Awakening

With memories of festive lie ins, still so fresh

Rain and wind pounding the house

It is so hard to leave this

warm, cosy nest.

Up and bed made

cheery quilt brings smiles

and much needed colour

on such a dark, damp day.

Peeking out the window

a sodden World awaits

bare trees swaying

to the rhythm

of the wind.

The boys bed holds his treasures

and Mamas heart delights

that handmade Nemo

peeks out.

And coffee in a dotty mug

bright splash of happiness

enough to lift the spirits.

Good Morning x

Always look on the bright side of life

It is pouring down here and the wind is sending anything not nailed down, swirling off to Kansas.
So, as we head out the door, O tops his wet weather gear off with sunnies.
There's a lesson there.

Happy New One

Times, they are so busy.

There has been some crafting,

golden stars to brighten our windows.

Visits to garden centres, packed with shoppers

and twinkling lights,

and glorious reindeer dancing down from the skies,

An evening with Kate Rusby, singing beautiful songs of Yule Time.

A lovely trip to Norfolk, such a treat, to spend time with special friends

and breakfast with Thomas.

Rides in trucks at Christmas Markets, going round and round while Daddy watches

and Mama sneaks off to buy some surprises.

And some knitting, always some knitting.



Thinking

I always plan to spend more time here, writing posts in my head, only to get caught up in the flow of the day, forgetting what I felt the need to say later when time allows or not having my camera with me to take the perfect shot, oh but I do love this space and the connections it brings, the time to share and ponder, learn and grow.
The first snowflakes have just fallen here, followed by sleety rain and now some very weak sunshine.
No plans for the day ahead, as most of us, myself included have coughs and colds, so an early fire and stories with soup for lunch.
Festive shopping is being completed mainly on-line (does anyone brave the shops now ? ) or coming off the needles, although I feel my far too long list of knits has already beaten me ( note to self - start in July next year ) Visits to a couple more craft fayres and Christmas markets will I hope, leave everyones name on my list with a tick beside it.

Inspired by this lovely post http://mamauktalesfromwales.blogspot.com/2011/11/window-star-tutorial.html

we have been adorning our windows with O's creations.

I cried (of course) as our shoe boxes and those generously filled by friends, joined the van full of LOVE,

to begin the journey to boys and girls around the World.



With one thing and another, times have been a little dark here recently, full on family life and all its joys, worries, stresses and strains taking their toll, so I have been mentally taking myself back to a magical night on the Isle of Lewis, watching our lantern as it climbed higher and higher into the night sky, a warm, orange glow in the dark, carrying with it our hopes, wishes and dreams.

Finding comfort in the light within the dark.

Blessings to all.

Bringing Home the Heat

A successful visit to the Wood Auctions, should keep us toasty this Winter.

End of the Week Joys

               Daddy's Home.                  

                                     

Golden Autumn light across the fields.

Happy Weekending x

Back to Blogging

Exciting times has left this poor blog rather neglected, so yet another catch up and then a post a day to get back into the swing of the wonderful world of blogging, is in order. Lambs to feed, tractors to ride and wonderful friends to share the day with.

40th birthday (mine, argh ! ) weekend away, tucked away in Wales without children for the first time in forever, visits to Wonderwool http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/ and CAT http://www.cat.org.uk/ meeting up with friends, good food and champagne induced early evening sleep made 40 feel not so bad.

Another day at the beach with more kite flying, wave chasing, flasks of coffee and picnics.

March Catch Up

A weekend in Haworth, Yorkshire, with knitting friends.
Visits to mills stuffed high with gorgeous yarns, exotic Indian stores, cakes and cuppas always to hand.

Workshops to share skills, lovely meals, great company and plenty of time for knitting, even while waiting for the coach.

Views to inspire.

Farm visit with friends.

New babes to delight.

Flowers, cards and love, so much love from friends.
Remembering our little girl
6 years.

March with all its beauty, heartache and renewal.

