When I grow up ...

Out of the blue, Magnus said today ...

'Nella, when I grow up, I want to be ... ... ... ... a elf!'

Later as we played under the peppercorn tree, he was really busily searching for things and told me he was looking for something I couldn't understand.  I asked a couple of times what it was .. and he said, 'A fa-koon ... I'm looking for a fa-koon.'

I asked, 'What's a fa-koon Magnus?'  He said, 'You know ... one of dose sings when a calla-pillar turns into a butta-thly.'

I also witnessed and encounter between Ted and a 'baby' that made me smile.   Ted noticed a toddler ... maybe 16 months or so, walking away from his parents.   This toddler was a good few centimetres taller than Ted.  Ted announced, 'I'm going to get that baby.'  He ran over, put his arms around 'the baby' to pick him up and bring him back to his parents and realising he couldn't do what he'd set out to ... he stood back, looked at 'the baby', who looked right back at him, leant in and gave a huge hug and a kiss and said, 'Bye!'

The parents nearby were aware of the whole thing going on and couldn't quite get over Ted.  

The Great Thunder Goddess ...

G

Oli was back from Bali so there was lots of catching up to do ... though the only thing Oli wanted us all to know was that he'd been to a wave pool ... which I later found out was in Darwin!

In just over a week, the Oak tree has all greened up and is lookng gorgeous.

K-man with a flower for his mum ... don't think it made it to the end of the day, though boy was the love there when he found it!

Classic Oli ...

Frankies paradise ... lots of green and lots of flowers and no one rushing to do anything other than enjoy them ...

Ella on a mission ... with a hand full of flowers too ...

The gorgeous Oak tree looking mighty like the goddess with her head back and outstretched, heaven bound arms ...

... and there we were at the front gate at the end of the day, snacking and chilling as we waited to greet Kulja, Helene, Elizabeth and Cyrina.  A rumble of thunder callled low and long and all little heads lifted.  One voice piped up and said, 'What's that noise?'  A long still moment later and Kornelius says thoughtfully, 'I think my mums coming.'

As I registered what I'd heard my mind boggled, I looked down though and saw that Kornelius had just noticed Helene's care across the road and was on a totally different wave-length to all the other children who were tuned in to the thunder.  In the moment between what I'd heard and what I saw ... I had a thousand hilarious thoughts run through my mind ... 'Helene the Great Goddess of thunder' soon arrived and it was plain to see that Kornelius had been looking forward to mummy love and smooches ... no thunder at all.

Slippery little snails ...

Down in the vege patch on Wednesday afternoon, Ella and Frankie found some snails.

They had an absolute ball picking them up ... soon realising that small hands and lots of snails presented a problem ... you can only hold a few.

This wasn't a problem for long.  Both girls in pink raincoats started putting them on their arms.   Five or so snails on each pink arm.  There was lots of laughter and excitement and wonder spilling over, as the snails poked along exploring the path they'd been lifted onto.

As we walked back up to the farm ... the snails wandered under arms and across backs and it ended up only a few came all the way with us.

As we headed into the barn, Ella called to me with total excitement in her voice, 'danella look at me.'  I turned to see what was happening and this is what I saw ...

Well that was a first ... and gave us all such a laugh.  Ella was totally excited by the snails on her face.  She was trying to watch them without loosing them, her blue eyes all lit up and at times crossed as she tried to watch, her cheeks rosy and her whole body radiant with delight.

A quiet closure ...

There was a very quiet little closure to the Tuesday group this week ... and sharing the day were Dan, Mac and Frankie.

By mid morning we found ourselves having covered the miles, having had lots of fun and climbing trees ...

What happened out of this is what was most needed I think ... we ended up in the schmooziest of huddles in the Witches Garden ... it was very gentle, deep and steady.  Three  beautiful children, lots of hugs and closeness and all enjoying just being together in the gentlest of surrounds.

It feels like a farewell without fanfare this time round ... and sort of feels the best way for this day to close.   In time I look forward to seeing some of the children join on other days of the week ... and wish Daniel only the best.  He's smart and a quirk ... a gentle soul too.  I've felt enriched deeply by him in these last weeks together.

