Another year, over

Hi lovely friends, those of you who are stilling hanging in there with me!

As 2012 hurries to its end, I have begun to reflect on the year that has been. What a big one. A lot of personal growth, which I always embrace, although I sometimes screw my face up when it's happening, thinking, 'what the..'. 

How has your year been?  No doubt there has been highs and lows in all of our lives.  That's living and growing isn't it.  Who wants a year of 'same old, same old'?  I hope the highs have outweighed the lows for you this year anyway.

So, this afternoon while I was busy getting to know our new Slow Cooker (thanks Mum n Dad!!), I asked my sweetheart to take a few sunset photos for me.  He's pretty darn good, take a look.....



 

Did you notice the little heart shaped cloud, above left.  Right place, right time.  This photo has very quickly become one of my favourites. 

 

 

So there it is, my final post for the year.  Sending you hugs, love and happiness for the new year.

Jane x

another day, done.

I was having a thoughtful little moment while walking the dog this arvy....  As the sun was retreating, the colours in the sky were beautiful and it got me wondering what the sunset looked like for you this afternoon.  When Dusty and I got home this is what I captured.  Lots of clouds of different shapes and density.  It was 34 degrees here today, perhaps a storm tomorrow afternoon will cool things down a bit.

Excuse the daggy roof next door!!

I would love to see your sunset tomorrow.
Jane x

say what?

Have to share this photo with you, taken when I was relaxing on the front lawn one afternoon recently.  I just happened to look above me and saw these two birds, probably mother and baby, balancing on the power lines overhead.

Have a great Monday.
Jx

Friday findings...

Today is a Jane day!  I have a day at home to do whatever I want.  It's been a while.  I've been extending myself a bit of late. Plus I always seem to be on the other end of the leash, keeping Miss Dusty exercised and happy.  I do hasten to add though, although I have only been to the gym twice in the last few months, I'm feeling great from all the walking.  We tend to walk her early in the morning and to step out in the fresh morning air and say g'day to the many other dedicated dog owners does set you on a happy path for the day.  Anyway, no walkies today.  Dusty has a 'bucket' on her head and stitches in her little belly from her little girl operation yesterday.  She's curled up on her 'mat' beside me as I type.

As I was browsing a few blogs this morning I came across this quote on Mandy's blog at Pearl Maple http://pearlmaple.blogspot.com.au/.

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation." Brian Tracy

So, what to do today.  Apart from the general housework catchup for the week, I am really excited to be committing some time for me. 

Etsy shopping....  I've just ordered my copy of All I did was Listen by Rachel Awes, an inspiring artist and rich souled woman!  Go Rachel.  http://allididwaslisten.blogspot.com.au/

Reading... Vertigo by Amanda Lohrey.  and just collected from my wonderful local library yesterday, A Story of Seven Summers by Hilary Burden.  I read a review of this one in the October issue of Australian Country Style, so am really looking forward to delving into it.

Sewing.... bunting for a special girls bedroom, and some starry christmas garlands.
My lovely Janome packed it in a few weeks ago, but $200 later (eek!), it's back in action.  I think the fact that in the 15years I've owned it, it's never been serviced had something to do with it breaking down.  Hmm.  Where did the last fifteen years go?  Well, that's a whole other post isn't it! 

Baking...  current favourite is the good old cinnamon teacake.  Also popular here are my Melting Moments, although a bit too crumbly for lunchboxes.  My inner 'domestic goddess' loves it when my homebake is devoured in no time.

The air-conditioner....  will probably go on at about lunchtime today.  Summer is barging it's way into south-east Queensland this week!

What are you up to today? 

Jane x

So much inspiration...

Hello!  Happy Friday.
I have the day off today to enjoy whats left of the school holidays and take Miss Dusty to the vet for her 16 week needle.
A little wander in the garden this morning and marvelling at the new fronds on my cycad, sparked inspirational words flitting through my mind. 

Grow, take your time, reach, move to your own rythym, embrace, hold onto what is yours, you are beautiful, unravelling in my own time.

It is so easy to take the everyday for granted. We do need to stop, actually stand still, see and feel what is around us.  I am grateful for so much.



Hello new fronds, I have been waiting (patiently) for you for so long.

Sit!  Good girl Dusty.

Crafting.....
Yes!  I made some time to get that canvas out and add a bit more to it.  Here's how it's looking..

I had stuff everywhere!

 

Have a superb weekend now won't you!  We have a great weekend ahead including a family birthday to celebrate, and a 'dog whisperer' coming to the house to meet Dusty and give us some valuable training tips.

Hugs, happiness
Jane x

To Monday with love...

