Hey hey, testing testing.

We have been living in a beautiful  sanctuary,  just taking life slowly and simply.   The house is under a canopy of angophora and gum trees.    A blessing now that Summer  is almost here.   Otherwise the house has been too dark over winter.   We have been lighting the open fire and wearing our uggies.    Now more natural light is seeping through and the beauty of this place lifts my spirit.  I can hear the sound of the ocean in the distance.   Near is the squwark of the wattle bird and  chirp of the Aussie mynahs.   The hilarious  bush turkey pecks under the mulch.   Outside our gate a bower bird's haunt is amongst small shrubs,  with a brilliant  blue display. 
I am experimenting today.   Can I blog from my tablet?
Here goes.
Peace to you
Jill.

a long time coming

There has been a long but necessary pause in this space.  I have missed the connections but needed some silence for awhile.  New house, new bush walks, new friends, old friends, old job, and I still have a 2 year old.

Much peace and love to you
xx

J

***

How lucky I am to live near the sea?  

I have been lost for words lately and feeling a bit flat.  I thought I would make an effort to do some very simple posts and disregard the notion that a post needed to be of some grand premise.  Otherwise I just will never get going again.

Chester and I have been hanging out, re-kindling our connection.  I love seeing dogs on the beach.  Pure happiness.

This gorgeous boy was waiting patiently  for his owner.  Eyes focused on the waves and his best mate carving them up.

peace to you.

xo

hello!

Time and place of being has moved on for us and it has taken a lot out of us.  We are so happy to be back in our old hood, however life at times has seemed a bit precarious.  Emotions and naughtiness have been riding high for our little one.  Taking our stride, re-connecting and finding our rhythm.

We were planning another stint out west but through feeling so exhausted and then comforted by our friends and old work colleagues we are in the process of making the difficult decision to say no.  Something I always find hard to do.  My old work place still has my name on the door.   Very clever.

A thought came into my head about motherhood this morning.  It seems the goal posts keep on shifting.  Just when you think you are on top of things.  Shazaam.  Very humbling.

Or maybe it is that I tend to over-think?  Each parenting decision seems like a huge one.

I am still towing the line in trying to finish projects from last year.  We have made a little play space for all of us and I sneek in there alone during nap time.  I started this lap quilt in the latter of 2011.  I started using Pip's pattern from her book 'Make Hey".  However I did want to have it a bit more snuggly in the end and decided to insert some cotton batting but had already cut the backing fabric the same size as the top.  I discovered through flipping through various other patterns how to make it up otherwise.  But now not sure what to do with the quilting.  Being a complete novice I think I might attempt the old fashioned hand "tying" technique with some embroidery thread.   Bit scared to do the "stitch in the ditch".  Quilter's advice anyone?

                                               Sorry, just had to put these last two photos in.  We miss you Dan.

Thanking you for reading.  I really love having this space and popping around the blogosphere visiting old and new friends.  Have a great week everyone.

p.s Thanking Jodi for the winning of her dragonfly toy giveaway.  Very handsome home made Steiner boy doll.  He has been named Charlie Mickie.   And another lovely Jodi  for her handmade picture book bunting giveaway.  We had a lucky week.

xx
J

hankering for a little cabin somewhere?

                                                        for a  bit of escapism at cabin porn.

thank you Mummy, that was a nice dinner

Truly that is what he said.  It made my day, after many times of inner turmoil about the volcanic process of dinner.  We are now adjusting to from being a family of five to one of four. Pulling in the drawstrings in a little closer.  But we are also moving house this weekend.  My now old boss said to me that "moving is like the chicken crossing the road, poultry in motion".

Happy weekend to you and than you for your kind words about Dan leaving us.  It really helps.

Linking in with Maxabella today.  It has been sometime, sorry Bron, I do cherish your space and your devotion to your readers.

A special thank you for Felicity.  What a gift you are to the blogosphere  Don't you agree.

I am forever grateful to have loved and be loved.  .

xx

our danny boy - we were with you

A friend wrote to me that a song comes to mind. I had never heard of Gyote, but the song is beautiful and yes my Danny boy it is hard that you have left us.  Hard to let go.  Our animals are there to cherish.  Their patience and loyalty.  Their joy out of the simple things.  This is what they teach us.  Love you forever, Dan.

an artful life

This year so far has  found us moving back to our old hood for awhile before we head off to do more work in Indigenous Health in Broken Hill in the middle of the year.  Actually we are not quite completed the pack up, but in the next two weeks we will be.  I do love the area of the Highlands, but for various reasons it was right to move on.  But moving is always an emotional time for me and I do find myself being catatonic at times and overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness.  Thoughts such as "will I ever get my life together", "why am I always doing this" blah blah blah.

A saviour of working very part time and being at home with a little one is re-kindling one's creative side.  Actually I think I do most of my creative thinking wallowing around in my jim jams in the morning, feeling a bit feral, with wild looking hair and everything just hanging out, dogs scampering about and child demanding textas , scissors and weetbix.

I am still finishing off sewing and crochet projects from last year and trying not to start anything new.  Although inspiring books are piled high next to the bed.  I am completing a granny shrug from the vintage Panda book and my first little patchwork quilt.

Storage boxes have been re-discovered with my paints and pastels and brushes within.  Now that I  have crossed the line and doing the count down to fifty years young, I feel quite liberated.  My art dabblings are just for me and anything goes.

And thank goodness I have started reading a book.  It has been a post birth void in this regard.  I have only just started the story of Sunday Reed and her artful life in Heide.  I love a bit of history of what it was like in Australia for a woman.  Hard to believe young aristocratic Austraian women were still presented to the Royal Court in the early 1900's.

I would like a goal of reading a book a month.

Joining in with creative peeps here and also with dearest Felicity .  Click on image below for a literary feast.

Take care
x
j

anew

Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone well for this year.  Our seasonal celebrations seemed to never end with different family gatherings.  "Presents" is a new words shouted enthusiastically by a little boy.    Aren't we so lucky to have the beach.  Free, bountiful beauty.  I finally feel that I have come to terms with the changes that overtook my life in the last few years and working so hard to loose something.  Now I can return to the place I love.  A little uncomplicated beach cottage where we can stay for the next  chapter of our lives. There will be a cross over of places.  And it is sudden I know.    It just happened to all into our hands.

Much love and peace to you

Jx.