Big Daddy

Once again, my "best bits" of the day involve a walk with Meggie!

We decided to take a walk down to the "ducks" this afternoon after Thomas had abandoned us, once again, to go off playing soccer with a bunch of lads from school.

I'm so glad we did! There was a lovely cool wind today, which made it comfortable to walk, but the sky was still mainly blue. Meggie chatted away while we walked and it was quite soothing, no pressure, just listening to her and enjoying the fresh air.

When we arrived at the lake we spotted the Swan family down where the path is almost at water level. Mum, Dad and 5 cygnets, no longer smallys, but still grey and fluffy.

We had brought bread for them and as soon as Meg started throwing it, big Daddy Swan decided he was coming closer, to make sure he got his fair share of the spoils.

Oh my!!! I didn't realise quite how big an adult cob is! He was as tall as Meg, and he opened up his wings to help lift himself out of the water! Quite scary! But breathtakingly beautiful at the same time!

Meg was very brave, under the circumstances, but we had to give up before the bread was done because he just kept coming closer and closer. We moved round to the other end of the lake and fed the ducks instead! Much safer!!!

So, today, I am grateful, once again, to Megan for making our outing so much fun, and for suggesting it in the first place! I learn so much from this wee girl!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Big Daddy

The not-so-ugly duckling?

To do

I have written myself a "to do" list!

The lack of routine in the summer just throws me for six every year! I end up doing little or nothing and the days slip by, practically un-noticed! NOT GOOD!

So, my list is growing faster than I am able to do stuff, but I am getting some useful bits and pieces done. I don't feel like I am totally wasting my days this week! (Yeah, I know it's only Monday, but it's an on-going list!!)

I know that sometimes doing nothing is the best thing to be doing, but not all day, every day! The house won't run itself and the kids won't get themselves ready for a new term at school!

But don't worry....I will factor in some "doing nothing" time on my list too. Along with the "stop and breathe" time!

I am grateful to have the necessary energy to tick off at least one or two items from my "to do" list.

And, you never know....tomorrow that energy may multiply itself, and I may get even more done!

Gratefully yours.
xx

To cleanse and refresh

Mother Nature has well and truly let us know that she is in charge today.

She decided that enough was enough. Too much sun and too much heat, not good for us.

So she sent thunder and lightning, and torrential rain to cleanse and refresh us. To clear the air, ready for another week of summer.

Megan and I set out this morning for a lovely walk, to get food for our fluff-monster. Blue sky, no wind, hot as Hades (well, maybe not quite that hot!). By the time we got home, we were literally soaked to the bone! Hair stuck to our faces, feet squelching, clothes absolutely wringing....Meg had an awful job getting her soaking wet skinny jeans off, I can tell you!!! Even the carrier bag with the cat food was half full of water!!

But what a wonderful experience!! The neighbours will be thinking that we've finally flipped. We were strolling home, sunglasses still on, laughing our heads off and revelling in the rain. We had such fun! It was quite magical.

I am grateful to Meggie for sharing that lovely walk with me! I'd say it will be a walk that will be remembered for a long number of years to come.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Spoiled rotten

One of the best bits about working on a Saturday is, strangely enough, coming home!

Kids and cat delighted to see me, and husband busy at work at the cooker!

I get a glass of chilled wine handed to me, swiftly followed by my dinner!

Thank you Kieran. You are the best boy, and you spoil me rotten!

Don't think it's quite enough to tempt me back to work full-time though!!! But it is lovely once a week.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Swimming

Getting going is not easy at the moment.

Not sure is it the heavy weather, or just the holidays! No school, no routine!!!

Anyway, when I finally did get moving, we went swimming.

We went out to the Dunraven so that K could join us.

Great idea. Much fun had by all.

Meg can touch the bottom at last, which means she has more confidence. I think her swimming will come on in leaps and bounds now. Thomas got himself a nose-clip, so he was doing back flips and all sorts under the water! And Daddy and I just took it easy!

It wasn't quite Mags's pool in the Cayman, but I am grateful for gathering enough energy to get us all out there for a while.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Did you ever

Did you ever have one of those days??

Well I had another one today. If you're a regular Grateful Grettite you'll know that every now and then I get one of those days.

Nothing major wrong. Nothing bad happened. Just not quite up there with the positive vibes.

Okay, so think about it. Concentrate on the good bits of today.

Well, I didn't get rained on, in fact it turned out to be another beautiful day. Thank you.

