A bit of a natter.

Goodness, well doesn't time fly?

I know I promised photos but I'm afraid I can't deliver.  The wedding was wonderful, but I got so caught up with seeing old friends I didn't pick up my camera at all!  But I felt so comfortable in my new dress and I really impressed my friends who joked about seeing me not in linen, actually wearing make up and not a pair of Birkenstocks in sight.  ;)

I'm not sure where the time has gone since then.  There has been assignments and mountains of reading going on.  That much I do know.  There has been washing, washing, and more washing.

So here are a few pictures of various things that have been happening around the place since my last post.....(See the washing?)

Will sitting with me composing a song while I worked on an assignment.  The wood oven was crackling away, and the sourdough was proving next to it.


Daffodils and Iris's fresh from the garden.

Chicken stew and dumplings for dinner on a cold, wintery night.  

Angus is continuing to see the ENT and work out his hearing problems.  He had another hearing test and after some initial concern it seems to be fine.  

A mud kitchen pulled together from some bessa bricks, and ply we had lying around, underneath the old grapefruit tree.  Will be a lovely place to play in summer!


I caught up with a dear friend and she surprised us with this Scottish Terrier inspired gift bought form an op-shop.  We are happily reading the May Gibbs book a chapter at a time. 

The Scottish Terrier salt and pepper shakers have been added to my little collection of porcelain dogs.  These are all figures that belonged to my grandparents and are very dear to me.  I am keeping my eye out to find an antique ceramic Scottish Terrier to add.  I also have a beautiful heavy antique crystal Labrador which is sitting with some crystal candle holders which reminds me of old Tessa.  Its funny how collections seem to randomly grow isn't it?

My car died an untimely death, and was sold on for parts.  I have ended up with a new-to-me car.  Meet "Suzi"  the Suzuki.  I really like her.  She's neat, and has a perfect service record.  Fits us all in, and a boot big enough for the dogs, all my stuff, and plants!  Because a car big enough to load up with plants is of upmost importance, yes?  It also has seven seats which will come in handy.  We bought in cash from a private sale.  We nipped into a couple of car yards but thought a cash budget translated to "partial finance" and kept trying to sell us care $5,000 above our budget.....seriously......



Anyway, it is time to get dinner on!  Home made chicken soup and toast is on the menu tonight.
Much love,
Emma
xx

A date!

Hello dear readers!

I'm so excited that tonight Grant and I are going on a real DATE!  Well its to a dear family friends wedding, who I have not seen for far too long as they live interstate.  Its one of the daughters who is very special to me getting married.

I even have a new dress!  What a treat!  Granny is coming for the night to care for the boys, and Grant and I get a whole day and a whole night together!  With time for lunch by ourselves between the wedding and the reception.

A sweet dress I found in a little boutique in the Barossa.  It's lovely and thick so it drapes beautifully. I just loved the pattern.  Pair it with a LS wool spencer, thick tights and a pashmina I'll be comfy and warm!  Win win! 

There is so much to do before we go, I have dinner to cook, and we have the old vintage van to pull around to tidy and make cozy for her to sleep in tonight. The yard needs a quick tidy up.  All of these things which should have been done during the week, but we had to go car shopping (I may have accidentally cooked mine....*insert curse words here*) so its been a hectic, long week with late nights driving around Adelaide looking at cars....gah!

But all is well now, and we get to unwind with a rare special night.  I had best go, but be sure I will come back tomorrow with photos!

Much love,
Emma
xx

Finding the quiet moments when life is not.

There is so much written today about being mindful, about being still, about not rushing and being in the moment.

And there is good reason for it, it's really important stuff.  With mental health problems at an all time high, work days that never end with the availability of mobile phones, and email wherever we are, and people living more individualistic independent lives than ever before.  Well our bodies are being bombarded with cortisone and never-ending to-do lists. 

It’s not good for us.  But it seems impossible to slow down at times, doesn’t it? 

I’m in a stage where life in many ways, is speeding up.  With the boys, work, and 3 subjects this semester, there is an increase of the outside demands on my time, meaning I am out of the home more than ever before.  The volume and type of jobs around the home hasn’t changed, it never really does.  There is washing to do, meals to cook, a house to clean, dishes to do, homework to help with.  What’s more, all of these things are important to me in creating and building a nurturing family home which is a refuge from the world. 

I am essentially transitioning from being a full time stay at home mother, to a working/studying mother.  I would like to say I have it down pat but the truth is, I don’t.

Studying today, uninterrupted as I was meant to be at college.  What luxury!

Aggie my little study buddy, it was just me and her all day.  The oven was lit and the fire crackling away, occasionally interrupted by a contented grunt coming from the little black bear of a dog curled up in her bed.  What a total princess!  It's a tough life hey?  

What I do have is our core family values which hold us in good stead.  That we value time together over “things”, that we value a simple life, we value books and quiet time together, we value working together, we value nature which is reflected in our somewhat hap-hazard gardening efforts, bushwalks and camping in our old vintage caravan.

I’m not going to share a “how too” because what works for me, will not necessarily work for others. 

