Just lazin'

I'm grateful for another lazy Sunday.

I could get well used to Sundays. Wish there were more of them!

Bit of tidying up this morning, cos we had a guest for lunch, but nothing in the least bit strenuous.

An easy lunch of chicken and salad, followed by strawberries and ice-cream. Don't you just love the strawberries at this time of year? They taste so much better, being in season!!

Then a stroll round the shopping centre, all scattered, doing our own thing! We brought Meggie's pal, Fiona, with us, so the two of them went off on their own! Thomas and K did the book shop while I was in Pamela Scott and Nannie went to look in the shoe shop!

Stress free, hastle free! Just the ticket!

All rested up and ready for a new week!

Got to get packed this week! Off on our holidays on Friday!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Every little helps

Today I am grateful to K for getting out of his pjs this morning to drive me in to work because it was raining.

I normally drive half way in on a Saturday morning and walk from there, but when I went out this morning the drizzle turned into a downpour and I knew I'd be soaked by the time I got to the shop. So, in stepped my knight in shining pyjamas!

Thank you Kieran. I want you, and cyberspace, to know that I appreciate all the little, and not so little, things you do for me. I love you lots.

Of course, once the clothes were on and we were half way to town, the rain went off and it turned into a lovely day! Typical!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Car trouble

Why is it that whenever one thing goes wrong with the car another dozen things show up when you put it into the garage???

I have been squeaking for a while now...well, not me personally! My car!

It doesn't squeak all the time, and, usually, it's not too bad a squeak. But it is, none the less, a squeak. And, more importantly, it's a squeak where there shouldn't be a squeak!

Anyway, I finally had enough of it the other day and brought the car into my local garage. I even told them that I thought it was probably something to do with the brake pads, and it was definitely coming from the front of the car.

Two hours later, I got a call to tell me I needed (another) new gear box.

Okay, didn't see that one coming but assumed the garage knew a squeaky gear box when they heard one!

Twenty-four hours later I got my car back. Definitely easier in first gear than it's been for a while, but, you guessed it, still squeaking!

Brought it back to the garage and told them, again, that it sounded like it was coming from the front wheels. Wheels? they asked incredulously. Yes, I said. Mentioned that when I took it in to you before you put in the new gear box!

Two hours later......Your brake disks are starting to wear and are scraping on the wheels a bit. Not a major problem, no danger, plenty of brake pads left.

Today I am grateful that the garage found my squeak, right where I said it was, and didn't have to charge me any more money than they already had, to replace the gear box that I didn't realise needed replacing in the first place!

Thank goodness for mechanics!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Baker's dozen

Meggie announced this afternoon that she wanted to bring in cakes for eveyone in the class, including the teacher, tomorrow.

She then disappeared off to a party for the afternoon!

We finally got the cakes made this evening.

Of course, our Meg had to be in a split class....27 kids all together...plus one for Teacher!!

So, 36 cakes made. Two different lots of icing...one strawberry flavoured, and one orange. Just enough to ice about 30 cakes.We were going great guns, till we decided to taste the writing-icing that we had already written about 7 initials with....you guessed it...Yuck!!!

Thank goodness we had extra cakes!!! No extra icing left though!

Did we cry? Did we panic and stomp about??? You bet we did!

Then we "iced" the rest of the cakes with Nutella!!!

For every problem...a solution!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A breath of fresh air

What wonderful drying weather we had today!!

Two loads...count them!...washed today and dried outside! One load on the rotary drier, and the other on the clotheshorse that I dragged out into the sun!

Such a nice change!

The next step will be to get the extension cable out and bring out the ironing board! Mind you, no! I like to put a good film on the telly when I'm ironing!!

Still, I'm grateful for the lovely weather.

Long may it continue!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Pretty in pink

I treated myself to a manicure today.

It's a nail bar in one of the big stores in town. I've often passed it and it's usually busy. I thought it looked like quite a strange thing to do in the middle of a busy shop, everyone walking past you with their shopping bags.

Anyway, I was in the lucky position of being offered a lunch hour today, so I decided to have a wander just to get out of the shop for a while, being that I was going to be there all afternoon too.

