With thanks...
SEPTEMBER 2010
I am grateful for new projects, old projects with a new life, and the potential in every moment...
With thanks... Wednesday September 1...
Today I am grateful for a few hours with my beloved in the morning, before we both had to go to work...
I am grateful that I was super productive - and intrigued that of all the chapters in Seven Sacred Sites it was only Stonehenge, the oldest of them all, that required an update :-)
I am grateful for a long chat with my sister, a small chat with her kids, and emails and texts with Margie for her birthday (couldn't get through to France via phone)...
And I am so grateful and so amused, and now so hopeful, because Treasury found a discrepancy of up to eleven BILLION dollars in Tony Abbott's election promises costings, proving (again) that he is a liar and shouldn't trusted to run the country! xx
With thanks... Thursday September 2...
Today I am grateful for a day off with my beloved (although I did do a bit of work here and there)...
I am grateful for a quick catch up with lovely Lucy and some Faery Magic stuff...
I am grateful that one of the Independents, concerned by the revelations of Tony Abbott's lying, cost blow outs and a $1 million attempted bribe, has agreed to back Labour in a minority government...
I am grateful for a cosy night in, reading, drinking tea, watching NCIS, chatting...
And I am grateful for the debate that raged on my FB page - will check it out tomorrow :-) xx
With thanks... Friday September 3...
Today I am grateful that my love came into town to meet me after work, so we could walk home together in the softly falling almost-rain...
I am glad I took a lunchbreak, and spent it at Gloria Jeans drinking soy chai and reading over the Uluru chapter from Seven Sacred Sites - it reminded me of when I was writing the book, and would spend all my lunch times there, scribbling notes and editing pages and working madly, every minute, to get it finished...
And I am grateful for a cosy night with Cutes, snuggled up on the couch while the rain fell softly outside...
With thanks... Saturday September 4...
Today I am grateful for a cosy morning with my beloved, listening to the rain fall gently outside, until we both had to get to work...
I am grateful for the beautiful pendant that my faery friend Cheralyn Darcy made me, and her kindness and generosity, and the amazing art she creates through transforming recycled material into treasure...
I am grateful that I got so much work done, and that Seven Sacred Sites will soon be available in the US...
I am grateful to my sweet friend Pixywings :-)
And I am grateful for a fascinating discussion on my FB page, and the passion - and compassion - and eloquence of all my friends. Lots of different opinions are being shared, and while there's no right or wrong answer, it's fascinating to read all the different points of view...
With thanks... Sunday September 5...
Today I am grateful for a day spent working at a gentle, relaxed pace, getting Seven Sacred Sites ready while also spending some time visiting my faery friends (in Fairyland, not the real world), replying to friends' emails and catching up on stuff...
I am grateful that I can now dive back in to my next project...
And I am grateful for a long chat with Dad, and grateful, this Father's Day, for my dad, for always being so supportive and encouraging, for being so sensible and yet seeing the value in my crazy schemes for what they are worth, not what they will cost money-wise, for encouraging me to follow my dreams, even when it meant moving so far from home, for living his life the way he has and following his passion, despite derision, and for having created his perfect life - living with Mum in their beautiful little corner of the south west, surfing every day, having no debt because it took 10 years to build their house, as they waited to afford the next pile of wood - frustrating for a teenage me, but I appreciate its wisdom now :-) I am so grateful for both my parents, and the rest of my family, and I do know how blessed I am to have them...
With thanks... Monday September 6...
Today I am so grateful to my school buddy David and my faery friend Viv, for sponsoring me in the 40 Hour Famine, and getting me to my goal of $500 (and beyond!), and to all the other wonderful friends who sponsored me, and have thus helped so many people in developing nations. Many many thanks!
I am grateful that I updated my website, and did a bit of other work...
I am grateful the proof copy of Seven Sacred Sites US has been despatched...
And I am grateful for a cute night in with my beloved...
With thanks... Tuesday September 7...
Today I am so grateful that Julia Gillard and Labor have been able to form government, and that a few more of Abbott’s lies were exposed. Like “We’re better for regional Australia.” As the Independents pointed out, he was in government for 12 years and did nothing. In less than three years Rudd, Gillard and the team did far more, from broadband to regional health care. I'm so excited, and so moved by Julia's passion for education and workers rights especially, and her belief that everyone deserves health care and protection at work and access to services, not just rich people. And don’t be fooled - the Libs boasting about their huge surplus just means they’re hoarding our taxes rather than spending it on infrastructure and services for us... I’m also excited that the Greens will have more input than before, and that the situation has created a sharing of power and extra input from back benchers. These are fascinating times!
