A HAPPIER POST - OUTSIDE

~~ a very old, happy cocky ~~

~~ and friends ~~

~~ i asked him to smile ~~

GOLD COAST FUN

Last week we spent five days on the Gold Coast
(a little over an hour down the coast from Brisbane in Queensland)
visiting our Son for his Birthday.

On Sunday morning we went for a walk along the beach.
This is the statue on the foreshore of Main Beach.
We arrived at 6:45am, just as the sun was coming up.

My Son, Dane, ahead of me.

My footprint in the sand.

Heading back, rain in the distance.

Shells and coral collected; only one perfect,
I wish I'd had more time!

Back to a triple Birthday party
for Christie, Dane and Joel.

We had a fantastic time, too much of everything,
wonderful company and balmy weather.

As the saying goes,
'Queensland, beautiful one day,
perfect the next.'

THINK OUTSIDE THE SQUARE

Alexander Graham Bell speaking on a prototype telephone 1876

We've come such a long way!

I'm back on line! The internet dropped out last Wednesday afternoon and, after several calls to the phone company and checking that the modem was set up correctly, we then had to wait for the main provider to check our line. We still had telephone (had to disconnect four phones and plug them back in to make sure they weren't at fault) and they said that the modem line was there, waiting to connect.

Well, I know it's been only four days (Sunday morning here), but we've been 'towy'. This morning I looked at the wall socket and thought, "I just might try the righthand side". I pulled the plug out, waited a few seconds, plugged it back in and, 'voila!', we were back on!!!

Does this look familiar?

So now I have some reading to do! I've missed your stories every morning.

ICICLES

~~ this is my morning, 2 below zero ~~

~~ the sun is just beginning to beam through ~~


~~ into the garden today, mowing, raking,

cutting back & a bonfire ~~

BIG GIVE

"For it is in giving that we receive" - St. Francis of Assisi

We've just watched part of Oprah's Big Give about the little boy, Drew, who gave away his 5th Birthday Presents to a needy family. The story was told in church, the Minister asked everyone to go home and find something to give and it snowballed, helping so many people.

Yesterday, we cleared out a shed to make way for yet another ride-on mower, a slasher and a trailer. Things we'd stored ten years ago when we moved here are still in boxes, never looked at. I put them to one side to take over to the barn for a Garage Sale. Today I've decided that it will be a FREE Garage Sale, anything left will go to the Op-Shop.

PICASSO - APTLY NAMED

'Picasso' holding up beautifully

after the severe frost this morning.

I love a splash of red in the house.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED - uum, thanks....

I know, but this is Susan's sunflower and she tagged me! Apologies to Michelangelo - I love you! Who IS this guy?! This is blasphemy!

I thought this was a breeze until I noticed unimportant things that make you happy. Here are my six daggy answers but not necessarily in order!

1. Using my very heavy silver embossed pen - Medium Black, if you don't mind!
2. Watching our vegies grow.
3. Strolling along a quiet beach collecting shells and driftwood.
4. My ride-on mower - love it!
5. Buying interior decorating and gourmet cooking mags.
6. Being let loose on a cosmetic/perfumery floor of a major department store! Like a kid in a lolly shop and a bull in a china shop!

But I won't be tagging anyone - sorry, I broke the rules but I don't know six bloggy people well enough to do it to! I know, I'm a spoilsport......

A DAY OFF

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross