Taking Stock

I hate taking things for granted, and so I'm jumping at the chance to Take Stock as Pip at Meet Me At Mike's has done (and done so well!). This is such a good way to look critically at your life and where you stand at the moment. So, here goes!

Making : a mess usually! It seems to be my way!
Cooking : hearty stews with lots of veggies
Drinking : Jarrah Choc O'Lait
Reading: Lone Wolf by Jodi Piccoult
Wanting: the answers to how, why, when and who.
Looking: at the big picture as much as possible, and ignoring the little things.
Playing: Candy Crush. Such a mindless game, but addictive.
Deciding: on our next camping location
Wishing: there were more hours in the day to sleep and get stuff done.
Enjoying: the coolish weather. I am such a Autumn/Winter girl.
Waiting: for the next Netball game
Liking: House of Cards with Kevin Spacey
Wondering: what my next favourite TV series will be.
Loving: my family (of course)
Pondering: over the fate of our world
Considering: my options incase I win Lotto
Watching: my children growing up right before my eyes
Hoping: that we have many more years together
Marvelling: at the beauty in our world
Needing: others to see their is beauty everywhere
Smelling: fresh bush air
Wearing: jeans and long sleeved top
Following: so many other bloggers, that I have lost count.
Noticing: more grey hairs, but isn't that what hair dye is for?
Knowing: ageing isn't the worst possibility
Thinking: of others who are worse off
Feeling: grateful ... always
Admiring: the things we have worked hard for
Sorting: children's clothes as they grow out of them
Buying: bigger sizes for the children
Getting: frustrated with clothing sizes
Bookmarking: Outlander, trying to get ahead before the next series.
Disliking: when you get hooked on a tv series and are left waiting a whole year
Opening: envelopes containing bills
Giggling: constantly at the antics of my children
Feeling: grateful ... always
Snacking: on cashews. Aren't they fabulous, but trying to restrict myself.
Coveting: Cadbury chocolate
Wishing:that I didn't like chocolate
Helping: as many as I can by donating blood
Hearing: little feet running

Lighten The Load

Imagine if you had no one to talk to. No one at all. Imagine being weighed down with worry, and having no one to share the load. I can't imagine, as I have always had someone around willing to listen.
My world would be morbidly lonely if I could not talk about what is on my mind. I would literally go nuts with my thoughts trapped in my head, with no exit. I need to be able to bounce ideas off people, hear what others are thinking, share my worries and have a giggle.
So when a girlfriend recently apologised for dumping her worries on me, it was shocking to hear that she felt she had no one to talk to.
Seriously, no one?
I have been clearly spoiled for choice, with my husband, workmates, friends and relatives always willing (or painfully submitted) to hear my gibberish woes when I have needed to vent. It makes me wonder if maybe I share too freely, but a problem shared is a problem halved, and two heads are better than one, and on and on.
How do you sort through your worries? Do you have someone to listen?
  

             - Bright Side Up Pinterest

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I miss that soft glow

I had a companion who was usually with me as I type on my computer at night.
My companion has quit on me and I am sad ...sad...sad.
How will I move on? Do I try to find a new companion, or struggle on alone?

The trusty, beloved lamp has died a sudden, but quick death. It all ended with a quick flash near it's switch. I could nothing to help it.
The lamp had been with us for about 8 years and was tall and handsome.

As I typed, and my little corner became dim. I would switch on the lamp, and it would offer a soft, warm glow. It lit up my keyboard so my tired eyes wouldn't have to strain so hard.

I am grateful for what it did for me.

Now, my corner is permanently dim, and I miss my companion.
 

Happiness is ... stepping up to the plate

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Some people need to be told when they need to put in a little effort. That's OK. It's not always obvious that your help is needed, or that someone isn't coping doing a task by themselves. Some people, hopefully only a handful in your life, need to be constantly told in put in some effort. That can be annoying. We all need a little nudge now and then, but mostly people are aware of things and people around them.

As a parent, one value I try to instill in my children is respect.

