The simplicity of my day to day. |
This is where I write my thoughts, feelings and my daily trials, tribulations and happy things
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Prompt: Use these words in you blog entry: fool, cool, flower, power, breeze, sneeze, time, and rhyme. Today, Easter Monday, the weather is very windy but fine. It was very cool when I went for my early morning walk at 6.30, the strong breeze blew my hat off and I must have looked quite the fool chasing after it. I’m sure the wind was playing with me as time after time I almost managed to grab it before an invisible hand snatched it out of reach. The trouble with the wind blowing from the east is that it blows from the desert. This causes so many of us hayfever sufferers to sneeze constantly. Pollen from the flowers and blossom, from the Marri trees, floating on the breeze cause my eyes to stream so I appear to have a constant head cold. It’s the school holidays here in Western Australia and my school age great grandchildren will no doubt be complaining about boredom. I’m always on the look out for free activities and went to the local library to see if they were putting anything on this year for the kids. Whilst I was there I sat and watch a group of little ones enjoying Rhyme time. The toddlers are so delightful to watch. Everything is so new for them and reminds me that the world is a wonderful place. |
“But it is a sort of April-weather life that we lead in this world. A little sunshine is generally the prelude to a storm.." ― William Cowper I honestly don’t think I’ve read or heard a truer saying than today’s prompt. I live my life in an optimistic fashion and yet I expect the inevitable dramas which life throws at you. My husband says I’m pessimistic and yet that’s so far from the truth. I handle each crisis calmly and in a way that allows me to not panic, to remain calm and hopefully deliver good counsel. These days the dramas are from the family, with so many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren there is always something to worry about. I attempt to stay calm, but always expect there’ll be someone with a problem. But that’s life isn’t it? Happiness is fleeting but contentment can be long lasting even in a crisis. Most problems are fleeting, but expected. That’s how I live my life, enjoying the moment, the blue sky days, because inevitably a cloud will block out the sun. There is a saying that says you’re only as happy as your saddest child and that is so true. It’s the April showers which ensures one will enjoy the rainbows. |
Please use these words in your entry: weave, cake, inside, outside, ample, reception, and pepper. Have fun. My beautiful friend invited my husband and I to lunch at her home. She texted to ask what sort of cakeJohn, liked. It seemed to be a hard decision on his part, and he had amplenumber of ones that he might choose from. Finally, it came down to two finalists. Chocolate éclair, or vanilla slice. Selection decided upon at last, I let my friend know. On arrival at the party, thereception was very warm and welcoming.There was another decision to be made and that was whether to sit outside or inside.The day was very warm still, even though by now, it being autumn, summer should have departed the scene, inside was deemed preferable. There were a few other couples present at the party and because space was at a premium when anyone needed to use the bathroom, we needed to weave in and out of the chairs and table. The food was delicious and in between the inevitable “pass the pepper and other banalities, so was the conversation. After the main course a platter of individual cakes was presented. Everyone it seemed had requested a different type of cake. But to John’s delight there in the centre was a vanilla slice at least two inches high filled with a thick, creamy custard. |
Prompt: What was the month of March like for you? Write about this in your Blog Entry today. March has been a month of indecision, not just for me but for all my family. My daughter, Sarah, has a high profile managerial job and has suffered what could be called burn out. She’s had to take time off to recover and is seriously considering a change of career. They’ve put their house on the market and have had to decide whether or not they should purchase another property. Decisions, decisions. I’m having major surgery and have had to decide whether or not to go ahead with it, I honestly couldn’t decide. I did blog about it and Lyn helped me decide to go for it. There’s been similar situations this month for a granddaughter and a son, both having to make life changing decisions. So I’ve been asked for advice from many quarters whilst struggling with my own dilemma. So all in all I’d say March has been a muddled month and I’ll be pleased to see the end of it. |
Prompt: Rainy Days What does the phrase "rainy days" mean to you? And what’s your favorite way to spend a rainy day? It’s been so long since we’ve had rain I’ve almost forgotten what it looks, smells, sounds like. Rain is desperately needed here in Perth. The bush, the trees and shrubs are dry and very thirsty. People do their best to grow gardens in Summer but it’s a struggle to keep plants looking good. When it does rain, we’ll probably take off our clothes and run outside and dance! But within a week of the first rain after summer, everywhere will get that first tinge of green that we’ve been missing for six months. I’ll open my bedroom window wide and listen to the puddles filling and the pitter patter of rain on the roof and I’ll sleep. |