I've not heard a peep out of the kids all afternoon and evening. I even had to shout upstairs at one point 'cos I was beginning to think that Thomas had gone out without telling me. Thank you.

I sat all evening watching two good films, one with Meg and one with K. How lazy am I??? Thank you.

I have also just spent a few minutes on Facebook looking at all my favourite positive sites, so going to bed on a good note! Thank you.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sunshine anytime

I've been sorting through my photos today....well, I made a good start anyway!

And I've been really enjoying it!

About time I did something with them! I intend making an album of this year's holiday, and I think I may go on to do the same kind of thing with my older photos! Even though it rained most of the day, looking at Cruden Bay in the sunshine warmed me up!! So, roll on the winter months, when I can pull out my Summer 2013 album and bask in the Scottish heat-wave!!

We cleared our computer a couple of months ago, because it was getting to slow, it's memory too full! And in the process, I managed to lose all my photos from 2012! It really made me realise how silly it is just to put them all on the computer and do nothing else with them!

So, I may have found a new hobby! And what fun, to look back at all my photos from the last 10 years (yes, that's how long I've had a digital camera!) and make use of them!

Today I am grateful for all my photos! My past, and my future coming together in my present!! (Or something like that!!)

Gratefully yours.
xx

Rain, rain...

...don't go to Spain! We need you here!

Who would have thought we'd ever be looking for a little bit of rain???

We got a wee bit today. And it was actually quite tropical! I was walking home from work, sunglasses on, umbrella up, no jacket or cardi on. Bliss!!

Now if only we could arrange it so we got a bit more through the night to water all the flowers and keep the grass green, we'd be laughing!

Anyway, as they say, everything in moderation, so after all the sun and heat we've had over the last two or three weeks, it's only fair that we get some rain.

Today I am grateful for the rain. What would we do without it?

Gratefully yours.
xx

The cat that got the cream

I am so grateful to have our darling fluff-ball home again after her holidays.

She hates her cat-box, bless her, so she breaks our hearts crying all the way to or from the cattery. But she loves coming home 'cos she always gets a treat! A nice bowl of gourmet cat food and a bowl of cat-milk! Spoilt? Our Gorgeous? Never!!!

Anyway, she has spent all evening back and forth, between my knee and the back garden. Just checking everything is still where it should be, and getting cuddles in between!

I wonder who's bed she'll decide to sleep on tonight? And I hope that if she feels like getting up and out at sunrise, she'll have chosen Meggie's bed!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Ma baby!!

Home again

Well, another holiday is over.

Home sweet home again....boy, am I glad I insisted on a clear-up before we left! How lovely to come home to a clean, tidy house!!

Pity the same can't be said for the garden! Two weeks of blistering heat have done wonders for the lawn...definitely more of a wild flower meadow now! And, of course, almost all my pots are full of poor, dead, shrivelled, dried up plants!! My roses are on their last legs, but I gave them a good long drink, so I am hoping they may recover! Fingers crossed.

I just want to share one more of my Cruden Bay favourites with you.

Sums up Cruden Bay for me

We had a marvellous holiday. My 500-odd photos will attest to that!

I am a lucky, lucky girl, and for that I am very grateful.

Gratefully yours.

xx

Big fan

Today I am very grateful for the big fan in our Premier Inn room!!!!!

Next best thing to air-con, and very definitely needed this evening! And four warm bodies in the room instead of two....it's only going to get hotter!

What a wonderful end to our holiday! Drove down to Dunfermline to meet my great pal, Fay and her son, Ross (who is now nearly 19, and towering over all of us!!). She took us to a place called Aberdour, along the Firth of  Forth, looking over the Firth to Edinburgh. It is the most beautiful village, with a terrific beach...perfect for the day that was in it!!

More lovely photos, and more paddling! More chat and more ice-cream!! What more could we have wanted for our last day!

So, it's off home tomorrow.

Hope we get some sun there too....else I'll just have to come back to Scotland!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Blue skies

I've taken over 400 photos in the last week!

How I love taking photographs! And how I love Cruden Bay in the sunshine!!

It really is a very photogenic village!!

Early morning at the harbour

The nets
 

My project when I go home now will be to do something with all these photos!!

I definitely feel a new photo book coming on!!

I am so grateful for the wonderful weather we have had these last two weeks. It really has made for a great holiday!

I am also grateful to all my family and friends here. I love you all, and miss the hugs already!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Family feast

It really does go from a famine to a feast!

