Reading

My Mum once told me that as long as I could read and have books in my life

that I'd never be lonely.

Wise woman, my Mum

How cool is this?????

( from nobody &co)

Reading is an essential daily activity for me - even if it is only

 1 page at night just before I doze off.

I.LOVE.BOOKS

Sorry poor image quality!
The books currently on my bedside table!
Perfect example of the range of things I read:
Bryce Courtney "Four Fires"
Jodi Picoult "Plain Truth"
Monica McKierney "At Home with the Templetons"
123 Magic - Effective Discipline(?!!) for children 2-12
Louise L Hay "You can Heal your Life"
Some random book my Mum thought I'd like ( will make me cry apparently - not hard to do !)
Dawn French "Tiny Bit Marvelous"
Sarah Napthali "Buddhism for Mothers"
Jodi Picoult "Sing You Home"

There isn't any one particular genre that I enjoy - I will give most things a go.

I have surprised myself by liking books that I never thought I would and

subsequently not enjoyed ones that I thought were a must to read.

I am lucky that most of my friends share my passion and we have a great book exchange

come borrowing system happening.

I'm seriously contemplating starting up a Book Club.

( Anyone keen?)

Joseph Addison once said that  "reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body"

Just as well at least my mind gets a good work out -

cause not much else does!

Have a great day

Danni xx

Tolerance....

I have been thinking a bit about tolerance and intolerance lately.

I have witnessed a few situations that caused me to think about it and to wonder why people think/act/react in ways that they do. For the majority there is usually a larger underlying issue, I understand that. What I don't understand is why people believe that THEIR thoughts/beliefs/practices ( or lack thereof) are better than anyone else's? It's the holier than thou attitude that I find hard to accept and understand.

People expect respect for their beliefs but more often than not - the more vocal ones are the ones with the least respect for others.. how does that work? I struggle to understand the logic behind this. My understanding is that respect is a mutual thing - a two way street. Maybe I am too idealistic and naive.

I struggle to understand a lot of things


But this concerns me.


The human races' lack of tolerance and respect for each other saddens and  concerns me .

A lot

I was never a huge fan of Michael Jackson, however I can't get this song out of my head as I think of these things at the moment:  Heal the world

Not much more to say today really - other than I wish there was more tolerance in the world - at all levels - then this world might be healed a little and be an even better place for us all

I'll close my eyes, make a wish, and blow.....

Danni xx 

Easter weekend overview!

Such beautiful weather on Good Friday to play outside

... in the sand and dirt... in a tutu!

Yummo lunch!

 Asparagus, caramelised onion and fetta tart

 and

 Caramelised onion,tomato, basil and Parmesan tart,

accompanied by a green salad

( lettuce, avocado,cucumber, pear and walnuts

with a dressing of honey, lemon juice and hazelnut oil)

Coke for the Big Cheese and his Mum and water for me !

Finn playing hairdressers with his Gran

...they had such a fun day...

I just LOVE this photo

Finn the builder

This weekend also meant more tiles were laid and grouted!

I made some Easter cookies

 

Treats from the Easter Bunny

My little Easter Bunnies!

I made some Easter cupcakes... didn't turn out quite as I planned...

but they tasted OK.

Lunch at my sisters!

Happy Easter everyone... hope yours was as blessed as mine

Danni xx

Easter Hat Parade..

 

Finn had his very first Easter Hat Parade and Concert this week at Preschool!

He took his "Lello" cardboard to make his hat. He practiced his singing and dance moves. He was so very excited that both Nanny and Grandma were coming to watch him. He couldn't wait.

Until we got there! There were tears initially but they subsided long enough to convince him all was ok. Out he came in his group holding onto his very tall lello hat - smiling until he spotted me - then he bolted and cried all the way into my arms. Poor baby - performing doesn't seem to be his thing.


Once the "parade" had finished I managed to convince him to join in the "concert" part by moving and sitting right down the very front... He lasted 2 songs.

 However.........


My darling girl Ruby decided she was going to join in - so up she went - stood next to her brother at first - and moved along to all the dance moves and sang the songs like she'd been practicing for months! It was hilarious - Thank Goodness  Finn's teachers know her and have a good sense of humour! She stole the show!!!

I think Finns face in this last photo says it all really!

Danni xx

A moment captured

I was ironing the other morning and looked over into Finn's room and this is what I saw, just thought I'd share.

Danni xx

Chaos!

