Seasonal senti-mental-ity

Call me crazy (and crazy I am!) but I'm going to miss Winter. 

Yes I know... sunshine, warmth, swimming, beer and stuffed chillies...

And I am looking forward to all of this, but a tiny whiff of melancholy has crept in.
Good bye toes socks, au revoir wooly scarves, tata to red jacket and black boots...sniff sniff.

However...

As I find myself drinking in the scent of spring blooms and cutting down on the winter layers I am slapped about the face by logic and gratitude....

...and colour!

(our Cumquat bush is soldiering on like trooper, oblivious to the seasons end.

Poor thing has no idea that he can just put his feet up now and rest. Shhh!)

Grevillea Peaches & Cream

Indeed the garden (however neglected) has erupted in a show of blooms and foliage 

that cannot possibly allow one to stay in a gloomy mood. 

Perhaps I do love Spring as much as I do Winter?

Duranta erecta - Sheena's Gold

Of course I do.

Dillwynia

This is the time of the year that I cannot bear to be cooped up inside. 

Temperatures are kind, the breeze is still fresh and a variety of wildlife visit all day long.

Dogus Maximus

Well maybe not so very wild.

We had a verge collection last week.

(For those unfamiliar with the term - Our local shire allow you to place hard rubbish 

that cannot fit in a bin - think old mattresses, tellies and clothes drying racks - as well as green waste  - think bigger tree branches and nasty weeds - on the verge for council pick up. 

They use a bob-cat and what takes you a week to trim, collect and bag takes them 7 minutes to clear.)

Hubby and I worked really hard to get it all done & then celebrated by dragging a cane chair 

(that I had grabbed from someone else's verge collection -
 known as pre-verge collection collecting.

.... Or just scabbing)

 up to the back of our block so that we could drink beer & hang with our Chooks.

Apricot Blossoms

We grabbed a bag of crisps, two ice cold Buds and sat back admiring the weekends efforts.

Thankfully I can now taste what I'm eating - still coughing like a seal in distress though.

Our pool shed covered in Potato Vine

Native Freesia

The weather was sublime and even though every muscle ached and I had cut myself to ribbons on a nasty plant - I was in heaven. Just the tonic for a recovering chest infection if you ask me.

I have big plans for this spot in the garden....

Soon to brim with herbs and cherry tomatoes.

The old garden trowel was kept very busy digging holes for bulbs, seeds and succulents.

So yes...

I will adjust. I will cherish Spring, survive Summer and then sweet ol Autumn will come 

calling by again. Crazy seasonal sentiments.... sigh.

Inspired...

Those quiet hours of the morning before everyone else surfaces.

Those moments before the sun rises and the house begins speaking its familiar language.

Before the world starts buzzing, the Child starts smiling, the Hubby starts working 

and the Pooch starts scratching.

Due to a rather unshakeable cough I've been waking up at these odd hours twixt midnight and morn.

I usually make a cup of tea and go and sit in the loungeroom so as not to wake anyone.

Everything is so still and I find myself listening to the sounds I never notice during the day...

Ticking clocks, appliances that hum, wind.... breathing.

Then as the sun rises and I awake - usually I've dozed off on the couch - I see all that a home contains lit naturally by this wonderful ball of fire we know as the sun. 

This early morning light being my favourite kind of luminosity.

Pouring into my kitchen...

Crisp, clean and blue... different to my other favourite form of lambency...

... the warmth and radiance from a candle.

Mmmm... one certainly has time for new thoughts (however random)

 when one is bunged up with an illness that forces you to slow down and take stock.

These blossoms were given to me when I was having a particularly rough day and it provided me with a much needed "pick me up".

A reminder that the world keeps spinning even when your not.

I am healing. 

This illness has been a good thing.

Can't believe I can say that now, but it has.

It's added to my many bank accounts... patience, perspective, gratitude.

Here's to health... and sickness.

How would we love and cherish one without the other for contrast?

Daphne & Roz

Who would have thought owning a couple of chickens could bring so much joy, 

entertainment and delight into ones life?

I have written about our little feathered friends before and I must say

 I can hardly believe we've had them for over six months now!

They were "pullets" when we got them
(this means young chicken)

and yet to start laying.

Now we get two eggs every day.
They are such spunks.
Daphne lays the smaller, lighter coloured egg.
Which of course makes Roz the proud producer of the larger "skin toned" egg.
We feed them a vegetarian grain mix purchased from a specialty food store here in the Hills.
(forgive me but I have misplaced the business card so when I find it I will give you budding chicken keepers the details) We discovered that regular chicken food is full of chemicals and processed animal meats... uh... Ewwww!? I'm sorry but I don't see the point in feeding my girls anything that comes with warnings all over the packaging.

Thanks to our dear friends down the road, who informed us about the vegetarian food option,
we are able to give them a balanced diet that has the right amount of protein and calcium in it - very important for egg production.
It also has nasturtiums added - a natural colour booster for the yolk.

Just look at how healthy Roz's comb and feathers look.
(personally I think she'd win a ribbon at any show)

Even though they have a special grain mix we still find them to be super dooper
recyclers... able to eat most kitchen scraps and vegetable peelings etc.
I sow cress seeds around their pen and that way they have a green treat when they free range.
Actually it's not entirely accurate to say "free-range" because I do pen off part of the yard for them so that they do not come along and mess up the deck or my flower beds.
(My romantic notions of Chooks roaming the entire yard at their own free will came to an abrupt halt only a few days into the adoption... have you seen how much Chooks can poo? Seriously I was gob smacked... eat, scratch, poo, cluck, scratch, poo, poo eat, scratch...more poo ...
I could go on but you get the idea yeah?