When I went into said store, the nail bar was empty....it looked very tempting! A very chirpy young girl helped me choose a colour, and I think we made a good choice! It's a lovely, bright pink, that has a kind of a violet shine to it. Very bold and very summery! Great to lift the spirits.

So today I am grateful for lunch hours....it's probably just as well I don't get them very often though!! Goodness knows what all I could get up to on the spur of the moment!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Just breathe

When all else fails.....just breathe.

Not a bad mantra to keep in mind.

I am grateful that I remembered it this evening when my son went awol!!!

Never fear...he turned up unscathed and got an ear-bashing for his trouble!!

Life is just full of new challenges, and the only way to take them on is with two lungs full of air!!!

Breathing in I smile.

Breathing out I am calm.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Day of rest

I am grateful today for being able to do nothing.

My battery had run completely empty over the last few days, and today I was able to go a good way towards recharging it.

I didn't even have to cook today, as we'd been invited through to K's mum's for dinner! How lucky am I?

Once home, Thomas went off out with his pals, Meg went off out with her pals, and K went off out with his pals!!! I got to put my feet up, fluffy-cat on me knee, and watch two films, back to back!

Not a bad day's work, I'd say!!!

I think I could still do with a bit more recharging though....wonder if there are any good films on Sky tomorrow???

Gratefully yours.
xx

Better late than never!!!

I didn't blog last night because I had used up all my energy partying!

Well, when I say that, I really mean I spent all my energy trying to stay awake and upright until I could decently leave and come home to my bed!!

No reflection on the party, or the company, but I just wasn't able for it!!!

Anyway, I enjoyed it while I could then I made a quick exit, with the kids, who really wanted to stay with Dad till the wee small hours! I was probably asleep in bed before them after all the coke they drunk!!

So this morning I am grateful to have had a restorative night's sleep and to have the time and energy to write this before I go off to work....well, I couldn't have you all getting up and no blog to read, now could I???

See how much I love you all!!!

Happy Saturday.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Scent-sational

I am surrounded by beautiful smells today!

Just goes to show that whatever ails me at the moment can't be nose-related!!

I opened the kitchen window to let Gorgeous in, this afternoon, and got a glorious scent of roses from the garden.

I planted three rose bushes, in pots, about 4 years ago, deliberately getting roses with a fragrance - I always find scentless roses such a let-down, don't you? Anyway, they usually give me one or two roses each and that's about it, but this year I decided to try feeding them!!! Amazing results! Gosh, who'd a thunk it???

I have been rewarded for my kindness! There are about 6 roses open at the moment, and about a dozen more buds yet to open! I am thrilled, and delighted with my fragrant garden!

The next lovely scent to assail my senses (well one of them anyway!) was the smell of sweet and sour pork bubbling away on the cooker. Yum!

I am delighted to be able to tell you that it tasted as good as it smelt....and I have empty plates to prove it!

Then, last but by no means least, as I sat, trying not to doze off in front of the telly, I was given a big, lusty hug from a vase of freesias on the table - second favourite flower fragrance, I think, after roses!!

I bought the freesias in Lidl at the weekend. They didn't look like much at the time, but boy are they making up for it!! Looking good and smelling amazing!

All in all, I think I am very grateful for my scent-sational afternoon and evening.

Now....do I smell the enticing fragrance of a hot whisky?????

Gratefully yours.
xx

A real pick me up

Still not feeling the best, and am in the middle of a busy few days at work.

Feeling a bit wabbit and not particularly positive or grateful. No idea what I was going to be grateful for today....

....then I skyped my Mammy!

Does it for me every time! We always manage to have a laugh about something...usually something silly! We didn't chat for long, but long enough for me to feel loads better and to know exactly what I am grateful for today.

My Mam.

I can go to bed with a smile on my face now!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Summer evening

It's lovely to see the sunshine this late in the evening.

Meggie is still out on her bike in her shorts. Thomas came in a wee while ago, but he's shattered after a wonderful school trip today to an outdoor adventure centre. And if it wasn't for the rugby on telly, I'm sure K would be out the back with his feet up reading his book!

I've not been well today (everybody say aahhh!), so although I am enjoying the warmth on my back as I sit here, I'll be off to my bed shortly and closing the blinds on it!

