Smile and experience the happy moments

Tuesday- 10th October

- 1st Happy moment today was sharing breakfast time 🍴with my hubby
- 2nd Happy moment was seeing the 🌞 break through after 4 days ☔. I was going to accompany/escort a class of young children in our National Park. Theme 'Autumn'.
- After a splendid morning I managed to complete 3 blogs - I had run out of time in the weekend.
- Tried a new recipe 🍲 today. It was worth the effort. 👍

# Best happy moment was seeing a video clip of my 4 year old grandson on his skateboard - like a pro! 😍😍😍😍😍


Not bad all those happy moments. Then things got a bit more blurry. I'd not been feeling that bright and perky for a couple of days. Now the 'not so perky' dropped to feeling lousy. It was almost like I'd tempted fate by saying there were so many happy things to be grateful for that I was going to have to work harder to experience them. So even in the extreme down times there were things to be happy about. I was in a warm environment. I didn't have to do school runs or kindy pick ups. The cupboards were stocked, the washing was done. I could actually feel lousy and have a clean house and filled pantry. The most important thing was- I had no appointments to cancel or rearrange - which can cause hassles and delays at the best of times.

My lower back played up too - and I had the fortune of having the bathroom to myself for long hot showers which eased the tense muscles. Hubby, his brother and a friend had taken themselves off for a few days R & R. Kitchen duties were dispensed with till further notice or should the urge to cook arise. I was inundated with happy moments. Because I was alone there was no-one to moan to! So no, I didn't become a grump. Yippee!

The sun shone, the outside temperatures were lovely despite us already being well into Autumn. Laying on the couch on the balcony, cup of tea at my elbow, pillow in my back, iPad om my lap and music gentle filling the air through our outdoor speakers. How awesome - being quite unwell and being comfortable at the same time. I also slept many a daylight hour and it didn't interfere with anyone's plans or wishes.


Keeping track of happy moments is in fact quite revealing. What constitutes a happy moment? I guess it's having that peace of mind and insight that any given situation has benefits - and if you allow them to be larger than life, the negatives go unnoticed or at best disappear.

My week of 'happy spotting' has also made me aware at how little I took notice of them before. Not that I ignored them. But I didn't celebrate them like I ought. Being aware of this and also knowing that one's view of the world at large becomes clearer and prettier when the attention goes to the happy moments, I'm working on it to stay alert and more appreciative of the little things in life. Being happy is a state of mind!

A wee flash back

I make a point of writing a last blog before year's end- but when you read what I have been up to in my kitchen you will understand why I was stuck for time.

But first- how was your Christmas? Did you eat in, out, have guests, a quiet dinner for two or did the day pass by without any specific upheaval?

Christmas is not the same for everyone, I realise that. For me it is being with family and if that isn't possible, then with the closest friends you want to surround yourself with. Providing of course they want to spend that time with you ( wink wink).

Listening to and looking at the various weather reports, not many countries had, what one might call, the traditional weather pattern expected at the time of year. We certainly didn't.

Funnily enough it was too warm- and not into temperatures as in Australia where one of my sons lives but, we generally have something close to a white Christmas- at least nothing much above 5 degrees. We had 14. And that feels weird.

Our guests were dear friends who otherwise would have spent Christmas within their own homes- not a bad thing, but gathered together we had a great time. Nine of us graced our table and I have to say,  " worth repeating!"

Seeing we knew each other pretty well, I was also aware of likes and dislikes. I stayed clear of fish dishes and had plenty of vegetable choices and in various forms prepared. I had a silky parsnip puree, jellied beetroot and carrot juice, shoe string sweet potato fries and an absolutely yum vegetable terrine. These accompaniments to go with the 5 and 1/2 kg turkey. The cranberry compote had a lovely tawny port added which lifted it to another dimension. Sooo delicious.

I prepared a 6 course meal.... with much love and dedication and I have to say " a proud moment" when the reactions and compliments were freely dancing around the room.

Our guests arrived approx 4 pm and we closed the door after the last guest left at 11:30pm. Guess you could say that we had a great evening.

Christmas, a time of sharing, of merriment and a taste of the holiday spirit. For me, I think of families in a special way. It is a birthday we are commemorating. In this time of refugees and unrest, I think about Mary and her being far away from home, being a 'displaced person' as many mothers now also are. But it is also a time of joy. New life, a promise of things to come.

Last year we moved into our new home on Christmas Eve and believe me, I had NO intention ( or energy) to have a Christmas dinner here. This year I reclaimed the festivities and made them my own once again. Wonderful.

Another few days and the tree and all the trimmings will disappear into storage once again and I can look back on a great festive season. I hope you can too!