On the first day of August
Which now seems light years away

It being the last month of official Winter in Australia.

I was wishfully speeding the approaching Spring on
to valiantly burst out of Winter’s very tight coat

Apple blossom finally bursting from its tight winter coat now in October

So,

I took a stroll with one of the grandsons
A quick walk before the early winter darkness encroached
Because little boys need to wind down for sleep soon

Hand in hand for a run up the winding path to our little park

Quickly a swing, a slide and another swing

See the street lights are flickering on
Time to run back

But wait, what a find

Usually all finds end up in little hands

Look at this leaf

It is mine

I carefully hold it by the stalk
and selfishly do not give it to my little companion

It is mine

Much too precious to share
Brim full of the essence of life

Then that very night
Photographed under mean kitchen lights
A fluke of a picture

The rivers of life
Days and nights of weather encapsulated in one single leaf
Alone on the path

Leaf

“I study the leaf veins
they are little streams of life
yearning for the sun
static trees stand sentinel
watching our brief lives go by ” A Poem by Andy Brookes

I sit here now enjoying the afternoon sunshine after this mornings grey gloominess.

The Simple Life.
So easy to find.

May your week be Blessed

#messageinaleaf #momentintime #whatdoyousee #considerthelilly

Glamping. A child’s perspective …

We have fun glamping

We have the glamping tents up lots
It’s real cool

Raining or sunny

They are so much fun

A place to chill

Or pretend,

‘specially us boy cousins

That’s the very “bestest fun”

All you need are sheets and cushions

LOTS

Grandma always has heaps for us to play with
They are her old sheets for fun stuff

Maybe even Grandma’s patchwork quilt if we can get it before she looks

We can make a BIG tent with LoTS of sheets for us ALL
We can make LITTLE tents for one person

We use Grandma’s laundry Airer and lots of pegs
You have to fix the sheets to stay there
Grandma pegs the sheets to lots of things
Like the door handles and hooks on the wall and clips it in the windows

It’s funny when Grandma has to crawl in the tent ’cause she is big

We go Glamping on grandma’s back verandah.

No pause button here. Beautiful endless youthful energy. Precious.

Because “us” boys have discovered that with a click we have our own “house” When the adults were talking we giggled and locked our door
“Hmmm…unlock the door please” they said

But that’s no fun!

We can make a HUGE tent outside too in a tree that has pink flowers in the hot sun. It has a funny name. Grandma knows what sort it is.

Really fun this sort of Glamping

We just have to get to Grandpa and Grandma’s house….

“Please can we go mum”

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Memories flitting through my brain as I do my pile of ironing this beautiful autumn morning, like moving grains of sand on a beach. There one moment then gone. Like life, fleeting.

Little boy’s words….in tunnel driving to airport with two and a half year old little boy in back seat saying over and over

“point…point….point…point”

????

Ah Hahhh!

…..There were green arrows on the roof of the tunnel pointing up ( it seemed) showing all lanes open

Daddy cutting grass…Little boy….”lowing mawn” and putting his ear “muffins” on…Ear muffs for the noise.

Me, Grandma, pointing out a huge crane on a building site as we drove to airport ,
Little boy stating……WOW…
Grandpa do, Grandpa do…
He was stretching out his arms showing how BIG the crane was. Only problem being, grandpa was driving and couldn’t stretch out his arms wide.

Little boy not wanting an afternoon nap, kept wandering out with lots of excuses, last one being as he carried out a big book open wide …”story?”

Memories, of a now adult oldest daughter, when about 6 years old saying to me with my red dress on…mummy you look like a princess….priceless …love you too.

Chatting by phone to the same daughter today. She asked her little boy if he wanted to speak to Grandma…NO….he wanted to come and SEE Grandma. Cute boy!… I think I’m allowed to be a little bit biased though:)

Years ago my husband helping a friend carry an old Auntie in a fireman’s lift ….crossed arms and hands clasped on wrists down flights of stairs in flats in Germany to get her to car.

Little cousins and friends who are now adults, playing, running and sliding down monstrous sand hills near Robe S.A. and getting caught in a wind sand storm…older cousins helping younger cousins escape. Clothes full of sand.

Running home from school in Germany as a little 6 year old because I was so scared of the rumbling line of tanks on a local cobbled street in Lampertheim Germany. They were the American occupying forces on a manoeuvre and seemed monstrous to a little shy girl.

How memories flit through our brain, random and without order, rhyme or reason…but yes , there quite often is a reason or triggers. Yesterday glancing through an old diary of my mother’s going back more than 20 years make for memories.

9th of May , and a spring day in Germany still very cold but wanting to wear a white with little green patterns summer dress . It had ties at the shoulders and came with a red puffed sleeve blouse. My mother had made it for my 6th birthday.

Looking with soft heart at a photograph of my mother’s house where she spent teenage years. My mother had described it in words but this was my first actual pictorial view.

Heppenheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany

Being told of the exciting news of a first grandchild to be.

Holding with awe our first grandchild, and another and another. Six precious beings from teens to babes.

Enjoy and savour the beauty of this day or find something to hold onto that creates a thought of peacefulness.

As the Flower of the field, it toils not nor spins…

Contents and photos by Alexa.
Till later…

Linking up for IBOT…I blog on Tuesdays with Essentially Jess

5 Random Things I am thankful for this day

1..Summer Fun and memories
2..Cool days a coming
3..New lavender buds-love them
4..Comfort food for a cool morning
5..Observations from being with little boys

1..Thankful for the lovely family and friend times we shared outdoors during our summer here in Australia. Summer fun, Beach fun, picnic times, impromptu cricket games in the true Australian fashion when all that was available was a tennis ball and bats. Camp chair and Esky/chilly bins were pressed into service as stumps. Fun had by all…

Summer time is also our wedding anniversary so am thankful for the lovely time and meal we shared a La restaurant@home and a fabulous bunch of red roses from Aldi for $5. So love them.

Eating out at home in pleasant atmosphere

2..On to today and Oh so sad…today being the last day of Summer and the sky is definitely NOT showing summer weather. It’s grey and miserable with constant drizzle. Cool enough for me to search out my sheepskin scuff slippers this morning instead of bare feet. Thankful for warm feet.

Cold weather approaching and summer has passed

An upside of overcast weather is that photographs come out much better because the sun is not leaching out colour. I just use my iPad for convenience

3..Lots of buds happening in my garden on my Lavender hedge which I grew completely from my own rooted cuttings with a huge dose of patience. Happy days cause I love Lavender.

4..Cool weather this morning made for wanting a warmer breakfast but not as heavy as porridge. So out comes the trusty Couscous. A very easy and quick meal with only the breakfast bowl to wash up….cook according to directions on pack. I used the microwave. Towards the end add a few sultanas. Allow to stand for a while. I also add a drizzle of olive oil when cooking. I make sure there’s a bit of liquid left once couscous is cooked or else add some more then stir in a bit of milk powder and a drizzle of Maple Syrup. Breakfast done and nice warm stomach…thankful..(I think making it with quinoa would also work and be somewhat healthier, but more expensive.)

5..Observed one little boy on Wednesday…daddy snoozing on lounge chair after a long day at work. B going up to daddy with…Tickle Tickle…not much response…sometime later B climbs up and crawls under daddy’s arm, daddy cuddles him and continues napping…B rubs his fingers on daddy’s arm for a while, lies there for a while and slithers out again down the side of the chair…like a little puppy. It was so cute but because I was cooking I couldn’t take a photo and just observed. Too sweet and precious daddy time x

Observation about B’s little cousin on Tuesday during showering time. I put a bit of shampoo on H head and then proceeded to wash and rinse shampoo off….little voice piping up “awww grandmaaa” every time I put a container of water on his head…I was spoiling his fun playing with his toys…awww grandmaaa

Drawing of a field of flowers with colourful “blooms”

Grandchildren are SO precious and take our mind away from the cares of the everyday. Indeed thankful for blessings.

What are you thankful for on this day? Count them and you’ll be surprised.

So another week ends. Blessings

By Alexa
Photos belong to me too

Joining in and thanks ….
A rural journal blogspot Random 5 Friday

“Want”

So easy to say and yet so hard to get there.

Sitting at my desk, one of my inspiration corners.

…behind the story.

I went for a walk yesterday to give out some leaflets in mail boxes in a suburb some distance away. Being a hot day I dreaded it but got on with the job. As I walked along I observed around me. I had taken a folded piece of paper and biro in my carry bag and soon dragged it out as I became absorbed in the happenings and sights, all different in every place I walked past. My A4 sheet of paper folded into four soon was covered with line after line after line of what I was seeing. That was only one long street of about 100 houses.

I moved the car a few times to continue along the various streets still carrying that precious piece of paper as I put things into pockets and out of pockets in the process.

The street ambience was changing from pleasant with character to tired, dusty and weary and unkempt. But in between as I had just written luscious grass next to dry crackling grass my world wanted to dissolve into tears…big gulping tears, because I had put my carefully collected painting of words into someone’s letterbox instead of the leaflet itself. I noticed it two houses along. Back tracking and thinking I’d dropped it I discovered of all places for it to happen was at a locked mail box with locked high gates and roller shutter windows…ahhhh

…all I could do was to leave a note in mail box explaining what happened including my mobile number. I haven’t heard back, even dropping by this morning to no avail.

I so wanted to have those notes back, but wanting won’t help. I’ll either have to go back and try to recapture the atmosphere with pen and paper or attempt to retrieve from my mind like that party game “what is on the tray”….looking at 30 items on tray and then writing down from memory. Too too hard and far too many impressions.