Today I am grateful that the evenings are long enough these days for everyone to get a bit of R and R.

Much needed in these times when we all rush around so much.

I think I might just treat myself to a wee stroll round the garden before I go up to bed. If that doesn't cheer me up, nothing will!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Getting better

The weather started out damp and overcast this morning.

By lunch-time the sky was clearing and the cold wind dropped.

By early evening it was warmer than it has been for days!

Bring on Tomorrow!!!

The forecast is looking good again for the next few days.

It's a nice feeling, heading off to bed knowing that tomorrow should be dry and bright. And that's not just 'cos the meteorologists say it should.....I can feel it in my bones!

Today I am grateful for days that get better as they go on. They mean that there is always something to look forward to.

Enjoy it while you can!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sleeping Beauty

Megan had her ballet show today.

They did their own version on Sleeping Beauty.....the whole ballet school, from 4 year olds to teenagers.

Of course, our Meg was just brilliant!! And she looked so beautiful in her costume.

It's so good for the kids to be a part of a show like that. Such a great experience for them. It's bound to give them great confidence, and it really doesn't matter if they are brilliant ballerinas or not, the audience (okay, full of parents and grandparents, but still!!!) clap and cheer them all, and I just can't seem to keep a dry eye in my head!

The great talent isn't being perfect, it's getting up there and giving it all you've got regardless...and enjoying the process. It's being able to enjoy what you are doing and not caring if you are the best or not, not caring if you are the only one loving it, is long as you do love it!

Certainly I lesson I could do with learning!

Today I am grateful for my beautiful, talented daughter, my handsome son....and the wonderful man who helped me make them!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The circle of life

I was sent two beautiful photos today.

They were photos of my two newest great-nephews!

And it just gave me one of those profound moments of clarity. One of those "wow" moments when everything seems clear... the meaning of live, the universe and everything.

To think of those gorgeous wee boys, the lives they will have, the families around them, growing up and creating families of their own. My own kids - not babies any more. Growing up and getting on with their own "stuff". It won't be long until they move on and another phase of life will begin for all of us.

And what can we do but enjoy every moment we can.

Time will not stop for any of us. We can't turn it back or even slow it down, but we can go with it, make the most of it. And family is key to that.

Life goes on. For that I am grateful.

It's up to us to enjoy it!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Small mercies

Today I am glad for small mercies.

I'm glad I was at work looking out at the rain and not out in it!

Lots of people rushing about, heads down, hoods up.

Now that I am home, the sun is out!! Lovely late evening.

I'm off to bed though.....was falling asleep on the couch!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Bathing buddies

My treat for today was a lovely, peaceful, warm bath, with the window wide open to let the cool air and the bird-song drift in.

I had expected it to be a solitary treat, but, of course, what were the chances of that in my house???

I had only been relaxing for a few minutes when the wee voice came outside the door..."Maaaam...can I come in??"

So, in came my wee bathing buddy, Megan. She sat on the loo, legs crossed, and we had a lovely chat! It made the whole bathing experience more like a girly spa day...chatting and giggling and relaxing!

So today I am very grateful to my bathing buddy for changing my solitary treat into an extra special bathing experience.

Thanks Meg!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Health matters

I was reminded today how important your health is and how important it is to look after yourself properly, 'cos if you don't nobody else can do it for you.

It's one of those things that we all take for granted and tend not to think too much about....until it's too late. And we all know what we should be doing - exercise, eating properly, making time to relax and not stressing too much.

But do we do it??

Time for a bit of a life audit, I think.

Today I am grateful that I am hale and hearty, if a little low in the energy stakes!!

Tomorrow I will start my audit!

Gratefully yours.
xx

50 ways...

No...not 50 ways to leave your lover! 50 ways to take a break!!

It was a picture I found on Facebook a while back and it is 50 ideas, along with tiny coloured drawings to illustrate them, of what to do to give yourself an enjoyable wee break.

I was just sitting down here when I spotted it on the desk. (I copied the picture onto my computer and printed myself off a copy!).

So, I had a look and decided to treat myself to a wee break. I did a few big belly breaths...you know, the kind that you breath right down into your belly and really fill the bottom of your lungs. Only a few, mind, or you'll make yourself dizzy!! It's like taking a mindful breath, only bigger! Lovely!

