Ethan turns two!

Ethan's bunting Alexander and I made

Two!

birthday chair

Can you believe our third little one turned two on the 4th, such a milestone for boy and parents both! I have to admit I really mourn the loss of the baby he was, as much as celebrate the delight he is. By two ones baby has truly gone hasn't it? Much to my astonishment I am terribly clucky at the moment and can't shake the feeling there is another child waiting for us, gasp! I know, I know, and those that know me closely please remind me of what a struggle it was to juggle three little ones without family here, a sinking ship is what I have most used to describe us these last years... remind me of all the tears and the exhaustion and how I have expressed a hunger for a taste of self again.... and the evidence is still all around me in piles of washing, the constant cycle of chaos to order, feeling so pulled in different directions, sometimes feeling I can't do anything well or meet everyone's needs as best as I would like....But then there is this deeper settled part that is just so content in the bustle, that has taken three little ones to "get it", whatever "it" is, something settling into my bones ...to surrender, to let go, to not sweat the small stuff anymore, to live for the present, and that love in general and of family in particular, is ultimately the most important thing (including it's extensions in rich friendship), and to live by "this too shall pass", and that they grow up SO quickly, that what do those difficult times really matter but to stretch us and help us grow into richer more whole human beings, that challenges are there but for our growth and pruning as Kahil Gibran says...... .OH DEAR! I better do more crafting and resurrect our craft circle, or set up my easel, or apply for my masters, or run a local 10k, or finish that knitted cardigan I started (two years ago :), or start a book club, or, or?

Happy birthday Ethan!
I must share a most magical moment at the days end when the sky had grown dark... Ethan lead me down to our room and asked me to sit with him on the floor to look out at the stars, and I sat beside him in that glorious stillness of night, quiet all around, and so utterly peaceful after a busy day. We just basked in looking at the beautiful crescent moon, bordered by two distinct stars, when all of a sudden a shooting star shot across the sky between them, lasting for a small eternity as if to say "haaaapppppy biiiirthhdaaaaay Ethaaaan", such a rare beacon, caught in such a lovely connected moment of love, it was astonishing. Every night when it grows dark Ethan still mentions the   "shootin star", and we go and look. We haven't seen another one since and we have come to call it his special birthday star. Magic is!

projects...

I don't know about you but I feel so much more energised and contented when I have a project to tackle in the end of the day in those threads or moments stolen. These are a little old now, a common theme, posts run a little late around here (!) but I am still very proud of them. The small achievements make such a difference to a day don't they? We are all very sick at the mo so crafting is very much on hold and soup making, nose-wiping, cleaning, is to the fore. Homemaking and mothering will, for much longer, be the most important project I own me thinks!

Oh my first cushion cover, replete with zip! Don't look too closely I found it very hard to sew that line straight with the fancy zip foot. I LOVE this old muted floral fabric, with a previous history as curtains, perfect to soften and romance our sitting room space found at an op-shop.

Garden projects many! We have this roughly terraced slope very neglected and overgrown which I envision tamed into an abundant  pottagier (spelling anyone?) veg garden with cobbled paths etc...one day and chickens, height of my ambitions for so long..! Oh imagine?!

And this old cupboard, found for a song so exactly what I had been carrying around in my heart to replace old rikkerty craft cupboard hauled around the world .. my handbag has even been fit with tape measure to find just the perfect size and here it is before its shabby chic transformation! 

work in progress, my trusty assistant helping with the sanding

old chairs too

Assistant 2

And voila in its new home! Am so utterly thrilled with the result. Love, love, love my new cupboard!

Winter days continued...our recent trip to the Hokianga, Northland

One of the worlds magic places, I think, the Hokianga harbour, my hometown

waiting travelers

Something so old fashioned about Bell sometimes, she could be awaiting a carriage!

Beachcombing, and reshaping

No doubt,the highlight of Ethan's trip, digger driving at Signal Station point, my favourite place. Oh the joy of running out here early morning, the expanse of ocean and sky, worries seem to inconsequential and unnecessary in the face of it!

He would have sat here for hours, bar the blustery wind I would have too

Cousins, sharing their mutual love of diggers, one of there more peaceful moments!

