Cygnets ahoy

Mam - How many times have I told you not to scare your sister?
Junior - sorry Mam. I won't do it again!

Megan and I took a break from packing today to go for our favourite walk.

We were blessed to see, not only hoards of ducks, but my friend, Mr Heron, and the Swan family!

We spent ages watching the cygnets copying Mam and Dad, flipping tails up and heads down into the water.

Only they aren't quite getting their balance right yet, so their wee leggies

were going like crazy to stop themselves from totally

flipping over! Hilarious!

Mam and Dad were being very attentive - it was lovely to watch.

We're not so different, when you see the way other animals care for their young.

I'm grateful for the feeling of being connected.

And, of course, Meggie and I enjoyed taking lots of photos too! Another connection!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

School's out for Summer

Yeah!!

School holidays!

No early starts.

No school run.

No lunch-boxes to make.

No homework!

Don't know about the kids, but I'm delighted!!!

I'm grateful that we have eight weeks of freedom before the grind starts again!

Happiest days of our lives!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

From the mouths of babes...

Busy evening.

Last day of school tomorrow, so mad baking this evening!

Vanilla cookies and orange-iced cupcakes.....involving two trips to

the shops (yes, I know I should check ALL ingredients before I go shopping!!)

Then the Chinese carry-out boxes had to be pimped and cards

had to be made for both teachers (they job share, so I think they should

have to cookie and card share too!!) and the outgoing headmistress!

As usual, I was the commis chef, which is also known as the general

dogsbody and tidy-uperer!

I commented that I didn't know what Meg would do without me to tidy up after her,

and, do you know what she replied?

....I'd learn to do it myself!

So, today I am grateful that I no longer have to tidy up after my darling daughter!!

All in all, I'd say, a good evening!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Summer showers

Summer is all well and good, but there comes a point when it just

gets too hot and too stuffy!!!

So, today I was more than delighted to get caught out in a wee shower of rain!

I mean, lets face it, the rain is needed! It's essential even!

It keeps down the dust.

It smells gorgeous.

It waters the flowers.

It washes the car.

It brings nice cool air with it.

It joins forces with the sun to make a rainbow!

I am very, very grateful for the rain!

Just remind me, in November, when we've had nothing but rain

for three solid weeks, that I posted this blog!!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Wash day blues

Photo from Google images

It's okay....the only blue was that of the sky!!

What a perfect day for doing the washing!

All the laundry bags were emptied, the clothes washed, hung on the line

and back in, dry, before bed-time!

It kinda makes you think that maybe going with the flow is a better idea

then making rigid plans for the day!

I'm a bit of a control freak, as I'm sure I've said before, and I like to be organised,

but it really is time I learnt to take things a bit more as they come!!

A lot less stress, I think!

I'm grateful for the little nudges-in-the-right-direction that I seem to get every now and then!

Now, do I need to add "go with the flow" to my "To Do" list, or just write

it in the diary???

Gratefully yours.

xx

A precious gift

Okay, so I know that YESTERDAY was the longest day

(it's all downhill from here!)

but TODAY was the bestest day!

People often tell me to enjoy every minute of the kids growing up,

because they'll only be young once, and now that T has reached that certain

age (TEENAGE!!) I know exactly what they mean!!

And they're right!!

We seldom see said monosyllabic youngster any more. He much prefers the company of his

 pals to that of his ever-loving family....we seem to embarrass him!

But, we have just spent a wonderful day en-famille.

 All of us.

Together!

All day!

We even washed the cars together! (I had hoped to get out of

that part, but no luck!).

Life is short. Love is long! And family MATTERS!

I am grateful for my family, and I love you all HUGELY!

Gratefully yours.

xx

A fond farewell

Megan's school Principal is retiring, after 7 years in the school.

They had a concert tonight, in the local church, to say their farewells to her.

She got quite a send off. Not many dry eyes in the house!

She seems to have had quite an effect on the girls.

 They see her as a beautiful, warm and funny woman,

who showed them respect and gave them confidence in themselves.

It was a lovely concert, and I'm grateful that we got to see it, and share

in the good wishes.

She's an inspirational lady - sees the good points in everyone, and draws it out.

I think the "parents" could learn as much from her as her girls have!

If you want to make the world a better place,

start by making yourself a better person,

and inspire others to do the same.

I'm also very grateful for the lovely spread of cupcakes in the hall afterwards!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Lost and found

I lost my house keys today.

They had to be in the house, or nearby somewhere, otherwise how did we get in?

