hot mama!

Well stick a fork in me... because I am done.

Actually it kind of feels like someone jammed a fork in my ear and scrambled my brains up a bit, what with this unrelenting heat wave of a week we've had here.

So what better time to check in with you lovelies, than when I'm all sticky and grumpy, right??

Seriously, I am an Autumn girl to the core.

I really try to *pretend* to suffer through summer... without complaining much, but who are we kidding?  I'm drained of all creative energy, want to flop around the house like a forgotten lump of porridge and get short tempered with the kids (who are just as crabby).

So yes, I do whine, complain and bemoan about this heat wave.

I've tried to spare you that giant dose of grumpy cakes, hence, my absence here! har har.

A few of our go-to 'coping mechanisms' for this season include:

 Blending up crazy amount of our plucked strawberries into smoothies.

I'm totally plundering Ben's freezer stash for future 'jam' and making smoothies 24/7.

We also live off those pure fruit freezies.  And while I'd gladly scoop out a bed in a tub of ice cream, it does appear that I am becoming lactose intolerant.. ho-hum. 

 That boy... and his big sis, love the water.  We finally took them to a nearby beach this week.. and they loved it too.  Normally we just soak around in the kiddie pool here... or the tub when it's too stifling outside.

Lastly, we live like vampires.

All day the curtains are drawn, windows sealed tight.. so it's at least a warm 28 C/85 F in here.

I wish the night's were cooler lately... that's when we fling open all the windows to catch a lick of fresh air after being sealed in with babies and cat litter all day.

 -----

So yes, we have air conditioners in our bedrooms - thank God.  Hence, my bedtime is averaging between 8:30-9pm because I'm just a crazy party animal.

 I really do miss being a productive person.

I miss my creative projects, my artistic outlets... my desire for any of those things.

Once this heat wave passes I may have a fighting chance again.

For now, I remain a depleted mess of laziness - with a sweaty nose.

How's the summer treating you friends?

Mel ;o)

spring fever...

 ...or cabin fever.

This is the time of year when either option starts to give me the shakes.

After a long winter... feeling cooped up with sickly kids and unable to hike them through the snow in our stroller... I get the stir-crazy twitches.

But after this weekend... I'm getting the spring fever shivers of eagerness!

Much like the optimistic tulips budding up through the cold mud... I peek out in hopes of Spring.

I smell it blooming in the air.

This past weekend was particularly mild (3*C/35*F)... so our family hiked around the neighbourhood.  We had just bought Azriel a new pair of rubber boots to fit her this season.

Perfect timing for the puddles (small lakes) now growing around our house!

I kept warning her to look out for whales... she cautiously splashed ahead of us regardless.

I guess this is just that crazy time of year for all of us in the world... half of us are complaining about the winter - the other half (yes, you Aussies!) want summer to end.

Further proof that we humans like to whine often.

Either way, I'm still eager to embrace a new season here!

I can't wait to hike out under the warm sun and let the kids tear around on the green grass.

However, currently the state of our entrance/front lawn is a frightening mud pit.  Ick.

Even as a homebody, this mama longs to get out exploring again.

So c'mon down Spring, do your thing... and lets have a fling.

 What's the weather like outside your front door?

Mel ;o)

sleepy Sunday...

Today is a day of rest.

Sniffles and snuggles.

Baby baskets and blanket nests.

 ------

We've been fighting coughs and colds here this week.

Cabin fever mixed with gloomy skies.

Thin patience and red eyes.

Lord, let this week be brighter!

Hibernating mama,

Mel ;o)

 

colour me: rainy day people

 Just splashing a little brightness into a dull rainy day here.

My wee artist... just like her mama, she knows that true talent rests in the tongue position!

Happy weekend'ing friends.

Mel ;o)

(P.S: If you missed the cutest video ever of her painting... it's still here).

polka dots + puddles...

 When life hands you rain clouds...

...take off your shoes and puddle-jump!

Singin' in the rain mama,

Mel ;o)

P.S - For more polka.dot action... stay tuned for tomorrow's upcycled dress project.

summer is...

 ...if you want to see a hissy fit every five minutes, come to our place during the hot.humid.heat of summer and watch this mama meltdown repeatedly!

Meanwhile, this is how our daughter Azriel enjoys the season:

+ Running feral in the back yard.

+ Splashing in the kiddie pool.

+ Chalking graffiti all over the house.

+ Painting in the cool of the day.

+ Strawberry.Rhubarb crisp'ing.

