a little touch of christmas

, originally uploaded by october rain.

how. simply. gorgeous.

family dinner and late church christmas eve. joyous.

christmas day. family. good wine. laughter.

great food. christmas trivia. bit of a bagging.

all in good fun.

too much sweet stuff. some lovely gifts.

handmade. or recycled. if possible.

another year. over.

{image: courtesy of dottie angel}

number 5

i think i am slightly addicted. to quilting.
i could spend hours. looking at. touching. fabric.
quiltsmith in annandale. sydney. my new. favourite. haunt.
was there on saturday. with kels. oh. the fun we had.
selected some lovelies. for my new quilt.
number 5.
popped into material obsession. hunters hill. on the way home.
you know. cause we had to. just as they were closing their doors.
we burst in. not to be put off.
found some scrumptious. to die for. flannalette. aaaah.
this handmade quilt from toast uk is my inspiration.
destined to become my favourite quilt.
so far.
stay tuned.

17

17 years of nic today. our christmas treat.
a box of birds. sleep not required. treading on my head. in bed.
at 5am. charming.
took to a cricket bat. like it had always been attached.
left handed. who would have guessed.
all things sporty. his greatest love.
and yet. there's always room for a hug where nic's concerned.
always time for his little cousin. or his poppy.
full of loving. and feeling. that's our boy.
navigating 17 year-old-ness. it's not easy sometimes.
well. you are doing fine.
just fine.
happy birthday. nikolay davydenko.
celebrations. all round.
for god gave a party. in heaven. the day you were born.
when he saw just how happy you made us.
just by being.
you.

{image}: cassia beck @ flickr

little holiday

enough rubber hitting the road. time for a little holiday.

to breathe. sleep. cry. clean out cupboards. sew. read. wrap. chat. laugh.

squea!

image: smallstump flickr

love

213: 9.1.07, originally uploaded by girlhula.

gets you through even the darkest of days. not that mine are as dark as some. far. far. from it.

the kind word. the unspoken word. the text. the smile. the phonecall. the laughter. the acknowledgement. the tears. the flowers. all lovely. all special.

but i think it's the not treating me any differently that i appreciate the most. taking the mickey. making me get my own coffee. still. still willing to talk. not pretending that it isn't there. but still treating me. like i am me. like i haven't gone away. that's love too. it's like really. strong. medicine. that's good. that's what i need.

so thanks for the love. in all the ways you have given it. it teaches me to love. better. next time you are hurting. i hope.

every cloud.

image: girlhula on flickr

and so it is

and so it is.

i got the news today.

more dcis. nowhere near the other lot. limits my options. greatly. kapow.

when your little pocket of life is turned. inside out. and round about. where is it that you turn. in what. or whom. do you trust. and cling to.

when all around my soul gives way. he then is all my hope and stay.

and so it is.

image: ffion flickr and freckled cup

little house on holland

quilting bee at the little house on holland. glee.

ruth got the ball rolling for everyone. first ever quilt for cath. on the new sewing machine. spanking. a gorgeous avalon (window pane) quilt. belatedly for hamish. very manly. very hamish. big tick. lots of oohing and aahing. achievement.

got me going with blanket stitch. and sorting. and pondering. for the vintage quilt. a heart for a house full of love. and some birds. one big. and one small. one nic. one annie. cutesville.

taylah stitched a heart too. i was in competition with a 6 year old. who stitched and concentrated. far beyond her years. beautiful. allysa played saddle club. and was happy to potter. in and out of the bee.


vene pinned. and sorted. and encouraged. and poured tea and bubbles. very handy.

all the while ruth somehow managed to embroider her masterpiece. pinks and cream and greens. very. neat. stitching. unlike mine. sigh.

tea was consumed. and champagne. and thai food. a tad more champagne. and chocolate. placed in the mouth so as to not upset the needlework. healthy chatter. catching up. dogs barked. new plans made. once a term. you're on. a late but very successful afternoon. slash evening.

as ruth said. the start of something wonderful.

photos: {courtesy of ruth}

all the pretty flowers

flowers came today. with a dear friend.
it made my heart warm.
thanks cath.

