Book Review: In A Cottage In A Wood by Cass Green

Ohhh this was a good one!

An easy, compelling story I just could not tear away from.

I think the whole mystery of the cottage and my love for such places is what drew me in so much.

I would be reading by lamplight at night and feel myself being pulled into sleep, telling myself "I'll just finish this chapter" but there was such a twist at each end that I couldn't not read on!

As I churned through the pages I tried to piece the puzzle together and had little inklings of the truth of the strange happenings.

The end sweeps up in a fast, but well done reveal that made me half say "I knew it!", and "woah, I didn't see that coming!".

I go through a few creepy crime thriller/mysteries but this is a stand out to me. I have decided to no longer hoard old books and to just keep those I really enjoy. This one is a keeper.

5 out of 5 dead magpies.

I haven't been well lately.

For a while now, really.

We are on holidays from work but will soon be back at it.

I have achieved nothing this break except finishing a few books, completing many jigsaw puzzles and watching countless movies on SBS.

Some say I am relaxing.

Others say my body is catching up on rest.

But this is beyond that.

I am so, so tired all the time.

I am forcing myself to stay awake during the days, which is odd to me because I'd never previously been able to day-sleep no matter what.

I am trying to find answers though.

I dont like this feeling one bit.

I miss doing things with and for my family.

I like getting things done.

During my darkest days I used to tell myself that making the bed in the morning is achieving something for the day.

I have stopped following that advice and figure I'll just curl back up in there soon enough.

For now, I will keep forcing myself on little walks to the backyard to say hello to the chickens.

Baby steps.

🤍🤍🤍

Book Review: The Green Mile

Last night I laid in bed by the dim light of my bedside lamp.

The air was still and cool outside,  slowly seeping through the open window.

Despite being the middle of summer I was snuggled under my fluffy doona, KittyPuss and Boof snoring their way through the night beside me.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I turned through the pages of the final chapters of Stephen King's, The Green Mile.

King has released the story in a 7 part series, but I was fortunate to find a pre-owned copy of the full collection in one novel.

Having seen the movie countless times, each time resulting in tears, the ending of the book got me right in the heart.

As with most books, there is more detail than the movie and The Green Mile is no exception. 

In the book we learn of 'Cheif's' and Del's crimes, the extent of how disgusting Wild Bill was, and a character omitted from the film but fitted perfectly in the story.

The movie certainly has done the book justice, and although the movie doesn't divert too strongly from the storyline, reading the book has enough extra detail to keep it interesting and provoke all the emotions the film did.

The ending in particular was quite different than the movie.

The inevitable happens, but it gives detail into each character's future after The Mile.

After building emotional connections to these characters, it was a big surprise to find out what becomes of them.

I keep comparing the book and movie in the manner that I had seen the movie before I read the book, but if you can, read the book first.

I always suggest it that way around, but only just recently discovered that the movie was inspired and based on the book.

I find that a nice surprise sometimes, loving a movie so much and then discovering I can fall in love with it as a book too!

Each year for Boof's birthday I order a movie poster of one of our faves, have it framed and hung in the lounge room. The Green Mile (and The Shawshank Redemption) was his 2020 gift.

Overall, despite my middle-of-the-night sobbing into my pillow, this was a fantastic book.

I had actually started reading a different book and was a few chapters in but couldn't stop thinking about The Green Mile. 

It was like it was calling me.

So the other book went back on the shelf for another day and I got stuck into it and could hardly put it down.

5 out of 5 faded limes.

Now, what to read next?

🤍🤍🤍

A New Chapter

We woke on a Tuesday morning before the sun had risen, with a circus of anticipation pelting through our bodies.

It was the day we has waited a month for.

Excuse after reason after many sleepless nights of scary uncertainty, wondering if our family including our furry and feathered loves would be forced to separate if this day didn't come soon.

Office opening hours came and went with no word.

We paced.

Checked our phones for any missed calls or messages.

Then news.. we will meet at 1 o'clock.

My stars, we couldn't wait!

But then more reasons and excuses.

So much heartache for something that should have been  one of our happiest days.

But the inevitable happened.

Just much later in the day and month than we were told to expect. 

At 5.20pm on the 28th of September we were given the keys to our new family home!

I am so, so smitten with our new nest.

I unpacked quite quickly, filling the spaces with our beloved possessions wondering how on Earth I managed to fit it all in my previous little house. 