*First yellow butterfly of the season, dancing in the garden 19th March*

Welcoming Spring

With a plate of scones made by K, spread with jam gifted from friends, plants and candles on table and tea in pretty china.

Enjoying the wonderful new issue of http://rhythmofthehome.com/ full of Spring time inspiration.

Life in the Fast Lane

Life is whizzing by at a fair old pace here.
The blur that was the weekend, was full of fun.
We have been partying to celebrate a friend's third birthday.

Coffee and cakes ( and wonderful parsnip soup ) at a gorgeous organic small holding.
A lovely play date with toast and pate thrown in.

Laundry, shopping and chicken coop cleaning.

Wood chopping.

And then Monday morning, brought uniform shopping, for a girl, that at the grand, old age of nearly 13, will be heading to school for the first time on Friday, yes this Friday !

Peace through the mail

Just as I hit the "publish post" button yesterday, the postman knocked the door. Nestled amongst what was mostly junk mail, was a package for me, familiar writing, making me smile before even opening it.

Tucked inside was this little beauty, winking at me was it clear and bright message .... Peace.
I laughed, cried and laughed some more.



Then today's mail, brought another treasure, a card, covered in woolly knits, a card, saying Hi, am thinking of you, a card that carried with it love, care and Peace.
These gifts of Peace, from two very wise woman, thank you Veronika of the amazing Mother Magazine http://wwwthemothermazine.blogspot.com/ and Claire, who blogs about her gorgeous family here http://blackhobbescat.blogspot.com/
Both knowing some Peace was needed before I had realised it myself.

Today, has in places, felt fresher, somewhat less foggy.We made it out to our Home Ed group, perhaps for the last time in awhile.It was good to chat, catch up with news and share some laughter.
Home to change our bed, wash up the breakfast dishes that were missed in the mad scramble to get out the door this morning and just now light the fire, all ordinary, every day things that are beginning to come with a huge dollop of Peace.

Love and the brightest of blessings for all the wonderful comments yesterday, how they made my heart sing, lifting my spirits, thank you all.

Finding Peace.

Isn't it so easy to get caught up in how good everyone else's lives look ? believing no storm ever rocks their boats, the sun is always shining and that almost everyone else's family life is brimming with gorgeous goodness, 24 hours of each and every day. Leaving you feeling even lower about the blows you are facing.
And so I am so very thankful for reading over the last few days, some of the most honest, heartfelt posts on blogs and forums of the hardships people are facing in their families, giving my heart some ease, knowing I am not alone.

2011 seems to have blown into our home with abit of a force.
So I am taking my time and trying hard to find peace in the ordinary, the every day, the familiar.
Looking back over the past few weeks, I am not sure the holidays helped us, it all felt so good at the time, later nights with lie ins for all the next morning, which we convinced ourselves made up for the whiny, over tired child of the night before, the grab what you want when you want meal times, that had nothing of any goodness really being eaten but lots of goodies disappearing at an alarming rate, the treat of the TV being on for more hours in the day then in our normal viewing week and more, sadly much more.


And so into January, still struggling to shake off the habits picked up so very quickly.
I am trying to find peace in the stillness, the quiet and the plain.

A new Year with new plans ahead of us, new adventures to face, K will be heading to school at the grand age of 12 ( nearly 13 ) leaving us non-home educators for the first time in 8 years, a morning at play group for O, will do both him and his Mama good I feel, trips to Aberdeen and India are already on the cards for N and L has his own grand plans as he moves ever nearer to his independence.

So this Mama, feeling alittle weary and heart sad is trying to find peace, in the every day and the ordinary.

Deep peace of the running waves to you

Deep peace of the flowing air to you

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

Deep peace of the shining stars to you

Deep peace of infinite peace to you

Celtic prayer.

Crafting with Friends

We gathered with supplies.

We mixed, tied, wrapped, rolled and tasted.

We laughed, smiled and cried ( the children, that old sharing thing ! )

We enjoyed.