"LIGHT"

I think it was Sean who put his whole hand around a light globe in a bedside lamp when he was little. The main problem with this was that the light had been ON for quite a while and he ended up with massive blisters on the tip of each finger! Ouch!! But, on the up-side...it would have increased his chances of becoming a criminal, had he chosen that career path, as his finger prints must surely have been compromised!

I remember having a teddy bear night-light when I was little. I think they were quite fashionable at the time but were later banned for being unsafe. I don't ever remember being afraid of the dark so I'm not sure if that was the reason for the night-light. Perhaps Mum could throw some 'light' on that one!

I went through a stage in my early twenties where I was making Tiffany lampshades left, right and centre. They were very popular in the eighties and quite easy to make so I was making them for anyone who wanted one.

We have lived in our current house for a little over a year now and the main reason we chose this for our new abode was that it was a lovely, sunny, light-filled house that just instantly cheered us all up! Just what was needed!!

"I'M THANKFUL FOR..."

I'm thankful for...

• the life I live now.
• having such a loving and understanding husband.
• my beautiful daughter.
• getting the chance to meet my gorgeous sons.
• having almost 20 years with my Jake.
• being brought up in a family where being together signified the most fun of all.
• scoring the best Mum and Dad anyone could ever have.
• having so many brothers and sisters.
• my health.
• belonging to a culture where peace is foremost and acceptance is the norm.
• having so many relations.
• my resilience.
• my sense of humour
• the health of my husband and daughter.

I'm thankful!!

"SHADOW"

I have been looking up information on insects today, prior to teaching the kids at school a bit about these fascinating creatures.
My favourite would have to be the stick insect. They are amazing in their ability to blend so well with their environment and to look exactly like the twigs and leaves that surround them. They feel all tingly on your skin when they crawl up and down your arm and some of them have really big, bubbly eyes that peer endlessly.
But, the thing that most appeals is that their shape reminds me of the shadow given off by a tall, handsome, gangly young lad with a big smile and a big heart! My son!!

"WHAT YOU READ"

I am reading a series of books called "A Song of Ice and Fire". It is a five volume series and I am only halfway through Book Two.
These books have really sucked me in but they are completely different to the stuff I usually read. They are set in ancient times with servants and slaves and kingdoms marching to war against each other with their banners held high. There are seven kingdoms in all but the lead kingdom is ruled by a cruel boy who, unbeknownst to himself and many from the other kingdoms, is a bastard, so he is not the rightful heir.
There is magic and dragons interwoven into the plot so it is really different but I am enjoying the story development. It took me a while to work out the storyline as there are so many main characters and the chapters are told from different perspectives.
I love it when a book sucks me in so these holidays have been most enjoyable!!

"THIS HAPPENED TODAY"

Well, we've done it!!
We've decided on two things today.
We have organised all the panels, etc for our solar electricity and we have decided to accept the quote we got for curtains and blinds in the lounge room, the family room and our bedroom.
I haven't signed on the dotted lines yet but that will be done tomorrow!
There is really nothing wrong with the curtains we have but they are so out of date. The family room is currently all floral, the lounge room is a lilac colour and the bedroom has a grey floral on one window and nothing on the new window.
So, I have ordered neutral coloured drapes for the family room and Venetian blinds for the front room and our bedroom.
I think I am most excited about the blinds in the front room as they will give the room a totally different look. I hope it's a good one!
As for the solar panels, my main hope is that our electricity bills are drastically reduced!!
It's all happening here!!

"LUNCHTIME"

Most of my lunchtimes are dictated by the ringing of a bell. Sound familiar?
Yes, teachers are as well trained as Pavlov's dog!!
He was conditioned to salivate on the ringing of a bell. I'm not sure that I actually salivate but when that bell rings at 1:30pm I am usually well and truly ready to eat.
I'm not a big sandwich person so if there are no leftovers from the night before my lunch will usually be rice or corn cakes with cheese and tomatoes or something similar.
For John, lunchtime is whenever he can get a few spare minutes to eat.
Maybe he needs a bell?!!

"WHERE YOU STOOD"

Today I stood at the back door and looked at all the new spring growth on the trees and shrubs in our garden.
The maple trees have got shiny pink and green leaves on them. The rhododendron has giant pink flowers on it. The fruit trees are in blossom and the weeping birch has bright green leaves all over it. The magnolia has almost finished flowering and there are new leaves bursting out of their jackets. And my favourite tree of all, the Forest Pansy, has got it's first dark pink blossom just forming.
From where I stood I could see these spring heralds and I could hear the water in our new water feature as it trickled from the top bowl down to the bottom.
It's a lovely garden! Not our doing but very soothing and VERY therapeutic!