9 Moons Ago

Since my focus for the night was working on a quilt square, I’ll let the pics do most of the talking now!

This entry is based on my Gratitude Journal, which I started back in 1999. I don’t always consistently keep up with it, but, when I do it every night, it makes me a much happier person. I don’t question how or why.. I just do it; I’m happier. Couldn’t get any simpler.
The journal is lined and I chose it for the cover, a favourite painting by a favourite artist: ‘Almond Blossoms’ by Van Gogh.
Each night at bedtime, I list five things which I am grateful for..big or little, sometimes repeated from previous nights; anything for which I’m thankful.
I started it when reading Sarah Ban Breathnacht’s ‘Simple Abundance’, as it was suggested in the book..
So tonight, I’ll make mine public:

Take care, you monkeys!!
Much love,
“Cap’t Bionicals” (Tonight’s moniker graciously provided by you-know-who)

must watch TV: Arrested Development. Too Funny!!

must watch movie: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. GO SEE IT!! You WILL love it!

Asking for prayers and/or positive energy for a friend here in Australia. Her boyfriend was on a diving trip in Thailand and is among the missing people who were victims of the earthquake and tsunami in that region. There’s been encouraging word-of-mouth about his group, but there has been no contact with him, nor specific information about him yet.

Cam and I spent a good portion of today in bed, talking and cuddling, and talking to friends and family on the phone.

I’ll post a few beautiful pictures from the past couple of days. We are dog-sitting Goldie till New Year’s Eve while his family is in Vietnam. So when we went to see our nieces, Ebony, Brooke, and Madison yesterday, Goldie got a whole lotta extra love. As Cameron said, “He has the patience of Job!”
Gus was in the house some of the time, but as he’s older (going on 13!!) and wiser to the chaos factor, he preferred the calm and beauty of the backyard most of the time.
Goldie loved the attention, yet was ready to go home and sleep soundly after all the excitement of the day!:

Madison meets Goldie.

Brooke and Madison opening gifts.

Ebony ..being ..good.

Cam and Eb with her gift from my family. His name evolved from “Tubby” to “Pepi” to “Pepsi” in under 2 minutes.

Eb, Pepsi, Cam, and Britney.

Goldie and his loyal fans.

About his 60th hug that day.

UPDATE: 29-12-04
Good news!! Marco has been found, alive and well..and unaware of the whole thing, till he came up from diving and someone handed him a phone! Luckily, his group had been in a pocket of calm. There were so many other divers that were not so lucky. We’re all thankful and very relieved!

Tonight’s entry is a special nod to all my family and friends overseas!! I love you all heaps and will see you soon!

Cameron and I are so fortunate to have all these gifts around us here in Australia this Christmas Eve of 2004! Going picture-crazy tonight..it’s quicker than drawing it all, especially in one night! And this particular night!

This is the Christmas Eve sky over the garden and our rooftop (A.K.A. Where Santa and the reindeer will be landing with a “click click click” and possibly a horrendous clatter, since ringtailed possums happen to sound just like elephants!):

Gifts from my family in the States, including a gorgeous brooch which I’ll be wearing Christmas Day, and some fun & cheery “Christmas Stockings!” Whee!:

And our real stockings, gifts from Uncle Tim and Aunt Marie a few years ago, hung on the fireplace mantle. (With care!) We are lucky enough to live in a house, where, even in summer, we can have a very wintery feeling if it’s a chilly night!:

Our pretty little tree, which was 100% free, since there is a huge pine lot on the property. (Coincidentally, most of them were planted about 50 years ago, intended for sale as Christmas trees, but now are all skinny and amazingly tall, like giant matchsticks!):

Almost all of our Christmas ornaments are gifts from family and friends over the years. (You know who you are and what these gifts mean to us!!) How wonderful!:

And the picture just wouldn’t be complete without the gift of our beautiful pups! After his family had gone to bed tonight, Goldie sauntered into the house and we doubled over with laughter at his Dickensian appearance. I took one look at the beautiful caramel-colored bow around his collar, grabbed Gus, plunked a green ribbon on him and bribed them both, with salami, to sit still in front of the tree for a minute or two. We were all very pleased with the results. ‘Twould’ve made a great family card…maybe we’ll use it next year? But it looks like there just won’t be any Danish Salami for Santa by the tree this Christmas Eve! Oh well!:

(Cameron has solved the problem, and has given me the go-ahead for pictures and drawings again!! YAY! Thanks, Babe!)

It’s amazing what you can find when you are renting on a 38 acre property!!! Just happened upon this the other day:

It could’ve been made anytime, and there are several ppl we know who could’ve created it, but I just love that it’s a mystery and I found it by accident! I felt such a sense of awe and wonder and delight.
Here’s to discovering your own objects of mystery and wonder!
What have you SEEN today?

HE’S BACK:
In other news, Goldie bounded into the house the other day at 11am and jumped on Cam who was still asleep.

Oh, it’s been a busy couple of days for these two, what with all the exploring in the pines, the chasing of rabbits, barking at horses, splashing in water, and the backyard squeaky toy heaven!: