Happiness is....

A flowering African violet in winter...

Change

I haven't blogged for a while.

A lot in going on in my life at the moment.

I like to think of it as all being good, even though that's not the way it feels a lot of the time.

My crafts keep me busy.  Sometimes I think I have too many projects going on at the one time.  This has got me thinking that I need to cull some activities. 

Personal change is a big thing in my life and mostly I find it to be a huge challenge. 

When I don't handle change well I respond with illness.

So over the past couple of weeks I've been plagued with hip and back problems which I have resolved with meditation and yoga, only to now end up with a chest cold.

I know it's my bodies way of speaking to me.  I just have to learn to listen to it.  

So, even though I'm working hard at various areas in my life, I've come to realise, over the past couple of days, that this is the season when our bodies and minds need to rest and recharge themselves as the winter draws in.  I am especially feeling the cold this winter.  I'm not sure if this is because the weather is actually colder than last year's or because I'm feeling it more.  But many people have commented to me that it seems colder this year.

The most exciting thing about the changes in my life at the moment is that I am now making meditation a daily part of my life.  My back has been problematic for over thirty years so yoga will also become a daily event for me.  My third change is to include daily affirmations into my routine.

Here is an affirmation for you:

  Love is everywhere. 

 I am loving and lovable. 

 (Louise L Hay).

I know; sounds very psychedelic but there is a saying that goes something like:  how can you love others if you don't love yourself first.

So my body is forcing me to take note of the season, to recognise the winter solstice that is upon us, to withdraw, to be calm, to rest and to renew.

I hope to be able to be more active in blogger world soon.

My Mother's Garden

I've been spending a bit of time with my Mum this week. 

The resumption of her home by the State is still looming and I know how frustrating it must be for her to go through the process which is now into its second year.

The garden has become run down but there are little surprises everywhere that are reminders of what once was.

It was a dewy morning on Tuesday, as reflected by this lone dandelion.

This spiky cactus is decades old.

And sits on a decaying window sill along with its companions.

My Mum has lived in this home continually since 1960. 

It will soon be time to say our good-byes.

V is for Vivid

Sydney is presently celebrating a Light Festival.

Along with Miss Five, my daughter and I went along on Friday night, which also happened to be the last day of Autumn.  (Yes, here in Australia, the start of each season is set my the authorities, not the solstice - specifically the army which set the first of the month the day to change over the solders from summer uniforms to winter uniforms.  Myth or fact?  Not sure).

It was an exceptionally warm night for the time of year - which was nice.  It turns out that it was the warmest end to autumn in Sydney for 63 years.