the thrill of slowing down

pic from madebygirl

This is my first experience of 'summer holidays' and I have to admit that I quite love them. Early mornings sprawl into warm & slow afternoons. The afternoons trickle into still, reflective evenings where the night air is gentle & doesn't bring with it the doom of the next day at work. I feel fiercely lucky to have such an experience & definitely don't allow myself to forget the feeling of returning to the daily grind straight after Christmas. I used to watch oblivious dawdlers saunter into wherever I may have been working at the time and feel an awful envy. They strolled around blissfully with watch-less wrists, browsing and moseying while I grumbled internally behind the counter. I shouldn't have been silly about it because now I've got my turn & I am trying to make the most of every precious second. Being an early riser, I am able to squeeze a lot of hours from the day & today has been one of my favourites. Mr man & I hopped in the car & headed for the shady green Adelaide hills. We trotted around, looked in some b e a u t i f u l bookshops & ate a late brekky at a darling cafe under the trees. I didn't intend on writing about the day but happened to take a quick few snaps before we headed home. 

we may or may not have found some amazing secondhand books to bring home...!

such a beautiful summers day beneath these incredible trees

Petunias? Yes please!

Recently, I have begun to recognise that I possess an annoying habit of getting cross with myself when I have a day where I don't 'achieve anything'. I am trying to teach myself that it's OK to just plop around sometimes. I really want to enjoy moments of said plopping rather than scolding myself that is has been wasted time. Today, I may not have achieved great & noteworthy things but I am slowly learning to just appreciate a beautiful day, regardless of how much may or may not have been accomplished. I need to remember that I do work hard, I try my best to do the right thing & that I am entitled to a selfish day of not-muchness every now & again. Looking through some incredible books & admiring gorgeous gardens & scenery, today, filled my head with fresh ideas & inspiration. That in itself can never be labelled as wasted time. We are constantly surrounded by the message that 'doing' and 'fast fast fast' is good but I have decided I am flipping that message the bird! That's not to say that life will suddenly become a big lump of nothingness but there is a distinct difference between laziness and quiet recharging of the soul battery!!
Tonight, I am diving headfirst into a big art-space clean out... 'Wait!', you exclaim! 'What about your big boring spiel about it being OK to not DO anything?!'. Well, I am sadly one of those freaks who finds sorting & rearranging cathartic & enjoyable so I'm doing it for that reason alone ;)  My shoebox sized apartment is uncomfortably warm but armed with watermelon & Bon Iver, I should be able to sweat it out! Tomorrow is New Years Eve. The day after is 2012. W o w. It is so nice to say I have a fuzzy feeling about the new year & am determined to make it one full of meaning, drive & passion. 
May you have a loverrrly weekend. And as for this year? Remember the good, learn from the bad & look forward to new adventures with an open heart. Happy New Years Eveing.  
xx

Imagination

"Reality takes a lot of imagination."

— John Lennon

not so silent night

The unmistakable sounds of my family celebrating Christmas. The laughter & loudness & silliness. The peace that fills the rooms when everyone stumbles bleary-eyed and full-bellied to bed a lot later than intended. The goosebumps of happiness. The mix tapes. The food. Oh, the food. The worn out dog that watches us through droppy eyelids, wondering what on earth all the fuss is about. The wrapping paper strewn from room to room. The bliss of waking in my family home the next day, knowing holidays stretch ahead & the days are truly mine. I can be sleepy & slow, legs tucked beneath me, reading in the sun. Or I can use this time to feel reenergized & rediscover my creative mojo. The choice is mine & the choice is lovely.

Happy Boxing Day. It is my favourite day of the year. The end of some things & the beginnning of others. Be safe. Feel loved. Throw your head back & laugh just because it feels so good. 

Much love & peace,
Jessie Lee 
xxx

4.12.11

A weekend of soul nourishing sunshine. Mum's cooking. Laughter with friends. Sunday morning at the outdoor markets. The discovery of a truly squee-worthy blog. An afternoon to start Christmas painting projects in the backyard. And new fishie friend who I have decided looks very much like a George. 

let yourself sit by an apple tree..

 

 

"Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could."

— Louise Erdrich

The Nook

'The Nook'. The most beautiful little corner of the world at my Mumma & Pappa bears. 
I have come to realise that going home is the best medicine. Even when you didn't realise you needed it. 
xx

sweet november treasures

this tiny pot & I were destined to be friends

mustard owl candle. score.

the poor lady that was selling these postcards got so sick of watching me trying to pick the ones I wanted that she offered to sell the lost for $5... it would have been rude to say no!

another forlorn little deer

they may be incredibly tiny, but these little ladies were my absolute favourite find at the markets a couple of weekends ago. They are so quaint & so perfect.

I like pretty bowls to put things in. Especially ones that have lids.

These A D O R A B L E little pups were snapped up & cuddled all the way home from an early Saturday morning boatshed market raid. They are guarding my front door pots & are so lovely to see when I come home from work. They look super old & their blemishes make them all the more charming.

Who couldn't love this little face?

Something to hang *squee* 

I took a liking to these old beer coasters. There were hundreds of them from someone's lovingly kept collection. I chose these 4 for their colours and prettiness.

Really diggin' that purple.. mm mm

A deeeelightful vintage Sarah Moon mirror that was an absolute steal. I am meant to be putting her in our growing pile of things to sell at our future market stall but she just looks so lovely in my living room....

My Mr's Mum came to the market too & she kindly found this for me. I abolsutely adore it. Can't wait to find a lamp shade for it & put her in a special pozzie!

A little polish & this darling wooden carved box will come up a treat

special mini treasures

I found this tiny ceramic house with my favourite number on it. Things so cute can't be left behind..

Some incredible art books from the Boat Shed. The 'English Lakes Watercolours' was too quirky to put back & for only a couple of dollars the paintings in it are soft & beautiful.

Definitely a favourite find for the day :)

Blue & white. Oriental design. Love.