Spotted this heart on the pavement this morning when my love took me for 'smoko'.

Hope today has given you some happy moments.
Jx

Weekend fun

Hello
I hope you've been enjoying your weekend.  We went to the beach yesterday, Bribie Island actually.  Of course we took Dusty dog with us.  She is nearly 14 weeks old now, getting used to the lead, a very good girl in the car, so leaving her at home was never an option. 

I always seem to breathe a little easier when I am near the water.  Do you have a place that lifts you to a higher level?  The water was crystal clear, absolutely stunning.  We had smoko (my bushy husband's definition of morning tea), a stroll along the beach (calm water), followed by very scrumptious fish n chips for lunch.

We then sought out the off-leash beach (ocean side) for the pup to socialise and wear herself out!
It felt like we had been away much longer than we had.  Shows what a bit of quality family time can do to keep the love strong.  All rested and happy.

I hope this week is a good one for you.  I'm taking a few hard earned days off.
Jane x

The Egg

It's eggs for breakfast here this morning.  How cute is this?  I know by the colour and size of the egg that is was laid by Sophia.  She sometimes likes to sign her work by leaving the softest of feathers.

I love this quote, via Live Inspired this morning.

'we are made to persist... that's how we find out who we are'.  Tobias Wolff

Good luck to my young man Cooper as he competes in the regional champs in high jump today.  Love and pride aplenty.

Have a super duper day. 
Jane x

Happy Monday

Hello friends
I do hope you are well and happy.  Hopefully as happy as our pet rabbit Nibbles is, with all of the silverbeet, ornamental kale, lettuce and zuchinni surrounding him.

And currently, a blog update would not be complete without a photo of Dusty.  She is growing so fast, of course. 

Best wishes from me to you.  Have a happy Monday.
Jane x

It's a girl!!!

I know. I've been missing again.  Sorry.  There's been a lot happening and I've been keeping a secret.  We have a new member in our family.  Take a look....

Introducing.....   Dusty

Isn't she precious?  She is eight weeks old, a purebred Australian Kelpie.  We've taught her to 'sit' already, and after a few sleep deprived nights when we first brought her home, she has settled happily and we don't hear a peep out of her all night.  We love love love her.  It's so nice to have a dog in my life again.  As any dog owners know, a lot of extra work, but worth every minute, especially when you arrive home to a wagging tail!

We are very slowly getting her used to the chooks.  They are still bigger than her, but not for long.  Dusty is growing like a weed.  The other day she got a little too close to Sophia (biggest chook) and Sophia had a defensive peck and flap of her wings at her.  Poor little pup got such a fright and backed off.  I'm sure they'll all be hanging out in the sunshine together before we know it.

The Ekka is on here currently, so am looking forward to the public holiday on Wednesday this week.  We have just acquired two fabulous old squatters chairs, via Gumtree, and Ebay.  So comfortable.  Can't you picture me in my squatters chair, glass of wine, a good book, and my kelpie by my side. 

Have a great week ahead.

Jane x

Best friends and Janecreative!

Hi friends

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend as much as I am.  Yesterday I spent the day with my bestie from high school.  What a great day and so special that 'after all these years' we still have so much in common.  Love you special friend!  You mean the world to me.

And, since today has been an indoors kind of day here, I have finished one of my other canvases.  What do you think?  Yes, it's another one of the Crispin Korschen cards with my added extras to adorn one of the walls of our home.

Enjoy what's left of this brilliant long weekend lovely ones. 
Jane x

Take a moment...

Hello, hope you have a wonderful day.  I love this quote, I have it on the wall in front of my computer.

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
JK Rowling

Jane x

Where did May go?

Good heavens!  Today is the 1st of June.  I cannot believe I didn't blog at all in May.  I seem to have misplaced my blogging hat and am struggling to write.  Oh well, I know it happens to the best of us.  Note to self...  be patient with yourself Jane. 

The Pass at Byron Bay on the 6th of May, stunning as always.
Notice the heart shape in foliage?

It was a busy month with work, my wedding anniversary, four family birthdays including mine which fell on Mothers Day this year.  One of my highlights for the month was seeing the 'super' moon on the evening of the 6th, also our wedding anniversary.  We were at the Gold Coast for a little celebration and watched in total awe as the moon rose over Rainbow Bay, from where we were sitting on our balcony.  What a gift.

Check that out.  This pic is a bit hazy because I zoomed
 my little camera in as far as it could zoom!

Do you want to know what the May affirmation was, or is that living in the past?  It was....  "I reward myself with thoughts of praise".  Well I did a few times, I had some good sessions at the gym, put on a lovely family lunch for Mothers Day and all our birthdays, put smiles on the faces of my elderly clients at work.  Because I look for the positive in everything, I can always see reasons for self praise.  It's a good way to be.  Even if things don't turn out how you were hoping, it's happened for a reason, and we can learn from it.