Take a peek at him later in the day.  We'd gone in to visit the goats.  Dan noticed the ground was warm as he sat down on it and said, 'Hmm, I'm going to lie down here.'   He did, and then saw me with the camera and hid his face with a laugh.

Dan whatever Claire and Sam choose next for you, I wish you more space to grow and be you and good friends to share the journey with ...

Touching clouds ...

I find there is something quite exquisite about this little gang on fridays.  They are each a little shy in some way ... each more likely to wait to be greeted than they are to greet sort of thing ... and we've found the most beautiful way to connect at the start of our day.

It usually starts with me connecting with one of the children and drawing them in closer, finding out how they are and what's happening.  They usually end up on my lap or up close and together we greet someone else. As this little wave of love between us increases, the next person is drawn in close and on we go until we are all in a huddle with a bounty of love being shared by all ... hugs and touches and up closeness ... then giggles and laughter and more.   It is quite something else ... starts gently and builds to a soft crescendo of gentle joy and feeling safe and knowing we all belong together for the day.

This morning was no exception and we stayed in that space of feel really good with each other and didn't move out from it for sometime.

When we did, out day couldn't have been more full of beauty and wonder, cooperation and love than it was.

Early on we headed down to the vege patch to collect some spinach to feed the chickens ...

... and trooped off up the path with this, hearst light with joy.

Jyra kept adjusting her spinach so it was up like an umbrella over her head and sang her little heart out the whole way we went ...

Feeding the chickens was only a joy...

Job done and the gravel became our treasure to create with ... Jyra and Ted quite tenderly together alongside the other children too ...

Ari and Jyra had heaps of fun just trying to fill their pockets at one stage ...

... and Dakota who had tended her creation the whole time announced, 'Danella, look ... a sunflower.'

We even encountered a love heart shaped hole in the ground as we walked as if the whole world was telling us that's what our day was made of ...

The windmill shadow moving fast as the wind blew the blades above was fun for ages ... 'Let's get on,' called Dakota.  'O.K.' replied Magnus and they all enjoyed mother natures ride ... sometimes running to keep up with it, others jumping off to see if it would stop ... 

Visiting the worms nearby came next ...

The rest of the day was spent in the witches garden in total harmony, immersed in imaginative play and picnicking.  It was an incredibly beatutiful time with some extra special moments thrown in.

Ari was chatting to me at one stage and as he looked into my face from up close, he started making a noise ... holding a long note a bit like toning as he looked me in the eye.   I joined him and made the same sound back which he LOVED.  All of a sudden we heard a little noise and turned to see a Magpie that had landed right next to us and was watching curiously with it's little head cocked as Ari and I sang our song.   What a compliment really, a visit from one of our master songbirds.

Later in the day, Ari came up to me and said, 'Nella I don't want to play anymore.'   I asked if he wanted to lie down and see what was in the sky.  We were under a beautiful canopy of gum trees and I spread the picnic blanket and lay beside him.  As soon as we looked up, we say a butterfly.  Ari was quite taken with this and we watched the minah birds chase each other and the wind rise and pick up in the leaves and the wisps of clouds gather and drift by.  It was very beautiful and very gentle and one by one the other children stopped their play and came to join us until again we were all in a huddle sharing beauty and love.  I can't tell you how palpable the love and appreciation between the children was.  Then out of a still quiet moment when we all felt connected to each other and what was happening in the sky, Magnus gave a sigh and said, 'You know one day, I want to touch and cloud.'  'Me too Magnus.' replied Dakota and we all knew exactly how they felt.

Understanding time ...

Kornelius was really happy to share with me all he could about his trip to Sydney.  He was super excited to tell me he went on a plane and when I asked him, 'Was it day time or night time when you got on the plane Kornelius?'  He stopped and contemplated and answered, 'It was 'go time' because were going to Sydney.'

Two faces of the little goddess ...

Watch out for 'piders ...

A lot of very gorgeous things happened today and here are some to share with you ...

