Day 70 in a Year of my Life

What a strange start to the day.

It was overcast when I left the house this morning and Adoring Husband was washing the car (that should have been a clue right there!).

I was at the Seat of Knowledge for about an hour when the first shower of rain hit.  Heavy enough for me to cover my camera bag with the plastic rain poncho

Luckily, I had already taken the series of belly button photos that I had been challenged by The Nikonian, to take!

One of the subjects in this week's mini challenge that The Nikonian set, is 'fluff'.  So I decided to take photos of the belly buttons that belong to the boys at the Seat of Knowledge ... because we all know that fluff gets trapped in belly buttons!!

I made a very attractive collage ...

Ok, so it's not THAT attractive.  The oldest belly button here is 82.  Only one of the boys declined to have his belly button photographed and the other four had already left before I arrived this morning.

I photographed the Tawnies before I headed off to the beach.

Unfortunately, a mini storm hit while I was stranded way out on the beach at almost low tide.  Strong winds and heavy rain and I couldn't move fast enough over the wet sand to get to shelter!  Here I was struggling in my thongs and wet glasses and trying to protect the camera under my clothes!

If only someone had a camera to take THAT photo!

I was heading home in the rain, when it stopped as abruptly as it began.  So I decided to go looking for the kangaroo that one of the locals had told me about.  A kangaroo with a joey in it's pouch that had apparently been hanging around on the edge of the national park that borders our town.

It didn't take long to find her, but she had two male guardians that kept me at a safe distance.  Having heard a news story recently where an elderly man had been attacked by a buck in a town about 15 minutes from here, I decided not to take any chances.

Further up the road, I went in search of the Fairy Wrens.

Then it was time to head home, later than usual.  Adoring Husband thought I had run away from hime!

Test Cricket has been on TV all day - Australia V Sri Lanka.  Twenty twenty Big Bash cricket is on tonight - Hobart Hurricanes V Adelaide Strikers.  After this is the tennis.  A deliciously full day of sports for the dedicated lounge lizards that Adoring Husband and I are.

Today I am grateful that I am able to recognise that my life is wonderful and I am happy!

Nite all.

Day 69 in a Year of my Life

Today's smoothie:

Half a small papaya, a dozen grapes, a chunk of fresh pineapple, 1 carrot, half a stalk celery including the leaves, 2 T lemon myrtle yoghurt, 1 cup water, hand full of ice cubes and 2 t Vital Greens powder.  Makes three glasses.  The colour is not pretty, but it tastes fabulous!

I went for a walk along the beach this morning.  The tide was out and I got a couple of nice beachy shots.

These blue jelly fish are thick in the water, bringing with them, lots of sea lice.

For the 'photo a day' challenge.

Possible submission for a competition themed 'Tree'.

The rest of Australia is sweltering in record breaking heat (temperatures over 40C) and there are bushfires destroying homes and properties.  There are also huge seas caused by recent cyclone activity off the East coast which are contributing to injuries and near drownings.

Today, I am grateful to be living in one of the few areas of Australia where the temperatures are reasonable and a breeze continually blows through the house.  Where there are currently no bush fires and no dangerous seas (aside from the over abundance of blue jelly fish).  We are so lucky!

Nite all.

Day 68 in a Year of my Life

This morning I made a delicious smoothie.

In a blender - 6 frozen strawberries, 1 cup watermelon, half a lime (peeled), 1 carrot (head removed), half an apple, 12 grapes, 2 T lemon myrtle yoghurt, 1 cup of cold water and a handful of ice cubes.

DELICIOUS.

All that pulpy goodness - except for the sticker that I forgot take off the apple!

Today I bought a huge range of fruits and vegetables that I can use in smoothies and I plan on making a different one every day.  Today there was enough for two big glasses, so I had one for breakfast and the other with lunch.

I just remembered that I have this to add to my smoothies ...

http://www.australianvitamins.com/products/view/874  It's been in the campervan pantry cupboard since we returned from holidays!  Must get it out tomorrow!

I'm going to experiment more with light nutritious lunches and I need to change my afternoon snacking habit from GF chocolate biscuits or potato chips, to something more beneficial to my health.

I need food that is going to give me more energy, instead of lulling me into nana naps on the couch every afternoon.  Food that will activate my brain instead of putting me in the 'zombie zone' by mid afternoon.

Today I am grateful to have found the motivation to make a start on my new year's resolution to be a little fitter and healthier this year.

It takes three weeks to create a new habit.  Watch me do it.

Nite all.

Day 67 in a Year of my Life

OH JOY! OH JOY!

It's tennis season in Australia!!

It's difficult to choose which television channel to watch!  Channel Ten has the Hopman Cup being played in Perth.  Tonight is the Serbian - Djokovic V the Aussie - Tomic.  I'm not a fan of the Aussie player but for the sake of patriotism, I am supporting him.  I do like Djokovic, so I don't mind if he wins :D

Then on Channel 7TWO we have the Brisbane International where there is a men's match in progress.

