Dabbling in Watercolours

Today being a wet, windy and wild day, I thought I would try my hand at painting.  All morning my girls were cranking out picture after picture of colour.   Mostly flowers and rainbows and a few abstract ones too.

 

I have decided that I am quite in love with watercolours, I just love them. They are very romantic don't you think? I find it quite intriguing that you can change the depth and intensity of the colour just by how much water you have on the brush.  Listen to me! I sound like I have a clue to what I am talking about. Truth is I have NO artistic talent what so ever and have never taken an art class beyond the compulsory ones at intermediate (middle) school level.  Miss Hawkins was just the coolest teacher ever but I doubt she would remember me and my talent (or lack of).  I think I got an 'A' for effort. Even though I didn't have a choice (yes Mum I did say "didn't have a choice") as to whether or not I took art in High School, I don't think I would of chosen that path. I think I would of chosen along the lines of Home Economics/Fabric and Design and maybe even Journalism.  But no, I was hmmmm strongly urged to pursue the areas of Accounting, Economics and Science.  Oh and I can't forget the Japanese can I. It was suggested that I take this language because it would take me a long way in the Mega-Million-Dollar-Deals I was going to be making with my accounting and economics skills. It can't go without saying that I hated Japanese class and was terrible at it.  I can't even remember the poor teachers name and all I do remember of her class was learning to say 'Hello' -  Konichi Wa and the lesson where she tried to teach us how to use chopsticks by picking up jelly beans. Both lessons that I am pretty sure I could of learnt off Sesame Street. Accounting and Economics didn't fare much better either. So I guess I was never destined to be a high flying Japanese speaking business women. Hmmm I strayed a bit far off that course didn't I? Sorry.

Anyway back to the water colours - inspired by my girls who just seem to be able to pick up a brush and always just know what to paint, I thought that I would have a go. And so I stared, and I stared at the white blank paper.  My eyes perused the room for clues on what to paint and then they found something - The NZ Gardener Magazine. After a quick flick through the glossy pages I found a page of flowers in yellow and white and a touch of purple. They didn't look too hard.  Kaitlyn joined me at my side and with our brushes in our hands the first stroke of paint were being applied.   I am glad Jamie wasn't at home while I was doing that because I am pretty darn sure I had the whole tongue hanging out the side of my mouth thing going on. I discovered that there is a bit of an art (pun intended) to water colours and getting the right water-to-paint ratio. I don't think that is something that I will be mastering in a hurry.  The other thing I discover is how hard it is to paint white flowers. I mean they are white without being white.  Maybe I should of been kind to myself and just stuck to painting the yellow ones.  All in all I quite enjoy my wee soiree into the world of water colours.  I am not sure it will become a hobby of mine - I have enough of those that I don't get enough time do to.  But I can certainly appreciate the talent and love that other people have.

Just in case you can't tell what my flowers are, here is my attempt at Lewisia brachycalyx, Ranunculus insignis, Primula denticulata and Eranthis hyemalis (from left to right) PS I have no clue what so ever if they have normal English names.

 

These two are my favourite.

  I think Miss Hawkins might of like these.

Is there anything you wish you could have a go at?

 

 

Me, the lolly cruncher!

Whilst very kindly and somewhat sacrificially sharing my all important supply of lemonade ice blocks with my kids I noticed something about myself. All my kids sat and slowly savoured their sticks of white coldness, I on the other hand chomped through mine like someone was waiting around the corner to steal it off me. Of course there wasn't but it didn't stop me from finishing it in record time.  I have come to the realization that I am a somewhat greedy kind of gal who chomps through lollipops, ice blocks and big pieces of chocolate. Yes people I am a lolly cruncher!  I have tried a number of times in the past to be a lolly sucker and made a huge effort to slow down and savour each tasty sweet morsel of yumminess but once the conscious effort has worn off, before I know it I have already chomped into it, scoffed it down and ready to pop the next piece of whatever into my mouth.  I can't help it. I am destined to be that way forever.  I will reluctantly share my chocolate only when put under pressure though and with only those who I hold dear to me.

The ultimate sign of being sick!

Bed Hair!

The common pastime of the last few weeks in the infirmary that is my house.



However I do not what to be that way in every facet of my life.  I have this inner need that drives me all the time to slow down and savor each and every moment. (In saying that I am not really wanting to slow down and savor each moment of being sick so would be quite happy to press the fast forward button on this one).  Lets face it - life is busy, busy no matter what you are doing, how many kids you have or how old you are.  We are always busy at doing something, and if you are anything like me then you are always trying to squeeze in more to your already busy day.

I try to have things through out my day when I make a conscious effort to stop, breath and be. Something I do everyday. Like my morning cup of coffee and my late afternoon cup of tea. I pour and sit and be. My morning coffee just doesn't hold the same appeal if I have to drink it on the run and have to reheat it 33 times. Coffee is made to be enjoyed. Also if I have someone to share a morning coffee with its just that much better. Jamie doesn't drink coffee so most of the time its just me and the coffee pot going it alone. I just love it when good friends stop by and I can share a cup of Joe with them. Same with my late afternoon cup of tea - tea I might add that is to brew in a tea pot.  Not heaven forbid a tea bag in a mug deal! shudder I generally don't need to eat anything but if there is a piece of lemony lemon slice going then yup I am all in!

