Day 233 in a Year of my Life

A couple of shots from the boat racing yesterday ...

One thing of significance happened today, we had a special morning tea to acknowledge one year since our lovely Win passed away ...

... because we love her!

Today, I am grateful to be finishing this blog post before midnight and I hope that I can be climbing into my warm bed inside the next ten minutes.

Wish me luck!

Nite all.

Day 232 in a Year of my Life

We spent the morning out at the lake at the other side of Burrum Heads, taking photos of remote control model boats racing on the water.

I wasn't all that keen to go out there, but the enthusiasm and excitement shown by the guys, was kind of infectious and I quite enjoyed the two hours I spent with them.

I'll post some photos on here tomorrow.

After we arrived home, I was feeling motivated and creative, and for the first time in a year, I made a couple of bracelets.

It was nice working in my new workspace and there was lots of room and good light.  I enjoyed it.

Then, as luck would have it, the sky was looking particularly nice, so I tested my luck and pedalled down to the river for the sunset.

My lucky day!

So, it's been a busy and productive day for both Adoring Husband and I.  Adoring Husband spent a few hours in the garden, working in the Winter sunshine.

What a great way to spend a sunny Sunday.  That's what I am grateful for today.  Free sunny Sundays that we are able to fill doing whatever we feel like!

It's already after midnight, so I'm off to bed.

Nite all.

Day 231 in a Year of my Life

I apologise for another very short post.

I had a bad day today, feeling pretty miserable, but I worked my way through it and ended up having an excellent evening with friends.

The local club ran a trivia night, to raise money for the Hervey Bay animal shelter.

A group of ten of us formed a trivia team (even though the teams should have been only 6 people), but unfortunately, we came fourth for the night overall.

 Last year we came 2nd by just one point, but we didn't fare so well tonight.

There was just one low point, when we received a text message from someone, who last year, chose to play trivia with another group of people, but who, this year,  expected us to invite her to our table.

She attempted to make us feel guilty about the fact that we didn't.  That upset us greatly, and we feel that she may be burning bridges that cannot be repaired.  Toxic relationships have no place in our lives.

Enough is enough.

I'm pretty sure that I have mentioned before, I will only allow nurturing relationships in my life.

I want to feel the love.

Not guilt.

Not anger.

Not remorse.

I will no longer make excuses or allowances for the behaviour of others, especially behaviour that is not acceptable to me.

None of my genuine friends EVER make me feel guilty about any decision I make in my life.

None of my genuine friends EVER talk negatively about me behind my back.

I am responsible for my happiness.  Mine and mine alone.

If you have expectations of me, then tell me to my face.  Don't assume that I know what you want from me.

There is so much more that I want to say, but I feel that I have already said more than I should in here.

HERE is generally my happy place, where I share mostly the joyful things that happen in my life, unless there is trauma, like a tornado, and I share that with you as part of my therapy.

I have one photo to share today ...

Today I am grateful for supportive friends who nurture me and share the love, have no expectations, make no demands and never attempt to make me feel guilty or unhappy about anything I have or have not done.

Nite all.

Day 230 in a Year of my Life

I admit to being absolutely exhausted after a very long and emotional day.

Rodney's service was lovely today and I was so chuffed when the leaflet for the service was handed to me and there on the front page was the photo that I had taken of him a year ago.

It was a very emotional moment for me.  A little while later, I overheard somebody say that it was the best photo they had ever seen of him.

It made me feel a little closer to him and I felt a real connection.

It was nice to sit with the boys for the service and the 'Seat of Knowledge' was even mentioned in the eulogy.

So, please forgive me, for signing off early tonight and let me leave you with a bright, happy and colourful treasure from after the rain a couple of days ago.

Today, I am grateful to friends who love and support me through difficult times like these.  You know who you are xxx

Nite all.

Day 229 in a Year of my Life

The morning of the day that Adoring Husband was returning from Sydney (Wednesday), there was an amazing sunrise.

Unfortunately, I had work commitments and was unable to make the most of it.

I DID, however, take my camera with me and even though the location is not very picturesque, it still shows how awesome the sunrise was.

Then, on the way to the Seat of Knowledge, there was some pretty heavy dew highlighting cobwebs in the sunlight.  This was my favourite.

We've had a very wet, rainy day today, so I didn't get to spend any time at the Seat of Knowledge this morning.

