Sadness and Flowers

As soon as I had finished raking up these jacaranda flowers, I felt some kind of sadness. 

Every morning I look out the kitchen window holding my first coffee of the day, and gaze out to the carpet of purple. There's a branch that taps at the window, abundant with flowers, tap-tap-tap, a gentle reminder that spring is here, but not for long. 

The purple against the bright green of the lawn. The yellow of the hibiscus that's flowers drop before they've fully unfurled. When I find those flowers I wonder what happened to them, though they're still pretty as yellow petal-balls whose secrets will never spill into the world. 

Each time I walked out the door I could smell the sweet decay of the flowers, and it took me back to childhood. There's something nice about it returning back to the earth, comforting. 

But I swept it up, one job done, more to do. And yet, I've still got that hint of sadness. 

Spring is almost done.

Frocktober 2014:: Slow Sunday

It's already day 12. DAY !@! 

Yes that's right. Day twelve. Like Shakespeare's 'The Twelfth Night' except inundated with frocks. Dresses. Skirts attached to tops. 

Have you sponsored me yet? Please do! Big, small, modest, immodest. Anything is huge to my fundraising! HUGE! I am honestly humbled and grateful for ANY sized donation because it all makes a difference. 

In case I hadn't banged on about it enough - there's no early detection test for ovarian cancer, so money you donate will go to researching the what and the how. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful to change someone's life?

Please sponsor me today. Any donation over $2 is tax deductible. All money raised goes to OCRF.

Dress: Much loved maxi by Tilly from Lee Mathews
Belt: Hey Mogantosh! It's my Mum's!

The Legs. They Are Talking.

We spent a couple of hours at a beautiful local park on Sunday. We had a mission of climbing trees. So off we went.

The tree climbing lasted all of about five minutes - when the kids decided that they were too scared, and I decided that they needed to spend more time in the country.

We then went on an adventure through the gardens, scootered, and Matt and I enjoyed some time sitting on park benches, on the grass, and just next to each other semi-chatting, mostly watching the smalls and enjoying being outside on a perfect Spring day. There's something to be said for comfortable silences.

We're now just one week shy of the school holidays. I've got some ideas on how to keep the smalls entertained during the two weeks - have you got plans?

I Am A Spring Swinger

Well hello there Spring. I am so, so glad to see your sunny face. Just look at that brilliant blue sky of yours.
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It's been a while, but yesterday Tiny and I dropped the Doctor off to school, then headed to the park. Just the two of us. Soaking up the sunny rays, admiring the abundance of flowers, and pretending we were in a forest, or that we were Sleeping Beauty, or in Narnia. We love a bit of role playing.

Tiny gathered up all sorts of flowers, in the folds of her skirt, and we moved around the park taking in all the different climbing trees and spaces to explore.

We both got on the swings and we swung. If you've not known that giddy feeling for a while, it's time to get on a swing. It is simple joy.

These are my very favourite days. Spending time with my smalls with nothing much to do, except 'be'. Spending time with Tiny is one of my favourite and my best. I went back to work when she was just wee, well not super wee, but still small, and I miss being home with her. So yesterday was one of those sweet days, when we had nothing in particular to do, except be with each other. And bake a marble cake.

Now just one day 'til the weekend. Spring, please, stay around a while.

Life is good my friends, life is good.

Sunshine

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do love Mondays. Well actually, it's a weird kind of love. I am home, which is great, but the smalls are at preschool and school, which is a bit of a drag. Most people would be slapping me in the face and saying: "Get outta here" - but Mondays feel kind of lonely. I know. I'm a weirdo. I should rejoice in the solo Monday, and I do, but it does feel lonely flying solo without my wingbabies.

I love doing the pick up. I try and pick Tiny up early so we don't have to rush. This Monday I parked the car in a different spot - and we got to climb the bridge over the train tracks. Tiny marvelling at the sparkles in the cement steps. Simple joys. There is absolutely something in that.

Oh Spring!

Spring-a-licious! Well hello there. So glad you could join us.

Those big blue skies, with fairy-floss clouds scattered here and there. That sunlight. Warm, but not too warm. A gentle breeze that's saying farewell to Winter, blowing out the cobwebs. Lying on the green, feeling the grass between your toes. Oh Spring. I'm excited, so excited, for your arrival.

Spring Cleaning

After a day out discovering (more on that tomorrow), I got all my cups and saucers out of the cupboards, washed them and rearranged them. It took me longer than anticipated, and half way through I regretted starting this exercise. Nevertheless, I kicked on, and am lying on the couch checking out the new set up.

I must admit, it was quite nice washing such pretty pieces. Each of them different, with a story all of their own. I love my pre-loved pieces, it's a shame I don't get to use them and admire them more often.

