How stressful is your holiday drive?

It’s September already!  Yes well I appreciate that it has been for several days now.  The Man and I have just returned from holiday – three weeks in Canada this summer.  It was the end of our summer and the start of the Canadian Fall and evident by the drop in temperature and a beautiful colour change in foliage from green to red.  It would have been lovely to stay and see more but time to return to the UK.

Our little rental car travelled a total of 2500 kilometres through the province of Ontario and thanks to Nellie the Navigator (the sat nav!) we managed to find family and places without too much stress and we were still on speaking terms when we got there!  I wonder if ‘still speaking’ is sold as a benefit of car navigation systems. Despite my initial reservations about using such a device, I do think Nellie helped a lot.  Like us, she did get a little frustrated when thrown off her planned route by unexpected road works -‘re-calculating! …re-calculating’ she cried in her Darlek like tone!  As former chief navigator, my role was somewhat redundant this year but I can live with that.  I was more than happy to follow the map anyway and enjoy the drive into new towns and places stress free.   

Artist unknown

prompt from Magpie

“I can’t”

“What do you mean, you can’t?  Just paint over it.”

“But then it’s gone … forever.”

“I know … I know… you’re right.”

“You were so angry, I remember.”

“The wall was hardly dry …it took me a whole day to paint!”

“Such a hot summer day, I recall.”

“You made lemonade.  With real lemons”

“Then that long silence of mischief.”

“And that thick black marker pen.”

“A story of its own in that childish scrawl

“And that look of pride and achievement.”

“Remember those smiling dimples?”

“And her chest so puffed with pride.”

“Let’s leave it for now.”

“Too painful?”

“Too soon”.

From the distance the smiling dimples smiled

What changes are you making today?

You have a clean slate every day you wake up. You have a chance every single morning to make that change and be the person you want to be. You just have to decide to do it. Decide today's the day. Say it; This is going to be my day.
~Brendon Burchard 

This is my inspirational quote for the day. My days usually start with an inspirational quote.  Sometimes it hits the spot.  You know that feeling when it ‘speaks’ to you, not literally of course but there’s a message there, just for you.

Today as I work through my Monday start of the week list, this quote got me thinking about all sorts of things.  I thought about work and recent changes in my work, about changes in my life and about changes in me.  Already today’s plans have changed with one phone call.  This was a call to cancel an already planned meeting.  That has freed up two whole hours.  I could be annoyed but I’m not.  So what to do or change instead of having a meeting?  Well as I’ve been rather remiss about updating my blog and doing some creative writing.  I’m changing my schedule to accommodate that, hence the blog update.  I may even use some of the time to tick off something on my procrastination list, which seems to be changing as I write. It is interesting to note that I’m more drawn to writing!

What difference will that make to the world?  Well perhaps not a huge difference to the world but a couple of changes to me and my world. 

Have a good week and may all your changes be for the best!

Friendship

I’ve got a new friend.  His name is Herman … different I know.  We became friends last weekend through my mum-in-law.  She has known Herman for several days now.  In fact I would go as far as to say that she has become quite fond of him.  I could tell by the affectionate tone she used when she spoke about him.  We met for the first time in her kitchen.

Initially I was a little reticent about becoming friends with Herman.  You see Herman’s different …very different from any of my other friends and he requires a different type friendship, if you get my meaning.  Well, I wasn’t sure if I could give the commitment to be a friend of Herman’s.  It was the responsibility and commitment on my part I was worried about.  She warned that he needed feeding on a regular basis and looking after.  I am a caring person but did wonder with my hectic lifestyle if I’d be able to manage the responsibility.  However, not one to shun a challenge, I agreed to look after Herman.  I can still see the visible signs of relief on my mum -in-law’s face. I sensed that she had grown quite fond of Herman but it was now time to let him go and she wished to ensure that he would go to a good home.  So that was how he came to live with me.

I’ve looked after him for ten days now and whilst he’s been no bother I’ve had to pull myself away from the busyness of life to feed and tend him.  Today I too have had to decide with whom I should share him.  It wasn’t easy and I had become quite attached to him. The instructions from my mum-in-law were quite specific.  He had to be shared with four of my friends. As a daughter-in-law, I had been one of her selected friends.

Now the big question was which of my friends could be entrusted with the continuing care of Herman?  Who was responsible enough to look after him?  Who would ensure that he was spoon fed regularly?  Who would provide the TLC required?  After a process of elimination, I selected the favourite four who I believed would care for Herman like one of their own.

