“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.” ― Louisa May Alcott

While it wasn't the perfect blue sky sunny day, the sky still put on a great show in the still water. Instead of sparkling glints of light in the waves, the turbulent clouds were mirrored on the surface. 

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky" Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds

I start the morning each day in a great mood but then something in the news will set me off, in anger or despair. I'm not sure how we got ourselves to this state but we seemingly hellbent on destruction. So I'm using the beauty around me to right the ship so to speak - at least my mood.

“I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Linking with #WeekendReflection
 

Share Four Somethings - November

It feels too soon to be writing this but here we are...a month until Christmas!! 

Things I've Loved/Disliked  There is of course, the obvious one but for everyone's sanity, I'll skip it. Focusing on what I loved instead, I'll go with Max Frost doing another round of the battle of the covers. Follow his Insta and join in the voting. He's such a talent and it's a free, fun game. It puts a gleeful spring in my step every time he posts another round.

Took my birthday present (from back in Feb) out for the first time at Currawong. Had a really lovely early morning (but late enough for the sharks to not be feeding...no dawn and dusk people!) paddle board. Am on the look out for more opportunity to use it.

Things I need to Improve I am constantly feeling stressed and time poor - but I think I'm just mismanaging time. I do have a lot of obligations at the moment and my work is suffering a bit. I need to maybe get myself better organised, though I sort of resent all the extra work Christmas creates at the moment (I know by mid December I get to enjoy the rewards with all the socialising but for now I'm a little bah humbug).

Things I've Accomplished Half the Christmas shopping. Though one kiddo has literally nothing from Santa at this stage. Even sorted half the food (ordered not arrived, obvs). So for me, that's feeling very organised....yet I still feel I'm not! 

Things I've Noticed Australia seems to be the tour haven at the moment - heaps of authors, bands, Djs and comedians are all turning up. My Nov-March is getting very full already! And my bank account is getting very low....great for me but do we go into a lull after April? Obviously if you were from Northern Hemisphere you'd be keen for a bit of Summer but has the Australian promoters just decided we need more entertainment or is everyone who put it off in COVID decided to come now? Not complaining but it is noticeably busier...(Maybe my tastes have become more commercial?)

The photos this week are from my bay run walk, but I've decided to flick some upside down because you may remember I like to do that (other times are here , here and here) If you want them right side up, look here.

Hope you had a great month too! 

Christmas Linky

While updating an old post about #SharetheDignity's Christmas Appeal, I was reminded that "My annual #Itsinthebag post also heralds the start of my Friday Xmas Link Up. Swing by on Friday, starting on the 22nd November to link up any Christmas themed posts. Hope to see you Friday with your Christmas cheer, as we count down to the end of the year."

And so, I will run the linky for the next 4 weeks. Every Friday for your Christmas posts - old, new, just photos, whatever you want, as long as it's Christmas themed. I will delete unrelated posts. Please comment on AT LEAST one other post. I will also delete non commenters. As there's only 4 weeks, you can link 2 posts, but I may only comment on one per person if I'm out of time. If you post 2, you need to comment on 2 others.

Bunning Alexandria has a Christmas Family Night planned....

So see you Friday for some Christmas fun!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fresh Eyes

I have long been aware I would be an unreliable witness. I don't notice anything. I can't remember what I did yesterday, let alone six weeks ago. I can't remember what people are wearing when I scan a crowd looking for them...I even sometimes remember them in what they wore a few days ago, rather than what they wore this morning...(This has always been the case, not a new sign of deterioration)

So it was little surprise when I said to my friend on our morning walk "Are these new? Someone's been busy" and she politely (though I'm guessing a little incredulously) said "Er, I think they've been there for awhile". I'm guessing the 22 in the signature means it's been there for 2 years....opps.

Lovely work either way....

And the pelican looked cute all fluffed up by the wind so I'll sign off with him.

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see". Henry David Thoreau
Linking with #WildbirdWednesday #MuralMondays and #AwwMondays

The little things

It's been a pretty disturbing week. The potential global fallout is a worry. The rise of the right around the world is concerning. The notable damage of the heating of the planet is becoming more and more noticeable. Snow in Saudi for the first time EVER. No snow on Fuji until November, for the first time in 130 years. The lack of snow in Niseko ski fields...the list goes on. And people voted for someone who thinks it's a hoax. So here we are.

As I learnt long ago, when the big picture is bringing you down, focus on the little things.

Look after those around you, and reach out to those in despair. 

Linking with  #FloralFridayFoto

 

If we intend to provide a better life, and a better world, for future generations, we can't ignore the quality of the environment we leave them.

John Kasich

As Grace Petrie says in the song 'Grab a spade and grab a hammer', it's time to roll up our sleeves and do what we can....

Linking with #HappyNow #HappyTuesday #SeniorSalonPitstop 

Jacaranda Purple Snow

As I wrote last year, as soon as the Jacaranda blooms, it's quickly followed by the purple snow. The flowers begin to flutter to the ground as you walk past, and then the purple carpet they create takes a few days to turn to slippery brown sludge...just like real snow.

It is the price for beauty and a joyous splash of colour all over the city.

Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week.

Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration. 

Make sure you link back to this  #AllSeasons post. 

Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Currawong

We were back at Currawong for our annual weekend away. It's getting harder to fill the homestead and a flurry of last minute cancels meant we were rattling around in it. So next November, we'll be in one of the smaller cottages, and give that a try.
 

Even though the clouds ruined the sunrises and sunsets, it was still a gloriously relaxing weekend with early morning paddleboarding, golf and finska.

A little swimming and just generally relaxing and good times in the sunshine with friends.

No kookaburras stole our food and no monitors attacked the birds.

So wins all round for the humans this time.

Linking with #Skywatch and #GaleriaHimmelsblick

Beach Season

 

It is the start of the beach season, the crowds are beginning to grow on weekends. 

A few weeks back I flew up to Sawtell to stay with friends (husband drove up while I was still in Auckland).

It was glorious to have a swim and warm up in the sunshine.

Here's hoping it's a warm but not firey summer.

(Link back to other Street art in the area here)

Linking with #WaterThursday