the sun within

 After saying goodbye to our steam train house we tumbled into weeks of simultaneous winter flu land.

We all came close, but thankfully didn't end up in hospital.

I spent nights experiencing all shades of fear as I lay there listening to all four of us coughing and struggling with this terrifying Flu that almost everyone we knew around here got at some point.

It gave me a deeper appreciation for Hibernation and Migration. These are two things we shall consider and surrender to next winter.

I grew up near the beaches and coves of Sydney, and for me Winter meant the Ocean turning all kinds of violets and indigo with wild waves. We still swam, just armed with a thermos of something warm and a cozy cardigan to put on after.

But I've not yet learnt the Art of the Victorian Winter....this coldness,the darkness (and that eerie beauty).

I was in the health food shop the other day when a bunch of people were complaining about how dark it had been for weeks(as you do).

A woman said "the only thing to do is find the Sun within".

I loved hearing that.

Finally, we are all well and that feels truly amazing! 

I have been spending time finding that "Sun Within" making it tangible/visible through Art,Music (oh Gosh I bought a new Cello and a lyre...but more about that later).

Around town there are tiny signs of Spring in wattle blossoms just about to burst and one or two bee's dancing hopefully around our pear tree.

I am lusting after this spring more than any other in my whole life.

Photo's - Last days in our Steam Train House

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winter transitions

We have all been a bit ridiculously sick with the Flu.

It's a doozy! and a few -2 degree nights haven't helped. 

I've been guzzling a red clover,thyme,liquorice root,echinacea tonic and Dave has been making some very awesome hearty soups to get us through it.

The bath has been our sanctuary with a steamer filled with eucalyptus,thyme and lemon myrtle.Pearl has been making her own mix to put in the bath of Daisy's,Rosemary,Lavender and potato vine.

Pearl says pretty flowers in your bath make you forget you're sick...Oh bless x

Amongst all of this i have been working on Photography for a local dance schools website and designing and making insect costumes for a(different dance school)dance performance later in the year.

Oli & Pearl at dance class with the lovely Miss Kate

I moved my sewing machine onto the kitchen table and it was so special to share the process of designing and making with Oli & Pearl (I think they were somewhat subdued by the flu and so more open to quietly observing and tinkering). I realised part way through that my Mum always sewed on our dining room table and how i loved watching her placing out the pattern, pinning, cutting and making my clothes. So i went and grabbed one of her scarfs for my hair and sent a thank you out in to the universe to her for having such patience with me as a little one during all her sewing and creating(because really it can get pretty crazy with the whole children, electric moving needle, fabric, scissors, pins etc combo). I haven't taken any photo's yet to share but we had some plain white paper dolls and Oli thought of sewing on them...it was a great idea! They looked so beautiful and then we painted on to them. Photo's soon...

So winter is coming and the frost has killed most of our vegie/herb/flower garden.It was our "Bloom where you're planted garden", we thought our time at our house may be 6 months or so but we decided to put lot's of love into it anyway. I'm glad we did.

then the frost came

Pearl watering our once humungous pumpkin patch from the garden shed

 This signals a big transition we are about to undertake.

 We are moving in to a friends tiny cottage that sits at the back of her garden.

Here it is....Oh so tiny!

We lived in the main house last year, Oli & Pearl are good friends with her beautiful daughter and we thought it would be nice to live more communally during these really cold months. They will be in the front house and between us is a garden and outdoor room with pot belly stove that we will share as well as the chickens, Guinea pigs and our dog Ginkgo.

Adventures to come I'm sure.

I hope the beginnings of winter are treating you gently and a big thank you to all those beautiful blogs out there, you give me such inspiration and fill my days with such beauty!

Thank You.

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