But I thought I would share a few lessons I have learnt and a story of how they have unfolded in the past week or so.  The main one is saying “no” to the things I think I could possibly squeeze in if I’m super organized.  You know I’m talking about, the small extra task we think we should do.  On its own these kind of tasks seem innocent enough, add 5-6 of them and suddenly we find ourselves juggling waaayyyy more balls then we ever intended.  Often coming to a head all at the same time.  (What’s with that anyway?) I often find it easier to say no to the big things, rather than the small.  We can justify it clearly and our reasons are understood to be valid by others.  But it’s not the big things that tend to tip us over the edge, it’s the little, seemingly innocent things.  I’m reminded of the children’s book “Who Sank The Boat” by Pamela Allen.  For those of you who don’t know it, the book is about a little row boat and a bunch of big animals all want to get in at once.  One by one they do, carefully counter balancing their weight.  Finally, there is a just a little mouse who wants to hop in, it seems innocent enough – he is a after all, a tiny creature.  But it is him who upsets the balance of the little row boat and everyone goes toppling into the water.  It is really a wonderful picture book and carries a message that can resonate with all ages. 

This week for us has a lot going on.  My car died and un-resurrect-able death last week meaning we are down to one car, with two adults going in seemingly different directions.  I have a short answer task due for collage, a short quiz, a stack of reading, and two essays.  And the usual work/family/homework/cooking etc.  It means I have had to say “no” to coffee with friends, I have had to say “no” an unexpected church council meeting called that I was asked to attend, I knew they would have their quorum so all would be fine, but I also know they would have preferred I go.  It means I had to miss college as it was going to take too much time to try and juggle cars/busses/school run and put too much pressure on Grant to work around me.  I also had to look forward at my schedule as I was asked to fill a space on the preaching roster.  Now I enjoy preaching.  It’s important to me and I take it as both great privilege and responsibility.  But in this very season, it may well be the innocent looking little mouse that tips my row boat.  Each of these extra things on their own are innocent enough, a couple of hours here, a couple of hours there.  But add them up?  Suddenly I would have lost a significant amount of time.  

What would the cost have been?  Well time for one, but I can guarantee I would be more stressed.  Which adds to the chance of convenience food being embraced, which makes me feel tired and unhealthy, which adds stress to my load as I wouldn’t feel able to do what I need to let alone the extras.  If I’m too stressed I turn into a growly-bear like creature who is not pleasant to live with.  I would have had to stay up late to get the house hold chores done, adding to more tiredness, adding to more stress, adding to more bear-like behaviour. 

But, instead I have submitted the quiz and short answer task, completed necessary readings, and the research for the major essay is going strong and I am well into the planning/drafting stage.  My other essay is in the works too, though will be a little simpler.  I’m getting to bed at a respectable time, my paid work is on track, the house is mostly tidy enough and meals are simple but healthy.  Most importantly, my family are getting the me they deserve, and deserve my best.  Not what is left over after I have given my best to everyone else.

The reality is the church meeting went on without me just fine, the preaching roster will be filled, my friend understood my situation and we will have that coffee at a later stage.  I have not added unnecessary stress to our families’ routine by trying to keep the same pace while we are a car down.  There is no need to feel guilty as I will be able to go to the next church meeting, I am allowed to miss a couple of lectures without it affecting my grade if I give notice, there is plenty of time to preach and I can possibly pick up a couple next roster for someone else if need be.  There are few problems so big they don’t have a solution in our everyday lives, yet often we rush about like crazy things thinking we need to solve aaaallllll the problems ourselves, without help.      

Do you see the picture I am trying to paint?  It is important to say no, especially to the little things because they add up.  Even when they are valid and important things.  It is when we say no, that we are able to create space in which to find those quiet, peaceful moments we are so desperately looking for.  That our bodies, minds and souls need more then ever.  When we say no, we are in turn saying yes to the things which truly matter.   

Much love,
Emma
xx


Thanks for popping by!

Welcome!  I see a lot of new faces here in our little online home as a result of being linked to Rhonda's blog - thanks so much for popping by, and it's lovely to have you here!  Thankyou to all those that have commented, its lovely to "meet" you and I do hope some of you will share a little of your story here too.  Grab a cuppa and a comfy chair, and feel free to have a good poke around.

Part of our story is that we are half way through renovating our little old stone cottage which we bought in cash after many years of hard work.  It was, and still is a complete renovators delight.  I will link to a couple of posts that show some of the progress, but there are plenty more in my archives.

Before
Early days of renovating
Lounge
Boys room
Kitchen demolition
Demolishing the lean-too


The kitchen as it is now....But probably tidier!

Currently the old lean too out the back which was beyond repair has been demolished, we have a new slab down, the framing done and the new roof on.  The renovations have reached a kind of standstill for a while as we have been saving money for the next stage. 

But I’m excited to share that FINALLY we will be starting the next stage of renovations – no more outdoor bathroom and loo.  Can you just imagine that?!  Such absolute luxury!

Next week we will be calculating the materials we need, putting in the order for the cladding, the gyprock and beginning to plan bathrooms and so forth.  So, for those that love renovations, in the coming couple of months there will be plenty of progress shots to share here as we continue to workout how to maintain the character of the old while building the new! (And maintain a level of sanity through the madness.)

Much love,
Emma
xx


 
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