Thursday 28 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 59.




Finally, it's been raining!

The last time I mentioned rain here, I must have jinxed it, as it stopped pretty much straight after that post and hasn't rained since!

Well this time I didn't tempt fate, and now it has been raining on and off for the last couple of days.

We've needed it so desperately.

The earth was bone dry!

 There was also so many days in succession over 30 degrees Celsius, which is apparently some kind of record here in Melbourne for February.

So today, I'm really, really grateful for the soaking rain over the last couple of days.

So is my garden!






Tracey ♥









Wednesday 27 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 58.



Today was the first day at home I've had in ages.

I had to drop the boys at school, but then I was able to come straight home instead of having errands to run, like I seem to do every other day.

I was told that after my youngest started school, I wouldn't know what to do with all my time.

What a load of rot!!

I've barely stopped since!

And I've felt like I haven't had time to scratch the surface, when it comes to the state of this house.

So today, I'm grateful to have a day at home to really get stuck in, and I'm loving the result.







Tracey ♥










Tuesday 26 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 57.




Every night, when he goes to bed, my eldest likes me to sit with him so we can talk about our day.

And I have to admit, a lot of the time it drives me crazy!

Not because I don't love him to bits, of course, but just because by that time of night I'm normally exhausted and pretty much at the end of my rope.

But today I got thinking about how quickly my boys are growing, and that before too long, he probably won't want me sitting on his bed and chatting to him.

So today I'm grateful for the time I spent sitting with my son and sharing the events of the day.







Tracey ♥













Monday 25 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 56.




I'm an avid reader.

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, is what I'm reading at the moment, and I'm loving it.

There's nothing better than escaping with a good book!

It doesn't matter how low I'm feeling, reading always makes me feel better.

And with so many amazing authors out there, we are spoilt for choice!

So today I'm grateful for all the amazing authors that write the books I love to read.







Tracey ♥









Sunday 24 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 55.




This morning I woke up with a headache, which is never a good start to the day.

Luckily, with the aid of a couple of Herron's and a glass of water, it didn't take long to start to go away.

My lovely hubby brought me a cup of tea in bed and I stayed there and read to my hearts content, while the rest of the family were quietly out in the living room!

I hardly ever get the chance to do that!

Absolute bliss.

So today I'm grateful for a lazy morning, with a read and a cuppa in bed.







Tracey ♥













Saturday 23 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 54.




I mentioned last week that it was my niece's birthday.

Well today was her birthday party with her friends, and my sister asked me to help out.

She had a 'pamper' party, so my sister and I were massaging the faces, hands and feet of nine girls, as well as making lip gloss and ice cream sundaes.

The girls had a ball!

So today I'm grateful for the opportunity to make my nieces birthday party a special one!






Tracey ♥











Friday 22 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 53.




How's this for an angry sky?

Last night in Melbourne, there were some massive storms in some areas.

At our place we had lots of thunder and lightening, and this sky.

This is with no filters or editing once again.

So today I'm grateful for this amazing sky I managed to capture last night.






Tracey ♥









Thursday 21 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 52.




This is my youngest son with our foster dog, Saffron.

She loves to play with the boys and they have just as much fun playing with her.

Our dog Alaska is getting a bit old now, so he doesn't really play any more, except for on the odd occasion.

So my boys are loving having a dog around, that plays constantly!

Today they were playing going through the tunnel, and stopping for a cuddle and a pat in the middle.

There was lots of laughing from Master 5, that's for sure!

So today I'm grateful for the joy playing with a pet brings our family.






Tracey ♥










Wednesday 20 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 51.




Some days really take it out of you.

For some reason, today was one of those days.

It wasn't one thing in particular, but lots of little things.

And by evening I'm afraid I had just had enough.

So tonight I am incredibly grateful for bedtime!

Both theirs and mine! :)






Tracey ♥









Tuesday 19 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 50.



Yesterday it was absolutely sweltering here in Melbourne.

I think it reached 36 degrees C in the city, and most likely warmer in the suburbs.

So today, to have a temperature like it says above, was such a relief!

Aaah!

I actually feel like I can breathe again!

So today I'm grateful for a much cooler temperature.






Tracey ♥










Monday 18 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 49.




It's not very often that you get snail mail any more.

Well I don't anyway!

Except for bills, of course.

So it was a huge surprise today, to go to the letterbox, and find this gorgeous card addressed to little old me!

It is from a lovely blogging buddy of mine over at My Journey: Am I There Yet?

It's all about paying it forward, which you can read about here.

And it will shortly be my turn to continue it!

But that's a post for another time. 

So today I'm grateful for this lovely card, and paying it forward.






Tracey ♥

















Sunday 17 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 48.




Yesterday I was given the most beautiful gift from my sister in law.

Just because!

I adore dragonflies, and she was out one day and saw it, and immediately thought of me.

