A Mumma's musing for mother's day.

With mother's day approaching I have been thinking lots about the "mother" role. My own mum has not been well this past year which has really brought home the reality of aging and the inevitability of a life without a mother figure one day. There has also been the fact that I am a mum now with 2 growing children, what that means for me as a person and how it affects my own sense of self. Amidst all the thoughts and rambles in my head I realised two things, two rather cool things.

The first thing was I know a lot of mummas! I know a lot of mummas and I know a lot of different mummas! I know mummas who are easy going and mummas who are strict. I know mummas with happy kids, struggling kids and kids somewhere in between. I know happy mummas, over joyed mummas and mummas who are pulling our their fricking hair at the insanity of their lives. I know financially secure mummas and mummas who have financial struggles. I know mummas with husbands, without husbands, with boyfriends and with wives. I know skinny mummas, large mummas and mummas with a muffin top. Young mummas, old mummas, breastfeeding mummas and formula feeding mummas. I know mummas who can't wait for a night out on the town and mummas who struggle to leave their babies. I know mummas who homeschool and mummas desperate to find the "right" school. Mummas who stay at home and mummas who work. Mummas near, mummas far, mummas who co sleep, mummas who can't sleep. Mummas with great support, mummas who feel alone. Mummas who sing, mummas who cry and mummas alive and mummas gone.

We all know a LOT of mummas and us mummas are no doubt a mix bag of all of these and more. Being a mum has been one of the most intense roles I have ever experienced and somedays it can feel like I am in motherhood bootcamp where the coach has just made me throw up, but still expects me to run 10km. Ummm so what was the second thing I realised? Oh yeah - well it's simple really - despite popular cyber / viral criticisms, inner insecurities and the well used phrase amongst us of "I'm such a bad mum........." I have never actually met a bad mumma in my life - all those mummas I know and not a bad apple amongst them. Hey maybe that means I'm not such a bad mum afteral and nor are you! Happy Mother's Day all my funky mummas out there!

My Noisy Boy picture of the week!

Australian Photographer and mother of 3, El Hogan, is a definite winner of my internal "My Noisy Boys" photo contest. This sums up my little boy to a tee - who has been getting really into his lego and small figures just recently. Mumma is happy for him to be operating small obsessions on things that involve some sitting and quiet concentration - who knew such things were possible. This photo is from a very cool selection of photographs called "Kids were here" and you can see more of her work on her blog el hogan photography and her facebook page.

A Noisy Boy montage from Tuesday Photography!

Today I would like to introduce you to a fantastic little photo medley of Noisy Boys photographed by Loni Searl at Tuesday Photography right here in the Cowichan Valley.











I think she has managed to capture nearly every emotion my noisy boy rails through each day (read hour, minute). The picture of the noisy boy crying over the cake has got to be my favourite - I think that could've so easily been a picture of me at my 40th birthday party! Loni tells us:

"I love photography. I have since I was 7 years old and got my first camera from a McDonalds Happy Meal. What did I want to be when I grew up? If you asked me at 7, I would have told you, smiling ear to ear, "I want to be one of those people who bags your food at the grocery store! And a mom!" Well, it turns out, what I really wanted to be is a professional photographer, and a mom! So with this turn of events, my camera has become my best friend... well, other than my husband, and children, and... okay, one of my best friends.
I now have two amazing kiddos. My daughter, Rosa, is just about 4 years old. When she was a wee little baby, she had this happy, high-pitched screech she loved to share at random times. It would stop people in their tracks looking around for what on earth had made that epic sound! Yep, my little girl. And then I had my son. Our little man, Joby, turned 1 a few weeks ago (see him completely terrified of his cake in one of today's photos). Is he noisy? Well, you know, not really! His cries are low, his demanding voice manageable, and his babbling just plain wonderful. The kicker is when boy and girl decide to play. Their favourite game? Screaming wars! Yep, I know all about noisy boys... and noisy girls!
If you'd like to check out some of the other noisy boys and girls I've had a blast photographing, head over to www.tuesdayphotography.ca. Or fire me off an email through the "contact" page. I'd love to chat!"

