Day 305 in a Year of my Life

I'm here only to share two photos from my day with The Nikonian yesterday.

I have wasted the evening and now it's late and I need my energy for my first full day with Chicklet tomorrow.

Today, I'm grateful to have a whole week of Chicklet/Bozzy Wozzy fun ahead of me.

Nite all.

Day 304 in a Year of my Life

I have arrived, alive and well, safe and sound at the Sunshine Coast.

After only 4 hours sleep last night and a very long and full day, I am exhausted!

So, although I have taken a few photos to day, in the mountains and at the beach, I have no photos to share tonight.

I'm off to bed ... you know how exhausted I always am for the first couple of days that I'm here!

I've had a great day with The Nikonian.

Today, I am grateful tonight's delicious dinner of steak and vegetables, cooked by someone else's Adoring Husband!

Nite all.

Day 303 in a Year of my Life

Vintner's Secret vineyard.

http://www.vintnerssecret.com.au/

I highly recommend an outing to visit this lovely spot.

You can eat at Whisper's Cafe.  The food is divine and they source fresh produce from their own onsite herb and vegetable garden, and use seasonal fresh food from the local area.

There is a beautiful, creatively designed garden that you can wander through, with little nooks and crannies and alcoves to explore and many little resting areas where you can sit and enjoy the serenity, or contemplate life.

A few animals for the kids (and adults) to enjoy.  Alpacas, a pig, a goose, a cow, some chickens and a couple of dogs.

The owners are very warm and welcoming and so down to earth.  You'll never want to leave!

Apparently on the weekends they have live music on the grounds ... I'm looking forward to spending a Saturday or Sunday there with Adoring Husband some time in the near future.

I had a great day, as did the other 17 ladies with whom I shared the experience!

Today, I'm grateful for destinations that surprise and delight, especially when they are so close to home!

Nite all.

Day 302 in a Year of my Life

I came upon a blog today that listed "50 Things to Blog About" for the days when you get writer's block or lose your creativity.

So I've saved the list for the days when I have a brain freeze, and hopefully this means that you will be bored less often.

I won't bore you tonight because I'm going to make it brief.  No photos.

I could have had a great photo .. a lost opportunity.

I had a pedicure appointment today and I thought it was for 11.45am.  At 11am, when I checked the card, I discovered that the appointment was actually for 10.45am!

Honestly, there seems to be a trend happening here.  I'm having serious problems with 'times' lately!

So I phoned the salon, apologised profusely and told her I was on my way.

I was in the middle of cooking soup at the time, and I was wearing my daggy old house clothes.  I didn't even look in a mirror before I left.  I just grabbed my purse, jumped on the trike and pedalled my heart out!

At the halfway mark there is a large block of land and as I rode past, I glanced across to see a large bearded dragon lizard sitting in the middle of the block with his head held high and pointed towards the sky.

Not only did I not have the time to stop .. but I had left my camera at home!  A double whammy!

That was my lost opportunity.

I had my lovely pedicure and then came home and finished making Adoring Husband's tomato soup.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to attending the lady's luncheon at a Childers Winery.  We are all travelling by bus, so I imagine there may be a few tipsy ladies on the way home!

I'll be travelling with camera so I hope to get some good shots to share tomorrow.

Today, I'm grateful for pineapple/mint water.  Refreshing and delicious!

Nite all.

Day 301 in a Year of my Life

I soooo want to keep a food diary right here, but I think I might get booed off the stage if I do!

I've had lots of different fluids today and I'm going to share that!

I started with hot lemon water.

Then I had beetroot/carrot/apple juice with hemp oil and magnesium oil.

After lunch I made watermelon/strawberry/orange/pawpaw/mint/coconut, with the same oils as above.  Even Adoring Husband enjoyed that one (he didn't know about the oils)-(he will when he reads this).

For tomorrow, I've filled a jug with fresh pineapple pieces, mint and water.

All delicious.  All nutritious.  All clean and fresh.  All satisfying.

Only one photo to share today.  A couple of Rainbow Bee Eaters from the block next door.  How lucky am I to have such pretty neighbours!

Just four more sleeps til I see my little Chicklet family.  Can't wait to see my little girl again.

Today, I am grateful to Number One Son for showing me how to book my train ticket online!  It took me 5 minutes to do it myself, as opposed to at least 30 minutes at the agent.  All this time, and I didn't know I had this option!

Nite all.  

Day 300 in a Year of my Life

So I finally found the motivation and enthusiasm to climb out of bed at 5.20am when my alarm went off and try to catch a nice sunrise.