After searching frantically for a few minutes, I enlisted

the help of K and M - who both had to be

dragged, kicking and screaming, from the tellys.

I have obviously trained Meg very well in the art of searching for lost stuff.

She searched inside my shoes, in the washing machine and under the car.

K, on the other hand, looked in Megan's handbag, the boot of my car and the bedroom.

I guess when all else fails, you have to look for the less obvious!!

Now, there's a life-lesson if ever I heard one!!

I'm happy to say, I did find them, eventually, wedged under my back-cushion 

on the front seat of my car......don't ask!!!

But today, I have to be grateful to my two fellow searchers, who have taught

me never to give up, just to think outside the box!!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Feeling hot, hot, hot

Oh what a beautiful morning,

Oh what a beautiful day.

I've got a wonderful feeling......

I'm breaking into song all over the place!

How nice to see the blue sky, and feel the heat of the sun.

(well, I know I'm not really built for the heat, but I am NOT complaining!)

The collective spirit of the city is lifted on a day like this, and even the moon stayed

longer than was entirely necessary, just to be able

to enjoy the sunshine!

Not only am I grateful for the lovely hot weather, but I am

grateful for the lovely cold shower in our bath, that is excellently

positioned for cooling tired, hot legs and feet!

Bring it on...that's what I say!

Gratefully yours.

xx

A lesson in humility

As I went back to the car after dropping Meg off a school this morning

I was moaning to myself about people letting

their kids ride their scooters down the hill to school - the pavement 

is narrow and has a wall at one side and railings at the other.

It's a gripe I have most mornings!

Then I caught sight of the look of total concentration on the face of the wee girl

coming towards me.

She was determined not to hit anyone, and proud that, so far, she hadn't.

It was an important thing for her.

It made me smile, and remember that, in the greater scheme of things, she has as 

much right to be on that pavement as I do.

It also reminded me not to sweat the small stuff!!

So, today I am grateful to that little girl for reminding me to slow down, and smell the roses.

....and not to be such a Grouch in the mornings!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Salad days

You've just got to be flexible!

Sometimes the best laid plans just need to be....tweaked!

It was another glorious, warm day. Dinner was meant to be a the full monty!

Roast chicken with all the trimmings.

But it was just too darned hot to even think about it!!

So, plans were changed, and a delicious dinner of roast chicken salad

was enjoyed by all.

I'm not good at flexible. I like to feel that I'm in control. I like to anticipate

what's going to be happening so that I'm not caught unawares!

But, thankfully, if I make a conscious effort (a MINDFUL effort), I am getting

better at going with the flow.

Change, I am slowly realising, can be a good thing.

Today I'm grateful for the change of direction with dinner. It was far too summery

a day for  mash, gravy and hot veg!!

Still have my menu written up for the week though!!!

But will I stick to it......

Gratefully yours.

xx

Continental coffee

How lovely it is to be able to sneak away from the kids for an hour!!

K likes to get a walk in in the evenings. He often asks me to join him, but I have

to admit that I don't often go, preferring to do my walking in the morning,

with my camera to hand, just in case!

But it has been a gorgeous day today, and was still warm this evening. As I was

working this morning, and ironing(!!!) this afternoon, I didn't get out for air all day.

So when K suggested a walk, I jumped at the offer.

We found ourselves gravitating in the direction of the cafe down the road,

which recently started opening in the evenings.

It was actually too warm to sit inside, so we sat out the front, in the cool evening air, 

drinking our coffee (how continental!!) and having a nice wee chat. Lovely!

He might be able to persuade me out in the evening more often now!!!

So today I am grateful for the fresh air, the coffee and the chat!

Note to self....Friday night date night from now on!!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Mighty magnum

Did you try the new limited edition Marc de Champagne magnum yet?

You should!!

Deeeee - licious!

Megan and I went walking this evening, and decided to stop

for an ice-cream on the way home.

Well, we were feeling neglected, as the boys abandoned us for the golf course!

I was joking with Meg, and said she was so good to think about buying me

an ice-cream, only to find out that she had brought money

with her to do just that!

What a lovely treat!!

It was far nicer than having to buy my own!!

So, today I am very grateful to a thoughtful wee girl, who made my day!

I might try walking her past the cafe next time...........

Gratefully yours.

xx

Swings and roundabouts

Some days, you sit on a swing, legs dangling, watching the other kids

run around like they're on a sugar rush.

You can push yourself higher to feel the breeze on your face,

or you can put your foot down and come to a halt. Your choice.

