I'm still here...

Though ever so slightly in pieces!

Bear with me?

& love goeth to you...

Shell xx

Sean's Ode to Oli...

A song for your Friday.

From my Sean, for my Oliver, (who is being held by my Emma).

With love,

Shell xx

I build my house...

I build my house

with colour and life!

light and love,

hope and grace.

Rain or shine,

whether my heart be heavy 

or light...

I shan't tear it down with fear 

or with selfish acts

with rigidity 

or complacency...

I build my house

with open arms

with little steps

with careful words

with ears to hear

with vivid colours

with open heart

I build my house,

from things that last.

Shell xx

Earrings & life lessons combined...

I've been meaning to show you these!  

They were my birthday present from Jamie.  And unlike my other fabulously sublime and oversizably ridiculous earrings, of which I have many, (some seen here in one of my first posts on this here blog!) they're real gold!  18 carrot or some such like it!  And the jewels are really emeralds.  Really.

They are different to my usual earring-ish tastes, but feel very me, all the same.  It is quite wonderful to wear something that was chosen for you as a surprise, as a show of love, from a very best of friends.

He is to go away again soon to another far off place in service to their country, and ours...  I am to support him, and to miss him all at once.  To get on with the chores, and the children raising in his short absence, and also to work hard in my own head - on my own thoughts...  In that I mean, I don't want to just wish the time away - but rather to spend my days wisely, as though they were precious jewels.

I feel very much today, the sense that our days here on earth are meant to count towards a cumulative something?!  Our varying gifts, and situations dictate the direction, and our will to live as well as possible  dictates how well, we will achieve it.

I'm off now, to do a little dancing in the kitchen, a little playing my piano, a lot of living, thanking, loving.  In short, I'm not going to waste a moment!

Shell xx

Piano fingers...

So it is the last day of Autumn, and while almost the fourth month of living with my precious, newest bundle of a babe comes to a close, I am slowly and faithfully rehabilitating myself in body mind & soul.  I'm beginning to ask myself - what be the next adventure..?

My mornings are delicious, but are they busy!  Near to crazy for all of the tasks that need doing before PM occurs.  My afternoons look as though they should be booked for washing alone for the next decade - and if I obeyed, I could say on my last day that I had an empty laundry basket...

But, nah!

Because instead I am taking a little time each afternoon to find my fingers on the ivories once more...

{New video coming soon...}

Shell xx

Every now and then... a little Swishy swishness!

I had to be in town today to meet a friend, and check some guests into Argyle, my little holiday apartment.  And while doing a little bit of window shopping in between, I seem to have found myself inside the doors of a swish boutique - and very soon afterwards I was the proud owner of some pretty swishy swish leather upper & soled, gold ballet flats!

I am now feeling all special and sparkly, and am childishly wearing them non-stop, glancing romantically down at my feet every few minutes - then experiencing mild anxiety attacks (also known as byers remorse)!  And then reminding myself that a little bit of swishy shishness is okay, and perhaps to be advised advised, every now and then...

Shell xx

Mornings this week...

Have been a mixture of frosty, sunny, foggy, clear, drizzly & in each case, chilly...

But there too have I been 

a-walking in them!

And I cannot tell you how fine it has felt to take half an hour just for my body & my mind each day.

I'm really doing it!  And am going to keep doing so every week day morning.  Until forever.  Just so you know.

Shell xx

My boy...

Three months today my boy!

My darling, my babe, my companion.

Tall and dark and wise my boy,

Shall you be, when of age I imagine...

There are so many days, it seems when you're young,

And so much ahead to discover,

But today is just ours, you and me, my boy,

To spend, in this time, with each other.

Shell xx

Phone. Purse. Baby..?

...Check!

I'm trying to think of a clever way to phrase that I feel as though I'm running to stand still this week - that I might've forgotten my head if it weren't screwed on, etc?  meh, you get the idea!

So how are you?  Sorry I've been a little quiet - you've been in my thoughts and there are many posts I should have posted but haven't found or made the time...

Life in my little corner is lovely.  I just have to keep remembering not to sweat over the small things and keep the big picture in mind.  Enjoy the sunshine while I had out the washing, and sing while I sweep the floors (and often instead of)!

And that's really what I sometimes struggle with - feeling as though there isn't the time in a day to make art, to sing, play and go for my famous up hill walks.  To keep on preparing for my upcoming album of new songs - and to write the new ones swirling around my consciousness before I forget them.  You hear a lot of people say that if you don't make time for yourself then you're no good for helping others - and in lots of ways I can see the method in this.  So I'm going to make it happen!

And I'm going to share the fruits of it here, much more blooming often!

Have a blessed weekend!

Shell xx

Autumnal Girl...

Bag, scarf, leaves & feet.

Shell xx

A Week of Easter Goodness Final Pt 7...

Anzac Day.

What a perfect time, at the end of such an Easter week, to reflect on the Anzacs.

When the concept of time and what it means has been playing so keenly on my mind...

And we will remember them.

Shell xx

A Week of Easter Goodness Pt 6...

Easter Sunday.

An eggy topped cake baked by myself in the morning, and general preparations for an afternoon feasting in celebration that He is risen! in the sunshine with the family, singing songs and watching the children perform their yearly Easter play.

The only thing I love more than celebrating Easter, is teaching the story to our children so that they too know how to, and why we celebrate it...

Then later on, I had the opportunity to make a brief appearance at the Folk Festival to watch my three sisters & brother do a swing dancing display which had my toes tapping, and my inspiration soaring at the thought of singing some of this kind of music in an upcoming songsmith adventure...

So a happy, happy Swinging Easter to you!

(And I'd love to know how you made yours special)?

Shell xx

A Week of Easter Goodness Pt 6...

My bush baby...

And a perfect Saturday picnic sky.  We each brought together ourselves, and a plate to share.  A cup for copious amounts of communal tea, and a mind for both spiritual and jovial conversations!

All out in the crispest, cleanest, most inspiring air in the world.

The Aussie bush.

Where there is beauty which is subtle -from speckled reds, to blue gum greens...

And though I know I'm really a city slicker, and do not profess to be much of a country gal - my feet are happy on this ground...

My husband's family history is abounding, and nostalgic - I can almost feel them here still.  

I marvel at the thought of their feet, once upon a time treading this very ground.

Our time here is so fleeting.

Or should I say our turn here, is so short.

From when we are seen here, to when we are felt.

Precious, precious day.

Shell xx

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