I wasn't feeling too confident when I looked outside and saw not a cloud in sight, but figured that if there was no colour in the sunrise, I would take advantage of the perfect morning light somewhere along my path.

I was so organised.

Last night I packed my camera bag, put my clothes in the main bathroom so that I wouldn't disturb Adoring Husband while I got ready.  Put my hat and glasses on the desk and put the lemon slices in my cup ready to pour hot water onto before I walked out the door.

Just before I left, Adoring Husband was awake so I detoured to the bedroom to kiss him goodbye and then rushed out the door.

Left my lemon drink behind AND my tripod!  Ugh!

Anyway, the sunrise was quite pretty.  I planned this morning's shoot because I knew that the tide would be out and I could get some nice 'still water' shots on the turn of the tide.

I took a detour to the lagoon on the way home and got this photo, before my battery went dead.  Silly me forgot to charge the spare one, which was still in my camera bag, alas, also dead.  So that was my cue to come home.

When I got home, I had my lemon water, which was still warm on my desk and then I made a beetroot, carrot and apple smoothie.  It was quite delicious, but next time I'm going to take Vegan Chickie's advice and add some ginger.

Sunday lamb roast for lunch with potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, beans, snow peas, zucchini, onion and an interesting gravy made from the chicken stock that I'd frozen last week.  It was very tasty.  It was nice to create the gravy off the top of my head without using the usual bought powdered concoctions and no flour.

Then this afternoon, after a nice relaxing time on the couch watching the footy with AH, the clouds were looking interesting over the western sky, so I hopped on the trike and pedalled to the park hoping for a reasonable sunset.

I was almost disappointed, but then at the last moment, just as most great sunsets happen, I got this.

Today I'm grateful that my early morning was rewarded and I thoroughly enjoyed being up at the crack of dawn .. it reminded me why I used to get up at that time every day!  I wonder if I can create a new habit?

Nite all

Day 299 in a Year of my Life

Food Diary:

8am Hot lemon water.

10am Green smoothie - celery, zucchini, lettuce, snow peas, mint, basil, parsley, 3 strawberries, red apple, hemp oil, vital greens and magnesium oil.  It tasted much more delicious than it sounds!

1pm Half chicken breast with salad of avocado, tomato, onion, mushroom, cucumber, fresh beetroot and carrot.  A squeeze of lemon juice and pink Himalayan salt over the top.

3pm A small piece of this delicious chocolate cake.  Sugar free, grain free and gluten free.  The main ingredient is 3 cups of almond meal.  Every single ingredient has good nutritional value.

It's very rich on it's own, but with pure cream and strawberries - bloody delicious!

I included it in this reflections photo ...

I had another small piece at 7.30 tonight.  I didn't have any dinner.  Plenty of water.

I don't think Adoring Husband was keen on the cake.. all the more for me :D  I must check if I can freeze it.

Tomorrow I am going to attempt a chocolate mousse made with avocado, cocoa powder and coconut milk.  Sounds interesting huh?

I have a fridge full of fruit and vegetables that I have to use up before I leave for the Sunny Coast next week.  So I am searching through the 'clean food' recipes on-line.  I'll share the recipes that I think you non-fanatics might enjoy.

Today, I'm grateful for fun time in the kitchen experimenting with new ingredients and feeling GOOD for it!

Nite all.

Day 298 in a Year of my Life

Adoring Husband and I went to the movies to see "Now You See Me" today.  Yes, I got the day and the times correct this time and we shared the cinema with only 6 others.  I love it when that happens.

I was pretty much on the ball through the whole movie.  All the twists and turns didn't fool me and I predicted just about everything.  I even knew who the mastermind would be BUT that final twist at the end got me hook, line and sinker.

I did NOT expect the mastermind to be that particular character in the movie.

Great movie.  I highly recommend it.  Big names like Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg.  I'm a big fan of all of these actors.

There is another movie that can't wait to see. "Red2".  Also big names .. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mary-Louise Parker.  I think it opens next Thursday at our local cinema.

There were a few previews that look good.  A new Channing Tatum movie coming soon, called "White House Down" also starring Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal.  I'll watch it just to look at Channing Tatum.

"RIPD" with Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Mary-Louise Parker and Kevin Bacon.  It looks like 'Men in Black' in ghost form.

That's just a few I can think of, off the top of my head.

I promised yesterday that I would share a recipe that I tried.  I called them wraps, but I guess they are more like Tortillas.

Cauliflower Tortillas!

3/4 head of raw cauliflower
2 Eggs
1 minced garlic clove
3/4 teaspoon of mixed herbs of your choice (I used parsley, basil and thyme)
1/4 teaspoon salt

You can also try with 1/4 teaspoon curry powder.

