Lemonee, Lemonah

Today I have been reflecting on what a year it has been.

I have said goodbye to my beautiful girls and still have moments where my heart catches in my throat when I remember something they did, or if I think they have entered the room (maybe they have - I hope that they do).

My emotional health became very unwell due to my job. I lost my inner joy and peace. I forgot who I was.

A change was necessary.

So I pulled up my big-girl trousers and took myself into a company to apply for a position. 

Things must have gone well because I have now been working there for three weeks!

I am a totally different person to the one I was 2 months ago.

I am painting again, noticing the stars, enjoying the clouds, baking, reading, and SMILING!!!

I was actually startled during my first day at the new job because I laughed... it had been so long!!

*happy, content sigh*

Before I began my new chapter, Boof and I took a trip to the river. The picture above was the sunrise I got up to watch. Kookaburras were cackling right outside our window.

I stopped in at my faaaavourite Cafe.

Everything on the menu is vegan, and while I am a pescatarian that simply prefers the taste of soy milk to cows, I love love love the options here! 

And the decor is relaxed retro/vintage/boho. 

It is such a comfortable place to tuck up on the couch and enjoy a soy chai latte and a jackfruit Reuben!

Boofs mum and dad have a beautiful garden and let me take home a huuuuge box of lemons! The same day we got home I busied myself making oodles of lemon cordial.

Thin slices, dehydrated in the oven to add to a cup of black tea.

Or a jug of iced tea.

Of course there was lemon pie...

And gooey lemon bars!

Now i am a bit lemon'd out so have spent the last 2 weekends making mulberry jam from our tree. No pics though, I forgot. Today I picked 2.5kgs of fruit!

Last year the fruit was very small and dry. This year with a bit of love they are enormous, super juice and lovely sweet.

The flowers have been  going bananas! I have been picking roses to bring inside (a dream I've held tight for years!). The foxgloves and hollyhocks are booming!

I spotted Mr Moth while exploring the depths of my bit of nature.

When all the chores are done -or even if they aren't and I just ignore them - I pick up the Dahlia blanket again. This one will only be a throw so not too big. Ooh those colours!

Springtime is finally arriving and we have had some beautiful days, though my shoulders feel a bit sunburnt.. must've been while I was picking mulberries. 

Til next time...

🤍🤍🤍

Zinnia Loves & Autumn Feels

Autumn is knocking at the door.

I welcome its cool air wholly as a break from the delayed but sudden heat of summer.

I open the door at let it in to fill my heart and home.

It brings with it promise of kinder days ahead.

Days with iridescent rainbow clouds.

Clusters of Soul Sister roses.

I think the soul sister that gifted me this rose for my birthday last year sprinkled a bit of her gypsy, hippie, witchy magic on it while sneaking a surprise package into my letterbox this week.

How else do you explain such luscious blooms?!

I think some of her magic dust blew onto the zinnias too.

Such pops of colour.

The world needs it.

Beautiful frozen fireworks that no bee or butterfly could resist.

Fairy umbrellas or parasols?

Their tutu fabric?

This one reminds me of a sea anemone.

And this one of the singing flowers in Alice's Wonderland garden.

Ahh.. all in a golden afternoon.

These pinkies keep my climbing rose company as it makes its journey over the archway by the gate.

Autumn has crept silently into my life for another year and I am so grateful.

My favourite time of year. 

It's almost as though everything slows down so much and becomes quiet enough to hear the Earth taking a breath.

I was inspired to sew myself some skirts.

Complete with wide elastic belting to cover my mum-tum and 'love' handles.

Having a short torso, huge sticky-outty handles and long legs makes it hard to fit nicely into clothes and cause many pouty days of dressing tantrums, and a lingering feeling a being nothing more than a lump ol' caterpillar. 

But sewing these skirts to suit my body type, my style and comfort makes me feel like I've transformed into a butterfly!

Way to go me, for lifting my own spirits, being motivated and creative.

I sit in my slowly evolving nest, safe space, home and garden and watch the sky declare it is dusk.

I take in the colours, the brisk air, the birds settling in for the night, the peace.

Then inside I go.

To serve a lovingly cooked meal to my family (another accomplishment, cooking and I have had a bitter hiatus but I'm forcing myself to be better - I repeat.. anxiety sucks!)

I shower and maybe watch some TV with Boof while I work on some new twinsy blankets.

Or I crawl straight into bed and if the day hasn't taken too much out of me, I'll read a chapter or two. 

Currently The women's Doc by Caroline De Costa.

But very soon my eyes sting with tiredness so I turn off the light and daydream until sleep finds me for its midnight mind movies.

Goodnight, Earth.

🤍🤍🤍

Book Review: In A Cottage In A Wood by Cass Green

Ohhh this was a good one!

An easy, compelling story I just could not tear away from.

I think the whole mystery of the cottage and my love for such places is what drew me in so much.

I would be reading by lamplight at night and feel myself being pulled into sleep, telling myself "I'll just finish this chapter" but there was such a twist at each end that I couldn't not read on!

As I churned through the pages I tried to piece the puzzle together and had little inklings of the truth of the strange happenings.

The end sweeps up in a fast, but well done reveal that made me half say "I knew it!", and "woah, I didn't see that coming!".