We have been so blessed to have the wonderful friends that we do, that generously offered space for storage.

I had potted plants I couldn't bear to part with taking up too much space in one friends backyard, along with towers of boxes in her shed. Our furniture was in another friends storage shed and all of our yard tools, shed contents and garden and outdoor items were at another location.

The chookies and ducks were at one house, Pooch Girl, Kitty Puss and us humans at another.

Even my indoor plants were having a long sleepover at another friends house!

Initially we expected to only need the storage space and roof over our heads for a week at the very most.

But one week turned into two.

And another.

It was hard not to feel like we were abusing our friendships by wearing out our welcome but our friends really shone for us and we will never forget their unconditional tolerance and support, and will always be there to return the kindness.

So here we are, settling in.

This is home now. 

It doesn't quite have that homely feel yet but I will bring it in time.

14 years in my last house, who's to say it won't take that long to turn this into our comfortable little haven?

But I know it won't.

There are countless moths that fly around the house at night.

This moth-girl loves it!

We have a fruiting mulberry tree and passionfruit vines.

The fruit trees that moved with us are thriving in their pots for now.

Some vegie seedlings are in.

Hedges ripped out and roses and natives take their place.

The chookies and ducks have a nice pen to share and are giving us lots of happy eggs.

Kitty Puss settled in incredibly fast.

And Pooch Girl.

Oh, my beautiful sweet girl.

Her 13 years seem to have caught up to her overnight and we have been advised that she is just on quality of life now.

Her arthritis has become so severe she drags her feet, her lady legs get crossed up while she walks, hearing is almost completely gone.. 

She still smiles and thumps her tail when she sees us.

She cannot sit up so we lie with her and let her nuzzle her nose into the folds of our elbows, giving herself the good scratch she can't use her legs for.

I have been off work this week with back problems so Pooch Girl and I rest together watching movies and working on rainbow baby blankets for twins.

I managed to finish Son3's rainbow blanket before the move, photos to come.

 

I also created two 9x5 entries for an annual auction one of our local art centres hold.

So great to have a designated space to make a colourful mess in now. 

And nobody had a problem with me claiming the office as my art room - hooray!

Alas, the bookcase is proving problematic. 

Too many books, not enough shelves, not high enough on the list of priorities.

The rain is falling heavy on the tin roof making me drowsy.

Kitty Puss is balled up beside me, already chasing moths around the land of dreams.

Time for me to join the rest of my snoring family...

🤍🤍🤍

Dappled Winter Light

Winter at my little piece of Earth is mild in comparison to others.

It doesn't snow, the sun still shines down.

But that's not to say it doesn't get chilly cold. The wind howls. Everything is wet regardless of rain. And the days are short.

Perfect weather for having a crackling fire going. Pumpkin soup simmering away. 

Countless games of Cluedo and Kalaha with my boys.

Curling up under a crocheted blanket with a warm chai latte, reading a book (currently making my way through 'A Promised Land' by Barack Obama).

And working on new drawings.

My house is teeny, I dont have a 'studio' or designated work space, so I sprawl over my bed.

Copics, watercolour pencils, graphite pencils, brushes, tape, all my bits and bobs strewn all over and showered in eraser rubbings. 

The sunlight dapples as it shines in through the peppermint tree, hibiscus, Cape Bell tree, and other gardeny loves outside my window.

I drew this girl years ago and finally have made her into a full piece.

Warm tones.

Sparkly clouds of course.

'Carlotta' is now part of my wild rose family.

I am appreciating all the little things so much lately.

The dappled light.

The sound of the breeze through my garden.

The clouds directly over my house.

If I look through a small section of my front garden amongst tuart leaves and a grevillea, I can see the sun cast out strong bright rays as it makes its descent beyond the horizon.

From my backyard and giant kitchen window I can watch the clouds details reflect the colours of sunset.

I am a nature lover, not just flora and fauna, but the wonder of the sky as well.

These are small blessings I am grateful for.

🤍🤍🤍

My Personal Library

Ooh, my heart!

It is raining!

I am lounging on my bed, still in my nighty and robe because holidays.

KittyPuss is purring and giving me a gentle massage to get herself into an optimal position of comfort and warmth.

The rain is a steady drizzle.

On my left I can hear it through the open laundry window dropping down on the the tin roofed back verandah.

