Saying Goodbye To Summer

WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH

PHOTOS : LISA ATKINSON

It was only this morning that I was thinking about how GRATEFUL I am for this past month….

Snap lockdowns aside, it has been a relatively relaxed Summer. Less long lunches and more sun lounging, less entertaining but more time reading - and all of these things done with those I adore - my family. Having my kids home after the 2020 year from hell has been an absolute blessing, and spending this time together is something I will be forever grateful for. Days spent lounging at home, enjoying the crazy Melbourne weather together and just spending time doing not a hell of a lot!!

I can’t believe summer is nearly over and that soon the leaves will be falling off the trees and those jumpers need to come back out of storage. I’ve been so lucky to be able to sit back and reflect on what has brought me joy, and it’s the little things like having time to watch the sunset or just sitting on the couch talking about nothing much at all - another joy!

So, What has been filling my cup?

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Oh, this girl of mine... @chessiekeebaugh. I am loving all the time we have been spending together before you return to work in LA. It’s just been the best! I feel like I am squeezing in a year of mother-daughter time and I am loving it so much. I am so grateful for all the fun, laughter, conversations and cheekiness you bring to my day - is just the best! Love you gorgeous girl.

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My boy is home and we are so happy about it! I am so incredibly proud of the man you are and the man you are becoming - You are kind, considerate, very entertaining and of course, my favourite son! I love that you are now home in Australia and that we were all together to celebrate your 25th birthday and college graduation ...Don’t ever stop being you ♥️

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A BIG Thank you always go out to my husband @brucekeebaugh for being the incredible man you are, you are my rock who makes every day a fun one... I love you. No one has come out of 2020 unscathed and I think that with what we are all living through, at the moment and with future unpredictabilities, telling that special person in your life how much you love them is really important. It can be a best friend, a work colleague, a family member or for me - my husband! Having the summer together with the kids has been magical.

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I have so much to look forward to this year and one of the MOST exciting is my collaboration with Harris Scarfe. It has been such a fun, creative and collaborative journey thus far and I already know that this collection is going to be AMAZING! It’s been exciting receiving samples, I wish I could give you a sneak peek...but I’m not allowed to! Well, not yet anyway! Stay tuned.

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Reading, relaxing, cooking, gardening, cups of coffee with friends whilst enjoying the sun - these are my favourite things to do. I have loved working in the veggie garden and cooking with all the produce that it has grown. It feels so exciting to have planted it, nurtured it and watched it grow - A bit like being with my kids! I have loved watching them grow into the amazing young adults they are with incredible work ethics and their own strong personalities. And I am so lucky to have had the time to indulge in these activities this Summer. To catch up on my favourite reads of the season make sure you head to this blog post ‘ Finding Comfort In Books’ right here!

So there you have it, what has been filling my cup and making me feel so loved and grateful this 2021. Thank you summer for allowing me this precious time with my family, it was very needed and so appreciated. What are your summer highlights? What are you feeling grateful for as we head into a new season? What changes have you made that will set you up for an amazing 2021? The comments are ON - I’d love to hear…