Sunday, July 20, 2014

Snow Chasers



Holy Mackerel! I don't know why it has taken 3 weeks to get back into this space but I suspect it has something to do with the School Holidays, a Dance Eisteddfod, and the military precision that has been required to coordinate the social calendars of millions of children. It's all been a whole lot of fun.

However!

When we woke up yesterday with just our own 7 members of the family sitting at the breakfast table with no extras coming and no one going, I said I needed a day off. A day off from decision-making, a day off from ferrying kids here, there and everywhere, and a day off from the home and all the things that call me to action. Top of my list was a hike in the mountains.

It was a picture perfect day with blue skies and winter sun. As we crossed the bridge we noticed Mt Wellington had received a dumping of snow overnight. "Snow! Let's go up there!", they all screamed. "We can make Olaf snowmen!" Every man and his dog was going to be up there and I just really needed a day away from people. I needed a day for the 7 of us to reconnect again.

We headed to the Hartz Mountains where we were met with a little piece of World Heritage Area and not a soul in sight. The fog rolled in so we saved the 4 hr Hartz Peak hike for another time but enjoyed a rather magical alpine walk to Lake Osbourne. The look on Flynn's face when he walked in snow for the first time was priceless, a smile plastered on his face the entire time.



Back down at sea level, it was all blue skies and sunshine again. We had a late BBQ lunch and a game of soccer and as the saying goes "it's all fun and games until the soccer ball gets kicked into the river!". We headed home with tired legs, full bellies and a Mum who nodded off in the car, her tired mind finally having the space to relax now that it had been cleared.  It was just what the Doctor had ordered.




34 comments :

  1. gosh it looks so beautiful and so cold!

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  2. What a fabulous day! That'll set you up for the week ahead.

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  3. Your photos are beautiful Mel. I've never seen snow before, not even frost.
    Hope you're having a restful Sunday too,
    Sarah x

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  4. Looks like a fab day. My kids were hoping for snow here last week (we only get it every couple of years), but I was pretty happy it didn't come. Though if I had been able to go out for a walk I might have enjoyed it too!

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  5. The photos look amazing and I love the one of you with the kids all rugged up and the littlest with a big smile on his face...........and yes, you need a day off as well even though you would have been the one organizing and packing....out of the house and some cold fresh air recharges the batteries. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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  6. Snow! My boys would love that. They have yet to see and touch it xo

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  7. I've disappeared from blogland over the holidays too :) Your adventure looked wonderful (and cold!!) I love all the photos of your cuties, especially Flynn's oh so happy smile. Glad you had the opportunity to spend some precious family time together and to escape from the to-do lists of home life xx

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  8. Sneaky naps are good Mel. Not sneaky because you snuck it in, but sneaky because it snuck up on you. Especially after beautiful days like this. So lovely.
    (Especially love the shot of your boys, and girl coming up behind them. That's a cracker of a shot.)

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  9. What a perfect day! Snow, family and a nap...it can't get much better. One day we will hike our lot up to the top of the only mountain in WA where snow falls - before it melts. I can't wait to see their faces.

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  10. How wonderful, it looks like you all had an amazing day. And what beautiful blue skies at the end. I'm so glad you're feeling refreshed, it sounds as if it's been really busy for you lately. We've just started our summer holidays here in England, and it's so nice to stop all of the rushing around to everything. CJ xx

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  11. Oh how I love a day to clear the mind. Sounds like you really deserved it. A perfect battery recharge. Bee xx

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  12. It looks completely wonderful Mel - and what a nice hat! Jane x

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  13. Lovely photos of the snow and your happy family. Glad you got a day off from the too-busy holiday schedule, and hope you get some quieter slower times to recover as school goes back!

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  14. Well, I never expected to see pictures of you playing in the snow!! I am glad that you enjoyed it. xx

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  15. I love images of the snow, but the coldness - not so much.

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  16. Look at all of you in the snow! I love the big grin on Flynn's face. You were wise to know you needed time to reconnect as a family. :-)

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  17. Such a lovely outing for the family. Your kids are so cute and they're really growing. I'm glad you had a nice family day.

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  19. Oh My! You are living in Frozen!!!! That looks much better than car wrangling with the brood.
    As for the social lives....it gets busier as they get older!

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  20. It sounds like just the day you needed. I know exactly what you mean, that need to get away from the house with those you love the most. Usually I love to be at home but after a few weeks it can become stifling. I hope you felt better for the mental and physical break. Also - so lovely to see your local area under snow! x

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  21. Good to hear from you Mel, I was hoping all was well.
    What a wonderful day you had, not exactly a day off but some time out. I can't imagine playing in the snow and then having a barbecue all in the same day - there would be 6 months between those two happenings over here!

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  22. Such stunning scenery! I love the facial expressions on everyone's beautiful face. Soccerball sacrifice? Sometimes it has to be made!

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  23. Hey Mel,
    I'm glad you were able to take the walk and hang out with your lovely family. We did something similar here on Friday evening. It was just so good to be with Marc and the boys, and come home with a head clear of stuff. Your photographs are stunning. I love the one of Flynn and your husband!!
    Here's hoping that this week isn't so frenetic.
    Leanne xx

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  24. Sorry about deleted post before, brain-finger fail. Sounds like you had typical Hartz NP weather. We tried several times over the years to find the peak in sunshine and only achieved it in January last year. Have you climbed it before? It was our Best Walk Ever: absolutely magical with the most spectacular views over the south west. It was pretty busy though, we came across, oh about 20 other people over the four hours. Solitude in winter is lovely, but the conversations we had with the other walkers were great too!

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  25. I have just spent ages drinking in your snow pics. It's 30C here, really hot for North Wales, and way too hot for me, but now I feel just a wee bit cooler :)

    All your kids are gorgeous, but Flynn's smile ... that's going to flutter some hearts when he is older!

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  26. Dear Mel,

    What a wonderful day and absolutely amazing pictures. Days like that are so precious. Days of just being. Together.

    Take care!

    Charlie
    xx

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  27. That is a wonderful way to reconnect. I love the contrast between the mountains and the sea. Sarah x

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  28. it looks truly magical, and the perfect way to recharge. I love the saying "holy mackerel" haven't heard anyone say it for years! x

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  29. You all look very happy Mel! I am glad you had such a lovely time as a family. Holidays can be hard work when all the children go off to different clubs/sleepovers/adventures. Cx

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  30. Love that you still get out and about in winter Mel, we are the same. If it's not wet we will rug up and head out, otherwise cabin fever sets in. Such gorgeous photos of your family too! What a great time, you all look so happy! x Dre

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  31. and suddenly I want to move to tassie!

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  32. Beautiful, crisp, clear, Winter Wonderland snaps. Looking fab Mel. Tassie is too pretty by far xo

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  33. SO EXCITING MEL! I know I talk to you on IG but I want all the background too! So so beautiful. Reckon you could open your own B&B one day when your little ones are grown up - such a beautiful place you live in! What plans have you got up so far? It will be tremendous, looking forward to seeing it all come together.
    --littlekarstar (aka Mrs Bok)

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  34. Argh! Sorry Mel - don't know why my comment went onto this post instead of the other one! SORRY! x

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