My sweet Ollie

Oh, but this child does bring me joy!

He is just the most squishable!

A cuddler, and a singer of songs.

He says please and thank you (Weas and Tank Dou)

and yesterday he built an airplane out of blocks! He's a genius!

Look at those curls.

I love him.

Three pictures of me ~ taken by Jude (:

random thoughts for a change

My posts have been very image-intensive this past, what, year? 2 Years? I'm not even sure. But I thought it was about time that I wrote some words for a change. I have kept this blog going for a long time, six years I think, and I always had something to say and some time to write it. When I first started the blog I had one child and three cats. Now I have three kids, 3 cats, in around 50 chickens, five gardens, two lambs, one goat and a dog. I'm busy, but the word doesn't give credence to the reality of my non-stop activity level. Needless to say, I don't have one moment in the day all to myself, and that's not so good. I do get a little chunk of time every couple weeks where miraculously, the little ones actually go to bed when they are supposed to and of course I squander the time away wandering in nervous circles around the house, picking up stray toys, washing the counters, sweeping the floor, and then making tea and thinking how valuable this time is and that I would love to do something creative, invigorating or spiritually nurturing, but that just doesn't happen right now, not in this mothering-intensive section of my existence. I really beat myself up for a few years, thinking that I should be accomplishing way more even though it just was not possible, and now that I have broken, now that something inside of me snapped and released the pattern of thinking, I am much freer. I am realistic and also very forgiving of myself. I also feel much more peace during my days, despite the heavy work load. It's all inside of you, it really is - the way you think and view the world IS your world.

Your life and moments are what they are. You are what you do. I am a mama, I am a homesteader. I am, inside my very construct, an artist. I do not have time to play in the manner of which I would choose, but if I could, I'm sure I would do something fresh and new..like learn pottery, weaving or belly dancing..

 Please don't think I am griping here because indeed, I am not at all. In the end of all things, when I get away from the self-pressure and expectations and too much thinking all the time, I am so happy with my kids and lambs and chickens. I love my life, love the daily rhythms and hard work that never ends. I love the sense of purpose and the lack of idleness.

When I walk in the pasture, everyone comes. Ollie, Jude, the lambs, the dog and the goat, sometimes even a chicken or two. We walk in the wind and tall grass and everyone frolicks around me and I trip many times on a small child or lamb who stops abrubtly, we get tangled up in the dog's leash and I have to give up and sit down on the old fallen tree that we use precisely for this purpose. When I sit down, everyone gathers and snuggles around me and I just think to myself, Wow. I created this. I loved all of these beings so much that they genuinely want to walk with me in this pasture, and I get all teary and that's silly. So we go in and make tea.

Random thoughts. Now I will take my own advice and make a wondrous hot cup of tea, after I walk the dog and feed the lambies their night-time bottle of course! (:

(Jude's nature collection from the pasture)

Self portrait with Ollie (:

 

~ Taken by my lovely girl-child Isabella. I love her photographs (:

baby boy hugs

life stuff

Some of our newest regular visitors ~ They have come right up to the house in groups of ten or more!

..reminding me to be grateful..to give thanks for my blessings ~ which are so many!

Christmas is coming! Bliss (:

Frosty mornings

Happy visits with Grandma~Jude

Balancing

My most wondrous creations in all the world (:

love love love

Ollie napping beneath pretty crocheted flowers made by Jenny (:

Sweet wonderful Ollie ~ the most peaceful baby I have ever met (:

My birthday happened amidst the new baby celebrations

Blissed-out napping in Ollie's hammock-bed

Life is indeed beautiful

To my American friends, a most wonderful Thanksgiving to you (:

(:

my three lovelies (:

Here at last! (:

~~ Oliver Moss ~~

Born Friday morning at 1:08 am after a short ~ but intense ~ labour (-;

9 pounds, 5 ounces

Yay!

^__^

sleep thoughts

In this final stretch of pregnancy, I am finding it very hard to sleep ~ Like right now for example. I am tired, and when I am finished monologuing on the subject I will attempt to sleep, but as soon as the lights are off and I am lying down, my legs get jittery and my hips ache in the worst way, my mind seems to come alive with uncontrollable, pointless thought and I lay there, usually listening to Jason's snoring and Jude's sleepy breathing and wonder how it is that I manage to make it through the daylight hours at all. I will nap with Jude if I absolutely have to (usually I need to be completely dilerious and feel like I'm going to melt away into nothingness from lack of sleep to break down and do so) ~ I cherish my alone time and need that bit of free (often times creative) time to balance out my soul and return me to my light, cheerier mama-self. It makes sense.

Well, good night then (:

^__^

more photos by Bella

I just came across these pictures that Isabella took in February (:

I like 'em.

^__^

30 weeks pregnant (:

^__^

As of late..

We have been baking, which is lots of fun for everyone..

and making diapers for robots and motorcycles (:

We took place in an outdoor art show

and got some new paints!

Lots of beautiful paintings are piling up! This makes my heart happy (:

Matilda is still with us. She likes to spend her days in the garden..

and we have also visited our friends at Willowtree market, which is only a hop, skip and a jump from our house!

Jude's love of tractors is really intense (;

We have been playing a lot..

and of course, picking mushrooms. Jude really loves to pick mushrooms!

The diapers and their wash~dry routine are pretty much endless in my little world. I can't believe I'll be diapering a second in November! Crossing my fingers that Jude will make the switch before then! (Not likely..but that's ok) I'm a big fan of not rushing things because I trust that they will unfold effortlessly in their own natural timing (:

Toddler naps are when Mama can do her new favourite thing...

Knitting! I am truly obsessed (: It is SO much fun, even more than crocheting I think!

The lovely Bella has been making bracelets for everyone. She wove the friendship bracelet and beaded the others (They are actually for the members of a certain secret spy club but that's all I can say about that)

Our fridge doth blossom with youthful creativity (:

A beautiful lunch:

Jason has been crazy~busy making origami, which has been selling like hotcakes in my shop. Yay! I make it too, but he's much faster and Jude never lets me out of his sight long enough to really make a dent in our orders. Night and nap time are this mama's magical moments for productivity (:

We have spent lots of time in the car driving to midwife appointments, the grocery store, the bakery, to weekend art shows and new destinations to pick up wonderful free finds off of freecycle (which is so fun by the way! I love meeting like-minded people!), to Staples, the post office, the library, swimming lessons and Native Focus (the shop where I occasionally work) Whew! It has been a busy month..

I am so proud of Bella. She is swimming beautifully!

And in between all of these crazy summer moments, Jason is madly preparing for his autumn teaching position at the college, I am seeking out local farmhouses for rent in the coming months and of course, growing a new baby boy to welcome into our family (: My belly is very, very round and the coming birth of this new soul is uppermost in my thoughts! Hence the knitting, and sewing of baby hats, crocheting of little toys and chronic floor-sweeping (:

^__^