Shiny sink.....

Wishful thinking!!

.....Two words that

used to strike fear into the heart of my house!!

But I have slowly come to the realisation that the state of my kitchen

is directly linked to my state of mind!!

If I am at a low ebb, one of the first things to suffer

(well, apart from my long-suffering husband!)

is the tidiness of my kitchen surfaces!

The table, in particular, takes the brunt of the punishment, but

the sink area also suffers, with dishes that need

to be hand washed not getting the prompt treatment that

they deserve.

Well, after a conversation with my sister, Lindsay, today it

dawned on me that maybe I could reverse the process,

and by clearing the kitchen

and restoring my sink to shininess,

I could boost my mood!

Hey presto!

I guess it's the same principle as de-cluttering!

So, today I am grateful for the wise woman that is my sister Lindsay!

(round of applause!!!)

When I grow up, I want to be just like her!!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Stopping for breath

Every now and then, it's a good idea to just stop

whatever you are doing, and BREATHE!

It's too easy, especially at this time of year (why...what's happening??)

to get caught up in the fast lane, doing, doing, DOING,

and forget about what's REALLY important!

So...

STOP!!

Take a few deep, slow breaths. 

Now, remember to JUST BE for a while!!

Today I am grateful for my breath.

And remember ..... BREATHING IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

'Twas the night before...

...the choir's Christmas concert, and all through the house,

not a singer was in tune and the choir master

was not in good humour!!

Well, it has always been a good omen in the past!!

Bad rehearsal = Good performance!!

So, I'm going to be grateful that all did NOT go as planned tonight!

We have all been sent home with our tails between our legs,

and under STRICT instruction to

"REST YOUR VOICE"

before tomorrow night's concert!

Oh well!! The kids will be pleased anyway!!

Keep your fingers crossed for us for a good night's singing

for our Christmas concert!

Gratefully yours.

xx

What to do when you don't know what to do

Why, write a "TO DO" list, of course!!

When faced with a multitude of stuff that needs doing,

I tend to have no clue where to start,

so I end up doing a lot of faffing, and not much else!

Enter the "to do" list!!

Well, okay, it may seem like a good way to waste time,

sitting mulling over a piece of paper with a pen,

but time spent thinking, planning and writing it down

is time well spent, in my book!

I now know exactly what I need to get done.

And once I factor in the time in which I have to get it done,

I will know exactly how many coffee breaks I can afford to take

between now and then!!

You see, always a positive spin!!

Today I am grateful for my list-writing talent.

Tomorrow, let the games commence!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

No time like the present

A misty morning in Tralee

I went off for the weekend without my phone!

(Off to Tralee with the choir on a "bonding/rehearsing" weekend!)

It didn't bother me not being "available", but I do use my phone

to tell me the time!!

I was "liberated", a few years ago, from wearing a watch,

and hadn't realised, till now, that I just use

the phone all the time to check what time it is!!

Well, not this weekend!

And I'm glad I forgot it!!

They say that "there's no time like the present"

and it's the only time I had this weekend!

So, when I wasn't singing I was out walking, making the

most of the present moment.

And there were some beautiful ones!

Beautiful spiders webs covered in misty morning dew.

Dead summer plants dressed up like Christmas trees!

And some lovely bright flowers, still going strong thanks

to the mild weather.

So, for once, I am grateful for my dreadful memory!!!

It allowed me time to slow down and re-connect!

Gratefully yours.

xx

New discovery

I think I may have made the medical/scientific discovery of the century!

It's a newly diagnosed (by me) syndrome, which strikes

middle-aged wiffies, predominantly in

mid to late November,

causing nausea, dizziness and an overwhelming desire

to stop the world and get off!!

I'm going to call it Novender's (get it?) spinning-too-fast syndrome!

I certainly seem to suffer from it about this time every year!

I know this because I've been reading back my blog!!

Happily, I have also discovered the cure, according

to this same blog!!

A hot shower, and remembering that you have a choice!!

So, today I am grateful to Gretta, for reminding me to think positively!

And don't forget....it'll be December soon!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

In the ZONE

I'm in the ZONE today!

Been making Christmas cards, and really

enjoying the challenge.

