, for making us smile every day.

Thanks for the happy days, honey. The Wire, the rockpools, the coffees,

& your sweet love x

So glad you came Char,

it wouldn't have been the same without you.

You were amazing last night by the way, Cleopatra.

Sweet Sunday, holiday girl. Shells & sand, pin dives, Snap & Crazy Eights, op shops & icecreams, beautiful kisses and cuddles,

and funny moments like when you skirt fell down in the plane!! Oh my goodness!

Lovely Lucy, summer honey pie. Books & donuts, surfing on the waves, laps in the pool, hanging with the gang in the sunshine.

Funny girl, you make me laugh. Thanks for your big girl hugs & your caring ways.

So it's back to reality now folks. I'm looking forward to so many things!

Markets, catching up with friends, a wedding, Melbourne with Lucy & Ella,

the school fete, three special birthdays, being in the garden, sunny days,

garlic harvest, and so much more.

What are you looking forward to?

Much love to one & all, see you soon xo

Sunday

One of my favourite things to do while on holiday is visit the local op shops.

And one of Mum's favourite things to do is jigsaw puzzles! I found this beauty at the Lifeline Op Shop in Maroochydore, isn't it fantastic?

I also picked up some games for the kids. Battleship was one and also two decks of cards. We've spent lots of time making card houses, and matching up number cards, fun!

I found this little French embroidery & hand made thread rolls at the Salvo's Family Store. I might need to visit Merrilyn for some tips I think.

And don't you love second hand books? This one is our Book Club book this month too, I loved it. Have you read it?

The girls also got some clothes, Bill found some Simpson toys & I fell in love with this vintage Ric Rac, yay!

There is a lot of fun to be found outside too. This gorgeous creature, a blue tongued lizard, was sitting on the path yesterday.

Anyway, our holiday is coming to an end soon, it will be hard to say goodbye.

Even so, I do love home and I can't wait to get back to all our pets who I miss. I wonder if Freddie is still at the back door looking in? He will be getting two new companions soon, how exciting! Our excellent neighbour, Connor, is looking after all the pets for us & Max & Daisy are at the Doggie Motel. Can't wait to see them!! Hope you are having a happy Sunday, see you soon xo

Mooloolaba

Greetings from almost sunny Queensland! We are here on holiday at beautiful Mooloolaba, a place we always return to.

My grandparents, Nan & Hume, loved the white sandy beaches and dreamy weather here and holidayed many times in the same area that we now visit.

Our first day or so were a bit flat as it rained continuously and the forecast wasn't looking promising. But things picked up and although it hasn't been super sunny it has still be so pleasant and warm that we are as happy as clams.

This is the view from the end of the path outside our front door.

Sitting here now I'm listening to the surf rolling in and the native birds calling out, perhaps their message to me is "Relax, unwind, let yourself go!"

And I am.

I'm really enjoying being in a different space, I love the sea, it's so soothing and mesmerising. As a child I spent alot of time with Nan & Hume on the beach, near where they lived, it was one of the best parts of my childhood. Maybe this is why it is such a happy place for me.

It's been great being with Mum too, spending some more time with her has been a highlight. The kids are having a great time, in between a few fights of course. The early waking is a bit hard on everyone so we are aiming for earlier nights. This sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Being on holiday can be intense. Away from the routine of home, living in a small apartment, hanging out together all the time, it's fun but also can be tiring.I'm really conscious too of everyone's needs (what's new?) and I'm trying to weave a line between helping & getting them to help themselves. It's such a juggling act trying to keep the ship steady sometimes, but I'm just going with the flow and not stressing too much. They're great kids and just like them, we are continually learning how to get along with each other, respect each other & be responsible for our own emotions.

For the most part it's been fantastic. I love the relaxed pace and I can feel myself slowing down and loosening up in the warmth. Ahh...if only Daylesford could get itself a beach and some tropical weather I'd be in heaven every day.