Preheat oven to 220C and line two baking sheets with baking paper.

In a food processor, pulse the cauliflower until it forms a crumb like texture (there should be 2 cups when packed). Place the crumbles and 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan with a tight fitting lid. Cook on a medium high heat for 8 minutes until tender.

Drain cauliflower in a sieve, then transfer to a clean t-towel. Firmly squeeze any excess water from cauliflower. In a bowl, stir together the cauliflower and remaining ingredients . Form two thin circles on baking paper. With a spatula, press down the dough so it forms a thin layer. Keep the wraps compact - there should be no paper showing through the mixture.

Bake for about 17 minutes until dry and pliable. Gently remove to a wire rack to cool so that the bottom doesn't become soggy. 

Heat a frypan and brown the tortillas to your liking .. this makes them a little crunchy round the edges and gives them a nice nutty flavour.

Use with light fillings or tear pieces off to scoop up fillings.  This is supposed to make 6 or 7, but I got 4 large-ish tortillas out of it - they are very filling!

Today I am grateful for my new Batman t-shirt that I bought for a pyjama top :) Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-BATMANNNN!

Nite all.

Day 297 in a Year of my Life

I can't believe how late it is!

So this will be a quickie.

One photo from my ride this morning...

I found a great recipe to make gluten free wraps today, which I will share tomorrow.  I wish I'd taken photos of the cooking process!

Today I'm grateful that I'm not craving sugar after 3 days of being sugar-free!

Nite all.

Day 296 in a Year of my Life

Full moon tonight.

At 5.46pm the moon rose over the ocean straight out from our beach.

I love a full moon, but having a boring straight horizon as the only point of interest makes for a boring moon rise photo.

If it was rising at the end of an interesting pier, or above a magnificent tree,  over the mast of a yacht or between some buildings in an interesting cityscape, then you could see scale.

On a flat boring horizon, you can't even tell how big and amazing the moon is.

I struggled to get my camera settings right tonight.

There was a lot of smoke haze just sitting on the horizon, so the moon appeared and then disappeared for a little while behind the haze.

I had a lovely Skype call with Chicklet and Vegan Chickie today.  Chicklet had some new toys to show me.

She had a couple of dinosaurs (she would correct me if she heard me say that .. she knows their correct names and I have to use them!) and she had an anemone.

I got SEB out of the bird cage and brought him to the computer screen to show her, which she thought was cool, but her favourite thing of all, was a little plastic Snoopy doll that I got from the markets for $1 last week.

She had a lovely conversation with Snoopy and even showed him her new toys!

He is now packed into the suitcase ready to come on a train trip with me next week.

Today, I'm grateful for a beautifully clear and cool evening down on the beach to watch the moon rise.  It was very peaceful down there tonight.

Nite all.

Day 295 in a Year of my Life

What a nice day I've had today.

I didn't even get out of bed til almost 8.30am!  I woke up at 7.50am but lay in bed with my ipad for a while.

My first stop was morning tea with the girls and then I went for a ride around town for about an hour.

It's that perfect time of year leading up to Spring.  Everybody has a spring in their step.  Everybody appreciates the sunshine and warmer weather.  Everybody comes outside to their garden.  Everybody notices the colour of the sky and the river.  They can hear the birds singing.  They want to walk on the beach.

The air is definitely happier.

I got a reflection photo today, but I'm not going to use it for the competition.

I'm working on a couple of ideas at the moment, after doing a bit of brainstorming with BGWLBH and The Nikonian.  I hope something good comes from it .. or at least I hope that I can do the ideas justice!

Today I'm grateful for other people's good ideas :D

Nite all.

Day 294 in a Year of my Life

Canon Photo 5 competition has begun!

Canon run this competition every year at the same time.  It's open to anyone and it's free to enter.  The prize is a creative photography workshop in New Zealand, accommodation and flights included.  A great prize right?

The first open brief is "Reflections".

At first glance, it seems like an easy brief.

Yes, everybody has a decent reflections photo in their collection, but that's the problem.  Everybody has a 'similar' reflections shot in their collection.

There have already been hundreds of photos submitted.

The most common seem to be:

Yacht masts in the marina.
Tree reflections in water.
Frogs on glass.
Cats looking out windows.
Ducks or lilies on ponds.
Bridges or piers over still water.
Eyeballs.
Bubbles.
Water droplets.

So not only do you have to think of something original, but you have to set the photo up and execute it perfectly.

I look forward, every year, to this competition, but as soon as it arrives, I stress over it!!  Why??  It's not like I have anything to lose!

Ugh!

