Photo Friday

DAY 5

Sisters: single souls but joined by love

A Friday ritual - celebrating a special moment from the past that I don't want to ever forget.

So many stories, so little time....

DAY 4

I had a windfall at the library today – 5 reserves arriving within 2 days! There is no way I’ll get through them all in the next month – unless I happen to feel a little unwell ;)

I’ll give you a quick overview...

The Children’s Book | A S Byatt

A famous author writes a separate, private book for each of her children. This looks like a lifelong saga of the children’s childhood and adult lives. A fatty at over 600 pages.

Vampire Academy | Richelle Mead

I am sure this will be a poor attempt to harness the twilight-obsessed teens into another series. From reading the back it looks like mortal enemy type vampires battling it out at a vampire school. Hmmm.

Mr Rosenblum’s List | Natasha Solomons

Mr Rosenblum and his wife, Sadie, are new Jewish arrivals to England after the war. Mr Rosenblum is determined to become an English gentleman and starts compiling a list to help him assimilate to proper society.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies | Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Looks like Seth Grahame-Smith has added extra chapters to the Jane Austen classic. Now Elizabeth wakes up to discover Zombies in her town and has vowed to get rid of them all. Enter Mr Darcy to add some interest to the story as well. Promising romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism and thousands of rotting corpses.

Book of Threads | Tess Evans

A story of love and loss, parents and children, hope, faith and the value of simple kindness. Set in a small town in Victoria.

So for the next month, don't be offended if I turn you down for a coffee - I've got a very important date with my reading chair....

Asher the (insert profession here)

DAY 3

There is something completely innocent about babies. Look in Asher's eyes and all I can see is his future. I like to wonder what he will become in 20 years - a fireman, a banker, a computer programmer, a poor traveller, a father, a doting nephew, a son who stills remembers to call his mother :)

The possibilities are endless.

I got some new 'stare at the computer all day' glasses today. I think they make me look smarter than I really am. I guess that can't hurt since I wear them all day at work. They are a bit 'look at me, i'm wearing funky glasses' but.... I like them anyway.

A mother is...

DAY 2

A mother is only as healthy as her sickest child, and only as happy as her saddest child". Author Unknown.

I came across this quote today and it rattled around in my head for the rest of the afternoon. It got me thinking about my own mother, as I can only imagine the responsibility that comes with motherhood (I don't think naughty cat ownership counts). It seems that your own emotions get tied up with those of your children, to the extent that their happiness is yours, their sadness is yours, their pain is yours just as their joy is yours.

I wonder how much of my mothers happiness was sucked away by me over the years - hopefully not much. I seem to remember being somewhat of an even tempered child (I hope) - happy to sit in the corner eating whatever was on hand rather than making trouble. I am sure in the torrid teenage years there was some sadness passed from daughter to mother though - I was always a sucker for a 'bad boy' - the ones I wouldn't bring home to meet dad. They broke my heart without blinking. Oh the poetry I composed full of teenage angst and soulful looks.....

So I guess this post is a tribute to my mother, and all the other mothers. Whose children wander around the world carrying part of your heart - no wonder you cannot be happy when they are not, or be well when they are hurting - for you are part of each other.

When life gets too much - take a nap

DAY 1

Some days I wish I was a kid again. I wish the most important thing I had to achieve in a day was to play nicely with my sister (even when she cheated at Monopoly!) and remembering to use my manners.

I remember when all I wanted to do when I grew up was to stay up late, and now that I AM a grown up, all I want to do is go to bed early. My my - how things change. I guess God does have a sense of humour after all...

I absolutely love this picture of Ava from over the weekend. Minutes before this was taken I was reading her a story, and I happened to glance over to find her head gently slipping slowly down the side of the couch. Knowing that little girls are not supposed to sleep in the afternoon (otherwise they use their renewed energy to stay up all night long) I alerted my brother to the problem. Brian picked Ava up and deposited her on the opposite couch with a pillow. I'm not sure where the little pony toy came from - she must have been clutching it in her hand.

I think that I can learn something from Ava in this situation - sometimes you just need a nap.

DAY 100

Today I am grateful for: being grateful

I started this grateful project because 101 days ago my life wasn't turning out the way I had planned, and the changes I wanted were completely out of my control. I discovered that the only thing I could change was my attitude and my perception of life.

