Friday, February 17, 2012
I was making dinner the other night when Che asked if he could go for a walk. Daniel promptly grabbed his camera and they went exploring down a well-known trail in the woods near our house.
Since that afternoon walk in autumn so much has changed. Che is now four years and four months, a big brother and a little boy. No more baby face! He's a gentle creature; curious and fearful in equal measure.
Labels: che , danielgrey.com , nature , street
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
On the Coast Walk where high cliffs drop towards an ocean that meets sky. A muma whale plays with her calf and the wildflowers of Spring open to catch the bright, bold light, A 3km walk...a long way for little legs. But the promise of a cookie at home ensures the hills, ants and heat are forgotten.
Labels: nature , seasons , we live near the beach
Monday, June 21, 2010
a wing caught, the swirl of old man's beard and the roar of golden fire light.
Labels: mama and grandad , nature
Thursday, August 06, 2009
my parents still live in the house i grew up in. the garden is brimming with vegies. it's a little higgledy-piggeldy, a bit country-cottage, it's very recycled...in the best kind-of-way. My dad is pretty lucky when it comes to finding things. side-of-the-road jewels you could say. their dream is to build and live in a mudbrick house. i have no doubt that they'll do it. ché, if he could, would spend every moment of every day in this garden. it's his paradise. happy as a bee and just as sweet as honey. what could be better than chasing chickens, collecting eggs, picking herbs and digging dirt. and then sealing the day with a roaring fire and bbq'ed chorizo. i suppose i've discovered a new-found love of this place. it's the perfect example of cycles - the chicken and the egg, the seeds and the vegetables, me and my baby. Because, as I'm reminded every time I stand back to watch, I was once the little one running 'round and 'round the garden...like a teddy bear. and now it's ché's turn.
Labels: family , mama and grandad , nature , seasons
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
lavender, white, grey (shades of.)
it's the middle of winter and yet this morning, as ché ché and i dawdled along the beach, the sun was bright, the air was warm and the ocean a little like a bath. tepid, perhaps. seaweed lay strewn in one long, long line, spontaneous clumps of sealife every so often. i found shades of lavender, white and grey. shells and sea flora. and i realised that the beach with a toddler is an entirely new and wondrous adventure. this morning was a little tease for summer. where we will spend early mornings and late afternoons. i feel so lucky that we live here. we live near the ocean.
Labels: corners of my home , foraging , nature , seasons , we live near the beach
Friday, July 03, 2009
but not together. Home-grown flavour and colour to add a little bright around the house. It's so blustery today, the perfect weather for staying in and cuddling under a blanket.
Ché's knitted blanket is coming along. I'm such a perfectionist with things like that though -I've already unravelled it twice because of a dropped stitch or two. Daniel said he's finding this knitting thing to be quite stressful. Hilarious really considering it's supposed to be an enjoyable past-time. I'm just really particular with the things in my home. I like everything to be just so. And if I finished the blanket and there were mistakes I know I would get slightly annoyed every time I looked at it. I'm not bothered by the unravelling and have quite enjoyed the beginning again of it all.
Because it's Friday I'm cooking soup and pizza for dinner. Again, not together, but one-after-the-other. I thought it the perfect opportunity to ask you what your favourite recipe is for pizza dough? And go on, share with me your favourite topping.
I'll share mine tomorrow.
Labels: cooking , corners of my home , nature , seasons
Friday, March 20, 2009
...with peek-a-boo, fruit bowl antics and the bliss of autumn sunshine. That last pic is my shadow and my dad's new shed. He made it out of recycled materials. My favourite part is the little medicine bottle on the windowsill.
Labels: day-to-day , food for the soul , nature , seasons
Thursday, March 05, 2009
we woke this morning to crisp air and blue sky.
and we knew, yes we knew that the seasons they were a changing.
that we'd soon have socks on our feet and soup on the stove.
the leaves will change, the clocks will change
and our world will be coloured in amber and ochre and rust.
good colours we think.
we like watching leaves fall from autumn trees.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The sky has been grey, sometimes dark, the wind strong. It is so un-Spring-like that I am feeling a little cheated. I don't suppose it helps when the little one is miserable with a fever and annoyed at the toothiepegs that keep threatening to break-through. Oh dear, oh dear. I have spent quite a few hours cuddling and swaying with him and staring, as I do, out the window. Watching the different colours of the day. The light and the dark. The trees and the twigs. The twig tree is so Wintery.
