Living in your season...

The first eight verses of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 describe various, seemingly opposing, seasons that we may face in our lifetime, such as a time to tear and a time to mend, or a time to plant and a time to pluck what we have grown...and so they go on. 

This year, I have come to realise that many things I used to do with ease, now require much more strength, time and energy - yet I have still been pushing myself to do them. This week I was needed to care for my grandchildren (and their new puppy) a few times, and it is such an enjoyable time for all of us when they are here with me for the day. I prepare food, set up activities, and give them my full attention until it is time for mummy to come and pick them up. The children shower me with laughter, love and hugs, and always look forward to our next visit. I feel so blessed to be their Nana.

There was a time when I could visit with them almost every day and still be fresh and energetic, but the time is passing, and over the past year or so, I have needed more recovery time after their visits. 

Another thing which is noticeable is recovery time being needed after working in the garden, deep cleaning the home, or spending a day in the kitchen preparing meals in advance and baking bread. 

Growing up, I watched my Nana and Pop working hard each day - Pop to provide for us, and Nana to create a tiny comfortable home with nourishing meals to fill our bellies - but I also watched them relax at the end of the day, and especially on Sundays. When the work was done, it was done. Nana did not write herself a list of things to do the next day, or concern herself with what the morrow would bring. Instead, when the dishes were done and her apron was hanging behind the kitchen door, she would sit with Pop and I to play a game, or drink iced cordial on the front steps while we children in the street played and the neighbours walked to and fro to chat before the sun set. 

The rhythm of their life was slow and steady, rarely changing, and to my young mind it was a life of surety, simplicity and delight. Nana was just 51 when she and Pop became my parents, a time in life when her child-rearing years were well behind her, but neither of them shied away from the responsibility of becoming 'parents' to their 3yo granddaughter who had just lost her mummy. 

I can look back now and see that they were quite intentional about drawing me in to their slow-paced quiet life, and perhaps its why I still prefer peace and quiet rather than excitement and people and noise. By the time I was a teenager Nana was 62 and Pop had retired. Their lives slowed more, and again, I was drawn in to that precious quiet, that wonderful day to day rhythm of doing what they'd always done, even though by now both of them had dropped a few pastimes by the wayside. I realise now that they were adjusting their life to what they could still do, rather than pushing themselves to do what they'd always done before. 

And that's what the Lord spoke into my thoughts this past week, after I had struggled to get as much done as possible during the in-between days of having the grandchildren. 

I heard that still small voice say, "It's time for you to do what you can, but lay aside what you now cannot. This season of growing older is a time to let go of old expectations, and be content with the things you are still able to do."

You know, I was speechless when I heard that. 

It was on my list to write two blog posts this week, but time was not provided to do so. Instead, I was blessed to spend time with family, and be 'all there' with them. You cannot put a high enough value on that, can you. 

Today my husband had a rostered day off work, and we worked side by side in the garden...such a treat. He prepared a new raised garden bed for growing sweet potatoes, at my request, and I was able to replant many of our older bushes into areas where they can thrive all year (they were all in the winter shade and quite unhappy). I also planted a new bareroot rose, a red one called Oklahoma, and now all the roses are in the dry area of the front yard where they get a lot of the winter sun. Some have already come alive after pruning, but the new one, and another that needed a hard prune, will begin to sprout new leaves and stems soon. We're both tired now, but thoroughly happy we spent the day in our garden.

Last night I made a chocolate mousse pie from a recipe in the Blue Zones Cookbook, and it is delicious, so we enjoyed that after a lunch of cornbread (another recipe from the same cookbook) and black bean chilli. 

The recipe calls for a graham cracker crust, but we do not have them in Australia so I made a pie crust using Arnott's Granita biscuits instead. I also make my own almond milk so used that and added some homemade vanilla extract. My husband was pleasantly surprised by the lack of sweetness in the pie, but mostly impressed that it was made with tofu. I used a 70% cocoa chocolate (180g) instead of chocolate chips, and will use an 80% cocoa chocolate next time for even less sweetness as we love bitter dark chocolate. 

Charlie, with the family's new puppy, Tucker. He's 10 weeks old, and already best friends with their older pug, Barney. Our own Kelly-dog simply adores him too, but trying to get a photo of the two of them playing was impossible as they never stood still. ;-) All three dogs love playing together so we make regular playdates at Blossom's now. This week was the first time Tucker had come to visit us...

Back to these changing life seasons...I choose to live in the rhythm of this season of life, not with regret or bitterness about what cannot be done, or my physical/health restrictions, but with gentle delight about embracing the things I still enjoy and can still do, as long as I can. 

I pray that whatever season you are in, you are finding delight in all you can do, and that if you're struggling to achieve more, or attain higher expectations of yourself, that you lower the bar to where you are today, to the season you are now in, and that in doing so, a weight lifts from your mind and you see delight in all you can still do, and perhaps just live a little slower to enjoy the journey. 

May God bless you, refresh you, open your heart to hear His still small voice, and bring His peace to rest in your life. 

Bless you heaps,

Creating a space of comfort, a free stitchery, and family pics...