A little part of Herman has remained with me and the rest …well now in the capable hands of my friends.  I shall miss him, but who am I to stand in the way of friendship and sharing.  Also, I believe that a little fun never hurt anyone.

Did I mention that Herman is a … Friendship Cake?

 …. Oh and the end result … delicious!

The Family Tree

A picture prompt from Magpie Tales

‘Go on then, pick it up.  You can’t deny knowing me.  Yes, I am she, the same she that walked out and abandoned you when you were only three years old. I hoped you wouldn’t be old enough to remember.  It was never my intention to abandon you, merely to escape, find a better life and come back and make things better for both of us.  I hoped that you would be taken care of in a way that I could never hope to do.  I left you in trust, in care with the person I loved and trusted all my life.  I couldn’t stay, I just couldn’t.  But you were too young to know that.  You were too young to understand.  It was all so suffocating, the place, the people and the small town gossip.  But how could I explain that you a three year old with no knowing of how the world worked and weaved outside those white lacy curtains in the drawing room. 

Even today my heart saddens as I recall those strained afternoon teas with the high brow ladies of rich men in the city.  I remember their meek and mild powered faces with spiteful tones and unkind words gushing forth.  I was never really accepted as one of them, merely tolerated because of my marriage to your father.  He was after all a man of great wealth and means.  However, even a man of great wealth and means does not always hold a marriage together.  It takes more, much more.  Maybe you understand that now.  Maybe now that you are older and have found me you understand.

Perhaps even I am not worthy of this bargain price tag of $1.99.  Perhaps the pain of abandonment remains festering within your heart.  Why would you choose to display this picture on your mantelpiece? Why after all this time would you include me in your family tree?   Why would you want to replace my battered picture, the one you’ve always carried in your wallet?  Only you have the answers to these questions, my son. Only you know the reason.’ 

What do you need to be a domestic goddess?

Sometimes it can be difficult to get back on the writing track when one gets caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and living.  Sometimes the creative writing spaces becomes full with additional work schedules, visits to school, doing the laundry, trips to the dentist, the doctor and candlestick maker.  Life as a domestic goddess is not an easy one.  So where and how does one kick start the creative process again? Thankfully inspiration comes from two friends this week, both very creative ladies.


Sewing has never been one of my talents as a domestic goddess.  My domestic science teacher Mrs P would definitely vouch for that if she were around today.  I would like to state for the record that her grey hair (possibly stress induced by my particular class) had nothing to do with my unfinished sewing assignments.  No-one was happier to learn about the invention of velcro more than me!  I was very inspired however when I attended my friend Pat's creative class.  They make all sorts of things there and she has her own website called  MadebyPIN so that you can be creative at home.  Do stop by and have a look.    


Baking is another talent in the armoury of the domestic goddess.  I recall vague words from Mrs P, something about Victoria sponges, shortcrust, puff and choux pastry.  I distinctly remember the sampling stage but have no recall of the baking stage at all.  Strange that.  Thankfully my friend Di at The Bluebell Cafe, a great maker of cakes and all things delightful too, shares great recipes for banana cake and cinnamon cake.  Again worth a visit for some mouth watering treats.


Thank you ladies, how inspirational you have been.  Well that leaves a little time now to do something a little creative before my next blog post.  Now where did I leave that needle and thread?             

Troubles of a troubadour.

Picture prompt from Willow at Magpie Tales

These 'fifty something' birthday soirees are always a challenge.  Methinks, do I sing of love, romance and faraway places? Do I speak of a warm, bright and sunshine day where lovers wander in springtime meadows and see only each other in love?  I know my noble friend hath tired of the Lady Anne and seeks a more youthful companion to console and flatter his ego in his declining years although he denies that to be so. 

Whilst I play for time and inspiration, I find myself plucking a melancholy tune and note the sadness in the face of Lady Anne.  Once, she was the love and light of my master’s fond embrace and ardent attention.  Once she laughed, cajoled and flattered the ego of every man and unknowingly broke the heart of my dearest friend Sebastian.  He sits at the banquet table in the quiet hope that perhaps her attentions may once again fall upon him.  For him, it would be an honour and he vows that he would love her with all his heart.  He doth not favour the scoundrel ways of the pompous and haughty Malvelo.   

To sing and speak the truth of this love would indeed make for an engaging evening but might haste the final performance of the troubadour.  From a melancholy tune to a happier note the lute sings of this celebratory occasion and the birthday boy, Malvelo.