The little things...

We are going through a few hardships around here at the moment, but still there is so much that brings me joy, and carries me through this difficult time.

The little things I am enjoying right now:

The leaves that have begun to change colour in the last week. As we walk and drive around the hills we are surrounded by oranges, yellows,and reds - and these brilliant colours ignite my feelings of reverence for our beautiful world.

This little beetle who is beginning to really talk now! His favourite word is spider, and as we live in a very spidery house he has ample opportunity to show it off, and can often be seen pointing upwards and exclaiming 'Pider' with great delight. Apparently we also have a sheep living in the corner of the bedroom above the bed. Forest often points out this mystery sheep and baas at it. What is it that he can see up there I wonder? And I would like to add that I am even enjoying his new-found and much-used 'No'! He says it so softly and sweetly and there is very little defiant follow-through with his actions, but there surely are a lot of 'No's coming my way suddenly. I know that this is an important part of his growing up - to understand that he has the individual right to refuse and so I am trying to see it in a positive light.

I am so grateful for this community that we are blessed to live among. Yesterday,one of the local towns hosted its first ever festival. Forest's godparents were involved in the running of this beautiful event and so we spent the afternoon outside in the autumn sunlight, surrounded by much treasured friends, listening to the sweet sounds of local folk artists, sipping hot chai and wishing that days like this would never end.

My dear old cat Mowgli and I have been finding time to snuggle a little more often recently. I love how his winter coat is coming in thick and lush to keep him warm. Even better is when Forest is also in on the cuddle. Often he is a little too - erm - vigorous in his affection for Mowgli though (known as Mow-Mow to the little toddler boy).

Afternoons spent in the park have been high on our to-do list recently. I hope that there will be a time when our life becomes more home-based. But on the property where we live there are just so many hazards that it is hard to let Forest run free outdoors for the amount of time I feel he needs. We have a couple of parks nearby that are surrounded by forest and are just perfect for letting some of that toddler energy burn. It feels so right to be out in the elements - rain, hail or shine - watching F discover all the new and wonderful things that nature shares. We take our afternoon tea with us - and it just tastes better than ever eaten in the fresh air after exercise.



Finally - I am enjoying the cosy, dark evenings spent by the fire after Forest is sleeping peacefully upstairs. Although I do have a daily yoga practice that I fit in here and there with my mothering and household work, a couple of evenings a week I am now turning down the lights, lighting candles, and having the luxury of an hour long yoga practice all to myself. Body, breath, mind rejuvenate, calm and centre themselves after this much needed bit of self nurture.