A Week of Easter Goodness Pt 5...

Good Friday.

Is a quiet day.
Children off with their cousins camping overnight.
Myself here,
blogging & reading blogs.
{Especially these special words}
By the warmth of the afternoon sun,
Catching up on you beautiful bloggy people!

Reflecting on Jesus' last day in the flesh on this Earth...
Searching my heart for a greater depth of understanding of persecution.
Knowing it is an honour, to bear some of His burden...

Baking bread.
Dyeing a dress red, on the stove.
Having tea with my husband.
Thanking the Lord for my life,
with every sip.

Feeling everything-
This Friday.

To be continued...

Shell xx

A Week of Easter Goodness Pt 4...

Thursday.  Day four of Easter goodness...

Is a fresh lunch consumed in the Autumn sun out of doors, followed by a walk down the paddock where Kangaroos play...

{Photo by Emma Tully}

{Photo by Emma Tully}

With Beatrice trotting alongside smiling!

{Photo by Emma Tully}

{Photo by Emma Tully}

And gorgeous native berries, a pleasure for the lens to behold.

Followed later by my darling nephew's 6th birthday party.

And much later, decorating eggs with my babies by lamp light.  

I am looking forward to a reflective Good Friday, 

a road trip planned on Saturday, 

a feast and new life celebration on Sunday which honours our Lord and Saviour.

And not forgetting to slow down a little myself, so that I can feel and enjoy everything all the more.

Shell xx

a Beautiful Storm...

It has barely rained in my part of the world for nearly fifteen years.  But this week, a week of solid rain has enveloped us.  It is so beautiful.  So cool and wet, storms have been wild, which always remind me of the power of this world, and this life.

And at the same time I am facing a beautiful storm...

I can tell you my mind and my heart are both ready.  My body too, is telling me it is nearly time to give someone I know so well, and have not yet met, their birth.

Wish me luck.

Shell xx

The Business of Making Memories...

I've learned that when you're a parent, you're automatically in the business of making memories for your small people.  My Sean has always been enamored with trains, and as such, last Sunday we booked tickets to take our set of small people for a day trip aboard a 1930's diesel engine from Canberra, ACT to Bungendore, NSW.

We clattered slowly along, and the children marveled at every little thing inside the cabin, the wooden interior, the leather seats, and most importantly their ride up front with the engine driver!

Jamie and I sat together, held hands, chatted about this and that, enjoyed the views, and made some of our own memories...

We had lunch in the country town, ate French food, then hurried back for our return journey...

And when we returned to Canberra station, I had Sean stand next to the train and pose for the camera... because he looked so cute in his cotton shirt and navy shorts!

And because I sort of hoped he would have a memory of this day always, along with the picture on the wall in his house when he was an old man.

Shell xx

Spring.

Dear Spring,

You're blooming marvellous!

Love,

Shell xx

How well you make me happy...

Making curry to the sight and smell of lavender... 

(consider this my fist installment of indoor posies!)

A completely unashamed obsession with old, green glass...

Tall trees... 

And roosting hens...

You make my heart sing!

What simple pleasures make you glad to be alive?

Shell xx

Editing in the afternoon...

The way to edit music is definitely in the sunroom over a cup of tea.

With a cute guy...

And to admire the shadow paintings made in collaboration by the sun and the trees... 

Prayers for Kelly.

Love to all.

Shell xx

Tea, for three...

Life is really not as familiar and as predictable as I would often perceive it to be.  

Explanation:

Once there was just me.  Alone in a flat with nothing on for dinner and no washing machine.  Then, {the Lord be thanked} - girl met boy, life began, and suddenly there was {and still is} an inseparable two.  The kettle would be boiled at least five times a day for tea, and two lovingly chosen, chipped and sometimes half broken cups would be stood beside the brewing pot.  Kisses, and animated conversations would always ignite there...

Now a wonderful, whimsical love filled decade and a half has flown colourfully by since I first started having that tea - and now when I make a pot {note: amount of pots per day has considerably increased!} I put three, rather quaint little cups and saucers out on the bench, most often for my two older children, and me.  I adore tea with those two - they are becoming proper little people I've noticed!  They banter and jest, and question, and ponder and kiss me over that tea and I quietly hang, on every minute of it with them.

But I hate that my inseparable friend must be away for so much time in order to earn our bread.  So that he is not always home for those cups of tea anymore...  We make up for it of course in the time that he is home - and I can really see the transition into my adulthood at the bottom of my own cup.  

I think that time is both the blessing and the challenge of this life.  It seems to mean everything, and yet, if our God is outside of it, maybe it really just is something to use carefully, and spend wisely.  Perhaps time on earth really isn't the important thing, but it's what we do with our days that matters.  And the challenge is to see past the ticks of the clock and look at the tasks God puts before us.

I am therefore, pausing to think, in light of this spiel, that if time is not an important beast, but simply a challenging one, then my friend really is never very far from me, or his tea.

Picture below: my new clock!  

And perhaps it's the clock which has caused me to examine the curiousness of time today.  I hope you have a glorious weekend, and make the most of every minute!

Shell xx

With pineapple wallpaper...

Dear Jamie,

I'm glad we got to fly away together, for a short, but special time...

I loved sitting with you in the taxi, and walking through the city streets.  I enjoyed our conversations, about big, and little things - you always interest my mind and soul.

I loved having breakfast with you in a room that had stripy chairs, and pineapple wallpaper!  Which, between your smiles and such decor, made my scrambled eggs and fried tomato taste even more wonderful.

I loved us getting inspired by, and discussing marvellous "chandeliers" in shops, and various paintings, and sculptures we passed by.  I loved the way we sang, and danced along to whatever music we heard, as though we weren't in public...

