A chat over coffee....

 

I've just had a wonderful morning with my baby girl Ruby

We dropped Finn off at preschool for a "make up day"

from when he was sick a few weeks ago, then

Ruby and I  did a little shopping and went to a local

nursery for morning tea.

Ruby enjoyed her Baby Chino and a play in the playground,

while I relaxed with my Skim Flat White and watched the water....

We also shared some fruit skewers and honey yoghurt!

Yummo!!!

What a great way to start the day!

She is now tucked up in bed having her rest....

as for me.... can't keep avoiding the  housework ....

Hope you've all had a great start to your day too!

Love

Danni xx





I'm so thankful to be able to have times like this!

Vintage revival

Some of you may remember a post I did

click here 

back in April about our Vintage Visits...

Well I am ashamed to say that it is now November

 and we have only just made our first visit back since

Finn asked me if we could go - so we did.

The night before, he packed his "packpack"

( as it's affectionately known as around here)

 with "instruments" ( his harmonica, tambourine, keyboard, guitar)

- so that if they wanted him to -

he'd play to them while Lilly danced!

How could I resist?

It was just so great going back - good to see some familiar faces

 and meet some new ones.

When we weren't greeted by "Stan" in his wheelchair as we entered the building - I feared the worst.

I worried how Finn would take it... so I checked with one of the nurses so that I was prepared in case he asked about him.

 Sure enough after about 3/4 hour Finn tugged on my shirt and said, "But Mum - where's Stan today - do you think he's grumpy?"

I explained that Stan was in heaven now,  that heaven was such a beautiful happy place full of love - that it was impossible for Stan to be grumpy any more...

Finn thought that was awesome and even told the Big Cheese that night at the dinner table. He said " Guess what Dad - Stan will never have to worry about being grumpy ever again cause he's in "heathen" now with Kramer and Molly" ( 2 pets)

While so many of the vintages have confused thought patterns and memory losses, some are stricken by cruel physical ailments that take over their once healthy bodies.

 "Milly" suffers from Parkinson's but her mind seems unaffected.

Her opening words to me were "I thought you'd forgotten us - where is Ruby and Finn?"

I joked a response but it was like a knife through my heart.

We were sitting having a chat with "Dolly" 

 - one of our favourites

- and she was stringing random words together in sentences that made perfect sense to her in her poor muddled mind.

Finn waited til she finished

 - nodding all the time as she was talking - like he "got it" -

then told Dolly that he was now 4 -

and held up 4 fingers.

 In a moment of complete lucidity, Dolly held up her hand,

all fingers outstretched

and said

 "5 soon?"

 and Finn put his little hand up to hers - his palm facing towards hers!

 Oh My!!! It was SUCH a precious and wonderful moment between 2 beautiful souls -

 it touched me so!

It inspired me .

I asked some of the staff what the residents gave their families for Christmas...

after confirmation that they struggle with new ideas

I put forward my suggestion.

An idea was born.

I was so exited and inspired I couldn't wait.

Two days later I went back for another visit -

 this time sans kids

( "Lillian" did ask where they were - quite concerned that I forgot them and left them somewhere all by themselves!)

 I took photo "portraits" of the residents

(who had  or gave permission to do so ) to give their families for Christmas.

 I had such a fun morning - chatting, joking and laughing with the Vintages -

 trying to get the essence of who they are or once had been in a snapshot.

I'd love to be able to share some of them with you -

 however I can't due to privacy

( but have included one of "Dinga's" hands)

Their eyes and hands tell a thousand stories

and I hope I managed to capture that and do them justice.

I am looking forward to our next visit. Ruby wants to wear her "ballerina" outfit to show them - and I can't wait to see their faces

Danni xx

Close your eyes...

....make a wish and blow!

                          You are never given a wish

without also being given the

power to make it come

true!

Sending out lots of love

and

May all your wishes be

fulfilled

Danni xx

Four

Finn turned 4 on the weekend

I asked him what was different about being 4, compared to 3... he replied:
"Well... I wanted a skatebaord and a monster truck and people remembered and I got them when I was 4"

I asked what his favourite animal was, now that he was 4... he replied:
"Bear"

I asked him what his favourite song was, now that he was 4.... he replied:
"Bay-bar" ( Justin Beiber's "Baby") .....
He then said:
"Now I'm 4, I like the letter B... did you notice that Mumma?
What starts with "B"? Try to guess???
You know Mum... c'mon - it's a BEEEEEEEEE" ( insert peals of hysterical "larious" laughter here)

Happy Birthday to my favourite boy in the whole wide world. My life changed 4 years ago and I became  whole. I love you a "fundred" too
xxxx

Stuff that I've Loved this week....

