Gifts Of Serendipity

Word Of The Week - Celebrating The 'Zhush'

2012-02-15T06:27:00.005+10:00

It's back! 'Word of the Week' has returned and I'm really keen to see all of us zhushing our vocabulary together.

If you're a new visitor to this space, this is a regular segment that enables us to share interesting words that we try to slip into either our everyday vocab or our blog writing usually in the week that follows this post.

For examples of previous 'WW' words, pop on down to the "Word of the Week" segment on the sidebar and click the link. I bet you'll find some words of interest to tickle your fancy.

Now for our very first zhushy word of the year....

This word was introduced to me by the fabulous father of one of my friends.
Right away I loved its musicality before I even knew its meaning - say it out loud [late-motif] and I bet you'll see what I mean.

Now I'm sure you can think of leitmotifs for both heroes and villians in any number of films, but have you ever considered what your own leitmotif might be?

For me a snippet of the following titled 'Kapsburger' by 'Clogs' would suit me to a 'T'....

{source}

So there you go, you're ready to zhush away.
If you're adventurous and add this word to a blog post, I'd be thrilled if you could hyperlink it to this post and help build the vocabulary of your own bloggy audience.

Happy day my friend!

To Valentine's Day & Beyond...

2012-02-14T06:27:00.019+10:00

Perhaps it's because I'm older and maybe a little bit jaded but I'm a bit ambivalent about Valentine's Day this year. That's not to say that I'm not in love with my fabulous man, but I'm just not that interested in participating in something that seems a bit....well.... let's say 'forced into prominence for commercial reasons'.

New Year's Eve can evoke the same emotions in me.

Captain V [the 'V' being short for Valentine] and I have been together for less than five years.

I shared our love story here this time last year.

As with most couples trying to blend one of the partners into their own family, we've been through a lot and the ride has had its share of rough waters.

However we navigate our way through and the tough times have come & gone [as they invariably do].

It's in the calm after each bout of turbulence that we're able to see that we've grown a little more - both as individuals and as a couple.

We are also very aware of how precious our relationship is and make an effort every day to kindle its glow.

One of the challenges in our relationship is that our love languages [the ways in which we prefer to give and receive love] are not only different but completely opposite to each others needs.

The good thing is that we're both aware of this fact and know that it will take extra effort on both of our parts to show our love to the other person.

If you're not familiar with Garry Chapman's five languages of love, here's a brief summary:

1. Words of Affirmation

Actions don't always speak louder than words.

If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words. "I love you" are important - hearing the reason behind that words sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

2. Quality Time

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says "I love you" like full, undivided attention.

Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there - with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby - makes your significant other feel truly special and loved.

Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

3. Receiving Gifts

Don't mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness and effort behind the gift.

If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you.

A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous - so would the absence of everyday gestures.

4. Acts of Service

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely!

Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an 'Acts of Service' person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: "Lt me do that for you."

Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don't matter.

5. Physical Touch

This language isn't all about the bedroom.

A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is not, surprisingly, very touchy.

Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face - they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, car, and love.

Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

I've really found that knowing Captain V's love languages has been a gift and I'd hope that if any of this resonates with you, that you'll pop on over to the Gary's website to read some more, take a quick quiz to find out your own love language, and most importantly learn how to weave acts of loving into your everyday experience so that the joy of loving each other is not just something to be celebrated on one day of the year.

Happy day my friend, may it be replete with connection.

Gathering Gratefuls - Join Me For A Stroll....

2012-02-10T09:14:00.003+10:00

Amidst the topsy turvy of everyday life, there's something that's always guaranteed to lift my spirits & give my battery a boost - a walk around my neighbourhood.

We are very fortunate to live in a space that is defined by natural bushland and most of the properties in our area are five acres or more which means that any noise is filtered by space = peace.

Luke is my most regular walking companion, but when we can Captain V and I will take a stroll hand in hand and debrief our day or sort a particular dilemma that may have arisen.

I thought you might like to join us and gain some insight into our pocket of the world.
Here's a quick round up of some of the treasures you will encounter as you gulp in large lungfuls of clean, fresh air and enjoy the constant chatter of the myriad birds sitting amongst the abundant flora.

1. As you come to the end of our driveway, this is the sweeping curve of our street entrance.

2. Great gums are plentiful and at different times of the day and year they change their outfits to stunning effect.

3. Luke usually has his nose to the ground sniffing out all the messages left by his neighbourhood pals.

4. & 6. Jewel colours of gum leaves whether they are on trees or scattered on the ground delight me always.

5. & 9. Not a soul to be seen. When a neighbour does appear a quick chat or friendly smile is waiting.

7. A blooming beauty bathed in sunshine.

8. & 11. The Scribbly Gum & Bloodwood are plentiful. I love to pick up bark shards & display them in our home.

10. There are often treasures to be found. My favourite are feathers but sometimes my eye is captured by something shiny like this emerald green glass shard glittering amongst the bitumen stones.

12. & 13. Although most yards feature native plants, one garden in particular sports a tropical feel.
Here you see beehive gingers and palms. Very few homes have fences and these particular neighbours have recently acquired a miniature pig called Elvis who grazes in the front yard unrestricted by fences.
I like to keep an eye out for him to say hello and share a pat whilst oggling the gorgeousness of the yard.

14. Violet & Velvet live in the bush behind our home but are regularly spied hopping down the road. Violet also has a young joey who is just beginning to make forays out of the pouch, I've christened her Veda.

15. 18. 19. 22. More floral beauty

16. An Aussie Christmas card moment - red & green against a bright blue background.

17. Mr Luke himself - bandanaed and ready to rock the hood.

20. Self sown daisies in our front bush garden - I love it when Mother Nature decides to paint a splash of sunshine yellow in unexpected places.

