Words cannot describe how stunning today is. It is 27 degrees (84F) and bright. I woke up early this morning and did three loads of laundry, had breakfast, baked a batch of cookies and made some spiced nuts for a care package i’m sending to my aunties and cleared my pantry. By 11am, i was feeling very fulfilled, especially since i had done things rather than sitting in front of the computer clicking on a hundred blogs- blogs i love but still, it takes up time and makes me so tired after.

I walked to the post office to post the package and heard a violin being played in the house with a circular window. The sun high in the sky, the breeze blowing just so and the violin- it couldn’t have been more perfect or right for this Wednesday afternoon.

It was a beautiful morning, reminiscent of the first warm spring day. I sat outside enjoying the cool breeze and sunshine, reading a magazine.

We had a very relaxing easter long weekend. Easter Monday is a holiday in Australia, which made the weekend seem neverending. Although we had originally planned to go away for a daytrip, we decided to stay in Sydney and enjoy this beautiful city. Swims at the beach, breakfast at my favourite cafe, a visit to the beautifully designed Donna Hay general store in Woollahra where we got some Lavender bath salts (i wish we could have afforded their wonderfully scented $90 candles!), buying a soudough loaf, baking hot cross buns, watching movies, reading books, visiting with friends, cooking and spending quality time with Jon all made the weekend incredible.

I was a little bit sad last night knowing that i would be spending today without the sparkling company of my husband but it is indeed lovely, now, to reflect on the memories of this weekend past.

I hope you had a wonderful easter.

It’s been a long and very tiring week of teaching for me. Jon hasn’t fared much better- it’s 7:15 in the evening and he’s still at the office, working 11 hour days to meet deadlines. Still, there are many things to love this week:

The crisp autumn air. Cool mornings and nights and beautifully warm in between.
The sun on my back as i walked home this afternoon.
Listening to the fallen leaves crunch under people’s feet.
A long, hot shower.
A pot of chai, half a grapefruit and two lemon biscuits for tea.
Beautiful purple flowers we bought last night at the supermarket.
Being at the supermarket at 10pm, the aisles empty and a sense of adventure in the air.
Jon giving me a footrub last night after a whole day spent walking around in boots.
Reading a magazine (Last year’s autumn edition of Donna Hay magazine i borrowed from the local library).
Finding lots of new things to cook in the coming months, including plum cobblers, chorizo and rice soup and fig and walnut bread.
Listening to Sting’s Fields of Gold. Love, love, love.
Being alone at night- cooking, baking, reading, listening to music i love whilst anticipating Jon coming home later.
Wrapping myself in a warm blanket.
Witnessing my friends’ children getting baptised last night in the ocean bath i swim in.
Having coffee, crackers and chocolate with everyone after.

And so many, many more…
It is good to be alive.