Lovely Things (322-338 )

Adding up the lovely things in my world ...

322 A prettier container for dish-washing liquid ... a second-hand glass nip bottle, which measures out just the right amount of soap for a sink full of dirty dishes.

323 A little person snuggled up in bed with two Iggle Piggles, bought for cents at the market, and hugged tightly all the way home.

 324 Harvesting fat heads of sweet broccoli -- straight from the vegetable garden and onto our plates.

325 Little person's joy at finding an egg in the hen house.

326 Baby swings covered in autumn leaves. Adam carefully sweeps each one off before he'll get on the swing.

327 Bedtime stories.

 328 Autumn roses.

329 A well-stocked woodpile, keeping us warm over winter.

330 Bok choy and marigolds. Some for the caterpillars, and the rest for us. I don't mind sharing.

331 These two, snuggled up in winter clothes. How lucky am I? What more could I possibly want?

332. Citrus trees heavy with fruit in the orchard.

333. Spontaneous gifts of flowers, offered with love. Even the littlest boy tears blooms from the bushes and brings them delightedly to me.

334. A bumper harvest of Jerusalem artichokes. We've had several feasts already, and just leave the tubers in the ground, simply digging up a few spadefuls on afternoons that they feature on the dinner menu.

335. Rainbow-coloured rosellas perched among flowering bushes.

336. Rousing games of "Catch me!" in the evenings.

337. Sweet potato soup with homemade crusty bread ... shared with friends for lunch.

338. Melt-in-the-mouth lamb shanks with barley and rosemary. A perfect winter warmer, enjoyed infront of the fire.

Book Week

We've all been ill. Luckily Geoff and I have escaped with only sore throats and croaky voices, but both Eric and Adam caught the full force of a nasty cold that led to hoarse, hacking coughs and runny noses. Poor Eric stayed home for almost a week, but finally begged to go to school yesterday so he could take part in Book Week Parade.

This year's theme was "Carnival" ... we'd put together a magician's costume from left-over party bits and pieces, and he was eager to join a host of clowns, tightrope walkers and gypsies to show off his finery.

So, dressed up and very excited, I took him to school. Only to have the teacher phone up an hour later asking me to fetch my cold, snotty and coughing boy and take him home.

After a rest and morning tea I bundled both boys up in warm clothes and took them to the doctor, then collected a few necessary supplies from the supermarket. Eric was still sad about the parade, so I phoned the school and asked if he could come and join in just for the formal walk around the playground in front of the visitors. He could! So into his costume and off to school ...

I'm so glad we didn't miss it ... I love how my little person loves the attention, and struts proudly around. No hint of shyness at all. He especially loved that there were four other magicians ... but told me he liked his costume most of all.

Mother's Day

There's always so much excitement leading up to Mother's Day here ... the plans, purchases at the school stall, not-so-subtle clues that give away almost everything about the gift, and the enthusiasm with which gifts are given

This year was a riot of emotion ... Eric dropped one gift while crossing the road, leading to a broken plate and near-endless tears (which finally dried when I found a replacement for Granny in my gift drawer). The second gift (mine) mysteriously disappeared from his bag at school, and its whereabouts was only revealed when one of his classmate's mothers telephoned to explain about a mix up which resulted in her little girl bringing home two gifts. We'd had our suspicions ... this little person had been very jealous that Eric had snaffled a prized item from the stall just before she could get it. But all's well that ends well ... it was just another interesting twist to the drama that is Mother's Day!

My gift this year was a corker ... an Indoor/Outdoor weather station to sit beside my bed! Eric was so proud and pleased, and I'm actually finding it enormously handy and interesting. It has a clock and alarm, as well as date, weather report, phases of the moon, day of the week, and indoor/outdoor temperature reading (we've put the outdoor sensor on the verandah). All this for only $5 from the school stall ... Eric told me he's sure it's worth $50.

It's worth more ... to me at least. Because it was given to me with a kiss and all the love of my shiny-eyed oldest boy.

Oh No!

For years the trampoline was tucked away inside a hidden ring of trees beside the house. Since it was almost always covered in leaves and pine needles, and in a spot frequented by mosquitoes, the kids rarely played on it.

Last month, we moved it onto the big field in front of the house. Suddenly both Adam and Eric seemed to be jumping non-stop, and I've so enjoyed watching them from the veranda, or while weeding the nearby flower beds.

The night before mother's day was bitterly cold and windy, and when we woke the next morning this sorry sight met our eyes. Poor Adam rushed out into the garden holding his arms spread wide, and shouting "Oh no!, oh no!". He then promptly burst into tears and rushed to me to be hugged ... he could only be consoled with a turn on the swing.  

Although it looks dire, the trampoline seems to be fixable, once we have the time (work's crazy at the moment for all of us) and the help of a friend who is a welding genius. Hopefully it won't be too long ... I love our afternoons out in the garden, boys jumping while I pick vegies and water in seedlings.

A Flannel Quilt

An early 40th birthday gift (a whole year early ... but I'm not complaining!).
Have you ever seen anything so lovely? And so beautifully cozy, too ... made of the softest flannel pieces. Just looking at all those glowing reds and warm russet oranges makes me feel warm.
It's the work of a talented friend of my mother's (and I'll claim her as a friend, too), the very kind and generous Nantje.
I really do love autumn and winter, especially when the fire is blazing, the house smells of baking, and I'm surrounded by pretty things.

Up a Tree

Metres and meters up in the rainbow-coloured Liquid Amber by the chicken pen ... much higher than my head ... shouting "I can see everything from here!". I can't wipe the fear from my mind that he'll fall ... from that height it could be deadly ... but I keep my eyes down and concentrate on feeding the chickens, and sweeping up the fallen leaves into a tall pile to put into the compost bin. Because I still remember how it feels to be up a tree so high that you can see the edges of the world ... climbing to the very top on a windy day and holding on as the trunk whips you backwards and forwards.
And when I hear a little voice saying "I'm too scared to get down!", I steel myself and answer in a no-nonsense tone to simply take it slowly. Because I also remember the paralyzing fear when you look down and the ground seems as far away as the horizon, and it seems impossible to move at all.
And then, when he is on the ground finally, and has conquered the climb and the fear all by himself, there's the skipping excitement and pride that comes with mastering both body and mind.
Children simply have to climb trees ... even if they terrify their mothers more than they do themselves!

In the Garden

First punnets of homegrown stock, nigella, pyrethrum and poppies planted out today. Basil, tomatoes, chard and a dozen trays of pansies (which aren't doing anything, to my dismay) are on their way in the greenhouse. Hoping to plant seeds of delphiniums, brussels and spinach in the next few days.
Planning for summer already ...

Getting Bigger

Nearly a little man already!
I'm soaking up every bit of babyness while I still can. The way he stands at the freezer, trying to catch my eye and saying "Thank you, Mum!" in the hope that I'll open it up and hand over yet another ice block. The little voice that declared "Bye, bye iPad!" as he left the house yesterday. Chubby tummy and hands and cheeks, wild jumping on the trampoline, and sheer devotion to his older brother. His delighted shout of "Papa!" many times a day ... even if they've only just left each other's side. Dancing to Teletubbies in his green dinosaur dressing gown, rugged up in so many layers that he can't put his hands to his sides, but flails like a little starfish ... singing the bird's song from In the Night Garden (oh so clearly) while we drive home from watching Eric play soccer on cold Wednesday evenings.
If only I could stop the clock ...