It began to pour with rain as AH and left the Bakery with our coffee.  We stopped briefly at the SOK, as the boys were all scattering to head home.  I was able to give Gentleman Jim a rain poncho as he was leaving, so he didn't have to get too wet.

There was some nasty weather in southern Queensland during the night.  Pratten and Bony Mountain were both hit by severe storms.

The Southern Downs Storm Chasers called the Pratten storm a 'microburst' but they believe that Bony Mountain copped a tornado of sorts, or in their words "dropped a funnel" and say that they found the spot where it first touched ground.

They also stated that this is very unusual storm activity for this time of the year - we seem to be hearing that more and more often.

I was surprised by my emotional reaction when I first read about it and saw the photos.  Just when I think I've recovered nicely, something happens to open the wound again.

Last night there was a ten minute period when the wind picked up so strongly that the noise of it scared the dogs and they jumped up to look out the window.  It made my heart skip a beat.

I guess it's going to take a bit longer yet, to get over it.

Anyway, something nice to come out of the disaster is our new dining suite :) which I absolutely love!

Today I am grateful for bike rides in the rain, when the rain is so heavy that it literally runs down the glass of your sunglasses like a waterfall.  When it fills the lid of your take away coffee so that when you try to take a mouthful, all you get is water.  When you pedal really fast hoping to get out of the rain, but realise halfway home, that you can't get any more wet, so you slow right down and enjoy the wetness as it drenches your clothes and runs down your knees to your ankles and flicks off the back of your thongs as you pedal along.

After all, it's only water :)

Nite all.

Day 228 in a Year of my Life

Sadly, one of my boys passed away yesterday.

He had spent a lot of years, on and off, fighting different forms of cancer, but this last diagnosis hit him hard and I don't think he had any fight left in him.

These past few months were a real struggle for him.  He was in a lot of pain and unable to look after himself properly, though he fought hard to stay in his own home right to the end.

He had been in hospital for almost a week after a fall at home, when he finally gave up.

Even though we all agreed that he may not be able to fight this one out, it was still a shock to us that he lost the battle this soon.

He's no longer in pain and he doesn't have to fight anymore.  His suffering is over.

But I still feel sad.

He really liked this photo and asked for a copy.

Rest In Peace Rodney.

Today I am grateful to have known Rodney Ross.  He was one of my boys and the first one I found and hugged after the tornado in January.  It took a while, but he shared a little bit of his life with me and always gave me a cheerful 'good morning' when I arrived at the Seat of Knowledge.

We will miss you.  I will miss you.

Nite all.

Day 227 in a Year of my Life

Went to the Thermomix demonstration.

Loved it.

Trouble is ... we have in our kitchen, every single kitchen appliance and gadget that the Thermomix replaces.

That makes it really difficult to warrant spending almost $2000 for the Thermomix.

Even the time saved in the preparation of food is lost to us, because we are not workers and have all the time in the world to prepare and cook.

So, as much as I LOVE the Thermomix and would LOVE to have one permanently placed on my kitchen bench, with a bit of practical thinking, and common sense, it's probably not the smartest buy for us right now.

I think it would be ideal for a young family just starting out and where both parents work.  Space saving in the kitchen, time saving for healthy and fast family meals, time saving as far as cleaning at the end of the meal goes and the advantage of having just one gadget for so many purposes.

It would also be excellent for anyone travelling in a caravan or campervan.  The one place where you need to save space and weight, and still want the versatility to cook a variety of different meals, even in remote locations.

Great for a single person, who just can't be bothered spending time in the kitchen preparing, would find this ideal because it does everything for you,  is so fast, and healthy meals wouldn't be such a chore.

I am so tempted to write ten thousand words on the virtues of the fabulous Thermomix, so be grateful that I am ending the Thermomix story right here!

Another thing that I gained from this party was the discovery of a business that provides organic fruit, vegetables and groceries in the area .. something that I thought we had lost forever, after moving from Sydney.

I'm pretty excited about this find and can't wait to put in our first order!  Especially until our new veggie garden is established.

Today, I am grateful to Donna, the Thermomix demonstrator, for reminding me about food and environmental issues that affect our health, which I have become lazy and complacent about of late.

Time to take better care of our health by focussing on all the things we cared so much about before we moved here.

Time to sleep now.

Nite all.

