8 Little Things

 

1. Kumquats from a dear neighbour and friend

2. A cheeky little breakfast baby

3. Flowers from my garden

4. New in the shop - 'Tea for Two' studs

5. I believe tomatoes will be gracing my windowsill for some time yet

6. Mama heart melting moment

7. Sigh

8. Sky gazing on bright, beautiful days

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PS. I made a new header yesterday. It's difficult to sum up your blog with one image, isn't it?! I used Pic Monkey - a free online photo editor - to crop and add text to an image I took in my studio yesterday. (Before posting off the large silver crochet necklace to its new owner.) I'm pleased with how the header turned out. What do you think?

Overcoming

 

I find it's so easy to feel wound up when caring for a four and a one year old, day in, day out.

To feel stressed, sleep deprived and underappreciated.

To feel like I'm failing, winning and failing, all at once.

 

Sometimes the joys of the day seem to be wiped out by frustrating and difficult behaviour.

Sometimes it's hard to appreciate the small things, because the big things are too overwhelming.

Sometimes I feel like I am hitting my head against the proverbial wall.

Sometimes Too often I just don't have enough patience.

Too often I'm not the parent I thought I was going to be.

 

And then the sun comes out and we wander as a family, letting Emerson set the pace.

Out of the house, exploring, examining, finding beauty, throwing rocks, laughing. 

I am reminded that sometimes this is all we need.

This is how we overcome the frustration, if only for this moment.

 

I'm reassured that, despite the difficulties, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Opposites Attract

Looking at these pictures (taken with my phone) reminds me how opposite in nature my husband and I are. On paper we would hardly be an ideal match. 

He feels comfortable in a crowd of thousands. I feel comfortable at a table of friends. 

He can navigate by memory years after he has been somewhere. I rely on my GPS. 

He loves sport. I love books. 

He likes his music fast and loud. I prefer mine quiet and meaningful. 

He has a "she'll be right" attitude. I have the tendency to over think (everything.)

He can't sit still for a moment. I'm a homebody at heart.

And yet, it works. Somehow, these opposite parts of our personality have come together to form a balanced, loving, supportive relationship these past twelve years. One in which I feel safe leaving my comfort zone at Dave's encouragement and partaking in his adventures. 

On the weekend our mini adventure involved Dave talking me into fishing with the children, in spite of the rain and wind chill. I went, despite my initial reluctance, and I'm so glad I did. I wish I'd brought my camera with me. The clouds hung heavy, but the rain held off. The sunset was as moody and colourful as an artist's canvas. Three dolphins rose and dipped in the water around the jetty. Cohen and I followed them with fingers outstretched and a chorus of "Oh! There they are, over there!" We talked about jetties, ferries, fire men, sea birds and fish. Cohen proudly held the rod. 

We weren't successful at catching fish. 

But sometimes success isn't what you thought it would be.

Colour and life

1.Self seeded cherry tomatoes
2. Chilli - I planted two varieties of seeds, I think this is a rainbow chilli
3. A mass of baby chrysanthemums
4. Self seeded Black Russian Tomatoes
5. The sweet faces of violas
6. Potential
7. There will be another Rosella jam day soon
8. Pumpkin vine loving the compost pile

Autumn in the garden and there is much colour and life. Dahlias bloom in profusion  Sunflowers nod their large heads. Buds appear on the camellia - such a long wait until they blossom. Self seeded tomatoes have been left to their own devices, some undiscovered until their red fruit give them away. Eggplants grow heavy. Rosella continue to fruit. The odd strawberry can still be found. The runners spreading. The watermelon vine is dying back and one small melon waits with uncertainty as to whether it will ripen. The beds have been mulched, nut grass still sneaks through, seeds wait to be planted.

Long shadows stretch across the lawn in the afternoon. Emerson sits with the basket of pegs and upends it as I take the clothes off the line. Cohen finds sticks, kicks his ball, then follows me as I potter. I love this time of year. Not too hot and not too cold. The perfect time to be in the garden.

Happy days

Some things become a family tradition without any planning or intention. They just sneak up on you. One day you may notice that you are repeating something which has meaning and brings happiness, as I did today. I realised one of those sneaky traditions is a visit each season to the botanical gardens at Mount Tamborine. When we want to wander and 'just be' as a family, we automatically drive up the mountain. 

Our last visit was a Summer day, the first of January. This time, as Autumn unfurls, I remembered to pack a picnic basket. Turkish bread with baby spinach, boiled eggs and ham, grapes, carrot sticks and homemade hommus, and a thermos of tea. There were eels and turtles in the water, competing for floating bread. The lake bare looking without it's cloak of water lillies. Leaves were turning and the ground was damp underfoot. And once more we wandered.

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PS. Don't forget to enter the High Tea Vintage bag giveaway. I am really enjoying reading the comments and can relate to many of them.