I am not an optimist. I often look at life through my half empty glass and this year I have struggled more than ever before. Circumstances conspired and brought me to breaking point, my faith was unstable and my happiness was waning. I needed something to remind me of just how lucky I was, and how many people were standing behind me cheering me on.

I didn't expect this process to be so cathartic. Like an spontaneous smile, discovering what I am truly grateful for has brightened my outlook. It has also been incredibly humbling to hear how much some of you readers enjoy these posts. I love hearing your feedback, so thank you all so much if you have left me a comment or chatted to me in person. It really means a lot to connect on this level.

I also want to be grateful today for growing through pain. Working through some of the tough things that come with gratefulness has helped me to gain valuable perspective on where I came from, how I got there and where I want to be next. Know that if my posts brought tears to your eyes, I too shed tears when composing them. Sometimes it has been an equally heart-wrenching and heart-mending process to examine the pieces of my life for what they really are - gifts so completely undeserved.

For those of you who haven't been with me from Day 1 here are some of my favourite days:

DAY 3 - who knew sparkly rocks could be so life affirming

DAY 18 - reflections of my dad and a town called grief

DAY 20 - flowers from myself

DAY 27 - the high's and low's of online dating

DAY 34 - the infamous day that I got stood up for a date and still managed to be grateful for it

DAY 43 - gaining perspective from the tallest building in New York City

DAY 49 - a happy reunion

DAY 52 - the labels we wear

DAY 54 - persevering

Day 61 - an acceptance of a different future

DAY 64 - reminders

DAY 69 - leaving part of my heart in good hands (my favourite post)

DAY 85 - overcoming at least one stigma

DAY 90 - extended family

DAY 97 - a daily reminder

DAY 99 - treasures that we all carry

Today's pictures are two moments from the last 100 days where I was really, truly, deep down happy. One from last weekends bushdance, and the other from the four blissful hours that I spent wandering around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

So, thank you for coming on this journey with me. It has been a long 100 days and I enjoyed every one of them. I will be starting a new blog tomorrow from this same site called '100 days of living and giving'. I'd love you to join me as I delve in to being more generous, along with more reflections on life, my past, the future and fun things like literature, cooking, love, dating, music, photography and other frivolity that comes with being a 30ish singleton.

PS: It would be great if you felt comfortable making a comment today to let me know who I am talking to!

PPS: Why not start your own 100 days of grateful from today? Just write something down on your calendar every day. I think you will be surprised what you find in your life to be grateful for.

PPPS: here are some of my favourite photos from the last 100 days as well.

Day 3

Day 4

Day 18

Day 20

Day 29

Day 43

Day 45

Day 46

Day 48

Day 52

Day 54

Day 64

Day 66

Day 79

Day 87

Day 95

DAY 99

Today I am grateful for: treasures

I was happily reminded of the complete joy little girls find in their treasures. I noticed Miss Eden (5) had been carrying around a little fairy bag all morning. After many heartfelt promises that 'I would be very, very careful' I managed to convince Eden to let me have a look:

Miss Eden's treasures included a pink ribbon, a butterfly bobbypin, a small doll with a purple dress, a butterfly keyring, a plastic dog, the tail only of a My Little Pony, a broken purple hairband, a heart shaped bead and a painted plaster heart.

To Miss Eden, these are some of her most precious things. These little bits and pieces, the broken things we would normally throw away, these are the things Miss E sees beauty in. They are of such high worth that she carries them around close to her heart.

It made we wonder what are the things I carry around close to my heart?. What do I put value in that others would see as worthless? I have a box of love letters somewhere from my high school romances: worthless to some, a reminder of innocent days to me. Maybe the size 10 dress that hangs in my cupboard - a waste of space to some, a dream that maybe one day I will fit back in to it for me (although it would probably take either 6 months in the gym with a trainer or an unfortunate bout of gastro for that to happen!).

I wonder if we all have treasures we can't give up. Reminders of better days gone or better to come? I wonder....

On another note, I introduced Mr Asher to the camera today. He was a fan.

Grateful.

DAY 98

Today I am grateful for: real people

I am grateful for the people in my life who are real. They don’t have any reason to be anything but themselves around me. What you see is what you get and that is fine with me.

Tonight my church held their annual Bush Dance and everyone was invited. With all age groups represented, from babies, primary schoolers, gangly teenagers, exuberant guys, smiley girls, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, daughters, sons, grandparents, singles and everything in between.

