the reef

These are a few photos taken yesterday while out on Meola Reef. The reef is popular with dogs and their owners and the last time I was there I had Louie with me. So it was a bit of a sad walk on a cloudy, windy day.

On a happier note, I've added a couple of  blogs to the Blogs I like list that I'd like to share with you: la casita and everyday beauty.

Have a happy week :)

Reading The collector by John Fowles

the farm

I had a lovely day yesterday with friends on their small permaculture farm, where everything has a purpose.

Until next week ...

spots

The cookies are Lemon and Rosemary - same as I made last year using the martha goes green recipe published in extra curricular magazine. If you can't get hold of extra curricular issue 11, I see that martha goes green has published a book of their recipes. Hopefully, the cookies are in there so that you can enjoy them too. They are irresistibly good.

And I've been sewing spotty napkins - with mitred corners! And admiring spotty shrubs (Oleander) at Omaha.

tea lights

I've been decorating tea light candles using double-sided tape and fabric. No one in my house has noticed. Or at least, no one has said anything. It's like it's my own little secret.

Here's what to do:
You need tea lights (the ones that come in a little metal dish), fabric scraps, double-sided tape to fit the height of the candle, scissors
Cut a length of tape the circumference of the candle plus a bit for overlap
Press the sticky side of the tape firmly onto the wrong side of the fabric.
Cut the fabric close to the tape along both edges and ends.
Peeling the backing off the tape as you go, stick the tape around the metal dish.

See how long you can keep it a secret.

Reading Shut up, you're welcome: thoughts on life, death, and other inconveniences by Annie Choi

gratitude

Last year I tried to keep a daily list of things I was grateful for. I'd read somewhere that people who do so are 24% happier than those who don't. And who wouldn't want to be 24% happier? I found it quite hard to maintain and had long periods where I just forgot to do it because, to be honest, it just isn't me. But last week on a beautiful clear day (it's summer here) I was in a park watching three little dogs running around and it was such a happy thing that I remembered The List. I read back through my few entries and it was great. These are some of my favourites

• removing a cake from the baking pan and it comes out perfect
• men who wear brightly coloured sweaters
• friendly baristas
• the smell of jasmine
• red sky at night
• reaching the pedestrian crossing just as the "cross now" signal goes
• little dogs that run in the park

So my new year's resolution is to maintain the list. It's so worth it just to read it again later and relive those happy moments.

How about you? Any resolutions?

Reading (and loving) Love, Nina: despatches from family life by Nina Stibbe (It's so funny)