Then there are the days when you feel like you're stuck on the roundabout

and the sugar-fuelled mob are pushing it too fast!

Your head is spinning, and so is your stomach!

Use it!

Tell them if they don't stop the roundabout and let you off, 

you'll throw up all over them!

Then climb off, with your head held high, and tell them it's your turn to do the pushing!

Alternatively, you could just leave the house and go for a brisk walk, with a

few calming breaths, for good measure!!

Today I am grateful that K persuaded me to go for a walk with him

this evening, with the sun shining and the birds still singing.

He got me off the roundabout for a while!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

A relaxing space

If I asked you to close your eyes and imagine 

a relaxing space, I bet it wouldn't be a place that's full of "stuff"!

It would be a space in which you could feel free and untethered,

not a place that you were tripping over something every time you moved!

In short, it would be UNCLUTTERED.

Now, we may not all be able to just up sticks and head away to a tranquil

getaway whenever we feel the need,

but we can try to make the place in which we live every day

as relaxing as possible...by simply clearing space!

I helped Thomas clear his bedroom today, and, I don't know about him,

but I felt a whole lot lighter after it was done!

It's a start!!!

Today I am grateful for a bit of space, in my head as well as in T's room!!

Now, all I need is a deck chair, some sand and a mojito, and I'm set!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

The pudding club

Yummy scrummy individual cheesecakes.

Baking is fun.

So is making desserts.

Making a mixture of the two (as in the photo above!) is also fun.

But did you ever make Yorkshire puddings???

I did!!

And I am so chuffed with myself!

Who knew it was so easy?

Not sure if they turned out right or not - the looked more like fairy-cakes!

They also had a lovely, soft texture, which I'm not sure is 

the way they're meant to be!

But they were yummy..I had two!!!

So, today I have to be grateful (eternally!) to my Mam, who suggested

that I make my own puds! Would never have considered it otherwise!!!

Doesn't take much to make me happy, does it??

Sometimes it's the little things that we need to be grateful for!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Thunder storm

The clouds gather and grow heavy.

The sky gets darker and darker and the sun disappears from view.

The air is thick with anticipation.

But the rain doesn't come.

The air gets warm and sticky, turning humid and still.

You wait.

The weight begins to crush you and you become uneasy.

Then, at last, the storm breaks and thunder rumbles around you.

Release!!!

And so it is with emotions, stress and tension!

You've got to have the thunder storm to release the frustrations

before you can return to the calm and sunshine.

Today I am grateful for thunder storms.

Now the air will be fresh and clear again.

Gratefully yours.

xx

Bubbles

Okay, let me say, first of all, that, unfortunately, this is not me,

and this is not my bath!! (I can but dream!)

The amount of bubbles does, however, parallel the amount of bubbles

I managed to get in my tub this evening. Lovely!

I just love a good, hot bubble bath.

You just lie down and can feel your troubles evaporate

and mingle with the rest of the steam rising up to the roof, and beyond.

I like to leave the window open (ours is a sky-light) and 

listen to the birds singing as I lie there.

If you put your ears under the water, all you can hear is your own breathing.

Very soothing!

So, my bathroom may not be pink, and I may not have

a gorgeous egg-shaped tub,

but today I am grateful for my lovely, relaxing bubble bath.

....and relax!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Dreamin' and Schemin'

I love watching George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.......

....along with all other extend/renovate/rebuild or pick up your house

and take it to your ideal spot type of programmes!

It enables you to sit (in the comfort of your own un-extended renovated or rebuilt

home) and dream, knowing full well that it ain't ever gonna happen!!!

It allows you to scheme and plot without actually having to spend any money!

(That keeps your accountant happy!!)

Today I am grateful for dreamin' and schemin'.

Now, when is Escape to the Country on??

Gratefully yours.

xx

Creative energy

Picture from Google Images

                                       

It's all about the energy!

If you don't apply the right energy to a task, you won't get it done!

It ain't rocket science!!!

Tonight at Choir practice, with a few tweaks in the right direction,

and a lot of encouragement from our long suffering choir master,

we finally gave "The Nuns Chorus" the right energy,

and, boy, did it show!

Nearly brought a tear to the eye, it was so beautiful!

It really is wonderful when things finally "click"! And, I guess, the same

principle applies to everything we do! It's just a matter of finding

the right, positive energy!!

May the Force be with you!!!

Today I am grateful that we found the Force!!

It's in all of us.....not just the Jedi!!! We just need to tap into it!

Gratefully yours.

xx