Bohemian Bliss in the Garden

Follow me down the garden path to my gypsy hideaway...it's my little version of a gypsy caravan, this little playhouse, long abandoned by my children. I come here to dream and imagine, and sip Moroccan tea and watch the birds in the trees - won't you join me? Today was another beautiful sunshiney day, and the garden was calling me...what better way to enjoy the sunshine than to don this INCREDIBLE HAT which was sent to me by the divine Tricia over at Conversations with the Muses I tell you, this girl is majorly talented - can you believe this beauty? I hit the jackpot, and won it in her Mad Tea Party giveaway!

 Just look at the work in this amazing creation! Can you imagine the happy dance I did when the postman knocked on my door with this? I'm not even joking - Tricia, you made my day, my week....my year! Thankyou, sweet friend.

Birds and butterflies...two of my favourite things...and so fitting for Springtime, don't you think? Just look at that little nest...

I planted a wisteria yesterday, and hope that it will meander up and across my little gypsy home before too long...fingers crossed.

Wanna know something funny? I actually thought it was Spring, because of the beautiful weather we have had the past few days, then the girls reminded me that it is indeed still winter - oops, silly me! Well, anyway, I felt Springy today, especially in this gorgeous hat...

"The cycle of the seasons goes on. So does the cycle of life and so will I" - Christine Lister

A Spring in my Step...

Steve's accident knocked me for six, and I hit a bit of a downer...you know how when something bad happens, it tends to set the tone for the following weeks...so I haven't really felt like coming here.  But that has all changed with the arrival (finally) of Spring downunder - yay! Today was one of those magical days where, when you hop out of bed, you just know it's going to be a good day. I decided that a walk was in order, to soak up the long-awaited sunshine, but also to blow out the cobwebs and start anew...

I felt that my regular walking route just wouldn't cut it today, and felt the call of one of my magic places - the beautiful Yarra River at Warrandyte...so Pip and I hopped in the car and drove 10 minutes to this beautiful place. Because we have had so much rain lately, the river was flowing quite rapidly, and I could just feel the tension slipping away as I listened to the sound of the running water. For the first time in ages, the sun felt warm on my skin, and as we walked, we listened to the call of the kookaburras and said hello to the other walkers of the human and 4 legged variety...Pip is so very social, and always loves to stop when she meets another dog.

 I love the houses that back onto the river, and admired this little family of chickens, foraging for their food...I miss having my chickens, but have refused to get anymore until Ian builds me a fox-proof house, because it's too sad when they are killed - I really do miss collecting the fresh eggs every day.

 Pip was quite enamoured with the ducks swimming in the river...after our walk, I grabbed a coffee from the bakery, and we sat here and watched them for a while - bliss.

 On the way home, we stopped off at a little nursery, and I couldn't resist buying some pretty spring flowers to spruce up my garden...nothing like a bit of sunshine to really inspire me.  My little cubby-house in the garden was given a makeover, and I hung a little chandelier which I picked up recently from the op shop for $3.00 - bargain!

 I am feeling so much better, and again, I want to thank you all for your well wishes for Steve and his family. Yesterday, he moved to another hospital to begin his rehabilitation, which I think will be around 2 weeks. His recovery truly is a miracle...

What will you do today to nourish yourself, inside and out?

Today I choose JOY

Some Wonderful News and the promise of Spring...

 Firstly, I would like to thank each one of you for coming here and leaving such beautiful notes, and for keeping Steve in your thoughts and prayers...I have some wonderful news! After one of the most horrendous weeks I have ever experienced, I am beyond elated to report that Steve is awake, and appears to have no brain damage! I simply cannot believe his miraculous recovery (for that is what the doctors' are calling it).

When he was airlifted to the hospital on Monday evening, his brain had swelled so much, they had to perform two operations, and we honestly did not think he would make it through the night...On Wednesday night, the school held a service in the chapel which was incredibly heart-breaking to see his mother and the kids in such pain. All of his friends spent every day in the hospital visiting with Steve, talking to him, and comforting his mother...then they would spend the nights with each other - they couldn't bear being alone.

On Friday night, the doctors began to reduce his sedation, and we were prepared for the worst - on Saturday, he slowly began to wake up and was responding by squeezing hands and making eye contact! You cannot imagine how excited we all were!

On Sunday, they removed his breathing tubes and Steve was able to talk! He remembered the accident, and who everyone was...isn't that the best news ever?!

