Hello ...

Hope you have all had a wonderful week. Mine has been hectic, and I have a few projects to complete this weekend, but I hope to drop by all your blogs at some stage over the next few days.

I received this in an email today, and thought it was too lovely not to share ...

I've never made a fortune,
and it's probably too late now.

But I don't worry about that much,
I'm happy anyhow

and as I go along life's way,

I'm reaping better than I sowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,

and sometimes the goings tough

But I've got loving ones all around me,

and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings,

and the mercies He's bestowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed

I remember times when things went wrong,

My faith wore somewhat thin.

But all at once the dark clouds broke,

and the sun peeped through again.
So Lord, help me not to gripe,

about the tough rows I have hoed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,

When the way grows steep and rough.

I'll not ask for other blessings,

I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,

to help others bear their loads.

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

When I think of how many people in this world have it worse

than I do, I realize just how blessed we really are.

Hope you all ...

Catch you soon...

Take care,

I'm Haven't Forgotten About You All !!

Hello Everyone,

It's been extra busy in the world of Meow lately ... what with work, Chicky's birthday and party, and all manner of other stuff, it has kept me away from my beloved blogging. I'm not happy !!! Well, I am happy, but not with the lack of blogging situation ... it is very frustrating. I want to sit and play and visit you all, but am not finding the time (or in some instances, the energy). Please perservere with me, life will begin to slow down again soon, work will ease off (it is apparently the busiest month of the year ... I am working 4 days ... soon it will be back to 2 or 3 days again!). I hugely miss you all, and drop by to read as often as I can, however I don't always comment.

Oh yeah, Chicky's party went magically, I catered adequately (thank god for that), and the kids all had a ball. It was a long afternoon, but a hugely successful one. Thanks, everyone, for all your Happy Birthday wishes for her ... she loved them all xxx

I'd like to share with you a great quote I found ...

You can understand and relate to most people better if you look at them -- no matter how old or impressive they may be -- as if they are children. For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much -- we simply grow taller. O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we always are, whose needs are simple, whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales.

--Leo Rosten--

Gotta go ... bye fore now. Have a great week.

Take care,

Happy 13th Birthday Chicky ...

CHICKY

Well, it's the morning after the day before (Saturday morning, to be precise), and my baby girl is now a teenager !! OMG, that makes me feel so old !!

She had a lovely day, even though she had to go to school LOL !! We had the family over last night, so she got some wonderful pressies. It was a great evening ... I got to be around 1am !!

Today she has netball, then a friend coming over for a sleep-over.

Sunday is the big party, with 20 of her closest friends (!?!) at the Monash Aquatic Centre (an indoor swimming pool with a wave pool ... great fun !). We are heading out shopping this avo to get supplies for the party, as we are bringing our own stuff, with Hubby going out and getting pizzas for dinner, before the kids go home !! It works out cheaper, and you get more and yummier food doing it this way. AND, the mess is still not in your own home ... yay !!

So, I hope to do my blog visiting this afternoon ... fingers crossed ... while Chicky and her friend put together the lolly bags for the party. They have planned to watch movies, and just have fun !! Hubby is sleeping (worked night shift last night), and I am all done with housework (other than a couple loads of washing), so I can do my own thing (finally !!).

Catch you all on your blogs.

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

OMG, what a week (so far !!)

Goodness, am I tired. Since i wrote my last post, Tuesday morning, I have been at work almost not stop during daylight hours. I did a bit of shopping Tuesday, after posting, and was called in whilst at the shopping centre. There is so much work at the moment, and they need all hands on deck ... I couldn't say no (although I wish that I had've, as I got nothing done that I wanted to that day!). I come home from work so tired, from focusing on the computer screens (the work I do is a lot of editing / formatting of text, meaning a lot of staring at the computer !). I have barely had the energy to turn on the computer when I get home, let alone do anything with it!!

So, please forgive me, I haven't forgotten you all ... I miss you, and can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you've been up to.

I will finish now, and try to come visiting. Wish me luck.

(Don't know if I'll be able to do much tomorrow ... Chicky's birthday ... as I have to do stuff I should've done Tuesday. You know, housework, washing, baking, same old, same old !! We are having the family over for coffee and cake tomorrow Evening. Busy day !!)

Take care,

I'm Back ... Finally !!

Hello Dear Blog-Friends,

It seems like ages since I last posted, and got around to reading all your blogs ... and I guess it has been ages ... since before Easter (excepting the brief post I did whilst away ... but that doesn't really count !!)

So, what have I been up to ??? More to the point, what have you been up to ??? OK, me first !!

We went up to Bonnie Doon on Good Friday, for a week and a bit of R & R. The weather was totally wonderful ... blue skies and sunshine all the way through.

It is a games and fun weekend, Easter weekend, up at the caravan park we stay at (Peppin Point). We played darts on the Friday night (well, the boys mostly did, we girls watched !!). Saturday had lawn bowls, tennis, and various other games. I played lawn bowls (which was held on the tennis courts), which I hadn't played before, and made it through to round 2, where I bombed out. Great fun, though.

