Returning to work....

In less than two weeks, my maternity leave ends and I will be returning to work.  It is only for two days each week but I have mixed feelings about it.  Mostly I am sad and apprehensive.  I love being a stay at home mum, love pottering around the house, at my happiest when I'm baking, playing with the littlies and nurturing my family.  I am worried about how I will pull it all together, the long work days, being away from the little ones, the general stress of having another ball to juggle.  I have started to mentally prepare myself and make lists on what needs to be done to ease the transition.  There is no other way around it though, I have to go back, so I am determined to focus on the positives.  

tina xo

PS Where did that time go?

 

Photos: Fog surrounding the Pecan tree and Winter daisies

 

Road trip

Last weekend, we packed up the family and went on a road trip to the Southern Highlands, New South Wales.  My sister in law was having a 50th birthday lunch at Berrima so we decided to make a weekend of it.   It was a little cosy for the 6 of us (plus luggage) in the car but I have to say I love a road trip!  Not only did we get to explore new country but it was also a break from routine; a break from the laundry, the meal preparation and the everyday chores that take up such a huge part of our day.  For the most part I am a home body and these everyday chores are comforting and satisfying for me, but I also love the little breaks to our daily routine where I can spend every minute of my time with my family; no interruptions, no keeping an eye on the time, nothing to be done other than be completely in the moment with them.

This weekend will be a relaxing, staying at home affair.  It's meant to be raining the whole weekend, so I'm thinking p.j days, crocheting, reading and lots of tea drinking!

Hope your weekend is a lovely one,

tina xo

Creating and Crafting - simple toys

In my efforts to declutter the house and rid ourselves of all the excess 'things',  it was inevitable that I would end up in the children's rooms.  I worked and sorted my way through their toy baskets, the shelves and wardrobes, gathering up toys they had outgrown,  that had parts broken or missing, thinning out the excess;  a multitude of mass produced toys slowly being replaced by a few toys that encourage imagination, creativity, and gentle play.  Slowly, but surely there is more paper, pencils and paints, fabric, thread and simple toys inspired by the natural world.

 Recently we made these little Autumn Acorn gnomes, Walnut Boats filled with beeswax and fabric sails, and tiny sleeping babies wrapped in soft felt blankets. 

tina x

A christening....

Last weekend we celebrated the christening of our two littlest ones...

It was a beautiful day, surrounded by our family, most of whom travelled long distances to be with us.

 There was lots of food ..... great conversation......

hubby's birthday ...... backyard cricket .... cake ....

and of course two beautiful little people ....

we are so very, very blessed.

tina xo

I actually didn't take my camera or phone to the church so I didn't get any pictures of the little ones at the christening service!  I am eagerly awaiting emails and pictures from family who were (thankfully) snapping away with their cameras at the church.

The return of routine...

My two older kids went back to school on Wednesday after almost seven weeks of school holidays.  I am a little tired....frayed around the edges.....knotty.

There have been too many weeks of no structure. I'm unsettled and itchy. I've lost my focus.

It was good  to have a break from the routine though , no ironing of uniforms, no school lunches, no strict time for bed.  But I am ready for some structure back in our days. For me, the start of the school year is the official start of the year. Up until then I am still in holiday mode.

I am looking forward to getting on with it......to the school days, homework, after school activities....to be swept along with the gentle rhythm of our family life.  

There is work to be done, drawers to be sorted, rooms and cupboards to be de-cluttered, last years clothes to be sorted and given to goodwill, babies to be snuggled, toddlers to be played with, new recipes to try, and crochet projects to start.....  

I know from experience how good I feel once the house is in order, after it's had a good spring clean and there is a basic routine in place. It does wonders for the soul doesn't it??

Happy Friday,

Tina xx