• For life, for property, for parents, for elders, for nature, and for the beliefs and rights of others
• Courtesy, politeness, and manners
• Self-respect 

This week Miss 7 did her parents proud when Hubby became ill and asked for her help. Miss 7 has always been eager to please, accommodating and grateful for any praise (on a good day). She jumped at the chance to help her poor, sick Dad and I could almost see her puffing her chest out with pride at being asked. While her Dad has not been well, she has fed our dog and settled her into her kennel each night. Such a simple but important task done has been a relief for hubby.

This morning Miss 7 and I took the opportunity to go outside early with some nice weather and hubby and Master 3 sleeping in. After a little umming and ahhing about what she could help with, Miss 7 decided that she would clean out the dog's yard. She has never undertaken this weekly task before but watched hubby do it.

Armed with a long handled shovel, she proceeded to remove the doggy doo without batting an eyelid or the usual dry retching sound heard from hubby. She then pulled the hose out and washed down the yard till it sparkled and washed and filled the water bucket (without getting wet).

When hubby emerged, I expected her to run up and offer her good deed done for the appropriate praise. She said nothing. After a little while I mentioned to hubby how busy I had been in the veggie patch, and that Miss 7 had also been busy.

The look on his face when he discovered the efforts Miss 7 had gone to in completing his weekly task was priceless (and just a touch emotional).  Miss 7 took her praise graciously.
It was a great moment for Miss 7 and also her parents.

The perks of starting work later

I had forgotten the mentality of people who drive in peak hour time slots.

Yes - even Tasmania has peak hour traffic! Hard to believe?

It has been a while since I have had to endure this time slot, but his morning I started work early to finish early. Certainly a perk of my job!

I wasn't ready for the onslaught of the drivers around me.
Has it occurred to these people that if they left home 10 minutes earlier that they wouldn't need to dart in and out of the traffic and speed past others doing 100k/h in a 100k zone? I know it doesn't make that much difference in your travelling time anyway. Yes - I have tested it!

Actually I have to admit that when I used to work in the city (many moons ago) I was prone to "driving in the fast lane". Shocking, I know! I think some people get caught up in the vibe of the morning traffic and before they know it, they are joining the other frantic drivers zipping in and out of the traffic.

So today, I am grateful that I usually get to drop my daughter at school and then casually make my way to work, through hospitable traffic.

How do you handle peak hour traffic?

Happiness is ... Snow in july

We are having a great Winter season so far down here in Tasmania.

I remember last year we had a little snow early in the season, but had to wait until August for our Family Trip to the snow. We have already had one trip as shown in my collage. I remember doing quite a bit of walking last year and was able to do so in most of my lunch breaks. This winter, so far, has been quite wet.

On Tuesday we woke to see that we had received quite a good dusting and it continued to snow on and off that day. We drove for about 10 minutes to reach the snow (spoiled much?) just to see how much there was. I instructed Miss 7 and Master 3 that we weren't getting out of the vehicle this time as the snow was really wet and sloshy still, but that they could wind down their windows and catch snow flakes on their tongues. Bless them ... they were happy to do this and didn't argue to get out once.

We did come across a couple from South Australia 3/4 up the hill, sitting in their car in the middle of the road. We enquired if they were ok. "Nope ... we are stuck." claimed the lady. They were not stuck, as such, but, not used to driving in the snow, they found that everytime they started driving down the hill in their car they would end off in a slide. After a little chat, hubby informed the gentleman to take the handbrake off as he drove (did I mention they were not used to driving in the snow?) and to follow our tracks slowly down the hill, as our 4wd wheels would pat down the snow for them. They were ever so grateful. They revealed that their plan had been to wait for someone to come along (hurray for us) or they would wait for the road to clear of snow. We didn't have the heart to tell them the road might be covered with snow for a day or two, at least.

My drive to work, when we have snow is always scenic, as I look at the hills around our valley covered in snow. As I get closer to work, Mt Wellington comes into view (unless it is obscurred by a snow storm) and towers over the suburbs looking very much like a huge Lamington.

A snow covered Mt Wellington, sitting high above Hobart. (ABC News: Stephen Jay)

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