 

Other things that remind me to slow down and breath are intimate moments that I share with my children. You know the moments when you are actually looking into their faces and are actually seeing them and who they are as if almost for the first time.  Sadly sometimes when this happens I feel like its been too long since I have looked at whoever like that. That always breaks my mamas heart.  Why oh why does it always take such a conscious effort to savor such moments?  If we aren't careful they can almost appear like they have been stolen.  Conscious effort is just that conscious effort, yes I did say EFFORT!  To truly savor a moment you have to 1. Recognize there is a moment to be had and 2. Choose to be truly present in that said moment. Which means one can not be thinking about how you were just about to hang out the washing, thinking about checking out Facebook or having you phone attached to your hand just waiting for the next text to come through.  I can say this because I have been there and done that at one time or another.  I truly believe that most people, maybe even everyone, wants to savor moments of their and/or their children's lives. I can't imagine too many people actually want to live in a lolly crunching scoffing place.  I don't. I want to be a lolly sucking gal all the way!

          



Check out this great big ball of cuteness!



There is things that have been plaguing my thoughts over the time that I have been sick.  Plus or minus side to being sick, you choose.  One of them being how to manage the multi age/stage family that I have.  Ages around range from 12 years to 9mths and I wouldn't have it any other way.  My challenge is at the moment is, How do I protect and nurture the magic and innocence of childhood for the younger ones whilst still engaging on a more maturing level with my older ones. Any suggestions or helpful pearls of wisdom from other mamas of multi age/stage families?

Three pet ducks introducing themselves to their temporary neighbours!

On Being Sick!

I don't know too many people that would be putting their hands up wanting to be sick, but I REALLY hate it!!  I hate it with a vengeance!  I hate not feeling like I can do anything, not even the bare basics!  My house is a tip and my washing pile, the one that I have been working soooo hard at keeping folded and put away, has gone from woe to go in an instant!  Alas its back to being the Mount Washington!  Sad face for me.  Whats worse is that five out of six of my kiddies are sick too! High temps, sore muscles (which is turn means that certain little kiddies legs don't work), vomiting (for some) and coughing! OH the coughing its the worst.    My eyes are scratchy and my throat is hot (or is it the other way round) and all I want to do is sleep, sleep and sleep, which of course I can't, because did I tell you, I have the most annoying cough ever. Whats more frustrating is that I can't take any cough mixture because I am breast-feeding!  So I have to be content with sipping on warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey drink.  Jamie has vacated my bed at night because I am keeping him awake so much. Last night he pushed Casey over and sleep with him. Tonight he is making up the couch bed, only because Casey has been talking in his sleep and kept Jamie awake part of the night attempting to engage him in numerous conversations.

So we are well into the third week of having one of those good old fashioned 'shut ins'.  Another thing that is doing my head in (but not enough to be bother to do anything about) is that I am insanely over the TV, Computer and/or Tablet being on nearly all day and kiddies wrapped up in blankets and being sprawled all over the couch, floor and not moving. Did I say ALL DAY.  If I was 100% myself I might be inclined to wage war on this but as I said I can't be bothered.  They are quiet, well mostly if you don't count the fights over the TV channel, the pick of movie or whose turn it is on the computer or whose has had 25 secs more than their agreed time. I don't know how else I would keep entertained or quiet and rested five sick kiddies.  I am however, super super thankful that Jesse (9mths) is not at all unwell and that Jamie is able to be at home with us and is having a go at playing nurse. I say playing because it is not at all his calling in life and is doing this under duress. He is certainly not sitting bedside, spoon feeding me chicken broth and sponging my brow with a cool damp cloth but at least he is here and is coping very well with the vomiting, the whinging and the timetable for Pamol administration. Yes I did say timetable, one has to have a timetable when there is five of them all requiring various amounts of medication.  Our house is a disaster zone I tell you.

A plus side for being sick is that I finally have started and finish a book that I have been wanting to read for a while - awesome! AND I have pottered around and sorted out some clutter in 'high-risk clutter zones' at various places around the house - again AWESOME!! AND I have had some time (when I could wrestle the computer off the kids) to peruse the property market for dream homes and Trade Me for milking goats and bar stools. Come on what else do you surf the net for when you are sick?  I am hoping and I am praying that tomorrow everyone will be just that much better than they were today and that I and everyone else will sleep just that much better tonight.
Sorry no photos of said sick kids or nurse Jamie. I don't think that anyone of them would really appreciate me waving a camera in their face and you are certainly not going to get a photo of me in my current state.
Much love to you all Xxx

Ps I did find a dream house - anyone have a cool million? (I did say DREAM house)