Twinkles after Fog

Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.  ~ Corrie Ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord

Each morning this week has greeted us with its foggy misty skies.  It also just happened to be the week I promised Ess that she could ride her bike to school.  Usually she walks by my side as I stroll little Eee - I have no desire to push both a bicycle and a stroller home.  "But I can leave my bike at school", Ess pleaded.  "Yes you can darling.  However that means that you will have to ride it up the big hill on the way home.  I won't be able to help push you,"  I replied.

So she practiced when Pa was here to help push her.  She did very well so now she rides alone - for the most part.  She has enjoyed making the discovery that the easiest, most fun part of the ride on the way to school becomes the most difficult, challenging part of the journey on the way home.  I am proud to say she has met the challenge and faced it head on.  Not without remembering the story of my childhood The Little Engine That Could and uttering that famous refrain "I think I can! I think I can!"

Most days this week the fog has turned to delightful rain by the time it is time for me to return home.  With a smile on my face and raincoats adorned I head home, often greeted by friends offering me a lift.  I decline.  It is my choice to walk, to risk the weather.  I love being out in the weather and experiencing all it has to offer. It connects me with my day and what is going on around me.  It heightens my senses and renews my energy and vigour.

Today however the sun peaked through the clouds, the skies cleared allowing us to view the delightful dance of the dewy raindrops on bare twigs, gumnuts and daffodils.

We are certain that once the fairies have had a sweet drink from their gumnut cups...

they have sought refuge from the rain inside each dewdrop...

waiting for more sunshine and preparing to dance again.

My favourite tree on our journey, a silver birch I believe, lit up this morning with delicate fairy lights, dewdrops disguised, as the dancing fairies made their way to morning tea.

(look closely and click on the pics to enlarge them to see the drops and the reason I need a new camera :) )

Now, just for the record, July 2009 has been the wettest month in Adelaide in four years.  I celebrate.  I have enjoyed the rain, the sunshine has been appreciated all the more for it and I love rainy days!  We have had over 100mm...not bad!

Thankyou all for your kind birthday wishes for my day.  It was most enjoyable...fog and all.

In the Tiny Box

Oh! where do fairies hide their heads,
When snow lies on the hills,
When frost has spoiled their mossy beds,
And crystallized their rills?
~Thomas Haynes Bayly

Our very favourite creation over our recent holiday period would most certainly be this adorable, yet tiny little box I whipped up one Friday evening.  I was inspired by Juliane.  She tells me this is called a Schachtelkasper - Schachtel meaning 'box' and Kasper is a glove puppet character.  After seeing her tiny box (which certainly made me happy ;))  I was certain this little treat, with a couple of my own adaptations would delight my two little treasures.

Can you see who is hiding inside?...

A tiny wee fairy who seems to often leave her little schachtel and find places to tinker and rest around our house.  

Just the other day she was found leaning against and hence just about to nibble some of our delightful dainty deliveries from Fröken Skicklig's Bakery.

Despite the fact that she enjoys wandering about and nibbling at Juliane's creations, I am very proud of her as she is my very own creation and design, inspired by nothing other than my own imagination and the few beads, wires, fabrics and tools I had on hand.

A small pearl bead head, tiny seed bead arms and matching belt on a gathered tulle skirt so tiny it could hardly be called a piece of fabric.  She wears a floral hat and sports tiny floral wings.  We think she is an indoor fairy so these wings must be there to teach her of the habitat of most of her friends living in our garden.

Oh yes, our hiding fairy delights. However the novelty of the box is what brings so much joy.  You see how can a little box be opened by a button which need not be undone?  Ah, perhaps you can see and you know and can devise one of your own.  Perhaps it will intrigue you and puzzle you.  Give it a try and let your little ones enjoy.   

It develops fine motor skills, a sense of object permanence, the joy and fun of peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek games, an appreciation for things handmade and an inroad into the wonderful world of imaginary play and fantasy.

Tiny simple dainty objects often give the greatest pleasure.

I have no doubt all young ladies would agree ;)

The Fairies' Gift

Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift.  ~Margaret Lee Runbeck

Ess hurriedly prepared for school.  She knew that just outside our front door her fairy ring would be waiting.  Hopefully visited by the fairies overnight.  Perhaps with a gift inside for her.

Yet there was none.

I reminded her that perhaps there was just one thing which remained outstanding.  There was one thing left that Ess needed to do.  Perhaps once that was complete the fairies would be pleased and leave a little gift.