That's what I love most about my holidays! Today we spent almost all day with my sister, niece and grand-nephew! As well, of course as my mam and my own crew.

There's nothing like it!

We did a Treasure Trails treasure hunt in the grounds of Haddo House this afternoon, and then piled back to Mags's for a delicious dinner - a recipe she brought back with her from Grand Cayman - followed by local berries (YUM!!) and ice-cream.

There is little, in fact no noise in the house this evening! Kids are exhausted...as are the adults!!

I am grateful today for family days.

I've got to cram in as much as I can while I'm here!!! Back to Skype only after the weekend!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Small boys

I've been baby-minding today.

My two grand-nephews came to visit with GG (great-grandma) and Grunty Jackie - you could just call me a great aunt!!

Not only had I forgotten how small babies are, but I had also forgotten how wonderful they feel, and smell! After they had gone home, I was sniffing the crook of my arm where they had been cuddled in!! How sad is that!!

I did, of course, have a lot of help. Mainly from Thomas! He was delighted to be able to feed wee Kian, and had great fun making Logan laugh.

I am so grateful to have been able to spend some time with the boys. They will be a whole lot bigger by the next time I see them!!

But, in case you are wondering....I am not broody!!! It was fine to cuddle them, but also fine to hand them back to their mammies!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Beach bums

What a glorious day for the beach!

While the boys were out golfing, and Grandma was in the garden relaxing, Meggie and I hit the beach.

We walked a little, talked a little, paddled a little, built a sand castle and found some very interesting bits and bobs.

Bits and Bobs Castle



 

It surprised me that Meggie is not a natural beach-comber. But then I remembered that she really hasn't spent an awful lot of time on a beach! I really enjoyed helping her to find treasures, and chatting about how all the stuff that we found got to be where it was.

Today I am grateful for our wonderful mother/daughter treasure hunt, on the most beautiful beach.

Gratefully yours.
xx

My favourite beach in the whole world
 

Beat that

Another beautiful summers day.

Late brunch with Linds, then a wee trip to Aberdeen, with some shopping and some coffee!

We were treated to some contemporary dance as we had our coffee at Costa. Some sort of exhibition going on. Quite entertaining!

Then off to Mags's for the afternoon....well, girls only, 'cos the boys were on the golf course (yes, again!).

The four "M"s went for a walk in the melting sunshine! What a treat! There really is nothing like the Scottish country-side in the sunshine!

 

 

We finished the day with a delicious meal out. Even my mammy enjoyed her meal....a chicken Maryland! Throw-back to the seventies!!

 

I am so grateful to be having such a wonderful holiday! Not only do I get to see all my peeps, but with sunshine added in for good measure, it's just brilliant.

 

One happy bunny!!!

 

Gratefully yours.

xx

Peace and tranquility

What a wonderful day we had today!

Firstly we went to a lovely café/restaurant in Strichen - an old gate lodge, I think, with a beautiful lake-side walk right on its doorstep!

So, coffee and scones first, then a lovely, peaceful walk, with flowers, baby ducks and water!

 

Then, suitably calm and refreshed, we set off for Deer Abbey, a beautiful, ruined Cistercian Abbey, founded in 1219. Nearly 800 years old, and you can still feel the peace. What a beautiful spot.

 

 

Today I am grateful for some peace and tranquillity.

 

Gratefully yours.

xx





Job done

I have now seen and cuddled all my sisters! Job done!

Still have a wee grand-nephew to meet, but we're only one week into our holiday, so time enough yet!

Had a great day today painting ceramics.

Mags painted a teddy-bear in dungarees for her bundle of joy, Megs painted a lovely cat money-box and I painted a tile with a scene of Cruden Bay to go with the one I painted last year! The concentration was mighty, even though we were nearly dissolving in our chairs, it was so hot!

The boys were wiser, I think, and spent the day on the golf course!

Today I am grateful for so much! Family, fun, holidays, sunshine!!!

Looking forward to week two!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Play misty for me

Another wonderful day today.

We went shopping this morning, and everyone came home with something, so all very happy bunnies! Thank you Marks and Spencer!!!

In the afternoon the boys went off out to play golf in the glorious sunshine.

Mum put on her shades and got comfy in the garden with her book.

And the four "M"s - Mags, Meggie, Mitzy and me - headed for the beach!

It was Mitzy's first time on the beach, and apart from the fact she had a hairy canary trying to cross the bridge to the beach, it is safe to say, she loved it! She spent her time running into the waves after Meggie, leaping out again, and hurtling round in a big circle at full pelt, before running off after Meg again! Needless to say, she will sleep tonight!!