Brother Dale, fishing extraordinaire, and two very enthused kids

These two, so similar in so many ways

Alexander

Loving you Stacey and Cam, view Campbell's birthday party photos on her beautiful blog lilknightlights@blogspot.com

Oh beautiful mischief, sand fights

One of my visits greatest joys, a chance to be Aunty

Oh the small joys

winter, walks, and wanderings

 There is something about this time of year, so ethereal and delicate yet so clear and commited don't you think? Though I struggle at times with what winter brings, I dearly love its stillness too and just the shear stark beauty of it. Here in the Hawkes Bay there is such a crisp, cold clarity about it. Silvery grass in the morning gives way to these spectacular open breathtaking skies, sun that brightens but doesn't burn, it just feels so good to be alive! As harsh and cold as it can be, it is so invigorating at the same time. I find it harder and harder to to honor my morning run, but when I do I feel the thrill of it spill around me all day. And walks, with my three are such a divine way to appreciate the seasons, to restore and recharge. These few were taken after some winter convalescence, how good it was to be out again!

Snowdrops! Very misplaced at this time of year, but much appreciated!

Hints of autumn remain, I have a love affair with crab apples, they have to be one of the most divine trees to watch the passing of seasons don't you think?

 Funny now that I review what I have written, the pictures don't really match the words! Walks I have captured, but I am not sure if winter.
Anyway, we recently tripped to Northland to my family where the winter had such a different quality. I will share some of those winter days soon.

a time of gifting...

Tea cosy sent to Nanny Ev in Ireland for her birthday, love tea cosys!

Much of my creative energy of late seems to be given over to gifting. Honouring a commitment I made earlier in the year to make most (if not all) of my gifts as another money saving measure, and with goal of giving more meaningfully, I have been very busy! Friends and family birthdays seem to be dotted with alarming regularity throughout the year, my winter evenings have been very productive, which is very wintry in itself, and what better way spent.
Here are some ideas to share, quick, easy, economical, yet so pleasing!

tissue box with contrasting grey stitching for Mum for Mothers Day

name pillowcases, a lovely gift for a girls (or boys) birthday

owl for Lucie-Belle daughter of veteren blogger Flo of http://www.sunshineofmyloves.blogspot.com

little ballet bag for a friend of Bella's

And a baby bunting for a new Irish second cousin, new daughter Kayla of my lovely much missed friend Georgina

And this brings me to one of my current challenges, if I still have your attention.  And maybe it is all this busy crafting that explains why I never seem to have the time left over for recording my world here.I fear I am getting a bit left behind in this whole blogoshpere business.
I really seem to be struggling to find the time to gather my moments/inspiration/thoughts and capture them here to share, so bent on the doing of creating and running a home and raising three little ones I can't seem to to bestill (love that word, don't you think?) my domestic world. Arrest some me time.

I know you all struggle with the same, the same challenge to fit it all in, to be a good mother, homemaker, wife, friend, self(with all it's facets mind/body/soul) and to do it with grace besides. Phew! I find myself wishing for a neighborhood Grandma to come in and cover when things get overwhelming as they have been these last three weeks with a string of ill kids. I suspect my husband will be getting out his tiny violin about now, setting the scene of my pity party! Mmm... but you can relate can't you?

Sometimes I feel I so joyous, so inspired, so held still by the beauty around me, my children, my home, nature, inspiration at hand... wouldn't it be lovely to just dwell there a little longer ignoring the call to arms washing, cooking, nose wiping..do you hear me? Any thoughts?
Anyway, what I would like to find/make/create for myself is a regular slot to visit here (even if I am just talking to myself)! How are you all pulling that off? Please do tell your secret formulas, do you set a blog date?

ordinary moments of magic

In mothering, much as in life, meaning has to be found in the ordinary don't you think? When I first thought of starting a blog it was this thought that arrested me and motivated me to capture, share, and ultimately celebrate, the ordinary. Because so MUCH of life, especially one wedded to the home with little ones, is very ordinary and is so task, and doing based isn't it? I realised if I didn't somehow bring meaning and a sense of purpose to the craft, what really could it all (and therefore my life) mean. I think I would just lie down under all the washing and not come out! Sometimes believe me I am very tempted to do just that, peace and time to ones-self anywhere, anyhow!
In conclusion, it is our dailiness that defines us, the small tasks or more the attention brought to the small tasks, the moments, that make the day, that set the mood, that shape the life. In celebration of the ordinary here are some of our favourite moments.

oiling toys

kitchen floor cookng

story time (before haircut!)

neighbourhood walks

drawing sessions inspired by Brambly Hedge

story sessions and picnics under our cherry tree

Ethan's first haircut, much overdue!

just sitting

painting and crafting