Aging leaning house, with fence like crooked teeth next, to tiny old triangle of a park with old fashioned long chained swings idly moving with ghostly memories. Worn Wooden seat used by long gone children at play. High push, low glide, wavering wobble with shrieking laughter. All now silent and alone.

Gardener thinking he is still in his home country. Crowded suburban front garden full to bursting and overflowing with fruit trees and all manner of vegetables and herbs. Such a joyful atmosphere. Reminds me of maybe Italy in the country with their small plots but every corner filled with usefulness.

Skinny but long vegetable garden wrapped round the sunny side of a brilliant white house with crazy winding track of a path edged with ancient bricks like jagged points.

Pictures, Impressions, reminders of far away lands and families, smells of Middle Eastern cooking, whiff of a herb as I brush past a huge bush of Basil covered with flowers and the attendant bees….

…so I return home and water my own tiny pin prick of a vegetable garden which really is more like a herb garden with Basil, Rocket, Spring Onions, bit of spinach and rhubarb. Lettuce and tomatoes long finished with the heat.

Back now to the every day, with memory an ache of a oh so tiny thing by life’s happenings of what I lost, but hope with action to get back.

Back to work men repairing a leaking pipe which happily was on the Water Board side so we had no bill to pay!

Such is life. If we pick ourselves up and continue on we won’t have lost.

A comment I once read…

“What did I learn that I didn’t expect…”

Well maybe me observing my unfamiliar surroundings along every step of the way helped to complete a job which in itself was wearisome on a hot day! This wasn’t expect, until having gone quite some distance I noticed lifted spirits and a savouring of the added beauty of the ordinary. It took no extra effort just a refocusing of the mind.

What about you? Do you have any unexpected gems to share with readers? Do you think they made a difference?

So on we go and with a smile.

Have a lovely day one and all and thanks for visiting,

Alexa

Photos and words belong to www.Alexa-simpleliife.com
Except where stated.

Vintage drawing courtesy “Graphics Fairy”

Driving to the hairdresser early this morning I had to remind myself that we now have a new school opened in a local street. Note to self was “watch out for the low speed zone” whereas for the last 20 something years we just drove without thinking…

…and so my mind wandered….

It happens again, the long summer break school holidays, or vacation as they say in other parts, have ended in Australia. Our older grandchildren went back Tuesday before last so as to be able to complete the required number of weeks of education for the various exams. The younger ones the week after.

So sad to see the end of fun and relaxation. A time for the minds to wind down, for families to regroup and refocus again. For extended families to catch up and reconnect. Little cousins with older cousins, siblings, aunts and uncles, mums and dads, grandparents and friends. Mentoring time.

A slowing down and de-stressing. No bus to be on time for, no school bell to hurry for, no constant homework and assessments to schedule for, no sporting activities to be fitted in and uniforms always washed and gotten ready for.

Now holidays don’t have to cost a fortune! There’s so many family friendly activities. Just do research, ask around organise yourself to take food and drinks from home and you’ll all be right. Besides saving a bundle of money your children will feel more nourished and sustained by the home cooking. Eat at a fast food outlet and you’ll all feel hungry again very quickly due to the sugar spike.

Carry this over to back to school. Having appointments or activities like swimming after school? Plan your day and have sustaining after school snacks with you to be devoured on the way to wherever you are off to!… And for mum too….

At times, with the children cook with them and discuss a plan for a theme like a Mexican or Chinese meal.

For home schoolers this can incorporate learning about the culture or geography and history of that country. The learning to make and prepare a new recipe is adventurous but make sure it’s children taste friendly….In this way you are passing on skills….life skills, as mentioned in a previous post. The best part being that they won’t even notice that it’s a lesson….

” care enough to train a child, not merely treat them to a good life” Dr. Tim Elmore.

But as with all things, special things are only special because they happen sometimes and by looking forwards to them. If we always ate chocolate it wouldn’t be such a delight. Yum yum.

If we always lived by the beach I am sure it would become commonplace, and also, we would not notice the great beauty of our surroundings…

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Let’s not become complacent about things in general. Can you see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Bye for now
Alexa

Beach photos belong to Alexa-asimplelife , written by Alexa.
Vintage drawing courtesy http://thegraphicsfairy.com

Refreshing water on grass (by Rollingroscoe)

Hallo

Word picture written on a Thursday 5th December 2013:-

Sights and sounds of summer yesterday…
A hot still blue sky
Cicadas chirping, um screeching
Missing the hiss of a sprinkler
….old fashioned sound from my youth …no water restrictions
….Children’s hysterical laughter as they run and play, chase and scream under the sprinkler’s rainbow

A summer day (By imelenchon)

Word picture written on Monday 16th December 2013:-

A new lavender hedge grown enough to proudly show off its plump flower buds….look at me, look at me,
Overcast skies and an occasional sprinkling of light rain but with a balmy temperature
…Hope you can enjoy a lovely moment today if only briefly
Love you dearest sister
Hugs and God Bless you and all yours

Sounds this summer morning Friday 10th January 2014
Listen…..What’s that screeching buzzing noise …. Ahh Cicadas. That’s what set the theme for this post.

