As time goes by

Fate brought us back via a lazy Sunday kid martial arts morning to the tiny tucked away village of Zebbug (pronounced Zeebuj) which in Maltese translates into Olives.  

As the two older children learned to sit quietly and still, my husband and I wandered the familiar streets, it's been five years since I walked through the tiny alley ways  of this hilltop village. 

We lived here for a short spell in 2005, in fact that is where my Magpie child was born, at home in a four hundred year old house under an arch carved from Stone. 

Today that same Scorpian child turns five. Oh how time goes by - as beautifully put by Souad Massi (whose song helped welcome her into the world). 

We found our way along the very same tiny windy road, passed the very same old garden I used to weave stories to little Tano about ..
forbidden still,  a forgotten garden, part of a closed up abandoned villa... 

Peering through the gate and wondering this time with little D. ... what games, old fountains, and fancy people once strolled through its grand paths? 

Somehow a feeling of peace, to find myself back at it's rusted lock, this time with another child. As if for a very small moment I nodded to the ghost of my pregnant self, she who was jarred by the transition to the small island and at that time terribly lonely in the new surroundings.

A few photos from that time...

*(We lived in Malta for a small window of 8 months before work drew us back to England)

Sorry no Cornerview this week, I will take part again next week. 

*

Happy Friday

Check out THIS clip if you haven't yet

Wednesday's Cornerview: 'Famous'

One of the things you may not know about Malta is that apart from the mighty battle of 1565 (the Great Siege) it is famous for its many neolithic temples,  

here is the Hagar Qim temple, 

thought to be one of the oldest free standing human made structures on earth today. 

For other corner views you can go to the right hand panel here . 

Small finds and fresh air

Small finds.... 

My middle child, 

She  who lives for sweets and has eyes like a magpie- 

  she who is clever at finding small hidden treasures,

 she who will soon be five is now up to new silent past times, 

little creations that I have been stumbling upon in my efforts to 'put the house back in order' 

(my first month of full time teaching has knocked my socks off and the house is hidden in layers of laundry and toys). I have been coming across small neatly made displays, small towers decorated with coins, flowers and left over ribbons, small boxes within boxes with tiny rings, a feather or two and special rocks neatly lined up with care...

 I have come across these under the desk, under the stairs, under her bed, under her sisters bed, next to where the cat sleeps, next to the stack of boots...and who knows where else I will find them, she never announces them to us (the way our oldest son does when he has made anything). 

I am loving these little discoveries. Here are two I took photos of today.

My stone (feather, marble, flower) collector

Fresh air - because it is mid term holidays here, 

which means three days off this week 

 I am very relieved to have this small break, to clean, to bake, to hang out with the kids and play dominos and not least to catch some sunshine in the nearby forest. 

(I even managed to read a few pages of the Sunday paper!) 

Bliss.

Hope you all had a happy Halloween weekend!

* The birthday party was fun and went better than expected, egg races, chinese latern making and all
...sorry only a small smidgen of  photos to share as I was on the run from start to finish! 

Wednesday's Cornerview: 'Pondering'

Has it really been three years since little Destructo entered our lives?

Pondering Stella's start into the world today, she could not be happier at

 'turning twee'. 

(hat party to come!)

Birthday thoughts..

Birthday time again here 

Desructo turns 3 this week 

my little magpie turn 5 a week after

the truth is with work blinding me like a mad blizzard

I have not been able to think beyond tomorrow. 

In a rare moment of sitting and drinking tea - I am inspired by some clever birthay ideas out there... 

like these ....

 a candy dress to a candy party By Fine little Day

an India theme By the creative Miko Designs

and rainbows by the by the very talented  Elsie Marley 

In all honesty I think this year may be a small balloon filled simple affair in the nearby Chinese garden... if by some miracle of the time fairy I manage to pull off anything more  I will make a post. 

Monday thunderstorms booming us into the new week here! 

Hope your Monday is off to a flashing start too! 

its been a little bit of a wet week here and I have gotten caught out in the wind 

and rain more than once...

thus the late night searching....

time for a new rain coat. 

This site (Rainfrog) made me smile--- orders almost in the mail- a wee early birthday present for myself I was thinking. You see my old one is from ahum..cough..12 years ago,

 it has made it through treks in China and Laos, to Pai (Thailand) and Perugia, Pike street walks in Seattle to Brighton strolls by the then still standing Palace Pier. Meeting he Mr. 

Pregnancy days when it was all new- waddling through the wet lanes with a big belly and the quiet excitement of the unknown future ...as a mother! To sheltering one, then another, then another wee one tucked snug in a baby bjorn as rains fell (which was especially often) when we lived in England. 

Now days though my raincoat is no longer resistant and the time has come to let it go- memories and all.   

Am tempted by this one but am open to any suggestions - am on the look out. 

Blue skies and the finding of new friends

Two of life's simplest delights.

My middle child, 

she -with- curls

found a new friend today, 

sometimes it can happen in a moment!

Was heart warming to witness.

 I was lucky enough this week to catch a view of a wondrous sky, made me wish I possessed the words of a poet, would have certainly written a poem. The sight had the pleasing affect of making me feel caught up in some vast net, like a small fish, the magic of something larger (a nice feeling after an especially exhausting week).

