Our world

Fun tool from here.

Elsa's world

Elsa's at that wonderful stage where her imagination can take her amazing places to make wonderful things. Here's a world of flower fairies, made from garden blooms and plasticine. Mothers wearing big ball gowns, looking after flower bud babies, eating tiny bowls of fruit. So lovely to watch. She's so clever. (ahem, if I do say so myself).

tiny babies asleep in their beds

glamorous flower mummy with head and hair of plasticine

in their home made of moss, driftwood, stones and curlicues

How do you nurture and encourage that imagination to ensure that it lasts a lifetime?

Self portrait with hen

My favourite girl, Emily. Who escaped from her new house. And wandered into ours. Back to the dome for you, but not before a photo.

Feburary No 5

A new rhythm to our days now that Elsa is back at school.
Slow sunny mornings.
Quieter days. I like it.
Enjoying this book.
I do miss our little kitty cat though...

Love

I'd been looking for love in all the wrong places. A cliche but true. I'd been here, here and here. But nothing was right, too low, too tight, too uncomfortable, too dear. Someone said I might find you here, and I did. But none left in my size. In any store in the state. Which goes to show I'm not the only girl looking for the tall, dark type.

I first noticed you here. And what's not to notice. Deep indigo denim with two tone old gold/tobacco stitching. Medium rise. Wide, straight leg. And red poplin faced waistband and pocket linings. Too Cute!

But I figured you were way out of my league. But then an email arrived whispering those words of love " winter sale". For a moment, a glimmer of hope? But no, the shipping fees were way too much. But then, a few weeks later another email arrived and whispered words that make any girl week at the knees "further reductions." I couldn't control myself. And the price worked out to be the equivalent of a mid range pair of jeans, that probably wouldn't fit anyway.

You arrived in a week. I could barely control myself as I tore at the package. I was so nervous. Did I buy the right style, the right size? I tried you on. The perfect fit. Everything I could hope for in a jean. Perfect length, perfect colour, perfect size.

We've been inseparable ever since. All my friends comment on how good you look. How flattering you are. It's true love. So Happy Valentine's Day to the perfect jean!

And Happy Valentine's day to you too!

6th photo, 6th folder

I've been speechless this week so haven't felt like posting. Instead, I've been spending lot's of time with the children with plenty of those hugs where you squeeze so tight that you seem to breathe them in.
I've been tagged by the lovely Jodi to play this game - open the 6th picture folder on your computer, open the 6th photo and blog it. Write something about it. Then tag 6 more people to do the same.

Like many who play this game, I have stumbled across a photo of a forgotten moment. We were living in another house in the same village I mentioned in the last post. Hugo had arrived and I remember the big shift in my relationship with Elsa. I could no longer spend all my time with her, and quite often she played second fiddle to a difficult baby brother who wasn't always well, to the point of a few hospital admissions. Elsa was so good, and so patient and so helpful. I felt quite a bit guilty really. This photo is of a very special moment, because it's just Elsa and me. Hanging out. Having a tea party. In her sweet little bedroom. Look at her adorable little face. It sure does makes me smile...I can use that right now.

Rather than tag six people - why don't you play along too - see where it takes you. And let me know so I can see where you go.

More tales from the garden.

Look at this idyllic verandah. This is the very first house we rented when we moved to southern Tasmania. It was in a small village on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. An old farmhouse on six acres with cottage gardens, creek, paddocks with grazing belties, apricot orchard and a beautiful old willow tree with obligatory tyre swing. Sadly, we only had a short time at this lovely cottage, in between old and new owners. But it did give us brown thumbed city slickers the chance to cut our teeth on looking after a big garden. I had never pruned a fruit tree in my life and got to hone my skills on on a whole orchard, whilst four months pregnant, (hope they're still alive!) and the massive cottage garden beds gave us plenty of practice in weeding. And seed saving. The garden was home to a massive amount of colourful spires of Russell Lupins. And I saved the seeds in brown paper bags and took them with me when we moved.
And here they today are in my garden, planted two years ago and at last showing their magnificent towering blooms. I sowed the seeds, watered and weeded the seedlings and built ugly wire contraptions over them so the rabbits wouldn't eat the little green leaves. Now looking gorgeous, not only am I amazed that I actually grew them, they also remind me of very special times at a very special place. Isn't that something?

Eye spy a small object....

This week's Eye Spy theme from the Crafty Librarian is a small object - but mine isn't really an object, it's a small thing. Peeps. We're chick sitting for friends and they are rather adorable. They do have small accessories though, tiny water container, small dish full of budgie bird seed to eat. And 1/2 a weetbix and milk for breakfast and dinner. They are so cute. Not sure if we'll be able give them back! Peep Peep!