Re-organising the house

Season table / windowsill

I have wanted to set up a seasonal nature table for ages.  I've seen the idea in books and on other inspirational blogs, and bemoaned the fact that I couldn't find the space in the house (or motivation to do something about it).  Pretty stones, flowers, shells, nuts and so on are often played with or displayed around the home, but I love the concept of an area set aside as our 'alter' to nature.  

bird's nest craft

Over the last couple of weeks we have been on a mission to create more space in the house, through de-cluttering and reorganising.  We still have a long way to go but finally I have found a windowsill free to display our seasonal treasures!

We collected some budding twigs from the trees beside our garden, a crocus and some bright daffodils. A few daffodils came out around the village before all the snow fell, but look a little droopy now!  These ones here were an early Valentine's gift :)

I had also made this little nest from things around the garden, now sitting on the sill waiting for some little eggs as the weather warms.  I'm thinking of making some out of clay, but H is thinking chocolate!  Speaking of eggs, the chickens have been laying for a couple of weeks now.  Delicious fresh eggs.

The bedroom has also had a complete re-jig, since H and C (and Daddy) now sleep in another room.  I had written before about the baby trying to wake his brothers at night, so we all decided to give separate rooms a trial. 'My' room is now bedroom, study, and art area.  It's a bit of a squash, but I had really wanted to create some space for craft activities.  We used our old student desk as the new art table, and found a lovely vintage teacher's desk in a local antique/bric-a-brac shop for the PC.

I'm so pleased with the craft area, with all our supplies in one room.  Anyone can jump up on a chair and let their creativity flow, and I don't mind the fact that the floor beneath is often a sea of cut up pieces of paper!  Yesterday, we made some flowery spring window decorations using beeswax crayons, permanent markers and greaseproof paper.  I was quite proud that H came up with idea after finding the paper in a shopping bag!

As I went to take a snapshot of their bedroom, the boys decided to strike a pose!

On one of the other walls, I have put up a mural I had made out of coloured card.

We rearranged some more furniture to provide some extra storage space in our spare room, and the children have a little play-home area in here.  The porch has also been cleared and Tom made a simple bench for putting shoes on, thanks to some free timber picked up on freecycle. The bathroom has a new lick of paint (thanks again to freecycle!) with proper bathroom paint which won't drip down the tiles like the old colour!  Daddy and the boys have started digging the veg patch and mowed the lawn... it's been busy!

How have we managed all of this?  We would never have been able to do this work and give the boys enough attention if it wasn't for the fact that Tom took a few days off work and my parents helped with the children at the weekend.  I'm so grateful!

Tom's holiday also meant that we were able to spend time with the twins individually, which is nourishing for us all.

Playing in the forest with Daddy

Some time in the park with Mummy

Baby trying to take his first steps at 11 months

We are tired though!  Another cold virus... Why are the boys so prone to it this year?!  ... I mustn't complain though.  Tom has planned another few days holiday next week, we will be celebrating Rupert's first solar return in a few weeks, I'm looking forward to visiting my oldest and dearest friend to give lots of cuddles to her new baby, and some family are visiting from Iran later in March to celebrate Iranian New Year with us all.  I'm enjoying the build up to spring!