Dancing in the city for Canberrang!

On my Campbell's 12th Birthday!

It is difficult to imagine anything else to be as much fun as this!

Happy and Glorious...

{Photo from the ABC}

 {Photo by news.com.au}

I watched the entire opening ceremony for the London Olympic Games last week with a tear in my eye, and a smile on my face.  I sang, God Save the Queen at the top of my voice, I both laughed and cried.  Completely wonderful.  That's all!

My heart beamed and swelled for Great Britain, for London, for the world.  The magnificence of athleticism, the brilliance of determination, and the impressiveness of skill, talent and achievement at this height of athleticism.

I am not just watching the games for my country Australia, I am watching as many athletes as I can, from anywhere in the world in order to celebrate and be inspired by people who have chosen to give their all to their particular sport.

And for me personally, I am a little more tearful this time round watching the Olympics when I witness the passion and the determination required to break through into excellence.  Because having now lost nearly 30 kilograms {66 pounds} so far this year - I feel I have come a little of that way to excellence myself...  ; )

God bless!

Shell xx

My Winter Brood...

Our winter has been a very special one.

We have taken hold of every (rare) moment to be all together,

And made wonderful times and lasting memories happen...

 We have braved the cold 

and ventured outdoors

to have good times

and to take in winter's freshest air

on some if it's chilliest days.

But in of doors, 

my home is the warmest and cosiest of cottages to return to,

to escape such cold.

And though my blog space has definitely been a little too quiet of late -

 be assured, that in my little house of green

myself and my darling winter brood

are brimming, and thriving 

with signs and sounds of life,

and health,

and love!

Shell xx

Instagram-ing...

Out to dinner for a rare and romantic treat, with my tall, my handsome, my best of friends, who flies in and out with much frequency, but never leaves my heart, and is ever my sweetheart.  Where ever he be.

Shell xx

Fit, for a Queen...

I simply adore the queen!  And I have borrowed, (not only one of her family photos!) but also a little of her English summer here in Australia, by cheering along with the diamond Jubilee celebrations - staying up late and marvelling at the telecasts of the various events over the last weekend...

My friend is due to away before long now and I am always heart warmed by his gentle reading voice to stories and narratives to our babes at night before bed...

Me, I have been working up a sweat and keeping to a fitness regime which is paying off in more ways than I could ever have imagined - I feel like a worrier of strength, to strength, to strength!  And more like my real self, really, than ever...

On Monday - which was our official Queen's Birthday holiday - I baked scones and shared them with cream, butter, streamers and jam!

We built a bon fire in the evening and put on our winter-warmest-wool-and-wellies to enjoy the festivities on a particularly chilliy night, gathered around the fire, we toasted marshmallows and chatted and celebrated in the name of the life, the service and the gracious longevity of such a magnificent queen!

Shell xx

Welcome Winter...

We've got the beginning of Winter round here and I's got me a new mini skirt!

No frost on me baby!

Shell xx

See no grey...

As I pull open the cotton curtains in the sunroom on a foggy end-of-Autumn early morning, my friend remarks to me, 'gosh it's awfully grey out there!'

I look, but I see no grey.

I put on my shoes and twist in my headphones, open the door up and I go out to run.

I see golden leaves almost completely fallen before the impending winter, houses in the suburbs quiet and still, fellow joggers focused but friendly as they pass me on the track.  I see the pounds falling away from my body, as the weeks go by...

There is no grey.  I am alight with every colour.

Shell xx

To all the Mother hearts...

Today is Mother's Day here in Australia, and I must say I have had a superb day!

I ran 6 kilometres in the early, still cool Autumn morning -

Had pancakes with blueberries + freshly picked raspberries, lemon and maple -

I lunched with my loves along with a multitude of other mothers whom I admire and adore -

And in the afternoon we did a little dancing + photo shoot with the five little people whom I have the honour and the privilege of being mother to...

Blessings to all the mother hearts, everywhere.

Shell xx

Autumn's finery...

