The other side of the coin..

The mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

The taxes to pay because it means that I am employed.

The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.

The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.

The lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

My huge heating bill because it means that I am warm.

Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means that I have been productive.

The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

I am thankful for you because it means that I am loved.

This was in a school publication and didn't state who the author was but it made me stop and give thanks for my life just the way it is - what about you?

Cheers,
Lynda



  

ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps)

Anzac Day, 25th April,  marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.  Our soldiers were known as the Anzacs. Today Anzac Day is a day to remember and honour all those who died and served in military operations for their country.


I am Australian because of these brave men and women.


Australian Heros War Memorial Anthem

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

The Ode comes from For the Fallen, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon and was published 1914. The verse in bold, which became the Ode for the Returned and Services League, has been used in association with commemoration services in Australia since 1921.

At the going down of the sun...

I crouched in a shallow trench on that hell of exposed beaches... steeply rising foothills bare of cover... a landscape pockmarked with war’s inevitable litter... piles of stores... equipment... ammunition... and the weird contortions of death sculptured in Australian flesh... I saw the going down of the sun on that first ANZAC Day... the chaotic maelstrom of Australia’s blooding.I fought in the frozen mud of the Somme... in a blazing destroyer exploding on the North Sea... I fought on the perimeter at Tobruk... crashed in the flaming wreckage of a fighter in New Guinea... lived with the damned in the place cursed with the name Changi.I was your mate... the kid across the street... the med. student at graduation... the mechanic in the corner garage... the baker who brought you bread... the gardener who cut your lawn... the clerk who sent your phone bill.I was an Army private... a Naval commander... an Air Force bombardier.  no man knows me... no name marks my tomb, for I am every Australian serviceman... I am the Unknown Soldier.I died for a cause I held just in the service of my land... that you and yours may say in freedom... I am proud to be an Australian.

Anon 

The following words from Kemal Ataturk, the Commander of the Turkish 19th Division during the Gallipoli Campaign and the first President of the Turkish Republic from 1924-1938 are forever engraved at Anzac Cove.

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now living in the soil of a friendly country therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well. Cheers, Lynda

Easter Activity

Kaylee has been busy colouring Easter pictures and cutting out Easter egg shapes and generally enjoying the lead up to the Easter bunny's arrival. Yesterday we did an activity where we placed Cling Wrap on the glass door and then painted a picture on the Cling Wrap. We used kid's poster paint and it gave an interesting texture to the painting and made it transparent.  Ben is the arty one of the family so he drew the outline and Kaylee and Ben filled in the areas with the paint. It was a fun activity to do together and added to Kaylee's excitement about the lead up to Easter.

 

Kaylee said she would like a chocolate egg this big!

Cheers,
Lynda

No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one. Elbert Hubbard

Vacations are exhausting. Last week we spent our short vacation in Adelaide. Hubby had some work commitments in South Australia so being the school holidays Shan and I decided we would take a holiday- mother/daughter bonding time I told her. She was a little hesitant in leaving her friends behind but agreed to pack her bags and the three of us went to Adelaide. We tried to cram in so many activities that we were both exhausted at the end of each day. Well we were not coming back to Adelaide any time soon so we did have to make the most of the shopping, sightseeing, photo opportunities etc.

Shopping was Shan's favourite activity I think. She managed to spend a lot of my money! Parts of Adelaide and very pretty and some of the architecture is old world and some rather quirky.

Haigh's Chocolates was well worth the visit and the building is a great example of the old architectural styles of Adelaide. On the opposite ends of the architecture scale is this quirky tapas bar.

 

 And then there were these litter pigs :)

There is a whole set of them in the Rundle Mall and for visitors like us were an unusual sight and worth stopping for a photo.

One of the major highlights for me was the trip to the zoo. The pandas were the big attraction for me as I had never seen a panda in the real before. We have had them at the Melbourne Zoo but each time we went we missed them. 

Exhausting, yes, but I am glad we went. This is a beautiful part of  Australia. Of course it would have to be, right??

Cheers,

Lynda

Over the Helix Cowl

This is going to become a favourite this Winter. You can't go wrong if you are using Noro colours. They blend beautifully. The pattern is Over the Helix Cowl by Terry Ann Hagerman. I've never knitted with this technique before but I can tell you it was very enjoyable to work. It grows slowly because of the stitch but is super easy and so effective.  I chose a black yarn to highlight the Noro Silk Garden yarn and I love the finished look. It has a woven rather then knitted look and the fabric is quite firm.  It is reversible too so I get two different looks. I don't know which side I like the best, both of them equally I think.

I intend making another one of these with a light contrast yarn and of course Noro Silk Garden.

Cheers,
Lynda

Reminiscing

nos·tal·gi·a  n. 1. A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.

Finding these photos in the drawer yesterday made me stop and think of the past especially in this month of April (I'm remembering April 8th & April 10th with heartfelt and fond memories). This was our first little pony and her name was Penny. The smaller one was Millie and belonged to my sister. We both had young children at the time and many hours were had by the kids enjoying good times riding these two little sweethearts. 

The kids never did outgrow their love of horses and below is the modern day, grown up version!

Ahh those were the days! It all brought back memories, happy and sad, for me but this post is really for you Erin. I thought you would get a kick out of the little red horse!

Cheers,
Lynda