Next week, we have the Moorilla Hobart International, the Apia International Sydney, and then after that the World Tennis Challenge commences in Adelaide.

All of these tournaments lead up to the Australian Open in Melbourne which commences on 14th January and ends on 27th January.

Love my tennis and I'm looking forward to seeing the Aussies play well this year.  Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur are my favourites to watch, but I like to see any of the Aussies do well of course.

Just wanted to share a few inspirational and/or funny quotes that I have found in 'Pinterest' lately.

Today I am grateful for the Australian Tennis Season, when I can watch tennis all day and half the night and still get a good night's sleep - unlike The French Open in May/June, Wimbledon in June/July and the US Open in August/September, when, if I want to watch the tennis, I have to stay up all night - a difficult task as I get older!

Off now, for my 2nd early night in a row!  It's part of my new year's resolution - becoming a little 'healthier and fitter', includes getting plenty of good solid sleep!

Nite all.

Day 66 in a Year of my Life

Adoring Husband and I kind of 'slid' into the New Year very quietly in the comfort of our lounge room.

We started at the local club and we'd been looking forward to the night, knowing that all of our friends would be there with us to share the occasion.

The best way to bring in the new year, is surrounded by friends or loved ones... everybody knows that!

The food, hot nibbles, which were served in single cardboard chinese containers to each individual, was less than average.  The majority of the crowd were served fried curry puffs, mini spring rolls and other mini fried pastries.

There were three of us who required 'gluten free' foods and we were given some tasteless felafels, two mini gluten free party pies and some potato wedges.  Also less than average.

I had two glasses of white wine and a jug of iced water.

The music started off very slowly with country music and old time songs from my parent's era.  By 10pm it had moved up a notch, but not enough to provide much enjoyment or entertainment for Adoring Husband and I.

The weather was muggy after some heavy showers and not much ventilation was provided.  Most windows had to stay closed because of the rain.

Just after 10pm Adoring Husband and I decided to call the courtesy bus and make our way home. Eight of our friends chose to join us on the bus and there were another 9 people waiting for the bus to return to the club and take them home too.

As disappointing as it was to not spend the celebrations with all of our friends, we really loved seeing in the new year together in the comfort of our own home.  Quietly and very happily.

For the month of January, I'm once again doing the Photo a Day challenge.  Day One ...

1.  Today

and the other challenge for the year is to have a 'Happy Jar' and whenever something especially happy or wonderful happens, we write it down and place it in the jar.  The aim is to have a jar full of wonderful moments to remember on New Years Eve 2013.  Here is my happy jar...

Today, I'm grateful for new ways to be reminded of the happy times.  Aiming for a positive and happy life in the coming year.

Nite all.

Day 65 in a Year of my Life

So ... I'm thinkin' ... since it's New Year's Eve ... and since I'll be out tonight ... I should update my post right now ... just in case it's too late when I return home, or I'm too drunk!

The latter is highly unlikely.

My New Year's resolution is to become a little fitter and healthier in 2013 - so beginning the year with a hangover would definitely NOT be the way to a successful start.

So to wrap up a pretty good year.  Some of the things that I can look back on with a smile ...

• Started the facebook group '104 Things to Photograph in 404 Days' and in the process found a wonderful group of people with whom I can have a laugh every day.
• Adoring Husband gave me a fabulous Valentines Day that I will never forget.
• Experienced an amazing photography road trip with my BFF that I am still enjoying as I wade through the photos almost every day.
• Our Granddaughter Evie was born.
• Reconnecting with my brother after a long, long time.
• Two whale watching trips that I shared with some special people in my life.
• My first Photography Exhibition, which was a huge success and put the biggest smile on my face for weeks afterwards!
• An incredible holiday with Adoring Husband in the new campervan that was so relaxing and fun, with little planning and lots of spontaneity and everything that I hoped it would be.
• A three day Chicklet feast that was so exhausting and so exhilarating at the same time!

These are just a few memories off the top of my head.  There were some sad moments as well, but I won't dwell on them.

All in all, it's been a great year and I hope that 2013 will have more fun and laughter and happiness and by the end of it, a stronger, healthier and fitter me.

To all of my friends and family who read this ... thanks for caring, and being interested enough to read this self indulgent blog of mine.  You are what I am grateful for, today.

I hope that 2013 is all that you hope for, and brings you overwhelming positive energy,  the strength and willpower to follow through with your plans (whatever they may be), problem-free health so that you can be all that you want to be, and of course, love ... love from all who are important to you.

I'll see you next year!

Nite all.  

Day 64 in a Year of my Life

I've been participating in December Photo a Day.

Here are some of my favourites for the month.

4. Black and White

9. Out and About

10. Under

12. Hat

15. Outdoors

19. Something beginning with 'S'

26. Mess

30. Something that made me smile this year.

I rarely answer my phone when it rings, because I always leave it in my camera bag or in my trike basket and I always keep the phone on 'silent'.  Often I will go looking for my phone at the end of the day and find messages, hours old, on it.

Today, I am grateful for voicemails.  Especially voicemails with Chicklet's voice in them!!

Nite all.