On my right it is giving my front garden a much needed drink.

It has been warm and dry around here lately, this weather is very welcome.

I did plan to mow the lawn today but I guess the universe is giving me a day of rest.

And what better to do on a cool, rainy day than wrap up in a home made crocheted blanket and fall into a book.

(Im even inspired to bake some treats but I've become quite opposed to cooking lately so we shall see how that goes.)

Do you remember a while back I mentioned I was making a list of the books I read this year?

Well last night I finished the last book I will read this year so thought I could share my list and some pics of my growing book collection. 

So starting at my list, I definitely have an eclectic style.

The book that has stood out to me the most would be Victoria Spry's 'Tortured'.

That word is an understatement of her life.

My heart immediately attached to her.

I started reading her book in early October and often when I read a book based on true events I will google information and look up videos to put a face and voice to the story, which is what I did when I read Victoria's.

I was watching an interview of her, and thought her to be so down to earth, and lovely despite everything she had been through.

She seemed like someone I would like to be friends with.

I began reading the comment section of the interview and discovered some terrible news.

I googled it to confirm if it was true, and many news websites had announced it was.

Victoria had taken her life earlier in the month.

The timing really got to me.

At the end of her book i believed she was on her path to claiming her life and would be ok, but she was never able to escape her fear.

My heart goes out to her forever.

When I read a dark story I try to select a lighter book next, to balance out emotions.

There were a couple of books I got about halfway through and just could not bear to finish, and it took me a while to convince myself that I am allowed to not enjoy a book and I dont have to finish it.

I've had this bookcase for a few years now but it was so crammed with books I didn't even know what was hiding amongst it all!

I had to do something!

So this cube unit was bought, assembled, and filled instantly. 

I had planned to use my original case for our board game collection but I have more books than I realised.

This is my dining room, the first thing you see when you step inside my little house.

I love the homely, family touches.

Everything has its story and meaning.

The tree stump is from my neighbours front yard, reminds me of them and is a conversation starter..

"Why do you have a tree stump in your house?"...

Why not?!

My boys heights are recorded on the giant ruler I made.

My dads picture hangs on top.

There are 2 very full shelves of books I have bought, from op shops mostly, that I am yet to read.

I love having the option of so many books to choose next to go on my bedside table.

Its like my own personal library.

With my adored books are bits and pieces that are extra special to me.

Things my boys have made at school, like this seal Son1 created.

And these by Son3. 

He made the little echidna when he was in pre-primary - it did have toothpicks for spines but even at this age, the boys still male a mess of them so I removed them.

Son1 crafted this beautiful wooden spoon at school this year.

He is a very hands on person and despite his mind going 100mph, he applies himself to his creations.

I also love to collect things.

Little pieces of nature.

Butterfly wings, moths, dragonflies.. all lifeless when i find them.

I would not harm anything for the sake of collecting.

Feathers, flowers, amber, leaves...

The teeniest egg laid by one of my chickies.

I also adore bird's nests.

I have 4 or 5 that I've found on the ground in my walks.

Son2 made my day when he brought this one home from school for me!

He'd found it on the ground and thought of me.

He is such a sweet soul, and he knows his mama well.

When I was in high school I took woodwork classes (and loved it but had zero patience for sanding my work!), I made this little car that I have held onto for all these years.

Even letting my boys play with it when they were teeny toddlers, hence it looking a little scratched up.

Boof attended a different high school and also made a car!

He tried to make a truck but the design didn't work so he had to stick pieces back together.

I thought it was the coolest thing ever when Son1 (who attends the same high school as Boof) brought his home! 

He sure put Boof and my skills to shame!

And Son2 made a truck!

He said he wanted it to look like the truck Boof drives so put on the exhausts and the turntable.

Clever kids I tells ya!

Boof broke his hand a few months ago and inspired by painting my friends belly cast, I demanded he give me his cast to paint.

Now Boof is a big boy, he is 6'4" and SOLID..

And is absolutely petrified of aliens!!

So of course, being the spiteful but hilarious girlfriend I am, painted him fishing in a boat with UFO's overhead, hehe.

He knows I love him.

Well I should get moving.

Im getting chilly, its a day for warm leggings and a baggy hoody, me thinks.

The boys are in the city spending time with their dad and Boof is at work so its just PoochGirl, KittyPuss and me.

Poochgirl hasn't been well lately and woke this morning in pain.