I go through a few creepy crime thriller/mysteries but this is a stand out to me. I have decided to no longer hoard old books and to just keep those I really enjoy. This one is a keeper.

5 out of 5 dead magpies.

I haven't been well lately.

For a while now, really.

We are on holidays from work but will soon be back at it.

I have achieved nothing this break except finishing a few books, completing many jigsaw puzzles and watching countless movies on SBS.

Some say I am relaxing.

Others say my body is catching up on rest.

But this is beyond that.

I am so, so tired all the time.

I am forcing myself to stay awake during the days, which is odd to me because I'd never previously been able to day-sleep no matter what.

I am trying to find answers though.

I dont like this feeling one bit.

I miss doing things with and for my family.

I like getting things done.

During my darkest days I used to tell myself that making the bed in the morning is achieving something for the day.

I have stopped following that advice and figure I'll just curl back up in there soon enough.

For now, I will keep forcing myself on little walks to the backyard to say hello to the chickens.

Baby steps.

🤍🤍🤍

Bush Heart

Hello Spring.

It is so good to know you have come to visit us.

Though I hope it isn't too long before you shoo the chilly days away for a while.

We have said our goodbyes to our little home but are not able to move into our new house and begin making it home yet.

So to fill some time while we wait for that day, we took a short bush walk by the lake.

So many different native orchids.

These are Caledonia's, and the first pic is just Onion Weed but too pretty to not to share.

Its amazing how spectacular nature can be.

This is a teeny tiny Purple Cockatoo orchid.

The Caledonia's are much the same size.

So delicate.

I think these littlies are common Fringed Lillies.

The wildflowers range from small as your thumbnail to the towering Grass Trees!

And such diverse shapes, like this beautiful Banksia flower!

The leaves are a bit spiky but the flowers are lovely soft.

There are oodles of Myrtle bushes all along the trail.

And the Golden Wattle, or Acacias, are one of my favourites. 

They have a sweet scent that floats along the breeze.

I was so excited a few years ago when I spotted these Spider Orchids for the first time.

I had no idea how close to town they are and just how many!

I did this walk maybe two weeks ago and the trail was abundant with them, but this time they had disappeared. 

Hopefully not picked by passers-by as they should be left for everyone to enjoy, and its illegal to pick wildflowers. 

The colours of these orchids, about the size of your palm, varies so intensely!

Its a beautiful walk to take.

Away from traffic and people.

Just listening to ducks, frogs, finches, willy wagtails...

You might bump into the odd kangaroo having a munch too!

Which reminds me, I have someone special to introduce you to...

This is Sunny!

Boof was at work a couple of weeks ago and passed a kangaroo on the side of the road that had been hit by a car and killed.

As he drove by he noticed some long legs poking out of its pouch, and they were moving!

He found a place to park his truck, unhooked his trailers and turned around to make the rescue. 

I met with him in town and took her home to keep her warm (the vet had no available wildlife carers for the weekend so we got to have her).

We learnt she is 7 months old and wasn't injured so she has a wonderful chance of recovering without her mama.

Sunny is the sweetest little love.

At midnight she was wide awake being a bit silly so I popped her on the floor to explore.

She began to hiss, looking for her mum so I sat with her.

She came to me, shnuggled my neck and used her paws to open the neck of my shirt and before I knew it, she had somersaulted into my tshirt where she remained for the night.

The next day we took her to a licensed carer and she has said we can babysit our Sunny on weekends when we settle into the new house.

We feel in love with Sunny and can't wait to see her again.

Well that is my Spring tale for you.

I hope you are as excited as I am about the amazing orchids.

What a find!

🤍🤍🤍

Dappled Winter Light

Winter at my little piece of Earth is mild in comparison to others.

It doesn't snow, the sun still shines down.

But that's not to say it doesn't get chilly cold. The wind howls. Everything is wet regardless of rain. And the days are short.

Perfect weather for having a crackling fire going. Pumpkin soup simmering away. 

Countless games of Cluedo and Kalaha with my boys.

Curling up under a crocheted blanket with a warm chai latte, reading a book (currently making my way through 'A Promised Land' by Barack Obama).

And working on new drawings.

My house is teeny, I dont have a 'studio' or designated work space, so I sprawl over my bed.

Copics, watercolour pencils, graphite pencils, brushes, tape, all my bits and bobs strewn all over and showered in eraser rubbings. 

The sunlight dapples as it shines in through the peppermint tree, hibiscus, Cape Bell tree, and other gardeny loves outside my window.

I drew this girl years ago and finally have made her into a full piece.

Warm tones.

Sparkly clouds of course.

'Carlotta' is now part of my wild rose family.

I am appreciating all the little things so much lately.

The dappled light.

The sound of the breeze through my garden.

The clouds directly over my house.

If I look through a small section of my front garden amongst tuart leaves and a grevillea, I can see the sun cast out strong bright rays as it makes its descent beyond the horizon.

From my backyard and giant kitchen window I can watch the clouds details reflect the colours of sunset.

I am a nature lover, not just flora and fauna, but the wonder of the sky as well.

These are small blessings I am grateful for.

🤍🤍🤍