We were only there for about half an hour when we saw the mist rolling in from the sea. It was amazing! One minute it was beautiful sunshine and gorgeous views, and the next we could hardly see ten feet in front of us!

I am actually grateful to have been on the beach to see the mist come in. It was quite wonderful to see, it happened so quickly.

I am also grateful to all the poor jelly-fish who were washed up on the shore. They gave me some wonderful still-life photos!!

Did I mention that I love being on holiday???

Gratefully yours.
xx



Before

After!


 


Wibble, wobble....

....wibble, wobble....



....jelly-fish on the beach!





 



The best of both worlds

Every time I go on holiday to Cruden Bay, where I spent most of my childhood, I think how lovely it would be to move back here!

I love the beach, the harbour, the castle, the golf course. And, of course, I love coming home to my mammy.

It's really a home from home! Obviously Ireland is my home, and has been for a long time now, but I will always think of Cruden Bay as home too.

Today I am grateful that home is where my heart is....and that I get to bring my heart with me on holiday!!

The old harbour

Dozing daisys
 

Sunshine and slides

Second day of blazing sunshine on the second day of our holidays.

Add that to family and adventure parks and what more could you want?

We went to a place called Landmark to day, up near Inverness. The kids had a ball...water slides, roller-coasters and a magnificent Clydesdale horse called Lex who absolutely made Meggie's day!

It was a glorious day to just wander about, picnic under the shade and watch the kids.

Please Sir, can I have some more??

Today I am grateful for sunshiny days out with family.

Doing some more tomorrow!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Fever pitch

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming!!!

Oh my goodness....time to panic is nearly here!

And, of course, I've left everything till the last minute!!! Busy day tomorrow!

Today I am grateful for one more day to get organised!!

I'm so excited!

The kids?? They are as laid-back as ever! Holidays? Yeah, whatever!!

Not me! I'm going to see all my peeps...even the new, tiny ones, and I can't wait! The cuddle-gear has been taken out and polished, given a new coat of paint and it's ready to rock and roll!

Bring it on!!!!

Gratefully yours.xx

Think positive

I was sitting out in the sitootrie this morning, thinking about the language we use.

It is so easy to believe that you are thinking positively, when, in fact, your language is negative.

And I do believe that what we say, think and do, or rather, how we say, think and do it, is reflected back to us.

Think about it...how do arguments escalate into full blown fights? Because the negative language, and actions are reflecting back and forth between the two parties. How do you best stop an argument in its tracks? By speaking softly and non-aggressively. Think about it...it's very had to argue with someone who is being positive towards you!

And when we are trying to achieve something, the language we use to think about it needs to be positive. No use thinking "I won't be a lazy slob today", all your sub-conscious hears is "lazy slob". You have to be positive. "I will be motivated and energetic today".

Just an observation!!

Today I am grateful for positive language. We should make an effort to use it more often.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Irish summer!

Yep, you guessed it..rain, rain, cold, and a bit more rain just for good measure!

Sure, 'tis why we have such a green and fertile land! No rain, no Emerald Isle!

But, I mean to say...it's July!! Middle of summer. Been lovely for the last few days, then...BHAM!!!

Today I am grateful for a sense of humour!

If we couldn't laugh, we'd just have to cry. And where would that get us? You're right...it would get us nowhere!

Tomorrow will be brighter.

Tomorrow I shall wake up, smile, and be grateful for another fresh, new twenty-four hours in which to dress appropriately and get on with it!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Making the most of it

I like to make the most of my appointment at the hairdresser.

While my hair is being washed, I like to close my eyes and just listen. I love the fact that, although it is very noisy, it seems quite calm and unhurried. You can just about hear music from the radio above the sound of hairdryers and chatter, running water and constant footfall.

Then, as I enjoy a cappuccino, I look through the mirror at the world going about its daily business behind me, out the floor to ceiling windows.

What a perfect spot to spy from! It's right on one of the busiest roundabouts in Limerick, and right beside the river. It's even better looking through the window, 'cos you can't quite make out who's going where . You know that a mirror image is back to front, but your mind can't sort it out in time when things are moving so fast!

It's almost a shame when my "do" is done!

Today I am grateful for strange and unusual places to watch the world go by!

I am also grateful to Sarah, my hairdresser, for getting me all spruced up, ready for my holidays!

Gratefully yours.
xx