When I was in town this morning a spotted a gnome teddy

in a shop and it gave me

great inspiration for some hand-drawn cards.

Then, of course, I have some of my own photos that I can use,

and I found some gorgeous tartan paper, in red and green,

which is just perfect!

All in all

a VERY GOOD DAY!

I was joined by my partner-in-crime, Meggie,

in the evening, and could hardly get

her to go to bed!

We were having too much creative fun!

I'm grateful today for the inspiration, and the help!

More to do tomorrow!

Can't wait to get stuck in again!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

34 Days and counting!

I know there's still a few days left in November,

but my Advent calendar is running!!

The shopping is started (and nearly finished!!), I've been buying up decorations 

like there's no tomorrow....well, I've visitors coming!!...

...and Christmas 24 is on the TV constantly

to keep the Christmas cheer mounting.

I haven't quite worked out the Christmas dinner menu yet,

but that's next on my list!

I guess the house has to be cleaned before I can put up the decorations!

Ok...so maybe that's next on my list!

That and moving furniture about to make

room for the tree...and the visitors!

I'm just grateful that Christmas is only 34 days away!

(Not that I'm counting!!)

Gratefully yours.

xx

Relief

We've been getting quite worried about Gorgeous

because of a "growth" on her chin.

Being the little monkey that she is, it's been 

hard for us to get a proper look or feel

without the threat of

losing an eye or a finger!

So, today I decided I should take her to the vet.

I thought I'd take one more look first, and finally managed

to get a good close up view.

I was so delighted....it appears to be something stuck to her fur,

a blob of sap from a plant, or maybe paint from a fence...

....but not a growth!

So, today I am very grateful that our wee darling

furry feline is good to go.

Well, she will be once I don the thick gloves and 

go at her with a wet cloth!!

Wish me luck!!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Messing about on the river

It was a lovely, bright afternoon here.

It's been so long since I went out for a walk with my camera
that I thought it was about time!

So, I persuaded my partner in photography (Meg) to don her clothes
(well, Sunday is usually a PJ day for her, after all!!)
and the two of us set course for the river.

We were lucky enough to catch some of the St Michael's Boat Club

members messing about on the river.

Personally, I think it was a wee bit chilly to be out there, but

I'm glad they didn't think so!

We were also delighted to spy Mr Heron, hiding in the bushes,

watching the boats go by!

I think he had the best seat in the house!

The Swan family are doing well! The kids are looking very grown up now!

And they are so well behaved...I know a certain

teenager who would do well to take some lessons from them!!

It was so nice to be out in the fresh air, chatting away about 

anything and everything that came into our heads.

I'm so grateful that we went out!

We only decided to pack up and head for home

when Mr Swan decided to come for a closer look at us!!

Yikes!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Doughnut drink the coffee

What can you do when you want a cup of coffee

and they give you a free doughnut??

You just have to eat it!!

Well, it would just be so rude not to!!

And, do you know what???

I deserve a treat once in a while!!

I'm worth it!!

I'm grateful that I can just about manage to justify

the doughnut!!!

They are sooooo good!!

Yum!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Lucky, lucky, lucky...

...or should it be wet, wet, wet???

What a day!!

It was cold, miserable, and extremely WET!

 The road along by the river was flooded....not from the river, but from all

the over night rain!

I was able to walk between the flooded road and the river, 

which was quite weird!!

The sky was just grey and heavy, and the rain, when it came,

was not taking time to fall!!

Still, today I am grateful that I didn't get wet!!

How lucky is that?

I got the kids to school, myself to work and home again,

and both kids home from school, all

without getting caught in the frequent downpours!

Big smiles!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Mother knows best

From Google Images

Mother Nature has a wonderful way of

tapping you lightly on the shoulder

and reminding you about the more important things in life.

I was stopped in my tracks on the way home from work today

by the most beautiful bird-song.

I looked up into the poor, bedraggled tree in the garden I was passing,

and saw, on the topmost branch, a small robin.

He had his gorgeous red breast puffed out and his head 

thrown back, singing his song

as if it was the most important thing he had ever done.

And, at that moment, it was.

He was there, present in that moment,

giving it his all.

Lesson learnt!!

Today I am grateful for Mother Nature's little nudge.