 

The rain continues, after months of monsoons, and the days are dark. Though this is still our summer wet season, it normally diminshes when March arrives, but this year, March has had the highest rainfall in recorded history for our town. It's still hot (though not as hot as usual in the north Australian tropics this time of year), humid, and very sticky outside, despite the nights of thunderously heavy rain.

But inside, where the constantly dark grey skies rob the rooms of light, I have decided to stop complaining about the lack of sunshiny dry days, and embrace what we have been given. 

This week I changed the living/dining room around so that our very old turquoise couch now sits under the front window, and I've pulled a rug in front of it, and moved the coffee table to be at arms length from it. 

In doing so, I have now created a cosy reading area, near the air conditioner, where I can imagine myself relaxing in a 'real' autumn, like the southern states have.

Upon doing this, I thought about a Jane Austen quote from her novel, Emma, and that I had designed a pattern for this and stitched it a number of years ago, 2016 I think?

So I hunted in my large box of completed stitcheries and found it. Such a perfect quote for times like these, when going out is avoided due to flooded roads and rivers, driving conditions are difficult, and there's a general desire to avoid doing anything outside unless necessary -

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." 

Jane Austen, Emma

With an audio book in the background (no, not Jane Austen, but an Agatha Christie set in the early years), a large cup of tea, some leftover fruit mince tarts from Christmas, and the soft lamplight from my desk shedding a calm light around the sewing room, I began to bring this little stitchery to life as a mini-pillow.

It may not be one you'd throw on the couch, or lean back against when your back is aching from pulling weeds, but its a pretty little thing that could sit on your book shelf, perhaps next to your Austens? Or, as I have found, it's just right, to quote Goldilocks, for supporting a book on your lap as you read. You could make one as a gift for that friend who simply loves a good Jane Austen novel, or just needs a reminder to find comfort in her home?

I was asked recently if I use a hoop when I embroider, and the response is no, I do not. I did try long ago, but it just never felt right, so I would make myself a small pillow and rest the heel of my right hand on it as I stitched, and this (I felt) gave me more control over the tension of the thread, the fabric and the needle, so I've been doing this ever since. 

Now I have this little pillow to double as a rest for my books as I read, and a rest for my hand as I stitch. 

As you can see below, I do love a Jane Austen novel, and I have passed that love onto dear Blossom too. These are some of my collection, but over the years I have gifted Bloss with a vintage Austen (all over 80 years old) from my treasured collection most birthdays. She has them all now, and one day, if Jesus has not yet returned, she will pass them along to her girls.

Is there a space in your home that you could create as a calming place of rest to read and enjoy a tea, coffee or hot cocoa? We only have the one living area, so I had to use my creativity when planning that spot under the front window, and I do need to change the covering on that turquoise couch because I would like a more neutral colour as we hopefully come into a true autumn in another month or so. Fortunately we have a beige waffle weave blanket that would cover it, and it will work just lovely with the beige throw in the main photo at the beginning of this post. 

I also found a lovely scarf to use on the coffee table as a runner, but I must tell you, this is all rather different for me as I've never been a beige kind of person when it comes to colour in the home...it must be this longing for autumn and winter. 

It's a wonderful mental adjustment when you choose to put off the discontent that can creep in during times of change, those seasons when you have no control over so much that is happening outside your door. That's why I cherish my home, for it truly is my sanctuary, and it is a privilege to create a place of welcome and comfort and grace for my husband, and for our family and friends when they visit. Is it easy? Not all the time. It takes intentionality, and purpose - both of which bolster me forward when I find my mind wearied by ongoing challenges. It also means surrendering my will to God, because I can at times fall prey to my own feelings of discontent, but thankfully the older I get, the deeper into the Word I am, the less that happens. Making this small area of cosiness was easy, I just didn't think of it soon enough, but once I did...well, my heart is happy. And content. 

If you'd like the complete pattern for the Comforts of Home (stitchery and pillow with insert as well) it's HERE in my Etsy Shop

EASTER GIFT

With just over three weeks until we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, I wanted to share once again this older pattern of mine with you. You have time to stitch it, and as I have written in the pattern, you can choose to either include the applique border, or leave it out. 

I look at the border as being representative of the Tomb being opened and the cross left empty. Empty because our Lord, who was brutally beaten and crucified, ROSE TO LIFE on the third day, and his disciples found that dark and forboding space which had recently hidden the body of Christ, open and empty. 

If you would like to stitch this free pattern simply use the link below to download it. May you be blessed as you stitch!

DOWNLOAD He Is Risen

I shall sign off today with some photos of Blossom, Ross and the children taken recently. Many of you write and ask how they are, pray for them, and request some new photos...so here they are, in our monsoon-y 2025 so far. The children love to be outside between the storms, and as the family live just near the beach they often escape there to play and collect shells. 

Until next time, God bless, and I pray that if you have not yet found it, that the Lord will direct you how and where to create your own space, or place, of contentment within your  home...

Love, 

You will find my design account on Instagram HERE @jennyofelefantz

And my other Instagram account, just for homemaking, HERE @elefantzhome

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