You can't drive past The Faraway Tree

Today we drove to Cabarita for Bug to sign on to Nippers for the year. As we were driving she said "oh we must stop at that tree" I vaguely said "can we on the way home?" without seeing the tree but also not feeling safe to pull off the busy road at that point, "OK on the way home". On the return trip she remembered and pointed out the tree on the side of the highway. It was one of those magical trees that adults drive past every day and don't actually see (unless they have a fairy in their car who can spot magical trees obviously).

Now I love climbing trees and have climbed many in my years but this was truely the most fabulously magical tree for climbing I have ever encountered. JJ found a special nook just right for a 'pixie spiderguy' and there was even a very shady branch for a very shady character ;) For Bug it was the Faraway Tree from the book that Willow is reading to her. For me it held delight and wonder... unlocked secret parts of my childhood self.

Nestled between a highway and a sugar cane mill there is earth magic in the form of an Old One.

A day in the life

When asked what a typical 'unschooling' day is like I often think about a day, perhaps like today, which is only typical in that it is totally random. For the purpose of future reflection I decided that I would occcasionally blog our 'untypical' unschool day....

A day in the life Tuseday

Today we woke up at around 8 am together in our family bed. When Bug opened her eyes she instantly remembered her dear friend Nim was sleeping over. Usually Nim gets in our bed during the night when she sleeps over but for the first time she woke up in Bug's bed where she started the night. JJ woke when Bugsy moved to get up and they ran in and jumped on Nim. The Dad man 'Willow" and I could hear them telling stories and laughing as we fell back to sleep for another hour. When we rumbled out of bed JJ, Bug and Nim were far in the backyard on the swings and in the sandpit. I made smoothies, miso and avo on rye bread and tried several times entice children inside for food. Giving up and draining my cup of tea I packed my shopping bags into the car and headed out the door to the organic market. Just as I was leaving the little people's hunger pains forced them inside to eat.

I drove along the winding road to the market listening to JJJ loudly and enjoying the rare treat of driving alone and wishing I had another cup of tea :) After gathering enough fresh green things, sweet red things and scrumptious other coloured, local yummy vegetable things and stuff I drove home eating 2 apples on the way. Not caring that apples sometimes make me fart!

I was greeted in the driveway by JJ in his spiderman suit, Nim wearing a black leotard and goggles and Bugs in a tutu all grabbing at the food and running off with a capsicum each (or red bell pepper as Nim calls them). I made Willow and I a salad and the kidleys a plate of snacks and tried to persuade them to join us to eat. They had managed to get under our trampoline (which is tricky becasue it is dug in and at ground level) and so they ate under the trampoline in a hole in the ground.

Willow headed off to work after lunch and I did washing, cleany type stuff. Nim's Dad came to collect her with lots of tears and begging to say she was whisked away and I cuddled my sad littles for a bit.

Deciding the day was way too yummy to stay at home we packed some guacamoli and carrot sticks into a basket and decided to drive somewhere we had never been before. We drove along in the country and spotted a lamb on the side of the road. Finding a safe place to turn and go back we were hoping to help it back into it's paddock. When we arrived we found it had already managed to get back in it's paddock so we hung around the fence for a time, watching the lambs have 'milkies' and dreaming of buying a mini sheep for our backyard.

We headed off again and turned down a road we have never been down before and over a little bridge. We stopped and explored the river bank, seeing a king parrot, wild ducks and other birds. JJ collected flowers and Bug became a fishergirl. We ate the carrot and started thinking about making homemade chocolate chip icecream.

We left for home after a good explore via the health store to get organic cream and chocolate for our icecream. When we got home we made the icecream and munched a fair bit of the chocolate and then Bugs and JJ had a long bath. Bugs wanted veg soup and a sandwhich for dinner and JJ wanted pesto with squid ink pasta and a sandwich. I had the soup and pasta leftovers so I just made a big salad sandwhich as a side dish and tried to discourage the dancing while eating. (due to the recent incident when JJ vomited becasue he was breakdancing during dinner.) Reminding him about that instantly caused the boogying to cease al least for the duration of the meal.

Bug read a pile of books to JJ and I in bed and JJ fell asleep having some breastmilk. Bugs then gathered her ritual plate of snacks (cheese, strawberries and cream and cucumber) and rooibos tea and we snuggled on the couch and read Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince until 9 ish. After brushing her teeth Bugsy playyed with her mermaids on the couch until she fell asleep.

I plan to wait for Mark who will be home from work at around 10.30 pm, have a small galss of red wine and try that icecream! here he is now :)

The Natural Bridge

We have been exploring and eating icecream with my cousin who is visiting from London. Honey and almond icecream at Cabarita with a walk and a swim. Pistacio icecream, swim and wlk to the lighthouse in Byron Bay. Macadamia nut icecream in Chillingham after a treck to The Natural Bridge

A Secret Special Spot

I was driving with Bug, JJ and another little fairy girl ysterday and we came apon a delightful spot. We followed a muddy track down a steep slope and gorgoeus swimming and exploring place opened before our eyes. The three little people immediately took all of their clothes off and started a game where they were native people of the area finding food. We all swam in the very fresh water and came home feeling we had made a fantastic discovery.

We all felt sad that the Dad man had missed out on the fun so Bug came up with a plan. We got up early this morning made some food to take and blindfolded Dad. We drove to our spot and tada!!!

Trip to the big smoke

Since Bug and Willow's return from their journey JJ has wanted to have an adventure... involving transport. A plane trip was not really possible so we decided on a train trip to the city. "Where it is very big and very busy!" We had big plans involving a movement workshop for Bug with the Queensland Ballet but the reality of taking 2 kid on trains and buses meant that we a bit late and missed that part of the plan.

We did however have a fantastic time in the State Library where there is a very cool corner with art and craft, puppets, boxes and pretty special thing to do. The littles were more into riding the escalator than the art in the Art Gallery (much to my chargrin!). We met some good friends in the museum for some more escalator action (with walkie talkies!) and a look at the museum Zoo exhibition.

Now I have sucesfully made the trip and know my way there and back safely I plan on making a habit of city adventuring.

Peace

I have travelled a long and winding road these last days and I am amazed to find a place of peace, waiting for me. It is tucked inside, keeping me warm and safe....

I am almost used to making a pot of tea for one now and I have nearly stopped wandering around Bugs room touching her precious things and clothes.

Today we picked some sweet corn from the garden, steamed it and then ate it on the trampoline.

JJ made a playdough machine today which he wants to leave on the table for Dad to see when he gets home... I took a picture just in case some tidy person comes and pack it away.

Spreading her little wings

Welcome! This is a place to share, record and to reflect. I hope to post about making art, including our family's adventure with unschooling..... and, well anything else that takes my fancy....
I am missing my little bug today. Only 5 and already on her first sleepover. After a homeschool meetup at Durrumbal Hall she decided to play at her friends house. It turned into a second attempt at a sleepover and I expected to see her at bedtime. JJ (who has just turned 3) cried his heart out and demanded we return for his beloved sister on several occasions but we both made it through. With a heart filled with separation and worry I went to bed, a part of me welcoming the spreading of her wings but feeling her absence like a stone inside. I woke up alot during the night, roaming and tossing around. Interestingly I was up at 3 am and 5.30 am which I later discovered were the times she woke up and needed her sleepover family for some support.
I asked her how she felt when she awoke and she said she could feel Mama's love all around her and saw a white light and rainbows around her. :)