I am also grateful for the scent of jasmine as I walked home after work, the advance copy of the next Little Friends magazine, which is so pretty and so packed full of fun activities, and the chiropractor (I think!), who has left me sore and slightly bruised feeling, but I think it’s for the best! xx
With thanks... Wednesday September 8...
Today I am grateful for a day off with my beloved...
I am grateful for cups of tea, snuggling on the couch watching NCIS, reading, chatting and pondering projects.
I am grateful for our deliveries - the updated A Magical Journey proof for me, a box full of mint condition comics from eBay for Juz...
And I am grateful for soothing pats on my nasty head and painkillers that *eventually* worked...
With thanks... Thursday September 9...
Today I am grateful that I had another day off, to chill out with my beloved, and try to relax. I forget how rarely I take time off - even on my "weekends" I'm usually doing work of some kind, so it was nice to relax a bit, watch NCIS, drink tea, make soup... And I only felt a little bit guity about not working :-)
I am grateful for conversations with friends about Reconnective Healing...
And I am grateful for a nice night out with Cutes and a friend of ours, spirited conversation and a rare but yummy coffee...
With thanks... Friday September 10...
Today I am grateful for the end of the day…
I am grateful that I managed to get through a day at work with a nasty migraine, painkillers dulling it a little, although not so happy with the migraine itself :-(
I am frustrated that the pain was too distracting for me to work when I got home, but happy that I allowed myself to rest, and to snuggle up on the couch and watch Tinker Bell…
And I am grateful for all the sweet messages of sympathy from my lovely friends…
With thanks… Saturday September 11…
Today I am grateful that I don’t get these nasty migraines as often as I used to, cos this one is doing my head in… But it’s been a while since I had one like this, so that’s a good thing J
I am grateful that my beloved gave me soothing pats before he had to go to work…
I am grateful that Kevin Rudd is minister for foreign affairs, because he’ll be great, and because the foreign minister and the PM work so closely together, it will prove to the doubters just how good they both are, and how professional!
I am grateful that I could do some laying out and other stuff that didn’t require inspiration or brain power, which were severely lacking today…
And now I am grateful for bed!
With thanks… Sunday September 12…
Today I am so grateful that the pain finally lifted in the afternoon. To paraphrase Dad, who says he feels sorry for non-drinkers because they never know how good it feels when the hangover finally leaves, it was so amazing to finally be free of my stupid agonising head. After two and a half days I'd forgotten how good it feels to not feel bad :-)
I am grateful that I got so much work done, even if it was off on a slight tangent :-)
I am grateful for a chat with Margie and Pete from France (ooh la la)...
And I am grateful for a snuggly night in with my beloved...
With thanks... Monday September 13...
Today I am grateful for blue skis and sunshine...
I am grateful for a lovely card from a friend...
I am grateful for my health, and glad that, although my head niggled at me from time to time, the painkillers worked, and I could get lots of work done (albeit slightly off on a tangent ;-)
And I am grateful for my beloved, and so glad we found each other, and so happy we have created such a wonderful life together, encouraging each other to follow our dreams and do all we can to make them happen...
With thanks... Tuesday September 14...
Today I am grateful for a productive day at work, creating the next issue of Litle Friends magazine...
I am grateful that my beloved came into the city after work so we could walk home together in the gentle, misty, almost-rain...
I am grateful for the scent of jasmine...
And I am grateful for a cosy night, making soup, reading books (Philip Pullman's Lyra's Oxford, so sweet) and plotting and planning, dreaming and scheming :-) xx
With thanks... Wednesday September 15...
Today I am grateful for a busy and productive morning with my love, visiting Officeworks (oh, all the stationery I'd love to buy!), sorting out contracts, printing out orders. Such busy little bees we are :-)
I am grateful for a quick lunch at our favourite cafe, before Cutes went to work and I came home to continue mine...
I am grateful that I could quickly update my website, and so glad I learned how to build my own...
And I am grateful for the progress I'm making on this cute mini project...
With thanks... Thursday September 16...
Today I am grateful for a wonderful day with my beloved.
