Jikana Damaru

Giving Thanks - A Timely Reminder

Now I'm not sure if anyone is even reading this blog of mine, but somewhere, sometime, I hope that someone comes across this and what I write gives them some hope or inspiration or even just a good laugh at my naivety.

So this morning I am sitting at my desk looking out the window at a climbing rose that I was given by a dear friend probably 10+ years ago. This beautiful rose gets very little love and yet it has grown and thrived until this past long hot summer and suddenly one day it looked very dead. It seemed to happen overnight - although obviously that is not true - but we took it for granted and loved its beauty and the shade it gave (it is big) and admired the little pink roses, masses of them every flowering - and then suddenly one day I really looked at it and it seemed dead - brown leaves and worse still in spots leafless dry brittle stems pointing jaggedly at the sky - a little like accusing bony fingers pointing at me and scolding me for its neglect. I mourned the loss and did indeed scold myself for not making sure it had water, for not caring - I know I am busy but I neglected this beautiful plant, I took the pleasure I got from it for granted and I thought it would always be there - it has been for over 10+ years so why would it not for another 10.

Today as I look out, there are new green shoots appearing on many of what I thought were dead branches, and so I give thanks for the small amount of rain we have had, to nature for the strength of this neglected beauty, to my friend for sharing this plant with us. This weekend we will prune back those branches which are no longer viable and then I will continue to enjoy and give thanks as I watch it come back to life.

I wonder if there are other things or people in our lives we take for granted, that we don't give thanks for, and then suddenly they are gone. If it is people - unlike this beautiful rose - they can not come back from the dead. Take time in each day to give thanks for those you love and take the time to tell them of your love - don't take it for granted that they know.

~ House Progress ~

When I first started this blog my intention was to talk about the new house we are building - while I have talked lots about the things I want I have just realised it has been a while since I showed the progress we are making. Here are a few photos of our "construction site".

We are progressing well - last weeks rain did not help as they are desperate to get some paint on so they can get the scaffold down but apart from that things are on track.

The electrical rough in began today and the plumbing rough in is complete so we are on to the fun stuff! I have been busy sorting out blinds and shutters so they can do the check measure the minute we have finished gyprocking.

Still a long way to go but October is looking good - I can wait!

Belief

I believe ...

that all good things are possible

that you deserve all the good things that come into your life, they are sent to you for a reason

that everyone has the potential to see the glass as half full, you just need to give yourself permission

that everyone deserves to be cherished in some way

that every new day has the potential to be the best of your life if you let it

that even the bad things can be lessons for us to grow if we give ourselves permission to see it as so

that all the people who come into my life are sent for a reason, but that some will only stay for a short time, while others are mine to keep forever

What do you believe?

~ Stay Calm ~

It has been a long weekend here in Australia - always nice to have hubby around that extra day to help with the kids - this weekend however he has spent most of his time working on his computer - there is always a deadline to meet. The kids have decided that this makes for a perfect excuse to drive mum crazy! Dad won't listen so lets send mum nuts.

Thankfully hubby has now put his computer down and decided to take a drive to his mum and dads - yes with the kids, finally! My opportunity to restore some calm before they arrive home again! I have made a pot of pumpkin soup and a chicken casserole (yes masterchef is inspiring me to cook but nothing too glamourous!), sat down for a little read of the latest Notebook magazine and finally jumped on my computer for my daily catch up in the blog world.

While in blog heaven I found an even more pleasant surprise - Millie at The Laurel Hedge has mentioned my blog - this has made my day! Thank you Millie for helping keep me calm!

Now to try and remain calm for the rest of the week - Deep breaths, deep breaths I hear them returning home.

Baileys home and garden

Baileys is a wonderful store in Bridstow village, here in the UK; "The things we sell are a surprising mix of vintage and new from a variety of sources - but they all share the qualities integral to our repair, reuse, rethink philosophy."

Reusing products is just as important as recycling, in my opinion. So, for a work space that has a sophisticated retro feel about it try the galvanized metal chairs, antique 1950s anglepoise lamp and the rotary telephone. I'm particularly impressed with their handmade leather satchel in crackled white.

For original storage ideas, stack their wooden apple crates against a wall to create unusual shelving.

Thankfulness Quotes For Your Consideration

These quotes have touched my heart this week - may they also touch yours, or at least give you something to ponder.

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit - Albert Schweitzer.

Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving, it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart - Sarah Ban Breathnach

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine - Thomas Jefferson

A Good New Story

One of my girlfriends has been out of work for about 8 months and has been looking hard for work. In one week alone she sent off 20+ applications. A lot of the time she hasn't even managed to get an interview and she was understandably getting disheartened and disillusioned.

She did a couple of months contract work with me, but I had no more money to keep her on contract, even though she did a fantastic job and was a joy to have working with our team.

We had discussed the fact that there was a job out there somewhere, it would come and find her, she just had to be patient.

Well - it found her yesterday - she didn't apply, she didn't even know it was on offer. It found her anyway. So if you are out there looking for work, keep positive and believe. I know it is easy for me to say, I am not in your shoes. But keep your confidence and self belief as I am sure you can be just a lucky.