Creatures in the garden!

Today we were working in the to-be vegetable garden when,
to our great delight,

we discovered some amazing creatures.

Two frogs were hiding under a piece of steel.

 

We often hear them croaking when it is raining.

And the most amazing, biggest earthworms that I have ever seen. They were at least 15cm long! 

James loved looking at these incredible animals and so did his Dad and Uncle Stefan, who helped him gently hold them. A great experience for boys in the backyard!

The Alchemist - A fable about following your dreams

I just finished reading this lovely book about following your dreams.  A lovely story about observing and hearing nature, looking for omens and listening to your heart. Beautiful.

Our daily visitor

Every day, sometimes twice a day we have a sulphur crested cockatoo come to visit us.

 He sometimes brings his mate but usually he is by himself.

And if we don't have the sunflower seeds out ready for him,

he squawks and screeches until we bring some out for him.
Which sometimes happen at 6am!

It is a lovely experience for James to be able to see these beautiful birds up close 

but still free to come and go, not being caged.

Heirloom Tomato Painting

Shopping at the Burnside Village fruit and veg shop the other day, I spied the most unusual tomatoes. I think they are called Bock tomatoes...

I don't like eating raw tomatoes at all but I was intrigued by the shape of these red fruits.

I bought 3 in the hope I would paint them before Tim got his hands on them!!

Initial sketches of tomatoes, James then added some suggestions!

First layer of paint

 

The final painting...

This was the first time that I have painted in Acrylic and I must say, I rather liked it!

Might put my watercolour brushes away for a while and explore this medium for a while!

Poppies

James and I stopped at a roadside florist in Verdun the other day to buy a bunch of poppies.
 They are such beautiful flowers, how they start tightly wrapped up in their prickly case and then before your eyes, uncrinkle to the most magnificent blooms.

Stuck inside...

Today James and I were going to spend the whole day in the garden.

We had a huge list of jobs... feed the sheep, take the blackberry cuttings down to the bonfire pile, plant some plants, weed some weeds, put firewood away.

We were expecting rain but not thunder and lightning!

So inside we went where I was able to entertain James for a while by chasing raindrops on the glass.

"Lets count the raindrops as they pour,

1 million, 2 million, 3 million four!"

"Rain, rain, rain
Rain, rain, rain
Dribble, dribble, sploosh!
Dribble, dribble, sploosh!
Grab your boots, your coat, and hat,
Jump in a puddle and go kersplat!
Stomp about and become a drowned rat,
Rain, rain, rain
Rain, rain, rain"

Hopefully tomorrow won't be quite so wet...

Spring, the Sweet Spring from Summer's Last Will and Testament by Thomas Nashe 1600

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:
    Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
    Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:
    Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth 1798

I heard a thousand blended notes, While in a grove I sate reclined, In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. Through primrose tufts, in that green bower, The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; And ’tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes. The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure:-- But the least motion which they made It seemed a thrill of pleasure. The budding twigs spread out their fan, To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I can, That there was pleasure there. If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Nature’s holy plan, Have I not reason to lament What man has made of man?

Spring has sprung!

Spring is here so James and I arranged our spring nature table this morning.

Our garden is abundant with new life right now, daffodils and bluebells all in bloom, catkins gently swaying in the breeze.

So every morning, we go and collect a few things from our garden and bring them inside to display on our table.

Miss Spring of course takes pride of place on the table. Some little fairies have come to visit. We have a bowl that we keep little treasures in, little rocks or seeds that James takes a fancy to.

Dewdrops...

This morning, whilst the rest of the house was soundly sleeping, I had a few peaceful moments walking around my garden. It had rained constantly overnight and I have a bit of an obsession with dewdrops at the moment. I like the way they seem to defy gravity.

I found this lovely poem written by Amelia in 1850.

The Dewdrop

I Am a sparkling drop of dew,
Just wept from yon silver star,

But drops of dew have very few

To care for what they are;
For little ye dream, who dwell below,

Of all I've wandered through;
Ye only know I sparkle so,
Because I'm a drop of dew.
I flashed at first with waves, that whirl
O'er the blue, blue, tossing sea;
Where eddies curl o'er beds of pearl
I wandered wild and free,
Till I chanced to spy an elfin king,

And I danced before his view,
When the merry thing, with his glittering wing,

Whisked off the drop of dew.
The evening air with sweets was fraught,
And away we flitted far,
When, quick as thought, I was upward caught,
To yon lovely vesper star;
And I'm very sure a gentle charm
That bright thing round me threw,
For an angel form, in her bosom warm,
Enfolded the drop of dew.
But I slept not long in yon starry bower,

In the bosom of my love,
For, in a shower, to this primrose flower,
She sent me from above.
And soon its moonlight leaves will close,
But they hide me not from view,
For the wind, that flows o'er the young primrose,
Will kiss off the drop of dew

About me...

This is an attempt, hopefully a successful one, in capturing and documenting all too fleeting moments in my life in a journal format. Ever since I had James, my 2 and a half year old son, it just seems every day goes faster and faster. Some many wonderful things happen each day, each hour, but they fade from your memory only all too quick.

I have many things to be thankful for. I have a beautiful family, Tim my loving and supportive husband, James who brings me such joy and happiness, a loyal dog Otto, a wonderful home that inspires me throughout the seasons, good food on my table and clothes on my back. I have family and friends that I feel secure in knowing that they would always be there for me. There really isn't much more one needs in life, is there?

I think too often now people are so busy that they forget to stop for a moment and literally smell the roses. On one of many lazy afternoons as a child, my nana, brother and I would lay on the back lawn of my grandparents house for what seemed like hours, trying to spot shapes in the clouds. We would see faces, cars, elephants, the occasional Carebear even and then try and direct the others to the same spot in the sky to see if they could see it too. I realise now what a fantastic trick this was for my nana... my brother and I would lay still, not talking, so intent were we on finding the next picture. She could get a rest and still spend time doing something so simple yet entertaining. It's these sorts of things that I remember from my childhood that I wish to provide for James. A simple yet satisfying life. Isn't that what we all deserve?

I hope writing this proves to be a worthwhile venture. At the very least, an entertaining read in the future!

And now to finish with a quote and something to ponder...

"The ordinary acts we practice at home each day are of more importance to the soul then their simplicity might suggest" Thomas Moore