21. Ever since I was a little girl I've kept an eye out for trees with faces. Can you make out the stern brow and snubby nose of this fellow?

Did you enjoy that? It was fun to share my place of gratitude with you and I'll be thinking of you this weekend as I step out to for a wander.
The dynamic Bronwyn is gathering a great big basket of grateful posts just like this over at her place.
Be sure to pop on over this weekend and have your own wander around the happy hearts of Blogland.

If you've got some time up your sleeve and are looking for recommendations for a great book to read, perhaps you'd like to join in with our 'Vive le Livre!' book club. I'd be thrilled if you jumped on board.

Happy weekend!

'Vive le Livre!' January - February

2012-02-07T01:53:00.004+10:00

Happy first Tuesday of the month and welcome to our very first 'Vive le Livre!' get together!

You've probably noticed that it's been a quiet couple of weeks on the blog.
This has been on account of the fact that there's been a frantic flipping of pages on my part to complete the mammoth "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.
In fact, I even found myself dividing the book into 100 page segments & attempting to read one of these each day during the last week in my quest to reach my target.

There are 1168 pages in this most incredible book and although I pride myself on being a fairly fast reader, the nature of the content meant that I often found myself pausing for reflection, doing that most wicked of things 'earmarking' corners on pages where the writing really 'found its mark' and quite often reflecting on the characters and their actions even when the book wasn't in my hands.

I know this book won't be for everyone, but I relished it and am going to return to the bookseller who recommended it to me and give her a little pressie as a thank you for sharing the gift of Ayn Rand's writing - that's how much I loved it!

My only error was to type in "Atlas Shrugged" into a Google search as I neared the end of the book, and watched a snippet from the movie which was released last year. Ayn Rand had drawn the characters so beautifully in my imagination that it was startling to see actors who looked nothing like what I'd envisaged and I found myself grappling with the mismatch as I completed the book- don't you hate that?
I'm not sure whether I'm going to watch the movie in full or not, perhaps in a month or two.
I won't spoil the plot by trying to explain it, but if you like a big book with a strong philosophical bent, terrific characters and a great storyline - then this might be a 'goodie' to pop onto your reading list for 2012.

This was only one of the books that I managed to tick off my list however.
The second was a present sent to me by my special friend Jane, who is a fellow 'lover of language' & reading.

There is so much that I love about this book.
1. Its presentation - a cream and gold embossed hardback with burgundy embellishments.
2. It's a celebration of the etymology of phrases - love that!
3. It taught me something new.
4. It's something that I could share with Captain V, the 'Gifts', students I teach, and perhaps even you.

The title of the book?
"Opening Pandora's Box - Phrases Borrowed From the Classics And The Stories Behind Them" by Ferdie Addis.
Here's a little excerpt to give you a taste of some of the delights contained in this book:

HALCYON DAYS

Times of happiness and prosperity

"In Greek mythology, Alcyone was a daughter of Aeolus, the god of the winds.
She was married to Ceyx, son of the Morning Star, and they enjoyed such a happy marriage that they claimed to be as lucky as the ultimate couple, Hera and Zeus.
This of course, was a mistake. If there was one thing guaranteed to get the gods in a mood, it was hearing themselves being compared to lowly mortals.
To punish Ceyx and Alcyone for their pride, Zeus changed them into birds: Ceyx became a diver, and Alcyone became a kingfisher, or alkuon in Greek.
Ovid had a different version of this story, where Alcyone changed into a bird after her husband dies in a shipwreck. At any rate, both versions agree that the newly feathered Alcyone soon found a kingfisher's life to be far from straightforward. Every winter she would lay her eggs in a nest by the sea, and every year storms would sweep the nest away.
Finally Zeus, taking pity on the unfortunate woman, decreed that for seven days around the winter solstice the seas would always be calm. These tranquil days in the middle of winter are the halcyon days, which have come to stand for any period of peace and happiness."

There is actually a little bit of a cryptic connection between this quote and "Atlas Shrugged" but I'll keep you guessing so as not to spoil the plot.

So there are my two books for 'Jan - Feb' and now to check in on my reading goals, here's how they look:

* I'd like to read two books per month [Tick! It was close but I made it.]
* I'm keen to read at least one Australian novel
* I'd like to complete a classic eg: "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky [Started Yesterday]
* At least two biographies or autobiographies will be in my selection
* One informative non-fiction will be in my list [Tick - thank you Jane x]
* Inspired by Gifters' recommendations I'm going to try new authors & titles [for me]:
~ "When God Was A Rabbit"Sarah Winman;
~ "Before I Go To Sleep" SJ Watson;
~ "Shakespeare's Wife" Germaine Greer;
~ "Stasiland" Anna Funder;
~ One Gerald Durrell title - am open to suggestions here;
~ The first book in the "Mistborn" series by Branden Sanderson;
~ "The Tiger's Wife" by Tea Obreht; [I'm thinking that this will be a co-read with Dostoyevsky this month]
~ "Foals Bread" by Gillian Mears;
~ "Past The Shallows" by Favel Parrot;
~ "The Weight of Silence" by Catherine Therese and finally
~ "Five Bells" by Gail Jones.
~ "Enjoy Every Sandwiche" by Lee Lipsenthal
~ "Autumn Laing" by Alex Miller
~ "The Heart Garden" by Janine Burke
How about you? What have you read over the past month?
Do you have reading goals that you'd like to keep? Any great recommendations for the rest of us?

I haven't created a formal 'Linky' for this first get together as I wanted to see what each of you had to say to each other about the books you've read.
I'd like you to see this as your own space for encouraging the love of reading in yourself and others, so please take the time to comment and reply to each others' notes just like you were having a chat at a reading group.

