3/52

2015 is my year with some weekly gratitude posts.  Keeping it simple might be the way to go for me I think.
 
Grateful that I was able to get this shot in the late afternoon.  Technically it is probably rubbish and the background is fairly ordinary - but I'm pleased with it.  

Mainly because I've never seen these insects before.  Are they bumblebees?  I think so, but unusual here nevertheless.

Short and sweet this time - but more to come soonish I promise!

I have joined with Grow Your Blog organised by the lovely Vicki at Two Bags Full (see button on sidebar).    Looks like fun and a swagful of other bloggers joining in too. A great way to look at other blogs and also an incentive to really get me up and blogging regularly again!  


Cheers for now
Wendy

2/52

2015 is my year with some weekly gratitude posts.  Keeping it simple might be the way to go for me I think.
 
Grateful for even more long awaited rain.  Our place is now looking very tropical and that darn lawn needs to be mown a couple of times a week it seems!

Grateful  too for our humble above ground pool.  When we bought it we thought that if we had it for 5 years or so we would have had our money's worth from it.  However, we've had it now for about 10 years and we seem to be using it more than ever. 

It is certainly a sanity-saver on on these hot days (and nights).  We have a pretty good set up too - it directly faces the back verandah - and our outdoor entertainment area & TV!

Many a night lately we can be found lazing in the pool with a cool drink at hand watching a movie - or lately the cricket or tennis.  It's a hard life! 

cheers for now
Wendy 

1/52

Happy 2015 to one and all!  I'm starting off this new year with some weekly gratitude posts.  Keeping it simple might be the way to go for me I think.

Grateful for some long awaited rain we have been receiving lately. Nice light rain this morning.

Thanks for those who are staying around to read my little blog.  I'm definitely a sporadic blogger, but I'm in it now for the long haul I think.

cheers for now
Wendy

Time to put down the clippers

I love to prune.  I love this time of year when pruning is fun and it shows rewards quickly.  I pruned back our wisteria vine - hard - about two weeks ago.  It has sprung back beautifully and the flowers are going to be lovely.

The veggie garden is powering on.  Some lovely carrots which has been a nice change from the weird ones we produced several seasons ago (planet-carrot).  Just proves a bit of effort and TLC does work!

This is different wisteria vine, growing on one of the sheds and just coming into flower too.  It is a native wisteria which can be seen in another post (here) with photos taken later in September.  It is a nice vine to have, because although it has rambling growth, it does not lose leaves and creates a nice shady vine in summer.

Some nice jonquils have popped up.  Such a nice surprise when they do.  We planted some bulbs purchased on a visit to Armidale NSW.  As is it so much hotter here we weren't sure if they would take or not - but they they have just been getting better and better.  Not much scent at all last spring, but quite scented this time round.

However, enough garden talk.  Time to put down the clippers for a while.  Hubby & I are off on another grand adventure.  This time a fly/drive trip to South Australia.  Neither of us have been there before so it will all be new to us.  We have a few ideas of things to do, and a rental car waiting for us at airport, but no real plans.  This seems to work best for us, unplanned and spontaneous.

Transitioning to retirement is such a great phrase isn't it?  I sure my husband rolls that idea around in his head at least a few times a day, lately anyway. He has taken some long service leave, so we don't have a fixed return date, nor any return travel plans, but will be away at least 3 weeks.  I have to add that I am so much younger than him! 

A running joke in our household is that I used to tell our son when he was young my age minus about 10 years.... which was fine until he could do the maths.  Then in one conversation he overhead me saying that I was 5 years younger than my husband.  He piped up with 'well if you are 5 years younger, why is he 10 years older than you?? Oh well it worked for a while.....

Personally I am transitioning to being an empty nester.  Our son will be house and pet minding while we are away.  Although we will be in touch via phone/text (probably more then he would like) I'm finding it easier to think about him leaving home sometime in the near future - if we leave home first. Reverse psychology at play?

cheers for now
Wendy

Today I .......

....continued with my healthy eating program.  I've been reading the I Quit Sugar website and trying to go along with a sugar free September.  Whilst I don't necessarily eat a lot of sugar, it is a real wakeup call to see how much sugar is in just about everything.  Well, most processed goods and (gasp) alcohol.  So I am reading labels and trying to follow the Just Eat Real Food (JERF) strategy.

Big breakfast / lunch of rye toast, some cottage cheese, home grown greens (parsley, baby spinach) with home grown tomatoes and eggs.

Prior to this feast, I had acquainted myself with my new best friend (who am I kidding?).  A kettleball purchased recently (Aldi $8).  I have to say I am surprised how much I am enjoying exercising and following some beginner kettleball exercises found online.  I think 4kg is possibly the lightest kettleball ever made but it still gets heavy after 5 minutes or so.  I remind myself that my son weighed over 4kg as a newborn and I certainly did my share of lifts, squats, bicep curls etc. back then - so this should be a piece of cake.

All part of my new found Spring enthusiasm.  I am alternating this with increasing my daily walk just that little bit further each day.  I'm up to about an hour at the moment.  You see, we are off on another holiday soon which will involve a lot of walking.  Not organised walking, but tourist walking and bush walks.  I think I will to be a bit fitter - our holidays certainly seem to involve a lot of eating!  As long as it's healthy right!?

cheers for now
Wendy