9AM- Day Fifty-Nine

Each morning after "The" walk I've spent time reflecting and being in the moment. Filling my gratitude journal on a number of occasions I've needed to refer to the bird books to gain accuracy in identification of the birds encountered on our walk.

9AM-Day Fifty-Eight

Love this bird feeder Mich gave me for Christmas in 2018. I've repositioned it in the front garden due to the Bronte factor...i.e she doesn't exactly chase them but rather bounds through the dog-door and alarms them and resents that they have access to food that otherwise she thinks should be hers.

9AM- Day Fifty-Seven

Managed to realize that Vietnamese mint needs lots of water, hence the blue bucket

9AM Day Fifty-Six

A wet old start to the day

9AM Day Fifty-Five

Shrove Tuesday

On our walk this morning we went the long way round and happened upon one of the Aireys PS kids waiting at the hall. He said he was early because it was Pancake Day and he was getting there to be sure he got some. I didn't have the heart to tell him they weren't starting until 11:30 and he would need to get some after school.

This encounter helped me decide to make pikelets for breakfast and channel my inner Auntie Flora

I made mine in the frying pan on the stove but Auntie Flora would make them for us on the hob of her Aga stove in her cottage-like house in Bacchus Marsh.

When friends come to stay and bring lovely flowers that last and last.

9AM Day Fifty-Four

Sometimes I am never in any doubt of what Bronte does while I am out. NB the garden gloves on the heater- I put them there when i came home as she had brought them inside having taken them from the top of the outside table.

9AM Day Fifty-Three

Sunday morning wanting to catch up on the news and get organized for the week.

9AM Day Fifty-Two

 A lovely balmy morning

Before 9AM we said hello to Spencer

9AM Day Fifty-One

An early start to head to Queenscliff and then the ferry to Sorrento for a catch up lunch and a sorting out of issues and support.

9AM Day Fifty

Each morning this year thus far I've tried living in the moment of  the early morning walk and have journaled what I've noticed on the way and then been doing The Doubler.

For two minutes a day, think of one positive experience that’s occurred during the past 24 hours. Bullet point each detail you can remember. It works, because the brain can’t tell the difference between visualization and actual experience. So you’ve just doubled the most meaningful experience in your brain. Do it for 21 days, your brain starts connecting the dots for you, then you have this trajectory of meaning running throughout life.

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I did this with the National MS Society. Previous research from the University of Texas found that if you have a chronic neuromuscular disease, chronic fatigue and pain, and you do this for six weeks in a row, six months later, they can drop your pain medication by 50 percent.

9 AM Day Forty Nine

Getting sorted before the trip to Geelong for the day and to later to return and pick up Bronte and head to Aireys in time for Bookclub.

9 AM Day Forty Eight

The garden in Brooklyn is looking lovely and finally a sunny start to the day having had rain rain rain for the past two weeks

9 AM Day Forty Seven

Up in Brooklyn prior to the big day of Di's Salon and my sharing the skills to make/ craft tags.

9AM Forty Six

Camera and bird book at the ready beside the aspidistra. 

No wicker what-not in sight!

9AM Day Forty Five

Breakfast over (fruit toast, water and latte) and time to get on with the cryptic crossword to take my mind off the fact that Valentine's Day is here and no one really interested in sharing it with me.

9AM Day Forty Four

Gardening was one of my goals on returning to Australia and settling  in Aireys Inlet. A tad ambitious really given that a) it's a double block b) I have little or no gardening expertise and until recent time no great interest in pulling weeds.

However the herb barrow is proving to be a good way to start in small measure. I then bought the Vietnamese mint from Poppies in Anglesea. One of the gardeners there was very helpful in giving a quick lesson is how to harvest herbs. 

 

Posting on the 12th

Kate turns 21 this month. Since Maddy's 80th she has wanted to get back to The Flower Drum. Given here move to NZ for study.

The cow cake brought by Alex proved to be one of the highlights of the night given the challenge it was to cut the brownie crust which was a danger to the knives being used to cut it. 

And so to the everyday of the month...

A visitor to the garden that agitates Bronte 

 Bronte seems to dominate my photos particularly her antics while I am not home...proof that she doesn't remain off the couches.

Photos of the Lighthouse can be hit and miss particularly with the dog pulling on the lead that is hooked over my wrist in order to take the shot.

The first day of school and the boys over the road headed off together and by themselves.

On the beach in the early mizzly morning

9AM Day Forty Three

Hanging off watering the garden paid off with the rain that has been around and providing a bit of green in the garden.

9AM Day Forty Two

Using time to catch up on videos and art and a chance to get stuck into my Wanderlust challenge.

9AM Day Forty One

Taking time to smell the roses...they are looking lovely and the scent...aaahhh!

9AM Day Forty

Too much happening in the day to take a 9AM photo but not too easy however the Lighthouse shot happened as did other photos during the day.

9 AM- Day Thirty Nine

Sunday is my usual day for "Reflect and Affirm" but given the possibility of lack of time and focus on Suday due to guests and market and other commitments I used the available time on Saturday to get the weekly planning done. This was done early ie 9AM!

9AM Day Thirty-Eight

During the walk I spotted the gum blossom on the ground thanks to the cockatoos. A little early morning flower gathering and a photos shoot. 

9AM- Day Thirty- Seven

On the way home from "the walk" Bronte found a bone- not sure where it was from- perhaps a bird dropped it. I did have a minor qualm that perhaps it was dog doping but she is still her very much alive and very well and frisky.

She is also equally obsessive about her "toys" which can end up in any variety of places including in the backyard near the wood pile/

9AM- Day Thirty Six

Slightly distracted at 9am and forgot to take a photo but did capture the Lighthouse on the walk in the morning.

9AM- Day Thirty-Five

Time to head off to Create On Ormond in order to be in time for the Tag making class with Chez.

9AM- Day Thirty-Four

Preparing for bookclub- rereading Marcus Zusak's Bridge of Clay and preparing to lead the discussion. It's always tricky needing to lead the final read ot the last minute as I'm more inclined to forget lots of details and not be able to contribute to the discussion...made even more tricky when tis i that is leading the discussion. 

9AM-Day Thirty-Three

And the light through the trees in the front garden

9AM Day Thirty-Two

The heat of yesterday changed with the rain

9AM- Day Thirty-One