I have a new work in progress....
I found this great poster at Typo, one of my favourite little shops to have a poke around in.  It spoke to me, so I bought it.

I've mounted it on a big canvas and now I just need to add the special touches.  Don't know how it will finish up, but I will share it with you, soon! 

So now it's June, the half way marker for another year.  The affirmation for this month is brilliant.

"I release, I relax and I let go"

I have practiced this so many times over the years.  Are you able to 'let go' of thoughts, issues, hangups?  I think this will be a great month!

Happy thoughts are flying your way.

Jane x

I'm back!!

Hello friends

Remember me?  I know, it's been ages again.  Have you missed me? 
It's tricky when you haven't blogged for so long.  How far back do I go in news and events?
I think I'll just summarise the things that come to mind.  Here we go...

Health issues.... 
Well, for a long time, probably about two years, I've been feeling pretty lousy.  No energy, foggy brain, breathless, emotional and the list goes on.  It got to the point that I decided I had better go to my doctor and have a check up.  It is pretty typical of me to leave things about two years before going to the doctor.  Do you do that?  Family first, Jane last.  Long story short...  had bloodtest, which revealed I'm actually quite healthy, all bar my iron levels which Dr told me were so low that I as almost anemic.  I was thrilled to finally be able to pinpoint what was wrong.   I honestly do not know how I kept functioning in the day to day way for as long as I had, feeling so low.  As a result of this health revelation, I stopped doing some things, just to give myself some time to 'heal'. Anyway, I'm on the mend now and my thoughts are clearer, my energy levels are up and I'm getting things done that had been neglected for way too long. 

The reading pile... 
I read a great novel which I picked up at a secondhand bookshop up the coast.  "The proper care and maintenance of friendship" by Lisa Verge Higgins.  If you are interested, let me know and I'll post it to you.  I like passing on a 'good read' of which this is one.  Currently reading "Love in complete sentences" by Mary E Mitchell.

Anzac Day
I have attended dawn ceremonies over the years, but this year was different for me.  We spent a few great nights at the coast before getting up early and making our way down the beach to the dawn service at Currumbin Surf Club.  I have a few close connections with people and family who have served and one who is currently serving.  I just had to go there to that place this year and feel the emotion which at times was overwhelming.  I could not believe the number of people walking the footpaths to the beach.  Here's Jane walking along in the dark among strangers, tears rolling down her cheeks and the service was still half an hour from beginning!  The fact that so many people had made the same effort as us.  I wondered what some of their stories were.  Had they lost a loved one, were they carrying their grandfathers medals, was their best friend currently serving?  I'll never know, but I'll tell you what, that morning, last Wednesday, was one of the proudest of my life.  So proud to be Australian.  We all walked down onto the beach, safely and in peace, we were on a mission of our own that morning.

On the home front...
Well the lettuce are just delicious, I've got the crysanthemums blooming, the marigolds are starting to burst open.  The chooks are good, although Sofia is still trying to be beautiful again after her annual moult, poor girl, she was about 1/3 naked for a few weeks, but now the magnificent new jet black feathers are emerging.  Needless to say, a chook cannot moult and keep laying at the same time, so we're down on eggs at the moment.  Louise has kept on keeping on though, good little chook.  She doesn't go through an annual moult at all really.  I'm busy in my little business and happy that I took that small 'leap of faith' at the beginning of the year.

Affirmation for the month of April...
"I share my resources and knowledge with those on my path".  As April is nearly over, it's been good to re-read this months affirmation to see if I happened to be actually practicing what the affirmation said.  I think my experience with my youngens last Wednesday proves to be that I have. So I'm happy. 

Enjoy what's left of the weekend!

Jane x

Hello March

Hello friends

I've been meaning to post an update for weeks and weeks!  I happen to be home today, so I couldn't let the day pass with sending you this happy little hello, and also to share my positive affirmation.....
"By expanding my horizons, I easily dissolve limitations."  Yes, it's true!

It's been a busy time for me since taking on some extra work, and trying to maintain normality at home.  I think I am the only one who has suffered, but as I trust the process of life, I have had two sick people to take care of this week, so my five day working week has been reduced to three!  Aaah, I love a bit of breathing space. 

I've also been trying to keep up the regular visits to the gym.  I did three RPM classes last week which I'm proud of.  Any crafting Jane, I hear you ask??  No, but to make the most of being home today, I've rearranged the 'love' room (our multipurpose room) and am freshly inspired.  It's amazing what a shift of energy can do.