If you've written a 'Vive le Livre!' post - yippee! Please include the URL in your note so that we can all have a read. Visit and reply to each other, get busy with words, in short - celebrate the love of books and reading.

If you'd like to share the fun with your own readers, I'd be thrilled if you included the button (which is just to your right in the sidebar) in your post to spread the word...sorry dreadful pun, I hope you can get past it.

Until the first Tuesday in March, happy page turning!

The Gift Of Art...

2012-02-06T10:58:00.000+10:00

Housekeeping has been the order of the day in Chez Serendipity and it seems to have started to overflow into this space too. You may notice some changes happening in my sidebar over the coming weeks and I've decided that my 'gift giving' in 2012 will take some new forms.

If you've been visiting for a while you would know that one of the regular gifts that I shared was an art-based activity titled 'Two For Tuesday'. This was an interactive post where I presented two pieces of work from one artist and everyone had an opportunity to comment on how each piece of art related to the other, or alternatively how the art spoke to people about what was happening in their own lives at that point in time.

You constantly surprised me with your wonderful insights and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the gift of art with you. In my housekeeping busyness, I've decided to take the long list of artists from my sidebar but if you'd like to seek an artist, simply scroll to the 'Seek A Gift Here' button towards the bottom of the sidebar and pop in 'Two For Tuesday' and you'll be find a plethora of artists to marvel at.

'Two For Tuesday' will take a break for a while whilst I think about if it will return and I'll be guided by whether or not you would like to see it continue or if you may have thoughts on how it might be improved.

A gentle reminder that tomorrow is the first Tuesday of the month which means that it's our first 'Vive le Livre' party and I can't wait to find out what you've been reading. I finally got to the end of the mammoth "Atlas Shrugged" in time to include it on my 'I've Read' list and can't wait to share my insights with you.

Until we meet tomorrow ~ happy day!

Want To Play?

2012-01-24T15:58:00.010+10:00

You get me thinking. Often.

You inspire me. Regularly.

You prompt me to be a better person. Frequently.

You challenge me. Time and again.

Thank you.

I've had a burst of creativity this afternoon and would like you to consider an idea inspired whilst writing a reply to one of your fellow Gifters just now.

In response to my post "A Year Of Books - A Challenge", Millie wrote:

2011 was the year that I read the least for pleasure & it broke my heart.

This year will be different, nothing will get in the way, nothing.

Lovely post Felicity.

Millie xx

I started to type a reply and was struck like a bolt from the blue as the phrase on the poster above came to mind. Then lickety-split I set to, creating a graphic to remind myself, Millie and all of you who are committed to reading the written word to keep the art of reading books alive.

As I was faffing with graphics, I began to ponder whether or not any of you might be interested in joining together for a regular 'show & tell' of the books that we've read? Perhaps on a monthly basis.

Some of you already write posts like the gorgeous Kerry has here, sharing your reading delights each month.
But for most of us, keeping track of our reading activities is a bit of a 'hit & miss' affair.

I wonder if we would be more inclined to set aside the laptop for the delights of the paper page if we were to join in a monthly 'linky' along the lines of, oh I don't know...."Vive le Livre!" where we set some 'reading targets' for the year then check in listing the titles we've completed.

Actually whether or not you feel inspired to join in, I think I need your help to achieve my reading goals for 2012 and will list them here:

* I'd like to read two books per month [at the very least]

* I'm keen to read at least one Australian novel

* I'd like to complete a classic eg: "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

* At least two biographies or autobiographies will be in my selection

* One informative non-fiction will be in my list

* Inspired by Gifters' recommendations I'm going to try new authors & titles [for me]:

~ "When God Was A Rabbit"Sarah Winman;
~ "Before I Go To Sleep" SJ Watson;
~ "Shakespeare's Wife" Germaine Greer;
~ "Stasiland" Anna Funder;
~ One Gerald Durrell title - am open to suggestions here;
~ The first book in the "Mistborn" series by Branden Sanderson;
~ "The Tiger's Wife" by Tea Obreht;
~ "Foals Bread" by Gillian Mears;
~ "Past The Shallows" by Favel Parrot;
~ "The Weight of Silence" by Catherine Therese and finally
~ "Five Bells" by Gail Jones.
~ "Enjoy Every Sandwiche" by Lee Lipsenthal

Of course you might like to keep your goal/s as simple as "I'd like to read a book each month" but I'd be thrilled if you decided to play along.

I'm thinking that the first 'Vive Le Livre' linky will be in the first week of February....hhm next week.

What do you think? Are you in?

If your hand shot up straight to the ceiling and you're keen to participate, I'd love to hear from you.

And how wonderful is this? The lovely Tina has created this button for us to pop on our sidebars and any posts that we link in - thank you angel heart, you are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

For those of you who have stopped by from Laura's 'Post Of The Month' club - welcome!I hope that you find something here that tickles your fancy. x

Gathering Gratefuls - Feathery Jewels

2012-01-20T19:11:00.000+10:00

Walking through our neighbourhood, I spied a scarlet chested friend high up in a gum tree....

who in turn called out to his mate to come out and spy the humans...can you see her green tail?

Out she came to say g'day albeit a little shyly....

then with some loving reassurance and...

a little kiss, she was encouraged to share the limelight.

This little series is a celebration of so much that is simple and wonderful in my world at the moment.