It is a incredible to be a part of a community that plays together. How often in normal life would you get the chance to just be silly for a while without the need for alcohol to lubricate situations in to a semblance of fun?

I have been attending Bush Dance’s my entire life. I remember my childhood church doing the exact same thing occasionally and can recall dancing with my uncles and aunts and friends without a care in the world.

Every once in a while I get the chance to forget myself and just laugh. You know the laugh that comes from deep within and burbles out, infecting everyone around? That laugh can heal the soul I think.

Tonight I laughed and forgot the things that worry me. Tonight for a moment I was 10 years old again, spinning around the dance floor in the arms of someone who I trusted to not let me go.

DAY 97

Today I am grateful for: a daily reminder

Today I had always planned on having an ungrateful day - why? because today is the one anniversary day that I don't look forward to. Today marks 6 years since my dad left us for heaven.

I had planned to justify this day as allowing me to list all the things that I am ungrateful for. I had planned to put some perspective on why being grateful is so important in light of my perceived hardships. I wanted to wallow in my misery for a while.

But something happened today that surprised me. I wasn't sad. My mind stayed focussed on today rather than drifting back to what was happening 6 years ago. I was able to remember the good times with my dad rather than the heartbreaking times. I didn't have to worry how my family was coping, because I knew they were okay too.

You may wonder about today's picture. It is my licence plate. The plates were my dad's and after he died they became mine. It is a welcome reminder to see them and remember him day by day. It makes me smile when I see cars passing me on the highway with the passenger staring at me to see who 'Fred' is, and their subsequent confusion when they notice 'Fred' is a girl.

I thank God that hearts do actually mend. That once broken they become stronger. That once damaged, become softer to the plight of others.

I am grateful for a friend who remembered what today was and emailed me to find out how I was going. Maybe that old adage about 'a trouble shared is a trouble halved', maybe that applies to sadness also. It would be nice if it did.

I guess this is the place I had hoped to be 6 years ago - the place when I can remember and smile, rather than being sad.

The world is empty without you dad, but we are doing okay.

DAY 96

Today I am grateful for: health

I have had this grateful on my list for a long time, but couldn't work out how to photograph it. The only thing I could think of to do was to take photos of random body parts to show that they weren't diseased and were in working order. You can be thankful that I abandoned this concept.

I'm not sure if I am most grateful that my feet are in good working order, but I figured that without them I couldn't go the gym every weekday and workout in my desperate attempt to stave off the 'boombah' that threatens me with every delicious mouthful. I would like to say that I am very happy with the state of my legs and skinny ankles - I think they make a flattering photo at least.

I have a lot to be grateful for with my health. I haven't had a flu or cold in over 2 years now - ever since I started being a gym bunny and stopped eating hot chips once a week (they are my weakness in life, in all their salty, crispy glory!).

Apart from a broken arm I have never spent any time in hospital. I have all my limbs and senses and I was born healthy with no defects or issues - which is a miracle being that I was born 7 weeks premi.

My only complaint is that I am blind as a bat. I can't see a thing without my glasses on - which is useful when showering as I can't see when it needs to be cleaned, and is annoying when my bedside clock is just a glowing redness rather than an actual display of time. But if appalling vision is all I have to contend with I am a grateful girl.

DAY 95

Today I am grateful for: Eden Faith Moes

Eden is my oldest niece, and the first grandchild born in to our family five years ago. It was about this exact day 6 years ago that Brian and Lara told us they were pregnant. I remember the moment vividly. I guess some moments just stay with us forever - the moments when we realise that things are about to change forever. Sometimes for good, sometimes for not so good. This moment was all about things changing for the better.

I love Eden. I love being an Aunty. I love the cuddles and kisses, random comments and insightful questions. I love how at 5 Eden is learning about the world and how everything fits in to it. During a visit earlier in the year Eden had been talking with her parents about marriage and husbands and wives and families. She matter-of-factly told me that because I didn't have a husband she was going to find me one in Boonah (where she lives). At this stage of my singleness journey I'll take all the help I can get - even from a primary schooler!

I'm not sure what my future holds - there is no guarantee that God has a husband and children and grandchildren waiting for me - even though deep down that is what I hope for. I am coming to terms with the thought that what comes in my next 10 years may not be what I had planned. It may be completely different. It may break my heart and cause me to be rebuilt in to a new person. I love that no matter what happens I will always have the love of these children - Eden, Ava, Jamin, Kael and Asher. The children who will hopefully always call me Aunty with a smile on their face.

