making the most of the light {don't rush away the days}

The kids went back to school today after an intense, but ever so fast, Summer holiday. I'm missing the holidays already. But boy was I sorta-kinda happy to put them on the bus this morning and walk home with the knowledge that I can now get started on the doing and making and planning to help the year ahead be a successful one for us, for Deadwood Creative, for our home building, for my workshops and for my creative making.

While there's so much I want to do - and I've made plans and lists and schedules (and I aim to stick to them), I also am sad that our Summer holiday is over. After such a full-on (and emotionally draining) January, I feel like we didn't really get a real and loving holiday time together as a family. I think I was rushing the holidays away, because I really needed head space from the kids. And now, I'm ever-so-sad I did that. One should never rush time away...especially when with two little ones who are ever so dear and precious.

I can feel the days already getting slightly shorter. Slowly slowly. This week I've felt myself trying to drag the day out longer. To make the most of the last few hours of sunshine. Sometimes daylight saving is annoying - other times I love it. 

On this first day back to school, I'm writing myself a mantra for how to extend the holiday feel into our daily routine.

+ Go for walks in the afternoon, or after dinner - once the dinner table is cleared

+ Bike riding in the garden in the afternoon

+ Stop work when the kids get home and be with them - delicious afternoon tea and conversation on the verandah

+ Stopping to listen to the birds calling and screeching across the sky

+ Do crafting after school with the kids

+ Have tea parties in the garden

+ Go away for weekends together - unexpected mid-term holidays

+ Take days off school if we need to, just because

+ Be late for school some times, if we need to - no excuse needed

+ Laugh and giggle together and plan what we'll do on our next holiday

Have your littles gone back to school yet? 

Are you planning all the things you'll do in your hours of kid-free time? 

Are you making delicious afternoon tea treats for when they come home? 

Here's to a new school term of happy children, content teachers and fulfilled mamas & dadas!

*these two photos are from our walk yesterday afternoon. A whole gang of black cockatoos flew over and we simply stopped in the road and watched them, and could barely count how many, but I counted my blessings that I saw them and that my babies are happy to stand and watch birds flying in the trees above us. 

the heat, the colours and the joy of holidaying with children

We are on holiday, in Cairns. 

For us it's not a new place. Sam was born and grew up here. I lived here for a few years (after I met Sam and followed him - the young 20-yr-old totally in love creature I was - from Brisbane to Cairns). So, when we visit we know people and family and the streets. 

But I haven't been for a few years, and some things have changed. And, yes - I have changed. 

Anyway. It's quite beautiful. The mountains and lush grass and palm trees everywhere. The Esplanade is a fantastic place for a city to have. We've been going swimming as many mornings as we can, early in the morning (except for the day it was pouring with rain, and then the day before that when they were cleaning the pool). 

There are at least two big things about Cairns that make both Sam and me know we would never, could never live here again. (Not that we would anyway; it's not our home at all, never will be). The heat is overpowering and draining and wilting. When you live here your body gets used to it; but now we are both being affected by it dramatically, the kids too (though to a lesser degree). 

Also - the internet connection and speed here is tragic. Ha! Don't I sound like some little princess saying that. But really, much as I don't want to admit it; I think both Sam + I are just a teeny tiny weeny bit addicted to the internet and to speed/fastness. (I put it down to us both being Geminis and wanting new up-to-date fast things like that.. or something). 

Anyway - the Butterfly House was just beautiful, and magical. (Well, would have been if it hadn't been for the 3 1/2yr old brat who spend the whole time complaining that the butterflies wouldn't land on her, and not enjoying the ones flying right past her face and fluttering over her head. And yes - that was our 3 1/2 yr old brat; who also threw herself on the floor of the lovely Japanese restaurant we went to the other night because no-one would do as she demanded!! Fun - I tell you).

No photos, I'm worry. I had one of a stunning Ulysses butterfly; but this free wifi won't let me upload anything.... and it's too slow anyway. You'll have to wait until we're home from Cairns next week.

Until then, I hope you are all well (I'm missing reading your blogs and being here more often, but I am loving just being on holiday and not having access to the internet; good to have a bit of a forced break).

~ E xxx

adventures of the underwater kind

While in Melbourne the one special touristy thing we did was visit the aquarium. Ari and I had planned this way before we left for our holiday, talking and talking about all the different fish and animals we would see. I always have loved aquariums. I remember when I went to Sydney on a school trip we visited, and I have amazing memories of standing under those big arched glass tunnels seeing sting rays glide over me.

And when I worked in Cairns, I would visit the aquarium (for free) each lunch break. And stand and stare at the giant blue reef fish. And of course the jellies are one of my favourites, for the way they move about in such a rhythmical and free motion.Strangely, for some reason, I don't have the same thoughts about aquariums as I do about zoos. Though, of course, that is probably totally silly - I'm sure the fish, sharks, turtles, crabs, jellyfish, sea horses are as bored and caged as any zoo animal. (And in fact I felt deep sadness at seeing the tiny enclosure the penguins inhabit at the Melbourne Aquarium).Despite this, we had a perfectly beautiful day. A lovely family outing, in cold Melbourne. To start we discovered that parking at the Casino was only $10AU for a whole day! Like wow. In Brisbane city you simply cannot park at any of the big parking stations for less than $40 a day, especially not the Casino. (Though, I have to say that Melbourne trams are more expensive than Brisbane buses / trains. Though we did hear many reports of people who "forget to pay the fare".)And the penguins really were sweet and very happy, content looking creatures. They interacted with us, pecking at our fingers against the glass (perspex) wall. A pity that it was totally enclosed, and we couldn't hear them talking. But watching them swim was amazing, zooming with such precision through the water like flying through the sky.I think the most special thing of all was having a little long necked turtle try to climb out of her water pond (it was the sort that you look down on, like a rock pool). Sam had to pick her up and put her back in. She had such a friendly face. Really, it was a determined face. Trying to find somewhere to lay her eggs. And eventually she found the sandy spot in the middle of her pond. We were so lucky to watch her, for almost 20minutes, sitting in an almost trance laying her eggs. Surprisingly no-one else in the busy room noticed, even though we stood there taking photos and watching.There will be about 20million photos from our trip loaded onto flickr soon. A lot of them shot from the moving car, while we drive through dry dry inland Australia. I'll keep you updated, as there were actually some very beautiful landscapes that we drove through.If you love under sea creatures as much as me, check out this amazing deep sea photography.

PS - I realised yesterday that this has turned too much into a Red Seed Studio blog. And, hey, that's a bit boring. Even if it does seem to constitute more than half my life. So, I'm going to try and limit Studio posts here, and keep the other blog updated. Please do go and follow that one, to keep up on our Red Seed happenings.

Good night dear Friends. I thank each and every one of you for the kind, thoughtful, sweet, supportive comments I have been receiving.