What are you up to? I feel a bit disconnected from blogland, although I have had a little peek around. Thank you to all the lovelies who commented on my last post. What a fun night that was. I forgot to mention that I managed to put my outfit together on a shoestring. The dress was from Target ($39!) and the cardi was a second from Rivers ($9) & I borrowed my heels from Char. Yay! Anyway, it just goes to show you don't need to spend heaps to feel good. Better skedaddle, hope all is well in your world, see you soon xo

Last night

Did I mention that we were off to Charlotte's Year 12 Formal last night? Here I am all glammed up and ready to head out to the pre dinner drinks.It was so much fun getting ready, and having some time just with Mark, no kids! You all know how much I love my kids but boy, oh boy, was it nice to have some grown up time. We stayed in the hotel where the Formal was being held so it was all so easy and relaxing.

It seemed like a million years since we had had some time alone together. Life can be kind of hectic with a big family, or with any family I guess, so this time away together was precious.

After we finished getting ready, Mark looking very dashing in his new suit, it was time to head off for pre dinner drinks. Our beautiful girl was already there, looking like an angel in her long, white dress.

She really was glowing, and so grown up. It doesn't seem that long ago that she was in kinder, and watching Play School, playing dress ups and living in a world of make believe.

Now she is almost an adult and soon will be starting the next part of her life.

This is Char & one her best friends, Liv, and Liv's lovely mother, Kerry.

Soon it was off to the Formal itself.

The night passed quickly in a whirl of champagne, dancing & fun. The girls all looked so beautiful in their colourful dresses, I loved watching them enjoying

themselves on this special night.

Mark & I had a fantastic time and of course the best bit was being there with our Charlotte.She has been working so hard this year and it was great to see her having a night off and celebrating her final year at school. Who knows what the future brings for her, new adventures and a whole new world. I'm so proud of her and so happy to have had such a wonderful night with her.

It was just the best fun I've had in a long time.

Thanks Char, thanks Mark, and thanks to you guys for all your well wishes.

I love sharing these times with you,

see you soon lovely friends xo

My Creative Space

My space is a Getting Ready kind of space this week.

Getting ready for Charlotte's school formal on Friday night. I'm looking forward to getting dressed up in my new silver frock & borrowed heels, to spending time with Mark sipping champagne & being fancy together in the Big Smoke, to being with my almost grown up daughter & her friends, to staying in a hotel in Melbourne.... to having FUN!!

I'm also getting ready to go on our family holiday this weekend. Not feeling too organised right now so lets hope it all falls into place.

So I'm writing lists, trying to remember all the important things I need to do like taking the dogs to the Dog Motel, picking up the car from the mechanics, sorting bunnies out for the shop, getting my hair done, mail collected, buying chook food, blah blah blah. But it will all be worth it when we get on that plane & jet out of the cold & into the warm arms of the Sunshine Coast. Yay!

Getting ready for the end of year markets & catching up with orders is also a work in progress. I've decided not to take any more orders now until after Christmas as I can't keep up! What's happening in your space? I'm a busy bee today but I hope to pop in and see lots of ace spaces via Kirsty, see you soon xo

At my house

At my house today I'm experimenting with a new alpaca colour, a kind of marly grey.

I think it will look sweet with this green cardi, now I just need to match some fabric with it. I'm leaning towards a green gingham, and maybe an apron too!

I'm also making a gang of pirate bunnies, this fella is waiting for his eye patch. Maybe I'll finish him off at Craft Night tonight, yay!

At my house I'm conscious of time slipping away and I'm keen to keep preparing for the two markets later in the year. So I'm making up some children's bag tags,

& some little hanging hearts.

At my house I'm enjoying time with Rosie and Daisy,

and trying to get through the day in a happy way. Feeling a bit tired today as Rosie has been waking in the night and I haven't had a good sleep for a while.

At my house I'm feeling grateful for having a beautiful neighbour who appeared at our doorway last night with a just baked apple cake,

that filled our house with wafts of cinnamon & kindness.

What's happening in your house today? Are you joining in with Lou Lou? See you soon soon xo