Anyway I found this little fella in the bush today ...

There were so many little Fairy Wrens making so much noise, I didn't know which direction to look!  In the end I just stood very still and he came to me.

Today, I'm grateful for Winter changing into Spring and bringing nature back to life.

Nite all.

Day 293 in a Year of my Life

I had a big day in the kitchen today.

I started with a green smoothie using baby spinach, celery leaf, lettuce from the garden, mint, parsley, 6 snow peas, half an apple, 1/4 of a small papaya, 3 strawberries and a tablespoon of hemp oil.  It was not a pretty colour, but it tasted great!

Then I made a small pavlova.

I'm cutting sugar from my diet, so it's my 'goodbye to sugar' gift!  When it's finished ... it's all over for processed/refined sugar!

I used my imagination to make a delicious vegetable stack, and a chicken and rice dish with turmeric and coconut oil, which was so much nicer than I expected!

I've also decided to cut caffeine and alcohol and to reduce my meat intake.

My diet will consist of lots of green smoothies, lots of vegetable soups, lots of meals made with clean fresh food.  Most processed foods contain sugar, they are all on the 'out' list.

Since my diet became gluten free, 18 months ago, I have gradually introduced so many processed foods, high in sugar and other ingredients that are either numbers, or words that I can't pronounce.  Just because they say 'gluten free' doesn't automatically make them good for you!

I want vitamins, minerals and nutrients and I want to feel rejuvenated and healthy and full of energy.  I want my head to be clear.

Feeling like an old woman is not an option for me anymore!  I'm 53 and I feel 73 (not that I KNOW what 73 feels like lol).  My friends in their 60s have more life and more energy than I do, so this is my way of attempting to find my energy.

A 3 month experiment with the potential to be everlasting.

Facebook friends have shared lots of recipes and links to websites/blogs/pages that have more clean fresh recipes.  I'm a bit excited and have already picked out a few to start with.

The first recipe I want to try, from one of the recommended sites http://thediva-dish.com/recipes-2/ it looks simple and delicious!

Strawberry Broccoli Salad

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 15 mins

Serves: 3 cups

Ingredients
(For the Salad)
1½ c. chopped strawberries
1½ c. broccoli, cut with most of the stems removed
¼ c. salted cashews, chopped
2 TB (or more) toasted coconut
(For the Dressing)
2 TB. greek yogurt, plain
1 TB. balsamic vinegar
2 TB. honey
sprinkle of cinnamon

Instructions
Add salad ingredients to a medium sized bowl and set aside.
In a separate small bowl whisk together salad dressing, then pour over top of salad.
Can serve immediately, or will do great in the fridge for when ready to serve.
(If serving later, add in coconut just before serving)

Today, I am grateful for new food challenges that I hope will inspire me to find my creative juices in the kitchen!

I've shared this before, but it's my favourite quote.

Nite all.

Day 292 in a Year of my Life

I've been feeling very discombobulated all day today.

Strangely I woke during the night and couldn't get back to sleep for about 90 minutes.

I've been trying to teach myself how to use the new editing tablet, but my brain was so fuzzy, it was really hard work and not the fun that I planned it to be.

So from late this afternoon, after a nap, my self prescribed medication has been old 'Friends', 'Will and Grace' and 'Sex and the City' re-runs on Foxtel.

Tomorrow WILL be a better day.

Today I am grateful to Foxtel for providing, so conveniently, a whole run of my favourite TV shows from the past.  They have released a slow injection of 'feel good' to my day :)

Nite all

Day 291 in a Year of my Life

I have ten minutes ... I want to be in bed by 10pm and it is now 9.50pm.

Three glasses of wine tonight at the club.  Lamb shanks and mash, made with love, by Adoring Husband in the slow cooker.

So now, my belly is full and my head is buzzing a little with the wine.

I took photos today, but I haven't looked at them yet.

Tomorrow I hope to share some cool photos edited on the Cintiq ... which I now have the cable for, but even after three hours, know nothing more about how to use!!

Focus day tomorrow ... it's ALL going to happen tomorrow ... REALLY!

Today I am grateful for Chicklet phone calls and on-line catch-ups with friends who have been busy with life.

Nite all  (9.55pm!!)

Day 290 in a Year of my Life

What a day.

Today was the day to pick up the new computer (which replaces the other new computer that we got last month) and the Cintiq Editing Tablet, along with the adaptor cable so that they would work together.

JB HiFi mucked us around with our order and what should have taken ten minutes, took almost 90 minutes.

Because of the 'huge' inconvenience, we got a 'huge' discount on the remaining amount that we owed.

This is the new set up ...