DAY 94

Today I am grateful: Zoe

This is my very good friend Zoe. It is easy to be grateful for a loyal dog who has loved me unconditionally for the last 12 years. Yes - that photo of me on the left is Zoe at a couple months and me at 18.

It's funny looking at the pictures side by side. Some things have changed - I now wear a suit instead of a tshirt most days, Zoe has a grey nose, my hair is longer, Zoe has eyebrows.

Some things stayed the same - my hair is the same colour, Zoe's ears are still floppy, my nose is just as big as it used to be, Zoe still loves almost everyone.

Wherever Zoe lives in she will always be devoted to the alpha male of the house. For most of her life she was in love with my Dad, and when she went to live with my sister & co a couple of years ago she then fell in love with Danny. Zoe loves the pack leader. Now that she is in retirement at my mum's place she is content loving her in the place of a man. I think deep down Zoe misses my Dad as well too.

She is loyal and brave, protective and loving, gentle and warm. Now in her old age she is turning into a genteel senior citizen, sleepy and partially deaf but always ready to welcome visitors with a waggy tail and a nose snuzzle.

Unlike my cats, Zoe loves unconditionally. I think my cats tolerate me because I am the happen to be the person that provides food.

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." Robert A Heinlein

"If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." Andy Rooney

I might be a cat person, but there is always room to love a dog as well. I'm grateful for Zoe. A true friend.

______

My '100 days of grateful' is nearly over and I am wondering what to do next. If you have any suggestions for something else I could do a '100 day' project on let me know. It would need to be something I could photograph and write about regularly.

DAY 93

Today I am grateful: Sunday lunch

Today I felt like a typical Australian housewife from the 1960's - I made roast lamb for lunch! Luckily the weather warmed up a little and we were able to sit out on my patio and enjoy the sun for the first time in a long while (thank you very much ridiculously cold spring!).

Mum and I invited my Aunty Sandie, Uncle Rodney and cousins Anthony and Craig over for lunch to start down the road to repaying the many many many meals they have invited us to over the years. I also needed to prove to Aunty Sandie that I could actually cook more than just desserts!

One again I am grateful for family. Over lunch we all discussed what I could do to make my outdoor area nicer, and devised a way to build an enclosure out the side where the cats can play. The amazing thing about having a handy uncle and four handy cousins is that they are willing and able to come over and build things for me - which is such an blessing for a single girl. All I have to do is pay costs and feed them yummy food. I can definitely do that!

Uncle Rodney happened to have his tool kit in the car (he told me it was because he knew he was coming to my house for lunch and that I would have some jobs for him - which I did!) and he fixed my cupboard again which had been deteriorating since my brother fixed it in Day 8. Very useful.

It was nice to be with family over good food again. I love roast lamb and banana choc icecream. Love Sunday lunch.

DAY 92

Today I am grateful: my little slice of Australia

I always hoped that I would one day own a home.... with my husband and our adorable children living in it. I never thought I would do it on my own - but amazingly enough I have managed for the last 5 years to keep the bank happy and the mortgage paid, the house clean, the lawn mowed (not by me though!), the gardens somewhat tamed, the lights on and the front door open and welcome for visitors.

It is a real blessing to know that I won't have to move any time soon unless I choose to. I counted that I moved house 10 times in the last 10 years before settling here. It makes my heart happy to know I that my things and I are stationary for the next while anyway.

I took some pictures of the things I love most about this unit. Going from top left across I love:

1 - My bedroom wall that I painted myself with the help of my bro-in-law Danny and friend Dana. Makes me happy every time I look at it.

2 - Some of my first photos ever printed on canvas. Makes any room feel like spring time.

3 - A little wall sticker that I picked up last year. Brightens up the very boring wall above the TV.

4 - My reading corner in my bedroom. Most Sunday afternoons in winter I curl up in this spot with the sun coming in the sliding door, a cat on my lap, great music on the ipod, a cup of tea and a good book.

5 - My lounge room. With an incredibly comfortable couch, and decent sized TV and my favourite thing of 2009 being the hard drive recorder. I watch a lot of TV at night, and now I never have to watch ads again - hooray!

