Monday, February 28, 2011

Birthday Tea...


{Photos by Anna Eliza Tully} 



Thirty-four today.

And the day before, you went away
I baked your favourite chocolate cake
And we drank tea under overcast skies
we laughed and sang.
And then you had to go again
To another country, another foreign town
So I cried a little,
because letting you go means I have to trust it will be okay
and stand up,
when I feel I want to fall down...
And it means I won't kiss you on your birthday, today
it means missing your smile, touch, and your hands in mine
It means it's time.

Happy Birthday to my husband.

Whom I love, more, with every passing year.

Shell xx

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Oh, boy...


I love Sundays.

And my babe says they're for laying on leather, and for looking out the window thoughtfully, with hand on chin...

Even though my love went away today, I'm okay.

Music can rescue a frail state of mind...



So if you're in need of a tonal embrace, hit play.

With all of my heart gone out to Christchurch, I'll say goodnight.

Shell xx

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Blues & Greens...


I have had a most wonderful week.  

Rainy weather, slow mornings, numerous cups of tea over extended hours of sitting, feeding my new, little person.  Spirited conversations with my kin whilst we wait out the storms, and the heat waves, therein we marvel at Oliver's fantastic face - and share with him the first of so many days he will spend on this Earth.  {Of course there is exhaustion & work, adjustment and after pains!} but overall, it is a splendid time of newness, hope and great joy.


Gifts and cards received, have been so, so humbly accepted and appreciated - I never expect a thing from anyone - I am always delightedly shocked at how thoughtful and kind people can be, not to mention so tasteful!  So I just wanted to feature the beautiful things which I've been so lovingly given this week, in this here post, and to thank you 

- you know who you are

for making a wonderful week - that much more meaningful to a family with a new member now in residence.  





There is a definite owl theme going on here - (so very fitting for him I think)!


I gifted myself, with a new chair to sit upon while I breast feed, and sip tea in the sunroom, and blog about this promising new year with you...


 Au revoir!


But only for now.  Write again soon.

Yours sincerely,

Shell xx

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Besotted...

Then, after what seemed so much waiting... my previous blog post is already, another season ago.

For here, I introduce:


 Oliver George Tully
Born at 6:31pm
February 13, 2011


In the Green House!


So once again, I've been blessed to have a baby the way I wanted to, in my home, with my beloved husband (without whom I could never have been so strong).  With an inspiring professional midwife, and a couple of amazing Tully mothers and their brains trust of wisdom, love and truth at my disposal.

He's been so wonderful - a grizzly, red faced, breast feeding machine! who then looks around so carefully clocking our faces and learning our voices - it's taken a couple of days to get some successful photos for this blog post, because if I'm not feeding him, it's only a matter of time until he starts to wriggle...


Hence...


: )

In short, we're all besotted.

And February, was oh so good to me!  Now my year has begun...

Shell xx

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Carry that weight...


Is it any wonder I've been quiet in these parts of late?

I've had much to carry around with me.  

And patience too, can be exhausting.

I misdiagnosed my due date - you'd think I'd know what I was doing by baby number five - but I have never been so huge before in the ole' belly - and I suppose I've never had my fifth baby before, and every pregnancy is different...

So, determined to remain the organic, home birth, hippie kind of unconventional woman I am - I wait on.

Because it's not about my discomfort, or my impatience, but the importance is my baby, and his or her, good health.  So I am comforted and resigned to the certainty, that birth day, is an uncertain thing - which will arrive when it is ready, when baby and Lord will it to be.

Be assured I am so very well! And while I cannot reach the piano keys quite so well as normal, I am still making music with all my heart and soul.

Just checking in - and loving you from where I'm (uncomfortably) sitting - hoping you're oh so well and safe, and happy, and loved, and prospering!

And I am looking forward to the blog post when I can tell you all about this new babe of mine.  I cannot wait for you to meet them.

Shell xx

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Dear February...


Be good to me?
Give me some breathing space inside my lungs-
a babe to hold in my arms-
an end to much anticipated weeks...

Give me a beginning to my year,
a date to celebrate
a precious time to share-
Here, at home, and everywhere...

Dearest, hottest, sweetest February-
make me a day
in which to learn of my new precious one
and show he, or her to you-
To the world!

Yours sincerely,
Shell xx