High as a kite

I'm soooo excited!!

I got my birthday present today....yes, I know it's still 2 weeks till my birthday, but the present arrived, and I couldn't not open it, now could I???

It's a fabulous new camera. A Nikon D3200 to be exact, with not one but two lenses!! And a bag and a spare battery, and a lens case for the lens I'm not using at the time!!!

Going to take some time to work out how to use it!!!

Oh what fun!!!

Did I mention that I'm excited???

Today I am grateful for early birthday presents....and lots of time to play with them!!!

And don't worry.....as soon as I figure out how to use it, you'll know about it!!!

Gratefully (and excitedly) yours.
xx

Mindful cleaning

I spring-cleaned my bedroom today.

All the surfaces were cleared and dusted, things were put away or binned and only the essentials were left on display.

When I went to dust the windowsill, I decided that I'd better clean the windows too. Then, of course, the blinds needed dusting....one of my least favourite jobs ever, I mean, how do you keep the damn things still while you clean them, they bang off the walls and the cord gets all out of line!!

Then I had a moment of divine inspiration....do the job slowly and methodically. Clean one slat at a time and hold it still with your free hand!!! Simple!!

I felt very calm and relaxed while I worked my way down the blind. I actually enjoyed the task!!!

I was so enthused that I went on to dust high-up things in the room that had not seen a duster....possibly ever!!!

I also took down my gorgeous purple velvet curtains, because they are getting all faded and are really just very pretty dust magnets!! It was like lifting a weight off the room!

Oh the joys!!!

Today I am amazingly grateful for mindful cleaning!!

It really was a "Eureka!!!" moment today, and I hope I can go on to mindfully clean the spare bedroom next....got visitors coming in a couple of weeks!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Rubbing off

Today I was grateful to see Meggie's smiling face coming out of school.

Not an unusual sight, you might think, but she's actually quite grumpy coming out of school normally!!

I've been trying to instill some positivity into her, and the way she thinks about things, so when she comes out of school, I usually ask her what her best part of the day was. It can sometimes take a while for her to think of something, but she gets there in the end.

They've also been doing a project in the school, with psychologists from the education department, which is aimed at positive thinking. I'm not sure are they reinforcing my message, or am I reinforcing theirs!! Either way, poor Meggie is getting the positive vibes from all directions!!

Anyway, today must have been a good day, because she came out with a big smile, and was full of chat about the good things they had done in class.

And if she has a big smile....I have a big smile!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Where's my coffee??

It was one of those days.

Let me put it to you this way....I walked into work at 9.00 on the dot, and was told that our nursing home had already phoned for an emergency script, that they needed sooner than humanly possible!

By the time I made several phone calls (they were looking for something that I'd never heard of before, never mind had in stock!) and finally sorted them out, it was almost 10 o'clock....and I hadn't had my coffee yet!!!!

Not good!

Mind you, unbeknown to me, the lady I was working with had phoned her husband to call into The Good Rooms, and he appeared shortly after 10 with cappuccinos!! Yum!

The day progressed with lots of awkward requests to sort out....mostly my own fault, for writing notes in the diary on Saturday for the poor schmuck who was in on Monday!! Forgot I was the poor schmuck!!

But, by the end of the day I found I had accomplished an awful lot, which is a good feeling!

So, I guess, today I am grateful to the lazy so-and-so who filled the diary with problems on Saturday!! (In fairness, they were all problems that couldn't be solved on a Saturday when most people don't work!!)

I did also make it through several cups of coffee during the day, so all's well that ends well.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Love my morning coffee!!

Getting there

It's a horrible night!!

The rain is battering down on the sitootrie roof so hard that I can hear it in here with the doors closed!!

But, for a short while today, it was Spring!

Meggie and I had our Sunday afternoon walk to feed the swans/ducks/seagulls, and were delighted to see the apple blossom trees starting to flower.

The big magnolia tree we pass is also producing gorgeous, big, furry looking buds.

The sky was grey, but we didn't mind. Spring is working her magic on the trees and flowers, and it was beautiful.

Today I am grateful for all the gorgeous things that are around us.

All we have to do is look.

Gratefully yours.
xx

I see the light

It was actually starting to get light outside when I fell out of bed and stumbled downstairs to let the cat out this morning!

I've been hearing the birdies early in the morning for a while now, but this is the first time I've noticed the sky brightening. It's almost time to start thinking about getting up early to go for a walk and take photos!! (Might wait till I get my new camera!!!)

Even better than that though....it was still light when I left work at 6pm to come home! I didn't quite make it all the way home in daylight, but not far off it.

The days are definitely stretching, so Spring is on the way!!

And much as I enjoy the dark, cosy winter months....today I'm grateful that the days are getting longer again!