I haven't yet spoken to Kim (his mother) about his long-term prognosis, but at this stage, everything is looking up...again, I thank you all for your beautiful support - it meant more to me than you can imagine, and to the follower that left my blog during this time, I send you light and love, but honestly, couldn't you have waited a week? Not cool....I really don't care that you left here - I am, after all, a boring housewife, but your timing sucked! ok, got that off my chest, hee hee.

How I wish I could invite you all over and spoil you with cupcakes and champagne! You are truly the best!

And in the very wise words of the great Carl Jung....

The word "happiness" would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness"

I have used photos here from the ones I took last spring...I love the metaphor of the seasons in the garden, and thought these were perfect for this post...spring follows winter, winter follows autumn, autumn follows summer, and so on it goes....sun comes up, sun goes down...blessings to you all xxx

For Steve

I contemplated coming here with this, but feel it is something I need to share with you all...I truly believe in the power of connection and positive energy, and you have all been so wonderfully supportive in this space, so it is with this in mind that I ask each one of you who visits here to please be with me in this extremely difficult time.

My eldest daughter Georgia invited a group of friends to our beach house on the weekend after we came home. They were having such a wonderful time, and then the unthinkable happened. One of her best friends, Steve, was in a horrific accident, where he fell off a skateboard onto the road...he suffered a severe head injury and had to be airlifted to hospital...he is in a very bad way, and we really don't know what will happen. He is in an induced coma, and has had two operations so far to alleviate the swelling on his brain.

I can't tell you how these past few days have been for us all, and I wish with all my heart I could undo all the pain these kids are experiencing. It is beyond awful to see them struggling with this. They have been in to see him and held his hand, but the time ahead is going to be extremely difficult for us all.

I ask that you all keep Steve in your thoughts and your prayers if that is your inclination...I believe that we can all join in his healing...I have to believe that.  Thankyou so much...deep in my soul I know that you are all beside me in this, and for that, I thank you.

If I am not here for a while, you will know why...

Collecting Feathers and other lovely things...

 One of my favourite things to do in winter is head down the coast and walk along the beach...there is something so wild and invigorating about this time of the year, listening to the waves crashing and the wind blowing the reeds and grasses. It is music to my soul...clears away the cobwebs and inspires and rejuvenates me.

 While the girls slept warm and cosy in their beds, the husband and I decided to take Pip for a walk, where, to my delight, I found not one, but 6 beautiful feathers. When I glanced into the sky, this majestic bird flew overhead, gliding upon the wind, making it seem so effortless...floating on air.

As soon as her feet touch the sand, Pip is pulling at her lead, wanting to be set free to run as fast as her legs will carry her. There is such joy in watching an animal so present in the moment, and filled with complete bliss. We laughed as she ran like the wind, circling back to make sure we were still there...how she loves the beach, and we are lucky that at this time of the year, dogs are allowed...in summer, the times we can walk her here are restricted. Funny how a little furball can bring us so much enjoyment...

We managed to find the secret track that would lead us back home to enjoy a hot chocolate...

Is it just me, or does this photo remind you of Little Red Riding Hood? hee hee
All he needs is a picnic basket...

This doesn't happen very often, so I thought I would share a photo of Ian and I preparing dinner...we bought some huge rib-eye steaks (I'm talking Fred Flintstone size people!) and Ian whipped up some home-made chips and a Greek Salad, and we enjoyed the most beautiful meal with a bottle of red wine in front of our little wood fire. Heaven....

These times spent with family are truly my favourite...

I have been enjoying taking these hipstamatic photos on my new phone...humour me, won't you until I get it out of my system...but I do like the effect they give.

Wherever you go, go with all your heart

She...

I read this today and fell in love with the words...they seemed to resonate very deeply with me (except for the part about being quiet in public, hee hee)  - I didn't write it, so if anyone knows who did, please let me know so I can share here.

It is school holidays here, and I am enjoying being with the girls, sitting by the open fire, watching movies (last night we watched 'Chocolat' for the umpteenth time), op-shopping today, with a beautiful lunch of Chinese dumplings...these are the times I cherish...no plans, just kicking back, taking it slow and enjoying the company of my family and friends.

Snapshots of a Lazy Sunday Afternoon...

What a week it's been! I had such fun hosting the 'Mad Tea Party'...I want to thank each and every one of you for popping in and leaving such lovely notes. It was such fun peeking in at all of your tea parties - everyone is so creative and fun...you all inspire me so!

I have had such a busy week...Ian had a birthday, so there have been lots of dinners and parties with family and friends...it's finally Sunday afternoon, and I am enjoying a very quiet day of lazing by the fire and reading my book, listening to the rain falling outside.  Lovely....

I hope to be back in a few days with some more goodness to share...in the meantime, I hope everyone has a magical week!