Well that's all for now.  I hope you are well and happy. 

Jane x

Wordless Wednesday, well, one word

Growth!

Jane x

Repeat after me.....

I behave in a loving way to all people.

Happy February friends!  A bright happy morning to welcome the first day of February.  I'm so awake I even remembered to turn the page on my calendar to see what this months positive affirmation is.....  I behave in a loving way to all people.   Well, I like to think that I already do.  Perhaps I still have more lives to touch with my buzzing positive and loving energy. 

Today is the day I will rejoin the gym.  It's been about 18 months since I stopped going, just really needed a break from it, and boy oh boy, don't you notice a change when you stop doing weights and spin classes, not good!  When the keen young hip dude asks me what I want to achieve, I'm going to tell him straight, fitness, strength and a body like Sam Stosur.  Although I don't need my arms to be quite that muscley!!!!  Cheer me on friends.  The more encouragement I get, the faster I will ride and the stronger I will lift.    Ha, my 'word' for this year is 'lift'.  Little did I realise when that word announced itself to me that it could mean lift weights! 

I took my cuppa to the back stairs this morning and this is what I saw.

Don't you love my cup
it's a Rob Ryan cup, thank you very much!

Happy rainbow streamers at chook headquarters!

blue skies again, after so so much rain.

I had a pretty great January, so look out February.  Sending you happy smily face day.
Jane x

creatingJane

Hi friends

Forgive me, as it has been 20 days since my last post!  Where did that time go?  Oh, that's right, work, family, return to school, you know how it is.  It has been even longer since I've done anything creative of my own and I've been missing it so much.  Today is the day!  I've nearly finished my little series of Barking Mad cards that I've mounted onto canvas and added my own little creative touches.  Here's the one I've done today.  It's titled  "holding onto each other while the gust of love blows through".  It will go on the wall beside the last one I did, "listening to the quiet". 

I have been searching high and low for a spectacle case just like this.  Finally I found one!  Where did I find it you ask?  Etsy vintage of course.  All the way from France.  I love it and I love Etsy.

A big thanks goes out to Catherine at A Time to Create for her wonderful giveaway, of which I was the lucky winner.  It arrived safely, thanks so much Catherine.

I'll try and not leave it so long until my next post!  Stay as happy as you possibly can.  There is so much to be grateful for.  Referring back to my precious new calendar for 2012, here's a tip.... "Enlightenment is a 24 hour a day job."

Jane x



Happy anniversary!

Imagine that.  I've been a blogger for a year now, my first post was 1 January 2011.  I didn't know if I would keep up with it, or more importantly for me when I started, would anyone want to keep up with me.  Well the statistics speak for themselves.  Journey to the Edge of Jane has not been an overnight success, but as I write, I have 52 followers, after 51 posts.  It's not so much the number of followers a blogger has (although I see some bloggers are driven by the big number) but the quality of the followers.  I love that each time I welcome a new follower (you help validate me!), and I jump over and check out their blog, it's nearly always a person whose spirit, humour or interests align with my own in some way. It's just like magic!  I think my January affirmation has been working behind the scenes for me.

So, thanks to you, one of my lovely friends, for keeping me smiling and willing me to follow dreams to create and be happy.  In a world where there is so much negative, it's so nice to know there are just as many positives.

I am finally getting around to trying Ironmum Karla Quinoa salad.

The onlookers comments...
 'mum, what did you just take a photo of?'
I said:  'my packet of quinoa'
Onlooker said:  'do you really think anyone will care?"
I said:  'Karla will'

When the quinoa was ready...
Onlooker said: 'are you actually going to eat that?'
I said:  'um, yes'

Precious aren't they!

Have to go now and add the extra bits.  Have a great day today whatever you are doing.  I'm having some girl time with some special friends.  Oh, and last night I made these.  I'm loving making paper garlands at the moment and giving them to people I love. 

Today, let your heart do the talking. 
Jane x

PS. If you have any great Quinoa recipes, please share.  Just wait till I serve it up to 'the onlookers' for dinner one night!

My January affirmation

Hello dear friends

I've been trying to relax a bit, lie around a read a book or two, get a bit organised for the new year, spend quality time with family.  It's all working!  Today I actually put up my 2012 calendar.  I treated myself to a Louise Hay calendar which features beautiful drawings and positive affirmations.  I'm a huge fan of Louise. Her gentle guidance has supported me and helped me to 'grow' so much in the last decade or so. 

The affirmation for January is...  I am open and receptive to all the good in the Universe.

Are you feeling open and receptive to what lies ahead for you in 2012?

Happy thoughts to you today.

Jane x