Happy.. Sad.. Happy..

This year has been such a rollercoaster of emotions.  So many of our friends and family have been touched by tragedy or ill health this year.  I did not expect the turmoil of losing my business, or the unexpected hand of hope from Close to My Heart.  Despite his age, I wasn't ready to lose my grandfather.  It has certainly been a year of mixed emotions and December looks set to be no different.  On the night that my little Maddie Moo turned four, a very good, dear, old friend said goodbye to her sixteen year old son.  I cannot even imagine that heart break.  Keelan's funeral was on Friday so the kids and I took red balloons to Bushland Park and released them in his honour.  It seemed right.

We went to the bakery to celebrate with icecream, which is kind of wierd, but kind of made sense to my kids.

Because I have been working full time this week (and next) the house looks even grottier than it usually does, and I feel pretty blah about life in general so I find that I am enjoying the few spaces in our house that do look nice!  The kids decorated the tree (and while it might not be department store pretty there is a lot of love on that tree, and lots of memories too!)

 My friend owns a lolly shop and she kindly saved up enough boxes for me to finally get my fabric scraps sorted just like in Amanda Jean's book "Sunday Morning Quilts" - this small thing has made me ridiculously happy.  I love my crafty room so much. It really is my happy place!

 This is still my favourite spot to retreat from children and read a crafty book or magazine!

 And this is what my kitchen dresser looks like in its Christmas finery.  I have several "Christmas" collections which Preschool kids have added to over the years.  There is a collection of reindeers, santas, angels, and Christmas teddies, and also a small collection of snowglobes!

 I bought two gorgeous little red lanterns at Ikea and also these white tin pots.  Our climbing "Sympathie" rose has been covered in blooms since Keelan's death - everytime I brush past it I am reminded.  Don't they look stunning in this pot with the aqua wall? Red and aqua (what is not to love?)

 I did a weeny bit of dusting and putting away and this is what the top of my bookcase looks like now.  I LOVE the apocathery jars of floss and fibre, and can you see my beautiful wooden spindle? And the collage of Italy that my photographer friend made for me when we travelled there as teenagers? And my grandad's old box brownie?  Oh, collections of favourite things just make my heart happy.  So there you go - happy..sad..happy.  It is bittersweet this funny old life of ours hey?