Ess knew at once what she needed to do.  We had spoken about it at length, both the night before and on this morning.  She went to school and apologised to her teacher.  She waited for the little boy to arrive and once he did, she approached him and said "sorry".  He had been hurt by a game they had played together, unbeknownst to Ess.  It was simply a silly childhood game misunderstood.

The fairies heard, their little beating hearts leapt with excitement and pride (as did her mother's).

Upon arriving home from school Ess noticed there was now something within the fairy ring.

We are so glad you were honest, told the truth and said sorry.

"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free".  John 8:32

The little prettily decorated book declared as Ess read.

There was also a little lolly or two which delighted Ess very much indeed.

I noticed Ess' spirit is very much lighter today than it had been previously.

Is there anyone you need to say sorry to today?  I have no doubt it will lift your spirit.

Flower Collecting for The Rose Fairy

"When a Rose Fairy sighs, it sounds like seven leaves falling from the old tree next to the house. Bring me down, bring me down, the Rose Fairy is sighing.  And the warm evening breeze will know and bring her down." or perhaps for us it is a cool evening breeze ;)

Juliane at Fröken Skicklig

'Twas a breezy wintry afternoon when two best friends walked home from school together.  The journey was filled with anticipation as Bee was visiting with Ess to play in her home.  Bee noticed something special in the stroller with little Eee and exclaimed, "What's that?".  

Upon explaining that I had brought a flower basket for us to collect flowers on the way home, it was excitedly decided that one would ride the bike and the other would be on the look out for pretty flowers to place in the basket, before swapping roles half way home.  The Rose Fairy was delighted.  She knew that added to the last rose of the season, which had been drying in the basket for some months, would be a collection of beautiful wildflowers selected by the girls themselves.

The walk home was very eventful.  We were very glad The Rose Fairy had come to lend a hand as we were chased up the hill by Sharp Tooth, the big dinosaur.  Fortunately he ran straight through us as the flowers we had collected contained special magic.  The fairies had waved their wands over them allowing the collectors of the pretty flowers to remain invisible and thus safe from undesirable intruders.

Bougainvillea and Potato Vine (Solanum Jasminoides)

Protected and enthused, three little girls set about collecting 7 wildflowers. 

Our goal was easily reached despite the fact it is mid-winter here.  Our basket became fuller and fuller and was all but overflowing by the time we reached home.

Once home we laid the flowers out on a large white board and set about making special labels for them, learning their names and how to write them.    There were Correa Dusky Bells, Wattle, Rosemary, Eremophila, Grevillea, Hardenbergia and Potato Vine flowers.  The girls did not want the flowers to die.   Yet, rather than placing them in a vase, we found alternative ways to enjoy them.

We threaded a necklace of Correa Dusky Bells and placed it in our flower press.  Ooh, what a surprise!  Some little flowers, already dried, were still resting, dreamily, sleepily inside the press.

Little Eee and I also arranged flowers from the potato vine in our flower press to preserve for later viewing.  We were so delighted to find older flowers we had pressed years before still inside the press.  They had been collected on flower-gathering walks Ess and I had enjoyed together.  All are now preserved in the beautiful flower press lovingly handpainted for me by my mother years ago.

Just before Bee left for home, she and Ess created two fairy rings for the fairies to dance in and perhaps leave a special something to say thankyou.

The next day they did leave something very special.  Perhaps you might hear about that later.

The remainder of our flowers are floating in a clear glass bowl on our dinner table, delighting all who come to sit and sup together with us.

For now, Juliane is giving away her little handmade Rose Fairy.  Take a peak!

Stories of the Native Blossoms

The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.  ~Basho

I'm not sure what these are.  Please fill me in if you know.

Each morning as we walk, the little blossoms lift their heads from amongst the leafy green leaves and branches, turning towards us, calling us.  They beckon us to come closer.  To look within, behind, around about.

We see their intricate makeup, their tiny stamens, their delicate, unique petals, their exquisite colours.

An amazingly enormous Eucalypt/Gum blossom.  I know you can't tell scale. One day I'll show you the accompanying gum nuts - huge!

These are new to me.  Let me know the variety if you know...please.

We see the fairies as they wake from their night's rest, quickly darting away, out of sight...but we catch a glimpse...if sometimes only of the fairy dust left behind in their wake.

Native Correa

Some may look and yet fail to see, to really know, appreciate and explore all that is there to behold.

Some may not see at all...lacking time...lacking interest...failing to realise the beauty and the power of the small things.  Those things the children want to linger over, yet we rush them on...eager to at least commence the next task.

