Spring Days....

Heart of Spring!

O Heart of Spring!
Spirit of light and love and joyous day
So soon to faint beneath the fiery Summer:
Still smiles the Earth, eager for thee alway:
Welcome art thou, so ever short thy stay,
Thou bold, thou blithe newcomer!
Whither, oh whither this thy journeying,
O Heart of Spring!

O Heart of Spring!
After the stormy days of Winter’s reign
When the keen winds their last lament are sighing
The Sun shall raise thee up to life again:
In thy dim death thou shalt not suffer pain:
Surely thou dost not fear this quiet dying?
Whither, oh whither blithely journeying,
O Heart of Spring!

O Heart of Spring!
Youth’s emblem, ancient as unchanging light,
Uncomprehended, unconsumed, still burning:
Oh that we could, as thee, rise from the night
To find a world of blossoms lilac-white
And long-winged swallows unafraid returning . .
Whither, oh whither this thy journeying,
O Heart of Spring!

~ John Shaw Nielson ~

Spring Equinox

:: A little rainbow crochet love, to brighten up the house this Spring

:: Flowers from the garden

:: Even the Mapleton Forest gnomes are celebrating Spring today!

Hope your weather was Spring-like today! (Or maybe your enjoying the first moments of Autumn..)

X Shara

It's entirely possible....

...that I did not anticipate how much busier life would get with 3 little boys!

Caspian is now 8 weeks old! And even though I know I should cut myself some slack, I still am a bit frustrated that I'm struggling.

My patience is thin on the ground, particularly with Leo, who is going through the fairly typical 2yr old stages. I'm trying to show him as much grace as I can muster, as well as filling his emotional tank while Caspian naps. Leo is fully weaned from the breast (his own decision), but sometimes I truly think it might be easier if he weren't! He is very jealous of Caspian when he's feeding.

On the plus side, Leo is now sleeping through the night! Hallelujah! This really is a dream come true for us, as he has always required a lot of night-time parenting. 

Caspian also sleeps well at night, waking only once or twice. So thankful for this and not taking it at all for granted. It could change at any moment...

I also thought that after breastfeeding Leo for so long, that I would have an easier time feeding Caspian. That hasn't been the case, in fact, this has probably been the most difficult experience yet. We are coming through it though and it's definitely getting better as each week passes. 

On the upside, I am very grateful for a wonderful husband, who supports me at every turn. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty around the house and cooks dinner for us most every night. (what is it with babies getting fussy at dinner time every day?!)

Roman is a big help too, he loves entertaining the baby, while I get dressed or hang the laundry out. School holidays start this weekend, and I'm looking forward to having him home for 2 weeks. I've got some fun activities planned to keep the boys occupied.

I planted a small veggie garden, and would love some rain (it's spitting as I write this), as we have only half a tank of water left. It's been 6 weeks since the last downpour!

I've been knitting a bit too, but will share that another day, as I've already rambled for long enough!

X Shara

Spring has Sprung!!!

It most certainly has! 

Mark Twain sums it up perfectly for me:

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

Even though we've experienced a fairly mild winter this year, I'm still excited for spring... Excited to feel fresh again, without the heaviness of late pregnancy and coming out of those foggy newborn weeks. 

Oh yes, I'm happy for the change in seasons!

X Shara

This Moment

x Shara

Inspired by Soulemama

This Moment

:: Childhood ::

 

x Shara

Keep Calm, Craft On

This week I finished another two Pinterest inspired projects! You can check out my Pinterest Challenge board here..... and see which Pinterest challenges i've completed here...

The first was a sweet spring inspired craft for our school-free co-op, Tiny Forest.

And the other was some jar decorating. I'm getting ready to create my new sewing/craft space and these will be used for storing bits and bobs....

 

What have you been working on this week?

 

Joining in with Nicole and friends at Frontier Dreams and Creative Friday!

 

x Shara

Feeling Hot

It got warm here yesterday, we had no choice but to let the children strip off their clothes and get wet!

 

Looking forward to more of these afternoons....

 

x Shara

Gratitude Sunday

I love to read Wooly Moss Roots, and every Sunday, Taryn shares a lovely post, listing all the things she is grateful for. I have always enjoyed reading it and now another of my favourite bloggers, A Crafty Little Nest, has joined in, along with, I am sure, many others!!

So without further ado, here is my first GRATITUDE SUNDAY list!

 

:: Finding a beautiful yellow rose blooming in the garden, and noticing 5 more buds!! The best part is I haven't had to tend this plant at all! The owners have done such a great job with this garden.

 

:: Living a quiet life, and being able to really slow down with the boys in these past weeks. Particularly as Roman has been experiencing anxiety and periods of crying etc. He needs me close and lots of hugs. And Leo, who we have been night weaning, needs lots of extra daytime hugs too, to fill up his love tank, and get him through the nights.

