Finding joy in the everyday

 Lightening over Sydney Harbour When I was little I would hide under the table when it was lightening and thundering, cry and making a big noise.  I hated it.  It was very scary. These days I am slightly more mature!!  Anyway, if I did climb under the table I am not sure I would be able to get back up!! This is fortunate as we have been having quite a few thunderstorms lately, including at 5am yesterday morning (along with hail and pouring rain) and evening.   In fact, as long as I am safely indoors I don't mind the thunder/lightening at all. I am not fond of driving during lightening, even though I am probably quite safe. When we lived in Darwin we would get nightly thunderstorms during the wet season (monsoon) and I would lie awake at night watching the sky light up. It was quite magical.  One of Gods wonders. God has complete control over the thunder, the rain, the hail, the sunshine, the wind and we shouldn't grumble with "too much rain", "not...

I am puzzled by people . . . For a few years we had a drought – water restrictions were in place, we couldn’t water our gardens probably and we all bemoaned the lack of rain. Month after month with no rain and the gardens looked sicker and sicker — everyone wanted rain.  This year we have had some good rains, and in the last week we even had rain that lasted 2 full days rather than just a few hours.  It was beautiful.  Overcast, grey, cold and wet but I couldn’t believe the number of people bemoaning the rain.  These weren’t even people who had outdoor jobs, they were office workers.   I love it when it rains.  I can snuggle up at home, cook a roast, make hot chocolate and listen to the rain fall on the roof.  We don’t live in a location where it will rains for weeks non-stop ( not even for days) so why complain about 2 days worth of rain.  This rain is so precious as it is filling up our dams that will supply the water that we need during ...

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2007/361/7/9/Raindrops_of_the_City_by_Uniquely_Unique_x3.jpg A very bleak Saturday with grey skies and rain.  My only outing this morning was to do the groceries.  It can be tricky holding the umbrella whilst loading up the car with groceries.  I try and avoid getting my hair wet, as it is curly and goes slightly (I think more than slightly) wild looking after it gets wet.  It is almost impossible to control curly hair when there is moisture in the air.  It has a mind of its own. Once home I decide the best thing to do in the rain (I wasn't in the rain of course!) was to cook, so I made: Beef and red wine casserole (which I will freeze - enough for 2 meals) Lamb shank casserole (which I will also freeze to eat later in the week) Lamb and tomato masala (a spicy Indian type disk) - which we are having tonight for dinner Creamy rice pudding (mmmmm, so delicious - for dessert) Whilst these meals were cooking I watch part of a ...

The 2 photos below where taken last Sunday after we had received 130mm of rain.  This is quite a small creek normally, but as you can see it is very full and overflowing.  It took a day to reduce back to its normal size.   You may wonder why I took a photo of my food cupboard - its the sardines I was sharing with you. We buy LOTS of sardines - but non of us eat them!!  Horrible smelly things!!  They are bought for the dogs - they have 2 cans a day - it helps improve their skin and fur.  They are now so use to the fish that when we run out they complain about eating their dinner.  The sales person in the supermarket can't usually help themselves and want to know who is eating all that fish!!   I love this photo - it wasn't set up at all - I had finished reading the book and a little while later I found Ruby lying next to it. 

Before you ask - no not a thing -  Valentines Day has now come and gone and nothing:( My husband doesn't believe in all that commercial rubbish I asked my son if he did anything for his girlfriend he told me he didn't believe in all the commercial rubbish. Father like son. Tristan and his girlfriend did "hang out" together and watch movies. I enjoyed a lovely lunch with 2 girlfriends!! And the best gift of all - just over 100mm of rain in 36 hours (ok, not everyones idea of a gift, but haven't seen so much rain in years - well, since 2002) 

God's wondrous beautiful - no man could create such a magnificent raindrop on a flower.  Check out the reflections. " Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God " Job 37:14 All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful: The Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. (Cecil F. Alexander) Sniffing the flowers - she is glad to be outside after 2 days of rain (62mm's of precious rain) Hunting __________________________________________________________________ My youngest son on Christmas morning (he loves this hat and wears in winter or summer) Ok - the title of this blog doesn't belong to this photo!!  This is me on Christmas morning.  Quite wide  awake considering I was woken by my husband at 4:30 (he has a very sore back and couldn't sleep).  I did enjoy an Christmas afternoon sleep f...

We are enjoying a cool wet grey day - and even though it may sound strange, its perfect.  I love wet rainy days and as we are in such need of rain, it is the best gift to receive on Christmas Day. Heavy rains have been predicted in inland Australia (New South Wales in particular) thanks to  Cyclone Laurence and this will be very welcome as some areas haven't had rain in ages and towns are or have run out of water. Because it is cool (after a very hot week) - roast ham and veggies were very welcome at lunch time and the turkey for dinner will be ideal.

We had some lovely showers of rain this morning but sadly they didn't last long enough. But I mustn't complain as every little bit counts. The winds we had the other day knocked all my daffies over, but they weren't damaged so they are now safely in a vase indoors. This last photo is the "flowers" of a Canadian Maple, strange little things. I can't wait until this tress is fully grown - only need to wait another 20 years (I will be in my 60's) - I can be patient! I am feeling much better - still have the sore throat and head cold but on the mend. Poor Kat is also sick (but worse than me) - thanks Tristan for sharing the bug. I stayed home from work yesterday and I think sitting in the sun really helped. Plus the long sleep in:) which was much needed.