Native Correa

I have been given the gift of time (by my husband who is our breadwinner).  Yet sometimes the tasks are many and I fail to allow the message behind the blossoms to penetrate.  I am thankful that on most occasions when my daughters want to linger, I am able.  I am thankful that I can make the decision to linger, to capture, to remember, to share with my daughters the beauty of nature, to teach them about the Creator.  I am certain they are taking it in. Do you remember back in February when my dear Ess was lamenting the fact it was not yet Winter in order to be able to see the "Christmas Bells" as we fondly call them?  Here they are!  She sees them everyday now.  She picks them, inspects them, counts them, shares them with her friends.

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

I am certain God created blossoms to nourish the soul.

Tend your spirit, linger longer and allow yourself to be nourished.

If you would like some beautifully evocative Australian music to listen to as you linger (including my own voice), then pop on over to my brother to hear Kondalilla.  It is an absolute treat!  My favourite.

A Gorgeous Giveaway in Europe

A lady, with whom I was riding in the forest, said to me, that the woods always seemed to her to wait, as if the genii who inhabit them suspended their deeds until the wayfarer has passed onward: a thought which poetry has celebrated in the dance of the fairies, which breaks off on the approach of human feet.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "History"

Quickly, quickly, very quickly pop on over to Fröken Skicklig to participate in an absolutely gorgeous giveaway.

Take a journey through a romantic European forest full of fairies, toadstools and bluebirds or whatever your heart conjures up. Be sure to take your daughters with you and enjoy a most enchanting ride.

Ess is Five!!

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly! ~ Author Unknown

My beautiful firstborn has had her fifth birthday today!

She chose a pink & pretty fairy cake for us to decorate together to celebrate her special day.

We decorated this on the eve before.

We decorated the gorgeous Christmas cupcakes to give them a special fairy birthday twist. 

We gave them a special star-topped finale reminding us that the birth of Ess is very near the birth of Christ which we are also in the midst of celebrating.

We gave our four year old our final kisses before she said she was "going away".  "I'll be back as a five year old tomorrow!"  Of course Mum had to steel in late at night to give my little four year old one final kiss before we all finally fell asleep.  Little Ess was so excited she was still awake after 10pm.

Bright and sunny wishes

for someone special and sweet

A birthday girl who's five today

the nicest you could meet.

Text inside card from Nanna.

Then this morning awoke our precious five year old fairy.  She loved the special fairy costume I spent a while making her.

After enjoying unwrapping many delightful presents stored by Mum's bed from family and friends we spent the morning preparing for a little fairy party in the park in the afternoon.

Ess wanted to play Treasure Hunt so we made some lovely little fairy flowers to be hidden, found and then presented to Mum to receive a cupcake prize.

Our Generous Gentleman helped by cutting myriads of petal shapes.  Ess coloured cups from egg cartons with textas to make the centres (she decided the paint wouldn't dry in time).  

I stuck petals to the cup centres and Ess stuck straws to the back for the stem.

Ess placed scrunched bits of pink spotty tissue paper inside the egg cups to complete the centres.

Each flower had a little fairy flittering around her petals to delight all the young fairies at Ess's party.

The paper flowers all looked very sweet in our garden in preparation for their exposure to the park.

The culmination of our day was the party in the park with about half a dozen friends of Ess's - all delightful children enjoying playing together in the park.

A lovely day was had by all.

Sadly we couldn't easily rest at night as usual.  We believe little Eee is teething as she woke us at least half a dozen times.  Sometimes Mum had no sleep in between :(

Rest will follow Christmas.

Eee is One!

Little birthday girl, soft against your cheek,

eyes so big and bright, nose you love to tweak.
Livcly little one, sweet as any flower,

dearer by the day, cuter by the hour!

Written on the card received from Granny.

Today is Eee’s first birthday.

It seems not so long since she arrived.

We celebrated it in so many special ways with gifts and extra special hugs, kisses and games. Although we were sad that Daddy is still away, we were delighted that Granny is still here.

Ess and I enjoyed decorating her special birthday cake.



We had some very welcome help from Dulcie the Baking Talent Fairy.

We all enjoyed the pretty cake for afternoon tea after little Eee had explored removing all the petals from her stem of these beautiful flowers – stocks and sweet pea! Sadly not from my garden but from Adelaide Central Markets.


Soon my garden will be in bloom however. I’ll let you know more about that later.

For my precious little one.

Happy Birthday!