Puddle Dancing is so much Fun!

Do you remember when you were a little child that you viewed everything slightly differently to how you do now as an adult? Everyday was a great adventure and every new thing you came across filled you with wonderment. Life was exciting, gooey things you happened upon didn't repulse you and poking things with a stick was your scientific way of examining anything that looked a bit too stinky to touch with your fingers.

Climbing trees was one of my favourite pastimes. I loved being above the world in the branches away from everyone, where I could daydream of being an astronaut or a rock star. Etui clearly loved being in the trees too. This picture captures perfectly the delight of being high up and free from the ground.

You chewed on crayons to see if the different colours had different flavours. Don't these toddler friendly crayons from Lilbitsthree look yummy? I'm guessing the light blue ones taste of Palma violets and the red ones of strawberries.

How about the competitions down at the park to see who could get their swing to go the highest without your tummy turning somersaults? Do you remember that stomach turning feeling as you seemed to hang in the air for an age before you plummeted your way back down only to soar back up the other side? Krisblues bunny rabbit seems to be having a much more sedate swing than I ever remember doing as a child.

"No!" was a word I hated to hear as a child. It usually meant I was not going to get that extra chocolate chip cookie, or that I couldn't go out to play for just 5 more minutes. This beautiful photo by Meren is the spitting image of me when I was trying to turn the charm on with my dad and doing the hang dog look. It was usually followed with me pleading "oh please daddy" about a thousand times. How my poor dad didn't lose his marbles raising four kids on his own I'll never know.

copyright 2008 Laurie Nadeau

What about Dancing in puddles with an imaginary friend like OuOu Little lady is on this card? It was so much fun donning a pair of Wellington boots and splashing about in the biggest puddle you could find. Sploshing about until your legs were dripping wet and you were able to take off your wellies and tip the water out...

Well I can let you in on a secret. I still puddle dance. I still pull on my pink polka dot boots and go stomping in giant puddles...You see I have an inner child that's about 6 years old and I let her take over as much of the time as I can. Letting your inner child come out to play lets you see the wonderful simple joys that the world has to offer. All the rapturous fun filled things that you realised were there when you were little still exist. You just have to let them come into your life. Go on. I dare you. Run down the park and jump on a swing and just see how high you can go before you feel your lunch coming back to haunt you!

From one self confessed tree hugger...

So, I confess. I am a fully paid up member of the tree hugger's society. I adore trees. Without them the world would be a much different place. The bigger and more gnarled they are the better. I'm not really into the conifer type. I like the deciduous broad leaved ones that show you the seasons passing in their leafy colours. Oaks, beech, Lime, elm, fruit trees, silver birch, mountain ash, and maple... all these types of trees excite my senses.

This apple tree print by Jellybeans is from an original water colour she painted and I have long admired it for its beautiful colours and its sweeping form. I think if it were real tree it would take more than one person to hug its entire trunk.

This photo pendant from TheIntuitiveGarden in cool aqua blue with a bare tree reminds me of winter. Thankfully the trees won't be nude for much longer as spring is on its way. Outside my window I can see the bright yellow catkins starting to show on the trees and the bronze coated buds that indicate that soon the leaves will be bursting forth once more.

This silk screen printed t-shirt from Satisfactory not only has a tree on it but a galleon too! Not that I'm a pirate-aholic or anything... well ok as I'm confessing to hugging trees today I guess I can confess my pirate addiction too.

Kierstin Oliver's Seuss inspired mug, most certainly deserving of a plug. The colours delight, such a beautiful sight. Clay turned to trees, and me they sure please. Hmmm... ok, so I can't rhyme like the master, but at least I tried.

As regular readers of this blog will know I'm a bit of a colour addict and this gorgeous painting of a tree by Andrew Daniel caught my eye. Bold colours and textures all combined with the image of a tree... how could I not feature it?

This pretty little tree embellished sewing case is from the BlueBananaShop. For such a compact case is sure can hold a lot of sewing goodies. It's perfect for the sewer that's on the move.

So have I convinced you yet that trees are the greatest? Are you itching to run outside and hug a tree? Well if you are just go now, run off and find a lone tree and give it a squeeze so it knows you appreciate all it is doing for you.