6 - The couch that I am couchsitting for my sister. It lives in the library (front room) and my two cats delight in sleeping on top of it for hours on end. It is also an incredibly comfortable spot to read and watch the world go by from.

7 - Outdoor area. A great spot for sitting in on hot summer nights with a glass of wine and some music or a friend to chat to. Also good for weekend lunches with a magazine.

8 - Knife block in the kitchen. Easy access for cooking and it makes me feel like a real chef!

9 - Another favourite photo I had printed on canvas. It sits above my dining room table and makes me feel like I am looking out the window at sunset all day through.

I am grateful for this unit. For a place to call my own and for the finances to pay it back. The girls are quite happy about living here too - they have found pretty much every available space for sleeping and have claimed them for themselves.

DAY 91

Today I am grateful for: biscuits hot from the oven

Eating biscuits hot from the oven is one of the best things for me. Warm, with the choc chips all gooey - it's another one of those 'sent from heaven' moments.

These are my favourites - chocolate crackle top biscuits. I'll share the recipe because me keeping this to myself is just criminal.

Chocolate Crackle Top Biscuits

50g butter, chopped

100g dark choc buttons

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup plain flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tbs cocoa powder

2/3 cup icing sugar

1 - Melt butter and 50g choc in microwave - 1 to 2mins on medium.

2 - Beat sugar and egg in small bowl with electric mixer.

3 - Stir in chocolate mixture.

4 - Sift flour, baking powder and cocoa and mix into dough.

5 - Mix in remaining choc chips.

6 - Refrigerate for 60mins or until firm enough to roll.

7 - Preheat oven to 180C.

8 - Roll heaped teaspoonfuls of dough into balls. Roll balls in icing sugar to coat thickly.

9 - Place on trays and bake for 12mins or until firm. Cool on wire racks for 10mins before serving.

DAY 90

Today I am grateful for: extended family

So this motley looking crew are part of my extended family. My aunty Sandie is my Dad's youngest sister. She is also my inspiration in the kitchen. Think of a busy mother who still manages to produce amazing dinners on the table every night seemingly effortlessly. That is aunty Sandie. It can only hope that one day I will cook with such ease. Must come from putting dinner on the table for 5 hungry guys, day after day, week after week, year after year. All that practice!

Myself, mum and also Alison (plus crew) all have a standing invitation for dinner any time we need it. I love dinners at this table. When all of my four cousins are at home it makes my heart happy to hear them all. The laughter, the jokes, the typical Australian sarcasm, the unsolicited life advice, the prodding about who is in love with which girl, the why are you being such a player? etc etc etc.

I am blessed to have family further than my immediate family nearby. They continue to be an amazing support to mum and I. As we have no husbands, or boyfriends, or easily accessible male siblings around to help us out with manly things, we call on this family from time to time. I know if I call uncle Rodney or one of the boys (they will always be boys to me!) will help with whatever needs doing. And they have power tools. Excellent.

I remember earlier in the year I talked my youngest cousin Craig in to coming over and helping tame my wild garden back in to submission, and he came and helped and didn't complain. That is family love.

I am grateful for extended family. For the ones who love you for so much more than just sharing a last name.

DAY 89

Today I am grateful for: cups of tea

I don't drink coffee. I am one of the few people in the world who are not coffee addicts. I don't like the smell or the taste of it. Some days I wish I did though - coffee drinkers seem to get so much joy from each sip.

I am a tea drinker. I take it white with a teaspoon of honey. To me, it's like a mug full of springtime.

This afternoon the lovely Anna made me a cup of tea in my sexy* red cup (as she does most days. I love Anna) and then tempted me with a new type of tea - green tea with caramel. Amazing. It was like a tea party for one right there on my desk.

Is that a true tea lover - more than one cup on the go at a time?

Today I am grateful for a simple cup of tea.

* Look closely at the pattern on my cup. The background isn't what you think it is! Thanks to Anna again!!

DAY 88

Today I am grateful for: a dinner guest

I'm not sure what it is about cooking, but I seem to need someone to share my successes, and to commiserate my failures. I think that is why I love cooking for others as it means we all share in the happiness - my happy from the making, and my friends happy in the eating.

Tonight I had a guest for dinner - my knowledgeable mother was here to advise me on my second roasting attempt. A successful rosemary lamb roast was had by all, even Molly who was sitting at the table with us. I know all you non-cat people will be appalled at having a cat on the dinner table, but I am a cat person, and it is okay with me, and I am the boss of this table. I'd also like to point out that if someone other than a family member was dining with us that there would not be a cat on the table. Molly would be on the floor pouting about the injustice of it all.