I was glad to know you got onto the plane alright, I was sad to go home alone.  I was glad we were given the chance, for a last goodbye.

Yours patiently,

your

Shell xx

This Here Lady...

The most beautiful day in May is always Mother's Day for me.  And this year, the mother of our little clan celebrated her sixtieth birthday.

We sat in the sun and ate homemade delicacies, played The Beatles for our Scouser heroin, loved her and showered her with gifts and hugs; and I wrote, and read out a little poem...

This Here Lady.

by Mechelle Tully

I am indeed perhaps,

{as per usual!}

in too many words & ways

to tell you all, of things

in the air, 

the character, 

the manner,

& the many graces of  

this here, Lady-

Which, in her sixty years of life to date

you would well, already know...

But how better can we celebrate?

If not to acknowledge this 

woman?

This friend, mother,

prophet, Christian,

servant, leader, 

Scouser!

lover, dancer, singer

fighter...

and keeper - of all our consciences as diligently as the Lord Himself!

Though there may have been at least twelve

verses in this poem!  

If I’d written one for each of the virtues just listed, 

But I feel, (unusually!) drawn to silence in the matter of elaborating on such points,

For fear that words cannot duly Celebrate,

the absolute, 

Enormity of this life!

And how blessed we all are, to witness her 

Living it, so… impressively.

Few, have loved her more than those gathered here...

And fewer still, I believe, 

have made more of a study, 

and a range of sacrifices - for Love,

Than this, here, lady.

The very heart,

Of such a family as this- 

is you.

(and before mine renders me to tears!)

I wish to only else to say-

a Happy Birthday-

to this, here, Fine, lady.

I'd like to also acknowledge my own mother this day - bless her soul for giving me life.  
I'd also like to thank all of the tremendously wonderful people who thought of me this Mother's Day - thank you for your messages and thoughts.


I have four children, and being Mother to them is my pleasure and my privilege.
Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers and mother hearts...


Shell xx

a Chicken, and her boy...

She was not completely disappointed that her boy had not yet even named her - for he was so very kind and attentive to all of her pecking and scratching needs, that it hardly mattered.  In fact, her re-homing to this new place her boy called 'Hillview' had in her opinion, gone so well, she fancied that if he never called her anything other than "chook, chook, chookie" while he held her, or dispersed the food, it would not mean that he loved her any less.

In short, she had decided that her boy, was the best boy, she had ever had!

Shell xx

Lord, I thank you. For Sean.

 I asked Sean today; "What does it feel like being Five?" and he answered; "It feels like fun!"

Shell xx

Raging, focussed, brighter better...

Hello sweeties!

Just writing to say

that my love has come home again

from recent work trip

and the world now is completely

right!

That rays of light

are a brighter bright

against my face,

and my mind-

is the more creative

and smiley for it.

*

Also.

I have been completely smitten with a certain YouTube Channel... {I do that.}

It was insisted, several months ago that I purchase a copy of Imogen Heap's new album Ellipse - by one of my favourite little she bloggers... So anyway, I did - and I have loved and lapped it up from one song to the next.

But her YouTube vBlog of the making of the album - EEEEKKK! Never was I more excited and inspired to follow something!

I must tell you, it's what I needed. I am officially spurred on to finish my demos, and get new songs to recording ready. To make this little beauty of an album {which at the moment exists solely in my own head!} and stop worrying about the things I can't do - and just quieten down my raging spirit, & focus on the making of art! Today! The making of my new album.

And yeah, you're gonna stick around for the journey aren't you?

Video Blog coming soon...

Shell {songsmith} xx

a Happy Birthday to my Love...

By best friend Jamie, turns 33 today.

We met when he was 18, and I was only 17.

We've had the privilege of growing up together, and remain best friends to this minute. So upon his earthly birthday I decided I would write him a dedication/celebration song.

Handmade music, right here...

I hope it conveys to you, my love and my message.

Shell xx

Nothing Short of Wonderful!

This time, a week ago, I was a wide eyed visitor in the beautiful city of Sydney, in order to attend the wedding of our favourite wide eyed princess of blogger world, miss Emily, to her rather lovely beau, Alex.

It was, so nice to look up at the ceilings of a church that I have heard, and read so much about from my friend. It was, apt, that the art was predominantly blue...

It was, so special to see all my loves lined up in the pews awaiting the bride.

And to hold the booklet which I knew had been so lovingly, and thoughtfully put together by these two young people, so very much in love...

I can't show you too much of what went on; for that we must await the bride's official presentation! But I will say that it was, nothing short of wonderful!

The spirit of genuineness and love was felt by all. It was really a very Christian wedding (which fed my soul), and the liveliness of such enlightened hearts was echoed though all of the personal touches, and articulately given, heartfelt speeches...

I was also approached by a great many of you preciously, and previously unveiled bloggers - who knew my face/blog - and told me they liked them, both! It was really a spot of unexpected specialness to meet those like minded souls.

And every time I looked at herself, she hugged me.

A very happy hug indeed.

My emotions too, were swept away with the colourful, sub-tropical, summery air...

{And I did think to myself: that this day, she looked less like a girl, and more like a woman}

Jamie and I chirped and chatted all the way home of the very wonderful time we and the children had had. In the morning I had tea, and a favour.

Again, it felt special, to have been a little part of it. To have tasted a little piece of it. And to have given a little portion of ourselves - to be there on this day in support, and to say with our presence, our presents, our charging of glasses, and our smiles, that we wish you well, in everything always, and acknowledge that what God has joined together, no one can ever undermine.

*sniff*

Shell xx