{image: saipua}

about a boy

how to let go. and let him get on with it.
how to know when to stop. lecturing. and start. talking.
how to listen. connect.
how to let him make his bed. and lie in it.
my son. he's growing up.
he's nearly 17. he's nearly 6 foot. though today he looked like he'd grown again. must get the tape measure out.
and yet. i love the way he still finds the time. for hugs.
never too old. for hugs.

{image: deviantart. by yasmins}

rock of ages

nothing in my hand I bring.
simply to the cross I cling.
naked. come to thee for dress.
helpless. look to thee for grace.
foul. I to the fountain fly.
wash me. Savior. or I die.



{words: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778}

{image}: brightstar

patchwork and toast

one of my new loves is patchwork. thanks to kels. kels told me constantly i could do it. and eventually I did (my new years resolution). with lots of help and patience from the girls. the norfolk quilters. that's what we called ourselves. a small group of us would sit. and quilt. and sip some wine. and laugh. alot. drink tea. and eat chocolate. and french crepes with lemon. and sugar. and occasionally ice-cream. kels knows crepes are my favourite. such a good friend. a rock in my life.

and i've now made 3 quilts. and have started my 4th. love vintage fabrics. and amy butler. am loving this quilt from toast u.k. flanelette patchwork. yum. and below are some lovely fabric swatches from amy butler. works of art really.

Fabric images: Amy Butler

bright star

sigh

a film by jane campion. if the website is anything to go by. this film will be......

divine.




"when you do dance i wish you a wave o' th' sea,
that you might ever do
Nothing but that."





images: brightstarthemovie

beautiful dreamer awake unto me

pockets. of dreamy images.

better than a spoonful of sugar.







images:
{klein diva in paris}
{smilerynker}
{alicia bock}

daily dose

my daughter inspires me every day. these images remind me of her. i love that she loves. bows. in her hair.

great weekend. coming right up.




images: klein diva in paris

back on the whirly girdy

back on the whirly girdy. but never fear. the girls are here. i wandered down for a bit. ree's birthday. we sipped champagne. and laughed. about golf. of all things. and a rude sounding english town.

and yes. i do have high hopes. thanks girls. round and round we go. altogether now.

Photo: dottie angel.

curve ball

sometimes life throws you a curve ball. perhaps i knew one was coming. perhaps that's why i started this blog. today of all days i got the news.

dcis breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ. yes me.

so what to do? I choose. to look at this as good news. not quite the good news I was hoping for. but good news all the same. non-invasive. contained. and to say well....why not me?

so i look upward to God and say thanks. thanks for the ride. thanks for my rocks. for my husband who holds my hand and sheds a tear for me. for my kids who cuddle me and say it will all be ok. and friends and family who come out of the woodwork and say ok. let's go. i'm here. i love you.

you are my sunshine. my only sunshine. you make me happy when skies are grey.

indeed. you do.

Photo: from the beautiful lobster and swan.

things I am thankful for

my first blog post. ta da. i have my training wheels on so i need to hang on tight. i haven't got a clue what I am doing. but having fun just the same.

i couldn't sleep last night so started listing some of the things I am thankful for....how about you? God. my husband. my kids. my family. relationships. prayer. sitting and holding hands. time. tea. fabric. bunting. quilts and quilting evenings with my girls. champagne. discovery. inspiring blogs. creativity. dedication. chocolate. cupcakes and spongecake. fresh cream. love. passion. kind words and actions. belonging. remembering. laughter. summer. falling snow. pine trees. hyacinths. books. wisdom. cuddles. photographs. you.

and good news. we all need a bit of that from time to time. helps deal with the hurly burly. of life.

Photo: from one of my favourite bloggers, dottie angel.

bits and pieces

just lovely. just for you.



Photo: The Drifter and the Gypsy