 

:: The online community. Through the internet I have been able to connect with new people, which has led to real life connections. Like THIS group! We've also been able to get some silkworms and Kombucha SCOBY, by way of Facebook!

 

:: I am so grateful for Kaleb, who has been a huge help over the past few weeks, with my back so sore. He took time off work to look after the boys and our home, so I could rest in bed. He has helped me get dressed and undressed, to the shower and toilet, brushed my hair and cooked and cleaned. I am reminded of this verse, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him...But pity the man who falls down and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

What are you grateful for?

 

x Shara

 

 

 

 

Silkworms :: Another Mulberry Tree Adventure

I had silkworms as a kid.

So when we moved into our new house and spied our large Mulberry Tree, I knew we had to source some little worms for Roman.

Cue Facebook, and all it's wonderful local groups! I posted on our school-free families page, and was then directed to a local, buy/swap/sell group, where a lady had posted only hours earlier, that she had a silkworm oversupply!! We drove out to her home a few days later, shoe box and mulberry leaves in hand, to pick up our silkworms! Of course we spent some time being showed around her little "farm", meeting her dogs, guinea pigs, chooks and alpacas!!

1 week on and our little worm friends are not so little anymore and are eating through their leaves so quickly, we are having to replenish each day. It is Roman's responsibility to check them, and then go down and pick some fresh food. An easy transition I think into the world of pets!

I can't wait to observe their lifecycle and even have a go at spinning their silk! I have even been told that if you feed them lettuce leaves their silk will be green, or beetroot leaves will turn it purple.

Do you remember having silkworms as a kid? Do your kids have silkworms?

Stay tuned for the continuing silkworm adventures!!

x Shara

Our New Home :: The Garden

Sometimes, one of the things I really dislike about renting a home, is the lack of garden. Often the lease states that you can't alter the garden in anyway, adding or taking away plants. That's why I was so thankful that we found a lovely older home, that has had a lot of work already done in the garden. In fact, it's rather a lovely established garden.

 Although it is very dry at the moment, as we have had no rain in over a month (wet season is approaching), I can really see potential, if I could get a bit of water into it. Alas we are on tank water, (and would have to purchase water at our own expense, should we run out), so I wont be turning any sprinklers on here. My dad did suggest to keep the grey water from the washing machine, to water the really needy plants and maybe use a small amount of the tank water, for the small section of herbs.

Take a walk around with me!

:Mulberry Tree:

:Yet to ripen Mulberries:

:2 Macadamia Trees:

:2 Tanks of Water:

 

:Herbs:

:Sage:

:Rosemary:

 

Walking around the garden everymorning with the boys, has been good for my soul, breathing deeply, smelling the flowers, and sitting quietly on the grass just watching them explore!

 

x Shara

 

Father's Day

Fathers young, fathers old
Remembering good times are our gold.

Value earned through guidance given
Helping us go forth in living'.

Each father adding to our trove
A treasure chest of love untold.

Remembering father in our lives
Taking time to realize.

Fatherly love brings wealth to living
Remembering this we go forth in giving.

Fathers young, fathers old
We remember you all
As life unfolds.
Ragini

x Shara

(all photo's from our Father's Day BBQ lunch, 2012)

Up-cycled Doily Flags

                                                                                                                                                                       

I've had these doilies in my craft boxes since last year. I did want to make a doily bedspread! but I deemed the project a bit too involved for my time. Then I saw a doily banner somewhere on the internet and thought it would be beautiful to have one of my own.

Using a 5mtr length of ribbon, I sewed together all my doilies (which I had to cut in half). I think it turned out wonderfully and will be perfect for a spring garden picnic.

Wanna come round for a picnic? 

Joining in with Tricia's Stash Bash!

x Shara                                                                                                                                                                          

Keep Calm, Craft On

 

Spring is almost officially upon us... The signs are everywhere. I love getting a whiff of Jasmine every now and then, and can't wait to pick some to fragrance our home.

 

I was inspired today to make a seasonal banner to herald Spring's arrival. I used a thrifted floral pillowcase, some purple felt, and a lovely length of lacy ribbon. It took no time at all to whip this up, and I love the end result. It has added a bright, cheeriness to our living room wall.

 

I spent some moments today going over the Spring archives of Rhythm of the Home magazine, and gleaning some ideas for the coming months!

 

The Coming of Spring

I am coming, little maiden,
With the pleasant sunshine laden;
With the honey for the bee,
With the blossom for the tree,
With the flower and with the leaf;
Till I come the time is brief.

I am coming, I am coming,
Hark! The little bee is humming;
See, the lark is soaring high
In the bright and sunny sky;
And the gnats are on the wing;
Little maiden, now is spring.

x Shara

Join in with other crafters over at Frontier Dreams!