2/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen: A rare moment of quiet contemplation. 

Emerson: Too hot to nap inside the tent.

Moments from our camping mis-adventure. 

Getting back to it

Just this morning this (cheeky) little girl was standing in her cot for the first time. Cohen suddenly no longer needs the stool to stand on to wash his hands. And I found two watermelons growing in the garden that weren't there last time I looked. It feels like there is new growth all around me and I am feeling well enough now to appreciate it. Thank you for all your well wishes and sympathy on my last post. How lovely you are.

There is much work to catch up on today. A mountain of washing. An island of towels. A tower of dishes. Dirty floor and bathroom. Camping and sickness bring new challenges to the housewife! Time to find our rhythm again.

So here are a couple of inspirational links while I get to work -

Building your cleaning arsenal on Design Sponge - tips on creating a natural cleaning kit 

Reducing the cost of living - more thoughtful and practical tips from the wonderful Rhonda (who I would like to adopt as a Grandmother)

A holiday unlike any other

Coolum is beautiful. A coastal community with gorgeous beaches and a headland to explore. We were so looking forward to spending six days by the beach on our second ever camping holiday. Wandering, relaxing, swimming, fishing. Thus, it was with great frustration that we called short our trip when first Dave, then myself, came down with the dreaded tummy bug the children had had. He on the first night, myself on the second. We were home again on the third day after slowly and painfully packing up camp. We were torn as to whether to stay or go. Thank goodness we chose home. There is no place like it generally, but particularly when you are sick sick sick.

Thankfully there were some saving graces that made all the effort worthwhile, like dinner at Noosa with friends before the bug struck, flying the kite on the beach with an excited Cohen, chatting with our fellow campers about their travels and adventures. One instance brought tears to my eyes though. As we gingerly packed our belongings a Grandmother from a tent behind us took a tired and fussing Emerson from me and rocked her to sleep. She sat with her until we were ready to leave. That single act made a difficult time that much easier for us. Though I felt miserable the kindness of strangers gave me something positive to focus on.

It may be some time before we attempt camping again however...

Knitting Wish List

L - R: Damask, Autumn Leaves. Tiny Tea Leaves

Camilla babe, Immie Tee, Camilla Blanket

Larch, Cabled Vest, Imogen Cowl

Inspired by this post on the Threads & More blog, I began thinking of my own knitting wish list for 2013. There are the knits I'm currently working on - Larch and Imogen Cowl - the knits that I would love to knit again - Autumn Leaves, Camilla Babe and an adult version of the Cabled Vest - and patterns that are waiting in my queue for time or yarn - Damask, Tiny Tea Leaves, Immie Tee and Camilla Blanket. And should I get through these I believe another knit for Cohen would be in order, or perhaps another cardigan for myself. I feel as though I may be getting ahead of myself. So many patterns, so little time...

What's on your knitting list this year?

1/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen:  Is there anything as beautiful, or as peaceful, as a sleeping child? 

Emerson: The trials of teething. Her eyes say it all.

The first portraits. Discovering another fifty-one ways to capture my camera shy four year old may prove difficult indeed.

+

1. Making beads for orders

2. A blanket for a baby

3. A clean house for the New Year

4. Home wares shopping and a new rug for Emerson

Both my babes are sleeping and suffering from a tummy bug. As I care for them I am reminded of similar days from my childhood. I feel I am walking in my Mothers footsteps. Her careful ways imprinted on me. Little sips of water. Cold washers. Lemonade ice blocks. Gentle back rubs. We've postponed our camping adventure, but things may still be quiet around her for a few days.

-

In the meantime, I've updated my shop design. Feel free to pop over and have a look and let me know what you think.

And so we wandered

Yesterday we ventured up the mountain. I knit as Dave drove and we spoke of our plans for the coming year. Paddocks with horses and cows lined the road until we started the climb and in their place there was thick rain forest. Past the main strip, at the end of a street full of houses, we made our way to the Mount Tamborine Botanical Gardens. I love it there. So fresh, lush and green. It is a place that makes me feel at ease. The rose walk, the hill of hydrangeas, the Japanese garden. We walked the paths before sitting beneath old trees on the lawn. Emerson crawled and sat, tasting leaves and grass. Cohen made a friend and they explored and imagined together. Bush turkey's walked past, an eel swam in the pond, kookaburras laughed above us. It was simple and beautiful. 

I wish we had packed a picnic so we could have stayed for longer. That feeling of family, togetherness, quiet, comfort, I want to take that in to the new year with me. To always leave space for those moments where my children can just be themselves and I can soak them in without interruption.  

I saw in the New Year with a baby in my arms who'd been awoken by the sound of fireworks and dogs barking at midnight. I'd been laying in bed, unable to sleep for excitement at all this year has to bring. There is something about the clean slate of the New Year. Of intentions, resolutions, unfulfilled plans. Promise, expectation, possibility. I kissed both my children for the first time this year before slipping back in to bed.



Emerson's bonnet c/o Tuppenny Lane