 

Day 226 in a Year of my Life.

The high point of the sunset, was that it happened on the change of tide while it was low, so the light reflected beautifully on the still water.

I had hoped to share lots of knowledge today.  I'd hoped to spend a lot of time watching tutorials and learning heaps about photoshop and practising on my photos and then sharing them here.

I'd planned a whole day in self imposed solitary confinement.  I was going to be focussed and my workload was going to be intense.

My day, instead was a run of interruptions, and I didn't get longer than 30 minutes running to focus on anything.

Also, because today was a public holiday, something photography-related, that I was expecting in the mail, won't be here til tomorrow, so that was a bit disappointing too.

So I have no new knowledge to share and only a couple of sunset photos.  Ah well.

Today, I am grateful (really) for friends and loved ones, who interrupt my planned days of solitary confinement, because I know that they care about me.

Nite all.

Day 225 in a Year of my Life

I almost got my dream shot this morning.

My dream shot is a rainbow across the river at exactly the turn of the tide so that the water is still and the rainbow is reflected in it.  A shot that I missed a year or more ago.

I did learn an important lesson though - when you're in the rain with your camera, protect it between shots ...

I took about eight shots before I looked and realised my photos were spotty.  Sad but true :)

Ya live n learn!

Today, I am grateful for backyard barbecues with delicious salads, the mouth watering aroma of meat and onions cooking on the grill and home made punch.  Catching up with friends for a couple of hours.

Time for bed.

Nite all.

Day 224 in a Year of my Life

A very successful garage sale today.

We sold lots of stuff that we didn't think we would ever sell .. some of which, we had in our last garage sale, and nobody even looked twice at, but just about everybody who walked up the driveway in the first hour, took something with them when they left.

We still have two lounge suites, the tv cabinet and the dining suite left .. so I'll phone Lifeline on Monday and they can have them.

My trike also didn't sell ... surprisingly.  I'll hold onto that til the right person comes along.

So today, I've taken some photos of the new lounge room and hallway, since the repairs and everything that was damaged has now been replaced.

In the middle of writing this, the sun set behind some interesting cloud, which produced a bit of colour, so I rushed across the road to the lagoon with about 3 minutes to spare before the colour disappeared ...

I didn't have time to grab my camera bag with the other lenses, or the tripod, so this is taken hand held.

Today, I am grateful to Adoring Husband for dealing with all the people today.  You know, there are some days when you just don't have the mental/emotional energy to deal with a bunch of strangers .. that was me today.  So thank you AH.  You done good :)

Nite all.

Day 223 in a Year of my Life.

It's not even 9.30pm and I am struggling to stay awake, so I'm afraid this is a short post again tonight.

Tonight, at the Club, I promised that I would share this very funny story, written by an ABC journalist from 'The Drum'.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4736642.html

I laughed so hard, and could relate to his words.  I guess it's extra funny when you are a big 'State of Origin' fan.  Maybe not so funny if you don't care about football.

I don't have any photos to share tonight.

I DID take some photos because I pedalled to the lake this morning, which I haven't done for about a year.

I'm so glad that I did because I found Rainbow Bee Eaters, Fairy Wrens, Pardolotes, Honey Eaters and Finches.  I even found two nests of Finches, but they are up too high in the tree for me to get any good photos.

They are all birds (in case you are wondering).

A local was walking along the path that goes around the lake and she stopped to have a chat.  At that point, I had only seen a white egret on the edge of the lake.

While she was chatting, I spotted a Fairy Wren in the grasses behind her .. luckily I had my sunglasses on and she couldn't see that I was looking over her shoulder, instead of at her face!  I was so excited, I couldn't finish the conversation fast enough!

After she walked away, it was like she had opened a gate and suddenly all these birds appeared!

I got photos of all of them, but I haven't had a chance to look at them properly yet, so hopefully I can share them tomorrow.

Right now, I am off to bed.  I might even wake up early enough to try a sunrise tomorrow!

I just can't stay awake any longer.

Today, I am grateful to a local man, who told me that the lake behind my town had had some maintenance done to it and that the path was clear to ride on.  If he hadn't stopped to tell me that, I would never have found the birds.

So many of my favourite birds in one spot, just waiting for me to visit!

Nite all.

Day 222 in a Year of my Life

Home made chicken soup tonight for dinner ... and that is why you make a huge batch of it and freeze it ... for nights like this when you just couldn't be bothered about going to any effort.