Hope your weekend has been a little restorative. 

- J 

Of tombs, lizards and candlelight

(Top photo care of the lovely Liz at Malta Inside Out)

Birgu by candlelight was a pure delight, the magic of this ancient city was beautifully enhanced by a night of only candles, local food, music and wine

It was my first time going (and surely not my last!)

The great wall of Malta!

While walking near Dwerja we crossed this bridge, made under the rule of queen Victoria (straight through what I understand are Punic tombs! Seen along the bottom of the rock face in he far left picture.

Lizards?!

While out on our Sunday hike we crossed this little fellow on the path, Mr. T was brave enough to hold him , notice his feet!

Lastly but easily the highlight of the entire day for the children were these kittens jumping the fence to come home with us. We very nearly did bring them back with us!

Lastly to this epic post is a special thanks

 to Mr.C, who apart from showing us the way was endlessly patient with the children, stopping to point out and explain local bugs, plants and trees.We look forward to our next adventure with him! 

Fabric fancies

Happy Friday!

Oh to have a little time to sew! 

Perhaps I will find a small window in the hushed quiet of Sunday morning-
before the sun and children rise. 

Passing down a street in Valletta last Sunday, 

 so many worn down slanting streets, with small hints of the city's former glory days. 

Small hints of stories tied to this place or that door.  

Am down with a cold, so not much posting or commenting this week.
Barely enough energy to get through my lessons and the upkeep of children and house when I get home.

Blessed is the weekend

Feeling happily restored as the new week opens( thank you for your kind comments), 

with small hands clenching wild flowers,
giggling laughter at darting butterflies and happy muffin dusted faces.
Fresh air and sunshine does do wonders for a sense of calm and perspective.  

Let the new week begin!

p.s. The date night and reconnecting space to walk and talk was much appreciated too. 

Happy Friday

Horray we've made it to Friday!

Now it's time for a cosy date with the Mr. 

Legligin being one of our favourites, unassumingly tucked  down a side street in Valletta, 

the owner a real food and wine lover means we never leave disappointed  {unless its all booked}. 

Hope you all have a calm relaxing weekend!

Thorny start

Hello and thank you for all the great comments as regards the banner! 

My personal choice was two - {morning light in Valletta} but perhaps having the family up there is not a bad thing. The photo for this banner was taken two weeks ago at a picnic in Salina Park near Qawra, under the Eucalyptus trees and next to a modern rendition of a typical Maltese hunting hut 

{which you still come across often}. 

The photo in this post was taken last weekend, autumn in Malta actually means only a few things are brown. Mostly the island is waking up after a long dusty brown toned summer,  the heavy humid heat is almost subsiding and the rains have begun. The plants are happy and turning to a lush green again. 

Thorny because we all started school this week, child 1, 2, 3,  and myself teaching- bit bumpy at the start [photo copiers jamming just before class, wrong room key, projector cable not matching etc., meeting some 200 students and attempting to learn all their names}

I suppose settling into a new routine is never very smooth. 

Hope your week is going by with less sharp edges, 

* Am afraid no Cornerview today ,  I just could not manage it this week. 

Capers, year three

We are just past the two year point and beginning year three of life in Malta  {and of the blog} so I am overdue on updating my banner - problem is I can't seem to decide.... am open to suggestions- which would you choose?
1.

2.

or 3

x

or 4

Wednesday's cornerview: 'humour'

When I think of humour the first thing that comes to mind at the moment is this show, Modern Family

 that the Mr. and I have recently started watching. We find it pretty funny, well cast and well written.

For more corner views go here. 

New York moments

Nearly forgot, I had the good luck the last few days of my trip to the States to be with my brother and sisters in Brooklyn, and I must say I am a converted woman, if I could live in Brooklyn I would not mind living in NYC in fact I would probably love it. There were great little shops, restaurants, parks, farmers markets and flea markets .  A vibrant truly international feel and very family friendly.

 

Flea market- trendy as ever and with some great food...notably the home made fruit sodas-loved the plum, ginger cinnamon combo

Local six point star beer at The Farm bar-

The brewer happens to be a friend of my brother's with Wisconsin ties so we learned some of the secretes,

 

Walked past an evening jazz concert just starting...

local streets

You betcha- I had brunch!
It is something I really miss, there is nowhere here in Malta that serves brunch as far as I am aware.
So I fully enjoyed eating at this little restaurant,  the plum crepes were calling my name, so too the rhubarb muffins! Yummmm

Off to a new week, hope yours is starting off well!

Happy Weekend

What a sweet parcel arrived today!!! 

Thank you Janis, I love the hand printed  bag and card...mmm nothing like that soft sweet smell of lavender!!!  Love the card you made as well. A good reminder to breath in,  and relax,  I have a bad case of last minute nerves at the moment, a new job  teaching history starts this week! Teenage students and full time work... will I manage?! 

Hope the rest of you out there have a relaxing weekend! 

Wednesday's cornerview: 'seven'

Seven delicious little stroop waffles from the Netherlands, 

perfect with our afternoon tea, thank you Guusje! 

For more corner views go here. 

By the way, here was the look out the window at midday today- it's time again for rain, summer is at its end. Storms thundering in  - pomegranate season has started. 

the rooftop view