Taking time to think up thoughts 

and consider the next few weeks

with my husband/best friend away again

Finding beautiful places where Autumn goes to town

in all of it's finery to do such thinking.

Obsessing (in these thoughts) about weight loss & running

But also remembering to slow, 

and to stroll...

~ all things in moderation ~

So in taking time to think up thoughts

I celebrate the day with distance running

followed by hot porriage

Strong tea to counter

the Autumn chill

Warm words to love and support my husband from afar...

Finding new ways to nourish my children

and myself

in every way.

Every day,

I celebrate.

Shell xx

Sunday/Monday...

So after an absolute marathon of a Saturday [pun intended] - my friend and I decided we would make a  true culinary treat of our Sunday - because while working hard is my favourite pass time - playing hard, and eating well is the delight and the balance of what life is all about in my opinion!  And what better way to treat one's self than with homemade Sunday brunch!

  Cucumber sandwiches, fresh fruit, poached eggs & sourdough toast!

And I whipped up my first ever batch of buttery homemade scones from an old English recipe!

On Monday the banquet continued after I rose with the sun and laced up my running shoes to complete another 4K run before diverting past my raspberry bush for these beauties to jazz up my porridge!

And lunch looked like left over quiche, freshly picked parsley, carrot sticks, hommus and green tea.

It felt like a celebration.  Which food always is to me.  I love being more accountable for what I eat of late, which somehow, and most unusually, makes every meal I prepare and partake in taste even better!

Wishing you a delicious week!

Shell xx

{Red earrings} Run Faster...

 When I decided to learn to run in 8 weeks with the 5K Runner app back in January, I never realised how it was going to make every single step I took, and hopefully will ever take, more confident, more focused (body and mind), and more forward than ever before...

Then when I decided to get the right shoes for my green little runner's feet in February, I could not have known how good it would be for me to run with the right gear - with thanks to great advice from the shoe fitting lady - and the woman sitting next to me also buying shoes who, knowing these were my first ever running shoes, suggested I enter the 5K event at the Australian Running Festival.

 But today, I know...

I know about training, and energy, and sweat, and nervousness, the buzz of the crowd assembling to run, and family on the sidelines to cheer.  The sound of the stater horn, and the thumping of hundreds of surrounding pairs of feet.

Of the fresh air, observing beautiful old oaks and pines in a stunning old Canberra district.  Of careful, measured breaths, and knowing that red earrings, run faster!

Of hearing my Nike+GPS app in my pocket counting down the Kilometers, and knowing I had run them, every step.  Of keeping upright, and reminding myself to always look forward, never down...

Of being tired and wanting to stop, but not stopping.  Just keeping going, with just a prayer in my heart, a mantra in my mind, my love running by my side, and complete, sheer determination to get to the finishing line.

And today, I did it!

That's all.

Shell xx

Easter on my table...

Over the last few days there have been many Easter activities and preparations happening on and around my table(s).

 On Good Friday my children, along with one of my nieces & two of my nephews all painted eggs together and talked about the wonderful, inspiring love of a God who would allow his only son to die for all of our sins...

Many attractive baskets were assembled and photographed!

 For lunch on Easter Sunday today, I went the whole 'hog' and put on a roast, with baked potatoes, carrot, onion, corn and peas as a celebration of new life

 ~ a risen Lord ~ 

a sunny autumn day, and as a homecoming feast for my dearest and darling-est husband who has been away for nearly this entire month past!

 With benches cleared, and the dishwasher on, I spent the afternoon at my sunroom table decorating edible Easter gifts for my beautiful extended family in preparation for an afternoon tea (which was actually incredibly wonderful mother-in-law homemade coffee!) + an easter egg hunt for the children amongst the trees and groves of our precious garden home.

 So I have spent the weekend with my table covered in homemade treats, and handmade offerings for a season which I always proclaim as a particular favourite - for the beautiful crisp time of year, for the symbolism, the incredible love and the sacrifice from my God, made for me.  And for the occasion to make beauty and love, an extra special priority, for my family, from my table.

Happy Easter.  With all my blessings to you and yours.

Shell xx
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