Finding joy in the everyday

As I write this, 2011 is drawing to a close. By midnight tonight the new year would have arrived. This is the time of year when people dream up New Years resolutions - the most popular resolutions being: spending more time with family and friends getting fit/loose weight quite smoking/drinking enjoy life more get out of debt learn something new get organised However, most people either forget or cannot maintain their New Year resolutions so with a short span of time they are long forgotten. Last year I thought I would "learn something new" and crocheting was going to be my thing. It never happened.  I did try but it was just "too hard".  However I did do a few other things that were not on my list, such as learn how to make jam and chutneys, make bread, improve my sewing, start embroidering and produce vegetables for my family.  These I have done all year and will continue into the new year.  I have also lost weight . . and will continue into 2012 (just need ...

Picking Daisies by Hermann Seeger   If I had my life over by Erma Bombeck If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick...

I had this great idea (always a dangerous thing) . . . I wanted tabs on my blog but didn't have a clue how to do it.  So I did what I always do . . goggled for instructions and to my surprise I found some.  The instructions created the tabs but I couldn't figure out how make them to work.  I have never played with html before, I knew what should happen, just didn't know how to get there.  Anyway, thanks to my cousins husband (thanks Dan) who responded to my SOS . . . I was able to follow his instructions and now I have TABS!! I was very excited and did a little dance around the study.  Most are still under constructions, but whilst I am on holidays I will start to work on them.  I can't wait - these small things I find very exciting!!  So, whilst I was excited about my tabs, I decided to update my background! After tidying up the linen cupboard and part of the study, I tackled the laundry yesterday.  We threw out so much "stuff" and moved a hea...

A summer still life Artist: August Laux (1847-1921) Born in Germany to French parents Still life painter August Laux was born in Rhineland, Germany, 1847 to French parents who participated in the high ranks of government in Strausburg. Artistically, Laux’s influence belonged to his cousin and uncle who created sculpture in Paris. Enthusiastic to discover the arts, Laux and his parents moved to New York in 1863 where he studied sculpture. Later, in 1867, he felt compelled to study painting and enrolled at the National Academy of Design. In 1870, after a successful debut painting a mural for a private club, Laux became desired for his murals and decorative fresco painting. Later became known for his richly colored and realistic floral still life and genre scenes. Raspberry and sweet pea Table top still life Plums in a basket Basket of apples Kittens Cat and playful kittens Still life with Chianti bottle and wine glass Family with friend of nature Lilac an...

Yesterday was the start of the end of year sales.  I had been waiting for them as I really needed some new manchester.  Off I went at 8am (not that I really wanted an early start on Boxing Day!) and bought what I wanted without any hassles and no crowds.  It was quite a stress-free experience!  By the time I got the car at 9:15am the car park was starting to fill up and I left just in time. Buying a doona cover that suits both a male and female can be tricky.  My DH does not like girly white/pastels/pink covers. So I hunted around for something that we would both like and this is what I found and DH loved it. It is very rich in colour (not that the photo shows this) and in a heavy fabric (unlike many that are in a soft cotton).   This isn't likely to show black hair from one fluffy cat!! Besides the doona, I also picked up 2 sets of sheets (1000 thread Egyptian cotton) and a memory pillow for my son. If you live near a Harris Scarf's store - it is the best...

Hi guys - just popping in to see how you were all feeling day!! Who ate too much? Today is Boxing Day in Australia and the sales have started.  Even though I am reluctant to visit the stores, I really would like to replace some of our manchester (doona covers and fitted sheets) and I have been waiting for the sales to do so.  So, off I go to have a look.  I won't be out long though! Back with more serious stuff later!! ~oOo~

Christmas Eve by Thomas H. Carlisle and Harold  Schuler Thou shalt love the Lord thy God  with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,  and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
 Let earth receive her King; 
Let every heart prepare Him room,
 And Heaven and nature sing,
 And Heaven and nature sing,
 And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
 Let men their songs employ;
 While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains 
Repeat the sounding joy,
 Repeat the sounding joy,
 Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
 Nor thorns infest the ground; 
He comes to make His blessings flow
 Far as the curse is found, 
Far as the curse is found, 
Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, 
And makes the nations prove
 The glories of His righteousness,
 And wonders of His love,
 And wonders of His love, 
And wonders, wonders, of His love.   P...

There are many different sorts of scales: Fish scales Kitchen scales Music scales Scales of justice But the one I am most interested in are the scales located in the bathroom The bathroom scales and I have reached an agreement.  They will not nag me over the next few days as long as they sees things return to normal by mid next week.  Each morning at around 6:20am (!) the scales and I have a little chat about the coming day. Some days the scales reminds me to be careful (particularly on Fridays when we have a morning tea), other days it says “well done”.  We are quite good friends at the moment as it has seen continuous improvement over the last 11 months and I have reassured the scales, that it will continue to see improvement into the new year. Enjoy the festive season tomorrow for all those living in Australia.

I am completely ready for Christmas: The turkey (legs) are in the freezer ready to defrost on Saturday The ham is in its’ ham bag ready for baking on Sunday afternoon The veggies are in the fridge (just need to pick up a lettuce on Saturday) The plum pudding is bought (only 2 of us eat it so it isn’t worth making by hand) I have cream and ice-cream Mince pies, chocolate coated almonds and other nibbles are safely hidden And the drinks are bought I can’t think of anything I have missed. This is good as I really want to avoid the shops on Saturday morning as they will be chaotic for sure and finding a car park will be a nightmare. And as to our plans on Christmas Day—it will be very quiet indeed (all our family live interstate or overseas) with only one son in the morning who will return for dinner, so no noisy excited children this year. I might even be able to enjoy an afternoon rest! As for food—DH and I will have roasted turkey legs with roast veggies and if there is...

The Australian Prime Minister (middle) with 5 of her senior ministers and the Australian Governor General (3rd from right) Ambition is defined in the Oxford dictionary as: '' something that you want to do or achieve very much ''.   We currently have a female Prime Minister, who has appointed five females to senior ministerial roles. We have a female Governor General and in the Territory where I live, we have a female Chief Minister.  These are all very ambitious women.  They would not have risen to these positions without ambition. Whilst the feminist movement is rejoicing at this "achievement" I must admit I do feel more than a little sad  . . . the new Minister for Health has a baby under the age of one.  How can she possibly raise a baby and run the Health portfolio? The truth is, she can't. What are your first thoughts when you hear that a woman is ambitious?  I think of a woman willing to do almost anything to climb the corporate ladder as high ...

Artist: Haddon Sundblom  1899-1976 Born in the USA to Swedish parents Haddon Sundblom is best know for creating Santa Claus and thanks to Coco Cola, making Santa famous. However Sundblom was much more than the creator of Santa Claus, he was a commercial artist and quite diverse in his artist skills as you will see by these examples.  If you aren't fond of Santa, you might like the art he did for Brewers Foundation (Beer) and Cream of Wheat cereal.  Though Sundblom was not the first artist to create an image of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola advertising, Haddon Sundblom’s version became the standard for other Santa renditions and is the most-enduring and widespread depiction of the holiday icon to this day.  This was the first time we see a man wearing a red suit looking jolly. Sundblom initially modeled Santa’s smiling face after the cheerful looks of a friend, retired salesman Lou Prentiss. “He embodied all the features and spirit of Santa Claus,” Sundblom said. “The ...