A Diary Of Gratitude....

New Year. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked,

embraced and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this new year of delight and self discovery....

Simple Abundance.

~ A week into the new year already!

Have you made any new year resolutions dear friends? I wonder....

 Although I am still a little under the weather and have some lingering effects from the pesky flu. I have embraced another year with a tradition, I started in 2007.

~My gratitude diary.

Each January I start a journal of quotes, ideas, thoughts and inspirations and of course gratitude...

I have always kept a diary for as long as I can remember, it helps me feel grounded appreciative and aware of what is truly important to me, I guess.

I must confess I struggled with my thoughts and feelings whilst nursing mum through her very long journey ....

~ But alas I still have my diaries to look back on now, a lot of sadness, but also a lot of love is written in these pages.

~ Have you made any 'New Year' resolutions, dear friends? 
I ask once more.

They are quite often hard to keep, I know.....

On the New Years eve, I met Patrick,  Ooh this was many moons ago, superstition had me take out a piece of jet black coal in my hand bag. 

Although he is used to my ways now, he must have found me odd, perhaps!

I had read this to be a lucky omen to bring into your home from the old year, to welcome in  the new one. This was all of 25 years ago, a little magic perhaps involved.... *****

I remember thinking when we met there was perhaps a soul recognition between us as though we knew each other already and had perhaps been before in another time....

(Patrick would laugh if he read my blog)

He doesn't thankfully, far too busy running.....

~ I call his running 'fuel for his soul...'

hehe.

~ Liseanthus , my favourite flower in the colour of dairy milk wrappers with beautiful roses.

Delivered on our anniversary.

~ And because New year was spent in my PJs, this wonderful little read was enjoyed too!

A gift from another lovely friend.

I love reading anything magical and most especially about the Moon.

Some wonderful gifts from Santa....

Dolly from ' The Button and the Bean' beautiful blog!

I will close for now and leave you with this thought!

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." 

I wonder which year this one will be?

~ Take time to dream....

Love Maria x

Daffodils, just a little bit of Spring times promise.

I do hope spring is just a round the next corner.....

Ring Out The Old..... Ring In The New....

~ And now let us welcome the New Year. Full of things that have never been. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke.

January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons....

Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell: cold, crisp, woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savoury suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys. Out side all is still, nature is at peace. We should be too. Draw hearthside. This is the month to dream, to look forward to the new year ahead and the journey within....

Simple Abundance.

~ Hello every one, how has your Christmas been? I wonder.

I must admit to feeling as weak as a kitten through all the festivities.. I came down with the Christmas dreaded 'lurgy' on the big day its self! Perhaps running low on batteries from all the extra working hours and build up! 

~ Christmas is for kittie cats too, you know!

(Pedro on Christmas morning)

~ There has been days of cosying by the fire, and giving in to rest.....

The 'holy' quiet days in between Christmas and new year are always my favourite.

~ And as we put 2012 well and truly to bed, I give thanks for the wonderful year, we have shared....A year of achievement commitment and satisfaction for us all as a family! 

Dean flies out to Nairobi in  Kenya with team GB on the 5th, January! He will be there for a month to train in the higher altitudes with the likes of Mo Farah! It is another fabulous opportunity as he and pal David Devine are the only two from the Paralympic team of distance runners chosen..

I am ever so chuffed for him!

I would like to thank you all for your kind friendships and sweet comments always and as we have travelled through this virtual year together, dear friends, I would like to wish you and yours a truly wonderful new year! 

Chill something bubbly tomorrow evening and honour the old year with a toast!

~ And welcome the new with open hearts.

I will be sure to take all your blogging friendships with me into 2013!

Bless you all.

Love Maria x

Christmas Blessings....

~ But what is Christmas spirit? Perhaps the Christmas spirit, like the nature of the beloved, is meant to be a Holy Mystery.....
Or perhaps our souls, knowledge that things, no matter how beautiful, are only things.
Or perhaps the Christmas spirit is a loving reminder that we must make time for the long, slow journey across the desert; to discover our very own 'Star'.....

~

Simple Abundance.

~ Every year at this time, Bob comes in from my  cold, stark back yard, to grace my kitchen window...

He's been here from small !

He is decorated with cinnamon and ginger bread men, with a tiny goose and a cloth soldier sprinkled here and there......

Just borrowed from a Pixie, I know....

Ooh you have guessed that Bob is my Christmas tree?

~ He was named by, Olivia.

He does a grand job lighting my kitchen, with his twinkly lights and festive glow.....

" But don't look at Bob, look at me" !

( For Willie)

~ And as the 'Winter Solstice', is upon us , his light and warmth are needed in this, the shortest day!

I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a 'Joy full Noel', dear friends and this is my Christmas Wish for us all: that behind the toys, tinsel, carols, cards and seasonal chaos, there will come a moment of quiet, peaceful reflection.....

Thank you! Mrs Thriftwood and Chipper Nelly of course!  for these.....

(Santa came early at Claire's house on Tuesday) hehe.

Shhhh....Special delivery!

My own Rosey Tinted Spectacles blocks.....

I love them, I really do....

'That it may be truly said of each of us that we know how to keep Christmas well'!

Sending 'Twinkles' *****

Love Maria x

Decking The Halls ......

First we have to believe, and then we believe.... - G. C. lighting.

~But believe in what, I hear you say....

"That there is a Santa Claus and you have been very good this year!"

Is the reply.....

For if you do not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!

~ and that just wouldn't do.....

Taken from simple abundance

.

Fairy from Sea Angels ....

I have decked the halls.

~And brought out a few treasures from Christmas past......

 Brrrr the air out side has been thin and chilly, sharp and stinging...

But once I closed my door, the warmth of the season has enveloped me with wood burning, fresh evergreens and spicy cinnamon and gingerbread candles...

Customs and traditions emptied from a box, from the loft, once more...

Some old ones and some new...

Ooh it must be Christmas!

I decorated my tree a little earlier this year.
I wasn't always this organised, please believe me!
But I have learnt Christmas will still arrive on December 25th , no matter.

~ and to the music of times gone by....

Ooh and a glass of damson gin too!

Well

' Tis The Season.'

La la la .......

Remember all you have is all you need right now!

A little vintage angel from our very first Christmas together....

As the days are growing shorter and light is diminishing, it is nice to have a little brightness inside...

~Another oldie for you!

Thank you for the kindest words always, dear friends and I do hope Christmas is coming along nicely for you all!

Sending you all Christmas blessings ...

Love Maria x

After word.
I did this post late, last evening and hadn't switched on the news,  if I am honest I never watch the news before bed time as it often stays with me through the night time....My heart and prayers go out to those little children and teachers, from a school in Connecticut, in the US,  who have lost theirs life's tragically and senselessly .
I am sending prayers out to their dear Mummies and Daddies , whose Christmases and indeed life's will never ever be the same again...
God Bless. x