A few weeks ago we had a magical trip away to beautiful Toora in Gippsland.  It has to be one of the most lovely areas of Victoria.  Green and lush and with such wildly varied landscapes,  beach, flatlands, rolling hills and dense forests.  So beautiful.  We stayed with out lovely friends and although Tigs and I were pretty unwell for 24 hours we had a ball.  Babies played in drawers.  Big boys, bush-bashed, which is an Australian term for rambling through the bushland searching for interesting 'things'.

The tiny town of Toora even manages to have a skate ramp.  I  love that directly over the road is farm sheds and acres of land.

The locals have created a lovely dry river bed and the children made their own fun here for some time while the grown ups relaxed or took pics!

These two have a deepening love for one another.  They can be terribly 'three' at times but also kind and gentle and fun loving.  I love that as their language increases they have sweet little conversations with each other.

When we're out Tigs usually finds a stick.  I know a lot of people don't like children playing with sticks but something about it reminds me of my Daddy who when we were out always looked for suitable thumbstick.

I'm sure Tigs and Daddy would have loved this kind of time together.  In some ways so different and others so alike.

Back up at the 'farm'.  Love that the old truck has found such a beautiful resting place. 

And oh, the views are just breath taking.

I hope your outlook is as wonderful today too!

E x



cold and frosty morning

A day too beautiful to waste and not to share.

We decided to keep out of the way of Sonia as she tried to clean up after us - no mean feat.  Woo in particular has the ability to undo faster than anyone, or even a team of housekeepers, can redo!

The last of the fog rolling away and a big ol' jet airliner roared out from within it.

I often forget this view of the property but actually it's very beautiful, not as broad a perspective as my usually favorite view but stunning actually.  I love the hills folding across each other, like origami.

The fog may have lifted over us but their was frost to be melted first.  The pups helped by racing like mad things across it in zig-zags following the bunny tracks.

I love how we've only just arrived at the bottom here and Woo is saturated.

The back of the dam up to the top.  I love every square inch.

I have a grand idea for hosting a summer party down here.  Hay bales, a banjo player for the first couple of hours and a crooner with a guitar for dusk on singing Pete Murray songs that we can all join in with - actually Pete Murray himself would be better!  I picture big old dressers laden with food and pitchers of cool homemade lemonade.  An old reliable tractor to ferry guests dressed in their finest cotton summer dresses and sandals.  Sunhats for everyone,  big floppy ones for the girls and debonair fedora-style straw hats or even cool straw cowboy hats for everyone.  I'll think about that part a little more.

There will be paper pompoms hanging from the bottom of that big old tree and lanterns lining the way from the tree to the house.  It would be so beautiful.  I'll be sure to let you know the date - bit don't hold your breath.  Dreams can be big you know.

Magic dew drops.

Boy and Dog.  I just love this image.

Rocker!  Actually he was explaining something to me.

Proper bush-bashing and brotherly help.  Look how filthy she was by this stage.  Only Woo.  Tigs is still relatively clean.

Shouldn't every child be able to run free and happy and uninhibited?

Miss Mimic doesn't want to miss out.

Dear old ancient Pippy having a ladylike paddle - a rare treat for her.

Ambushed!  Those beastly pups stalked her for some way around the dam and then ATTACK!

The morning was so perfect that even the dratted thistles looked glorious.

And as we sang our usual Grand Ol' Duke of York up the hill Tigs, with his grandfather's supervision began noticing these adorable little webs. 

No bigger than a 50c coin. 

I'm sure they were actually fairy sheets hanging out to dry.

fairy houses

autumn

A week or two ago Woo and I farewelled the boys as they headed off to the Melbourne Grand Prix. So we girls decided to have some fun ourselves and headed off to the bush. The day was cool and autumnal and beautiful. We had the most lovely and peaceful visit to Momo and Booboo's place. Isn't it glorious? From down at the end of the field all the way to the top is theirs (and ours when we visit). Our children adore it here and so do we. There are frequent murmurings about moving away from this patch of paradise. Would you?

 



Yes it's a little out of the way (but that's actually its charm) and sure there are some domestic annoyances - a small stream that seems to wind and wend its way under the house during heavy rain, of which we've had more than our fair share recently. But it's really rather glorious being up there. Particularly at this time of year. It's almost time for heart warming fires to be lit and for Tiggy's beloved marshmallows toasted by the open fire.

The orchard has been absolutely laden with sweet fruit. There must be about 3 or 4 varieties of apples and at least two of pears. We've had several apple/apple + pear/apple + berry crumbles. YUM! Over the last couple of days the change of season has really started to show itself. We've had wild rain, wind and deeply gloomy skies.

Yesterday, the first day of school hols here, we celebrated the change with a 'jamy day. We enjoyed movies, pop corn, chocolate cake snoozes on the sofa and pure unadulterated laziness.

Two of us didn't shower, nor did we even change our 'jamies. Heaven.

 I have to confess that I was one of the "grubby two" but this morning I was up showered and dressed and ready for the day by 7 am . We've enjoyed a lovely day of friendship and were blessed with their great kindness and generosity today. Lovely Lisa and cheeky Channy came bearing party sandwiches, quiche, salad, more cake and delectable chocolate studded hot crossed buns. How lucky are we?

At my house the candles are already lit, the blinds are drawn, the heating is on. I hope you're enjoying the weather wherever you are.

 E x

 p.s. This natural heart is for you Lis'. Thanks for being such a treasure of a friend.

Editted:  Not sure what's going on with blogger but my photos keep vanishing.  Hope they're there now!

lessons

woosie finds even the tiniest creatures fascinating and worth her time. i don't take credit for much with my children, (although i do take it for their impeccable manners), and in fact silently berate myself all day for my failings as their mother, but i do love nature and i want to instill that same love in tigs and woo.

it's only possible to do this by allowing time for these precious moments to occur and to provide accurate, age appropriate information to them, woo said it was a "funny 'nail" to which i smiled and agreed and then she added " 'nail did a poo". "woo, that's its trail not a poo, it helps it to slide along the ground", "oh", said woo. "'nail s'iding mummy". and then because i always have to add a bit more, "it helps it stick to the surface it's on". "ohhh (bemused), funny 'nail mummy!" note to self: you do go on, emma

moving on to her next friend, "heyo bird". "oh, woo isn't it lovely? it's a beautiful baby magpie. look its mummy is over there. it's just learning to fly". woo, "funny bird mummy". lesson complete :)

Notes: she clutched her takeaway 'babycino' the entire time. her shoes are two sizes too big, but i challenge anyone to get them off her with out every window in the house blowing out. i love her to the moon and back.

i hope that you have a super week and i'll be back next week (if not before) having taken my wares to market and hopefully having the tree trimmed - it's up and glorious and currently home to some "creations" thanks to tigs. i am ashamed to say that they will not remain front and centre and will be lucky to be visible if they even stay on the tree. make NO mistake the tree is MINE.

e x

the birds

seems to be a recurring theme around here.
first henny-penny and now ducky-lucky, quacking like fury on our roof. heaven forbid we end up with goosey-loosey or worse foxy-loxy.

camelia + cupcakes

moss + rock + ice

tucked away at the bottom of a very big snow-covered boulder (or cave as the boys called it) was this scene.  a sign of life, nature's determination, patience and hope.  reassuring.