So today I am grateful to whoever drew that lovely poster. It must have taken time, not only to think up the ideas, but to have drawn all the pictures to go with it. It really is an inspiration.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Busy doing nothing

Well...the opposite really!

I'm getting quite good at this "not working too hard, but getting stuff done" lark.

I also decided this morning to get back to writing "to-do" lists...well, one long list!

I was determined not to put myself under pressure, but, at the same time, I had a fair bit to get done today, so I thought a list was the best plan. Now, I have to say that by about one o'clock I had only managed to get one thing done....this is where the "not working too hard" bit comes in! I had, of course, had a coffee break and a wee read of my new magazine, spoken to Mam and Kirsty on skype and checked my e-mails (as you do). But, I did not panic. I did not berate myself. And, most importantly, I didn't give up!

By two o'clock I had more than half the stuff on my list accomplished, and had reminded myself that I had the whole afternoon to get the rest done!

So, on the whole, a good day, I feel. I am thankful to have achieved very nearly all I set out to do today, without stressing about it!

To-do lists rock!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Happy days

Today I am grateful for happy days.

We spent a lovely, sunny afternoon at my sister-in-law's house (well, in the garden!) eating delicious salads, bbq chicken and burgers, and watching the kids leaping in and out of a large, well filled paddling pool! They were at it all afternoon, even putting the end of the slide into the pool so they could make a splash!

The grass, chairs and even poor Nanny were well soaked!

The kids had a whale of a time, while we sat back and relaxed, chatted and played cards.

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon! (Unless you happen to have just completed a 26.2mile walk, in which case, I'm sure a wee nap would be a better way!!! Well done Linds and Mags!!!)

All quiet in our house tonight!! The bairns are exhausted, as are K and I, thanks to the heat!

So nice to have a few days of summer!

Even if you didn't get summer today, I hope you managed to have a happy day too!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Itsy bitsy teenie weenie...

Megan and I had the best girls expedition ever!!!

K was golfing. T was at a soccer birthday party. The girls were at a loose end.

What can I say...we just had to go shopping!

And it was such a beautiful, HOT, day that the shopping centre was like a ghost town! Just the way I like it!!

It was perfectly air-conditioned, and, of course, Costa do the most delicious iced mocca!!!

Suitably satisfied and quenched, we hit Next.

Now, our Meg is not usually the world's best shopper. If I dare to open my mouth to even suggest that I like something, that's it. Game over! But today, there was lots for her to like despite herself, and, although I kept my mouth shut as much as possible, there was lots for me to like too!!

We bought the shop!!

I think the favourite buy of the day is her new itsy bitsy bikini!!

Time to hit the beach!!

Today I am grateful for some Real Quality time with my best girl.

Gratefully yours.

My ship came in

I had a lovely early morning walk down by the river today.

And I was lucky enough to see something that I've never seen before...not in all my 19 years of living in Limerick!!

I watched a ship leave the docks and motor off down the Shannon!

I know that may not seem like much, but it was a first for me and I was delighted! Even seeing how the wake sent waves crashing into the shore, and the poor swans surfing over the waves was fun!

I was grateful that I decided to go that way this morning. It was an exciting start to my day!

I did take some lovely photos but can't figure out how to get them off my phone! This so-called smart phone was a big mistake!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

PS - figured out the photo problem, so here you are!

Can you see it yet?

Oh, yes. There it is!

How could you miss it!

Duck for cover

It was lovely walking along by the river this morning.

The water was low and the swans were taking advantage of the long strip of boat ramp that was dry, to snooze or preen themselves.

Mr Heron was also there...the first I have seen of him this year, I think! He was doing a very good impersonation of the Headless Horseman, hiding his head underneath one wing. Not sure if he was snoozing too or if he had a wee itch under there!

And I very nearly missed the ducks!

There were five or six of them cuddled down in amongst the mud-coloured stones that are covered up when the tide is in. I'd say it was lovely and warm down there with the sun warming the stones. The ducks certainly seemed to be comfy and cosy...and very well camouflaged. Like I say...I nearly missed them!