* That we live in a peaceful & safe place where I can go for a walk at any time of the day

* That our home is in a neighbourhood filled to the brim with glorious flora and fauna

* That nature gifts me glorious colour every day in the form of clear blue skies, gorgeous leaves, bark and blooms and the startling jackets worn by lots of different feathered friends

* That my health has returned to the level where I'm walking up to 5km at a time

* That sometimes I remember my camera and am able to capture these glorious moments of serendipity and share them with you

If you're a regular 'Gifter' you'll know that I like to share this series with my sparkling friend Maxabella, if not, click over here to read what other people are grateful for this week.

Happy day!

A Year Of Books - A Challenge...

2012-01-17T15:57:00.003+10:00

In February 2011, charged with great zeal and enthusiasm I decided that I would like to read 52 books in 52 weeks! The question that you may be asking (as I am now) is "What were you thinking?".

Obviously not about the reality of this challenge and how someone might actually achieve this when they have an actual life to lead beyond the pages of books, no matter how fascinating.

The list below is a record of the books that I actually did manage to not only read, but enjoy, learn from, be inspired by and share on.

They are presented in chronological order of reading and I must admit that at the time of writing this that the first row really seems like they were read MUCH longer than twelve months ago.

If pressed to give you my 'Top Five', they would be the following with '1' being my favourite:

1. Elegance of the Hedgehog - I hope to reread this again in 2012

2. The Book Thief

3. The Lacuna

4. Eiffel's Tower

5. Lady Chatterly's Lover

As I turn the pages on new tomes in 2012, I think I'll be a little more realistic in my ambitions and suggest that a goal of '22-in-52' may be not only more achievable but give me greater scope for devouring some larger, more sumptuous reads....have a peek at my sidebar to see what I've already enjoyed and what I'm currently reading.

"A Fine Balance" was my first read completed for the year. It's set in India and is an enjoyable character based story which explores the finer elements of life's journey. I can't tell you how many pages it was as I've already shared it on, but it was long which is exactly what you want if the story is a good one, right?

For Christmas my darling brother and SIL gifted me Stephanie Alexander's "Kitchen Garden Companion". Although I haven't exactly read it cover to cover, I don't think there's a section that I haven't devoured with great interest and my vege patch has already benefited from Ms Alexander's great knowledge and culinary enthusiasm. I've just popped it on the scales to see how much it weighs as it's a tome in the real sense of the word....3kg! That's 6.61 pounds for all my Northern Hemisphere friends!
So in addition to inspiring my cooking choices and informing my gardening habits, every time I refer to this book I could be getting a light weights routine in as well - yay!

The book currently sitting on my bedside table is "Atlas Shrugged". This book is such a whopper that to read it in bed I need to employ a book seat . It's not exactly a page-turner [yet] but it was highly recommended, so I'll keep plugging along. Also need to make an appointment with the optometrist as it has highlighted my deteriorating eyesight, hmmmm.

So that's my start to my reading year documented for you.
I'd love to receive recommendations of excellent page-turners that you've enjoyed so that I can pop them onto a list for the next time I visit the library. As you can see my tastes are fairly eclectic [although I must admit that sci-fi doesn't appeal at all] so please share.

Happy page turning!

Gathering Gratefuls - Sparkle & Grace

2012-01-14T09:59:00.000+10:00

So here we are with almost half the calendar pages for January flipped and this only my second post of the year....I have indeed been savouring this lovely break.

Each morning I've enjoyed a leisurely start to the day, waking when my body releases the threads of sleep (vs the call of lunchboxes to be filled or jobs to be done) then proceeded to salute the day with a coffee made in my French Press....this is where I generally do a simultaneous sigh and experience the glorious sensation of my eyelids zinging open.

Right now I can hear Captain V going through his routine in the gym downstairs (we have some excellent health goals for 2012, but I'll share them with you later) and I'm reminded that the silver stead (my bike) didn't get her 'run' yesterday and that after I write this I have a date with Luke and 5km of our neighbourhood streets.

As I contemplate this day (the last one before 'The Gifts' return tomorrow) with all of its open promise, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for all that is possible and all that we are blessed with.

This has a bitter-sweet tinge to it as close family members and friends have just received life-blows that had me reeling with that useless question "Why?!?".

Why them?
Why now?
Why?!? Why?!? Why?!?

With some reflection, I've decided that a more appropriate question is "How?".

How can I best support these special people?
How can I contribute to their journey forward?
How can I take care of my 'self' so that I have the energy and capacity to enable real help?

I also take inspiration from many of you whose stories I've come to know since beginning this adventure into Blogland. There are many of you who have overcome (or working towards overcoming) huge obstacles with grace, grit and great determination. If you're reading this, I'm sure you know who you are and I thank you for being a beacon of light for me through my own struggles.

Someone who really knocks my socks off with all that she's done and the goals that she's set herself for 2012 is Jennifer Reid whose blog "Life Is Like A Cupcake" is filled to the brim with sparkle.

Jennifer is celebrating life this year by participating in what she aptly describes as "an epic fundraising adventure - Marathon de Paris". Along with four other women she's raising money for the National Breast Cancer Association with the goal that there will be no more breast cancer deaths by 2030 - how awesome is that?

Please, please, please watch this video, I'm sure you'll be touched by Jennifer's warmth and enthusiasm...

To all my sparkly Blogerista friends and to those special people in my life who are staring down black clouds at the moment, I salute you and am ever so grateful for you and the threads that bind us.

And if you're seeking more inspiration or would like to post your own grateful link, scoot on over here to join in with some of my friends here....

Day 1 - 2012

2012-01-01T01:00:00.012+10:00

Happiest of Happy Days Ahead

Captain V and I welcome all that this new year has to offer with hearts, minds and arms wide open.

Yesterday, we went for a wonderful 'hunt & gather' amongst the local providores, purchasing some truly scrummy delicacies to tempt our tastebuds...including ingredients for some of Captain V's famous cocktails.

