It’s been a hectic few weeks. Tonight I’m finally playing catch up with the ever growing collection of socks I keep ignoring when folding the washing. It’s a peaceful enough job, especially if you have company on the phone.

I recently had a particularly fun evening. Poppy scooped a handful of petroleum jelly out of a tub, and ran shrieking around the house wiping out over everything. Rose was napping in the bedroom so I put Poppy in time out in the bathroom for 2 minutes. She was not impressed about this and locked the door in protest. When allowed out, her hands were too slippery to unlock it. I grabbed a screwdriver but the lock jammed! Fortunately Star was visiting and climbed straight through the window and into the sink like a champion, saving the day.

Speaking of sinks, every evening when we brush our teeth together, Poppy insists on putting the sink plug in and leaving a little pool of water “for my leopards”. I have no idea what the leopards are about, but sometimes it’s best not to argue.

We had a lovely time out at the local waterfall recently. Winter had been dry but it finally rained enough to wet the creek briefly which was fun.

In and around the big things in our lives are these little ones, cooking meals, hanging washing, looking for opportunities to have adventures or learn something new, to wonder or find gratitude and beauty. It’s very hard work but also such a good life, so wanted. The joy is in the details, these so forgettable tiny moments of day to day life. Making a starfish together from playdough.

Chopping ingredients for dinner together. Sitting on the couch with Rose at the end of a long day and holding hands. The little squeeze that says I see you, and I’ve got you. The highs and lows of the big dramas of our lives, and the little bumps and dips of the daily mundane world. They all add up to something incredibly precious. Life lived deeply, breathed into, not flinched from or dulled down.

Here it is, my little girl brushing her teeth and carefully making a pool for the leopards. Washing the same 10 mugs for what must surely be the millionth time. Making time to cry when there’s sad news. A hot cuppa and a journal to write in in a quiet moment. Talking with a friend online. Noticing how beautiful the clouds are, the feel of sunshine on your skin when hanging yet another load of washing. A stem of jonquils from the garden, filling the whole house with perfume. The last winter rose and the first winter lily. Going to bed at night with a very good book and a very fluffy cat. This is a very good life.