here + there

coziness + colours.

princess + lil' dragon.

windows + warmth.

incense + interiors

twinkle toes

clear skies + crows.

snuggly son.

Well here we are again, I guess we missed last week's instalment of 'here+there' snapshots due to those 'readers choice' posts.

The days have been plodding along here fairly 'normal' like... with lots of cuddles and creating.

We're all pretty recovered from the bazillionth cold/flu to hit our nest this season.

But this week that lil' guy has been quite the cranky pants.

Not sure what to blame (teething/gas/moon's orbit?!!)... le sigh.

 -----

+ Oh, and yes, I am often wearing this mustard toque now...

+ I've been finishing up some fun sewing projects lately.. more to come on that.

+ We're burning lots of that incense lately (Nag Champa)... us hippies.

+ There never seems to be enough chocolate in this house.

+ Pet peeve: crawling into bed to discover you daughter ate crackers there earlier.

 + The kids don't realize I'd be a much happier mama with some real sleep!

That's all the randomness I have for you today.

How's your week treating you, sweet souls?

Mel ;o)

here + there

colourful critters

bright baby.food

guys + dolls

cheetah cheeks

frames + feather

cozy corners + cute cat naps

mama + mini-me

Another week, another peek at the moments in our nest.

How's your week going friends?

Mel ;o)

here + there.

darlin' dinosaur

chicken eggs + cat eyes

lil' red

beauty breakfast

cosy nook

bed o' books

peek-a-mew

sparkling view

Another week, another peek... into the moments that filled our nest.

Happy mid-week everyone!

Mel ;o)

here + there...

Flaming tips.. now fizzling.

Peek-a-boo.

Damask.

Softness.

Remains of the day.

Still painting.

Toy Bathing.

Daddy-daughter snuggles.

Mama-Son Relaxing.

Well since it's a new year and all...

...feel free to consider this as a new series.

Considering I take a gazillion pictures each week... "here + there" will be where I can dump a bunch of them into one post... and give you lovelies a glimpse of the simple moments in our nest.

Plus, I really want to get better at composition/photography.

You poor suckers will just have to endure while I attempt to improve.. baha.

Mamarazzi,

Mel ;o)

shrug it off...

A short story:

Once there was a crazy mama who wished she could make a pillow as soft as her kitty's warm fuzzy belly...

...since in reality, her couch pillows were as inviting as a burlap sac.

"Aha" says she.

"My cozy knit shrug could be upcycled into pillow sleeve covers"...

...and that she did.

The end.

 

(P.S: the speed with which I hatch an idea like this - and carry it out - prevents me from recognising certain issues... i.e. the fact that this knit shrug perfectly resembles the coarse Berber carpet going up our stairwell, and that association now makes these pillows seem less appealing. Oops!)
 

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

Mel ;o)

currently...

 ...this cat is staring at me as I type.

Tinderpuff always jumps up next to me when I sit with the lap top... she places an expectant paw on my arm and gives me her best 'puppy eyes' for affection.

...baby Hudson is softly snoring from across the room in a cocoon of blankets.

...there's a beautiful moment of quietness in this nest (Azriel is at the zoo with her Grandparents this morning).

...I brew some Earl Grey Vanilla tea in my tall turquoise mug, and breathe.

...listening to this mellow playlist currently.

I don't know why it's always on Friday that I feel so reflective... maybe it's the perspective of looking back on another completed week.

I've been processing a lot lately - even while being in a 'newborn fog'.

When you're forced to be still those quiet voices are given more clarity.

They speak with a fragile force that can't be ignored - but so often is drowned out in the distracting din of the daily.

"Who are you?"

"How's your heart space?"

"Are you growing in grace?"

they ask.

"What's holding you back?"

"What do you fear?"

"Who are you blaming?"

they whisper.

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

This has been a strange time for me.  Recovering from birth, then surgery.  Forced to sit which makes me go squirrelly.

I've felt torn between just trying to endure this time - wishing it gone already.

But also seeking to be present, to be taught in this moment.

But also not wanting to be short-sighted and forget the bigger picture.

The trap of "I'll be happy when...." will always disappoint.

I need to find and hold the joys that are here for me (and for you) right now.

These seconds are making up the moments,

the moments create the days,

these days are our fleeting life.

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

I have to keep flexing the muscle of gratitude in my heart,

because when it's weak it just wants to fester in self-pity.

So, in this moment, I declare that I AM THANKFUL.

Too many blessings to count.

Forced to sit and blessed to consider them.

Grateful mama,

Mel ;o)

 

slide.show.sunday.take 34.

Hello friends!  

Here we are at the close of another weekend, and here's another quick slide.show of what ours was filled with:

.. a lot of snuggles with our new Mr. Hudson.

...Azriel and I are competing for who snuggles him more ;o)

...a lot of laundry (le sigh).

 ...a lot of painting.

...a lot of cat-naps (Tinderpuff/Hudson/Mewsli sandwich!).

...and of course with Family.Dinner.Saturdays.... a lot of good food & memories!

Now it's Sunday... and the kidlets here are sickly...

poor Azi has been all coughs/sniffles.  Wee Hudson is sneezing his share too.

...so, a lot of sniffles & snuggles.. and cuteness here.

How was your weekend friends?

Mel ;o)

cats & crayons..

Here's a bit of cuteness, colouring and cats for your day.

I know I need to be reminded that this gal Azriel is a sweetie since right now she is on 'super cranky.sleep disturbed.whine' mode... hoy!

Have a beauty day friends,

Mel ;o)

slide.show.sunday. take 32.

Hello friends, it's that time of the weekend again:

a slide show of our fairly quiet weekend (no new baby yet!)..

Here's our sweet 'big' baby Azriel... all aglow in a cosy sunbeam.

Saturday mornings are for waffles... our Ben makes the best in town!

Getting the 'new baby' car seat all ready - Tinderpuff wanted to supervise.

Mewsli lounged nearby... and I was totally jealous of her.

'Family Dinner Saturdays' up at the in-laws... Great-Granny and Azi share a love of books.

Here we are... ready and waiting to 'pop'.  

Every time we talk about 'baby brother' Azriel will yell at my belly "WAKE up baby"!  She seems to be eager to see him now too.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

See you on the flip side... hopefully with some BIG news... eventually. 

Busting at the gut,

Mel ;o)

colour me: sunny with a chance of clouds.

 This palette post is brought to you by sunshine, lemon cranberry muffins and cat naps...

Is it safe to say we're all a little smitten with buttery yellows. charcoal. and smokey greys lately?  I like a punch of colour like cranberry red in the mix, too.

Azriel opted to ignore the lemon.cranberry muffin the size of her head... and go 'tickle' the grey cats with a feather.  "Wake up Mewsli... a feather!"

How about a kiss?

Hope you have a sunshiny day friends!

muffin-making mama,

Mel ;o)