September 30th (+ one week ago)

OK - so I'm a week behind so this week you get double posts. Seems like the easiest way to catch up without tryingto make myself do too much at once.

September 30th

Care



I do try not to care, but it drives me crazy.
When did I become so old and tired-looking????


September 23rd

“Our happiness is completely and utterly intertwined with other people: family, friends, neighbors and the woman who you hardly notice who cleans your office”
Eric Weiner; author - national public radio correspondent



These two girls of mine can fight and snarl at each other with real passion but the older they grow the closer they grow. It is wonderful to see each will wrap her warmth and gentleness around her sister when it is most needed. I hope that, for them, happiness can always be found intertwined in a sister's arms.

The rest of Abba week

September 22nd

"What's the name of the game
does it mean anything to you
what's the name of the game
can you feel it the way I do

Tell me please
'cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child
beginning to grow"



Soon I will plant these daffodil bulbs and I know that they will grow strong and flower into beauty. They have lain dormant since they last flowered but their strength and vitality is only hiding,not gone forever.

As they grow into new life and beauty so will I, because as time moves on we either grow stronger with its passing or we wither and die on the inside. I have been small and brown and insignificant for too long now - my flowering time is well overdue.

September 21st

"Slipping through my fingers
all the time
I try to capture
every minute
the feeling in it
slipping through my fingers
all the time
do I really see what's
in her mind
each time I think
I'm close to knowing
she keeps on growing
slipping through my fingers
all the time"

When did this.....



become this...




September 20th

"I don't wanna talk
about the things we've gone through
though it's hurting me
now it's history
I've played all my cards
and that's what you've done too
nothing more to say
no more ace to play

The winner takes it all
the loser standing small
beside the victory
that's her destiny"



September 19th

I was a woman never thinking of others
and my life was so lonely
didn't care for anybody
but then I happened to meet
a begging man in the street
as I turned down his praying
I heard someone saying: "ah -

Treat him well, he is your brother
you might need his help one day
we depend on one another
love him that's the only way
on the road that we're going
we all need words of comfort and compassion
treat him well, he is your brother
love him that's the only way"

September 18th

"I have a dream
a song to sing
to help me cope
with anything
if you see the wonder
of a fairy tale
you can take the future
even if you fail
I believe in angels
something good in
everything I see
I believe in angels
when I know the time
is right for me
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream"



Seeing someone's dreams die as always a sad thing.

Seeing someone you love turn their back on thier own dreams through stubborn pride is truly heart-breaking.

September 17th

"You can dance, you can jive
having the time of your life
see that girl, watch that scene
dig in the Dancing Queen"



Autmun is a perfect dancing time.

I love watching the thistledown seeds dancing though the air. (I hope they don't land on my lawn and grown tall and strong when I'm not looking).

I love watching my daughter chase the thistledown 'faires' so she can catch them and save them in her fairy jar.

I love watching the sycamore helicoptors on their spiralling dance to a new life - how come it's so impossible to get them to spin like that again once they have fallen to the earth?

I love dancing through the crispy fallen leaves in the woods and around the lake. Soon they will be there waiting for me and my dancing feet...
Soon....

September 16th

This week I have been inspired by the hit musical, blockbusting movie, Mamia Mia!!!! Enjoy.....

"Tonight the
Super Trouper
lights are gonna find me
shining like the sun
smiling, having fun
feeling like a number one"
Abba
What has made you feel like a Super Trouper today?




Super Trouper? Me?
Not today.

Right now good days are mixed with miserable days. Today was definately a miserable day. I just can't raise any enthusiasm for anything. I haven't had any coffee since 6am though and that does seem to make a difference to my mood - and how silly does that sound?

PS - thanks for the txts reminding me to make coffee, Jess.
I love you too <3 <3 <3

September 15th (and before)

"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed!
Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed."



There are new things ahead of me this autumn: a new job, a first real job. I have a lot of hopes that it will lead to something great and exciting. Will it be what I want it to be? Who knows...

It will certainly give me training and experience - with that and a little hard work I can go anwhere I choose. I can succeed if I give myself the chance!



September 14th
"If you never did, you should.
These things are fun, and fun is good."





September 13th
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."



The summer holidays are over and they barely even happened: the weather was awful and we didn't get to go away anywhere. We did have some good days though and a trip to the zoo for Katheryn's birthday was definately a very good day!



September 12th
"From there to here, and here to there,
funny things are everywhere."



How did I get here? Where will I go?
Will I have fun there? I don't realy know.
There's one thing for certain, for good or for bad
It's time to be me now, which should make me glad!

September 11th

"Today you are you, that is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is youer than you."
Dr. Seuss



I don't feel me-er than me...
I feel empty....

September 10th

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose. "
Dr. Seuss



The only way to go is forwards. It's the start of a new year - well, a new school year. And coming from a family of teachers that seems to be the year that means most to me deep down inside. The girls are growing up so fast - three at secondary school now, one in her final year there - and it's time for me to move on too. I start a new job in about a month. I'm starting right at the bottom but there's loads of room for me to learn and hopefully to find something that challenges me over the next few years.

Isn't the world a fun place when it's full of possibilites and hope?

September 9th

A new week of quotes, and I have been inspired by the magic words of Dr Seuss! If you have children or grandchildren, I am sure you will be familiar with his words of wisdom.

"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way."
Dr. Seuss



These are my new mountain climbing shoes!
They may not look like mountain-climbing shoes, they may not be practical for any mountains that you might be thinking of, but seeing as my mountain is liking me, my life and who I am these shoes work very well. I used to wear bright colours all the time, I used to wear pretty things, impractical things and occasionally even girly things. Over the last 15 years children and boats have turned muy wardrobe into a boring mix of practical drab clothes that I hate. These shoes are the start of fun, self -respect and 'me' time! It's going to be a hard steep slope to climb but I so want to see the top of this particular mountain.

Let the Good Times roll!!!!

September 3rd

Lesson 3:



The three oldest girls went back to school today after the long summer holidays. Just Emily at home with me today and it was good. We rarely get time with just the two of us.

September 2nd

Lesson two:



Getting all the books off the floor of the children's bedroom has made lots of difference. The built-in shelves are no where near ready but someone else's cast-off bookshelves will certainly be a God-send until they are.

September 1st

Started a month long class with Shimelle today: it's called Learn Something New Every Day. Here's today's lesson...



The hidden journalling under the photo reminds me that his photo was chosen as one of the finallists in this August's Photo competition. Thanks Anna for choosing me and also for introducing me to the elegance of bokeh. I hope it takes me a lifetime to appreciate it fully :)