I'm beginning to think eating from a really beautiful plate is far more of an experience than eating from a plain white dinner plate. What say you?

Stuff You Should Have Seen

Lately we've been getting around. I like getting around on the weekend. Exploring.

A few weekends ago (hey - old news is still news right?!) we visited the Carriageworks markets. Win-win because the Doctor got to ride his scooter like a crazy cat up and down the open expanse.

We also bought some quick eats from David Jones and sat in Hyde Park where the smalls thought it was pretty darn fascinating that men were gathered to play with a giant chess set. Heck I think it is too. I often wonder who these men are.

You could say that we like to 'get involved'. Ahem.

I totally distorted these photos trying to make Blogger play nice.

The Long Track

The Doctor and Tiny were busy busting each other's bubbles yesterday. Some days, they just wake up, and they hassle each other. Man it does my banana in.

I sent them outside. Such a splendiforous day. Who could be cranky in the sunshine? Who?! No one, that's who.

They got creative together and built an epic outdoor train track. Right down the side of the house, on a slope, so the trains just kept on a-chuggin'.

I love those sunny days when the bickering gets sorted out by themselves and they can play happily together. In the meantime I got to clean the floors and tidy the house a little. I would absolutely have preferred to be sitting in the sunshine playing trains today.

Meh Monday. Or Is It MehDay?

It's not only civilians that shudder when they think of Monday. Legions of Mums are shuddering, bracing themselves, pulling the covers over their heads, fronting up to the fact that it's the start of a fresh new week.

On paper, Monday looks exciting. It's a blank week full of potential (or alternatively, it's crammed full of playdates, lunch-packing, babysitter finding, preschool volunteering, and general meal-planning mayhem).

But the reality of Monday? The reality of Monday is ugly. Plain ugly.

Especially so after such a ridiculously glorious (yes, I did just use the word GLORIOUS) weekend full of sunshine. A brief flirtation with Spring that has continued today while I've been sitting outside knitting (yes I am still going on the world's slowest scarf).

We went to the park today - the Doctor didn't want to go. He wanted to (surprise, surprise) stay home and Lego 'til the cows came home. Tiny on the other hand was champing at the bit. We went to the park, the Doctor had fun, and came back running to me to tell me a magpie had tried to poop on his head. I was a little unsure about this, and then he came back and told me again (having a major giggle-fest about it) that this bird was again trying to poop on his head. I came over to watch - and sure enough, if Spring feels as though it has sprung for us, nature is feeling it too. That magpie was not trying to poop on him (how many birds do precision poop diving?), he was trying to swoop him. Thankfully he didn't get close enough to the Doctor and the Doctor was fully helmeted up.

Then the smalls saw some kids rolling down the hill. They thought they'd give it a whirl too. With hilarious results. Rolling the wrong way, half rolling in half downward dog poses. Oh man, I wish I had a camera with me. Then it was all over in a flash because the Doctor was soaked to the core in dew.

We made a quick park exit and he took off all his clothes before getting into the car. Like travelling in his undies. Like he was Borat. Actually, it was just undies and socks. Like he was Tom Cruise. Being a mum is Risky Business.

And so we came home to have lunch and both the kids were meant to have a sleep. Meant to. But they both didn't make it. Now they're discovering toys in boxes that haven't been unpacked since we moved and chanting that they want chocolate.

Roll on Tuesday. Pronto.

Lying Under The Trees, On The Grass

Lying on the grass, underneath a huge old oak tree, listening to the smalls playing. The Doctor and Matt climbing the branches, negotiating each carefully, and Tiny, she just runs away, to the bandstand, back she goes, climbing those stairs. And I lie on the grassy green, enjoying a spectacular Spring-ish day. This is life. This is living.

It's Me: Day 6

It's such a blissful day today. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The smalls are happy. The mama's happy. Parenting when the sun is shining is so much easier than on grey days when you're locked in the house and then cabin fever sets in. I tend to go a little barmy. Perhaps even more than a little. Perhaps I go tres barmy when I have cabin fever.

Today I feel like a snake that's shedding it's skin. No need for too many layers. I am a big fat snake in the sunshine. Stitching. And while I know snakes can't stitch for lack of hands, I am sure it's not through lack of trying.

So today we're clocking up time in the sun. A 2002 UK study revealed that eight-year-olds could easily identify Pokemon characters far more easily than they could name "otter, beetle, and oak tree." Scary huh? Get into the sun people! Enjoy nature peeps! Pokemon are for... I don't know. We're not into Pokemon. Phew.

Day 6. Four days to go. I need to pull out the big stops from here on in.