For dessert, I have mixed some Gluten Free vanilla 'Home' Ice cream with a tablespoon of crushed hazelnuts and a tablespoon of peanut butter - talk about heaven!

I don't usually buy ice cream, but when I saw 'gluten free' on the box ... well you know?

Just one photo to share, from the baby shoot last month.

I might have to do the June 'photo a day' challenge, to force myself to use my camera for things other than pelicans and birds.

I'm feeling a bit lazy tonight, after doing quite a lot of housework during the day.  Vacuuming, mopping, three loads of washing, dusting and toilet cleaning .. that's a LOT for me and it's very unlike me .. all a bit much for one day.

I've decided that clean floors are virtually impossible when you have three dogs living inside.  Ugh!

So today, I am grateful for gluten free ice cream :) that is all.

Nite all.

Day 221 in a Year of my Life

This is a very short post because we have been out all night and have just returned home.  It's 11.20pm and I'm heading to bed.

Just wanted to say 'Congratulations' to all of the Blues supporters out there.  It was a good game and you won fair and square.  Be prepared for the next game of the series because I think it's going to be a corker!

In the meantime, I'm adding this link that I hope you will go to and read.  Vegan Chickie emailed it to me this evening and when I read it, it really hit home.  I think all of you will relate to it and I really hope that you take the time to read it and click on the bottom bar, to read the entire article.

http://m.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/parenting-and-families/when-your-mother-says-shes-fat-20130604-2nnxq.html

Tonight I am grateful for an evening of football and no alcohol ... because if I'd had alcohol, I may have  said some bad things to some angry, negative males in my presence.  I'm grateful to have risen above it and found the happy place inside my head for most of the evening.

Nite all.

Day 220 in a Year of my Life

It's pelican time.

It's that time of year when not a lot is happening.  Nature has gone to sleep for Winter, so photographic opportunities are few and far between.

Basically, there are two options - Sunrises/Sunsets or Seabirds.

Just to mix it up - Pelicans AND Oyster Catchers!

Tonight, I made a layered veggie stack to have with our roast chicken (which I roasted myself, so that the meal would be 'gluten free')

I roasted thick slices of eggplant, red capsicum, zucchini, onion rings and sweet potato on a tray in the oven.

In a loaf tin, I put a layer of raw, shredded wombok cabbage with a thin layer of beetroot pesto on top (you could probably use that beetroot dip instead), then eggplant,  then thick slices of tomato, then roasted zucchini, spread with a thin layer of cream cheese, then a layer of red capsicum (skin removed after roasting) then a layer of rice noodles that I had soaked in hot water.

I also made a hot chilli tomato puree sauce, by blending 440g of tinned tomatoes, pouring it into a saucepan and adding a heaped teaspoon of chilli paste and half a small jar of tomato salsa (you know, the stuff you put on tacos?), a t-spoon of caster suger and about 1/4 of a cup of the chicken juices left on the bottom of the tray when I baked the chicken.  I brought that to the boil stirring occasionally.

I then put a few spoons of the tomato puree sauce over the layer of rice noodles, added the layer of roasted sweet potato and on top of that, I put a layer of stemless mushrooms and grated a small amount of tasty cheese over the top.

I pressed it down as hard as I could and then placed it in the oven at 200C for about 20mins, or until the cheese melted nicely and browned on top.

I served it up with the roast chicken and poured some of the hot chilli tomato puree sauce over the top.

It was delicious - especially because I made it up - and you know how hit and miss, made up meals can be!

I'm sorry that I didn't take photos as I made it, and then of the finished product as well - but I will next time!

Today, I am grateful for successful recipe ideas that turn out better than expected, especially with all of those vegetables, full of vitamins and minerals and healthful goodness!

Nite all.  

Day 219 in a Year of my Life

I missed last night's sunset, which was amazing.

I didn't miss tonight's sunset, which was less than amazing.

It was still quite pretty ... but not like yesterday.

A young child attempted to take my long lens from the back of my trike while I wasn't looking!  I spotted him in the nick of time and he snatched his hand away, made a face and ran off to his parents.

By crikey there'll be trouble!

So I hope that all of you 'Blues' supporters out there are ready for another beating?  Two more sleeps til State of Origin time!