I have been admiring it all day, and trying to decide on the perfect spot for it.

So today I am grateful for this gorgeous gift, and the beautiful person who gave it to me.






Tracey ♥









Saturday 16 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 47.



This gorgeous girl is my niece.

Today the family all got together to celebrate her tenth birthday.

I can't quite believe she's ten! 

I remember the day she was born. I couldn't wait to finish to work so I could go and see her, and I bought the biggest, most beautiful teddy bear I could find, to take in with me.

I'm so proud of the gorgeous girl she has become.

So today I am grateful for my beautiful niece.






Tracey ♥










Friday 15 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 46.




I'm very excited!

Today my new aviary was delivered!

Last year I was lucky enough to be given a government grant to build a new, larger wildlife enclosure and today it arrived.

It might be a few days at least until it's up, but that doesn't matter.

It's here!

So today I'm grateful for the arrival of my brand new enclosure.





Tracey ♥









Thursday 14 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 45.



This morning we had a sun shower!

It was raining, which we have had so little of, and the sun was shining through the clouds at the same time.

Not for long, as we were in the middle of a thunderstorm.

But just long enough for me to run outside and capture it.

So today I am grateful for the gorgeous sun shower!






Tracey ♥











Wednesday 13 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 44.



Last night we had the most amazing sunset.

We never used to be able to see sunsets from our place, as our property was lined with really tall trees.

But since we had the big chopfest, I can now see an area of sky that we previously couldn't.

I was walking into the kitchen when the colour of the sky caught my eye, and I ran to get my camera before it was gone.

I managed to get a few quick shots in, but it disappeared so quickly.

Isn't the colour incredible?

This is with absolutely no filters or editing. Just al natural!

So today I'm incredibly grateful for the beautiful sunset we had last night.

Here's hoping for another one!





Tracey ♥













Tuesday 12 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 43.



We are lucky enough to live in an area where we can get beautiful, fresh ingredients the majority of the time.

Tonight I decided to make a lovely, healthy fritata, with fresh mushrooms, basil, silverbeet, tomato, garlic and leek.

Of course the boys wouldn't have a bar of it, but hubby and I enjoyed it!

Most of the items are locally sourced, but where not local, definitely all Australian.

We really are so lucky here.

So today I'm grateful for wonderful fresh ingredients.





Tracey ♥









What A Night! {A Short Story}



Darkness surrounds me.

Everywhere I turn, shapes loom out of the eeriness, as if reaching to grab me.

My lungs scream for oxygen, but I can't stop.

Tree branches cut and scratch my skin as I stumble through the underbrush, but I hardly feel it.

I am too focused on willing my exhausted legs to keep going.


He was close.

Too close.



Fear consumes me, and radiates out of every pore.

This is my only chance.

If he catches me, he'll kill me.

I have no doubt.



I push on, not knowing how much further my legs can carry me.

I catch a glimpse of the sky between the trees, and the moon is out.

I have no idea of what time it is.

It would probably be quite a nice evening was I not running for my life.



My toe finds the edge of a rock, and I land on my hands and knees.

Hard.

Stifling the scream that almost bursts from my lips, I try to ignore the pain.

My right knee starts to throb, but I force myself to my feet.

I struggle to carry my own weight, and I can hear him crashing through the bush behind me.

I have to stop.

I have to hide.

I have no choice.



I duck to the left and crouch in the gloom, behind a bush.

It is so dark, and I can only hope that if I can't see, chances are he can't either.

Making a conscious effort to quiet my breathing, I silently pray to whoever is listening to please help me.



I hear him before I see him.

He is breathing heavily, and I can only just make out the outline of him, turning this way and that.

I stay as still as humanly possible, but the adrenaline coursing through my system starts my whole body shaking.

It feels like my teeth are rattling around in my mouth, and it sounds so loud inside my head.



Closing my eyes, I tell myself to focus.

I breathe in slowly through my nose, and as I start to breathe out a noise in front of me startles me.



I open my eyes just as his hand reaches for my throat.

My scream catches as the hand clenching my neck starts to squeeze.

I feel his fingers begin to crush my windpipe and as I start to pass out I hear the blood pulsing in my ears....




I wake to the sound of my alarm pulsing in my ears.

Bathed in sweat, I glance at the familiar surroundings and breathe a sigh of relief.

What a night!









Tracey ♥






Linking in with Jess from Essentially Jess for IBOT.











Monday 11 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 42.



This is my spunky little man, with his best friend in the background.

Today, this best friend had the most horrible fall, right in front of his mum and I in the school ground after school.

He hit his face so hard on the bench we were sitting on, that I actually screamed!

He was raced to hospital but I've just heard from his mum and he is going to be fine, thank goodness.

So today, I'm incredibly grateful that this gorgeous little man is going to be okay.





Tracey ♥










Sunday 10 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 41




As I said yesterday, my hubby was away for the weekend, which left the boys and I to our own devices.