So today I am grateful for my mother (the dinner guest). It is nice to occasionally have someone other than the TV over dinner, and a reason to dig out my nice 'Maxwell Williams' plates.

DAY 87

Today I am grateful for: rain

Often when it rains a song from my childhood plays in my head…

And ...that’s why I like the rain,

When it pitter patters on my window pane.

It makes the garden grow and the rivers flow,

Makes everything green again.

That’s why I like the rain.

Apparently Don Spencer wrote a little ditty that has stuck with me for 25 years.

So... spring has been delayed a while by some rainy weather. I am going to try and be positive about it - all those drops of water are making the flowers happy and the grass green and our dams full. Hooray!

DAY 86

Today I am grateful for: TCC

Today I am grateful for my church - Toowoomba City Church. A place where I feel at home, learn something, see my friends and try charm their children all in the same place.

DAY 85

Today I am grateful for: overcoming stigma's

(well one of them anyway)

In my early 20's I came to the realisation that I needed to get over my own personal fear of going to the movies alone or I would never actually get to see anything on the big screen. You can only wait so long for things to come out on DVD.

For whatever reason I found myself with a Saturday night empty; no boyfriend, no sister, no friends available and a movie showing that I really wanted to see. I wish I could remember what it was - maybe 'City of Angels' or 'Bad Boys' or something from that era.

I remember sitting in my seat before the movie started, thinking that all those snuggly smug couples around me were judging and snickering at me - I could almost hear their comments: "What loser, that homely looking girl has no friends or boyfriend so she has to see this movie on her own. I am so thankful that I have {insert ruggedly handsome guys's name here} so I never have to be like her". I think I pretended to text someone on my phone to make it look like I was more popular than it seemed. I walked out of that movie feeling somewhat freed. I had survived a solo movie experience.

Since then I often go on my own. Quite often I have the time to see a movie but no friends or family are either available or interested. The thing that I am most grateful for is that I don't care any more. Actually I kind of even prefer it.

Here are my top 5 reasons why going to the movies alone is better:

5 - You don't have to get dressed up. You are invisible to everyone in the theatre anyway.

4 - You can eat whatever you want. No one cares.

3 - You don't have to share the armrest or movie snacks.

2 - You can sneak in to that last remaining seat in the back row rather than sitting in the front.

1 - No one distracts you by making comments during the whole movie .

I know girls who have never been to a movie alone, or would even consider it. They seem to have a string of single friends and boyfriends at their disposal, or an agreeable husband. I guess my overcoming this stigma was born out of necessity.

As a single girl I have done lots of things I never thought I would do - like holidaying alone, owning and using a tool kit (even if it is pink), travelling solo internationally, standing up for myself, signing a mortgage that will take me until I am middle aged to pay back, comforting instead of being comforted, buying my own diamond jewellery, growing up and (sadly enough) becoming a cliche (does 'single female, 30+ with more than one cat' ring any bells?).

So I guess this grateful is about more than just overcoming the movie stigma, it is being grateful for finding the strength to step out of my comfort zone and doing things that frighten me.

I wonder who I might have become if I hadn't done these things? Probably living a life coloured with more grey. I am thankful I will never know.

DAY 84

Today I am grateful for: cupcakes sent from heaven

So I whipped these little packages of deliciousness up last night and, as the cook, had to sample one to make sure they were not hideous. They were not. I have never eaten a cupcake so amazing in my life.

I shall share my secret with you all, so you too can share in this incredible culinary joy.

Today I am grateful for white chocolate & strawberry cupcakes.

White Chocolate & Strawberry Cupcakes

225g butter (softened)

225g castor sugar

225g self-raising flour

1tsp baking powder

4 eggs

1tsp strawberry essence

100g white choc chips

Icing

200g cream cheese (softened)

175g icing sugar

1tsp vanilla essence

3tbs chopped fresh strawberries (optional)

- Preheat oven to 175g

- Combine butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs & strawberry essence and beat in mixer until light and creamy

- Stir in choc chips

- Spoon into 18 muffin cases

- Bake for 20mins

- Cool on rack

- To make icing beat all ingredients together - except strawberries. Add these at the end

- Spread on top of cupcakes before serving

DAY 83

Today I am grateful for: boxing

So back when I was training with Trainer Tim I discovered my love for boxing. There is something incredibly empowering about punching the heck out of my frustrations at the end of the day.

