northward we went for our spring break to the sand and salty sea, rainforest treetops and my mum's sunny garden. there was sadness as we said goodbye to the girls and my love, the apple tree just about to bloom, knowing we might miss her in her springtime dress, bees abuzz, bringing life and warmth into our yard after winter's rest. not knowing how niamh would travel. she cries everytime she's in the car, me reaching back so she can feel my hand. a talking book made the trip fly and niamh did beautifully napping her and there but happy to have her sister right by her. it was happiness to see meme and papa, cousins and aunties. i barely glimpsed zahra for a week as she played with her cousins. we ate fish and chips by the seaside and zahra took her first dip for the season. it was windy, too windy. i find the wind trying. it whisks by and takes my energy and patience with it. i found a sheltered walk around the cliffs while the girls ran with the seagulls and built sand castles. there were late nights and bicsuits with tea, lots of tea. i love that about staying with my folks, tea all day and big breakfasts with juice and oatmeal, eggs, bacon and toast, everyone around the table starting a good morning together. i lolled in the sun reading in the garden and got sunburnt. niamh was passed between grandparents and sister, cousins and aunties. so good to see everyone. nonno and nonna came to visit and we lunched at the old local post office. i got out by myself and browsed the bookshop. there were dates with zahra and lots of handholding. we walked through the treetops of a rainforest listening to the birds. i didn't know heights made me funny in the tummy. niamh cut her first tooth and realised she could roll from here to there to reach things. there were backyard picnics and icy cold mornings. oh we had such a lovely time. goodbyes are always sad.
one of my favourite things about coming home are the hello's. hello to my love, hello to the girls in the yard, hello apple tree with it's branches alive with blossoms and honeybees busy on their rounds, hello julie the hermit crab, hello garden, hello home. watching zahra rediscover the nooks and crannies every time we return from a trip away makes me smile. and so we didn't miss the apple blossoms. the david austin's are ruffling their petticoats and smelling delicious. bearded irises have replaced the bluebells and daffy down dillies. blueberry and raspberry flowers make me look forward to summer. little plums are starting to weigh down the branches. we came home in time for the long weekend. a weekend of marking out a new and bigger veggie patch, tree climbing, chookie cuddling, bbq's and the the first alfresco dinner. home to my kitchen and a renewed inspiration for being in the kitchen and cooking warm weather foods. home to a spare room that was secretly decluttered and furniture exchanged. a room where william and i can now work side by side creating. a new bookshelf for my fibres and books, notebooks and threads, lino cut tools and notions. a clean desk with fresh flowers from zahra. a new space that invited me to sew straight away, a 'new' summer top from an old dress. a visit to our patch of bush on the hill where the chocolate lilies and milk maids have carpeted last summer's burn scars. home to our own beds, the four of us bunking down in the one room. home to the possums scratching in the roof and the girls waiting at the back door each morning squawking for the their breakfast. home to the laundry and other daily chores. home to our daily rituals and rhythms. home is good.