She rarely cries or whimpers but scared me awake this morning with a yelp.

She was very stiff and sore, i think because she spent the night on the floor beside me in bed.

Poor girl I getting on a bit and on several medications, I'm dreading the inevitable day we must part.

But she walked out her pains this morning, had lots of cuddles and is happily curled up in her own warm bed.

I wonder if the KittyPuss will be cranky if I move to get dressed. 

She has snuggled herself in close to me where its warm, and I know she's comfy because she  got her head upside down, hehe.

I love that she feel safe with me.

This pic is a few weeks old.

No photo today, she has lost her collar and is getting about rudie-nudie!

One last garden pic to leave you with.

This rain will be making my grapes very happy, and soon my belly will be very happy!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and keep safe in the new year.

*What are you reading at the moment?

**Do you have a favourite genre??

Toodles 🤍🤍🤍

Change On The Horizon

Life has been feeling a bit stagnant lately.

Stifled.

I've admitted before that I'm a dreamer, there's always an ambition bouncing around in my mind that I feel like if I can't begin bringing it to life by tomorrow I might burst!

This dream is real.

Boof and I have been talking a lot lately about moving to a new town and my heart and mind are set.

My heart hasn't felt comfortable here for quite some time now and my soul is ready, but we have decided to wait for the right time.

That will be when our boys have finished their schooling, by then they will be beginning their own journeys in adult life. 

I'd love for them to choose to come along and see what future is to be had in our next town to call home.

We have chosen the town, a place we have visited together and all love. 

I've done lots of planning and researching and it is definitely do-able, especially being a few years off. I cant wait!

But here is where I am.. for now.

So I will go forth with my days, caring for my family, garden, and my soul by doing things I love to balance out the stresses.

My dahlia blanket is about half way I think and despite my heart-dizzying love for it, I am leaning toward selling it, which in itself would be another big accomplishment for me.

This was the most of our summer vege harvest and while we were going to rest the garden beds over winter, with the lack of groceries in our stores currently due to people stockpiling (which, I want to add, I see nothing wrong with being prepared.. just please let's not get violent over it).. we have decided to put in a winter crop after all. 

We have topped up our seed supply and got a few seedlings to go in directly but as I sit here, relaxing and typing this post, I should really be in the backyard shovelling cow doo and hay to plant into.

The day after I posted about my home made rain barrel we had a bit of rain, not a lot but enough since to fill it to half.

Yay!

I read a couple of books last month.

The sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilkas Journey. It was a really captivating story.

Another of the same context, Hetty, by Hetty Verlome. It is her real life account of her time I  Bergen-Belsen. Her story is the most graphic and touching I have ever read about the holocaust. She conveyed her recount in such a way that broke my heart just to read it, let alone try to comprehend actually living it as she did.

In my last couple of posts I forgot to continue on with my gratitudes so I will do a couple extra today..

I am grateful..

1. That everyone's quick actions saved our beloved pooches life nearly 2 weeks ago. Not a story I want to talk about but she is safe and healthy, and smelly as ever 💚

2. My family are healthy and strong, especially in times like these.

3. To have a dream to hold onto. That can soothe my racing mind at nights and carry me through the day.

4. For books to take me on adventures when I can't physically go.

5.  For love. What a beautiful world it is when you  have love. 

💙💙💙

A Big Catch Up!

*Long Post Warning*

The calendar flipped its pages in a blur this past few months.

I try to blog at least once a month as a bit of a journal for myself but December completely got away from me.

It is definitely my busiest month, what with a birthday, Christmas, end of school and work, holidays..

Crazy crazy! 

 

Things have slowed down a little and I am loving being able to potter around the house in my jammies for longer, not do my hair and makeup - I think I've brushed my hair once so far these holidays!

Just lots of dawdling about, no rushing, plenty of time to watch all my feathered visitors enjoy/destroy my garden.

I say destroy the garden but it doesn't bother me really.

I feel lucky to have my little green patch of suburbia and have parrots and cockatoos stop by to feast.

And the chooks love it when they come too, they wait at the bottom of the sunflowers and gobble up the seeds and heads that get dropped.

Speaking of the chickens, a bit of an overdue update for you..

Two of our hatched babies were roosters so we gave them back to the friend who gave us the eggs.

I will try to get a photo for my next post of our two beautiful girls, Barbara (the golden chick) and Ore (a very pretty black and gold girl).