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tuesday photography | cowichan valley wedding & portrait photography
www.tuesdayphotography.ca
tuesday photography is wedding and portrait photography by loni searl, based on vancouver island, british columbia,

Mrs Eliot Books

I would like to introduce you to a fellow Brit's wonderful designs over at Mrs Eliot Books. Francesca Iannaccone's funky prints somehow manage to be both whimsical and modernistic all at the same time. I had to buy her "hearts" modernist print the moment I saw it and then when I read that she managed this business whilst working around 2 noisy boys I just had to get in touch. In Francesca's own words:

"I run mrs eliot books from my office (aka mummy's work room) in my house that I share with my husband Ben and our 2 noisy boys, 3.5 and 7.

I really try and stick to my working hours which are 9 - 11.30 every morning (yes, not really long enough to run a creative business) but sometimes I have to do printing and packing after school.
They're pretty good about it but they do like company, so I am often seen sneaking up the stairs on my tip-toes hoping nobody's noticed. That usually lasts around 5 minutes and soon they are they are there, spinning on my chair, wanting to use the computer, and popping all my bubble wrap. Ho-hum...I have realised over time that trying to work with kids around is really hard. And not very fair on them. So as soon as they're old enough, I will put them to work in the packing department ;-)"

I think all us creating mummies know the "sneak off" move all too well and also know that it is a guarantee for a "mum hunt" and "destroy" policy - at least that is the case in my house. SO I shall leave you with just a taster of what Mrs Eliot Books has to offer and recommend you go visit her website, etsy store or facebook page for more designs to drool over.






facebook.com/mrseliotbooks
http://mrseliotbooks.blogspot.com/
http://mrseliotbooks.wix.com/surface-design

Even on a misty, rainy day.....

Even on a misty, rainy day it is very easy to find beauty on this island. I still cannot quite believe how gorgeous it is where we live - we are ridiculously lucky (assuming there isn't a major earthquake of course). It was nice to find a spot that was perfect for both noisy boy and unsociable dog without Mumma having to worry abt either of them (for a change). It was also the perfect opportunity for me to practise taking pictures with my the new toy I got for Christmas from hubby. It is a Canon Power Shot SX50 HS which currently means not much to me as I am still on "Auto" function, but wow the shots are already quite stunning. I am hoping to get myself set up for a day course with the talented Kurt Knock sometime soon and then hopefully I can get some better product pictures in my store - some of the ones I have taken are really quite shameful.

Happiness in a Hutch

Is it wrong for one corner of my house to make me so happy? I LOVE my hutch - the colours just make me swoon some days and when the rest of the house is filled with the junk and mess from the kids, husband and dog - it is to my hutch I turn and say - one day, one day the rest of my house will make me swoon. Right now in my life I must plough through the plastic crap, the forever muddy paws, the over loaded laundry, the suspiciously sticky furniture and the interesting smelling rubbish bin, but I know a time will come when things will quiet down - and I will be able to move around the whole of my home and feel this same contentment. What corners of your home are all yours?

My Noisy Little Girl

Today was supposed to be the launch of my weekly, Friday feature, "My Noisy Boy" picture. I have a variety of crafters, photographers and more waiting in the wings to show you their interpretation of noisy boys, which I thought would be rather fun. However it seemed more fitting today to pay homage to my poor, poorly little girl who has contracted the Chicken Pox (as expected) and is currently head to foot in rather awful looking spots. Today has been the worst day for her so far and I am hoping that this is a sign that things will start to improve tomorrow (trying to be the optimist). On another positive note - we have been cooped up in the house for 3 weeks now and once this has passed we can hopefully join the real world again (how are you all out there?). My girlie is still trying her best to smile her way through it all. When she is comfortable she is learning to blow us kisses and balancing on her feet in anticipation of walking soon. She is 10 months now which is hard to believe and has been such a joyful addition to our noisy family. After spending 80% of my midwife appointments in fear and tears of starting over with another baby - having a second child has been the happiest decision we could've ever made. Life isn't dull and some days are overwhelming, but one big cheeky smile from the little woman or a listen in to her and the Noisy Boy sharing a laugh helps me to remember that all will be good. Well that and the litre of wine waiting for me after they are in bed!


