Thanks for visiting my playground for words and images. I hope you find something of interest.



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Six Word Saturday - December 24th, 2011


Cucumbers! Just in time for Christmas. 

A couple of months ago I bought a punnet of four apple cucumber seedlings. Three didn't survive due to the abundance of snails around the garden this year. The fourth plant was almost eaten. The snails had a good munch of the stalk but it managed to hold one. I have eaten a couple of cucumbers already. They were very tasty, just a little bitter. Today these four were ready to pick. Yum! 



and a bonus six words from me for today: 

Sending Merry Christmas wishes to you! 

I hope you have a good day tomorrow however you spend it. 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Six Word Saturday - December 17th, 2011


I am going to walk more. 

I'm getting in a little early with a new year's resolution. Actually I'm not much of a resolution maker, preferring instead to set a theme for my year. Recently, I have been doing a bit of thinking about next year's possible theme. More of that, though, in a later post. When thinking of what my six words would be today I was thinking something like, 'I plan to do more walking' but then thought more definite would be better. It's not hard really and doesn't have to involve huge changes. Even a short walk around the block or parking the car a bit further away at the shops. I have been motivated this week to also include longer walks into my life. 

On Tuesday morning a friend asked if I would like to walk to the beach where her daughter was doing aquatics. I offered a lift but she said she felt like a big walk. Well, I was a bit reluctant. It really was a big walk. We did it and I was TIRED afterwards. I felt quite unfit, as well as rather uncoordinated when part of the 'walk' involved me on hands and knees climbing over rocks. My friend walked over the same rocks with a dog, her bag and my bag too. Despite being very tired (and sore the next day) I felt quite good and motivated to include more walking in my life. Plus, I live a good walking distance from the beach. It takes around half an hour to get there. I can combine walking with taking photos and maybe even some writing. I have a favourite place to write near the sea. 

Here is one of the many great views during our walk on Tuesday. Another great reason to walk more! 


Friday, December 16, 2011

Deja Vu - Courage


While strolling around the internet a short while ago, I came across this great idea. A blogfest where people repost a post from the past. Click on the badge for more information. I decided to have a look at some of my early posts and came across this one on courage. It's a good time now for some courage I think so I decided to participate and repost this one which I originally posted on July 28th, 2010. As relevant now as it was then! It's late now and I'm rather tired. I look forward to visiting other Deja Vu posts tomorrow!

Courage


With some rather big changes happening in my life at the moment I have decided to gift myself some courage.


The courage to really live.


The courage to be myself.


The courage to enjoy life.


The courage to slow down.


The courage to speak my mind.


The courage to be seen.


The courage to let others know me.


The courage to worry less.


The courage to hope.


I wrote these words as part of a writing exercise at a group I attended in April, 2006. 
In May 2009 at a different group I decorated the handbag. These words seem particularly useful for me to remember at the moment. I recognise the huge amounts of courage I have required and used in the past and can continue to draw upon as I undertake new challenges.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 11th, 2011


Shadow Shot Sunday is hosted by Tracy at Hey Harriet. Head over to her blog to see many more great shadow shots.

I was a bit sad to read this morning that next Sunday will be the last Shadow Shot Sunday, as hosted by Tracy. I am very grateful for Tracy's hosting of the weekly meme. She has done a great job since 2008. I am very glad to have discovered Shadow Shot Sunday and have certainly enjoyed taking part over the last few months. I hope someone else takes it over but regardless I think I will continue posting shadow shots on Sundays. I don't feel ready to stop just yet!

Today I have some washing line shadows - 

 

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Six Word Saturday - December 10th, 2011


Reading instructions can be quite useful! 

I was reminded of this earlier today. It was the last meeting of our poetry group and I decided to make some little banana caramel pies to take along. Everything started off going to plan. I can't buy the small pastry cases I used to buy but have discovered some frozen ones which I have used successfully once before. I bought them along with the banana, caramel filling and cream. I've made them before so when I got home I quickly got to work filling the cases with small pieces of banana and the caramel filling and topping them with whipped cream. They looked great and nine fitted nicely in the container I was taking so I decided to keep three of them. I ate one straight away. It seemed a bit strange that the pastry wasn't coming out of the case easily. I remembered them coming out easily before. It didn't taste quite right either. I started to wonder if I was supposed to cook the cases before filling them. I dug the packaging out of the bin. Yes, that was the part I had forgotten about. They were supposed to go in the oven for 10 minutes. By then I was running out of time but was still determined to take them along. I scooped the filling out of each one and put them in the oven. After they cooled for a while - not nearly long enough - I put the filling and cream back in each one. The cream melted a bit as the cases were still warm. By the time I got to the group, just in time, they didn't look anywhere near as nice as they had originally but by all reports they were very delicious! 

the cases after 10 minutes in the oven

filling and cream waiting for the cases to cook!

The lesson in this for me today - 

Even when you are confident in what you are doing, a quick skim over the instructions can't hurt and may help!



Monday, December 5, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 4th, 2011


Shadow Shot Sunday is hosted by Hey Harriet. Head over to her blog to see many more great shadow shots.

Each Sunday I take a photo (or two or three or maybe more) from around my yard. So far I have been able to find plenty. I may resort to inside shadows at some stage in the future. 

Here's my shots from today -