Day 7 of a Year in my Life

I am grateful for my creative, artistic abilities.

I am ok at basic maths, but nothing more complex.  I struggle with technology but I still own a laptop, an ipad, an iphone, a dslr camera and I get by.

I understand nothing about software, files, programs and the like .. it doesn't matter how you try to explain it to me, I just don't get it!

I do understand 'arty farty'.

When it comes to creativity in any form of art, I understand, and I can 'do', with minimal education or instruction.

It's my natural talent.

I'm not saying that I am a brilliant artist, by any stretch of the imagination, but generally speaking, I am naturally capable of creating all forms of creative art.

Oil Painting

Jewellery

I have painted in oils and acrylics, I have created pottery (not with a wheel), I have made jewellery, I can crochet and knit, I have embroidered, I can sew, I have designed, I have sketched, I have woven, I have stained glass, I have carved and etched, I've tie-dyed and leather worked.

Now I photograph.

I am so grateful for photography.

I love it because it's instant.  I can see the end result instantly.  Instant gratification ... much like chocolate!

Now, I have a new camera with which to play and improve and obsess.

I am grateful for the art of photography.   For the friends I've made through photography.  For the miles of memories that I can now sift through at any time of the day or night.  For all the little things on this earth that I can see because I am looking through photographer's eyes.

Here are one of the little things...

Tawny Frogmouth Chick 

Thank you Adoring Husband for just being you :D

Nite all.

Day 6 of A Year in my Life

Rainbows!

I love rainbows.

I have been obsessed with getting a rainbow shot over the river.

A couple of years ago I pedalled down to the river without my camera.  I was going out that day, so I was already dressed for my outing and decided to pedal to the bakery for my morning coffee.

I didn't take the camera because I knew that I wouldn't be gone long and because the weather was looking a bit ominous.

As I left the bakery,  I decided to stop by the Seat of Knowledge to say good morning to my boys.

It was right on high tide, there was not a breath of wind and the water was still and smooth, like glass.

The clouds in the distance were dark and looming and it was obvious that it was raining up river.

As I pulled up to the Seat of Knowledge, a rainbow appeared.

One end of it was on the opposite side of the river and the closest end seemed to be within about 50 feet from the steps near the Seat of Knowledge.

It was a perfect, vibrant and complete rainbow and the water was so still that it reflected that perfect rainbow like a mirror.

I literally gasped at the beauty and instinctively reached for my camera, which of course, was not there.

The first time I had ever taken my trike without the camera in the rear basket!

The chances of that perfect moment to ever occur again in the future are so remote.  I think I'd have a better chance of winning the lottery!

So, the night before last, when my neighbour came running over to my house to point out a rainbow after a heavy shower had passed, I was excited about what I might find.

We jumped in her car and drove down to the beach to discover this ...

The circumstances were not even close to mimicking that special morning when I was without my camera, but this rainbow was beautiful in it's own right.

I am grateful for beautiful, vibrant, colourful rainbows that bring joy to the heart and lift my spirits every single time.  Who doesn't love a rainbow?

Nite all.

Day 5 of a Year in my Life

Today's 'I'm grateful' thought is a bit lighter than my first four.  I don't want to be so intense every day, so ...

I love that time in the morning, when you first wake up, and it's very quiet, except for the sound of birds singing way off in the distance and there is a soft breeze blowing through the open window.

I love to find my most comfortable and snug position in bed and enjoy that morning moment.

I close my eyes and listen to the birds and feel the breeze and slide my feet around in the cool crispness of the sheets.

It's such a delicious feeling to doze in and out of light sleep for about twenty minutes before it's time to climb out of bed.

This isn't my bedroom, nor is it a photo that I took, but it's one of my favourite pins in Pinterest and it's how my bedroom feels to me.

So, I am grateful for a life that allows me to enjoy those moments in the mornings.

I'm off to the movies tomorrow to see 'Mental' which looks hilarious on the preview.  It's an Australian movie with Rebecca Gibney and Toni Collette.  I'll give you the report tomorrow.

Nite all.

Day 4 of a Year in my Life.

James Francis Tregea  31/10.78 - 02/03/79 (Aged 16 weeks)

Had he lived, my son would have turned 34 yrs of age today.

That being said, today I am grateful for having had Jamie in my life, even for such a short time.

Because of his time on this earth, his life and his death, strongly influenced my decision to have the three wonderful children who grace my life today.

They each bring joy to my life in different ways and I am proud of the who they have become as grown adults.

Aside from a few difficult teenage years, they have brought such a lot of happiness to my life, and often when I'm observing the wonderfulness of Chicklet, I am reminded of similar feelings toward my children as they grew and developed from babies to little people.

No doubt, she will trigger other memories as she grows.

Thanks to today's technology, I am grateful for regular insights into my children's lives through facebook, twitter, blogs, emails, phone calls, skype, text messages and visits.

When I was having my babies and living more than 1000 kms from my parents, I had to make do with a weekly (expensive) phone call and the occasional letter or card in the mail (aka snail mail).

My kids are good people.

This is a photo taken while they were on holidays with their father, many many years ago.  I've always loved this.

I am grateful to have them in my life, to give love and from whom I receive love.  I wish that we all lived closer together so that we could share more of the 'festive' times.

I know that I don't tell them often enough ... in fact, I can't remember the last time that I told them!

I love you.

I am proud of you.

I wish I could hug you right now.

Nite all.  

Day 3 of a Year in my Life

I'm grateful for extended family, who even though we see each other rarely and for very short periods of time, it feels just like we saw each other yesterday and it feels so comfortable and there is always love.

Best Cousin in the World

Kids of the Olympiad - see parents below.

The Beautiful People - more cousins and the parents of the above children.

Cousins, Uncles, Aunties and all of their children, grandchildren and beyond ... there must be close to a hundred of them, if not more!

I never feel unwelcome and the bonds that I formed with each of them in my childhood still feel strong and connected today.  Those connections are also special because they make me feel a little closer to my parents, who have both passed on.

So thank you ... family ... :D

Speaking of family.  We had a lovely day today with Best Cousin in the World and her hubby, Marco Polo.

After breakfast on the water front, then some touristy stuff in The Bay this morning, we came back home and spent six hours at the local pub, playing pool, drinking quite large amounts of alcohol (some more than others!) and then having dinner there, before walking home in the light rain.

We, 'the girlies', beat the boys at pool!!  Yay for us!!  We are the champions!!

Nite all.

Day 2 of A Year in my Life.

I feel incredibly grateful for our friends, Woman of Many Talents, and her partner, Bob the Builder, who were willing to take time out of their very busy lives to come with us to Bundaberg as our support team to drive us home after Adoring Husband had his medical procedure.

Our lives have been so busy this year, that we haven't spent much time together at all, so it's even more meaningful that they didn't even hesitate when we asked this huge favour.

This photo is a true representation of Woman of Many Talents.  Casual, relaxed and always happy.  She exudes a warmth and a vibrance that makes people feel welcome in her presence.

She is beautiful inside and out.

Thank you for being my friend and thank you for being there in our time of need.  I look forward to one day, repaying the favour in some way.

'Best Cousin in the World' and her husband Marco Polo, arrived late this afternoon.

We've had a great afternoon and evening catching up and drinking wine and getting each other up-to-date on family matters.  We have a whole day together tomorrow and I will hopefully get to share our favourite spot for dinner and a sunset, weather permitting.

Right now, it's way past my bed time.

Nite all.

Day 1 of 'A Year in my Life'

I have joined a few photography group pages in facebook over the past year and recently, in one of them, I've been watching a young woman in her mid twenties keep an album of things for which she is grateful, who and what she loves, and what fills her days for 365 days.

She entitled it "A Year in my Life".

She began this album on the 1st of September and as I was going through it today, and reading her blurb beside each photo, I felt so good, that I decided that I'd like to start one myself.

I considered starting the album in facebook, but I think I'd rather share my year of photos in here - because the people I care about the most, read this regularly.

Vegan Chickie recently put me onto an 'app' called a Gratitude Journal which I downloaded onto my iphone and have written in about half a dozen times, so that's where I will start.

I'm pretty certain that EVERYBODY knows what my first photo will be ...

A photo taken by Vegan Chickie.  Look at those little blond curls and that cheeky smile.

I am grateful for Crazy Crazy Chicklet.

I stand in awe of that beautiful, wonderful, amazing child as I watch her grow and learn and become a little person.  I watch how her parents are teaching her to be strong and brave and bright and adventurous, while I get to be 'Boz' and give her smiles and love and time.

She brings me such joy and I try to soak up every moment that I get to share with her.  She has me so starstruck that all I can do is watch her every movement and listen to her every sound and I am incapable of having an intelligent conversation when she is around.

I even have tears of joy as I write this!

While I napped this afternoon,  I got two phone calls, which I obviously didn't answer, because I was sleeping, so my caller left two voice messages.

The caller was Chicklet and she left the most adorable, talkative little messages for me.  I giggle to myself every time I listen to them.  Thank you my little sweetie possum ... I'm sorry I missed your call, but I'm glad I have the messages to listen to :D

I LOVE LOVE LOVE you to pieces and am so grateful to have you in my life.

Thank you for listening.

Nite all.