Today I Am Grateful For...

Mountains A beautiful day today and I sat for a while looking at the view of the mountains all around me - calming and soothing and spectacular

Hugs I've been missing hugs with my friends since the pandemic started, but the kids and Tony hug me every day and today when I was feeling low I got lots of hugs from Caitlin - it really really helps.

Ninja I love watching the show (Australian Ninja Warrior) and I’m so happy that I have been able to start to learn the skills myself. Looking forward to getting back to it once this is all over.

My bed It's comfortable to sleep in and it's comfortable to curl up on with a book or with my laptop or my notebooks or a puzzle. It's a sanctuary and somewhere I feel safe and calm and secure.

Having my hair brushed. Caitlin has been brushing my hair a few times a week and it’s so relaxing - almost as good as getting a massage

Sunsets. There've been some glorious sunsets during this lockdown (and the previous one). Today it was cloudy so even though I walked late in the day I assumed we wouldn't see anything. Just as Amelie got home we turned and to the North West there was a small break in the clouds, which was glowing orange and was reflected in the dam - it was gorgeous!

My phone. I love my new phone, and it’s shiny case. I love that I can talk to friends on it, send and receive messages, look thongs up, listen to music and books, play games. I really really love it.

Tony’s cooking Tony cooked a delicious kangaroo stroganoff tonight - so good! He cooks often and we’ll and without complaint and it makes me really happy

Toasted sandwiches. Tony just made me a cheese and tuna toastie and it was exactly what I needed after a headachy day.

Friends. Even though I can't see any of my friends at the moment, I've had some lovely phone calls this week, and I can keep in touch through texts and Facebook.

Firewood. It's been really cold the past few days, and having a good supply of firewood to warm our house makes it much easier. It's very cosy in here (especially with the new curtains and having boarded up the cracked windows) and I'm much happier and comfortable not being cold.

Sunny winter afternoons. We had the most glorious walk today - everywhere I looked made me happy, the green hills, the mountains, the sun on the vines, the wattle trees, the cows, the gum trees, the puddles on the ground, reflections in the dams and puddles, the temperature, the blue sky, everything!

Music Listening to one of my playlists as I walked today really helped to lift my mood.

Laughter. Have had so many good laughs with the kids and with Tony over the last couple of days (and just by myself, listening to my audiobook). I'm feeling flat tonight but laughing with the others has helped me feel better.

Pop Culture. We binged the 5 Twilight movies over the past 2 days and I am so happy that I relaxed about watching and reading and enjoying popular things. I love that the kids know so much about the things that have been big in their time, and in mine, and that we can talk about them all and are happy to learn more things about them.

Sunlight over the vines. Every afternoon when the sun shines through the vines it is glorious and I'm so happy that we live where we do

Long hot showers. This morning I had a bad headache and felt quite sick. It was heavenly to sit under the hot water and feel my body relaxing and the pain easing.

My Piano. I downloaded and printed out some new sheet music today and had fun exploring new songs, as well as working on some old ones. Relaxing and enjoyable.

Reading a good book and having time to myself (currently reading: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - finally started it after having it on my list for about 4 years)