Today we will be ushering in the next page in our book of years with a festival of bubbles.

Intrigued? Click here to find out what this means.

Perhaps we'll even end the day donning our retro-inspired glasses just like in the photo above, cranking up the 'Happy Dancing' playlist on the iPod, jumping in the pool before retiring to the final flush of bubbles in the candlelit spa - sigh.

I hope that whatever you choose to do to mark this auspicious occasion, you are in good health, surrounded by those whom you truly love and there is much to look forward to in the days and months ahead.

Biggest of happy hugs and salut!

My Wish For You

2011-12-21T10:16:00.000+10:00

As the last pages of the calendar fly off their hook I wanted to send a special note to all of you who have made this such a special blogging year. You have blessed me with friendship, guidance, inspiration, giggles, support and wisdom and for this I send you a heartfelt...

~T H A N K Y O U~

My life is truly enriched by knowing you and I look forward to adding new layers to our friendships in 2012.

In recent news, my little family is home safely from our holiday in Sydney and after a busy seven days filled to the brim with adventures and many special memories, we're looking forward to a low key Christmas, hopefully spent at the beach and river. Sparkling blue water, a gentle breeze, simple delicious food = happy kids & parents.

On a not-so-pleasant note, my trusty assistant Sophia [aka the laptop] has decided to go into a bit of a funk lately and won't talk to any of the other electrical devices in my office [printer, scanner, ipod, camera] so I confess this card is made with a not-so-up-to-date image but it was a truly happy moment captured by a friend and that's what I hope you receive in abundance over the coming weeks, lots and lots of truly happy, heart-warming moments spent with those whom you care about most.

I'll bid adieu to you now until the first weeks of the New Year and hope that all your hopes and dreams for the coming weeks are fulfilled.

Biggest of hugs!

The Ultimate Girls' Day Out...

2011-12-09T09:57:00.001+10:00

You're busy right?

The two words most thought or uttered by you at the moment are 'should' and 'must'.

There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day.

My gift for you today is a little bit of escapism....stick with me, it will be fun.

1. Imagine that all your lists are completed and the only thing left to do before Christmas morning is to lay out the Santa snacks and Reindeer carrots....you're totally organised and there is a complete sense of satisfaction and fulfillment flowing through every fibre of your being....stay for a while glowing in this wonderful feeling.

2. Now let's go one step further and imagine that you've had a surprise injection into your bank balance and within your means is the ability to bring together a group of your favourite girlfriends to spend the day with you.

3. You can go anywhere you'd like, do anything you want and take as long as you desire.

What would this day look like for you?

Where would you go and what special delights would you indulge in?

Is it possible that you've already enjoyed a day like this already or that it might actually happen in 2012?

I will leave you with this post to ponder and dream upon until after we return from our family holiday to Sydney....adieu and rêves doux.

PS: This post was inspired in part as a thank you for all the lovely well wishes that you left on my recent post, I feel truly blessed to have such lovely friends in Blogland and your comments really touched home.

Something I Just Had To Share....

2011-12-06T09:50:00.001+10:00

Hello special you, my posting has been sporadic at best in the last couple of weeks due to yet another bought of illness - this time the flu + sinus - but I'm feel so lucky to have such fabulous bloggy friends who have kept my spirits buoyed with lovely notes and messages that I had to pop in today and say THANK YOU!

My post today isn't really about me, but my wonderful Father Ian.

This is one of the only photos of the two of us together in recent times that I could find which was a big wake up call for me as I scrolled frantically through my photo gallery - something to be rectified ASAP!

You might think that this is an unusual photo for me to share with you but it's actually very significant.

It's a blurry image because it was taken by the ever-thoughtful Captain V rushing to capture this moment in time knowing how much I would treasure it.

That's my Dad walking with me through our garden, his arm is around me and I'm wiping away a stream of tears. He is giving me lots of loving advice and I'm overwhelmed.

This walk happened after a family luncheon where I'd just sat, with Captain V holding my hand, and explained my physical and mental health issues to my closest family members.

It was a particularly challenging conversation to have because I was not only bringing to light the truth about what I'd been dealing with but also pulling to the surface my fears and concerns.

We aren't a particularly emotionally articulate lot and I was worried about the response I would receive.

What a 'dill' I was, of course they were fabulous and this walk with Dad was one of the many loving gestures that flowed from my family to reassure and uplift me.

I share this anecdote with you to introduce you to my very special Father.

He is very much on my mind at the moment as he has suddenly become very unwell and is in hospital.

Mum took him to the emergency department in the very early hours of Sunday morning as he was suffering spiking temps and uncontrollable shaking.

He's been there ever since undergoing a barrage of tests to try to determine what's going on.

So far no real clues have come to light but hopefully he can return home today for some proper rest and constant monitoring and care provided by Mum.

I've felt completely useless throughout the whole ordeal as I can't be there to support Mum or visit Dad with this flu bug coursing through my body and all I've been able to do is make phone calls to check on Dad's progress it's been very frustrating.

This post was sparked because we just had a lovely chat together over the phone where I told him about the upcoming 'surprise holiday' to Sydney that we're taking the Gifts on and I'm please to say that his spirits seemed to lift as he shared his own tips for what to do and where we should go as he's a North Shore Sydney boy.
I dearly wish that I could give him a hug, hold his hand and help Mum through this time by actually being there with her but until this course of antibiotics does their thing I'm in quarantine mode.

So at this time of the year where we're all rushing about madly trying to buy things to show the people that we love how much we care for them, I hope that you read this and think that perhaps a material gift isn't the best present after all.
A warm hug, a long conversation, a thought-filled note, spending time together, sharing an experience, a true reaching out might be the gift that both your hearts will treasure most.