It's so easy to plod on, thinking about what you're cooking for dinner,

or where you have to be in the evening,

and missing out on the joy of the present moment.

Stop, smile, breath!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Great news

Well...

There are good news days, and then there

are GOOD NEWS days!!

Today I got the GREAT NEWS

that my darling Mammy

is coming to stay with us for Christmas!!

And she's not coming alone!!

My big sis and her very patient and long-suffering

bro-in-law are coming too!!

Can't wait!!

Okay....GIANT to-do list!!

(Just as well I'm enjoying cleaning and tidying these days!!)

But really!!!!

I'm soooo excited!

Today I am very grateful to Lawrie for organising the visit!

Christmas has never looked so good!

Gratefully yours.

Pick a key

I love Wednesday!!

Not only do I have my choir in the evening, but for the last few weeks

I've been having a piano lesson in the morning!

Meggie's piano teacher, a neighbour of ours, is giving me

lessons on a Wednesday morning,

and I'm LOVING IT!!!

I've not been playing much of late, leaving Meg to

take over my beautiful piano, but these (very informal) lessons

are really renewing my love of playing.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be

performing in the Albert Hall any time soon, but I am

certainly getting a lot of pleasure out of

playing for Me, Myself and I!

I'm so grateful that I took the plunge and decided to

go for some lessons! Good decision!!

I wonder can you still get books of duets for the piano??

Must look into that!!

It would be great to play with Meg!

Gratefully yours.

xx

A good book

Read any good books lately?

I'm about three quarters of the way through this one

at the moment, and am thoroughly enjoying it.

I've not been much of a bed-time

reader until fairly recently,

but now I really enjoy cuddling up in bed with

my latest tome.

I'm terrible for choosing a book by it's cover, but, most of the time,

it seems to work quite well for me!

I'm always very grateful for those talented writers

who sit down and put pen to paper.

How wonderful to create something that you can

just lose yourself in for a spell!

Care to share what you're reading at the moment?

(and I don't mean "my Kindle"!!)

Gratefully yours.

xx

A change in the weather

Don't you just love when it's raining...

...and you don't have to go out?

A real change in the weather today.

It was one of those days where if you look out the front window

you see blue sky and sunshine, 

but then you look out the back window

and all you see is heavy black clouds and rain suddenly pelting down.

How lovely not to have to be out in it!!!

I'm grateful that it was a home-caring day!!!

(Never thought I'd say that!!)

I only hope it blows over by tomorrow!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Strictly entertainment

Tonight I am grateful for "Strictly".

It so brightens up the winter!!

I just love coming home from work on a Saturday,

putting my feet up and watching

two hours of good, honest to goodness fun entertainment!

The music, the costumes, getting to know the celebs

and the dancers, Claudia's faces!!

I can't sit still while I'm watching it - chair dancing at it's best!!

I also love the fact that all my sisters and Mum love it too!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Five little things

Here are five little things I am grateful for in the winter....

ONE.

Cosy Aran jumpers - preferably knitted by the best mum ever,

but a bought one will do!

TWO.

Cold, windy nights that you can shut out

by closing the blinds and turning the volume up on the telly!

THREE.

Pyjamas!

(When you're menopausal they are just a no-no in the summer!)

FOUR.

Comfort food - stews, mince and tatties, rice pud!!

FIVE.

The build up to (Shhh!!) Christmas!

I can say that (almost) safely now that Halloween is

almost upon us!!

What five little things are you grateful for in this coldest

of seasons?

Gratefully yours.

xx

Feeling full

No, I'm not feeling that kind of full!!

I'm feeling full of fulfilled-ness!

Meggie and I got all the finishing touches done in

her room today - It's only gorgeous!!

The beautiful, pink, crystal chandelier-type light fitting

really sets the whole room off!

I then set about the daunting task of getting my house back

to some sort of normality!

I had to find places for furniture that came out of Meg's room,

tidy away all the decorating paraphernalia, hoover, clean

the kitchen, do the laundry, cook dinners and go to choir!!

Easy!

It really does feel good to get things done!!

I'm grateful for that fulfilling feeling!

Now, looking at that cake is making me hungry!!

Anyone for baking???

Gratefully yours.

xx