Friday 28 February 2014

Lots of people talk about how wonderful the dawn chorus is, but you don't hear so often about the dusk chorus.  This is another of those moments of perfect tranquility, standing outside the back door and hearing the blackbirds singing as the light fades. 

Thursday 27 February 2014

Here are some of the flowers in my garden at the moment.  My garden is, really, a continuous blessing, but it is enhanced by the blessing that is the lady who comes to help.

Wednesday 26 February 2014

This link No regrets is to a song by The Walker Brothers, Scott Walker being one of my great crushes for more years than I care to remember. The lyrics are totally irrelevant to what I am about to say, except for the title but it gives me the opportunity to share this wonderful voice with you.
So, talking to a few people over the last few days has made me realise that I really do have no regrets about where I am now.  There may be a few in the past but then if those things had worked out the way I wanted I might not be where I am now, so they aren't regrets really.  Crumbs, what a blessing that is.

Tuesday 25 February 2014

I live my life by fortnights rather than weeks. Yesterday was the start of a new round and it got off to a very good start.

Monday 24 February 2014

It's a great feeling when you do battle with a new bit of technology and win.

Sunday 23 February 2014

Lots of little things can be blessings - well, to be frank, they are going to have to be if I am going to find 365 different things to talk about!  The little things that just lift your spirits for a few moments.  I went up the road to post a letter yesterday morning and there is a hedge of Photinia Red Robin which now has all that lovely new red growth on it.  Spring is coming!

Saturday 22 February 2014

Today is our 22nd Wedding Anniversary.  My husband has been a great blessing to me.  He has made me a much nicer person than I was, in fact, when I look back I wonder why he took me on!  He is so kind and considerate and supportive.  He can't help with practical tasks much now and says he's no use but he is such a huge emotional rock for me and that should not be counted lightly.  I could go on but I'll be making you all feel queasy LOL.  Although I will just mention that he also thinks I am a good driver! He doesn't like me posting his picture so the silhouette will have to do

Friday 21 February 2014

I wrote a list of the things I wanted to get done.  I did them all!

Thursday 20 February 2014

Just one of my doodly things today, I like doing these as they are very restful.  The blessing for today is that there was a job that needed to be done at my mum's and I wasn't quite sure how I was going to cope but someone else did it for me.

Wednesday 19 February 2014

I've recently discovered the joys of the audio book and have been listening at bed time.  A few nights ago I was lying there when I heard little pitter patters of what sounded like tiny feet in the roof space.  I know that sound.  I had visions of opening the loft access and seeing whiskery little faces looking down at me.
The blessing was that it turned out to be the rain on the window pane, slightly altered by the earphones covering my ears!

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Those lazy days when nothing much happens but it doesn't matter

Monday 17 February 2014

Sunday 16 February 2014

When I look out of my study/bedroom/craft room window I can see two very VERY tall pine trees, which are only a couple of houses away.  Today's blessing is that they are still there!

Saturday 15 February 2014

As this year goes by I shall probably share a few of the things about me that have changed and which I count as blessings because they seem to have happened without much effort on my part.  I can be a terrible worrier, I reckon I'd be really good at risk assessment because I can always identify the things that might go wrong that no one else has even thought about.  But I do seem to be a lot better than I used to be, taking one day at a time and remembering that there's no point in wasting energy working out how to deal with a problem that may never arise.  And if you have 10 minutes to spare HERE is the link to Joyce Grenfell's take on "The worrier" which always makes me laugh even tho' I've seen it lots of times

Thursday 13 February 2014

Indoor plumbing!
 In my working life I visited more than one property that had a "bucket and chuck it" system.  My nana and one of my aunts both had outside loos, although they did flush. And I have worked in 2 different offices that had them too.  One even had the wooden door with the little heart cut out.  And the other one, well, yes, the ladies is still outside!

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Having the opportunity to sing is a blessing for me.  I joined my first Choral Society when I was 14 and this was the oratorio that I sang in, as a soprano, next to my mum.  But I soon joined my godmother in the altos.  The book itself was published in 1903, and has my grandfather's signature on it but it probably came from his father who was a singing teacher.  Several people on my mum's side of the family are/were singers, and my dad too.  Nowadays I only get to sing in Church but I do feel uplifted when it's a hymn I know and one that doesn't go too high!

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Monday 10 February 2014

I've realised that, by imposing on myself the requirement to include some sort of art work or picture every day, I am making life too difficult if I want it to have some relevance to the words.  So, the link between the two may be somewhat tenuous on occasion.  I got to thinking about some of my teachers and I may pick a few out individually later on in the year but at the moment I am just thinking what a blessing a decent education is (and what a shame it is that I didn't really appreciate it at the time!)

Sunday 9 February 2014

 This is a picture I found of vertebrae, I was trying to get some inspiration for today's post because my blessing for the day is my wonderful chiropractor who has me well on the road to recovery.  Last night I actually managed to cook dinner as I can now ........... stand unaided again Whooppeeeee!  But I couldn't help seeing this nasty little face in the picture, biting my nerve endings and making my muscles spasm and if you scroll down you will see him to! 

Saturday 8 February 2014

My back gave way, big time, on Thursday.  OH managed to do us beans on toast for our dinner, as I could barely stand.  But last night we had lovely fish and chips brought to us by my lovely friend who lives at The Heath

Friday 7 February 2014

You can see why I love this sketchpad program, all these fab patterns etc.  My blessing today is being part of something.  As someone who is at home a  lot I do miss purposeful interaction with others that has a bit more depth than a lot of what I do on Twitter and FB.  I've mentioned the Bible Group before and one of our number is very ill at the moment.  Lots of people are praying for her and there is something rather wonderful about being part of that larger group who have a single purpose, even though it is for reasons we would much rather had not come about.  The picture is a fanciful expression of ripples moving outwards as the initial few prayers have gathered and been added to by an ever widening circle of diverse  people

Thursday 6 February 2014

I do have to get up early on a Monday to put the bins out, although I usually just put my coat on over my PJs and try not to frighten any passing dog walkers, and then go straight back to bed if I want to, but I shouldn't complain because, frankly, we are jolly fortunate that someone comes and takes the rubbish away for us!

Wednesday 5 February 2014

I gave the postman a bit of a fright a few days ago.  There was a parcel to be signed for, OH was in the bathroom and I wasn't up, so I had to open the door in my PJs, slightly out of breath from bounding (?) out of bed and running down the stairs.  I tried my best to conceal myself behind the door but it wasn't easy as I had to sign on that silly electric box thing.  As he was leaving he turned back and said "You lucky devil!"  and I thought, yes, I am very fortunate in that there are not many days when I have to get up and be ready to go out early.

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Another sketchpad picture which represents the fact that a couple of days ago I had to drive a route that I hadn't driven before and I stayed completely calm

Monday 3 February 2014

Sunshine and showers, a metaphor for good days and bad.  The good days are a blessing of course, but the bad days tend to be when we learn and they make us appreciate the good days all the more

Sunday 2 February 2014

Yesterday I walked to The Heath and back as I wanted to go to the butcher.  A while ago I got really out of breath doing it, so I haven't tried for a while (the weather hasn't helped, of course)  The "through the woods" way is decidedly squelchy so the trip there and back takes about 1/2 an hour the longer way round.  And I did it and I felt fine!  I am going there to church today so maybe I will do it again (if it isn't raining)

Saturday 1 February 2014

That moment when you look out of the window in the late afternoon and realise that it isn't as dark as it was the same time the week before