Now at this very moment of writing….At it’s usual
time ..the amphibious water taxi flying l.o.w. and s.l.o.w. overhead on its way from base to Rose Bay close to Sydney Harbour.

What a fabulous job being able to fly over our beautiful Sydney Harbour and surrounds each day in nice weather. Then back again to base at 5pm. L.o.w. and s.l.o.w. A nostalgic sight. Always makes me think of the “Biggles” books our son read many, many moons ago.

Now the mundane everyday happenings which keep a household running smoothly. Give the veggie patch some water and put snail bait out for the pesky slugs getting to my lush young Basil plants. Check the new rocket seedlings. All looking good for tasty additions to salads. Oh, and those spring onions are shooting nicely where I planted the white onion bulb ends from bought spring onions / shallots.

Wash a woollen blanket for a quick dry today so I can sort out some spare linen and quilts and put away in space bags. Tidy cupboard. Yay!

…and so a day continues in its cycle. Heavy work, easy work, paper work, thinking work, planning work, finishing work. A balance and a harmony.

Hand washing country style by jdurham

Life can be a struggle sometimes don’t you think…and when it gets a bit too much find something beautiful in the day.

Alexa

Utter joy is a small child running just for the fun of it with glee painted on his face. Even better when cousins join in and the lead child keeps running, looking back and laughing. Grandma watching and bracing for the inevitable falling over or crashing into a tree.

Little boys climbing a vast play equipment…little voice calling out “help, help” but as the day progresses that little voice is no more. Horizons have broadened and confidence soaring so much so that two little boys need to be taken down from the top of climbing ropes for grandma’s peace of mind. It’s fun climbing up but not sure about coming back down…Dad, big cousin and big sister to the rescue…but wow those little bare feet must hurt balancing on the thick ropes of the spiderweb…

FUN

Big children, little children, baby, teens, cousins, mates, girls, boys.
Mum, dad, friend, sister, brother, sibling, fathers.
Tiny and Young and older and oldest, grandma.

What’s to eat. Always hungry, always hungry. Time for food.
What shall we have. Lots of easy healthy goodies brought from home by all. From the depths of the cold Esky (Australian)…Chilly Bin (New Zealand) comes cold chicken , delicious coleslaw, salad- serve yourself, avocado, fresh bread rolls and a treat of hot chips. Hot chips at the beach are a must have if available…enjoyed by one and all.

Stand around, sit on camp chairs, sit on picnic rug, swap seats…get up out of chair look carefully before sitting back down. Is it still empty?…Little boys sneaking into big chairs.

Food gone!
Summer time!
Australia =
Cricket time!

“Mum, did you bring the stumps?”
“I told you to bring whatever you wanted to play with!”
“You’ll just have to play Caught Out”

Off go the cricket bats, tennis balls, and if all else fails an esky on wheels and a child’s camping chair…what! you say.
It works!
Fun for a few hours of cricket. Dads, brothers in law, brothers, mates, and cousins whilst the little boys have their adventures on the play ground, joining in occasionally …but getting shooed away.

Girls, cousins, teens….running down the cliff of sand to the beach, exploring the sea shore, climbing over rocks, walking along sand, talking, laughing, running, solving all the girly puzzles. Time for a game of chase. Back to base. Look after little brother and cousin on play equipment. Turn and turn about.

Grandma’s turn , now it’s one mum, then the other. Friend, then big cousin again. Random. Seamless. Not set pattern but constant. Always watching the little ones. Getting a drink, more sunscreen, a hug, a smile….and little ones still running!

Soon time to go home…

“…but we have to have a last swim and take the boogie board”

An hour….no, more later …blue tinged bodies return covered in sand. Cold, hungry and tired out.

FUN

Sand, wet towels, wet swimwear and sand in hair. But for grandma now a cup of tea.

For all it’s been a delightful savouring and joining together in all the sights and sounds of this simple family day filled with joy…and a little baby contentedly feeding, smiling, sleeping, being held and nursed amongst all the happenings and contented chatter of one and all.

Survey the colourful scene and pack everything up. Bikes, pram, cricket bats, balls, chairs, wind and sun shelter, blankets, towels and more towels, sand everywhere. Do we have all the children? Strap into children’s and car seats…homeward bound.

Memories!

Do you enjoy these unfussy and unstructured days without pressure to be who you are not? Enjoy the moment and see beauty in the little things. Stand under a tall tree and look way up at the top most branches.

Alexa

Photo thanks to morgueFile free photos