picking up sticks...x

We were on the way back home from town after collecting Jazzy from drama class and gathering a few supplies for dinner.

Jazzy was full of stories from her day; Pumpkin props, naughty kids, hot chocolates with out milk, rehearsals, swings and popular popcorn.

Miss Pepper, eyes closed, exhausted from a late night the night before at Indi's school production, had long given up trying to get a word in between Jazzy's.

And as I drove them, and listened, and mmmmmed, my head was filled with election worries, what to make for dinner, finding time for half an hour on my new/ancient garage sale freebie exercise bike, how glorious the early evening light was and whether or not I have planted enough onions.

And then it occurred to me that by the time we got home, the fires would have gone out and the house would be cold.

For a second I felt annoyed. Country life is dirty and so terribly time consuming. How easy and neat it would be to simply push a button for heating. How much more time I would have in my day.

But then, as I drove past our house and up into the forest near our back gate I changed my mind quickly.

The late afternoon spring sun was coming low through the forest trees all dappled and sparkly. Everything looked wonderful and magical and beautiful.

We three got out of the car and spent the next 10 minutes or so gathering kindling. Each of us collecting arm fulls of sticks and then together making a pile. Each of us in our own spaces and mostly silent but for the snap of twigs and the crowing roosters down the hill.

A small pile of sticks. A medium pile of sticks. A big pile of sticks.

And just like that we piled the pile into the back of the ute and we were done.

And as I drove us and our kindling back home, I realised that the bit I had thought of as irritating ended up being my favourite part of the entire day. I felt lucky to have had it.


Are you having a nice weekend?
What's been your best bit so far?

xx