Lately here...

Today I got to paint!

It's kind of a big deal.

For over the past six months most of my 'creative energy' has been sapped by this new creation growing in my tummy.  I've missed crafting/painting/sewing so SO much.

Those of you who remember how saturated this blog once was with recent projects/d.i.y's will have likely noticed this absence as well.  Um, sorry?

(It seems that a pile of visitors have come across this blog through projects they've seen on Pinterest/google searches.. and then if they stick around they get the 'bait n' switch' of me not being so creative and just ranting/confessing/rambling about family life and motherhood and where my heart is at lately.  But I'm ok with this blog shifting, and for those of you who have stuck with me.. thanks)!

Anyway.. it feels great to be forced back to creating again.

In that, this recent painting is another commissioned piece I've been working on.

I'll show y'all when it's done - just imagine a colourful large sky and rolling country hills.

Having the space to create in our bedroom/studio is kind of a big deal too.

It means we've finally booted our girl + her bed out of my studio corner.. and in to her room with the fitful younger sleeping brother.

(That's still a mess... and I'm afraid I'll be used to not really ever sleeping well again by the time they hopefully do sort out their sleeping patterns, ah well).

Having a husband that helps entertain the kids while I sneak off during daylight hours is the biggest help - so thanks Ben!

Creating is a rare gift nowadays, I'm savouring every second I get.

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

confessions (of a Mel) part 16. re:love.

 

Have you ever met an unlovable person?

You know, the ones that irk you, rub you the wrong way... or get right up in your face hostile with you. It seems that life is more difficult with them in it.

-------------

Throughout my life I felt 'stuck' with these people in my world.

In elementary school it would be that guy assigned to me as a group work partner.. "oh great, I get to watch him enjoy the contents of his nostril next to me" I would moan inwardly.

As a young kid who still didn't understand the delicate balance of truth-telling.. I thought I should be upfront and say I hated him when asked by the teacher.

In highschool it was that awkward girl assigned to share a locker with me.

"I hope no one sees me and her together here" I'd worry whilst fidgeting with our lock.

Looking back, I just remember her body odour was frightful, and she managed to have even more acne than I... which deemed her 'unloveable' in my books then.
Maybe I should have gotten to know her story better.. 
Now, at that stage of life I had learned to bite my tongue and not say "hate" about another person... but I held them at a cool distance, treating them with the warmth of a human iceberg.
---------------- 

I obviously share these stories to my shame... knowing that they reveal more about the state of my heart than those seemingly unlovable individuals.

And yet.. the struggle to live authentic love continues.

I remember being struck by the perspective that we use love like currency.
In that, if we value some one.. we see them as worth investing our time/affection/energy in to them.  Sounds like money talk.  And, to take it one step further... when we find someone rather unsavoury in our life we withdraw our love.  We may possibly even dangle a 'deposit' of love their way like a shiny carrot... IF they change themselves to meet our expectations.

It gets me thinking... am I Scrooge-like with my love?
Do I only invest it in those I deem befitting my affection... and withdraw it from those that I feel at odds with?  How do I treat the rude person in line at the store?
How do I react to the slow driver in front of us?
How do I engage the loner in the crowd?
How do I respond to the obnoxious co-worker obsessed with their own success*? (Not speaking from my current employment.. ha!)

And more so,
How do I love my family when they test me?
When the kids are pushing every one of my buttons?
I can already feel the ice forming in my facial expressions when I'm getting exasperated.
------------------------------------

I've been feeling convicted on this issue once again lately.
Because when I look in the Bible, I don't see my heart reflecting the heart of God.
Throughout Scripture we see the God who pursues... who sets His love upon those still deep in their messes (dead in their sins even).
Despite what you may have heard... we can't clean ourselves up first to be deserving of His love.  That's the beauty of grace.  In our weakness, that love is strong.  I was the one spiritually 'smelling rank of body odours', covered in acne, a filthy mess of repeated screw ups... and He lavished His love on me.
(Ephesians 2).

How can I hold back such love from others?