Saturday night was Trivia Night. My cousin and I run this ... I had spent hours and hours putting together the questions in the week prior ... he calls the questions on the night, and I do all the scoring and sorting of results. The night was deemed a great success, with lots of fun (and drinks!!) had by all.

Sunday (apart from being Easter) was the finals of the lawn bowls, tennis, as well as BMX racing and something else (oops, I can't remember what it was !!). There was also an Easter Egg hunt, with the Easter Bunny making an appearance !!

As well as the Easter Bunny paying us a visit on Easter Sunday, so did my mum & dad. We went for a bit of a cruise through the lake-bed (no water, remember !!) with the 4WD, and ventured upon a river and bridge we hadn't seen before. So, of course, out came the camera ...

We had a wonderful day with my parents, we always do. We just get along so well, and have lots of fun.

Hubby went home Monday afternoon, as he had to work Tuesday through to Friday. Chicky and I stayed at the caravan park ... car-less !! Fortunately, there were a few others around, so we weren't totally stranded !!

Some friends took the kids out to a water (mud) hole, to try and catch some carp that had become stranded there. Well, the kids thought the pleasant art of fishing was no fun, so decided to have a mud fight. They had a ball, got totally covered in mud. Here's the end result (I have only chosen to share a back-view of these kids, as I'm wary of posting pictures of kids, other than my own, on the internet !).

During the course of the week, they ended up doing this twice more, each time coming back more filthy. Got some spectacular photos, though ... and the kids had so much fun. They do say mud is good for the skin, don't they !?!?!?!

Apart from the kids having fun, so did I. I read a couple of books (I loooooooove to read), crocheted a bit (I've been working on a blanket for years, but only do a little bit each Winter ... it should be finished this century sometime !!!), and attempted a bit more of my cross-stitch. The cross-stitch is another project I started some time ago, and it keeps getting put aside. One day !! It is a gorgeous picture of a cat (how unusual !!) laying on a tree branch, with his leg dangling down ... absolutely beautiful (at least it will be, one day !!). Also caught up with some friends, chatted heaps, drank some, ate a lot !! Well, isn't that what you do on holidays !?!?!

Overall, a wonderful week. Didn't take as many photos as normal ... but didn't really go anywhere, either.

Arrived home Sunday 1ish, dumped our stuff from out of the car, got changed, and headed out to a party !!! OMG, what a busy day.

Worked yesterday (Monday), so haven't had a chance to fiddle on the computer properly yet !!

I have a day off today, and I need to go out shopping (it's Chicky's 13th birthday on Friday), and then come home and do some long overdue housework (getting visitors on Friday night, not sure if I'll have a lot of time for housework Friday ... so it's today or never). Then back working Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is for groceries, and preparation for visitors !! Gosh, hope I have time to relax !!! We also have a pool-party for Chicky on Sunday afternoon, at the local wave-pool ... 20 kids !!! OMG !!!

So, that's me taken care of ... what about you ??? I guess I will have to drop on by your blogs, to see what you've been up to. Keep an eye out for me, I'll be there soon.

Have a wonderful week

Take care,

Greetings From Bonnie Doon

Hello everyone, and greetings from Bonnie Doon.

My lack of posting is due to the fact that I am away from home, and am having a wonderfully, relaxing time, catching up with friends, books, crocheting, cross-stitching (and not a lot of computer-playing !!)

I haven't even taken many photos ... have barely left the caravan park. We did, however, discover a bridge, uncovered by the receding lake waters ... I will share them with you next week, as I don't want to use up my upload limit on my portable internet doodad !!

I recently submitted my bog to CRITIQUE MY BLOG ... just out of curiosity. I had noticed a few of my blog friends had also done this, so had to give it a go, also.

Anyway, here is what he (Bill, at Critique My Blog) wrote ...

Alright Cat lovers...pour yourself a cup of coffee and settle into the Varieties Of Life brought to us by..well...who else...Meow. She has a blog where the main theme is cats and although I'm not a big cat fan...I could find some humor and interest in the blog. Her post Cats On Tuesday #13-Rules for cats who have a house to run is a purrfect (couldn't resist) example. The blog is set up in a busy manner with lots to look at and the posts are well written. Cat lovers and blog lovers alike should check this one out. Well done.

I must say, I was quite chuffed with this critique ... Thank you Bill.

Must go now, time to go for a walk !!

Will talk again soon.

Take care,

I'm Getting In Early ...

Hello Friends,

Not sure if I'll get a chance to post again before we leave on Friday, for an extended Easter break at Bonnie Doon. So, here's a basket of eggs for you to share ...

Ooops, a naughty little bunny has stolen some ...

Hang on a minute, one of them is hatching ...

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Easter, and hope you get to enjoy the time with family and friends and loved ones.

Don't eat too much chocolate (but, then again, it IS Easter ... who can resist !!).

Have a wonderful time, everyone, and I will catch you all soon.

Take care,