Something Lovely.

Ah yes. Here is another Something Lovely. I just adore these origami pieces by Irish artist Oisin Byrne. It's so nice, every now and then, to see art that is playful! These are definitely after my own heart!

Sorry!

By the way, so sorry this week has been a bit sparse, our internet has been down. But it's fixed now so I'll make it up. I'm just astonished at how much I missed it! Has it really taken over my life that much? What an eye-opener it's been. Hmmm... Not too sure how I feel about it!

I Hear The Hills Call My Name.

What a beautiful day. Days like these I really hate school as much as the kids do. I'd love to take off and just keep going til we are somewhere that we can breathe and shout and run and laugh and laugh. To have a day where we don't have to shout hotly at one another because time is snapping at our heels. We would pack a picnic. A proper Famous Five picnic with 'lashings' of all those things that only taste good on a blanket on springy grass. The air would whisper in our ears when we lie down to watch the clouds. There would be a rushing icy stream that makes our feet go numb in minutes, and sloping fields to roll and roll and roll down to warm up. And we would laugh til our sides ache. And in the car going home all would be quiet, as each child drifts away in some golden reverie that fills their hearts with such clean, fresh-air joy-ness.



But there's that snapping-yapping time-dog at our heels. We are still slaves to it, for now. So after school, pending darkness wags it's finger at me and I meekly bow my head and do not head for the hills.



Instead we go to Dundrum. Why?

They had a little bit of money they wanted to spend, but after arguing, hanging around while each other tried, and failed, to decide what to spend it on, bickering, and generally getting hot under the collar, we ate, came home and immediately felt better.

Oh, I know what to do next time. And I'll never go there again without a plan...

Lovebirds.

These two lovebirds I made for Jude and Steve when they got married last summer. Then I took them back to 'finish them', and then got carried away. They are a lot more elaborate then previous ones I've made, but I think they're rather sweet.

Imbolc, The First Day of Spring.

In celebration of the first day of Spring (albeit a couple of days late!).
I realised recently, while looking through some older photos that I haven't been as good about celebrating the seasonal changes with the little fella as I was when the older two were little. So I've been making an effort to be a bit more focused. We had some friends around on Saturday and we spent the whole day and evening eating and talking and having a lovely time. The kids played away and the weather outside was miserable and in the end we didn't do what I had planned. The next day I was so sorry I wasn't more organised that I resolved to do it with Him today. And apologies to his friends that you missed out on it.

It was always one of the favourites, and is very simple.



First we made a magic wand, which can be decorated with anything you like, but it must have a bell.



Then it's a matter of turning them loose in the dreary, bedraggled, winter garden with instructions to 'wake up the flowers for Spring'.



It definately lost something without a big gang of excited kiddies running around ringing their bells like mad things, but He still got into it and was so excited after when I pointed out the first daffodil shoots peeping up through the grass.
And my heart was squeezed when My Only Girl came up to me, in front of her friend, and said,"I know I'm nine, but could I have a go too?"