Wednesday Wonderfuls ...

Wordless Wednesday...



You can never have to much fun at the beach...
Check out more beautiful moments over at Faith Hope and  a whole lot of Love

Lost in imagination


I'm endlessly fascinated by children's ability to create worlds full of amazing nooks and crannies. Mine can be lost for days roaming with dinosaurs or taking high-tea at parties or trekking in jungles or visiting with fairies or saving endangered species... on and on and on goes their childhood voyage.

I've written before about how important I think creativity is in life, so we do everything we can to nurture childhood imagination. Hoping against hope that we find a way to solidify these magical worlds so that they may remain with the tsunamis for life. Their rooms are havens for creating and all inventions are proudly displayed. Paints and pencils and glitter are always within easy reach (my carpets do not agree with this tactic). Within reason, the tsunamis are free to wander and explore their hearts' desire. We talk about night dreams and day dreams and in-between dreams. We break up our routine and let our hair fly in the wind as often as we can.

Will this be enough? Will the expectations of schooling and society mean the tsunamis' unique take on the world will be stifled and lost? What more can we do to help them stay in the vast, endless worlds they create for themselves?

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for helping children hang onto their wondrous creativity? How do you nurture creativity in your own children, or even in yourself?


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wordless Wednesday

can you believe it is Wednesday again?!
enter your wordless blog post below 
& have a happy Wednesday 


Cocktail cupcakes

Cocktail cupcakes - the full set!
Cocktail Cupcakes
Cocktail Cupcakes
Cocktail Cupcakes
Pina Colada & Mai Tai Cupcakes
A dear fried of mine recently asked me if I could make some cupcakes for her husband's birthday party. I love a good excuse to make lots of cupcakes! So, after much thought I decided to make cocktail inspired adult cupcakes with liquor. I went for a Hawaiian theme for my cupcakes as the birthday boy was getting a 1950's Hawaiian shirt from his adorable wife.

My favorites were the strawberry daiquiri ones, made with fresh strawberries and a hint of lime topped with freshly whipped cream and rum!

Strawberry Daiquiri cupcakes, Blue Hawaii cupcakes, Margarita cupcakes, Pina Colada cupcakes, Mai Tai cupcakes.

Have a sweet day!
Adding to our collection...


Busy little hands washing, sorting and spontaneously we started
 counting and grouping the shells by size and colour.



I purchased this little wooden caddy from Spotlight awhile back...we painted it white and glued on a couple of shells and a piece of coral from our beach collection. I use the caddy to store and display our new discoveries.



A coffee jar holding shells  from our weekend at the beach....the twine holds in place a small piece of coral found in one of the rock pools. 
I have lots of activities up my sleeve for this week....a shell mobile for the garden is the
 first one on my list. 

Have a beautiful week wherever you may be...


Spring = Potted Colour!

Years ago, I picked up a large stone planter bowl from a local nursery. I bought some putty and immediately filled in the drainage hole; then added some Water Lillies and other water plants. But my success with my water garden was minimal and I managed to kill every plant. 
When we were moving house, my Father in Law stole the pot and it spent some time as the sheep's water trough before I stole it back for my new garden! For the last couple of years, it has sat empty (aside from rainwater, algae and the odd tadpole) and rather lonely up on the first terrace. 

But today, Fern and I were inspired by Spring and went shopping for some potted colour! First thing this morning, we got daddy to drill some holes in the pot:


Then, we went to the nursery and selected x20 potted flowers in assorted colours along with potting mix... and this is the result!

The flowers will fill the pot within weeks... and we will have a glorious and colourful display all Summer long! Hurrah! Next, I want to fill in the section around the bowl with some low, silvery shrubs. I am so motivated now its getting warm -- my thumbs are all green-like! I think another trip to the nursery this week might be on the cards...