Farewells

For those of you who read this blog, you may remember that earlier in the year I posted about finding a set of pick-up sticks at a car boot sale with a friend, and the fun that ensued, as well the memories it brought back.
This morning that friend left for University, starting a new season in her life. Before she left she came round with a present, and final games were played.

Giant gave it a whole new level of complexity and concentration.

It was a very fitting farewell evening.


Jane

saturday morning

this morning the sun is shining. the weekend stretches before me with no agenda, no deadlines. i took my breakfast outside and watched the skies clear of clouds. this week i have been grateful for the little things. for friends who listen and encourage, for family who no matter how little they have will always share, for satisfaction in achievement, happiness in the mist of uncertainty and contentment to be just where i am right now.  

Emma

Impromptu

Friday night and the holiday mode still beckoned. The sun shining and promising more for the weekend I decided it was too good an opportunity to miss.
Packing bags hastily into my mini I took the kids to an impromptu visit to Bournemouth.
Two hours and much traffic later, we arrived. Hungry but happy we decided to walk along the beach and go for take away fish and chips on the beach. We walked down towards the pier catching the last bits of sun. Then we turned the corner and there it was:

The largest deckchair we had ever seen- set against the pink sky.It looked stunning, surreal and set the atmosphere for the weekend, relaxed, doing things differently.

We had our chips and let the lights guide us home.

Jane

yesterday, tonight.

yesterday evening i was drawn out to my garden by a pale pink sky. 

i saw how overgrown my lawn and garden were. tonight i mowed my lawn and cleared my border. i worked until my garden bin was full and my hands could no longer grip the overgrown grass. i could have shown you a before and after photo, truth be known it's still a work in progress. the sky tonight was different.

no matter. i rewarded myself anyway.

satisfaction in achievement and chilled sparkling wine on a wednesday evening. lovely.

Emma

Mellow Fruitfulness

One thing I have noticed on being back home are the little signs in the garden that autumn will shortly be upon us.
Spider webs form on the plants, their delicacy and beauty hang like a drape seemingly balanced in mid-air. Leaves are turning yellow at the edges, and most of all the fruit is turning.
Living in a town we don't really 'do' harvest, and it has no special significance. In yet nature is beckoning that harvest time is coming, and the pattern of the seasons is about to turn. This is mirrored as school shoes are put back on replacing the flip flops, and suncream is packed away.
In the afternoon sunlight I am struck by being in the twilight of one season and the expectancy of the next. The time for mellow fruitfulness is shortly what days will be for.

Jane

Holiday snapshot

Well, the last two weeks I have been away on holiday, true holiday, with no internet, so no emails, no work, and no Facebook (a massive thanks to Em for all her gorgeous blog posts whilst I was silent). We were also across time zones, so immediately  lost track of what time meant, which was added to by my watch breaking in day 2, so it really was a place with no time, no agenda and no lists to be done.
The contrast was stark; and it took a while to slow down, adjust and appreciate the space. Part of living so fast is you get used to that being the norm, and even though you long for nothing to do, when it arrives it does not always wear easy.
By day 4 I wanted to come home, by day 10 I could have stayed for longer. The sun was bright, the air warm, the water inviting. Most of all there was space to spend time with the people you love, time to read, and time to rest.
In between the resting there was also time to explore the culture and marvel at another countries history;  to learn the stories that have formed them and made them who they are.

Then time to sleep.......

Jane

snapshot of the week

 

 

Emma