She'd make a Good Friend

a long time ago...and it is quite scary to think it could be more than 18 years now...as i arrived in a big new city to begin my university adventure i will always remember my mum whispering to me "she'd make a good friend" as hilary walked in to the kitchen.

yes mum.

i was probably half listening. scanning round faces and gazing out the windows at the different world i'd chosen to be part of. (manchester you excited and scared this small-town-girl in equal measures!) listening to a hundred different accents and trying to catch what music was being played in the room next to mine. but you were right.

i really can not imagine now what it was like for my parents to leave me there that evening. driving me from  the other side of the country...and leaving me really for the very first time on my own. even though i had been a child who went to boarding school and so was no stranger to being separated from them this time there was no one to be in charge of looking after me.

it is safe to say that i was pretty much oblivious to what it must have taken for them to say goodbye and go.

so seeing a tall pretty and warm-smiley girl walk in to the shared kitchen with her own lovely mum was something i am sure now made my own mother sense a little bit of protection to be had in a potential new friendship.

and naturally we became great friends. some people are there all the way along...you may not see them often but you hold them close to your heart. and i think it is wonderful now that i can look back and think that we have shared some monumental times together. dancing at the hacienda...dancing at each other's weddings.

and now we can delight in our babies! i can not wait to meet wee oscar for real.

4/52

elsa...talking to the girl in the smeary mirror. you kiss her and make her laugh.

where have your curls gone? shiny spun hair whipped up most days now.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

3/52

elsa...this morning you woke up next to me and said "am i 3 now?"
and at last i could say yes!

we've had such a lovely day. highs of the dolls house and cake and candles. so much snow. singing. and then quiet times staying cosy in the big bed.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

brilliant number three top from the brilliant tinkers and belles.

Old Beads New Threads

time to put new life in to a lot of pretty old things in my collection...i think some neon is in order.

Happy Heart

how good to hear a dear friend had her baby boy...he kept us all waiting.
welcome to the world little o!

2/52

elsa...a week before you turn 3 and eating a 99.
cornets on a sunday is a bit of an irish family tradition that we've embraced. whatever the weather.
-1 today.

(and that's real ice cream real chocolate peeps. allergy be gone!!)

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

thank you to everyone who left me such great comments on last week's portrait xx

An Extra Blanket

january days can be so very different here. yesterday felt like it held a promise of spring. waking to fog and whispers of snow today saw me and my girl cosying up for the afternoon. so little light. i hope the sun finds a way back soon. i just want to comfort eat in this weather.

paper and paint and plenty of warm drinks to keep us happy. no that isn't a sneaky afternoon guiness with our cakes...vanilla latte for me and giraffe milk for e. slainte!

i've also been hoarding wallpaper samples for a secret dolls house project. more of that soon as a birthday approaches.

1/52

elsa...so shiny and happy.
(you gave aerial her first hairwash in the sink today...and so the tangles begin.)

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project!

Brand New Day

slightly late to say it but this post comes with wishes for your 2013 to be a beautiful year!

i think today has been a bit like the bright fresh start i've been looking for since the calendar flipped over. january's start was full of festive leftovers and days indoors...not quite knowing what day it actually was. getting the house a bit straighter and now a proper weekend feeling. best tablecloth washed and on the line and a walk to a special place to say happy birthday to loved ones gone. cold cheeks and blue skies.

i have many dreams and hopes for the 12 months ahead.
one very random resolution? to embrace shades of pink a bit more...i seem to have stripped it back from my wardrobe and our home and my paintbrush. i'd like to see a little more of it around me this year. no more fighting it. i want to explore colour again and step a little bit aside from my safe green place!

tomorrow i'm looking forward to a new project set up by jodi of che and fidel.
52 a portrait a week. my subject (no surprise) will be my elsa.

and how lovely is the button created by rebekka over there on the right?