So to bring back the joy I bought a bag and gloves for home. I am very proud to say that I went to BMS today and talked to a helpful man there, came home and hung the jolly thing myself. I'll let you in on a secret - the bag is hanging at the same hight as the top of the table (handy!). I also used my pink tool kit ;)

There is definitely no missing that girls live at my house! I'm grateful for boxing - for an effective way for getting over a bad day!

DAY 82

Today I am grateful for: cooking direction/inspiration

To my mothers chagrin I have actually grown up to be a decent cook. As a teenager she worked desperately hard to get me interested in the kitchen, but being the lazy teenager that I was I wanted nothing to do with anything related to household work.

I can't even remember when I discovered that I actually didn't hate cooking. Maybe it was when I moved out of home in my early 20's and my survival instinct kicked in without mum's cooking around to sustain me.

Nowadays one of my favourite things to do is to sit down with a cookbook and drool over the food held within. Give me a reason to make a dessert and I will whip out these favourite books and recipes, flicking through them all to find the perfect solution to that particular culinary challenge.

Today I am grateful for the instruction and inspiration held within these covers. Without them it might be spaghetti on toast every night in my kitchen.

DAY 81

Today I am grateful for: OPC's

(Other People's Children)

Today I am grateful for the children in my life - other people's children.

I love kids and I want to have my own one day, but God in his infinite wisdom has decided that that day is not now - so the next best thing are other people's children.

I love it that my brother and sister have both given me free reign with their offspring. When I need cuddles, the littlies are there. My friends are the same, although their kiddies are a bit more reserved with Aunty Linda (I think I dazzle them a little too much sometimes!). That is Sienna in the left picture - I don't remember her smiling at me once. She is not amused by my silliness.

There are many good points to being an Aunty to other peoples children:

1 - you are not expected to change nappies

2 - you can give them back when they start crying

3 - you can give them loud mechanical toys for christmas

Today I am grateful that although I am not a mother, that there are still little feet, and little hands, and little smilies in my life.

DAY 80

Today I am grateful for: Summer - it's nearly here

I am a summer girl. My spirit loves a hot day. Today I finally feel that winter in behind me, and summer is coming down the road.

Here are some of the things that I love about summer:

- Driving at night with the windows down and the music up

- Tall glasses of ice water

- Singlet tops and short skirts

- Cicadas singing me to sleep

- Dinner on the BBQ (steak, crispy potatoes, fried egg - yummo!)

- Christmas holidays

- Lazy weekends in the backyard, sitting under a tree with a good book

There is just so much to look forward to in the next 6 months. Summer is my time if year - and it all starts with Spring.

I am grateful that winter is over, that spring is here, and that summer is coming.

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With 20 days left to be grateful I am running out of ideas - so if you can think of anything that I have missed please let me know!

DAY 79

Today I am grateful for: live music

I believe that music is a gift. Musicians share part of themselves every time they pick up their instruments or open their mouths to sing. Music transcends age, race, sex, education. It levels the playing field. Enjoyed by many or few, it is available to all regardless.

I myself have very little musical ability. My mum used to play the piano, and my brother is quite attached to his tin-whistle, but that is all we Moes' have got. Granted I work in the music industry, but regardless of that I think I would still be just as passionate about music if my employment was completely unrelated. That is the beauty of music. It is available

I went to an excellent show in Brisbane last night with 'Boy & Bear'. I would love these guys even if my friend Rowan wasn't their manager. They make outstanding music.

I liken their sound to the feeling you would get at a bonfire on a tropical beach, with the red sun setting over the water, a cool drink in your hand and smell of Jasmine and coconut in the air. That is Boy & Bear to me .

Sometimes music is fun - like Boy & Bear 'Rabbit Song'

Sometimes it can break your heart - like Damien Rice 'Blowers Daughter'

Sometimes is makes you think - like Regina Spektor 'Laughing With'

Sometimes it convicts - like Brooke Fraser 'Albetine'

There is so much music in my life it is hard to separate it out. Maybe another blog for that.

Today I am grateful for live music. For the rare chance I get to experience music in my bones. Feel the drum beating with my heart. To close my eyes and just breathe. To dance like no one is watching.