June Days

June brought our family some beautiful gifts. First of all there was the birth of our first granddaughter Miss Matilda Grace. What beautiful little miracle she is. Our daughter Claire gave birth to Matilda in her own bedroom on the 13th June. We got to meet her just hours later and we are just completely in love with her.

We also celebrated  the birthdays of 3 other family members.

The next wonderful news was that of the announcement of my lovely daughter Sarah's Engagement to her darling Emmanuel. We are just so happy for them both.

So this last month was full to overflowing with joy.

I have been busy minding grand babies and helping the new little family settle in to being a family of four. I have smothered My gorgeous Samuel with grandma attention and helped with all those tasks that help keep a home running. 

We have been wedding dress shopping and browsing at flowers and bridesmaid dresses. The wedding will be in Hong Kong which adds another level of excitement to the occasion.

Back at home we are still working on the building of our garage. It is coming along nicely too.

My garden is wearing winter well, with the beautiful purple of the Hardenbergia in all its purple glory. There are bulbs pushing through the cold earth preparing for the arrival of spring. The chooks are growing and laying and we had our first blue/green egg last week!

All in all it has been busy but wonderful!

My heart is full of gratitude once more.

As Autumn turns to Winter

How quickly Autumn is making her departure and the cold days of Winter are nearly upon us. For our little family June days bring the promise of new life. We await the birth of a new grand daughter who is due Mid June. We eagerly anticipate the joy a new little life brings. June is also the month of other birthdays and celebrations. Our little grandson turns two and there are birthdays for his dad and one of his aunties as well.

The garden is going into hibernation but here and there a rose blooms as well as a few other hardy winter flowering plants. The beautiful Camellia plants bring lovely colour to the garden as well as a pretty native called Hardenbergia which flowers all through the winter months.

 We have bright little Jonquils bringing much cheer along the garden edges too..

We have begun the work of renovations starting with the construction of our double garage. It has been slow going but rewarding as my darling husband has built most of it himself with the assistance of a friend from time to time. I'm so proud of his workmanship.

Choosing a joyful life of gratitude has become part of my everyday mindset. I decided at the beginning of this year to take up the challenge of finding things to be grateful for every single day. It is amazing how much of a habit it has become.

 “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Celebration of Autumn

Autumn in the mountains is somewhat spectacular!

It brings beautiful cool days and amazing colour in our trees and shrubs. It is a most beautiful time of the year.

There are still roses blooming in my garden and lots of bird life and blossoms. 

We have been busy reorganising our vegetable gardens and re-configuring our chook enclosure too.

My hubby has built an incredible new chook house, we like to call it the Country Chickens Association or the Wonky Chicken Chalet!

I love Autumn, it is one of my favourite seasons. I love the nip in the air and the foggy mornings. I love to get my scarves out and put my socks on. I love when it's cold enough to light the fire and the evening arrives earlier.

No spring nor summer’s beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face....

~John Donne

 We have begun the renovation process on our lovely old home. We have started construction on our garage, hopefully it will be finished in the near future. Next will come an en-suite off the main bedroom. It is a slow process and I need to try to be patient. I'd love it if it happened much quicker than it will! But it is fun choosing widows and doors and tiles and wall colours.

Lovely February

February has brought us lots of rain and a fair bit of sunshine too. The days are flying past and I want to savour each one. We are busily preparing to begin the renovations on our lovely old home. We should be ready to begin in earnest in March. So we have been looking for all the things we will need. Choosing taps and hardware, I found a beautiful old Mantelpiece for my Sister's bedroom and a lovely old wash stand to use as a Vanity unit in our bathroom. I've been looking at tiles and bricks and wall colours. It's all very exciting and I am itching to get started but as you know renovating calls for much patience!

The garden is a bit messy right now. The spot where the garage will go is a bit of an eyesore and when I take photos I try to crop it out! The Hydrangea are coming to the end of their flowering but my roses look set to bud and flower all over again. There are some Autumn flowering bulbs poking their heads up already.

How wonderful it is to watch the seasons change in the garden!

Hubby has started building a new bigger chook house, it is going to be something to behold and he is enjoying the challenge. I'm still waiting for him to get back to the garden arch he has planned for me! 

We are enjoying a few days on our own this week. Nothing special planned just pottering around the house enjoying each others company.

January joy

I have been purposefully choosing gratitude each day this month. It isn't that hard if you put your mind to it. I want to count the ways I feel His love and care for me. I want to find the good in my days and be mindful to seek the positive. It is both a discipline and a sacrament.  

I want to notice the small details of my life and savour them and give thanks for them.

This past week I spent time minding my grandson. I got to hold his chubby little hands and have him sit on my lap while I read him stories and play games with him and cuddle him to sleep. These things I will store up in my treasure trove of memories for the rest of my days.

I am surrounded by love. I choose to focus on the beauty in my days.  Our daughter shared the news that she is expecting a baby girl in June. Our little Samuel will be a wonderful big brother.

I give thanks for this indescribable gift of joy. Being  a grandma is such a wonderful part of my life.

I'm filled with awe that I should be so privileged.

After spending time away I have come back to my lovely garden with fresh eyes. I've enjoyed wandering about and inspecting the plants and noticing how much they have grown. I have sat and happily watched the chooks scratch and dig, looking for insects and worms. The baby chicks have grown so much too.

Every day is a gift. A gift to be appreciated and lived in, in gratitude. I am loved. I can share that love and grace with the people I do life with. I acknowledge that it is a precious gift.

 I look for small things to name.  

A sunset and sunrise.

Chubby arms around my neck.

Thunder overhead.

Strawberries picked fresh from my garden.

The smell of fresh clothes on my washing line.

The sound of rain on my tin roof.

The pretty baby dress  bought for my unborn granddaughter.

My husband's familiar and dear hands.

The smell of toast cooking.

My beautiful roses and their delicious fragrance.

Each and every tiny detail.

Gifts of love to my heart.

I count them one by one and am filled with joy! 

Betty

Gladys

Ginger

Dot

Myrtle

Fresh from the garden

Patsy

Pearl

The Wedgwood Rose

Glamis Castle

  "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every

 situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in 

plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives 

me strength."