+ 'Pop(sicle) it like it's hot'.

+ Tent 'tea partys' with brother Hudson.

+ Flaking out on the couch to Netflix shows.... while holding brother's hand.

...plus a whole lot more fun!

How are you and your crew beating the heat?

Sweet Sweaty Mama,

Mel ;o)

April showers ~ bring many hours...

...tucked into our dry lil' nest.

Yes, this week if it wasn't raining, hailing or snowing... it was mainly overcast. 

 

How do you deal with cabin-fever?

Azriel and I usually read. bake. dance. watch kid's shows. colour. clean.... throw a tantrum. 

Here's the latest 'play project' we discovered.  Since Azi always loves digging in the sand... I figured for 'the price of rice' I could create an indoor version.

She enjoyed burying her toy animals in the large bowl of jasmine rice!

Having a larger dish under the bowl helps catch some of the flying grains... though you're bound to have a constellation on the floor too.

Small 'scooping' cups and spoons add to the fun as well.

Any creative projects you've enjoyed lately?

We're looking forward to this weekend's forecast of sun.sun.sun!

 Have a great one, friends.

Mel ;o)

slide.show.sunday.take 27.

The first slide.show of the New Year:

 A snow filled weekend (though it's been raining all day today).

Azriel and I made our first snowman of the season... see it?  Look harder...

 Ok.. 'snowlump' with a carrot nose and cedar umbrella... the snow was too powdery!

 Sleepy Saturdays... pyjamas, tea and 'proof' I can actually read still!

 Organising my wee studio (more on that to come this week).

Cleaning up the living room (taking down all the Christmas decor...) and snuggles with this 'happy camper'.

...and of course - let's all say it together now - "family.dinner.saturdays" up at the in-laws.

Always a precious time for the generations to feast on food and memories together. 

Then, Ben and I watched movies and fell asleep by 11pm... Happy New Years!

Eager to see what this new year brings,

Be well!

Mel ;o)

wonder.full

Cultivating thankfulness.
Finding beauty in simple delights.
Savouring the present moment.
...
These are a few of my favourite things...

 Family hikes over sunlit bridges and through sleepy gardens.

 The sweet warmth of hot cocoa and gooey marshmallows.

My two favourites... sharing a sunbeam together.

Silly hats and big cozy jackets all snuggled together in a family knot.

Caught up in a glorious stormy sky.

Squealing with my daughter over the first snowfall of the year.

These are a few of those simple.beautiful.moments that have filled our nest lately... and filled this mama's heart.

For these I am thank.full.  

To my American readers.friends

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your weekend is full of sweetness,

Mel ;o)

slide.show.sunday.take15.

Greetings friends!

I'm realizing I should probably start calling this post "slide.show.SOMEDAY"... since my packed weekends keep me from actually posting till today.. oops.

Yes, this past weekend was an artsy.fartsy.family packed affair.

Buckle up, here we go.

Here we are Saturday morning... all smiles (sort of) for our adventure.

We fueled up on coffee.donuts and a map to our favourite artist's studio tour (more to come tomorrow on said artist!).

 It was also a nice grey.rainy morning to get 'lost' in the countryside.  Like driving through a painter's palette of Payne's Grey, russets, ochres and veridian.

Azriel kept on rocking out to the highway blasts of speedy air!

Family Saturday Dinner up at the in-laws... Azi and Nana harvesting some carrots from their gorgeous oasis of a backyard.

Snuggle time with Hazel the dog (Hazel-the-nut).

Cuteness and sunshine.

Family snuggle time on the inviting grass.

Sunday afternoon was a chance to visit with my family too.  A 'girls' day to go visit cousins.aunts. and newborns!  Ava and Azriel were eager to have a L.A.N party with their high-tech laptops as well.

Phew! A full weekend had at this nest.

A full day today recovering the house back to order.

Hope yours was a hoot!

P.S... remind me never to eat McDonald's again.... once a year I forget. ugh.

See y'all tomorrow.

Mel :o)

April showers...

[source: trees. my photo.  Brooms]

 BROOMS

"On stormy days

When the wind is high,

Tall trees are brooms

Sweeping the sky.

They swish their branches

in buckets of rain,

And swash and sweep it

Blue again."

- Dorothy Aldis

This poem is in a children's book we had as kids, and today I read it to my daughter and found it a fitting poem for a quiet, grey sunday...

... looking forward to 'may flowers', Mel :o)