My Neighbours!

They are loud.

And yes, they are smelly.

Think they rule the roost.

They mope around their garden in a huddled group.

They chew and are nosey, always contemplating passers-by.

I thought about taking a photo of them to show you.

And I did,

- without their permission.

Here they are:

The Head Honcho was not impressed:

In their full glory, for you to see, they are my neighbours, the cows.

And I wouldn't have them any other way :)

Where will you be in 2020?

'Young, oh so young 16 year olds, their lives ahead of them, their choices so many and the unknown of what lies ahead of them.'

This is the dialogue that went on inside my head as I perused through my 16 year old son's year book. As is typical of such publications, students were asked to write where they want to be in 2020. Here is a sample of their responses:

* To have a job and travel.

* To be living in a beach house and just enjoying living.

* To be alive and well, happy and fit.

* Not living with mum and dad!

* To be a specialist doctor; to have a family with children.

* Travelling the world.

* Be in the Olympics for dressage.

* Leave it to the night before I have to decide.

* At the beach!

* Living in a house with my best friend getting fat eating nachos, lamingtons and mango juice; rocking out!

* In Hollywood, starting my acting career.

* An accountant with a great personality!

*Wherever my feet take me.

Where will you be in 2020?

Aspiration

Image courtesy of www.truewhisper.com

The (slightly modified) inscription (to include the other 50% of the population) is as follows:

A successful individual typically sets their next goal somewhat but not too much above their last achievement. In this way they steadily raise their level of aspiration.

Kurt Lewin

Image from: http://th00.deviantart.net

My good friend, mentor and Brilliant Blogging Yogini Braja has asked that we list 20 things that nurture us. Initially I thought this would be a simple task as I could easily rattle of half a dozen aids that nurture me. As I started to make the list, the more I thought about these things the more I realised that it is the simple things that I really need in my life that truly nurture me. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Writing: The mose effective way I can express myself (and make corrections to those inevitable mistakes, unlike the spoken word).

2. Tucking my children in to bed: especially the teenagers, for who knows how much longer my husband and I will be sharing the same roof with them.

3. Reading: Letting my mind and imagination weave and wonder.

4. My husband: Especially when we walk hand in hand; it feels like we can take anything or anyone on.

5. Memories of my paternal grandmother: A widow in the prime of her years, she sacrificed but persevered to bring up a family of six children in the years of the Great Depression and beyond.

6. Stretching and Yoga: To keep my body (and mind) mobile and flexible.

7. Dinner: Sharing that last meal of the day with those I love most.

8. Conversations: In particular one-on-one 'deep and meaningfuls' or the 'shallow and mindless' kind with each of my children.

9. My mother: and chatting with her about everything from the intricacies of a traditional Lebanese dish, to her experiences leaving her family and emigrating to a strange country, which she now calls home.

10. My relationship with my Dad: We laugh 'til we cry and we cry 'til we laugh and I wouldn't have it any other way.

11. Photography: Snapping those moments which I would otherwise forget in an instant.

12. Cooking: I love to cook and thoroughly enjoy my efforts, but mostly I love to feed others.

13. My home: My sanctuary, my joy.

14. Art Galleries: Creativity, quietness and beauty all in one package.

15. Travelling: Seeing and learning about other places, other cultures.

16. Solitude: I love/need time to myself to contemplate the big matters in life or just the breeze on my cheek.

17. Security of Seasons: The predictable regularity that Autumn follows Summer and Spring follows Winter.

18. Libraries: All those books, so much choice and not a cent spent.

19. Self-care: Looking after myself be it the way I dress or taking time out for a quiet bath.

20. My mum's cooking: Nurturing my belly and my soul.

Why don't you do a 20 things that nurture me post and report back here to let me know? I would love to read your responses.