jdurham@morgueFilefree photos

This is a Post-it note
Notebook
Diary to myself
To remember

Old-timer
Waiting patiently for a new outfit
Having been so very patient
Hoping to be smartened up

Forgotten
Neglected
Once so bright and fresh…
A garden bed
Waiting
Waiting a year?

Old drainage removed from two sides of garden
Thanks Liam and friend for wielding the pick
Now there is a growing pile of cement

Hedging for one side purchased at short notice on a very hot day
Brought home squashed into two cars
Then a family day of visitors
Hard slog of hedge planting wielding pick and spade in the summer heat started by Rachel whilst extended family visits

Little boys playing happily
Exploring the garage thinking no one is watching
Heaven!
Pulling out everything they think can be played with…for two minutes

Must not forget the ice blocks and ice creams savoured that night outside in the cool of the evening.
Watching the free and hilarious antics of the little ones sitting in their little chairs on the grass. Listening to their chatter. Ice block juice dripping and running down bare little arms…no problem….just splash the arms in the paddling pool close by.

Hedging continued by brother-in-law Derek another morning

I must remember to buy an axe to remove chunky old tree root where one hedging plant needs to go
Plants and ground slowly deep watered by soaker hose again

Rain some days later gave the best soaking start

Thank you Rachel for sanding the bathroom door as it rested on a saw horse. A new experience for you with a power orbital sander with instructions by your hubby dear
Bathroom door has two coats of paint…hip hooray…it only took a year
Thanks Steve for your help
Side gates nearly all painted. One more coat on the bigger gate and meter box and it’s all done
Straggling uneven plants removed on driveway boundary side
…now all streamlined

Getting there
Now the endless job list seems do-able because we can see results
A goal in sight
One step at a time

Thanks to the team effort of young and older

A lesson to remember for our Life’s journey.
Side by side.
Full of vibrant energy
Or the remembered strength of youth

anitapeppers@morgueFile free photos

Love you Husband dear for working beside me
And love the brilliant sunshine of the young
In the heat or in the rain
Hand in hand
Moulded by the hand of the potter

Joining Blog on Friday

Fathers, Family, Friends

Father’s Day was celebrated on Sunday gone here in Australia. It always happens on the first Sunday of September, the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

It is a time when I truly would prefer not to visit the shops as there are such a number of people about, with car parks overflowing and spilling onto the road….people, people everywhere. This is the commercialised side that I do not enjoy.

Photo by Paula Presswell, edited by Alexa-asimplelife

Rather we delighted in a beautiful time of family catch up spread over two days. Why two? Well, because on Saturday was one little grandson’s birthday having turned “three old”. Family fun beginning with a laid back afternoon tea with nibbles of cheese platter, crackers, fruit plate, homemade dip, home made choc chip cookies looking extremely posh being displayed beautifully on glass stand with its domed glass lid, and drinks of choice. Then present time of course because that’s the exciting bit for little ones and for grandpa who is like a little boy himself again going into the Toys Are Us choosing the gift, but under instruction from the mummy of what is really required.

The afternoon was spent in chatter and playing. Older and younger cousins interacting and making up games outside and inside….little boys instructing…then the bigger ones…follow the leader…take your turn pushing the little toy lawn mower round the lawn regardless of whether you are three years old or twelve or fourteen…short or tall. Very grown up sixteen year old grandaughter running out and joining in whatever game was happening. Hand ball with numerous and ever changing rules…cricket with a Ping pong ball as all other balls had disappeared.

Later observing two little squatting figures nearly invisible in the growing dark playing with their jazzy cars which glowed red. That’s basically all you could see, the red glow. It was precious.

So the day wound down to tea and bath and story time. Delightful. Beautiful memories.

Today another round of catch up. Lunch together at the other daughter’s home for the young ones with us two joining them after our own quiet lunch out….but always having a little space for some dessert!

Nothing really grand happening, just being able to sit, chat, laugh, hold the baby, pass round the baby to various laps, snuggle and kiss that fresh baby scent, join in a game, watch and absorb all the little happenings unfolding around us, running, scooter riding, teen grandsonson whipping the cream for late dessert, kiss for that cheeky face and jump out of the way of that moving toy car.

Fathers, family, friends.

Life.

A journey following an unfinished map….

Remembering with love those far away.
Those who could not join in.
Those in pain.
May you travel well.

Joining Essentially Jess IBOT
Also joining http://amamasstory.com