It's the circle of life!! Stops us getting bored!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Another one bites the dust

I cleared out a drawer today.

Just one.

But it was the biggest drawer in the house.....the one under my bed!

The whole bottom of the bed lifts up, revealing a great hidey-hole for stuff!!

I sorted out all the bed linen.

A bag for the charity shop, a bag for a friend of mine who has a wee boy who likes Thomas the Tank Engine, a bag for the bin.....and all the stuff for Thomas's bed is now in his room, the stuff for the spare room is in the drawer in that bed, and the stuff for Meggie's bed is in her room!

Now, if ever I decide to do away with K or the kids, I have room to hide them!!!

Seriously though, it does feel good to have a clear out.

Today I'm grateful for the de-clutter bug. Long may it live!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

New friends

Meggie and I made some new friends on our walk today.

We did our usual walk, round to the wetlands to see the swans, and ended up feeding the gulls instead!!

Our new pals

They were quite adventurous, coming up quite close to us, and landing on the hand-rail just inches away from Meg.

They did some amazing aerial acrobatics, and caught the bread mid-flight most of the time...much to the disgust of the swans! And even better....they didn't poop on us once!

Today I am grateful to have such a wonderful place to visit, right on (well, almost on) our doorstep.

They are also rather photogenic, don't you think?

Gratefully yours.

xx

Nearly....

....but not quite!

There was definitely a touch of Spring in the air today.

The sky was blue, the birds were singing their little hearts out, and there was a wee, tiny, smidgen of warmth in the sun!

Not that I'm going to build my hopes up or anything....just saying!

Today I'm grateful for the knowledge that the world is still turning, and what will be, will be.

It was also a lovely morning for photos on the way to work!! (Can't help myself!!)

Gratefully yours.
xx

Early morning sun.

The more, the merrier

Unfortunately, the more the noisier too!!!

No, in fairness, they've been very good today.

K's two nieces are down from Dublin, and stayed with us last night. I had them here all day today and thought it might be chaotic, but it wasn't too bad at all - apart from the fact the small two were up at 8am and are both equally unable to talk quietly!!

The younger two get on great, and have been making bracelets all day. The older two are teenagers at this stage, and, being too cool for school, were quiet and out of the way, even if they were miffed at being woken too early!

Poor Gorgeous wasn't too sure what to do with so many people about, but on the whole it's been a fine day.

I'm grateful that they are beyond the needing looked after all the time stage!

I'm also grateful that they get on so well, and are able to spend some time together.

Now, if only I could think of a reason to send my two up to Dublin for a while!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Pot Roast

I made the most delicious pot roast today for dinner - even if I do say so myself!!

I decided to cook it for longer than usual, because I'm planning stovies tomorrow with the leftovers!!

The result was the most delicious, melt-in-the-mouth beef ever!

Can't wait for the stovies!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

17 and counting

No, it hasn't rained for 17 days (well, not quite!).

No, I haven't eaten 17 chocolates out of my Christmas (yes, really!) boxes.

No, I've not counted 17 stars, although the sky is beautifully clear tonight!

Today I have been married for 17 years!

We had planned a lovely evening....dinner out as a family, then the pictures, just the two of us. But, unfortunately, there was nothing much on at the cinema, and, thanks to Thomas's party today, from which he wasn't home till nearly 7pm, we didn't go out for dinner either!

Ah well, it's been a day of cuddles, and for that I am grateful!

Will just have to keep an eye on the cinema listings and save our romantic evening out for a later date!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The calm after the storm

Today I am grateful that there was no wind!!

I'm also grateful that we only lost one tile off our roof....Hogan's Pharmacy, my place of work, has a big hole in it's roof. And they were told today that they had to make a bigger hole, to make it safe, before they can repair it properly. Only problem is, we're promised more high winds tomorrow and the whole roof might just decide to take off!!

Boy, I hope hurricane season is short!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Storm Darwin

Today I am grateful that all my family are safe, and our house is still standing.

I have never been so scared as I was today.

Picking the kids up from school with winds that nearly took me off my feet, trees and branches falling and part of the roof of Thomas's newly built school hanging precariously down the side of the building, was a test of physical and mental strength!

And then not knowing if K would get home from work, with so many roads being closed!! What with the river overflowing its banks again, and buildings collapsing in town, it was hard to figure out what roads would even be passable!

Anyway....its over now, thank God!

K got home safely, and, as I said, the house is still standing!!

We are blessed.

Gratefully yours.
xx

S'no snow

I love Irish snow!

We had a morning of really heavy looking snow showers.

I was in work, and every time I looked up, and out the front, it was snowing - big, soft, beautiful snow-flakes.