I'm grateful that I didn't.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Give the girl some air

Oh, my goodness! Was I grateful for the air-con in the shop today!!

It's normally like a wee fridge in there, especially in the dispensary, but the whole front of the shop is glass, facing south-west, so by mid-afternoon it was like a wee oven...set to roast!

Oh, but how lovely to see the blue sky and feel warmth instead of cold and dampness on your skin when you venture outside! (Yes...the leggies were out again today! And, by the way, thanks for the suggestions on giving them some colour!! Gratefully received!)

The heating has finally been switched off completely, and I think the time has definitely come to remove the duvets from the beds!

And, best of all, the evening cup of tea has been replaced by the glass of ice-cold beer!

On that note....cheers!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The legs have it!

Yes!!!!

For the first time this year the legs were let loose un-clothed!

Everyone I met had to put on their shades because the sun was reflecting of my white pins and blinding them! I nearly caused a pile-up on the way to work just with the flash of sunlight off them!!!

Oh how they love the fresh air!

They also love the pampering needed to allow them to go on show in public - all the exfoliating, moisturising and de-fuzzing! They actually put in a special request for the same treatment every day, whether the sun shows up for duty or not! I might consider it. After all, they do take me where I need to go even more regularly and reliably than my car!

So, today my legs and I are grateful for the sun.

We will be upset if we have to look out the tights again tomorrow, but we have enjoyed today! Live for the moment...that's what my legs say!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Warning....

...comfort zone breached!!!

After spending most of Sunday hoping that I could find an excuse to get out of going to the adventure playground with everyone else on Monday, what happens? It ends up that only K and I go there with the kids and everyone else manages not to!!!

The kids have been looking forward to going to "Fort Lucan" for the last week, and I was dreading it. I mean, not only is it an adventure playground, with trampolines, climbing stuff and go-carts, but it also has the added torture of 3 massive water slides. The kind you go down, fully clothed, in a wee boat, and get soaked! (Not that I had any intention of going on them, but the thought of four soaking wet kids to contend with was enough!!)

Anyway, as is usually the case, I fared far better than I expected to! In fact, I really enjoyed our 3 hours there!

K sat and read his book, but even though I had brought mine, I actually really enjoyed just sitting watching what was going on around me.

The kids had an absolute ball, and, do you know what??? Getting wet didn't kill them...or me!!! Who knew??

So, today I am grateful for having been forced out of my comfort zone. It really is a good thing!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Bloom in the Park

We have had such a wonderful day!

We went to Bloom in the Park, in Dublin with my in-laws.

It was just marvellous.

It was lovely just to wander round all the show gardens and see what is possible!

It would seem that wild flowers and more natural planting is in vogue at the moment...just as well really! It makes me feel quite fashionable when I think of our lovely meadow out the back!!

There was also live music to beat the band, which was great, and food stalls galore! Plenty to keep us all amused, from Meggie to Nanny, and everyone in-between!

Of course, I took dozens of photos, but as I am away from home, and using Denis's computer, I can't Facebook or Blog them yet! (Yes, I know I should be able to, but try telling that to my not-so-smart phone!!)

Anyway, needless to say, today I am grateful for a wonderful day out. The weather could not have been better...cloudy but warm, with out-breaks of sunshine.

And to top it all, I got to visit Markies for an hour before it closed for the day!!!

What more do I need to say. One happy bunny today!!

Very gratefully yours.
xx

Pack up your troubles

Today I am actually grateful that I was working.

We headed up to Dublin this evening, straight after I finished work. Kieran, Nanny and the kids picked me up at the door of the shop and whisked me away up the M9.

Now, normally, I would spend most of the day faffing about like a demented chicken, trying to decide what we need to bring with us, worrying about getting Gorgeous to the cattery, and generally not relaxing one bit.

But today, I was at work, so I wasn't even thinking about travelling! And I had to pack ultra quick this morning before I left. And, d'ye know what?? If I forgot anything....it's too late to worry about it now!

I don't know why I'm such a worrier when it comes to travelling....well, other than the fact I'm a worrier in general!! But today has been a lesson in just do it and go!

I shall attempt to assimilate this lesson!!

Gratefully yours.
xx