Friday, June 28, 2013

A Winter's Day











Tasmania is very dedicated to her four seasons and that is one of the main things I love about living in this place. As much as Autumn is my very favourite season, there is so much to love about Winter here too - the blanket of fog that hugs the valley in the mornings, the naked trees along the river, the crisp air and the pale blue skies - all signs that Winter is well and truly here. It's cold enough to have the under-floor heating on with a few granny blankets on your lap but not cold enough to stop any of our regular daily activities, which is a good thing when you have little boys with energy to burn. On the days the boys don't have Kinder, we sometimes pack a lunch and either go to the beach or for a play along the river in Richmond. Flynn is getting a little too heavy for the baby sling and so walks with him in the pram along the river are becoming more popular. I don't usually take my camera but I did last week to capture the beauty of Winter in Richmond. 

Sorry things have been a bit quiet over here. My In-Laws have been staying with us for the past 8 days, which is why I have been absent from the laptop. Not because I have been horrendously busy entertaining them but because I have actually been busy doing absolutely nothing. It has taken me many years to be get used to this arrangement but I now view their visits as a time for me to have a little break, something I don't get very often aside from weekends when my Husband is not at work. My In-Laws live interstate (as do all of our extended family) and so they only visit us a few times a year but when they do we are extremely grateful for their help. My Mother-In-Law loves to come in and take over cooking duties and clean and spend time with the Kids while my Father-In-Law spends the days outside ticking things off our 'to do" list. She said her Mother-In-Law used to do the same for her and now she wants to do the same for me. Isn't that nice? She is super practical. I have not cooked a single meal or done any cleaning in a week. I have spent time with friends during the weekdays without the Kids, I've had the odd nap during the day to catch up on sleep, read some books, done some knitting and tomorrow night the Mr and I are going out and won't have to pay for a babysitter. Such a treat. With four boys of my own I'm wondering whether I'm cut out to be able to offer the same to them and their partners down the track or whether this is even a tradition they might be interested in. 


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Things will be back to normal after the weekend, which will hopefully mean more regular blogging. I have missed this space and checking in to see what you all are up to.

Hope you all have a super weekend! 

Mel x

P.S Don't forget to make alternate arrangements if you are a google reader fan. It is ending on 1 July. I'm on bloglovin so you can click over there on the sidebar to subscribe to my posts with Bloglovin or you can subscribe by e-mail. I don't think you need to do anything if you read blogs from your blogger dashboard, as I do. You will tell me if this method is fraught with danger though won't you? I really don't know. How do you all read blogs?

P.P.S Oh, and wasn't the Supermoon amazing the other night?






27 comments :

  1. I read via google dashboard as well, and although I've not heard anywhere that it is gone togetehr with google reader, I've also not heard that it is staying for sure... So, I've copied all the names of the blogs on that list and crossed my fingers. Beautiful pictures, the very first is my very favorite.

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  2. That first image is stunning....enjoy you free time, it won't last long! :) x

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  3. I will never tire of seeing pics of that stunning view of yours. Enjoy the rest of your in-law's visit. My mother-in-law used to come and take over, by which I mean she'd do things like decide I kept my knives in the wrong drawer and so switch my kitchen about. I used to spend a week after her departure putting everything back where I actually wanted it to live!

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  4. Your mother-in-law sounds amazing. I sometimes wonder what kind of mil I'll be. It's quite different being granny to your daughters children than your sons I always imagined. And, I thought, staying n your daughter rather than your sons home, but maybe not! i suppose it depends so much on personalities.

    I'm going to miss google reader! I love the simple format. I signed up to bloglovin but not lovin it yet! Gorgeous photos as always xxxxxx Sarah

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  5. oh what wonderful wintery pics....my in laws are just 5 mins away for the first time ever...took some getting used to as previously we would only get to see them every second year! its lovely, after 15 years I am finally getting to know them and the kids adore having even more family to spoil them!. ive used bloglovin forever so no real changes for me. enjoy your wintery weekend. Al x

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  6. Gorgeous pictures as always ... the moon is stunning ... and how lucky are you to have such lovely in laws ... relax and take all the help you get ... Bee xx

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  7. I think you have a lovely attitude of acceptance towards your parents in law and so you are able to see all the blessings of having them around and enjoy their company. Even up here in Queensland we have four seasons too...a bit differently played out to yours but I have grown to notice and enjoy them as well. We had a frosty morning last Tuesday here.

