i'm feeling organised...focused...& ready to get on with january at last!
oxfam have hauled in a *jack-pot* of goodies from our house...
&
i now have some sense of goodwill & serenity...
so with this big old house a little less country-chaos & a little more grandly homey...
i now have the mental space to really get back to blogging...my sewing buisness & a few little creative projects...&...ahhh just saying it feels great!
first off the list...is a big thank you to my special friend maureen who passed on a little *styling* award to me...
of course this involves a little sharing...
& leads me to a lovely big *here's-your-tea-put-your-feet-up* thankyou to all my new readers...visitors & lurkers...
yep...that is my new teapot...perfect size...love the type set...grab a cup...
so...this little *styling* award requires me to
regular readers feel free to make another coffee...answer emails & come back in a minute...
you've already left long lovely comments of friendship about my sharing the last time we had a pot of tea & a chat here...oh and here!...
so...
one...
living abroad with our three kiddos has been the single most formative, wonderful, treasured family experience we have ever undertaken...
our hearts will always be australian...but our souls will be world wide...
our three children are incredibly tolerant, wise & loving because of that single...initially overwhelming... decision we made to *leap into life*...
i am by nature a *bower-bird*...who has learnt to cull her *collective* spirit enough to halve the days where i look around the house & wonder "who the hell bought all this stuff"!
as i have said before...i like to think i am slightly *boho* in my decorating...i love the calm of whites & neutrals with a few unexpected pieces thrown in to keep the balance...
i think i actually live in fear of those *catalogue* rooms...you know the ones where the paintings are bought purely to match the sofa's!!
oh it makes me itch just typing that!
i have 3 times as much to remember every morning now...than when we were first married...
no-one tells you that three kids equals three of everything from drink bottles to homework to after school activities...& party invites to odd school socks...
why do people only talk about the actual *child-birth* before you have a child...
not the lists that will dominate your every day from here till they move out....
i like to *jam* my toast first...then spread the butter on top...
it looks lovely & i'm quite sure that i only eat half as much butter...
that's got to be good for me...right?!
i am a true believer in the education & beauty of travel...
we have a list of places to visit...i know don't we all...
& New York...Florence...& the italian countryside, amongst many others, are up there on that list...
the list also included morocco...
the hubster & i managed to get to Marrakech this past december & it was incredible...beautiful...& life-changing...
as you can read here...
i am also a true believer in karma...
i really do believe that you receive in life...the energy that you share in life...
what you put out there...you will receive back...
*do unto others....* is a mantra well learnt by our kiddos...
not much more excites me on a sunday morning than a good old country car boot sale and some sunshine...
the seasons will change again soon...spring will be here & that's where you'll find me...
car-booting with a smile...
i have swapped gorgeous sandy sunday mornings with the family at *garage sales* in oz...
for gorgeous country sunday mornings with the kiddos at boot sales in ol'blighty...
it won't be forever...so i love every moment of it...& i know i am making great little vintage haulers outa the children...
so...all in all...a moment of random sharing that may make you stay for another pot of tea here...
or may make you just lurk for a moment & then go make your own!
either way i like to sit & think & thanks for doing it with me...
melissa
xox
i'd like to pass on this *stylish blogger award* to some very sweet special girls...
i'd like to pass on this *stylish blogger award* to some very sweet special girls...
sarah from oesch and doots
george from kitty 'n kitsch
carmel from carmel's closet
all aussie girls -they give me my daily fix from *down-under*...
i love my day more for having them all in it...
so ladies...if you accept this challenge...
hit us with your 7...
xox
I loved reading this, you are just as I thought you were....fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteI love a family that travels....such a gift to your children and it makes you a great unit, something you will never lose.
But I have to say....jam first THEN butter....eeeep!!! What's THAT all about??!! ;) xx
Hahaha, loved this! Well, who am I to say what is normal (jam or butter first?), me who reads magazines backward... Lovely Melissa, thanks for doing the 7 sharing tingy, Enjoy that cup of tea, gotta go now, my alarmclock just went, meaning, laundry is done! Hugs, Maureen x
ReplyDeleteI love this post Melissa and I do vegemite then butter so I quite like the jam then butter idea :)
ReplyDeleteYour new tea pot looks lovely and congratulations on a well deserved award - Melissa xx
I am in love with your teapot! Was that a car boot find?? It's blooming freezing here today... with a warning that it might hit 0F... now that's cold! Anyhoo, lots of tea will be drunk. I drink a ridiculous amount during the winter... I hope it's really not too bad for you??? Hopefully, one day you will head to NYC! I think it's a city that you would love! Take care. Lx
ReplyDeleteYour teapot is lovely!!! Makes drinking tea even more tempting when you're drinking it from something so nice.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so is a "boot sale" from the trunks of the car? How does that work? I love a good garage sale. My oldest and I hit the streets in the spring and summer like it's our job!! My husband and I also enjoy a good antique store.
Jam, then butter -- very unique! Love learning more about you! Happy Monday!
ReplyDeletexo Cathy
I'm sure I'd love a cuppa tea out of that pot. Don't forget to bring it back to Aus. Of course if it doesn't fit in the shipping container when you pack up to return you can always post it to me and I'll look after it until you get back home. hehe!
ReplyDeleteDelightful to read your post as usual. You have such a wonderful writing style, a real gift. Your family life sounds so nice and loving. Enjoy today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely time to pop in and see how you're doing. Have missed reading your lovely posts, even though the sand between my toes was oh so fabulous, which I'm sure you understand all too well. It is nice to have a little internet connection again though! Amanda xx
ReplyDeleteHey Melissa, Australia Day tomorrow. Makes me homesick, the thought of a bbq, warm weather and the Australian Open in the background on the telly! Happy Birthday to us! Robx
ReplyDeleteooh what a lovely post, ok i now have to stand at the back of the que for a cuppa outa that pot, but i'll do it, its great!
ReplyDeletex
Oh, Miss Melissa, it's so fab to find out more about what makes you tick. I'm so delighted #1 has been such a brilliant experience for you all. I completely relate to #3 and adore those floral gumboots! As for #4, I adore Bonne Maman jam, too, although I prefer raspberry. I completely concur with #5 and #6 and would like to try out #7. And good for you for choosing my dear friend, Sarah. J x
ReplyDeleteLoving your new header Miss Melissa! How wonderful to read your #1 - I've always wanted to live overseas and it is lovely to be able to experience rural England through your eyes. I'm a bit bower-birdish myself. Drives my husband nuts. He doesn't 'get' second-hand!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for throwing the 'stylish' love my way! I've been away from my laptop for a few days (we went to the tennis in Melbourne!) so the blog is languishing a little at the moment!
Have a super week.