Learning to love,
Mel ;o)
 

The best sound...

Yes, this was the snowy view we had outside our friend's cottage/home last weekend.

Snow.

We were just 40mins north of our city.. currently being soaked in rain/high winds.

But it was a beautiful sight.

It also reflects a beautiful sound to me.

Silence.

I don't know about you, maybe it's just the stage of life we're in now (cough:insert - laughing/shrieking/singing/hollering kids.all.day) but I am such a big fan of silence.

It's the best therapy.

The quickest comfort.

A salve to the soul.

It's also what keeps convincing my man and I that we are made for 'country living' in our future.

Away from the noises of industry, traffic... motorcycles with mufflers from Hades.

Silence.

Do you love it?

Does it frighten you?
I know our culture loves to keep you entertained/distracted... from that moment where you can actually hear your own thoughts.

Or, as this comedian put it rather profoundly (though crassly, for some) we even may run from this silence/solitude.

When you look at your day - do you make time for silence?

Or, is the radio alarm clock playing in the morning, radio in the car, noise of the day.. and then T.V all evening?

Silence, it's a beautiful thing.

Even if it can feel like a torturous beast sometimes.. it's worth taming.

I'm learning how vital rich times of silence are for my soul.

Being still, resting in the presence of my Maker.

Savouring,

Mel ;o)

Four > she's the birthday girl!

How do four years hold so much... heavy with rich memories, laughter, lessons (and lunacy).

Yet they disappear so quickly like rainbow coated bubbles from the playful blow of a child's wand.

We are richer for these four years.

We celebrate our darling daughter.

The silly, playful, dramatic, sensitive, creative spirit that she keeps growing up in to.

Happy 4th birthday you sweet lil' imp!

Mel ;o)

The perfect palette... picked!

Just thought I'd quickly update you on a successful colour crush I've found here.

You all know how much I love turquoise anything by now right?

But picking the perfect paint tone for this was like nailing Jell-O to a wall.  I'd stare for ages at the colour decks where I work (Benjamin Moore) and continually waffle between: "too blue" "too green"  "too bright"  "too gray".

Honestly, I'd be my own worst customer for making a choice of paint colour!

Sometimes the real trick is to find something else you love that's already in the colour you crave (a scarf, a painting, a piece of pottery) then find the paint chip to match it.

Voila ~ the perfect turquoise for me!

I got slap-happy with my paintbrush and brought this old wooden high-chair back to life.

Scuffing it up after ward for that yummy distressed look. 

Now that I've finally settled on a paint colour, it actually was the perfect pick.  It already goes with a lot of the turquoise pops of colour in our home... even the kid's room curtains.  So I'll be splashing more of it in there.

It even matches the tone of my turquoise/wood earrings I have for sale.

 So.. that's something.

For anyone wanting that perfect bold pop of colour... here's my top pick:

 

I wouldn't paint an entire room in it.. just highlight pieces.

A more subdued antique tone that I would love on our walls would be HC-144 Palladian Blue. 

Gosh, I am such a colour geek.

What's your perfect palette?

Mel ;o)

Give a girl a camera...

Here she is ~ our little budding photographer.

She snaps a quick candid of her family.

Captures all the golden leaves falling around her.

Stalks the boys in her life.

And like any good blogger.. takes about twenty pictures of her feet.

A sip of cider and catching up..

Oh hiiii, yes, we're still alive and well here!

Thanksgiving has come and gone here last weekend.. and I'm still sipping cider and nibbling leftover ham.  Most of the leaves have fallen around here, though a few trees are still ablaze against these rainy grey days.

Things I'm thankful for right about now:

+ a hot soak in the tub.

+ kids that are equal parts mischief and hilarity.

+ books that feed my soul.

+ hot chocolate with gooey marshmallows.

+ conversations with my man.

+ friends within walking distance.

+ washed dishes.

+ rain against the windows.

+ the sweet hallowed silence of evening.

Just to name a few...

..oh, and a sweet baby GIRL kicking gently from my belly! 

Hope the week is being sweet to you friends,

Mel ;o)