One thing I really enjoy doing is scratching around for earthworms and then hand feeding the girls these high protein treats. They love bugs more than any food they have access to. They also love peas, lentils and yoghurt. Go figure!

Here's Roz snatching a worm from me. She's the bossy one whereas Daphne usually waits her turn,
which is of course futile since Roz does not see any reason to politely leave a grub or two for Daphne.
I am so glad I did not give up on my dream of having a couple of backyard birdies and I would highly recommend it to anyone toying with the idea. Rather than bore you with my second hand knowledge I'd instead recommend an excellent site called Chooknet.
It offers a wealth of information for anyone interested in keeping Chickens.
I have found it to be really useful, especially since I was a complete novice to begin with.

So my dark feathered beauties... this post is dedicated to you.
Thank you for your sunny dispositions, your sweet natures and of course all your hard work in laying beautiful, chemical free eggs for us everyday.

Getting there!

Phew!

I wish I could say I have been absent from Blogland due to an exotic vacation, a romantic getaway or indeed even a home project that needed my full attention...

Alas none of the above.

I've been away due to the dreaded green boogie monster that invaded my lungs, my nose, my throat and I'm sure even parts of my Braine!

Suffice it to say - I've been a sick puppy.

These have been my constant companions for the last 5 days...

My homeopathic remedies...

My Aa..aa...aaah...tissues! 

....&  of course loads of tea and...

Marmalade - strangely comforting?

Unfortunately my malady was rather disgusting to behold and so I felt it best to cancel my sons birthday party (with the promise of a whizz bang get together as soon as I was up and about again)

He was the complete gentleman regarding the whole disappointing affair and I, in turn, felt even more rotten for being the proverbial stick in the mud. 

Luckily we had made a bit of a fuss on the morning of his actual birthday ....

Decking out the kitchen table with silly balloons and a couple of his stuffed toys...

Then waking him up REALLY early (still dark outside)

by playing one of his favourite Chromeo songs

(cracks me up that he loves music like this!)

Anyhoo.... we made sure there was pancakes with maple syrup,

... cool prezzies to open...

(love the delight on a face when a gift is well received)

silly masks and singing cards and of course....

Lots and lots of love.

Ever so grateful - not just for my beautiful boy but for the life we lead.

A life of blessings beyond measure. I think whenever we're sick we appreciate our bodies, our family and our general well being a great deal more! 

I certainly found this the case for me.

Hope your week has been super healthy people?

What have you been up to?

PS - I have to share a little purchase that managed to cheer me up just a wee bit...

Too cute huh? - I mean yes they don't look like Paracetamol but 

I tell you what.. take two of these with a cup of tea and you'll be feeling at least a tiny bit better!

Oh and one last thing... 

If you are suffering through an infernal cold/flu/virus thingy at the mo

then this is especially from me to you...

Loving this...

Loving this song and this video clip at the moment...

Hope you are all having a great week thus far?

Mine = lotsa birthday celebrations for my TEENAGE son!

So my dear dude... although the above clip may not be your taste, 

I'm pretty sure this one will be more suited!

Happy Birthday Dude!

You rock my world!

Bed Blob...

Wonderful weekend from Friday 3:45pm right through to Sunday 10:30am.

Cake. Tea. Hamburgers. Shopping for birthday presents. Boys Best Bud Sleep Over.

All good, all fun, all yummy.

Everyone (including Pooch) having a cosy, relaxing time.

Now for all you male bloggerlites out there.... kindly block your ears.

Sunday morning "lady issues/hormones and headaches" hit with a vengeance.

Hubby comes to the rescue and sets up a mini cinema in bed, complete with PMT blend essential oils burning, a bowl of cereal with vanilla soy milk and the trusted heat bag.

(I really am the luckiest wife in all the land)

I decided to watch an old favourite that reminds me of my Dad.

(He passed away a while ago and this was the last movie we saw in the cinema together)

Father Of the Bride.

Starring the legendary Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Martin Short.

It's a harmless and silly family comedy and I love it.

My reasons are of course sentimental and personal however I'd still recommend it for innocent, wholesome family viewing.

  

Basically it's about George Banks (Martin) and his reaction to the news that his beloved little girl is now getting married - a fact that this doting Dad is struggling to accept.

(excuse the dodgy images - I took them with my phone straight of the screen)

Even though Steve Martin is his usual comical self it's actually the character of the "over the top wedding co-ordinator" Frank (pronounced Fr -ah -nk) played by Martin Short that remains my favourite.

My son and I both love this film and we can see why they made a sequel.

The ridiculous "FRAHNK"

Nina bailing George out of jail for stealing hot dog buns....

Very silly yes, but nevertheless a film that still warms my heart and makes me cry.

Indeed I'm sure I needed to shed a few tears (hormonal and otherwise) since I have a very big week coming up. My young Prince turns 13 on Wednesday.

I know it's all a part of life but my head is reeling and all I can think is 

TIME+WINGS=BABY BOY now a TEENAGER!!! (*&!@#)

Methinks, much like George Banks - I too will need some time to adjust.

How was your weekend peoples? Anything exciting?