For all who are away from your loved ones at this time, this incident with Dad has helped me to understand how challenging it is not to be able to truly 'reach out'....oh and of course I now have a mission to take lots and lots of photos of my loved ones over the coming weeks.

Hugs to you my friend, I hope something in this post has resonated and that you take the time to reach out to someone you love today.

The Gift Of New Experiences

2011-12-02T11:26:00.003+10:00

I so wish you could have been here this morning.

Captain V and the Littlest Gift were in a buzz of excitement as they got ready to enjoy a 'boys' day out' at the cricket in Brisbane. This is a special day where all the little boys who have been playing cricket on Friday afternoons will get to play on the hallowed turf of the 'Gabba' - perhaps this is something that only true cricket tragics could understand [winking at you Jane] but it is a highlight let me tell you.
To make it extra special they're both playing 'hooky' from work and school (shhhh). This is something Captain V never does but I'm so pleased he has today as it has been a long, hard year and this will be a wonderful shared experience for them both.

After the testosterone had left the building, the girls roused themselves and realised that today is the first day of their two month Summer holiday - yay!
So what would any self-respecting teenager do on a day like this? Go to their friends of course!
Which in turn means that I got to play taxi driver, so as they were primping and preening I popped Luke in the back of the car for a ride with the intention of going for a walk by the river on our return journey.

I'm so glad I did because I found out that there's a beach very close to one of the friend's homes that is designated for dogs and it's a place he's never been before.....what a joy to watch his excitement blossom as he realised he could roam lead free, say hello to all the other doge unimpeded, jump in the waves, snorkel in the still water, run, run, run. I think he slept for the whole half hour of our drive home rather than his usual pose with nose in the air trying to take in all the smells that waft through the window.

Since we've returned, the weather has become overcast, windy and a bit drizzly but our morning of serendipity is a gift worth savouring.

Happy day to you my friend, I hope that serendipity is a gift you receive today too.
If you'd like to read more notes of gratefulness, scoot over to my friend Maxabella's where she's gathering in a great big basket of goodness.

A Gift Of Simple Wisdom

2011-11-30T12:53:00.003+10:00

One of my treasured Blogerista friends who regularly inspires me is the effervescent and sparklingly delightful Saskia who writes 'Join My Joy'.

Saskia is one of the most generous and warm-hearted people I've ever encountered and each week she sends out the most beautiful gifts from her home via blog posts, notes, messages, letters, you name it!

Today she shared a quote that resonated to my very core.

I wrote a little note on her post saying that I would have to have a think about how I might best share it with my family as there are lines in there for each one of us at the moment.

As it turns out, I've made it into this Grace card.

These are little laminated cards that sit on our dining room table and each night a new person takes their turn to choose one and lead the family in Grace before we eat.

We aren't a particularly religious family in the traditional sense of the word but we are big on gratitude.

Being able to not only recognise what we can be grateful for and expressing it, but also accepting both compliments & thanks gracefully are qualities that Captain V and I believe are worthwhile developing.

Tonight as we gather together to share our evening meal I will be introducing this new little beauty and I'm thinking that it will generate an interesting discussion where I'll ask everyone to nominate a time in the week where someone has done one of the actions listed in the quote on the card - it might be something that they've done or it might be something that they've seen another of us do....I'm hoping that I'm not left with the sound of crickets and faces bowed towards their plates!

I'm actually thinking that this will become a favourite card picked out weekly where we get to shine a light on the positive actions that enable us to nurture and grow as individuals and as a family.

Feel free to print it off for yourself our upload it as a screensaver, either way it's a lovely message to dwell upon.

Thank you Sass for sharing....oh and thank you too Mr Hemingway.

Happy day!

My 2011 Ultimate Gift Wish List

2011-11-29T08:10:00.000+10:00

You may have guessed by now that gift giving is one of my favourite things to do but I must admit that I do enjoy dreaming now and then about the ultimate gifts to receive.

The sparklingly gorgeous Karla at Ironmum Karla has tagged me in a little game where we have to share our 'Ulimate Christmas Wish List'.
Thanks Karla, I've had fun thinking this through and hope that all of you enjoy taking a peek at what I'm dreaming about finding under the Christmas tree this year....

1. Summer holidays in an exotic location.
This is the vista that would greet me if I were to stay at 'The Sun House' in Sri Lanka - one of the top picks from my travel 'Bucket List', ready and waiting for when the Lotto fairies knock at my door [remember this is my dream list]. Instead Captain V and I will be taking the 'Gifts' for a surprise trip to stay at Darling Harbour in Sydney.
I'm really looking forward to this holiday and any tips from Sydneysiders about 'what to do' and 'where to go' will be gratefully received.

2. A strong, fit and healthy body.
As you may know I'm navigating my way through the trials of Chronic Fatigue and this summer, Captain V and I will be working on building up my strength and uncovering the healthy me that I know is just waiting to burst forth from her chrysalis.

3. I'd love to hang this print in our foyer. It's titled 'Adam & Eve' by Harry Daily and is just one in a series that I truly love. I think this would be a fabulous way to greet guests and inspire us all to get down to the beach every day during the summer break.

4. We are a hammock-loving lot in our home and Captain V & I are due for a new one.
We currently own the most gorgeous blue and white woven number with scalloped fringing but I'm plumping for a Queen sized one in cream this year.
I can't remember where I snaffled this image from but it's been in my inspiration folder for a while now.
I'm imagining this hammock (+ cream scallops and fringing of course) and me lying there with a great book in hand & a cool drink within easy reach and I'm all sorts of happy.

5. A new straw hat and perhaps a snappy red & white kaftan to add to my collection and my summer wardrobe will be complete...these are from Sportscraft just in case you're wondering.