We are currently babysitting 3 Silkys too, its a full house.. or yard ;)

Aside from the sunflowers, the garden has not fared well for the last couple of seasons.

We put in our usually yummies to enjoy over summer but did not have any success to speak of.

The tomatoes were few and what were the size of our hands last year were the size of cherries this time around.

No good for slicing on toast.

We are going to let what is planted finish off and then open the vege garden gate to the chickens and let them work some magic over winter.

Hopefully giving the soil a rest and topping up with good composts and manures next spring will bring it back to life.

Our fruit trees have done well though, our plum and apricot trees gave 3 fruit apiece and were deelish.

Not bad for their first season.

The nectarines were plenty, big and juicy but alas, fruit fly claimed all but a handful of what would have been baskets and baskets of tasty fruit. We used a garlic spray which was effective but being so busy we forgot to reapply often enough.

Lesson learned.

The almond tree in its second season was also covered but the parrots found them and had a nibble so I plucked the rest off too soon and they weren't ripe which is dangerous with almonds as they have a toxic cyanide content until fully ripe.

Unfortunately this piece of information only came to me after Boof and I had eaten an unripe nut last year.

We were amazed it tasted like cucumber!

Thankfully we didn't get sick.

Last week I built a rain barrel for the shed's runoff to collect more water for the garden.

I feel terribly guilty every time I turn the hose on so decided to do something about it.

Aside from materials I already had in the shed I only needed to buy the 60L bin and tap which cost about $25.

On afterthought I could've done away with the tap and just taken the lid off to scoop water with a bucket.

I can add extra bins and attach to the overflow hose to collect even more water.

Small progress.

Now we just need rain.

Sadly a huge part of our country could desperately do with a good downpour to relieve from drought and devastating fires.

It's heartbreaking to see people losing everything and in some cases friends or family, exhausted volunteers breaking down, and the wildlife losing their habitats.

We wanted to donate what we could toward fire relief but there are so many in need.

After much thought and tears, we donated a small amount to assist in creating water stations for the wildlife.

Now if everybody wouldn't mind, can we all please take off our shoes, let your hair out, go outside and do your own little rain-dance ;)

I feel guilty not only for just using water but more especially for using it to grow inedible pretties, so hopefully my first rain barrel will bring enough water to keep my flowers going too.

My absolute favourite flowers are dahlias and unfortunately it's also a favourite treat of the chooks and ducks.

I have fenced off the flower gardens but was probably too late in doing so, but still managed a couple of beauties.

A tall white one is opening at the moment

*swoon*

I follow a most amazing crochet blog and there is currently a crochet-along for a dahlia blanket!

It was inspired by the flowers and is a beautiful colour blend of all the dahlia shades, and using a spike stitch to mimic the petals.

I have ordered myself a yarn pack and intend to make one for the family, along with the 'sweet pea' blanket as well.

Cannot wait!

Go to Attic24 and have a looksee at her stunning work!

While I wait for my yarn pack I have been working on some other projects.

I finished some bunting I planned to hang above my kitchen window, but after a frustrating, hot, sticky day of finishing up the triangles and stitching them together, the pieces are curled and the hooks keep falling off the wall.

I could block the pieces and mount permanent hooks but I'm over the whole idea now so might hang them in the garden instead!

Ha!

I am very proud to show you the bag I made for myself.

Following a pattern like this was new for me and after one panel of mistakes I got the hang of it and it only took me a couple of days.

I have started a chunky, teal coloured ribbed throw for myself.

So far I have used 4 balls of wool and realized I am only getting 4 rows to the ball.

My local store had run out of the teal I'm using so I ordered some more but will need a whole lot to get it to the size I'm after.

It's going to be a bit on the pricey side but I'm telling myself it will last forever and be a beautiful, lush and cosy rug!

A few months ago I started crocheting an American flag throw.

I was using the bead stitch so it was taking a while and I eventually realized I had started with white, instead of red, so a couple of days ago I undid it all and restarted, changing to just a treble stitch.

It was looking great, colours were correct, tension was nice, BUT...

as I wasn't following a pattern my math failed me.

Again.

I calculated the stripes incorrectly and it was going to be a very small throw.

Sigh.

I will again undo it but only up to the end of the first red stripe and make them a row or 2 deeper.

It's all learning, right?!