Oh my!
Where do I begin? I am living amongst chaos and mayhem at the moment and it's starting to get overwhelming! The "renovations" are coming along - the tiling is looking fab - and is being done in bits and pieces ( to suit our lovely tiler and ourselves) This means that we are moving furniture from one room to the next as it gets it's makeover - with paths that we can walk on mapped out like disjointed xrays
The kids are loving it in one way and making the most of the mayhem to get away with as much as they can. This is what's getting to me. Not only is my home a dust-filled junk pile ( well... not completely - but that's how it feels at the moment!) - but the kids are really pushing my buttons! So much for patience and self control - again - not strengths at the moment....
We have also had visitors galore these past three weeks - I usually love having people here - but if you could see this place - you'd understand... and they all seem to be coming back to back! First the Big Cheese's Mum came for the weekend... the following was his Dad... and 2 days after that his (ex) Step-Mum ( the kids' Grandma) came to stay for 2 nights! The kids just adore their Grandparents and have different relationships with each one. It's interesting to observe there interactions and little private "in-jokes" together...
But I digress....
Well... actually no - see the power of blogging!???!
On the plus side - my tiles look great  and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel - can't wait to share pics of the new look!
I just wish I could see what it is all going to look like finished now!

Danni xx

summary sunday

Different take on it this week - am going to try to find examples of each of the fruits of the spirit and how they were evidenced in our home/family life this week

Good way to help keep them foremost in my mind and to ensure they are present "all the time" not just "sometimes"

LOVE

Well there actually have been many many moments where this fruit has been evident this week. It is one of my favourites!

But my favourite LOVING moment was when I turned to look at the kids in the back of the car and they were just sitting there holding hands! So So sweet!

JOY

Having both of my kids sitting on my lap while tickling them, playing "horsies" and making them laugh til they get the hiccups! What a joy-full time!

PEACE

Not a lot of peace in this house at the moment. There is a lot happening with all the renovations. The house feels a little chaotic and not altogether harmonious. Think this might be something to work on for the week coming.  I did love Wednesday night though - had the kids fed, bathed, read, sung to and asleep by 6.55pm - ( also a moment of JOY!) The Big Cheese was away so I had the house to myself. Peace.

PATIENCE

I witnessed patience in our home this week by someone other than a family member. Our tiler was busy doing his thing - and Finn was consistently asking questions.. "Andy...." "Andy...." and talking non-stop. Andy stopped what he was doing and asked Finn if he'd like to help. So he let Finn "splosh" some glue down and laid a couple of tiles... he  explained what he was doing and why. Made Finn's day.

Made my day.

KINDNESS

When I sat down one afternoon this week to have a well earned cup of tea ( a rare treat sitting down!) I gave a big sigh, rubbed my face and must have looked a little sad. My beautiful baby girl came over to me, kissed my knee and said " No sad Mumma - all better" and gave me THE biggest, sweetest grin.

I thanked her.

She said " You're welcome"

So Kind

GOODNESS

Our family extends itself from time to time - and we have people come to stay that need a little reprieve from their daily grind. This week was one of those times. It felt good to help. The person it helped felt good too.

FAITHFULNESS

Had a bit of a scare this week after the beach with Ruby. We had walked back to the car - and I told the kids to stand on the grass together in front of the car, until I came to put them in the car ( normally not an issue). For some reason, most out of character, Ruby decided to run - straight out onto the road! Oh my! My heart dropped, I screamed.... and ... she tripped over. Over not much at all.

If she hadn't have fallen - she would have gone right under the wheels of a 4WD going the other way...

I thanked the angels for tripping her up and saving my little girl.

GENTLENESS

Watching the kids play with Ralphie ( one of our beloved felines) I witnessed a mutual gentleness that was beautiful. He came and laid with the kids having their breakfast picnic and they both were patting and chatting to him... just like he was one of them. They were so gentle and loving ... and he was too.

SELF CONTROL

Hmmmm another one that could do with more work this week... actually most of the time. I have to say that the best example I can think of refers to myself ( which I feel a bit strange writing about - but then again - it comes back to the beacon thing, doesn't it?)

I held my tongue and didn't react in a way the perhaps in the past I would have, when a family member was staying this week and said some less than favourable things about others. I managed to have enough self control to maintain a civil tongue and not react or respond emotionally - I simply shut the conversation down.

WOW! I have to admit - that wasn't easy at all - but I great way to identify and ponder family life in a different way.

Hope you're week was a fruit-filled one too

Danni xx

Loving....

One of my all time favourite Van Gogh paintings

This wreath idea for Easter!



These lamps! I bought the hot pink one for Ruby's new room as the

theme in hers is "hearts". Finn's is stars.

Will post pics of both rooms once the new carpet is laid and Ruby's room is all set up!

So exciting!

Autumn skies



Our new floor tiles



That although we are in "suburbia" - a five minute drive down the road

takes us to scenery like this

Hope you have plenty in your life that you're loving too at the moment

Danni xx

Wordless Wednesday - A Day at the Beach