***

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

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.

around here

There is the heady scent of the invasive honeysuckle and the fickle spring weather which means sometimes nudie and then the next day wrapped up in our scarfs and cords.

It has taken some time to adjust being back in the Eastern Metropolis.  The days go quickly and there just has not been time to come and post here.  Although I have been around to visit you all most days, but have not been up to the commitment of late.

I do cherish the connections I have made here.  Your spaces really light up my day and forge me into being a functional person and not so introspective.

I do find my work isolating even though I am with people everyday.  There are people I would really like to befriend and make play dates with their children but I have no other way of connecting outside of work and wonder if it is inappropriate to initiate a social connection.

It has just been the timing that has not matched well in making opportunities to be more connected with others.

How do you find it?  Being connected with the local.  There are many more ways I know that I need to seek out.  And more time.

Our family is well. Our Danny boy back lab is still wagging his tail, now eating his dinner and loving his daily walk, despite the cancer diagnosis.  WE WILL BE BASKET CASES WHEN HE IS NO LONGER WITH US.  But until then we love and cuddle him every day.

Chester our Cavoodle had the most dreadful haircut from the Broken Hill RSPCA.  It was almost shameful to take him out.  He looked like a pea head on a sausage.  I think I should learn  how to clip myself.

Marty travels 3 hours one way on the train for his work in the city.  We do love it here but we really have been missing our old friends on the coast.  Hence a bit too much time on realestate.com .

We both have been asked to return to work in BH.

So , yes, we are a bit all over the place.

One week now for a birthday for an almost two year old who can count to four, knows his primary colours and  his very frequent phrase is " go away Mama" and then has a melt down if I do.

I have done no party preparations or even thought about Christmas.  This is my project for the weekend.

Thanks for reading if you have come  this far.

Much love

Jill

xxx

desert rose

The roses have been in full bloom here in Broken Hill for a few weeks now.  Most gardens that are  not overgrown with salt bush seem to have a few bushes adorning their entrance.  Their scent is easily caught on your afternoon walk.  They seem to thrive in this semi-arid climate.

Thank you for all the tips on my sewing dilemma in my previous post.  I been making some design changes in my head.  I really have been wanting to create something sweet for my early morning breakfast.  I think every woman needs a  cheery start to her day.  I may wait to finish this project for when I return to my own dining table.  To pull the whole thing together.

A bit of sad news yesterday.  Our dear Dan the dog has been confirmed to have bladder cancer.  So it is only a matter of time.  But we don't really know how long.  I know you cannot compare apples with oranges, but it is the same type of cancer that my best friend succumbed to earlier this year.  Endeavouring to make his last days the happiest.

Much love and peace to you
Jill
xxx

Zippetty doo daa

A bit of a spring in my step today.  Energised by lovely family visit.  Feeling that little core of self being cosy,  giggly and light.  There is a lot of mess around the house, and stuff to organise, but I know it will be ok.

I have been liking the old doors in the lanes of this old mining town.  Sometimes we think we are in some back lane of old Melbourne town.

Hope there is some lightness in your world too.

being comfy

I worked this morning, but it was very quiet at the surgery.  The family are doing a day trip without me.  After closing the doors, I wondered into the local market, had yummy samosa and chai tea,  sat idle and did some  people watching.  It was icy cold but there was blue sky and out of the wind the sun tickled me around the edges.  I love watching families meet and look happy in their catching up.  There were lots of little babies bundled onto mother's chests with toddlers out front in their stroller.  Adventurous preschoolers running a muck.  Across the road at St Judes Church there were well dressed guests rolling out of the ailses and then a very beautiful bride and groom receiving sweet kisses all round.

I scurried home facing the headwind and started cleaning up the house.  Making chicken and vegie soup and chocolate cake. I am slowly regaining my blojo.  Feeling more positive again.

In two weeks we are drivng 1200 km to Broken Hill.  I am doing a locum in Indigenous Child Health and hoping to contirbute to the Healthy Start programme.  As time draws closer, getting those predicted jitters and wondering why am I upheaving my family to somewhere unknown when we are all comfy here?


My mother would often say I always choose the hard way to do things.

I have this obsession with making the home welcoming when we do return.  Organizing the home and making it pretty and cosy. A place where one could just walk in and start baking, sleeping and relaxing.  Maybe I am focussing too much on this?  Some friends are coming to stay while we are away.  I hope they like this space.

It is without doubt going to be a challenge with our little man.  Someone who thrives on knowing what is coming next and having a gentle rhythm to his day.  Even more will be the heartache in having to leave him every day for work.  He will be with his Dada and the dogs, so hopefully we can put some familar structure and they can get into a good routine but still be able to explore their new surrounds with fun and laughter.

Hope your weekend is filled with love and peace.


xxx

morning walk

         Do love the birch tree, even though it is  not native.

                           Walk the dog, walk the dog.

                      Hope everyone is having a good day.