But, this being Ireland, and not Scotland, when I went out at lunch-time to come home, not a drop of snow to be seen! It had simply vanished as if it had never been!

I know it's disappointing for the kids (they loved it last year when we were in Scotland for Grandma's birthday and they got to build a real live snowman!), but as for me, I'm grateful it didn't lie and cause slippery pavements!

What an old fuddy-duddy!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The Badaguish Snowman!
(To show my Irish friends what REAL snow is like!)

Slow but sure

I really love my slow-cooker!

It is so great to be able to put on the dinner before I go to work and come home to a delicious dinner 11 hours later!

I must have a rummage around my recipe books now and see what other interesting one-pot meals I can find.

I've tried stew and chicken curry so far.

I have to be grateful to whichever wonderful friend it was that bought us the slow-cooker for our wedding, almost 17 years ago!!

I now have a great excuse to sit on my bum reading recipe books on my day off!!! (As if I needed an excuse!!)

Gratefully yours.
xx

Forever friends

Megan and I went for a walk this afternoon to see if the floods had receded, and were delighted to see that the wetlands were back to normal....well, not counting the damage to the paths!

All the usual suspects were there, waiting for their bread.

The swans, with their five cygnets from last summer, the moorhens, the gulls, and, best of all, my friend Mr Heron!! I was so busy taking photos of holes in the ground that I almost missed him!!

So today I am grateful that even after all the awful storms, life in the wetlands is back to normal.

We shall enjoy going back and fore now, waiting for any new babies!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

All together

My dining room table (well, I guess technically it's a kitchen table these days) is used, mainly, as a dumping ground.. The kids do their homework there, and at the moment Thomas has it covered with a big poster that he's doing as a project for school.

But I decided this afternoon that it should be used as a dining table again.

We used to eat there almost every night, but more recently we've just been eating on our knees, in two, if not three different rooms.

Not good enough!!!

So I cleared the table this afternoon, and we had our dinner there.

I did a proper dinner, with serving dishes on the table for everyone to help themselves, and it was a lovely time together.

I have great memories of meal times at home, growing up. Lots of chat and laughter, and being together.

Time to get back on track to make some good, lasting memories for Thomas and Megan.

Today I'm grateful for the time we spent together, round the table this evening.

Gratefully yours.
xx

No plans

I had no plans for this morning.

So I pottered.

Bit of laundry, cup of coffee.

Clean loos, cup of tea.

Bit of hoovering, cup of coffee.

You get the picture!!

Nice not to have to go anywhere or get anything, just potter about the house.

So today I am grateful for no plans.

Just go with the flow!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Peace

Today I am grateful that, after a busy day, I have been left on my own to relax and reflect....everyone else (including the cat!) has gone off to bed!

It's been all go today.

Work in the morning, then home for a quick bite, then collect Meg from school, then collect Thomas from school, then straight back to Thomas's school for meetings with his teachers (who all, it seems, recognise genius when they see it!), then home for a quick bite, then off to ballet with Meg, then home to collapse in a heap!!!

So now, as I said, I have peace and quiet. All are upstairs in bed, leaving me to come back down to earth and unwind!

Got to love a busy day!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A day in the life

Psychic

Driving into the drive tonight I thought to myself  "I hope K decided to do chips instead of roast veg tonight. I really fancy chips!!"

Walking into the kitchen K said "Hope you don't mind....I didn't fancy roast veg, so I've done chips!"

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together???

Today I am grateful for my psychic abilities. I'm sure I must have been transmitting "chips instead of veg" all afternoon!

I guess I'm grateful that K is on the same wavelength as me too!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A walk on the wet side

Megan and I took advantage of the better weather today and went out for a long walk.

It turned out longer than we expected, because the path that we usually take, along by the wetlands where the swans are, was totally under water!!

The whole area was totally flooded, right up to the top of the rushes. I just hope none of the swans or ducks had laid eggs yet! I think it's a bit early. I hope so!!

It made for a very photogenic walk, but I am grateful that the rain has finally stopped!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The third little piggy...

Today I am very, very grateful that I live in a house that was built to the specifications of the third little piggy, 'cos the wind is sure trying hard to huff and puff it down!!!

I was out, briefly, today, picking Thomas up from soccer practice (indoors!), and was quite frightened by the wind. I'm not a big fan at the best of times, but it seems to be stronger and longer-lasting this winter than I can ever remember it.

On the way home, we passed at travellers halting site - where itinerant travellers park their caravans. I realised just how lucky we are to be living in a good, sturdy, solid house!!

And I've just been looking at some photos, taken today, of areas in Limerick that are flooded. Again, how lucky that we don't live near the river!!

Roll on Springtime, that's all I can say!!

Gratefully yours.
xx