apr, 30th - market day...

day 1168 / 267:

thanks for all the comments on the last post....Claya seems to be much better today and take a look, i'm even managing to get a consecutive post out......things are looking up.

.............

as my sister and i strode the labyrinth streets of Rome last week, looking for a specific fabric shop, we stumbled across one of the many food markets. the whole piazza was alive with fresh produce, vocal sellers, vocal shoppers and even a band.

we gave Claya's feet a quick, refreshing wash under the square's communal tap (which she found a bit startling) and then bought a large bag of peas still in their pods and artichokes.....we didn't shop with a clear idea of what we were going to make but because the produce looked so fresh and enticing.....and hey, isn't that what Italian food is all about....shopping as much with your eyes as any other sense.

p.s. Limi stayed at home with my mum to spend some time with her nonno (we know that it should be nonna.....but even without any Italian direction, at an early age she decided to call my mum, Nonno and my dad, Tapa...her very own words for both of them.)

apr, 29th - blog block....

day 1167 / 266:

has this year been a bit of a mixed bag so far for everyone or just for me?.......i suspect that it can't just be me because many of the blogs that i read seem to have been in a similar lull......it hasn't been all bad....in fact, there are many exciting things happening but i just can't seem to settle......(anyone else feeling this?)....i have posts left in draft that i'm not inspired to finish and page after page of photos that i can't muster the enthusiasm to edit....i have todo lists of the todo lists that i need to create....

so, even though the my these lists are crazily out of control.....i jumped at the chance to take the girls to Italy with my sister last week.....i always find it such a grounding place......full of simple things and time spent enjoying views, earth beneath the feet, sun on the skin and of course, family.

after a week, i've come back restored...(although Claya also came back with a bug that challenged my new zen with explosive nappies and impressive puking all weekend).....and i've also bought the simplicity home.....good food, family, hard work and nature....surely that has to be the recipe for settling the soul. let me know if you think there's more to it.

apr, 28th - 17/52....

"a portrait of the girls, once a week, every week in 2013"

day 1166 / 265:

Limi: Limi and Mabel showing us their dance moves

Claya: she loves socks.....this pic shows just how much

we've been in Italy all week which is why things have been so quiet around here. but....it's back to regular posting this week. thanks so much for still visiting and leaving your comments.

you can read more about the 52 project here.

apr, 17th - the chat.....

day 1155 / 254:

Limi asked me the 'how do babies get inside your tummy, mama?' question today. i was so tempted to use some sort of stork option.....but instead,  i completely mixed up my biology and talked about eggs and pollen....oh dear. she didn't seem convinced.

i need time to prep for these difficult questions. any ideas on what she will ask me next?

in other news, my main lens broke and the above, is the result.....i love it.

apr, 16th - 15/52....

"a portrait of the girls, once a week, every week in 2013"

day 1154 / 253:

Limi: baking together is a mixed-bag....i love the idea of separating eggs and stirring batter together but the reality is that after about three minutes it all becomes about what she can eat, lick, stick her fingers in and it then becomes a race against those fingers until i can give her the bowl to lick.....

Claya: she really is the happiest, most chilled out baby with huge smiles and laughing snorts...until she's not.......and then she catches us by surprise by suddenly giving us the saddest eyes and the biggest drop lip....

you can read more about the 52 Project here.

apr, 14th - bring out the sun....

day1152 / 251:

i don't believe in dwelling on the weather...really.....i've always found the continuous discussion about weather in England a tad dull. it's not like you can do anything about the weather. it happens and either you deal with it or you fly off somewhere else (preferably somewhere sunny and dry)....as a Dutch friend of ours likes to say 'there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing'....we tease him a little....but he speaks the truth.

anyway, i do honestly love all types of weather......and as long as you can adapt, i believe that you can have just as much fun in rain, sun, snow, wind, hail and cloud....even with small children.....(although, i am thinking that wellies don't quite cut it when Limi decides that she wants to go and splash in puddles...and we may have to invest in a full galosh-style overall)....

 but this Spring Winter......even i have become obsessed with discussing the weather in London.... it has been one very long and drawn out Winter that has supercharged the flu bugs and left half the city with a hacking cough and a miserable demeanour .

there seems to be a glimmer of hope this week that Spring is finally here....and i for one will be grateful to move onto a different topic....come on Spring, give us something else to talk about.

p.s. these pics were taken a few weeks ago at a very wet Columbia Flower Market {see day 634}

apr, 9th - 14/52....

"a portrait of the girls, once a week, every week in 2013"

day 1147 / 246:

Limi: she loves imaginative play....most evenings we have to make food for a collection of her soft toys friends, she rides her horse aeroplane/ car/ buggy to far-flung places like South Africa, Thailand, Australia and she still has her own thunderhooves in her tummy (although since she's been introduced to the concept of twins, there are now two thunderhoovesies in her tummy).

Claya: she has mastered sitting, rolling, growing teeth, blowing impressive raspberries, gecko impressions, a high-pitched squeal and even going from lying to sitting and back again.......but she's getting very frustrated that crawling is still evading her. it's more of a tummy squiggle at the moment although i think that proper crawling is not far away......

some 52 portraits that caught my eye last week - electronette and little buckles .... i always want to spend more time perusing the links at ché and fidel.....but the next week seems to steam around before i get a chance.

{you can read more about the 52 Project here.}

apr, 6th - our weekends....

day 1144 / 243:

these are a couple of pics from our latest weekends.....

^^ on Easter Sunday, we had planned to join an Easter egg hunt amongst the flamingos on this roof garden in West London but Limi fell ill. i wrapped her in my scarf but she was still very pale and not really into finding any eggs (i have to admit racing a seven year old to an egg with a covetable sticker on it so that I could take the prize back to a very sick toddler sitting on her Dadda's lap). so anyway, after claiming our bag of popcorn, we cancelled lunch and took her home instead. ^^

^^ everyone seems to be full of the joys of Spring in Hyde Park. this grey-haired lady amazed us with her long boarding skills. ^^

^^ we also visited some of our favourite markets and favourite friends. ^^

i hope that your weekends have been just as fun lately. x