Into the woods

August 2014. Snow in the heavenly magical place called the Sugar Pines.

PS. I'm alive :)

Secrets

It's been hard to write here for a little while. With happy secrets and then crushing sadness and hopefully in the not to distant future, fresh beginnings. Early miscarriage is so common and so not talked about. I dont want to talk about it - and yet - I was frustrated that I couldn't find anyone else who had. I guess that's why we don't traditionally share the news until we're at least twelve weeks. I was eleven.
I was planning on switching to more and more pictures rather than words here but in all honesty I haven't picked up the big camera in weeks - and that was only to take pictures which now no longer have a reason to exist.
I feel a little too exposed here these days. Google my name and this place is the second thing to come up - and the nice thing about a blog, I always found, was a little sense of mystery and anonymity. Especially when you are watched, and what feels like judged, for your job.
Maybe I'll keep posting recipes and maybe I'll keep posting about the garden (its doing great by the way) and maybe, maybe I'll keep posting about country life. But for now being present is keeping me occupied, that, and the garden.

{Image from here, if this is your image I would love to credit you properly}

*

Just the two of us, watching the sun go down over the sea and then all the cities fireworks at once from the hills. A blissful New Years Eve.

5 Senses

Seeing: Homegrown hollyhock & poppies.
Tasting: Cherries. Picked on our mini break to Young.
Smelling: Beautiful Rain! Finally!
Hearing: Chairlift are still on heavy rotation at the moment.
Touching: Rough skin on my feet from sandal wearing. Hello summer!

{What are your 5 senses for today?}

Things to be Thankful for: this space.

 

I just checked my blog stats for the first time in a year. They're not what they used to be. But you know what - I think I've really come a long way and let go. I used to care so so much about building readership. I wanted to be A Cup Of Jo, you know? But holy crap! I am not A Cup Of Jo! And that's okay. It's been so good blogging when I feel like it, rather than feeling obliged, and you know... I'm still here so thats good right?
I mean to say: thanks for coming along for the ride. And I'm thankful to have this space. I met another blogger in person the other day *hi Plain Jane!* It was so lovely to meet someone who I didn't know who reads my blog. It was kinda encouraging.
It's funny how you almost seem to keep up with your peers in the blogging world. All those blogs I've been reading for years now are like old friends. Even a Cup of Jo is totally like an old friend. She posted a video with her speaking and I was actually surprised at how American she sounded (der!) in my mind she has an Aussie voice. Stupid but true. Many that I read have gone the same way of not posting on the dot every day. Many have gone huuuuuuge too. Many have finished it. I feel pretty good for now. Just pottering along.
Anyway all this to say: haven't we come a long way little blog? Haven't we come a long way! So much so that I even missed our 4 year blogiversary in September. Never fear. I'm sure I ate cake at some point that month.

{North Wagga Skies - I love it here}

Christmas gifts for the shopping haters...

Ahhh Christmas you old sausage! Here you come again, putting butterflies into children's (young and old) stomachs and stressing out the shopping haters! I am a self diagnosed shopping hater but this year - this year I am winning! With the exception of making some yummy trinkets, I am well ahead on the old Christmas shopping game! Even organised enough to order online! I'm not completely smug though - no christmas cake or pudding has been made to rest easy for a month and whilst I bought christmas cards - who knows if they will actually make it into the post box or not...
In light of my not too smug but just a little bit smug, smugness I am bestowing upon you some gift ideas (yes joining the hoards and masses of other bloggers that do this!). Some things that you can not go wrong with:*

Candles? What woman do you know who would turn her nose up at a nice smelly candle in a pretty jar?  This is a nice one, it's Australian made and it's all Christmasy too.

Gah! Stripey cups and straws and cuteness! For the party throwing, wedding blog reading woman in your life. Who doesn't smile when presented with a striped straw? Plus they are biodegradable. Winner.

Last year we received a whole bunch of Christmas decorations - and seeing as it was our "first-proper-Christmas-tree-in-our-very-own-house" it was flipping perfect! These are hand made in Oz and super sweet.

Other presents I have received and loved: games! We have received Cluedo (these old ones are great if you can find them vintage!), Creationary and our most favourite: Bananagrams.

* I have no proof of this.

5 Senses

* Seeing: Blue skies, pink flowers.
* Tasting: Baguette
* Hearing: The latest PJ album. It's awesome.
* Touching: Cotton sheets (No more flannel or fleece for now).
* Smelling: Coffee from our new stovetop pot.

Wanting:

I want this:

And this:

That is all.

switch off, relax, escape.

Last weekend we went camping to switch off, relax and escape, as well as road test Tim's birthday presents (tent & camp stove). We did just that. It was perfect and Lola did very well too!

Catch up...

T: Well thats what its like running for public office.
S: You wake up one Sunday morning with no idea where the last three months went, a hangover and a new prime minister. The only thing is to decide what's worse: the hangover or the new PM.

Phew, it's been madness. I've been earthing down, as a friend of ours said, and its been keeping me sane. Spring is just being ridiculously good looking.

I got a pang of oh my god this is my house I live here this is mine, the other night. It was nice to have that feeling about our space again instead of just existing in a whirlwind of things that must get done.

I'm running again, getting up early and run run run. I feel better already and it is so pretty.

Photos are mostly being taken on my phone - spending all day at work on a computer means I dont want to be on one when I get home. But I don't want to abandon this place just yet.

I have recipes to share and more gardening stuff and good things happen all the time, I need to remember its nice to write them down - to remember. It's also nice to simplify.

5 senses...

Hearing: Big Scary - Twin Rivers.
Seeing: Jonquils, Erlicheers, Snowdrops, Queen Annes Lace
Smelling: Those Jonquils. Oh my.
Tasting: Earl Grey Tea.
Feeling: Lolas fur on my feet.

First world problem conversations.

S: Man I hate blow drying my hair. It's so boring and I cant even multitask because it takes 2 hands.
T: I feel the same way about shaving. Can't multitask - can't even do a half arsed job about it.
S: Hmmm you have it bad - at least I can do a half arsed job with drying my hair.
T: Yeah you can't really just put your face up in a pony tail.

True words Tim. True words.

{Image from A Cup Of Jo}

A little tip...

You know where to get the best neon string to tie up presents from?
Bunnings.
Brickies line.
Four bucks for 100 metres thankyouverymuch.

June in Pictures...

* A birthday morning dog walk

* Lola being tackled by puppies a tenth her size

* I love country skies

* Birthday dinner preparations

* So often the morning run is distracted by a glorious sunrise

* Or sunset

* Yeah. That happened. My husband and the PM. Or not anymore. 

* Canberra

* Ice skating in Canberra. A highlight I must say! 

ps. If you miss me (Bless you!!) then I am on Instagram a whole lot more than I am here at the moment