This bunch of twigs will be perfect for something I have in mind. For building and finely creating. With time and patience and a cup of tea beside me. I'm re-discovering my love for creating with my hands - for objects as well as words. It's nice.
Labels: creating and making , nature , seasons
Friday, October 31, 2008
It's hot, humid and sticky and the perfect day for lounging around on the day bed. Perhaps a little bit of beach time and some mango time too. Che is proving to be a determined and independent little soul who likes to feed himself. I'm impressed with his patience and skill - not so happy about the crumbs, the goo and the general mess that he creates. Thankfully the days are warm enough to just wash him off. We can't wait to use the outdoor shower in mid-summer...splash, splash, splash.
My kaffir lime tree has sprung back to life with lots of luscious leaves. I thought it was beyond rejuvenation so I am so happy to notice that it was just a little sad and tired over winter. Lots of green curries to come. My mint is ready for picking and today we're enjoying ice-cold water infused with mint leaves. A nice way to herald the warm warm weather and the summer that is fast approaching. Cheers to long sunny days and warm evenings. I've started burning sandalwood incense to frighten the mozzies away. I know citronella works too. Any other suggestions?
Gratitude today as we head towards summer with open arms and sandy toes.
Labels: 30 days of gratitude , herbs , nature , seasons
Sunday, October 26, 2008
...at Mama and Grandad's house. We pulled leaves from the grapevine and splashed water everywhere...
...chased chickens and collected their eggs;
we picked peas and ate them, picked sweetpeas and put them in a vase...
And rested in a sunny room on a very comfy bed. My old bed in my old room.
Oh how we had fun this sunny weekend just gone. Hope you did too.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Snapshot taken this afternoon after one-year-old immunisations. He screamed, yes, there were tears, yes and then he clapped his hands and waved goodbye which had the nurse ooohhing and aaahing and calling him "sweetie". Which he is, of course.
After a sudden backlash from Winter with all its shivering cold and pouring rain, it was all spring-like again today and made me realise how I love the sun. How much happier I am in the sun. In-between yoga classes and visiting friends we're spending the weekend with Mama and Grandad...and maybe crawling as quickly as we can towards the waves, the sea, the endless ocean. A fearless child and the muma who's getting pretty good at chasing. Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.
Labels: 30 days of gratitude , family , nature , ocean , seasons
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
I think I've realised how fun a one-year-old can be. How interested and engaged and excited my little boy is. Giddy in Spring sunshine we played and went exploring. He's so content to sit on my hip and wander with me. To point at flags and birds and wave goodbye to strangers who stop to chat. Today we ate peaches and strawberries and this evening we enjoyed roasted butternut pumpkin. And now I can see the remnants of peaches and strawberries and pumpkin on my cardigan.
Since becoming a mum I have become more grounded. I spend more time crawling around on the ground that I ever have before in my life. I don't get too bothered if my clothes get dirty or my hair gets messy. I spend so much time wandering on beaches, in parks and around gardens with Che. I love it and he loves it and I feel so much happier and healthier because of it.
For the last week or so I have been preparing our little balcony for the warmer weather - planting fresh herbs and spring blooms and clearing the clutter that had resided there over the winter months. We spend so much time here over summer - it's the best place to ponder, read and relax and because the ocean is at the bottom of the hill we often get a subtle sea breeze. Che has his own swing now too so he can suspend from the beams and watch the world go by.
I made cupcakes today and shared one with Che. Not quite as amazing as these, but still fun. He was recovering from his cold on his birthday and wasn't fussed with cake so I thought I would indulge him. He wasn't impressed with the icing (which secretly made me happy) but he loved the buttery cake. It was so yummy we decided to share some with friends. 
I am still smiling at the beautiful gifts we were given on his birthday. I am so enjoying flipping through the storybooks and building with the blocks. So many generous people. Including Miss HazyJane who sent Che a gorgeous pair of handmade pants (the best pants) and a homemade card, which, funnily enough, looks alot like he did on his birthday morning - it was definitely a red crown kinda birthday. I got spoilt too - a cloth bag perfect for books/shopping/anything really. She's clever that girl and one of the neatest sewers I have ever come across.
Such a pleasant day we had.
Labels: 30 days of gratitude , creative community , handmade , nature , seasons