6. Clear skies, aquamarine seas and clean sand.....really what more could you want?
All of this is within minutes from my home and my wish is that we have a mild summer with a nice balance of sunny days and some rainy evenings to enjoy with family and friends.

So that's it, it was fun to reflect upon with the bonus being that when someone asks what I'd like for Christmas I can point them in this direction. Thanks Karla for tagging me.

Have I got you thinking about your own list? Well I'm thinking that I'd like to read some more.
I'm sending out the following 'tags' with the caveat that I know that some of you don't like to 'play games' and all of us are very busy, but it would be nice to know what it is you're wishing for, so in the spirit of sharing, I'm tagging:

* Jane 'Life On Planet Baby'
* Naomi 'Seven Cherubs'
* Jennie 'Posie Patchwork'
* Jeanette 'Everton Terrace'
* Margie 'latebloomerbuds' and
* Fee 'Chipper Nelly'

Happy day everyone!

My Oh My - A Beautiful Gift For Sharing

2011-11-28T06:46:00.000+10:00

This week we start to decorate our home in preparation for Christmas, we will be putting up the tree, adorning our home with treasures gathered over the years and generally getting ready to celebrate this very special time of the year.

The one thing that I don't have is a nativity scene. It's something that I've been on the lookout for for a long time but have never found 'the right one', I guess it's a case of "I'll know it when I see it."

You can imagine my delight when I received the following gift from my friend Athanasius ,it's the most lovely telling of the Christmas Story that I've ever seen.
If you have children (actually even if you don't) I'm sure you'll watch it over and over.

I hope you enjoyed this gorgeous video and are able to go forward into your day with a bright smile on your face. Perhaps you'll even look at your own nativity scene through a new lens at this Christmastime.

Happy day!

Hugs & Butterfly Kisses

2011-11-22T08:46:00.001+10:00

Hello lovely friend, I hope that your week is unfolding nicely.
I'm happy to report that I've been busy with both family and work commitments (loud cheer in particular for the latter) and that although for the most part my body has been coping well (second cheer), I haven't had the energy required to either send out gifts or to visit you as often as I'd like.
I hope that this explains my absence from Blogland and you don't mind that instead of our regular 'Two For Tuesday' segment today, I share a little snippet from my home instead.

I've titled the card that I'm sending you "Hugs & Butterfly Kisses" and hope that it does indeed brighten your day.

You may not be able to see them clearly, but the wings of the little butterflies in this montage have been cut from the pages of books.....well not just any book but treasured books from my childhood which I used to collect and which have sadly been laying dormant in book boxes for several decades now.
Perhaps you've heard of them, "The Friendship Books" by Francis Gay.

When I was a little girl I would turn to the allocated page for that day which would hold a lovely poem or quote, story or bible verse and I would to try and memorise each one.
Sadly I can't remember too many of these now, but it was a delight to redeem them from their dungeon where they'd been languishing at the mercy of silverfish and mould, and to rediscover the simple truths contained on each page.

I decided that I needed to breath a second puff of life into these tomes and this is just what's happened as the wordy wings flutter across the walls and through the light fixture of the Biggest Gift's {my eldest StepDaughter's} bedroom. Whenever she has a girlfriend to stay I hear the "Ooh's" & "Aah's" of appreciation when the lights go on and know that my decision to give the pages a second life was the right one.

This photo doesn't really do it justice but it's a lovely corner of this sweet teen's room and as the butterflies wend their way up and beyond this wall, they scoot across the next and appear to flutter towards a mobile of matching butterflies which hangs above her bed.

The gelato 'hugs & kisses' heart I've added onto the card just for you, hoping that you enjoy a bright day filled with at least one moment of serendipity - unexpected and lovely.

If you've been busy in your own creative space this week, be sure to pop it into the mix to share so that we can all be inspired.

Word Of The Week - Addlepated

2011-11-16T06:27:00.001+10:00

Hey fabulous You! There's a buzz in the air and a skip in my step today and I hope that you can say the same.

Our word of the week has been suggested by my very thoughtful friend Athanasius who hosts the truly thought provoking and wonderful blog 'Perichorectic Life'.
So without further ado here is our word to play with throughout the coming week:

Addlepated

adjective: Confused; eccentric; flustered

From addle (to muddle or confuse), from adel (rotten) + pate (head).

Can you relate? I really can and had to create this poster for all of us, I'm really happy if you download and share. I bet you can think of many instances where it would be applicable or even someone who would get a giggle from receiving it.

At this time of the year where there are all sorts of pressures both internal and external seemingly looming down, it's very easy to become addlepated. So in the spirit of gift giving which characterizes our blogging community here at 'Serendipity', I'd be thrilled if you could share your best tips to avoid becoming addlepated particularly as the 'silly season' approaches.

Happy day and thank you "A" for setting in motion this next round of gift giving.
PS: A gentle reminder to get your camera out and pop a special photo into our gallery of furry friends.

Luke - A Special Gift

2011-11-14T21:17:00.001+10:00

The joy this fellow brings with his gentle nature, and sparkling countenance is a true gift to me on a daily basis.

If you were to meet him, he would scamper up for a 'hug' straight away whether you were human, dog, bird or frog [seriously this happens!] and then lean against your leg with that signature smile on his face and let you know that life is indeed great.

When I first moved in with Captain V and his three Gifts, Luke and his best mate Buster were a special bonus that I hadn't really anticipated. These boys kept me company and held counsel through the challenging days, weeks, months of our 'transition' towards becoming a family and were always up for a comforting cuddle or therapy session [walk through the neighbourhood].