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  8. Richmond is so beautiful - love your photos Mel xx

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  9. I read through my Blogger dashboard as well, and receive a few by email. I have a Bloglovin' account and will use it if it comes to that. I really like Google Friend Connect and hope it stays. I think your in-laws sound very well-meaning but I understand it can be a little disruptive. My in-laws are very similar to yours; they actually come to the US for about 5 months each year (their permanent home is in New Zealand), and we see them a lot during that time. Your photos are beautiful and I am so intrigued to see wintry scenes while it's 100 degrees where I live.

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  10. Your relationship with your mother-in-law sounds wonderful! But it's that first photo that really astounds me. I can't get over how beautiful it is! You're very lucky :) x

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  11. Lovely blog post and gorgeous pics, thank you. Karla xxx

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  12. These are gorgeous shots Mel - and love those beanies! cheers Wendy

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  13. As a mum of four with no extended family nearby, I do fully appreciate those occasional visits by my family. To be able to have half an hour to myself or have the night off from cooking is a rare treat. Gorgeous Tassie Winter photos Mel. xx

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  14. My mother in law is fab too. She is always wanting to do things to help. Love your photos.

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  15. What a lovely mother-in-law, willing to give you time to rest, catch up on things and relax! Your photos above are just beautiful Mel. We have fond memories of our day spent in Richmond when we were last in Tasmania. I too read my blogs through my Blogger Dashboard so I haven't as yet done anything really in regards to other readers...

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  16. Your winter pictures are beautiful! It is so odd to be preparing for the heat wave we are going to be hit with this week, thinking about you in Tasmania snuggled under your blankets. I'm so glad you have had such a nice break. What wonderful in-laws you have!

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  17. Your boys look wonderful in their hats. How lovely to have a break. My Mother in law passed away nearly two years ago, and my Mum moved back to Bristol at the beginning of the year. I miss the little breaks that they used to allow me.

    One of my best friend emigrated to NZ three years ago. I still can't used to our seasons being back to front!

    Leanne xx

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  18. Look at that stunning super moon. I was so looking forward to it, had been counting down for weeks and what did Sydney cough up? A torrential sky with dark, dark clouds. Not a moon to be seen... maybe next year.
    I love Tasmania in winter, (actually I love Tasmania in every season, but never mind that.) I also love the sounds of your mother inlaw, I'd love one like that!
    Enjoy your last bit of quieter time. xxx

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  19. Lovely photos Mel, from the looks of the reed beds and the ducks on the water it seems like you live about a few hundred yards down the road from me - it all looks very English!
    How wonderful to have some time off, I certainly hope to do that kind of thing for my kids (if they want me to) as it's not been available to me.

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  20. All of our family is interstate too. My mum is visiting at the moment and it is great to have a dedicated extra set of hands with the kids. We have a mutually agreeable arrangement - when she is here, my mum does no cooking (except the odd cake or biscuits), but does all the washing up and keeps an eye on the kids while I cook. It suits us both :)

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  21. Amazing moon shot Mel
    Great feature in the paper today too - good luck!!!
    I wish my mother or mother in law would come and do that - - sounds fabulous

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  22. I love the image of the fog. It makes me want to sip a hot cacao while looking at a view like that. Your in laws sound amazing. Xox

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  23. Oh Mel, stunning photos! Especially that one of the boys in their woolly hats in the low winter sun. I love the changing of the seasons and don't think I could live anywhere which didn't have clearly defined seasons. Your mother in law sounds pretty amazing. I view trips to stay with my in-laws as a little break - it's so nice not to think about what to cook for dinner.

    I also use my blogger dashboard for 90% of my blogs and bloglovin for the others that don't use GFC. I hope that doesn't change any time soon! xx

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  24. I just live your images they are amazing. My mother in law was just the same, sadly we lost her 2 years ago to cancer. I miss her so very much and it is so wonderful to hear that you have such a great mother in law too. Yes it might well be tricky with four boys!! Enjoy your time off xoxo

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  25. Lovely photos. Your arrangement with your in laws sounds great. I find it hard to let go and accept help (when things are not necessarily done the way I like) but am getting better. It is nice to have a break from time to time.
    I've been using blog lovin' for a couple of months. So far, so good

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  26. Just wanted to say hello. What beautiful, beautiful photos, am feeling very uplifted. And many congrats on the building plans too, that's fantastic... and the time will pass so fast it'll be here in no time. And one day we'll come to visit!!

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