~ our joyful moments - week 25 ~

Different reasons to be joyful this week. 

I'm celebrating a second summer for the year in a Tuscan villa...this is my view from my sun lounge...it's heavenly. 

Karin celebrated mid summer (a big holiday in Sweden...I didn't know that) with friends and this amazing looking pavlova. I will have to get the recipe when I get home. 

#ourjoyfulmoments is a weekly photography project shared here and on Instagram. 

~ yesterday ~

For 3 years we've met on Tuesdays.
Straight after school drop-off we've headed to the park near the beach.
Someone picks up the coffees.
We bring snacks, drinks, scooters, hats, sunscreen, coats, the stories of our weeks.

They used to need us to push them on the swings, supervise their sand-pit play, referee their disagreements.  
The scooters were taller than them.  
Mostly they played alongside each other rather than with.
We rarely finished a thought let alone a conversation.

Now they count down the days til park Tuesdays.
Their park buddies are their best buddies.
They hatch plots, swing madly, run up the slides the wrong way, ride their scooters so fast we can't bear to watch. 
They need us only for food and toilet trips.

We stand and we chat, we sip our coffee, for an hour (or two or three) we try to forget the to-do list and we indulge ourselves in some idle chatter, harmless gossip, sharing our woes, our good fortunes, our lives.
We've come to rely on this little window of time in our busy weeks.
To cherish this group of women for support and wisdom, friendship and advice.

Yesterday was our last official park day.  The holidays will start, the big brothers and sisters will be with us for the next few visits and then full time school next year.

And so we will change.  
We will gather - for lunch or craft or play tennis or do pilates.  
They will catch up after school, or at soccer, play dates, random park sessions.

Park Tuesdays may be no more ... but they are evolving ... to something more long-lasting and equally valuable.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Do you have a group of women you gather with regularly?  How did you meet?  What do you do together?  I'd love to hear.



♥

~ mailbag ~

I've spent my free time this weekend finishing off my envelopes/letters for the latest round of the elevated envelope hosted by Tara at her lovely blog.  This one had the theme of "malicious surprise"  - my version of this was included inside the envelopes. I hope none of the girls on my list are arachnophobic (eek!)

The last of the "sweet" themed envelopes arrived just recently too - I've been trying to master the piano piece but my skills are very rusty

{these clear protective envelopes are such a great idea...has anyone seen them here?}

I was super lucky to receive this gorgeous piece of mail recently from a fellow Tassie blogger.  I sent Sarah one of the fairy biscuit envelopes from the last exchange... and just look what came my way. 
I just love it!

{so pretty - and with extras - perfect mail}

I'm still enjoying post crossing although I'm not really sure why; yes, I love getting the thrill of mail and there's also the curiosity about who the person is who sent the card and why they chose that particular card.  I find it fascinating what people chose to say on a post card - its not a big space to write but some people manage to cram in fascinating bits of information.  And some just write "hi" and "happy post crossing" which is a bit of a downer; makes me wonder why they bother with it

{cards in}

{cards out}

{birthday mail...the best kind of mail}

I started this year wanting to send more mail; to nuture friendships, to consider the words I was using to communicate with people, to send a little joy.  Its happening and the huge bonus is the lovely mail I'm getting in return.

Here's hoping  your post man brings something nice this week.

 ♥