Describe something(s) you experience with each of your senses every spring, and/or write about what an ideal spring day could be like. I’m going to change the time of the year from Spring to Autumn because in Australia that’s the season we’re in. The days are idyllic now after the hottest summer on record. Days of 45 Centigrade just about finished me this year. It’s been horrendous. But now, oh boy, it’s beautiful. Days of temperatures not exceeding 30C and cool nights so sleeping is possible once more. The trees, even though it has not yet rained since November are definitely showing signs that they won’t die. Sight: I can see the little birds are flitting around looking for nesting material so they can hatch another few eggs before winter. Smell: Autumn has that special smell, hard to explain but it’s a smoky smell, it could be people are preparing for winter and burning a few dead leaves and branches. Taste: The taste buds are preparing for heavier meals instead of endless cold meals and salads because it’s been too hot to cook. Touch: I can touch my steering wheel without getting third degree burns! Hearing: I can hear the sounds of different birds as they return from cooler climes. Soon the wetlands will fill again and the swans and Pelicans will be back in their home in the wetland near my home and I will see them once more on my daily walk. |
Prompt: In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” — Abraham Maslow It’s like being at a crossroads when safety might mean just more of the same. even if it’s not pleasant, it still feels a good choice because it’s familiar. How many women have stayed with abusive partners because they’re afraid to leave and step forward into growth if you like. The unknown is a scary place. This week I’ve almost pulled the pin on my upcoming surgery because I don’t know, can’t know, what the outcome will be. I could not have the surgery to reconstruct torn gluteal tendons and hope I’ll still be able to walk unaided in five or ten years time or bite the bullet, get it done and hope it improves my remaining years. If I decide against it then my deadline is Monday to let the surgeon know my decision. I’ve already had the same surgery on my right hip and know the long recovery and I’m not looking forward to repeating it on my left. Anyway today’s prompt sent my thoughts to me having to make what seems to be a difficult choice. Life is full of choices, we make them every day. Some are life changing. The biggest choice I made was to leave my family and country to live on the other side of the world where I knew no one. A leap of faith. That’s what we need to take, sometimes. |
Emily Segal said,"from within me came highs of excitement, a sleep deficit, and a pervasive hum of anxiety.” Let this sentence influence your writing today. Have fun! Oh, wow, that’s just how I’m feeling today! I’ve been attempting to write my next chapter for a combined novel which my local writing group is putting together. There are eight of us, each has a character to write. The story involves a bushfire which devastates a small community. Who lit the fire? That’s the thread going through the novel. Red herrings abound. There’s even an historic corpse which turns up after the fire, her murderer brought to justice after so many years of getting away with her killing. My character is a fireman who has a huge back story. It’s been an interesting and challenging thing to attempt, with none of us having done this before has led to the process taking far longer than we first thought it would. Consequently there’s been highs of excitement, a sleep deficit and a pervasive hum of anxiety! |
The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security. Let trees inspire your writing today, like what kind is your favorite? Did you climb trees as a child? I love trees. I live in the hills above the city and am surrounded by trees. We always are concerned about forest fires of course but I couldn’t live anywhere else. We visit the beach very occasionally and I find the glare too much. I always say that there is too much sky at the beach! When I was a child I would sneak away to my favourite place which was the stump of a tree. It was like a little chair with a back on it which was caused when it was felled. I adore the smell of the eucalyptus trees after rain, especially the lemon scented gums. My very favourite tree is a neighbour’s tree. It’s a massive Morton Bay. Its roots are like buttresses holding it firmly into the ground. The branches spread far and wide, shading several houses. Some of the neighbours complain about the mess as it drops tiny berries at certain times of the year. But I stop and stare in wonder at its magnificence, at how it continues to grow even larger each year and I can’t even guess how many years it has been standing vigil over our homes. I once wrote a story about a little girl with red shoes who was hiding in that tree |
Prompt: Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands. Japanese Proverbs. Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. I do love flowers but not cut flowers. I rarely buy flowers for anyone much preferring to buy a plant, something pretty which will last much longer than a bunch. So happiness is holding flowers? I’d have to disagree with that statement. Happiness is much more fleeting. It can be felt when witnessing a child laughing, or when receiving a well meant hug from someone you care about or when getting an unexpected piece of good news. I don’t think we experience happiness each day, the best we may feel is contentment, satisfaction, maybe a moment of bliss when sitting down after being rushed and sipping a lovely cup of coffee or tea. Or soaking in a warm bubble bath and letting the stresses of day go for a while. So I’d change the quote to ‘happiness is looking at beautiful flowers growing in the sunshine in their natural environment.’ |