Christmas day was wonderful.

I choked up a couple of times (in secret) at the thought of not hearing from my Dad but I was smitten to have Boof and my boys home.

We had a hot smoked glazed ham, salads, eggnog and trifle.

I think I had 4 serves of trifle in the one day!!

We played a Christmas bingo, popped crackers, laughed at the corny jokes and played Charades.

It was wonderful fun.

Then we relaxed in front of movies with full bellies and puffed from laughing.

I have done a bit of reading over the last couple of months.

I finally read To Kill A Mockingbird - I loved it!!!

A Stolen Life, by Jaycee Dugard.

What a resilient, positive soul she is.

I cried reading her book and will carry her story inside for a long time.

A couple of weeks after I read it my youngest was an hour late coming home from a friends house.

He is often 10 or so minutes late but an hour is unusual for him.

I normally start panicking after ten minutes but am trying to let go a bit.

But with the sun starting to set I thought I'd better go look for him while it's still light.

I drove and drove, not knowing exactly where to look.

I hadn't been to this particular friends house before and I had tried to follow my boys directions (which turned out to be way off) but I couldn't find him.

I came home to get my other boys to help look and direct me.

I was starting to shake.

I had the worst visions of someone kidnapping my baby and doing awful things, and his little face crying.

I just knew he would be wanting to go home to his family, to his mum.

Then I spotted him walking with a group of friends, eating pop tarts with not an air of urgency in the world.

He said goodbye to his friends a jumped in the car.

I nearly burst into tears.

The poor kid, I yelled at him out of fear, tears welling in my eyes.

I explained - in an appropriate way to a 10 year old - the story of Jaycee and why I had gotten so scared.

It is my biggest fear that anything bad happen to my kids.

I guess one day when they are parents themselves they will understand.

Although my middle kid told me to perhaps not read books about abductions, he could be right but it unfortunately does happen.

Surely I'm not the only mother that has these fears?

Moving along now.. and apparently not taking my sons advice about what I read..

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas was a sad, sad story.

I cried again though found the movie more intense.

In the last couple of years a movie was filmed in a town about 5 hours from here where some family live.

I am yet to see the movie but read the book a couple of weeks ago.

Breath, by Tim Winton.

Hmm.

The book was one thing, I can go with it, each to their own.

Based on a couple of teenage surfers and their mentor, it was well written, easy to follow, and despite my fear of the ocean - or perhaps because of it - my heart rate increased when waves were caught, or not. The anxiety and the rush of the ocean were captured well.

But then there was the other subject matter.

Like I said, each to their own..

But I could not get my head around how a movie could be made of it that didn't cross any lines, and there were a few to cross.

I guess it might go down as one of those books/movies that run on a slight shock factor or simply making people feel uncomfortable.

Maybe I'm just surprised that it was what it was, and not what I expected -  a story based on innocent self-discovery through nature/the ocean.

I've moved onto something lighter now,

The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Jumped Out The Window And Disappeared - by Jonas Jonasson.

It has sat on my bedhead for an awful long time, waiting to be read but despite my own choosing it, it never appealed to me enough to make a start.

Though after the deep and dark books I'd read lately I thought maybe it was time.

It's a nice book so far.

Not one I can't tear myself away from but when I do get time to pick it up, it holds my interest and keeps me wondering.

Gosh, I have gotten away with myself on this post.

And I initially thought I had not a lot to write about, ha!

I better get up and get presentable, I'm meeting some family for a bbq lunch.

The weather is overcast, cool but warm, and perfect.

I'll cross my fingers for some rain tonight.

Well,

Happy New Year

to all of my readers.

Have a safe and wonderful 2020 with lots of happiness and joy.

I did say to myself that this year couldn't get any worse than last, but things could always be worse.

Remember that and try to appreciate what you have.

I want to try something new in my posts this year, hopefully I don't forget.

I'm going to begin ending my posts with 3 things I am grateful for.

ok, lemme see..

I am grateful...

1. That my boys are safe and healthy, and have not been kidnapped - phew!

2. That I have found the most incredible chocolate cake recipe with the perfect not-too-sweet frosting to match ;)

3. To have the friend network that I do. Friends and family have begun to mean the same thing to me. I quite love my little friend family ❤

I hope I don't/didn't bore you with my too long post.

Can you believe I'm the same in person ;)

Toodles!

❤❤❤