At the moment a lot of my time is spent looking after things picked up off the ground, consoling children who can’t hold all the fallen leaves in their too-small hands, designating places for giant sticks (outside), pieces of gravel (pockets), and sea glass (we could make a bag out of my jersey, but we’re … Continue reading Day 42: Treasure I’ve been trusted with
Yesterday we crossed the Cook Strait on the Ferry from Picton to Wellington – the head of Te ika-a-Māui – the fish that Maui pulled from the sea to become the North Island of New Zealand. It feels like we’re leaving more than the South Island behind us and a new part of our journey … Continue reading Day 41: New Beginnings
I’ll call this a learning drawing. There is no life in his face, his pose is cliched and stiff, his hair is weird, and his legs are shaped like a woman’s, not like a young boy. On a positive note, I like the leaves and the lettering. Maybe I’ll do a redraw sometime.
Suddenly, almost out of nowhere, after two years of nothing but exhausting, rough, aggressive, tear-inducing love, I looked up to see this moment between these two on the couch. My heart almost floated right out of my skin.
Filled with a rush of love for that straight-backed, sideways look of concentration when they drink, I had to capture this moment at the pub the other day.
I’ve been having some quiet revelations lately about parenting and work and life in general. After drawing this phrase and then realising it wasn’t particularly legible, i decided to take the message to heart and publish it anyway.
The other night Elliott refused to stay in bed at bedtime, and I had no energy left in me to be the consistent parent, so he curled up on the couch under a blanket and happily drifted off to sleep. There are worse things I could do.
I’m working on a logo and website for an organic dairy farm in Palmerston North and have cows on the brain.
This guy looks like such a bandit in my bird book, with his masked eyes. I think he’d take off with the family silver, given half a chance.
The children were mucking about the campsite and Elliott and another almost 2 year old were spotted with some pretty fierce looking berries. There was a moment of panic, but after confirming that none had been eaten we were led to the source – an elderberry tree laden with perfectly ripe specimens. Not to be … Continue reading Day 32: Oxymel
I’m in love with birthing. I really am. Both my babies were born at home and I loved being able to be in that flow space the whole time, listening to my body and following where it led me.
Summer is the perfect time for insect examination. We have our big magnifying glass always at the ready, and the boys are mastering the art of the patient finger, enjoying the tickle of tiny legs on tiny hands.
I’ll honestly find an egg in this guy’s hair one day.
There are these amazing German books published by a company called the Island Library, or Insel Bücherei which, if you’re lucky, you can find by rummaging through bookstalls at fleamarkets. They generally have beautifully illustrated covers, and among them are pocket guides to things like trees, birds and butterflies. I’m loving them to supplement all … Continue reading Day 25: Citronenfalter (Gonopteryx rhamni L.)
“This beach is ok, but the tide comes in too fast and covers our cricket pitch.” True story.
A quick sketch and an even quicker digital rendition of it.