23/52

1. My Poppet finishing up her Chocolate Strawberries. We spent a day at the National Celtic Festival at Port Arlington on the weekend, and Poppet indulged in traditional festival (if not particularly Celtic!) fare! I foresee  many festivals in my Poppet's future...
2. My Sprocket, climbing, with Port Phillip Bay in the background.

We had a glorious day at the National Celtic festival, a crisp, blue-sky-day. The spires of Melbourne could be clearly seen across the bay and the swirl of bagpipes was everywhere.

Joining with the lovely Jodi over at Che and Fidel for a portrait of the kids once a week for 2013.

Rose Daughter

My Poppet and I took a walk around our local rose garden recently. And now I'm perplexed as to why I've never gone before, seeing as I'm completely devoted to roses and we currently live in an area famous for its roses. Our area is also famous for its mines and power plants. I'm not sure if there's a connection.
In truth, I do know why we haven't visited the Rose Gardens before. A large part of the gardens are based around a major roundabout. (Remember, I'm a country girl now. To me, it's a major roundabout, by city standards... well, maybe not!) Traffic and small children is not the best combination, but now the kids are older and more road-wise, I suspect we will be making weekly visits.
There was such a profusion of roses, of so many different types. There were banks of roses, exuberantly blooming walkways and lushly planted gazebos (in a wintry kind of way.) We only had time to look at a very tiny percentage of the gardens and we both want to go back. It is possible my little rose-daughter was more interested in studying the ants and playing hide and seek, but isn't it lovely to visit a place than entrances all tastes!

A Walk in the Woods

On Saturday the kids and I drove home from a night away at the Big City visiting my parents. After a near sleepless night full of unsettled little ones and all the stresses of the freeway, when I arrived home I nearly handed the kids over to my Beloved and collapsed into bed with a cup of tea. Instead, we all trooped out to the forest.

My Poppet's look of wonder sums it all up. The rain drenched forest was magical. Whether craning up  to peer at the tree tops or studying the rain hung moss, there was enchantment to be found everywhere. Even the air, moist and heavy and laden with scent, was rejuvenating. We felt the mud with our toes, hid behind ferns, and, ahem, I might have taken a few photos...

Sunday Stills: Winter!

1. My Poppet, early morning colour blur. I always feel out of focus in the morning!
2. My Sprocket, still sleepy, getting dressed in front of the heater.
3. The first jonquil on the first day at winter. At my parents house.
4. My Poppet with some mandarin at her Nana and Grandpa's.
5. Raindrops.
6. Running along the path, chased by Giant Ants on the Lyrebird Walk near Mirboo North.
7. A lovely fern.
8. The miniature world.
9. Muddy puddles. Just before the wellies came off to feel the mud!

Winter has well and truly arrived. Although the autumn leaves still delight me, they are rapidly going. The nearby hills hold snow, early morning mists surround us and the mornings are indeed chilly. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a wuss (my Papa assures me it is!) but I am getting hours of valuable writing time at night when I can't sleep because I need the toilet... but I don't want to brave the freezing floor and cold air! We went on a lovely walk yesterday, all rich moist air, stillness, birdsong, moss and fern. I'll indulge myself with more photos tomorrow!

Joining with the wonderful Em over at The Beetleshack for Weekly Stills

22/52

1. My Poppet, grinning in the wintry forest.
2. My Sprocket's sweet smile.

Joining with the lovely Jodi of Che and Fidel for a portrait a week of the kids. How can we be nearly halfway through the year?