London

A long road trip, frustrating but relatively peaceful. Three excited little girls! Well... Excited, but also sleepy...

A weekend away, staying with Tim and Nusa! Lots of adventures. And warm warm days running around in their little garden.


A day in London, sunny as can be and packed with people - tube, Museums, parks, boat on the Thames, art, sculptures, fountains, and lots and lots of walking!















A whole new garden to explore and make their own. Secret agents, fairies, dragons and families - all kinds of games and all sorts of "toys" found and made for themselves.





A spot of art in the fresh air. Nusa is such an amazing artist, a creator-of-beautiful-things, and a gentle healer too. Both of them have been so generous and loving with the children, meeting their needs and allowing such chaos in their beautiful house! Nus brought out this huge canvas and just helped Jenna to do whatever she wanted with it - I have never known an adult be able to be so freely with a child, not directing or prompting or hassling her at all.


That baby of mine, of ours, oh she has toddled and wobbled all over the place. She is a bundle of sweetness and her strength and balance change daily.

A last adventure before heading home, our experiences more filled with green spaces than we could have dreamed of in such a huge city.


Lots of memories to treasure, gifted crystals in our bags (a quartz wand for Jenna and a smooth rose quartz pebble for Morgan - thanks Nus!) and new books to read on the way home (the new Robin Hobb novel for me, dragons in my dreams now for weeks - thanks Tim!).

More random pictures

Um, more crochet. These booties were done last week, in my own hand-painted wool. And I love them. They are the first pattern I have ever bought. And did I mention I love them? I really do. And I need to make at least twenty more pairs, for every baby I know. Well, maybe eventually.
Boo taking herself to the potty again. I don't get this way of being, so often, I want to figure it out and KNOW what I'm doing. And time and time again, I don't. I guess that's just yet another thing about me (and most other mothers I know) - when things go wrong, we blame ourselves. When things go right, we are confounded and tempted to blame sheer luck! So right now, I ma blaming sheer luck, but enjoying it nevertheless.Jenna bean being a rainbow fairy. Well of course.
More days planned away from the computer, so will see you all soon! :) Have a peaceful, glorious, in-the-moment weekend. xxx

A First Birthday

Goodnight and farewell, first year. Final preparations made late into the night, as cake is decorated (yes, of *course* it has to be a cat) and the blanket Jenna embroidered for Poppy has to be finished off.Good morning One Year Old! Sisters pour in, singing, and jump onto the bed to kiss you all over. Clamouring, both, to give presents...Almost all made with love, too. And everything else chosen just perfectly for Roo and her likes and habits.A birthday celebration waiting downstairs, with candles to be FULLY experienced (sigh) and lots of pretty decorations chosen with our beloved tiny Rowan Tree in mind.A parcel from Joxy! Excellent timing, and the girls were all so very happy to each receive a card from Rye. :)Breakfast croissants.A trip to see grandma, too ill to come for lunch with us today. I'm glad Rowan got to see them, and we miss them so much. She is suddenly frail. However long we have, it is precious time.Attenborough in the sunshine.Jenna halfway up her favorite tree.Paddling - these tiny wellies are still huge on her (this is the first time this babba has ever worn any kind of real shoe, and I felt very strange about letting her try them even though she has been walking for a month). All Rowan wanted to do was pursue the geese and swans onto the water. She stood there, trying to reach them, getting cross with me for refusing to let go! Can't wait now for her first real paddle, somewhere more shallow though I think!And after tea with Chris, Emma and Connor, a nighttime walk on the park. Such a busy day!

For Rowan

From this:

To this:

A year is forever, and no time at all. You brought new horizons and impossible blessings with you, little one. I can't imagine life without you!

On the eve of this new day, mama has tears in her eyes but a huge smile in her heart. One whole journey around the sun, heart to heart with you. Looking ahead just a peek to walking through this next journey hand in hand. And a quick nostalgic trip through those precious memories of your very first breaths of our air!

Announcement!
Birth Story
Birth Pictures
Newborn Ramblings!

Many many happy returns, little rainbow baby, daughter of mine.