leaving this place...

We're a week off handing back the keys and heading into limbo (more on that later).
Most of our belongings have been sold or found their way to various places for storage. The chaos of moving house is overwhelming... boxes upon boxes, muddy footprints from the constant trips to the trailer... I long for it all to be over.
Wanda bus has been patiently waiting for our attention, I'm excited to get back to work on her when the move is all done. 

We were never going to stay long in this house, it was always meant to be a stepping stone. Looking back at our year here, I'm remembering the good things. The simple things that have got me through the hard moments and the tired days of being a mama of two.

:: the lighting of beeswax candles in the evenings ::

:: the many batches of bikkies baked ::

:: the many flowers picked from the garden ::

:: the bounty we picked from our humble vegie patch ::

:: the cows over the back fence ::

:: the glorious sunrises and sunsets ::

:: the make do summer shade of sheets over the hills hoist ::

They are the everyday humble things that with repetition over time, become significant.

Don't you think?

What do you remember most from the past year in your home?

I'm off to the land of nod to rest my lifting muscles. zzz

feathers, twigs and twine...

As we walked through the park, we heard the screeches of cockatoos. Flying about like hooligans, they appeared to be having a marvelous time. We stopped under the shade of a patch of gum trees and discovered a carpet of fallen feathers. Little hands grasped them one by one and soon they were stuffed into Mama's purse. There was talk of a mobile and twigs were promptly gathered for the grand construction.
On our arrival home, we sat on the balcony. A patient little boy helped me to snip and tie.
And then we hung our creation above our potted herbs on the balcony.

In the evening after he had gone to bed, I sat out with my beloved and watched those feathers flit in the wind. They made me happy. Something so simple. From nature, made with our hands. 
Beautiful really.

We've had some rather strong winds here lately, I must say that the feathers have got themselves into a magnificent tangle. I'm yet to find the time, or the patience to untangle them. 
Keeping it real.

Have you made something beautiful from nature lately?
Do you have screeching hooligans at your place too?*

I hope your week is keeping calm and you're not getting too overwhelmed with the holiday madness.
Happy Wednesday to you!


*the winged or two legged variety

in the garden...

The past few days have been oh, so wonderful. The sun has been shining and the warmth... oh, the warmth! I am so glad for spring. 
It has been perfect weather for gardening, we've been busying ourselves with planting out seeds and seedlings.
We don't plan on staying in this house past May next year, so most of our vegies are being planted in containers. Pots of all shapes and sizes are being put to use along with any other random container that can be up-cycled.
All of the small pots are on the front balcony away from hungry chookens. Beetroot, rainbow chard, basil and lettuce joined the herbs today. 

I went to town on a garden bed out the back, pulling out two ugly shrubs and removing bark. Boy, did that feel good. In its place are three pumpkin plants, four zucchini plants and a whole lot of straw from the chook house. I can't wait to have a gazillion zucchinis and pumpkins. Positive thinking here. Grow my pretties.

We've got a great amount of tomato plants too, which we're going to put in big pots out the back. I'm doing my research on the best way to grow them in pots, as previously I've grown them along a fence and tied them to the fence. Perhaps dog wire around the perimeter of the pot would be a good support for their heavy limbs.

How is your garden growing?
Do you have any tips? I'd love to hear them.

P.S. It's almost November! Eeeek! Where did the year go?