Days 236 and 237 in a Year of my Life

Did you miss me?

My apologies for not posting yesterday.

I've had a bad week, with a couple of crappy things happening, and I was ready for my usual few Friday wines.

Yesterday, after I'd had breakfast, I didn't eat all day, so I went to the club with a very empty stomach and then proceeded to drink 4 glasses of wine.

Bad move.

It DID help me sleep though!  I fell unconscious onto the couch until Adoring Husband physically assisted me to bed, where I climbed, fully clothed under the doona and slept like a baby until 7am.

Almost 12 hours sleep!

I woke up feeling fine this morning, so no hangover to speak of.

Today was a perfect sunshiny Winter's day and I spent about 90 minutes enjoying it on my trike and on the beach.

I missed a good shot of a really big White Bellied Eagle, but he flew so close to me, the image is burned in my memory forever.

Today, I decided to start a series of self portraits.  It'll be good practise for portrait shots and lighting and using the remote shutter release.

A girl in one of my photography groups has started doing something similar, which gave me the idea.  There aren't too many photos of me around, so maybe one or two of them along the way will be worth sharing in printed form, with some special people.

Today's was a lazy one with very little effort put in for the lighting .. just natural light from the window.  No make-up.  No photoshopping my face.  Warts and all me.  Learning to love all of my lines and freckles.

The 'smile' sign to remind me, after such a crappy week, to lighten up and get back to being happy.

Today I am grateful to other photographers for ideas that I hope will improve my photography.  I'm also grateful to you, my guinea pigs, who have to view the practise shots!

Nite all.

Day 236 in a Year of my Life

It is definitely more difficult to get out of bed on these coolish Winter mornings.

It was 7.30am when I climbed out of bed and well after 8am when I got my coffee.

I pedalled to the beach to drink my coffee alone and spotted two Brahminy Kites about 100 metres apart, just standing on the beach.

I chose the one to the right and as I approached, it jumped up and flew over to a mudcrab that was lying dead on the beach ...

Then I got a bit too close and it flew off ...

to be with it's mate ...

I spent about an hour walking backwards and forwards on the wet sand at low tide.  My shoes were wet and sandy.  My track pants were wet and sandy up past my ankles.

But it was worth it.

It was a nice way to spend the morning and then it was even nicer going through all the photos that I had taken.

I hope that tomorrow is worth another walk on the beach .. I think I'll wear shorts and take my shoes off this time.  Might be a bit chilly on the toes, but much less mess to clean up when I get home!

I sorted through some bags of paperwork and photos today and came across a photo from my first wedding, at the ripe old age of 18.

My brother wasn't quite 15yrs of age and my little sister, who was my flower girl, was 5yrs old.  My parents were both aged 38 yrs, and both no longer with us.

I also found my mother's school reports and dance examinations - she dreamed of being a ballerina.

There was also her old bible.  It was already very old when it was handed down from an Aunty in 1947, with it's cover missing, an old bookmark in the pages and a couple of flower petals pressed and dried between the pages.

I wonder what the petals were from?  A flower that she had found as a child?  A flower from a boyfriend?  I guess we will never know now.

Such a long time ago.

Today, I am grateful for small treasures that are packed away and every few years, opened up and viewed and touched.

Reminders of the things that the people we love have experienced in the past.  Reminders that they were here, and were once a part of our lives.  A reminder that we didn't ask enough questions when we had the opportunity.

That's being just a little melancholy, but really, it made me feel warm and fuzzy.

Nite all.

 

Day 235 in a Year of my Life

Yesterday's visit to the beach at low tide...

Today I'm grateful for dvds.  Old favourites.  Dvds to watch while eating fresh strawberries and cream.

Nite all.

Day 234 of a Year of my Life.

It's sharing day today.

Check this out ... I don't know anyone this age, capable of such awesomeness!  86 Years Old!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjljqReu1I

I can't even do it now, let alone in another 30+ years!

Now for a few little facebook gems ...

Today, I am grateful to Adoring Husband who woke me at 'stupid' o'clock, and dragged me, half asleep, out into the cold for a sunrise that was over before it began.

I could see, as we approached the beach, the final seconds of a fluorescent pink morning reflecting in the wet sand, but sadly it was gone in a few blinks of an eye.

I did get to return, for a brief time, to my warm bed, to reflect on what could have been ... thank you AH for thinking of me ... maybe next time!

Nite all.

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.