Tonight he got home just as the boys were getting ready to go to bed.

As you can see, they were very happy to see him.

Even our foster dog Saffy got in on the act, wanting to be a part of the group hug!

How cute!

So today I'm grateful for my hubby being home safe and sound.






Tracey ♥









Saturday 9 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 40.



My hubby is away for the weekend, so the boys and I are spending some quality time together.

Tonight we are having a movie night and are all snuggled up on the couch together.

Obviously I make a great footrest!

So today I'm grateful for some quality time with my boys.






Tracey ♥












Friday 8 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 39.




We love our local library.

You can basically put anything you want on hold, and soon it will be there waiting for you.

Whether it's books, DVD's, magazines or CD's, they have something for everyone!

I could spend hours there, just wandering and looking at all the varieties of books on the shelves. 

Actually I do, when the boys aren't with me!

So today I'm grateful for our local library, and for all the future reading it holds in store.







Tracey ♥











Thursday 7 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 38.




Today is the 4th anniversary of Black Saturday, so I am wearing this yellow ribbon.

I won't go into it, as it is really emotional for me, but I wrote a post about it (here) if you're interested in reading about it.

Today I am just so incredibly grateful that my son and my parents are still here with me.

I will be forever grateful for that.





Tracey ♥












Wednesday 6 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 37.




At the moment, I go for my walk in the morning before the sun comes up.

In fact it's still dark when I head out, and to be honest I don't know how much longer I can keep it up!

Anyhoo, after I got back this morning, the sun came up and put a beautiful red glow over my gum tree out the back.

Unfortunately the photo just doesn't do it justice.

So today I'm grateful for the gorgeous red glow the sunrise provided.





Tracey ♥










Tuesday 5 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 36.




Today I was outside trying to get some good photos of my foster dog Saffy (which is almost impossible as she doesn't sit still long enough!), and I noticed the woodpile over by the fence.

It looked so interesting, with all the different colours and textures, that I had to come back up with my camera.

Funny that I haven't noticed it before, as the logs have been sitting there since November, when we cut down some very annoying conifers.

So today I'm grateful for the wonderful colours and textures in our pile of wood!







Tracey ♥










The Acts Of Kindness Jar.




Just after Christmas, I posted on my Facebook page about a 'Happiness Jar.' 

The idea is that you write good things that happen down on pieces of paper, pop them in the jar, and then on New Years Eve you get them all out and read about what great things happened during the year.

I am doing that, and although there isn't a great amount of pieces of paper in there yet, I can see that there will be by the end of the year.


The other day I was going through Pinterest and I found the photo above with another great idea.

The 'Acts Of Kindness Jar'.

The idea for this one, is that when a child is unfriendly, they have to go and pick a kindness act to perform for the person they were unfriendly to.

I think this is perfect for us.

With my eldest son's autism, he gets so angry and frustrated at times, that he doesn't quite know how to deal with that anger and frustration in an unharmful way.

It is never outside the home, as he just doesn't have the confidence and is normally fairly withdrawn and quiet. It only ever happens at home where he feels the most comfortable and it is always directed at his younger brother.

It doesn't matter that I have told him a million times it is very important he keeps his hands to himself and uses his words instead.

When he gets to the point of being very angry, he loses the ability to think rationally and remember instructions.

In a sense he briefly loses control, but then instantly regrets it as soon as the moment is over, as he knows what he did was wrong.

So as a result, my youngest is always the receiver of kicks, pushes, pinches or slaps!

I have been trying to figure out what to do about it, as my telling him off and putting him in time out just isn't working.

Neither is yelling and showing my anger and my frustration.

And it makes me feel bad, because he really can't help it.

So I have been thinking of a better way to handle it, and I think this could be it!

By making him choose a good deed out of the jar, it is removing him from the situation to help him calm down.

It also means that while I'm not exactly disciplining him for something that is out of his control, I am still helping him to make amends, and show kindness instead of the alternative.

Some examples of good deeds could be letting his little brother play with one of his toys, or taking his brother's dirty dishes across to the sink after dinner.


I guess all I can do is give it a try, and see what happens.



What do you think?

Would you consider putting something like this in place in your home?

I would love to hear some of your good deed ideas! Please?







Tracey ♥




Linking in with Jess and the others for IBOT.











Monday 4 February 2013

365 Days Of Grateful - Day 35.



Remember, on Day 33, how I had to race my new foster dog to the vet?

Well this is her!

Her name is Saffron. 

She is an Australian Kelpie, and as you can see, she is doing so much better!

Turns out she arrived with a massive bladder infection that hadn't been treated, and the bacteria had overtaken her system.

Two days of antibiotics later, she looks great!

So bright, and back to her happy, energetic self.

So today I am grateful that beautiful Saffy is feeling better.






Tracey ♥










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