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Friends of ours have welcomed a new baby into their family this week. I had a sneek peek of his/her nursery prior to the big arrival and there was a fab tree mural complete with mummy, daddy and baby owl. So I thought a matching banner (made from this tutorial at Moonstitches) might be in order.
The only thing was I had to wait to make it until the baby's name was revealed. And hooray for a short one - done and dusted in no time!
*makies: urge to make things
Saturday was a Thelma and Louise day. A chance to blow off all maternal responsibilities and escape to the Festival of Quilts with Monica. When the boys were little, days like this were so vital to retaining sanity - a shining beacon in the diary - the promise of an adult oriented day. I always returned from them feeling enormously energized because I had the chance to actually think and focus on something other than small children without being interrupted.
The boys may be much bigger now. But even though my duties as playmate, nose-wiper and drinks fetcher are vastly reduced, it seems I still sometimes need a block of head-space in order to focus on things other than the immediate requirements of domestic life. And good shopping opportunities don't hurt either.
Wiksten Tank (made before the holidays began) and sari silk plaited necklace.
Not that this is some sort of epic project requiring intense concentration to execute, you understand. But just because it is easy to forget the boost that the tiniest piece of creativity can provide. And now, I need to go and play Gogos.
There comes a point in ever Summer when the balance tips from having a luxurious spread of freedom ahead to countdown mode. Only three weeks until school begins again. Three short weeks which have to accommodate four full on days of Athletics training, a pre-season Rugby camp, the dentist for three of us and a set of filmmaking classes courtesy of the Apple genius people. And then school shoes to buy, pencil cases to fill and nametapes to sew on. We need to pay the balance on the bus fare account and make sure we do a walking safari so Mark doesn't get lost on his first day.
The usual minutiae of family life. None of it particulary difficult. The challenge lies in getting it done while retaining the lightheartedness of early summer. That feeling of endless possibility.
Personally, I do planning and beginnings better than countdown and endings. The latter speaks too much of 'could-have-beens'.
These blooms - not mine, but could have been, if my pot if seedlings hadn't turned out to be garden peas instead. I ate them and have moved on to contemplation of the Autumn bulb catalogues. Sometimes, the best part of the turning of the calendar pages is the chance to have another go.
Feeling somewhat apologetic about my absence here this summer. But life seems to have been happening elsewhere.
Though, if I am honest, a large proportion of that 'elsewhere' has been a derriere shaped indentation on the sofa in front of the Olympics.
We did also manage a quick live spectator trip.
The experience was every bit as fab as everone else has said.
And educational - we are now fluent in Polish Volleyball.
Can't believe there is only a day left before the Olympics comes to an end. But very much hoping that the feel good feeling lingers on.