Got myself a new cap and a jacket today, which proudly displays my maroon loyalties!

Today, I am grateful for gluten free lollies ... a whole container full of them from 'Nana's Pantry'.  I must make them last :)

Nite all.

Day 218 in a Year of my Life

I began writing this blog while awaiting the birth of my first grandchild just over two years ago.

In that first post, I mentioned my mother, and how, if she had lived, she would have been there with me and feeling excited about our newest member of the family ...

http://agechallengedrqqzy.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/i-think-im-now-blogger.html

The anniversary of her death has just passed (25th May) and today, in facebook, somebody shared this ...

**********

I have been working on a special project for a while now and I was so lucky that Sarah Overholt Stinnett was willing to help me and let me tell her story! Meet Sarah, her two beautiful girls, Harper and Reagan and her Mama, Connie. Sarah and her sister, Laura, lost their sweet Mama, Connie, a little over 4 years ago at a very young age. Since then, Sarah has gotten married and had two very beautiful little girls of her own. Sarah strives everyday and all with her mama by her side in spirit! When I asked Sarah to do this, I asked her if there was anything special that had to do with her Mom and her little girls. I cried when Sarah told me that her Mom used to buy her baby books for her future grandchildren (long before Sarah had little ones). This image features such a special book to Sarah and her girls that is called "I Loved You Before You Were Born". I truly believe that Connie has a special bond with these girls even though she is not present on Earth. I know she loved these babies before they born and I am so lucky and honored to be able to showcase this picture! Sarah, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

**********

I can see that there are many reasons why some people might not like this, but it reminded me of my mother, and I know how proud  she would have been of our little Chicklet.

This year, for the first time, I was NOT feeling melancholy about the anniversary of my mother's death.

I think she may have been offended and made sure that this photo found it's way to me on facebook!

It actually came to me on my 104 photography group page, where one of the ladies shared it with the group.

I was sitting down by the beach this morning and checking my ipad, when I found it.  I became quite emotional, because often when I'm with Vegan Chickie and Chicklet, I imagine my mother close by, in spirit.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share this.  I know that this photographer comes from a small town, but the response to this photo has been huge, so her business may become quite busy in the near future!

I've been working on some photos today too ...

So today, I am grateful to my mother, for visiting me from beyond the grave ... to remind me that it's State of Origin time and she will, once again, help Queensland to win the series, to make it 8 years in a row.

(My mother was fanatical about State of Origin and her team hasn't lost since she died in 2005)

Nite all.

Day 217 in a Year of my Life

What a dull day.

Overcast with few patches of sunshine.  A few showers.

The tide was out, so it was vast patches of grey wet sand, grey water, grey sky and not even the birds came out to play.

I took a couple of photos in my front garden, before the bird in the photo gave me my marching orders ... he flapped angrily at me and even swooped!  Not too close, but enough to warn me off!

A couple of photos from the Sunny Coast last week...

Yesterday, after Adoring Husband and I went to the movies, we went to JB Hifi where they had a lot of dvds on sale.

Among others, we bought 'Magic Mike', a movie about male strippers.  Big mistake.  Terrible movie ... unless you like to look at nice, young, taut, muscle-bound, male bodies.  That's about all it had going for it.

Bad storyline, bad acting, bad cinematography, just bad all round really.

Tonight was Super Saturday ... which means football on Fox Sports TV and home made pizza!  Pizza was great, but only one game of footy tonight because State of Origin is next week on Wednesday night.

We have our opposing flags mounted at the front of the house.

Adoring Husband supports NSW (the blue team) and I support QLD (the maroon team).  QLD have won seven years in a row.  How many???  Yes, that's correct, SEVEN years in a row.

We are hoping to make it eight years in a row this year.  We have a great team.  Time will tell.

Today, I am grateful for dull days ... they help us appreciate the beautiful days!

Nite all.

Day 216 in a Year of my Life

It's Friday night.

I'm tired.

Some quotes to share...

All just a bit of fun.

I'm grateful for today.  Date day.  A movie and lunch with Adoring Husband.  Most enjoyable and and very relaxing.

Nite all.

Day 215 in a Year of my Life

Another photo from the baby shoot with The Nikonian last week ...

I really love this photo.  It shows exactly how this Mum was, with her new daughter.  So gentle and loving and protective.

There is so much to learn about photography and about photoshop and editing photos.  I wonder if there is anybody out there who knows everything there is to know?  I can't even imagine that it's possible.

I attempted to watch a 2 hour tutorial on basic photoshop today.

I was practising on one of my photos, what they were teaching in the tutorial, so I was pausing the recording often, to put each step into practise.

I expected this process would take a while longer than the two hours.

Three phone calls, three annoying dogs and an oblivious Adoring Husband stretched the first 38 minutes of the tutorial to approximately 4 hours.  That's where it stopped.

So I've bookmarked it to go back another time and continue the lesson.

I am questioning whether having my work area in the middle of the house was such a good idea!

As annoying as it was today, I still like being in the middle of the house and part of the action.  Generally, so far, the energy has been good.  I just have to train the creatures that live in my space, to respect my 'education time'.

It's good to be home.  I love my 'space',  I missed my bed and I feel so much more comfortable in my quiet little town beside the lazy river.  It was nice to see the boys this morning too.

Today, I'm grateful that my lifestyle allows me the luxury of learning more about, and improving my photography, at a pace that is comfortable for me.  I'm grateful to have like-minded friends who are so willing to share their knowledge and their experiences with me ... in particular, the very generous Nikonian.

Now I'm off to watch the best part of 'Dirty Dancing' ... the final ten minutes :)

Nite all.

Day 214 in a Year of my Life

Today, sadly, I said goodbye to my family for another month or so.

It was a full and wonderful three days of quality time with my little Chicklet, and I hope enough of a break for Mama and Dadoo to regenerate a little, after the last difficult few weeks.

I got to the train station very early this morning, as the Bare-chested Chef dropped me off on his way to work.

After we hugged goodbye, I got myself a take-away coffee, and headed over to the train station.

Not long after I got there, a self confessed 'homeless and harmless' man walked through the door, armed with a giant bucket of single pink roses that he was selling for $10 each.  He announced that the money went towards shelter and food for the homeless in the area.

As I was counting my change to buy a rose from him, he pointed to the ground under my seat and said "You are sitting over my bed.  That's where I sleep most nights."

Not long after that, a young man came through the door and needed to know where and when to catch the bus to Nambour that evening.

The homeless and harmless man gave him directions and information and asked if he would buy a rose.  The young man only had $2.65 in his pocket, and he apologised and gave it to the man as a donation.

In another little while, an 84 yr old lady arrived with her luggage.  She had been house and cat sitting for a friend for two weeks and was on her way home to Gladstone.

In the course of the conversation with the homeless and harmless man, he mentioned that today was his 56th birthday.  The elderly lady opened her purse and pulled out $20.  She said "I don't want a rose, because I have too far to travel.  This $20 is for you.  Happy birthday."

We chatted with the man for the next 90 minutes as we waited for the train and in that time, he helped a lot of people with directions and information and times for the trains and buses.

As the time approached for our train to arrive, he showed the elderly lady and myself where to stand for our carriage number.

It's cold and wet in the Sunny Coast tonight and I know that Cooroy has a shelter, so I hope that tonight, for his birthday, he is sheltered and warm.

A couple of photos from my time on the Sunny Coast ...

Today, I am grateful for a lucky life, in which I am warm and well fed and clothed and I know that I am loved by my Adoring Husband, my children, my family and my friends.  Others are not so lucky.

Nite all.

Day 213 in a Year of my Life

Life is all about negotiation ... especially with a two year old in the house!  And also out of the house!

When Vegan Chickie and the Bare-chested Chef took the afternoon off from hands-on parenting, I took Chicklet to the park.

After 3pm is a bad time of day at the park because it's full of hyperactive school kids trying to release pent up energy after the last couple of hours in a classroom.

The park is also surrounded by parents of said hyperactive children, creating discussion circles, and not paying one iota of attention to what their terrors are up to.

Dangerous territory for a two year old.

A couple of loud "You're NOT my friends!!" got it all sorted.

Chicklet attempted to befriend a pelican, which was a good foot taller than her.  Luckily the pelican was friendly, because Chicklet was quite put out when I attempted to lure her to safety.  She was almost touching the bird and repeating "Hello" over and over again, like she was expecting the bird to reply ...

... understandable really, because all of her animal toys at home say "Hello" back when she talks to them!  Let's hope she doesn't get that close to the lion or the alligator when she wants to say hello!

