Give me a home amongst the Gum trees...

I walk most days through the gums and the oak trees, up the round hill and back down again.  Usually before eight in the morning I have stretched my muscles, sweated at my brow, and witnessed the view from what I think is one of the most beautiful places in my little corner of the Land Down Under.

I recollect here - but today I give you these perfect purple and red dried gum leaves which I can rarely resist picking up off the ground around my steps down the mountain.  I am enamored with the veins running through them, the holes and cracks, the curves and the texture, the way they already look like fossils before my lens.  I could go on, and on...

I have also, finally got my own home made bread thing happening!  At the moment I am churning out these crusty, rustic, tasty, Irish soda bread loaves - and they are a picnic-ers heaven!  They take about 5 minutes to prepare, and 35 minutes or so to bake!  Last sunny Sunday I sliced some cold left over roast, whipped up a salad & flask of tea - with this bespoke bread baby on board we were on our way to Floriade to enjoy it with some friends & family - and to catch a Swing big band in the afternoon sun amongst the blooms!

{Discussions are also rumoured to have taken place about The Tullys forming a bit of an old timey Swing band thing...}

In short, it was a wonderful day spent with my babies, and my best friend in tow!

And speaking of babies...

Mine is getting bigger, bubblier and more scrumptiously, kissably, lovable everyday!

So!  

That is me...

...of late,

for now,

& in short!

Apologetically late-

pathetically slow-

inexcusably tardy-

but forever yours,

affectionately!

Shell xx

Amen to freedom, and Sunday mornings...

On the morn of a 10 year anniversary, of a terrible act of war, I woke with my love drenched in the peace of Spring's sunshine through our curtains.  

I said a prayer for everyone in my life that I could think of - and then a general prayer for everyone I could hardly bear to think of, and too often forget to think of, who suffered, and those who continue to suffer and serve as a result of 9/11.

I sat quietly lots of times today with my head bowed,
and gave a little piece of my heart for them all.

And remembered that love is stronger than hated,

Love wins in the end,

Amen to freedom!

And to Sunday mornings.

Shell xx

And the Season is Spring!

Around to the side of Green House cottage lives a very old, and grand fruit tree.  She has been there for as long as my Father in Law can remember (as the Green House is his childhood home) and was planted, I believe by his own mother maybe as long as 70 years ago...

And every year, upon the awakening of Spring, it looks as though she stretches, ever more so her branches, and her perfect white blossomy wings - so this year to celebrate the season - I had a dance with her in the breeze...

Took the air which swirled to make a most magnificent sky,

I brushed my nose to her pollen,

And stepped upon her petal confetti,

Looked high up under canopy, 

And wore crocheted blossoms on my cardi, in tribute!

Together we swayed, and I prayed a thank you for her legacy, (and that of the wonderful woman who planted her).  I held her tight for a little while, and we saw off the last of the Winter, together.

Shell xx