13/52..

a portrait of my children..

olive: you've mastered those stairs and zip up and down, taking time to peek over and check in on the rest of us..

harvey: this is how I find you often, just taking her in..

james and eddie: the excitement of starting scouts together, you could not stop talking about it, I think its going to be so good for you both..

linking in with jodi at practicing simplicity for the 52 project..

making for a cause..

When it comes to making, there's nothing more fun or fulfilling than making for someone else.  I get pretty excited about starting something new, especially when its for such a wonderful cause. My little 'helper' was pretty excited about visiting the cotton stash too, untangling her contribution was a craft project in itself.

Beautiful Cath at My Bearded Pigeon has put a call out for some wash cloths for the Days For Girls project. I couldn't wait to make a start on these, and if you'd like to contribute pop on over to her blog to grab the details. 

12/52..

a portrait of my children..

olive: a much needed beach walk to pick some wild posies after a rough night and a screamy morning..

harvey: every now and then I catch a glimpse of my baby boy within the surly, serious pre-teen..

james: this week its army, and endless questions about world war one..

eddie: morphing into a ware wolf..

Seriously, those two and their imaginative play, its endless.  I cherish the way their little minds work, watching them and listening to their games is simply the best thing ever.

joining jodi's 52 project... 

a new season..

I didn't think I was ready to say goodbye to summer, but now that autumn is here I remember how much I love this season and feel myself sinking into it very comfortably. 

Days are still warm enough for bare feet and walks along the shore line, and afternoons cool enough to wrap yourself in snugly woollens.

The colours are softer, the sea air has a certain smell about it and for now days are still long enough for the kids to play outside until it's close to bed time.

Yes, I'm definitely ready to welcome the new season...and the calmer pace that comes along with it.

  

11/52..

a portrait of my children...

olive: that pout..watching your brothers play outside, nattering away to yourself..

james & eddie: quidditch match underway..

harvey: watering the garden, a regular chore, listening to your ipod to pass the time..

I usually try to tone down the colour in my pictures, but I love the brightness here, autumn sun before the storm. I'm a bit off my game photo wise this week, nothings been quite right with any of the shots I'd taken. I'm sure it's because, subconsciously, I've decided it's time for a new camera, a real camera, nothing else is measuring up..but all in good time. 

linking in with jodi's 52 project..

true colours..

After lots of experimenting with pattern and colour over the years, its taken some time, but I've finally come to the conclusion that it's greys and neutrals, pure and simple that are my true colours.

It's what I love the most, what I wear pretty much all of the time and what gives me the greatest satisfaction to work with.

I adore colour and seeing all of the amazing things other people make and wear, and I like to see my kids in colours but for me its all shades of grey, classic and timeless along with soft natural earthy tones. They inspire me, comfort me and excite me.

The realisation is a bit like coming home, back to my comfort zone, and I'm loving the ribbed cowls in these tones, I'm a little addicted to making them.

sharing with Kirsty..

10/52..

a portrait of my children...

harvey: look at you growing up and changing so much right before my very eyes, you don't have a lot of patience for all of us at the moment, but for her, always..

olive: at the fair, those legs are my obsession..

james: forever at play,  it's serious business..

eddie: you appear from nowhere and wrap your arms around me, it's the best!

joining in with Jodi's 52 project..

longed for moments of perfect harmony..they exist

Some days I feel completely overwhelmed by the love I have for these babies of mine.  

I live in a constant state of awe and amazement at who they are and what they know, how quickly they grow and how completely responsible I am for who they will become.  They challenge me every day, they surprise me every day, they frustrate and test me no end!

I yell too much, I'm grumpy too often, and I'm busy all of the time.  The challenging times are more frequent than the easy-breezy happy contented times. 

Longed for moments of perfect harmony are fleeting but they are there, more often than I realised, and its so important to recognise them and to treasure them.

Letting go of all the need to do's was my motto for this year, to relax and enjoy the moments.  It's a constant work in progress, but days like today when my little girl put her arms around me and kissed my chest with her soppy lips, I actually cried, the happiest tears and the fullest heart..

when the words are not enough..

(photo credit: my brother and his iphone)

There are not a lot of words I'm able to write for this post. February has left me emotionally spent. Grateful, relieved, blessed they're all a good start and all prominent in the fore of my heart and mind.

My dad built this house when I was 5.  Well, started building it, it's been a long process and a labour of love. Living in the country there is always the threat of bush fires, the worry sits there in the back of your mind all year round and then come summer you are on high alert, the possibility becomes very real.  

I remember walking home from the bus stop after school when I was about 11, along the dusty unmade road the air thick with smoke and knowing fires were very close.  When I got home mum had cases packed by the door and I couldn't quite believe we were actually going to have to leave.  

Ever since that day I've been in fear of bush fires and not being quite so lucky.  After the devastation of Black Saturday, when the fires came closer still and the realisation of their enormity and power would leave little hope of being able to fight, our parents made a promise that if they were ever under threat again, they would not stay.

They didn't stay.  The fire came up to the front steps and they lost sheds.  The neighbours lost their homes.

Grateful. Relieved. Blessed.  The words are not enough.

9/52..

a portrait of my children..

olive: a milestone, stacking blocks with such care and co-ordination

james: you taught yourself to click your fingers! we thought it was hilarious, and slightly shocking that we'd come this far without having taught you this yet, even your little brother could do it..how did we overlook that?! 

eddie: reading is becoming more and more of a chore to you, sadly.  we're trying to excite you and help you to see the magic of books, but some days it all becomes too distressing, for all of us! so we've signed up for reading eggs and taken a visit to the library in the hope to re-inspire..we might have had a break through, so far so good

no harvey portrait this week, it's becoming harder to get regular pictures of him these days.  

Actually, I haven't even managed to pick up my camera this week, these were all quick grabs of the iphone, capturing moments as I saw them happening.  All fairly significant moments that I'm glad I managed to record.

joining jodi's 52 project..