Anyway, we had lots of cuddles and playtime again today.  More treasured memories... even though my camera battery decided to go flat on the way to the park this afternoon!  How VERY inconvenient!

So I have no photos from our day together or the park, but I do have this photo from bath time tonight.  After rolling in, and eating much sand at the park, she was in desperate need of a shower - but she wasn't keen, so once again after some negotiating ...

Eventually, we had a favourable result!

What a great day!

Now, it is absolutely pouring with rain and has been for a good couple of hours.  It should be nice to fall asleep to the sound of rain on the roof.

Today, I am grateful that I was able to get Chicklet home from the park after many failed negotiation attempts.  I love her sooooo much.

Nite all.

Day 212 in a Year of my Life

My day was filled with Chicklet fun today.

Vegan Chickie and the Bare-chested Chef look like a pair of zombies as they recover from various illnesses and overwork, while Chicklet has become a little Tassie Devil in the unit.

Today, between about 6 repeats of Playschool's Dinosaur dvd (that may be a small exaggeration), I ran about 1,842 laps of the couch (that is NO exaggeration) while wearing an elephant mask, all the while chasing Chicklet, who was wearing a pig mask.

We also spent a good portion of the day, creating a friendship group on the couch for all of her animal toys.

Chicklet emerging from the toy area and holding a pig in outstretched arms "Hello! I'm a pig" (in a very deep pig-like voice)

Me "Hello pig.  Would you like join us on the couch?"

Chicklet  "I would LOVE to"

Me "Would you like to sit beside the duck?"

Chicklet  "No.  I want to sit on top of the dinosaur"

Me  "Ok" placing the stuffed pig on top of the stuffed dinosaur.

Chicklet (emerging again from the toy box) "Hello!  I'm a chicken!" (in a very high pitched chicken-like voice)

Me  "Hello chicken.  Would you like to join us on the couch?"

Chicklet  "I would LOVE to"

Me  "Would you like to sit in front of the pig?"

Chicklet  "No.  I would like to sit behind the duck!"

... and so this went on for every animal toy that she possesses.  I didn't count them but it would have to come close to 50!

We read a dozen books ... well, actually, we read the first 3 pages of 12 books.

We played many many games of 'this little piggy' as she squealed with delight.

We drew lots of pictures on the ipad mini with a colourful children's app.

Tomorrow we have another big day planned, while Mama and Dadoo spend some time together and have a nice day out.

Which means, I must get some sleep so that I have plenty of energy to keep up with her!

I'm seriously considering joining a gym, and going on a special energy lifting diet, just to get fit and strong enough to keep up with her!

Here are some more photos from the Children's Festival yesterday.

Hunting for gems with Dadoo

Making a clay rabbit

Playing the giant xylophone

Today I am grateful for every moment, even the energy draining moments with my little Chicklet.  I don't get to see her often enough, so I love every second ... even when it gets to the exhausting ones ... and I wish my head was able to absorb every single bit of it, so that I could replay it like a movie when I get back home.

Nite all.

Day 211 in a Year of my Life

Started the day at stupid o'clock to catch a sunrise with the girls .. but yet another fizzer spoiled our photography morning!

We had a lovely breakfast at the coffee club before I was dropped off at Chicklet's place.

What a beautiful smile and much excitement when she saw me at her front door!  Talk about bringing joy to my heart!

We all then spent 3 hours at the Children's Festival ...

http://www.noosasteiner.qld.edu.au/announcements/childrens-festival

... and what a great day it was.

The weather was perfect.  The atmosphere was happy.  Live music.  Activities everywhere for the children.  Delicious, healthful food available.

Chicklet had a lovely time and here is the first photo to show it ...

I have lots of others to share, but the day has taken it's toll on this poor old body and I need to get some much needed sleep so that I have energy to keep up with Chicklet tomorrow!

I don't know what our plan will be tomorrow, but whatever happens, it will be fun, and you will hear about it.

Today I am grateful for the fun of being a grandparent and seeing that beautiful smile on her face when she sees me for the first time, and the quiet time on the couch when she rests her head on my arm for a moment, or touches my hand to make sure I'm still there or when she looks up at me and smiles and says "Hullo Bozzy Wozzy" with all the love in her voice.

*sigh*

Life is good ... tiring ... but oh so good :)

Nite all.