We visited the goats early in the day and they were pretty funny.  The little ones are testing the waters in all sorts of ways.  'Goat dancing' as the ceremoniously size each other up for a head butt, bouncing around and falling all over each other and so full of joy at times that all you can do is laugh.

Archie was Mr. up close and personal.  He was really into patting and hugging and often standing right in the middle of the whole family, just loving the close contact ...

Down the back of the goat paddock, one little kid bounced past and took a leap into the air, off all fours and sort of danced and twisted in convulsive style while it threw itself about in the air before landing on the ground again.   Mac and I were the only two who saw that.  We both looked in disbelief at what had just happened for brief second and then burst out laughing and when Mac saw that I had seen the same thing as he just did, he laughed even harder.  It sought of felt like in relief because he'd just seen something quite phenomenal and there was no way he could have told anyone about it.  Me having seen it too, solved the problem there.

Guinea pig cuddles were a good time for schmoozing with each other and Frankie opted for no guinea pig and just a schmooze.

After picnicking and taking out time, we all headed off down the back with apples in our hands to find some horses.  The trek was great.  Everything that could distract us did, we took forever, had heaps of fun and puddles were a great source of joy.

We finally found the horses, who were frisky and full of micshief so there was some great gallops round the paddock to watch and lots of loud neighing to be awestruck by ... and of course ... they LOVED the apples.

My reading glasses were discovered and tried on ...

Mac decided to paint the nearby fence.  Hands in the mud and off he went dilligently 'painting' and having a ball ...

Hmm .. mm these hands of mine are a bit sticky now ...

'Look 'nulla'

At this point in the day, we were right down the back of the farm, it was fresh and quiet and the children were really happy and we just plonked where we were and played for ages.

One by one, everyone had a turn in my lap, wanting to be held and hugged and sung too.  Dan actually lay down with his head on my lap as relaxed as could be for about 40 minutes listening and watching and quietly singing to himself.   He was really at peace.

Archie and Frankie together are like big honey bees.  They are really sweet, really happy with each other and love taking hands and strolling.  Archie reached out for Frankies hand today and she happily gave it to him and when the found and hold that worked, they both beamed at each other for a good minute or so.  Frankie then said, 'Let's go for a walk.'  Archie agreed and off they went ...

All of a sudden, Mac announced to me, 'I'm a red 'pider,' ... and moved his arms really fast.   Archie looked and added, 'Well, I'm a blue spider.'  Frankie chimed in with, 'I'm  a yellow spider' ... and they played being 'piders' for ages.  It was a busy, fun game and when it came time to eat, I asked Mac what he wanted and he said, 'Flies' ... so I was then instructed to make 'Fly soup.'  My conversation about this with Mac went like this.  'O.K. I'll make the soup, what would you like put in it Mac, onions?' 'O.K.'  'What else .. carrots?' 'No, 'piders don't eat carrots.'  'O.K. What about tomatoes?' 'No, 'piders don't eat tomatoes.' 'O.K. anything else?' 'Just flies, lots of flies.'

Then three little 'piders, one red, one blue and one yellow all sat and supped on a bowl of fly soup.  Mm..mmm 'twas delicious.

So where was Dan all this time, this was all happeing while he lay on my lap ... watching and singing and playing with the grass and very chilled out and at peace.  It all just felt very good to him.

The wind picked up, the sky darkened and raing drops started after this, so we headed to the stables and met up with more horses ... with a stop to huddle and pat Pebbles the cat ...

  ... before finding our way back to the barn to wind up the day.

As we got ready to go, Archie said from behind me, 'Nella, look at this.'

I turned and saw ...

When Cath came for Frankie, Archie ran with a great sense of purpose to the basket where our bags were and was looking through it intently saying, 'I can't find, I can't find ...'  As Iifted Frankies bag up and asked him 'What can't you find Archie?'  He grabbed Frankies bag with relief ... went straight  to Frankie with great respect and handed her just what she needed before heading home.  He'd known she was going and all his little heart wanted was to take care of her and help her on her way.

What a little gentleman and a beautiful note to part on.