... that I can't use yet, because they forgot to order the adaptor cable.  Ugh!

I'm exhausted thinking about the learning curve ahead of me, but I think it will be worth it in the end.

We missed a movie because I got the times wrong .. I blame old age!

Did lots of other shopping and got a couple of chores done in town.

I spent the afternoon setting up the iMac, while Adoring Husband had a long nap.

I also did a very poor job cooking dinner.  An easy meal of chops, chips and salad ended up with overcooked chips, undercooked chops and luckily, a reasonable salad.

Tonight while Adoring Husband was out with the SES, I had a bit of fun with the camera out under the stars.

It was a bit tricky doing this by myself .. but very satisfying in the end.  I had a couple of orders from my facebook world and I promised I'd get them done twice over the last ten days .. thought it was about time I came through with my promise.

That's about it for the day I think.

Today, I am grateful that Adoring Husband stayed unusually calm during our 90 minutes at JB this morning and didn't seem bothered about missing the movie either.  Even though little of it went according to plan, we had a good day.

Nite all.

Day 289 in a Year of my Life

A pretty quiet sort of day really ... although we DID get a new cockatiel!

I'll take a photo tomorrow.

We have no idea if it's a he or a she, but it is straight out of the nest and is white with a couple of dark grey patches and big black eyes.

So far, we have named it OB ... that may change later, but for now we have OB (stands for 'Our Bird') and SEB (stands for 'Someone Else's Bird').

They don't seem too interested in each other and both have been very quiet since they joined forces in the cage.

Tomorrow may tell a new story.

I worked on a couple of old sunset photos today ...

Today I am grateful for regular photos and little videos of Chicklet to keep me up-to-date with her development and to see her happy smiling face and hear her fabulous voice.  Thanks Vegan Chickie!

Nite all.

Day 288 in a Year of my Life

When one door of happiness closes, another opens;  but often we look so long at the closed door, that we do not see the one that has been opened before us.  -- Helen Keller.

Today is 'Share Facebook Quotes' day!

Today I am grateful for Tuesday morning teas with the girls that make me feel warm and fuzzy and I love how we can be sarcastic and silly and giggly and supportive and happy and ridiculous!  Thanks girls :D

Nite all.

Day 287 in a Year of my Life

So there haven't been a lot of opportunities for photography this week.

I found a couple of Tawny Frogmouths and some Rainbow Bee Eaters, but I want something more than that.  Something that will capture the imagination.

Instead, this week, I have been going through some old photos and have discovered some nice little gems worth sharing.

I think this one would look great enlarged and framed ...

I really like this shot taken just after sunrise, of The Nikonian silhouette on the beach.

I emailed some of the portrait photos that I showed you yesterday, to the people in the photos and I received a 'thank you' from one of them, which was lovely.  She was impressed.

I must get back to those photos,  finish editing them and email them to the birthday boys.

After our failed whale watching trip, my throat has been quite sore - today is the fourth day.  I've been taking a spoonful of fresh raw honey every morning and every evening and I've been filling myself with lots of vegetable soups as well as veggie and fruit smoothies.  Lots of water.  Lots of Vitamin D.

Those things must be working because my health hasn't degenerated, but I want my throat to be healed NOW!

Anybody out there have any healthful advice that might help?  No drugs.  No tablets.  No synthetic vitamin pills.

Today I'm grateful for surprise photography sales, without even trying!

Nite all.

Day 286 in a Year of my Life

Some more images from the party last night.

I spent half the day making soup!

Cauliflower, zucchini and mushroom soup.  Tomato and red lentil soup.  Both delicious!

It was another gloriously warm Winter's day today.  It was lovely to be out on the trike this morning, soaking up some vitamin D and then I had a little time on the garden swing this afternoon.

The Rainbow Bee Eaters are back and already nesting in the ground near here.  I'll post some photos tomorrow.  I've also found four Tawny Frogmouths so far, so they will be nesting soon too!  I was directed to a tree with two of them perched on top, by a lady who is a regular holiday maker in town.

She actually came to the markets to find me yesterday, specifically to tell me about the Tawnies, which I find just amazing and am so grateful for!  It makes me feel a little bit famous because even though I recognise her face as someone who spends time in the caravan park each year at this time, I don't know her at all!

I must go and check the tree with what I suspect is a Kookaburra nest, tomorrow too.

Our solar panels will be installed tomorrow!  Wahoo!  Looking forward to massively reduced power bills by the end of the year.

Today I am grateful for a pretty fantastic Sunday which included cooking, photography, gardening, a movie, a phone call with Chicklet and a delicious dinner made by Adoring Husband.

Nite all.