spring!

Spring blossoms on our street

 Isn't this time of year divine? I feel beset with spring fervor and have been enthusiastically chipping away at projects within and without...thank goodness for my late discovery of coffee, where have I been?! Green tea no longer holds a candle in terms of ritual boost.
With much delight we have finally started shaping our wild slopes into vege beds. I have been caught dancing around to words of "I'm so excited, just can't hide it..."! I am I am! I am currently in the process of de-stoning each bed, a mission in itself, I have unearthed wheel barrow loads of broken terracotta, paving stones, bricks and rocks..etc., I have made a commitment to give the garden at least a half an hour daily, I know that probably sounds paltry, but is actually a huge accomplishment in my busy daily round with little ones. I have a lovely new habit of visiting my patch for awhile on my way back up from emptying my compost bucket. It is my current favourite place. I am a little unsure how to proceed once I have completed phase de-stone though, do I then put on my compost, sheep pellets/cow manure etc., dig in, plant and then mulch...in that order? Do I need to add further top soil? Where is my Mum, veteran gardener when I need her?! Anyway, enough blah blah here is some evidence of our industry.

Slope cleared of vegetation

boys getting busy creating retaining wall in veg bed 1

oh look taking shape as Austin defines and reinforces them with edges

Master Mortimer proved our most dedicated worker on this project we literally had to drag him in each day

though sometimes he would stray to play, play is a child's work after all!

 a great spectator, bless her!

still beavering away

looking down on them, behold all of those stones!

spring light, magic

finishing touches, the boys paved under my clothesline, now I can stand there without getting tangled in ivy and losing my pegs, yay! 

 divine rest

these two are loving sharing books

fathers day crafting, I was really excited to "draw" with my machine, such fun! I def plan to try again

daffodil picking

and a wonderful old tire swing

our three

Much love to you all! Wishing you wonderful spring days too.

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.