Lavenderhouse

Begin

Today's post was tricky.   Believe me there is a lot I would like to talk about but can't.  So whilst doing the usual post school drop off tidy up a few things caught my eye:-

1 #    

 

A book for filling with inspirational new plans - bought ages ago and put on hold for many reasons.  Do yourself a favour ladies rank yourself higher up your list of priorities.  I reckon we should put ourselves No 1 at least one day of the week!

2 #

 

Three little pictures the children did in the summer and we put in a jar for discovering again at a later date.  I love hidden little treasures around the house.

3 #

 

A shell collected on a blissful hot day and threaded with beads on the beach so we could hang it up and remember that happy day.

4 #

 

Key to the fabric cupboard, which the girls and I are going to be raiding and doing a little bit of tiny mouse production on Saturday.  Added bonus turquoise, pink, velvet and polka dot ribbons.  Yes, simple things like that do make me happy.

5 #

 

Numerous notes I have been sent from wonderful friends, who say such lovely things and it is great to be able to read them again when you need to. 

So I am off today to BEGIN .......

Things I am delighting in at the moment ....

Things I am delighting in at the moment:-

# 1    Sunshine yellow roses 

   

# 2    Shopping with Beki and Nadia at the Eternal Maker (also available on-line)

 

# 3    Bluebirds

 

# 4    Individuality (old photo of Skyla, my daughter, who had dressed herself - age 5)

 

# 5    Finding an actual mode on my camera for taking firework photographs

Sparks

Look, look this proves I have my sparkle and glitter back.  One of my most wonderful friends booked me on a day course of sewing.  Three of us sat yesterday in the studio of Lara Sparks totally unaware of the rain and grey day outside because we were whizzing away on our sewing machines making these wonderful cushions.  

 

It was great to do something really creative and get back in the groove of mixing colours and creating.  I think I am gradually rewiring my brain to be reeeeaaaaalllllly HAPPPPPPPY again.  I feel strong and would like to thank you all in the virtual world for sending me lovely comments and encouragement, friends in the real world who write me wonderful cards and letters and for all those brilliant friends who have hugged and squeezed me countless times.  I THANK YOU ALL!

A breath of fresh air

This morning looks like this.  All the windows are open letting in the fresh sea breeze.

 

We have an inset day here so all the kids are still on half-term.  They are making the most of having the last lazy day.  The sea breeze is definitely 'fresh' and has a chill to it that means sitting on the sofa in your pyjamas eating your halloween stash requires sleep suits, blankets and mittens!  

HAPPY Halloween

Yes, I am pleased to say it was a  HAPPY halloween.  I was typing Happy Halloween and I realised that I am at the beginning of a new part of my life and that it is HAPPY, may be a little bit scary but also really rather exciting. 

 

 

Getting my glitter back

I have been told, no it has been insisted upon, that I get my glitter back.  My lovely friends that have been keeping me going have told me that my glitter had faded.  This is not good.  They are referring to the sparkle in my personality rather than the glitter in my eyeshadow pot or sequins on my clothes. 

 

Today has been a kind of sparkly day.  I spent the day in the woods with the children as part of a castaway group.  We made shelters and cooked sausages and marshmallows.  I love the smell of bonfires, the softness of cooked marshmallows and please note the sequin, glittery scarf on my knee that I wore to the woods.  Yes, I was the only person there wearing sequins but that would have always been the case.  In fact it was VERY important that I was wearing my glitter again.  I am wearing it on the outside and it is coming back on the inside!

We are all learning how to light a fire using a tinder stick.  It was so lovely that a group of strangers just sits together, chatting, cooking and eating.    

 

Here is the camp that the four of us made together.  Great team work:- long sticks gathered, greenery for waterproofing and even some logs as furniture inside. 

 

This is Anne pouring water on the camp, whilst my children are inside, to test to see how waterproof it is!  Pat on the back for us, it was very waterproof and none of them got wet.  Thanks for a great day care of the Wilderness Woods who invited us there to review the course and the wood for the website Kids In Sussex.  The Wilderness Wood is really worth a visit.  It is a completely safe, nuturing, yet exciting environment for children and adults to play in!!

From now on ...

I cannot write exactly what is happening in my life but I want to get back to blogging as people have sent me some really lovely emails of encouragement.  I am always truthful about my life and therefore have had to stop writing unless this blog were take on a whole new life of its own.  Anyway, life has thrown at me recently some really nasty stuff to cope with. 

Today, however, I realised mid morning that for the first time in a long time I had actually woken up feeling happy, really happy.  Not just the sort of happiness that you get from looking at your children's little fingers and toes, not the sort of happiness you get from kissing the top of their head and smelling shiny clean hair or the sort of happiness you get from pottering in the woods with them and their friends.  I realised I - yes ME - felt happy on my own, in my own right.

 

So here I am blogging again - properly - documenting life because I really do want to start remembering it all from now on.  

Into the ether

Recently I have had to remind myself that certain things make me very happy, simple little things like the colour pink and turquoise, flowers etc.

 

Indulgences such as Clarins fantastic relaxing balm  infused with aromatherapy oils have literally kept me sane during the most difficult part of my life.  It is all far from sorted  but I want to put out there in to the ether that I AM A POSITIVE HAPPY JOYFUL WOMAN WHOSE LIFE IS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER AND BETTER.  

 

Officially the official photographer!

I am an extremely visual person and have always loved photography.  When my children were born I realised the importance of keeping photograph memories of them as they change so much, even from day to day.  I have taken thousands of photographs.  Recently at Open House I promoted my photobooks and the very lovely Mack family were kind enough to commission me to photograph their wedding - such an honour and responsibility! 

I had to photograph in three different venues but thankfully the sun shined all day long so it was not a case of dodging normal autumnal weather.   The bride went to the wedding venue in this beautiful camper van!

The wedding venue was the Wetlands Trust in Arundel and the view out on to the lake was beautiful.  The bride had taken so much time to choose everything.  She had worked really hard with her wonderful family and they created a unique memorable day.  I obviously can't show any proper wedding photos here but I hope I managed to capture the day for them.  I really enjoyed myself and would like to thank them all for putting their trust in me.  They made me feel very welcome on their special day.

A quick post

Lots of fun at the weekend - will blog more another time.  Just love this photo taken on the beach during one evening at Burton Bradstock. Just love the Indian Summer evenings.