Nana would be proud I think - delicious!

Wish it was this easy sometimes

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen.  Keep in the sunlight.  

- Benjamin Franklin

Grateful for all those cakes

I have nearly finished my first ever Christmas cake!  I just need to buy some ribbon to tie around it and it is done.  It was a long process...cutting up fruit, soaking and stirring fruit, baking, feeding the cake with rum...feeding it with MORE rum...and EVEN MORE rum!  Then there was the icing part.  Lots of fun was had and I'm feeling particularly grateful now for all the Christmas cakes my dear Nana used to make every year for all the families in our big family. 

  
Now I know what she went through (one for her and one for each of her three daughter's families) - WOW!  A massive (and expensive) task for a lady of 80.  Bless you Nana, you were a wonderful lady, for more reasons than lots of great cake. 

Shadows

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.  

- Swedish Proverb

Merry

Lucky

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
- Seneca

Backs

 

I'm grateful for feeling golden...

She was wearing her pjs, runners, cardi and hat.  We headed into the garden, her hand in mine, tiny feet taking tiny stumbly steps - oh wow, steps by themselves!  She pointed and tried to say things - flowers, trees, sky, birdy, grass and fence.  She wanted to head out the gate.  I wanted to take her back in and dress her properly - what will people think of me, daughter out in public and still in pjs at midday?  I decided to live in her moment with her & let her lead me outside.  She waved at buses (bah bah), the drivers waving back.  She waved at a truck (tark, tark).  The driver waved back, beaming!

We picked tiny flowers and put them in her pockets.  We watched a dragonfly on a tree and her eyes lit up.  The look on her face when she recognises something outside that she has seen in a book is just magical.  I love watching this little person that WE created, exploring and seeing her world open up in front of her.  Blissful and golden.  Yes, 16 months is certainly feeling golden!  

I am feeling so very grateful for feeling golden.  December last year, I was a month away from seeking help for Post-natal Depression, so possibly at my worst.  I felt as though I would never enjoy life again.  Hip-hip-hooray for that not being the case!  Today I'm linking up with Maxabella loves...I'm grateful for...

Bean's treasures from her first nature walk

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