Thank you so much Sarah from Smiling Rain Photography and Vintage Props for the wonderful pictures you took of the whole family (what a fun photo shoot that was - for a camera shy individual like myself I had no idea taking family portraits would be such a laugh). I will be posting these throughout the weeks and do pls check out her work at http://www.smilingrainphotography.com.

Ramblings from the House of Pox!

Ok to say I am an absent blogger would be an under statement. I have been so lapse with keeping this up along with my laundry, personal filing, exercise regime, healthy eating notions and a whole ream of other items on my "to do" list. I am currently trying to figure out which items on my "to do" list are in fact "to shoulds" and if so which are "good shoulds" (would they make me happy - I should take myself to the spa more, I should spend more time in my studio) or are they really "other people tell me I should" (all those guilt driven items that make me cringe when I see them). I don't think I will really up date you from where we left off as life has pretty much been predictable with new baby, 4 year old issues and daily life commitments. We were however supposed to be on a plane today with the whole family to embark on the big "Poppy Tour" so that family and friends of both my husband (Ontario) and myself (England) could meet our new bundle. That trip has now been cancelled due to the poor Noisy Boy contracting Chicken Pox (despite immunization). I was disappointed to say the least and heartbroken when breaking it to the Grandmas And friends - but today - I have to say I am more reflecting on the words of Mike Jaggar when he said "I can't get no...satisfaction"...ha ha, no ..when he says "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime..you might find..you get what you need". What I have needed since Poppy was born was calm, peace and space for our family. What I created for myself was stress, busyness, more stress, exhaustion and various forms of mild sickness. Life with 2 kids is busy - it is rather inevitable - life with 2 kids and a self-employed husband whose busy period is April - Dec gets somewhat stressful, life with 2 kids, self-employed husband and a limited company year end gets even more interesting and then add in a house on the market / viewings, a small craft business, Christmas, a need for social interaction and you end up with a life that feels a little like some high speed car careering into a wall. I have never enjoyed "busy" - I know some do, but I like steady - I like to start and finish one task before I move onto the next. When I see a job that says the applicant must enjoy tight deadlines and multi-tasking I run a mile. When I worked in a little Deli before I had Jack I remember a woman asking me abt how I had moved here etc and then she gave me a big nodding smile and said "and are you busy?" as if being busy was the goal I should have, a definition of happiness. So here I am today on my fifth day of quarantine with the boy, the girl, my husband and a lot of time, space and peace. Maybe I had planned a wonderful trip rushing around with the kids to see everyone and do everything we could in a month - maybe that had been what I really wanted, but maybe the fact that we haven't really stopped and spent much quality time together, alone since Poppy was born - means that a good bout of contagious chicken pox was what we needed. It is funny when I look back on rather momentous occasions or decisions in my life - many of them do come from a very easygoing process. They are not the decisions that I worried over and fiddled with endlessly. I decided to travel to Australia after watching a documentary one day and there had a fabulous time and met my future husband. I agreed to marry my husband after one month of distance dating. We moved to BC from Ontario after a quick phone call to my husband at his work - "we should move to BC" I said - after a slight pause he said "Ok". We bought this house (after viewing what felt like hundreds of homes) the first day we saw it - in a town we knew nothing abt, I wrote "I love it" on the details within a second of being inside and my husband has built his whole business around answering an ad "gutter cleaner wanted" 7 years ago. The list feels endless when I mull it over (I have the time these days) and it makes me smile, it makes me realise that life doesn't always need to be this frantic, forcing of worries and decisions - sometimes life has a way of opening paths for you without you even knowing. I guess the trick is to try and quieten down the day just a little, if you can, just to check and see where some paths maybe opening up for you. We will get to see everyone we need to later this year - I am sure - "we will re-build" as they say, it just won't be the plan we had in mind. We will just try and enjoy this quiet period of time together, focus on getting the boy (and maybe the girl) well and enjoy the sweet little packages that arrive on our doorsteps from our dear friends here!