Mornings

In our living area upstairs we have two oversized ceiling to floor windows which would be the first thing you notice about our house if I opened our front door to you. Sliding doors take you out onto the balcony which runs the length of our house, and at one end a spiral Juliet staircase winds down to the courtyard below. You look out to the treetops and if you peek through the branches of the big old silvery grey gum you can see the Brindabellas (I've said it before, it's like being in a treehouse). Kookaburras and cockatoos visit for a natter and there's not a whisper of traffic. With each change of season our windowscape changes. I never tire of the view. It's one of my favourite things about our house in the village.

Lately we've been spending our early mornings on the balcony deck before the heavy heat of these summer days hit. Crayons in old tins, pre-loved tables and chairs made for little people, a pressed metal watering can which clunks nicely and gaps in the railing wide enough to poke your nose through: this seems to keep the Little One happy. Long enough that I can finish my first cup of tea for the day.

*Last week some of Saskia's most treasured friends (Sofia, Iris and little Archie) spent a morning with us on the balcony. There was the gentlest of breezes, a calm about the children, dress ups and games of make believe, strawberry milks in chocolate sprinkle glasses, and stolen baby kisses.

Lately

Eating: bliss balls (I finally made these from Jess' recipe and bought a good quality cocoa powder from the deli...I can never turn back now), a few new 15 minute Jamie meals (the best being the green tea salmon, miso greens and coconut rice - and the Keralan curry which makes friends of cauliflower, chickpeas and pineapple - weird, but ever so right), and these double coconut muffins which have changed my life, and I have this lady to thank.

Watching: Louis Theroux's Extreme Love reruns on ABC2 (I can't stop thinking about Joey's family in Extreme Love: Autism and the charming, still vivacious 89 year-old Nancy and her ever-doting husband, John, in Extreme Love: Dementia). I love his slightly awkward style.

Growing: hydrangeas with petals turning antique green (a present for my Christmas Eve birthday), geraniums in all shades of crimson, marigolds on the balcony table, and some rather piddly nasturtiums (biggest disappointment).

What are you eating, watching, growing?

14/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, as a one year old.

She moves fast. One second she's chief of the watering can, the next she's retrieving casuarina seeds from the cracks in the deck.

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

Canberra: The Oaks Brasserie and English Garden

Freshly baked date scones, dappled light from a cluster of birch trees, creamy coffees, creaky floorboards inside the 1920s cottage gallery, a white picket fence, sheltered courtyard garden tables (at a distance of more than 2 or 3 arm spans - love!),  a skip and a jump to a heritage nursery, an enchanted woodland with a soft leafy carpet for endless games of make believe, bird calls and waddling ducks.

On magically sunny days this is where we love to be.

Do you plan to visit Canberra during the Centenary? I thought I might pull together a few posts over the next couple of months with some family-friendly places around town that we often explore. I don't know about you, but I always love to travel with a few local recommendations up my sleeve... 

Resemblance

Can you see it?

These are photographs taken when we lived in Ottawa, Canada, for a year when I was one. After posting this portrait I dug out the ring bound family albums with yellowing pages and my mum's neatly printed captions, searching for the photographs that flash in front of my eyes sometimes as I watch Saskia. That peculiar feeling when you look at your child and she seems so profoundly, intensely, strangely familiar. An odd thing to say, perhaps, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

(Oh and then there is always this).

I'm such a sucker for baby photos from the 70s and 80s. I'd love to see yours...

ps. Look at my Dad doing his best pensive Lennon look!

*I'm so touched by all the comments generated by the 52 Project, and am looking forward to discovering some new blogs. Just making myself a cup of tea...

13/52

A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, as a one year old.

This little one walks and walks and walks...but after a morning of trotting about the village paths those busy little legs needed a rest. 

Taking part in Jodi's weekly portrait series

Wishes for the New Year

K and I saw in the new year on our balcony under the twinkle of stars and fairylights. We talked about friendships, astronomy (ok, K talked and I listened) and new books.... I hadn't though about resolutions before new year's eve but I've been pondering some for a few days now. This year my resolutions aren't particularly brave or too different to what I've been doing, they seem to be a slight shift, a small change in direction. Sometimes, some years, that's all it is.

Wishing you all light and love in 2013 x

...write letters, make cards, send handwritten wishes, post clippings...do you know I'm still in the process of sending thank you cards for Saskia's 1st birthday? I'm probably about 3/4 way through a rather long list, and while it is taking me many more weeks than I had imagined, I've grown quite fond of taking my time to write out a heartfelt message (usually one or two every few days), imagining the smile a washi taped envelope might bring to someone's day. 

...finish Saskia's quilt and baby book...K will take holidays in February and I'm going to use a little bit of that time to make a good start on Saskia's baby book. The beautiful white leather bound album I bought from here sits on my desk and beckons to be filled. The quilt project I think I'll save until the cool Autumn nights.

...give handmade where possible...I made quite a few gifts for friends and family last year and I'd love to try to continue doing this this year. The response to a handmade present is always more heartening than you can imagine.

...make do...we start the year without my maternity leave & parental payments, and although we are still incredibly fortunate to have the security of K's salary, the change will mean that we have to be extra careful with (and more aware of spending) our  money. I can use what I already have in my wardrobe and craft stash with a few small thrifty purchases where necessary, and would love to learn to be a little more resourceful in the kitchen and garden. With this resolution particularly, I know I'll find inspiration in many of your blogs.