Beside my bed

I was given some lovely, freshly picked flowers at the weekend....

So put them on my bedside cabinet

The perfume was absolutely fabulous

Truly gorgeous!

A New Year - a new start

Happy New Year. I hope it brings you everything you wish for

We spent our New Year's Eve here, where MONT and three mates have been working on their house for the past, oh, it seems like forever.

It's at Bonnie Doon and this is the view from the front of the property. The last time I was here, there was no water and cows were grazing on the lake bed and you could see cars going across it

It was just us...and the dogs...

MONT cooked us dinner and we had a couple of glasses of champers, as you do.

It was hot and because there's only a generator for power, we had no fans or air con through the night. Just too noisy to run it while you're trying to sleep...there was a nice breeze coming through the open door though and it did cool down a little. It was glorious watching the sun come up welcoming not only a new day but a New Year!.

I feel extremely lucky

This is the view from our bedroom....gorgeous!

Thank you for all your support and kindness over the past 12 months...it really has been appreciated!

I think there are a lot of us who are glad to see the back of 2011 and are hoping 2012 is a little kinder and gentler. Let's hope that's the case.

Happy New Year everyone... make it a safe one!!

Blogging Your Way

I was reading A-M's blog,  as I do each day, about when you blog and what you blog about. ...whether you prepare blog posts en masse to post through the week, or just write what pops into your head whenever you think of something.

I've loved  The House that A-M Built  for a long time now, even after said house was completed and lived in and then sold. Blogging is about life, the everyday happenings, if that's what you want it to be that is. I mean it's your blog and it can be about any darn thing you want, that's the beauty of it

It got me thinking about another blog I pop into occasionally...where it was giving advice on how to get more comments on your blog posts. Apparently the person imparting the advice said she didn't leave comments if the blog had the comment verification thingy...and she also disliked too many links in a blog post. Too busy and confusing I think...and I thought gee, that's a bit harsh. I mean if you like someones blog then why can't you just enjoy it and go with it?

Some people use their blogs to show you how they make things, others use them to help them sell things, while others just use them as a way of detailing their lives with their kids/husbands/renovations etc...others see them as a business opportunity by allowing ads or taking on sponsors...I mean, it's your blog, do what you want with it

It's interesting though when other bloggers try to impart their wisdom on how you should or shouldn't do this or that and why they won't comment on your blog because they don't like something about it.

Well, the only advice I'll give is this: blog any darn way you like... if it's interesting, I'll read it and leave a comment, no matter what hoops I have to jump through.

Perspective

I was getting a bit hot under the collar the other day about something that, in the big scheme of things, was pretty insignificant. I can get carried away sometimes but I usually snap out of it and quickly return to reality

...and that's just what happened to me while watching the ABC's Four Corners program this week.

For those of you not in Australia, "Four Corners" is a long running investigative/current affairs show that is very highly regarded here. It's broadcast on a Monday night at 8.30 and this week it was about poverty, from the perspective of a child, specifically, three British children.

While watching it I found myself smiling broadly, listening in disbelief and shedding a few tears. My heart ached for them all.

The children involved were wise beyond their years...all were down to earth and amazingly, remained "hopeful" for their futures.

It gave me a BIG reality check

The link to the program is here. Not sure if you can see it if you're not in Australia, but I encourage you to try, it's well worth a look.

11 year old Sam is particularly wonderful. His delight at having something as simple as a "real" haircut is simply delicious.

Australia Day...and boy am I grateful!

Yes I really am grateful for so much..

Australia Day means different things to lots of different people...to some it's a chance to fly the flag, have a BBQ and generally enjoy the day off work

For me, it's a chance to enjoy and appreciate the people around me and consider myself extremely lucky to be able to call this place home

These guys think it's a pretty good place too, especially when MONT and his mates come in after a day of fishing and they get all the left overs.

No wonder they all look so content.

Congratulations also to the 2011 Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon. A deserving recipient of the award

This is him, pictured with his wife and son...congratulations!

You can read a story about him here

Apology

Sorry everyone...I won't be drawing the winner of the little creamer and sugar bowl set tomorrow. I have to go out of town for a couple of days so will leave it till Saturday.

Gives you more chances to comment though

Waiting, waiting, waiting....

Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments about the Number 10 kitchen renovation

I'll have a few more from other rooms later in the week. Unfortunately all of the pics from way back then have to be scanned and "brightened" up a bit...no digital cameras for me back then.

This photo is of my old girl, just sitting at the front gate, waiting for, who knows what.... she can't jump too well any more, her back legs aren't as strong as they once were, but for a girl who's almost 20, well I think she's doing pretty well...in fact she's sitting at my feet now telling me in no uncertain terms that it's time for dinner...so I'd better run.

Duty calls.

Thanks April

I've been very remiss in my blogging duties of late... but it's been a busy time what with the federal election and what have you.

But a little while ago, April, over at City Girl in the Country..... gave me this award and I was really chuffed to receive it.

Thanks April!

Part of the condition of the award is to tell you a few things about me that you don't already know.....so here goes.

