Hello Sunshine!

 

 

Hello Sunshine

 

I just checked my calendar and it says September.

September?

When I look outside my windows it definitely does not look like September!

The squirrels are constantly hopping around on my balcony and amongst the trees.

The hummingbirds are humming around the feeder all day long, and all the fans are

still blowing. And I think it is definitely ice-cream Friday again. Something chocolatey for

certain, and caramel (nods).

 

Have been working on my bright coloured illustrations again today, and there is

still summer going on in there, too.

 

I am secretly really enjoying it.

And the ice cream will be enjoyed even more later.

 

Wishing you a wonderful sunshine Weekend!

May there be joy x

Our magic world

I feel so blessed, to be part of the skies and the trees.

This wondrous planet that is filled with wonder.

 

I am very easily pleased.

When the first snow started to fall this morning, I had my shoes on and my scarf wrapped before you can say needtogooutsidepronto. My child looked at me funny, thinking that her mum had definitely lost her marbles. But it is all good. I've got this.

 

I skipped and walked through the fresh new snow, cupping a large hot coffee in my hands.

The steam touching my face. And I whispered to the Weather-Gods,

"thank you for the magic"

 



Winter Wonderland *

I am such a Winter person.

I love the wind whipping around the house, and the surprise snow first thing in the morning. Magically colouring our world outside the window in the most beautiful crisp white.

I love wrapping myself up in colourful scarfs. The big chunky gloves and the crunching sound under my feet as I walk around in the perfect stillness.

 

For some odd reason hot cocoa tastes so much better, too.

And my children's red cheeks and big grins when they drag their dirty feet into the hallway.

It is just so lovely.

 

A Day in the Garden

Best place to be is in a dotted bowl surely

Homemade cakes are always the yummiest

Sisters

Friends 

Our wee village

The garden is like our living room, where we spent most of our time now.

Summers are so good!

x

Fancy that...

There is nothing fancy about me really. I am a bit of a simpleton. 

I do not have a large studio room to call my own. Instead I have my bits and bobs stacked and stored just about everywhere around the entire house. This is what we call the Treasure Hunt; having to find what you are looking for, and finding things that you lost ages ago instead. My working space is my house, where ever I can sit, that is not overwhelmed with toys and whatnots. I sit at the kitchen table, highly damaged by over use, and always have the company of someone little chatting to me as I work. 

I don't have fancy supplies either. Only own one paint brush. A tiny wonky one that I do all my painting and lettering with. I have had it for years, and has been used by many little hands. I can't get myself to go and buy another one, unless this one fall apart completely. 

Finding pencils in this house is impossible. We think there is a Pencil Gremlin around that eats them at night when we sleep, since any newly purchased ones get lost within the 24 hour time frame. 

So I use what I can find. 

Alas, my watercolour paints are messy and much loved. I rarely wipe away old colours. 

Because you know, I might have to use 'that' particular colour again. 

But I do love messing about on paper. 

Creating images that make me happy and smile. At the kitchen table, with little people talking to me,

with my mediocre and damaged art supplies. 

I am just not very fancy 

Oh If you would like to join in on my Give Away

there is time until Friday to leave a comment here

x

Home

I am often alone, and rarely lonely.

I am very quiet, and never shut up.

I thrive on stress, but hate feeling pressured.

I am utterly lost, and don't wish to be found.

I am married, but have no ring.

I love the quiet, and fill it with music.

I am compulsively restless, and dream of doing nothing.

I don't like weeds, but wish my garden was a carpet of poppies. 

My memory is abysmal, but I can't let go of the past.

I despise shopping, but love going out.

Just so I can get that "coming home" feeling.

Friday-Gardenday

Countless birds have moved into the bushes and the roof of our house. 

They are so busy, and fill up the quiet with their constant song. It is sweet. Just

like Spring is supposed to be. Scattering little flowers every where. Honestly, it

seems the garden is smiling. A lunch in the sun on our weather beaten bench is

a must. I was spoiled by my dear friend Ramona with a

great arty magazine in the post the other day, and then another magazine 

landed in my mail box from Amber! Thank you so much for your kindness!

I wish you could join me in the garden, the shakes are blended and a stack

of cucumber sandwiches do need to be eaten... x

Patience

 

Such lovely patience. As we add little decorations here and there. 

When my little ones secretly put secret gifts under the tree. The evenings

are shared with flickering lights and a worrying amount of ovaltines

and hot chocolates. The winter blankets are stacked for the evening,

to cozy under on the sofa, even when the house is not cold.

The  advent calender doors are religiously opened and counted every day.

I  find myself wishing such goodness to those I am sure would

not return the thought. But I wish you well, all year around, but

that bit more in December. Because it matters.

Not the gifts, or what you get. But the thoughts, that are somehow

so much warmer in our coldest Season.

Wrap up and think a happy thought x

Late Sunday Afternoon Walk

A quick walk at the lake near our home just before dinner at six.

 

 

... going back home, ending a lovely Sunday.

It is hard to believe we had such a warm sunny day here,

it is nearly December (!)

x

Summer Fruit

 

 

 

Fruit hunting in our village. Every bush and tree seems to be hiding something

colourful and yum. Fruits and nuts everywhere.

 

 

Definitely nothing in there, though....

Revival

For many years I have had my sofa, large, heavy and loved much too much. 
It's creamy colour faded and tired. It traveled with me from Ireland, to Holland, to England and now it 'lives' in France.  And I simply could not get myself to get rid of it. It's sits five children and a grown up easily. So we spent two days dyeing it a deep red, and making new cushions.

It is now the happy bright area in the house! Bursting with colour.

[In my perfect world, my sofa would be light and creamy white, it would survive little children's hands for about 24 hours :) ]

Because I just love it, no matter how old and worn out it is. 

... and after all that work, it is time for a cappuccino. Or perhaps even two!

• I have closed my shop, by the way. I am working on totally new 'things' and sadly I am not able to do both + be a mum to five during the Summer Holidays. I feel badly, but I re-counted my hands, and there is still only two of them. No matter how much I have wished to have at least another two sets .... 
• [ really excited about the new stuff ] *does one of those happy dances*

All you need is love

It has been over two and a half years. In many ways time has flown by, in other ways it has felt like a crawl. But we are in France for a while now, and finally I have started turning my house into a home. What kept me? I don't know really. But I have felt very lost. Not always in a bad way. Sometimes I feel it has pushed me in ways that nothing else could have done. 
But we are here, in our old stone church home, with an ancient grave yard as our neighbours and the mountains and endless trees over looking us. 
I can't believe it took me this long to realize that all we need is love. No matter where we are. Home is something that is on the inside, not the outside. 
I made this large linen cushion yesterday, to remind myself that I am actually blessed with all the good stuff. You know, the love stuff.