~ grateful for ... a break in routine ~

We played hooky last weekend
Skipped the soccer games, ran away from our usual weekend stuff.
We headed north and east. 
To the coast.
 

We breathed ocean air and it ruffled our hair (and our stale thoughts).
We watched some proud new GPs receive their fellowships (and the children laughed at us in our  "Hogwarts" academic gowns).
We ate delicious local seafood and went hunting for fairy penguins (in the dark).
We looked for baby lambs, blossom trees and new vineyards (and then put the DVD on when the road got too long).

It wasn't long but it was long enough (to jolt us out of routine and bring us together again).

I'm very grateful for our little break (and to live in this beautiful state).

Linking up (most) weeks with Bron and the grateful gang here


♥

~ snap it...new ~

These are very new.
They arrived in the post today and I've just put the first one up on the wall
Happiness in a sticker!!
Thanks Shanna - can't wait to see the others up now.

Playing snap-it with a new theme every Wednesday.

What's new in your world this week?

 ♥

~ a mixed bag of gratefuls ~

I find it so much easier to be grateful when the sun shines and there are garlands of blossoms hanging across blue skies.

And I have so much to be grateful for this week:

*bathers ordered on ebay that actually fit and (almost) flatter 
{thank you Seafolly and your tactful ruching}

*I discovered a hidden pack of mini eggs 
{my favourites} 

*a fabulous day time trip to the cinema with my lovely (potential) sister-in-law to see a wonderful film (The Sapphires)
{we laughed and cried}

*the delight in my children's eyes at dressing up for book-week

{and their ongoing love of reading

* that my phone was revived by the lovely Apple man 
{and that my complete devastation at being sans instagram, email, contacts, camera etc was only very temporary}

 * a totally yummy haloumi salad for lunch from the cafe around the corner 
{my new regular}

Spring is coming.

Life is good.

What's your grateful list this week?

Linking up with other lovely grateful people over here

 ♥

~ snap it...small ~

Fairy tea-sets

Tiny lego pieces

Miniature animals

Little bits of paper 

Weeny shoes for teeny dolls

Small people

Part of my world

I'm playing snap-it with Sarah over at her blog where there are lots of other versions of small this week.

 ♥

~ Monday ~

We love Mondays.

They're our slow days... errands, books, food shopping, hanging out.

Just me and him.

We dropped the girls at school, chose Daddy a birthday present, decided on dinner (tuna bolognaise*...we'll make it all together after school) and we shared some strawberries for morning tea (how happy is this house that there are yummy, juicy, relatively cheap strawberries in the shops again?).

We cleaned the floors (seriously messy - we had a birthday party here last night for my friend who turned 42 - there were far too many sprinkles around...and a terrible gravy accident), hung some washing outside (on.the.line....for what feels like the first time in  forever), made the beds, read some stories.

We decided to venture to the park (via the coffee shop)

We posted my first ever post cards as part of the post crossing group (am becoming seriously obsessed with snail mail)

He surprised me at the park.  Gone was my timid boy who liked help with climbing, sliding, doing.

He was off - mastering new tricks, showing off, having fun. 

Revelling in the freedom to move and challenge his body. 

Loving the feeble warmth of the sun.

 

 

Then off to do the rest of the school run.  Another quick play in the park.  Piano lessons, dinner, baths, reading, bed.

We love Mondays.

♥

* tuna bolognaise is essentially a tuna, mushroom and tomato sauce for pasta that he wouldn't eat until we changed the name to a version of his favourite ever meal  - and now we eat it ALL the time.

~grateful for...this day~

Our mornings have been startlingly cold this week.

Ice-cream headache kind of cold (as soon as you inhale).

Still can't fell your toes at 10am (after the school run and a quick coffee) kind of cold.

Needing a sign to put on the children who refuse to put on anything other than a t-shirt saying "I did offer them a jacket, I am not a negligent parent" kind of cold.

Today I felt brave.

I wrapped up well and headed to the beach.

The breeze was cruel.

The sun shone but there was precious little warmth in it.

Slowly, but surely, the magical effects of being near the sea were with me.

My legs were tingling (and loving the chance to stretch and move)

My brain unravelled, untangled, unwound and my thoughts slowed.

I felt my shoulders ease down from beside my ears ... back  to where they belong

The sea rippled and sparkled. 

Garlands of blossom were slung across the sky.. 

The brilliant blues of sky and sea washed over and through me.

I felt nothing but grateful.

 ♥

{I'm linking up with Bron and others over  at Village Voices}.

~ snap it ... upside down ~

My life's feeling a bit like this at the moment - a bit topsy-turvy.

Not finding time for photography or blogging or...

Hopefully all will right itself again soon

Joining with Sarah over at faith, hope and a whole lotta love for a weekly snap-it theme.

♥

~ garden mood board for July ~

In the depths of a frosty winter there is still much to wonder at in the garden.

Stark, sculptural beauty. 

The beauty of what has gone before.

 

As well, the beauty of hope and promise.

The beauty of what will be.

How does your garden grow?

I do a monthly garden mood board with Karin and others over here.

♥

~ snap it ... night time ~

A few of our night-time musts.

Furry boots, snuggly pjs, cuddly toys(the monkey doubles as a heat pack), books (and more books).

What's the night-time routine like at your house?

This is my take on the night-time theme at this week's link-up at Sarah's lovely blog.

 ♥