Sadly Buzzy passed away this time last year, leaving a big hole in our hearts and resulting in Luke becoming even more smoochy. We are great buddies this furry bundle and I, and he truly makes me laugh at least once each day - a gift indeed.

This week I'm gathering a gallery of photos to celebrate the gift that is your four legged family member/s and would love it if you could join in. Click here to read all about it....

Two For Tuesday - Craig Holmes {Dogs}

2011-11-14T21:16:00.002+10:00

Happy day dear friend and welcome to a new interactive element in our art appreciation.
Stepping through the gallery of art and artists that I've been gathering to share, I was captivated once again by the photography of Craig Holmes.

Craig is a local photographer and his images not only capture the people who live in my special pocket of the world but I think they resonate with the essence of what makes living here so glorious.
After scrolling through his galleries I found that again and again I was returning to the one titled 'Dogs and Families'.

I know that many of you are dog lovers and hope that you're also captivated by the warmth of his images.
When you view them do you instantly get a feel for the character of the people and their pets?
Once you've had a squizz, perhaps you'll even agree to participate in a little gallery event of our own which I'll share with you in a moment....

{Loving all these toothy grins - this is a friend of mine and this photo evokes the warmth that she resonates}

{This is a common sight up and down our beaches in the early mornings and late afternoons - happy dogs and their families enjoying a splash}

Fabulous right?
So do you think you might like to help create a gallery of our 'best doggy friends' together?

What I'm suggesting is that you share a photo of your own special family member with their name in a simple post. It doesn't have to be a recent photo but one that you think truly captures the essence of your pet. You may even like to write a little bit about what makes your four legged friend so special.

I'll start by popping Luke into the mix and hope that you will not only contribute but come back and visit each other too. You can enter as many photos as you like but please be sure to include a link to this gallery so that your readers can share in the fun too.
I'll schedule the gallery to be opened for a week and would love to create a montage to share.

Happy day & get snapping!

My Oh My! Lifecycle With A Difference...

2011-11-14T06:30:00.007+10:00

Happy Monday fabulous You!

I saw the following at SwissMiss recently and although I question one or two elements, I love the upbeat nature of it and resonate with the general message.

Can't wait to hear what you think and whether, like me, you're inspired to dust off your bike and go for a spin, gulping in great big lungfuls of life!

PS: The sharp-eyed amongst you may even have picked up the link with yesterday's happy-making post...

Happy Making Tune - Get Up & Dance

2011-11-13T04:13:00.000+10:00

You know how much I love a great happy-making tune - today you get a double treat because the video is as much fun as the music....

Happy dancing friend!

Word Of The Week - Celebrating The 'Zhush'

2011-11-09T06:30:00.018+10:00

Wednesday's here and it's time to share the gift of words together.
It's been almost twelve months that we've been zhushing our vocabulary and I thought it would be fun to celebrate with a game and hoped that you would too.

Below are most of the words that have featured in this segment since it began in November last year.
Have a squizz. Do you know what they all mean? Are there any that you use regularly or perhaps there are one or two that you've been introduced to as you've played along and now use when you can.

My challenge is for you to take three {or more if you're game} of the words and put them into a sentence.

You might like to pluck them out randomly, choose three of the same colour, three in a row, three ending in 'e' or 's', three from the corners, same number of syllables....whatever you decide I can't wait to read your responses. If you're stuck for definitions, remember they're all on the sidebar under the 'Try A New Word' heading.

Here's just two I've come up with very quickly....

* It was with great 'sagacity' that I binned the 'bumf' that had piled up in my mailbox - no need for extra work to add to my already burgeoning list of 'fadmin'. {purple words}

* I credit 'serendipity' for delivering me the man with the 'mellifluous" voice and "affable" nature. {honeysuckle}

I'll try and add some more to the comments box, until then have fun creating your own....of course I'm not a stickler for doing things by the rules and if writing sentences isn't your thing, a list of your favourites would be a gift that I'd take great pleasure in receiving too.

I've actually 'tiled' the list on my laptops desktop, this is what it looks like. I've found that this 'word wall' has the effect of catching my eye and making me use these 'zhushy' words in my everyday vocab.

Happy day!

PS: As this page has now become a summary of al the 'WW' posts from 2010-11, here are the links for your reference:

Addlepated Affable Bumf Cadence Cahoot Deshabille Ennui Evanescent

Fadmin Finesse Hirsute Humdinger Inconspicuous Inkling Kip Lacuna Lissom

Loquacious Macaron Mellifluous Nimbiferous 'oo' Placenames Palaver Pip

Pique Quidnunc Quixotic Rambunctious Sagacity Serendipity Shemozzle "&"

Two For Tuesday - Kimber Berry

2011-11-08T06:30:00.016+10:00

It's that time in our week when I send you a gift of art.
Today I'm marveling at the liquid landscapes of Kimber Berry. In her 'artists statement' Kimber tells us that...
"..in my paintings [I] actually take pictures of paint, digitizing and manipulating them, and then embed these elements on to my surface along with a mixture of real paint, thus offering the same illusion that simulated environments offer...the real versus what is not real."
So without further ado here are just two of Kimber's liquid landscapes for you to revel in.

As a lover of colour and form, these pieces really appeal to my eye and I could actually imagine hanging them in my home, I'm sure I'd revel in seeing something new in them every day.

Do you see the links to last week's underwater images? Perhaps a similarity to Gustav Klimt?

Now I know you like to explore our gifted artists further and I can't wait for you to see the multi-dimensional element of Kimber's art, click on over to her gallery for a truly fabulous treat.

If you'd like to play along with our game today, consider Kimber's art and how each piece relates to the other or to your own life at the moment, then in twenty words or less leave a comment.

Happy day, may it be colour-filled!