Easter garden

Six or so months ago I was given the number of someone who will be able to cut back my trees. I finally got round to texting him last night and he's coming over today - Easter Sunday! It feels like we're finally making headway on the Big Garden Plans that my girly has drawn up. It's good to feel like I'm moving forwards as I'm mainly feeling a bit stuck, lots of difficult dreams that then linger through the day, and sadness resulting from reading about the importance of relationships. I'm taking my 3 review books to church today and am left with a slightly disturbing book group one, set locally that I'm already halfway through.
An early start as we have breakfast at church today - the kids have been looking forward to it but now can't be roused. Hopefully there will be infectious joy there.
There was joy. I've still not had any chocolate but hopefully that's about to change.
Feeling pleasantly relaxed now - hurrah! Just getting there with one day left of the holiday!!

egg on my chin

One of the many fabulous things about having extended time with people was the opportunity to discover more similarities and differences. At one point I heard for the first time the phrase 'you have egg on your chin' at which point you're supposed to look down at your chin and in so doing realise your trouser zip needs doing up. Maybe my boyfriend's family have chins that jutt out - I shall have to check next time I see them, but my first response would be to feel my chin or look in a mirror as there's no way I can see my chin by looking down! As I'd not eaten any egg I was just a bit bemused.

I really enjoyed all the finding out of these little things. I'm nearly at the end of the shack now and am once again delighting in its emphasis on how life is all about relationship and growing in love for those around us. Sounds good to me.

''Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It simply is nit possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you. And the more you know another, the richer the colours of that relationship''

I have some relationships that fizz with colours, aand sometimes I get jealous of other people's dazzling relati
onships, but jealousy gets us no-where. I'm going to see if I can turf my boy off the sofa and do some enriching hanging out with him :-)

not a single deadline

Brilliantly, there is not a single deadline today. I'm not sure if this has ever happened in my life before - there's always someone needing taking somewhere, or something that had to be done by a particular time even on days off. But not today. Of course there is plenty I could do and the dog needs walking, we have to eat etc but the timings on those are flexible.
This is great because I really need to do not very much at all. For over a week now the edges of my mouth have been cracked (the part where they join, hurting when i open my mouth wide to sing or yawn) a surefire proof that I'm rundown.
And so my plan is to laze about. Lazily. Re-reading my book ready for the church review - am ideal book for Good Friday. I might venture out for Easter eggs which I've not bought yet thinking I still had ages. And there's been a request for pot noodles.  Seems like laziness is the order of the day!!
...
So far I have drunk a whole mug of tea whilst it was still hot and only got out of bed to make some toast. The internet for company only gets me so far tho, as anticipated, I'm feeling the contrast of no longer hanging out in community. Maybe I'm going to have to face the rain and see who wants to chat in Morrisons.
...
One of my besties described The Shack as an easy read, and it is, and yet it isn't. I'm over halfway now and enjoying it as much as last time. Only I'm struggling as I'm so empathetic and the great sadness is indeed great, the loss unbearable.  I've spent the majority of the day in bed reading/surfing. Who'd have thought holidaying could be so tiring.

family fulness

I've known my boyfriend's family for several years now and feel a bit firmer footed in my place in it after several lovely days away together. There was a moment in charades when I used the word we in relation to a family member that had me recognize that. I said we could put her on the stage, she was so good.

I spent far too much of the time worrying who I - or my very bouncy son - might offend, through creaking the floorboards too late at night, or being too loud, or spending too much time with or not enough time with. But there's happy talk of doing it again and maybe then I will relax more into it, now I feel more assured of my place.

5 of us then headed to my parents for a wonderful lunch - yet more animated conversation and that simple delight of just being in the company of people you love, there's been so much of that these last days I know I'm really going to miss it now we're back down to three. I've suggested that if there is a next time family holiday in the same place, my parents can pop over for a cup of tea. An amazing aspect to the best of families is when the limit isn't drawn but welcome is shown to the new as well as the old hands, as has just happened.

Right now I'm feeling very lucky. If a bit tired from late night card playing!!

singing to the sheep

I had many great outdoor moments yesterday and not all were on my own. I enjoyed surprising some sheep who didn't look very used to being sung to. I was grateful that there were willing participants for my scavenger hunt, tho as can happen with these things the event took much less time than its planning.
Today I need to do better around my boy, too much sugar and having to wait 13 hours til he got to do the activity he wanted was not a great combination. I need to show appreciation for the unexpected ally, another Mum, who helped me get some of his needs met. It's a constant juggle, hopefully I'll manage better today and need to keep reminding myself I'm not on my own.
... Had a marvellous morning, lots of fun time with my lovely boy, helped by a very upbeat supporter happy to listen to his facts and join in his songs. Yay for not being on our own!!

bridge heaven

It is very very lovely here. I shall try and Bob outside often just because it's so gorgeous. I love this bridge so much.

The waterfall is right beside the house and it's wonderful hearing its powerful noise. I sat awhile watching a branch getting incessantly battered by the water as it pounds over the top, bouncing back each time then getting battered again. Very resilient. Can you see it in this pic?

uptempo

The downside of spending an entire weekend singing Gospel music is that it can be hard to shift the uptempo songs from your head as you've gone over and over them for hours. This is not always desirable when trying to sleep.
But I'm back awake again now (songs still there) and have a ridiculously long list of stuff to crack through before leaving for holiday. I'm not sure of internet access whilst away but will blog if and when I can :D

Yay for internet access! I do miss it when I can't communicate.