Living Artfully

Must read book. "Living Artfully : Create the life you Imagine" by Sandra Magsamen.

" ...in the end that's what all those scrapbooks and hand-crocheted scarves and made-from-scratch birthday cakes really are - they're like bridges connecting us to one another. They're messages from our hearts, messages of encouragement, hope, laughter, and kindness. They lift the spirits of those around you and refresh your own sense of self. Of course we want the things we make to be beautiful, but we should also see them as a means to a beautiful end - an expression of ourselves, of what we feel, and of what we feel for others. That's why it's important to keep in mind that our creations don't have to be perfect.They're actually better when they're not. What counts is that it - whatever form it takes - comes straight from the heart."

SUMMER CRICKET

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If it's a Saturday morning and it's summer it means no sleep in the Thorn home. We're up early to take Elliot to cricket.

This morning it was a bit easier than usual to get up as I had a new toy to take. My Canon EOS400D - yep, the Canon Rebel.An impulse purchase when we saw it on sale last weekend. But a long dreamed about purchase - I think I've been wanting one for a couple of years. 2 lenses. An 18-55 (used for the wide-angle shot) and a 75-300 zoom.

So I took it out to cricket for a test drive - but I have yet to read the manual.


Bedtime reading tonight.

GRATITUDE

Everywhere I go lately I seem to see articles and blogs and books about "Gratitude" - the art of saying thanks.

It seems that the more we say we are grateful the more our feelings of thanksgiving pervade our lives and make us calmer, happier people.

Anyway we have our lovely friends G and G staying for a few days and I, for one, am grateful that one of the G's has an amazing camera and wants to take our photos. Because I haven't been doing much photo taking recently.

PROS AND CONS

The pros and cons of working from home (well most of the time) (and thanks to Cathy Zielske for the inspiration):


Pro: I can wear my smelly gym gear to work and not scare anyone

Con: I have a wardrobe full of gym gear and bugger all work clothes


Pro: I can work at any time of the day I like

Con: A deadline is looming and I'm on the computer at 11pm


Pro: I get to take the kids to school every day

Con: Phone calls from clients as we're driving to school


Pro: I can choose not to answer the phone (hallelujah to caller ID)

Con: I forget to check caller ID and hear "Is this a good time to call?"
"No problem!" I say as I mouth to the kids "GET IN THE CAR, WE'RE LATE!"

Pro: I can eat healthy food because I can prepare it myself

Con: I give in and raid the cupboards and eat crap


Pro: I don't have to do the housework because I need to do my 'real' work

Con: No one else is going to do the housework if I don't.

A COTTAGE KID

When Cait was about 3 we used to drive past the local high school and she'd say "That's where the cottage kids go to school!"

She's one of them, now. A college kid. Today is her first day at Sacred Heart College - my old school.

Check out the oversize blazer (the size down fitted perfectly but it won't next year!). And a red unifiorm is definitely not a glamour colour for a redhead - she tells me she should have gone to St Orans as they wear a green kilt. Ah well!

Anyway off she went this morning - walking to school with a friend. Not nervous. We don't need a ride, Mum, we know where to go!

My cottage kid.