PS - The Doctor took a hilarious series of shots this afternoon of me - right after he photographed the lavender. Apparently it needed a photo too. My photos - totally unflattering, funny nonetheless. Totally untouched, just for the record.

It's Me: Day 3

Day 3 reveals that yesterday I was wearing my very favourite tee (it's Genki). Again. It's easy to wear. I don't need to justify it. Right...? Right...?

Yesterday we spent a glorious morning at Balmoral with my sister and her little girl (that would make P-Bee my niece). The sun was shining. The seagulls were swooping. The babes happily played together in the sand. Tiny got a little too up close and personal with a wave.

Hello Spring - I've seen you around the traps lately. Let me invite you in. Stay awhile.

Sunshine Blogging

I'm sitting by the window with the sunlight streaming through. The windows may be dirty but the sun knows it's way by rote. Some asked for proof that Spring is coming. Packing its bags from one part of the world, to wing into our part of the world. If this sunshine isn't enough, I don't know what is. But here you have a list that I am busy compiling:

- the birds are singing

- the cherry blossoms are starting
- the camellias are still blooming
- the magnolias are on their way in
- shy jonquils and daffodils are making an entrance
- I can stand to be oustide for longer, even hanging the clothes out is becoming more bearable
- the sun is hanging out with us longer

I found these books on my recent sojourn. They were 20 cents a pop, part of that haul. I didn't take them all, I didn't want to be greedy, but the illos are so very good. And the content? Timeless.

Let's Find Out About Spring - Martha & Charles Sharp, illustrated by Laszlo Roth (published 1963).

Here, let's take a peek together, shall we?

'When is spring? Spring is when it's warm enough to put away winter coats and hats and ...go out in lighter clothes.

Spring is when you can ride bicycles, go skating and play ball.'

Hey - it sounds pretty good to me.

Have you noticed any seasonal changes in your 'hood? What are they?

Kiddie Craft:: Spring Lambs

Because we're housebound (it's even hotter today) we're doing a minimally messy kiddie craft activity today.

When I think Spring time, I think flowers, butterflies, bees all a-buzzing, sunshine, the promise of Summer, and baby animals. Cute, fluffy, baby, snooky, snuggly baby animals. Who doesn't love a baby animal (and I'm not talking Suze deMarchi)?

So I came up with this genius idea. Well I am sure it's not new. In fact I know it's not a new idea. This is another of those fail-safe craft activities to do with the smalls.

Spring lambs. Just the name excites me. I love baby lambs. So cute. So clumsy. So fragile. So we set to making some. I googled lamb stencils and found a couple of different ones. I set about printing them out (which took longer than the whole crafting experience itself). The Doctor (my son who calls himself Dr. Sanchez will from herein be referred to as The Doctor) organised the cotton balls. I organised the glue and paint brushes and we set to.

If I had an artistic bone I would have drawn my own lamb and bypassed the printing experience. There's a special note in that for crafty mamas. Save yourself from wrangling the printer. Draw your own I say!

I usually don't really give The Doctor strict instructions. I let him see what I am doing, and he can either do the same, or something similar. No hard and fast rules.

But for this one, well, perhaps I should have set some more guidelines. This was the end result. Enter the Spring lamb. So woolly it can't see whether it's Arthur or Martha. Poor baby lamb.

Kiddie Craft:: Spring-time Butterflies

I know you already know how to make these. I'm safely assuming this because everyone at some stage in their childhood has made these deliciously easy, and utterly satisfying butterflies. Yesterday we spent the good part of an hour squishing them out to discover new breeds of the pretties.

All you need:

- paint (non-toxic)

- spoons so the little one can dollop on big fat, shiny globs of paint

- lotsa lotsa paper

- fingers for squishing out the butterflies

I trust you don't need instructions. Wing it. Pun absolutely and definitely intended. If you do need instructions, email me. I'll craft some up for you. Boom! Boom! Pun really ridiculously intended again. Sorry. Tough crowd tonight.

Kiddie Craft:: Cherry Blossom

Today we tried a craft idea I saw over at The Bird Bath. Such a gorgeous idea, and so easy to execute without losing interest from a little one.

First blowing ink on the page, watching the branch take form. Wobbly lines going every which way.

Second scrunching up the pink tissue. Rolling small blossoms and buds.

Third painting on the glue (we used non-toxic diluted PVA with a paintbrush for extra hold) and positioning the blossoms and buds.

We were having such fun we added another dimension with the leaves.

Afterwards, we continued on with some freestyling collage. Cause that's the kind of crazy cats we are, rolling with our homies. Word.

The Cherry Blossoms were such a pretty Spring activity. Thanks to The Bird Bath for the inspiration!