It's been an interesting week this week - full of highs and lows...

but I've chosen to focus on the highs and share the things

that have brought me joy this week ~ hope some of these

make you smile too!

Colour in my otherwise tired and overdue-for-a-makeover bathroom

These beautiful blossoms that I pass on the way to preschool

- a sign that Spring is on it's way!

The beautiful countryside surrounding us

Watching my kids have afternoon tea together after a day at preschool

( can you see Ruby's "ballerina" skirt that HAS to be worn AT.ALL.TIMES!!!??)

 

Kisses from my boy.... and cuddles from my girl

I love that it takes a special kinda guy to get away with

wearing his sister's sunnies.... and Finn does it so well!

 

The kids taking turns pushing each other on swings...

A day trip to the "seaside"

 

Experimenting with my camera!

Hope

I'm sure there's plenty of good stuff surrounding you too...

Sometimes we just have to look a little harder to see it...

but it's definitely there

Danni xx

Blessings....

Here's what I'm thankful for lately...

My beautiful boy's laugh

Bringing colour to someone else's world

Older generations taking the time to spend with younger ones

Breakfast and coffee with my baby girl

Grandparents

Fresh flowers - they smelt really good too

as you walked in the front door!

Cheeky smiles

Sunny days

Neighbourhood friends

Freckles and blue eyes

Moments captured

Love

Danni xx

Summary Sunday!

It's been a while since I've taken the time to stop and think about what I have to be thankful for this past week - I randomly do of course but to really think and look back on my week in a positive light is what is needed today!

A few close encounters of the non-patient/non-tolerant and inappropriate kind this week from myself - something to keep in check this next week going forward. It's all about lifes' lesson's isn't it???

In no particular order:

I am grateful for my beloved camera. This is like another child to me and I take it just about anywhere... I'm such a lucky girl ... a good camera enables you to take lots of lovely pics... and the wonder of digital photography allows you to take 563 thousand photos before you get one decent one.. without running up exorbitant processing bills.

Finally my very OWN photo of a dandelion on my Blog!



I am thankful that I have my health,  a roof over my head, clothes on my back and people who love me surrounding me. So many others less fortunate than ourselves out there. I  really am blessed. I have a LOT to smile about.

It made my heart melt when my 2 babies were sick together this week ~ they gave each other "huggles" and shared blankets, tissues and water bottles. I love that they are still so full of love even with high temps and sore tummies. I love that they can still smile - even when feeling really rotten.

I am thankful for some sunshine after all the rain and grey-ness we've had lately - great for a day trip out to a park with bubbles and Ice-cream ! The kids had their first ever ( soft serve) "Mr Whippy" van ice cream... I think the photos speak for themselves!

I was thinking this week how very lucky I am to have a bit of an artistic "eye" - and how that allows me to be a bit creative and to do things on a budget ( which pleases the Big Cheese ) . I found a gorgeous little magnet that had "Welcome - family faith & friends" on it - and knew straight away what I wanted to do with it. Found the perfect frame ( which coincidentally matches my little clock) and voila! another piece to add to my vignette on the foyer/entrance dresser/bookcase/junk storage thingy!

This week had some trying moment but also some wonderful laughs and conversations with people very dear to me. I am very blessed with the friends in my life.I love that they "get" me and know what makes me tick ... and what gives me the giggles.... I love that a quick phone conversation can put so many things back into perspective when feeling a little lost ( for example a text message from a very dear ( and very loopy) friend of mine asking me if I'd ever noticed that the cartoon character Miffy's Mum had a moustache.. and if I had noticed.... was I as concerned about this issue as she was?And did I want to join the crusade in saving Miffy's Mum from looking just like her Dad, but with a pearl necklace????? ) ( please remember that I DID preface the description of this friend as loopy!!! But oh how I love her loopy-ness!)

I wish that I could take away my friend's pain and sorrow sometimes and replace it with rainbows and happiness. I hate feeling helpless when friends are struggling with difficult times.I have learnt ( finally ) not to take other's issues on board, but I still hurt when they hurt and want to make it all go away for them. I wish I knew the right things to say.  I can't take it all away - but I'll Close my eyes, make a wish and blow.



Love

Danni xx

P.S: It's just a little after midnight Sunday.... I think this can still count as Summary Sunday! The Photos took too long to ... oh well doesn't matter! Talk soon xx