1. I love wandering through fabric shops to get inspiration.
2. I never post personal photos of friends or family on the web
3. I save recipes from newspapers.
4. I lived and worked in Brisbane for over a year and I spent 2 years in Sydney
5. I can't be bothered with Facebook or Twitter.
6. I once took singing and dancing lessons.
7. I still sing at the top of my lungs when I'm home, much to MONT's amusement.

I'm also required to name 15 newly discovered blogs to share this award....well, I haven't discovered 15 new ones lately, as I've been busy enjoying the ones I follow, so I might leave that to another day...

Thanks again April...love your blog!

How nice!

Oh my!

Lee over here is a new visitor to Number 10, and contacted me at the weekend to tell me he'd given me an award.

Thanks Lee.....that's really sweet of you.

As part of accepting this award, I have to divulge 7 interesting things about myself.

Hmmmm, not sure how interesting they're going to be, but I'll give it a go.

1. I didn't get married until I was in my 40's.
2. I never get enough sleep.
3. I once owned 5 cats...all at the same time
4. My grandfather was a bare knuckles boxer in his early days.
5. Apart from my regular job, I do part time work for a company in New York.
6. I have a "thing" for shoes, fabric and dress patterns
7. I often sing at the top of my lungs when I'm home alone

I'm also going to nominate 7 lovely bloggers who brighten my day...but I'll do that a little later. It's back to work for me right now.

Have a good one.

Henrietta

I found a nice (temporary) frame for her and placed her on top of my rescued chest of drawers in the living room so everyone can enjoy her.

I think this is where she'll stay until the bedroom is renovated, then I'll rethink her position and frame.

Oh. My. God!

I am one very happy Mail Exchanger today!!

This parcel from Virginia was waiting to greet me when I arrived home.....

...and this is the beautiful gift that was inside it...

Lovely huh?

I almost cried when I peeled back the cardboard and saw this Janet Hill beauty!

...and in the small pink parcel was this beautiful ring.

Thank you so much Virginia...and thanks to Chantelle at Fat Mum Slim for organising this, because it's been a wonderful experience.

I only hope everyone who took part is as happy with their gift as I am with mine.

Grateful

No flags. No symbols.

Just happy that I live here.

We're not perfect, but I think it's about as close as any country can get

As Mark Seymour wrote in an opinion piece in the Age on Sunday, "there are all these other places that have exciting, vibrant cultures with a great deal to offer...many of them just as sophisticated and interesting as ours...perhaps more so'"

Australia Day is not a day all Australians think is worth celebrating and lately it feels like it's turned into a day that's all about BBQ'd lamb. I hope that's not really the case.

This year, the Australian of the Year is Professor Pat McGorry. A psychiatrist who has worked with young people with mental health issues. All I can say is, thank goodness it's not another sportsman, specifically, a cricketer. It seems over the past 20 years or so, we seem to have had our fair share of sportspeople taking out the country's top honour.

Congratulations Professor. Your recognition is well deserved.

A Christmas Gift

Just before Christmas I entered my Chrissy Wreath in a competition over at Cavania.

Karen Sanders is based in London and makes some of the most beautiful cards you'll ever see.

Like this one below.

Well, I won....and yesterday my little parcel turned up in the mail. Or should I say my rather large parcel arrived. In it was a collection of absolutely beautiful cards from Karen.

I know who's going to get this one with her birthday gift next month.

...and this is the wrapping paper Karen used. Isn't it beautiful? !

Thank you Karen. I love my gift.

Also, if you're in Australia and want to check out her products, her distributor here is:

Gallery Collection in Melbourne. It's well worth a look.

Thank You

Thanks for all of your kind wishes yesterday. I had a really terrific day!

David Downton

I worked in the morning, shopped a little in the afternoon...then relaxed before going out to dinner last night.

We went to Va Tutto in Ivanhoe. Great service, great food, great wine! What more could you ask for?

We've been there a few times before and have never been disappointed. They have a restaurant section as well as a bistro and they are equally good.

Oh ...and MONT gave me a gorgeous pair of silk pyjamas...gotta be happy with all that!

Thanks again everyone. It was lovely reading all of your comments!

A little milestone

I'm celebrating a birthday today.

Can I bear it? Is it all too much for me?

Norman Parkinson via Brabourne Farm

Yes I can and ...no not at all. Every birthday is a bonus as far as I'm concerned. It sure beats the alternative!

I'd like to thank....

... Journaling Woman for giving me the Lemonade Award.

It's my first and I feel honored.

I'm fairly new to the blogosphere and have met some terrific people in the short time that I've been blogging. I love checking out other peoples' blogs and look forward to warming up the computer each day to see what everyone has been up to.

So...

I'd like to thank Teresa, White Dove, Alison, Karen, Gail, Kellie, Rose, Cyma, Vicki, A-M, Millie, Amanda, Leigh and Terri and everyone else who has dropped in at Number 10 and left a comment.

Thank you all... (cue wind-up music) ... I love that you call in to see what I've been up to and look forward to all your comments.