::inspiring Mondays::

Arriving home by Little Miss Joey

Today is Monday (sometimes I like to tell you something you don't know!) and the sun is shining and life feels filled with wonderful things. LMJ had a good day, so there you go, Mondays can be good. And when the sun went away and life caught up a bit with LMJ, Dad calls. 

Dad: I have news. You know how your cousin P is getting married in September? 

LMJ: Yes, we talked about it. 

Dad: Well, it's not that. 

LMJ: Right. 

Dad: Your cousin R is going to be a father. 

And all of the sudden the sun is shining again and life is one big promise of good things and little people.

When my cousin-nephew A was born I knew very little about knitting and had no interest in sewing for little cute beings that grew at fast speed! I see him twice a year and he remembered me like the one that squeezed his belly and left on a plane that he got to wave at, which made it kinda fun that I left. Until he became 4 and then 5 and now 6 and has a little memory of his own; I can still squeeze his belly, more because he lets me now rather than because he has no choice, and he makes drawings for me and suggests I make an effort to draw for him as he's only just learning the alphabet so no long letters, please! I look at him, so little and with no cousins to play with and can't help but think how fortunate my childhood was. I had my Little Brother and cousins with whom I'm close with to this day. I know who could get the best oranges from the neighbour's garden and who was best at building tree houses with Grandma's quilts and who was the best at computer games and play mobil and beach F1 rides. I know all that and sometimes forget we have a lifetime of intimacy and shared treasures and my little cousin-nephews have just me reminded me of how lucky I am! Oh, and I'm now a capable (really?!) knitter and quite like quilting and other baby things... and now I have someone to do it for!

:: a new baby in the family in a few months ♥♥♥

:: my family!

:: sunshine

:: change. embrace change. I can do it.

:: my friends. for is never enough to mention them here!

:: softball practice. funny!

:: sunshine.

:: the smell of spring!

How was your Monday? Did you have a good beginning to the week? Sunshine? Good news? I hope so :)

::inspiring Mondays::

There is sunshine. I'll keep the early morning frost and cold temperatures to myself and share with you the fact there is sunshine. Plenty of it. Filling my bedroom and my soul. The thing about sunshine is that you only realise how much you've missed it and how happy it makes you when you have it and you're all smiles and funniness and bright eyes and happiness!

I'm still living off Paris memories and photos, not least because going through all the images is taking me a while. These last few weeks have been filled with photographs of past moments and future building and decision-making. See, when you have the Atlantic Ocean to consider when you want to cuddle up with your other half (ie LMrJ, if you haven't been keeping up), some things need to change, and believe me it won't be teleportation!

Oh well... more deep thinking for later as today is sunshine and Father's Day in Portugal!

:: my Father. Always on the end of a phone for LMJ and Little Brother!

:: sunshine! sunshine! sunshine!

:: photography

:: my bike, all neat and tuned and lovely, taking me places

:: LMrJ.

:: Miss E. or cococita, if you prefer.

:: coffee. the smell of coffee.

:: my friends. I am one lucky LMJ!

:: Europe. I love Europe!

:: sunshine, oh yeah!

How was your Monday? Promising, exciting, sunny? Or none of those things? Spring is quite literally almost here, two days to go now... I'm going to grab it!

Spring is coming...

::inspiring Mondays::

Little Miss Joey is back to the blog and daily routine. It took me a while to settle, to look at my room and feel at home. They say home is where the heart is... mine has currently left me and is being looked after in a distant warm land, possibly getting the tan I don't have. 

While I sit here looking like a dead squid, I'm that pale, the seasons change and change. Spring has arrived, I'm pretty sure it has. Spring in the UK is beautiful, just beautiful and if you ever have a chance to experience it, I'd suggest you grab it with both hands (possibly even your feet!). After a long winter, spring comes and life immediately feels better and promising and filled with incredibly happy things. The days are longer and one can actually enjoy a pre and post-work daylight time. Amazing!

:: daylight!

:: daylight!

:: daylight! 

:: memories of Paris. and photos. ♥

:: Mamma Mia! The play, in London. Absolutely fabulous! 

:: homemade bread.

:: sushi.

:: friends. again and again, my friends are the best! 

:: my bike, all nice and tuned ready for spring.

:: Spring!

:: mimo!

I missed the blog. I missed photographing and illustrating a post and thinking about your lovely comments and following you back to your blogs and reading about what you're up to. I missed it all and I like to be back! I will slowly start to catch up...