I am grateful we were both so productive in the morning, getting more things printed, shipping off boxes of the new Platinum Brunette EP to the distributor, Juz emailing off bios and pics, and posting review copies and stuff...
I am grateful for our little lunch break...
And I am super grateful for our grand adventure. We caught the ferry across the harbour from Circular Quay to Manly, setting out just as the sun was setting, and the sky behind the Opera House and the bridge was all pink and gold and lavender, then being on the water as twilight descended and the stars came out. It was so beautiful being outside on the deck (especially as everyone else was inside, avoiding the crisp night air), feeling the cool breeze, snuggling on the bench at the front of the boat, giggling at the seagulls wheeling overhead...
I am grateful for our brisk walk to the opening of our friend Cheralyn Darcey's art exhibition, and bemused that the address on the invite was wrong, and we ended up walking much much further than anticipated. Which we didn't mind - it reminded us of our walk across the wild Devonshire moors, when we thought the stone circle was just a short stroll around the forest, and it ended up being several miles through the bogs :-) Poor Cutes, the adventures I drag him along on often turn out a little different than I describe :-)
I am grateful that we went though, and impressed by how awesome Cheralyn's sculpures are, and how beautiful her philosophy - creating works of art from recycled materials and other people's junk, turning trash into treasure in such a beautiful way. And I am grateful for long, funny then serious conversations...
And a beautiful walk back to the ferry with Cutes, and a naughty (but nice!) McDonald's apple pie for dinner, cos everything else was closed...
With thanks... Friday September 17...
Today I am grateful that the US proof of Seven Sacred Sites arrived, and it will very soon be available through Amazon etc...
I am grateful for a productive day at work, despite a bad head and blistered feet from our unexpected walk last night (wish I'd known to wear my walking shoes!)...
And I am grateful for a lovely night in with my beloved...
With thanks... Saturday September 18...
Today I am grateful for a beautiful morning with my beloved, walking into town, browsing through book shops, planning anniversary presents, sharing a cupcake with our chai...
I am grateful that I got *some* work done after dropping Cutes to his...
And I am grateful for the fun I had in Fairyland, chatting with my faery friends and searching for the elusive new creatures...
With thanks... Sunday September 19...
Today I am grateful for a little bit of time with my love before he had to go to work, and I got back to mine...
I am grateful for fun conversations with my faery friends, and amusing (slightly frustrating) searches for elusive new creatures...
And I am grateful that, while my head has been annoying, it hasn't been totally nasty, with a migraine hovering around the edges but never taking hold. Phew! xx
With thanks... Monday September 20...
Today I am grateful that I was so productive...
I am grateful that Seven Sacred Sites is about to be available in the US, but super impatient for it to be now!
I am grateful for my lovely faery friends...
And I am grateful to my precious beloved, for being so sweet...
With thanks... Tuesday September 21...
Today I am grateful that my love came into town after work to meet me, so we could have our little dinner ritual then walk home together...
I am grateful for our anniversary eve card giving ritual...
I am grateful to my sweet friend Lucy for our magical projects, long conversations and mutual support, and glad she is so brave, honourable and kind...
And I am grateful for a productive day at the magazines, although I missed me faery friends :-)
With thanks... Wednesday September 22...
Today I am so grateful to my beautiful beloved, as we celebrate five years of being married. And I am grateful for all the little things that make our life together so sweet and fun and lovely. Cutes making me endless cups of tea when I'm writing, catching the bus in to work with me so we can spend more time together, walking home hand in hand, marvelling at the moon and the stars and the pretty flowers (which is where the blessed bee thing came from, since I am his cute little bee, stopping to smell the jasmine as we walk), drinking chai and visiting our local ducks, encouraging me when I get frustrated with my projects, long conversations and debate and joy and laughter...
And I am grateful that today Cutes received his contract, and I signed one - funny too that I signed my contract with Hay House on our first anniversary (and I am grateful to Juz for his love and support through all the battles that entailed!). A potent time, anniversaries and equinoxes, and a full moon this year too :-)
With thanks... Thursday September 23...
Today is Ostara in the southern hemisphere, the spring equinox, which brings energy and inspiration, and Mabon in the north, the autumn equinox, a day of gratitude for the things you are harvesting in your life - goals reached, things achieved, gifts received... A day of balance, when day and night is equal, and the energy of the universe is in harmony. And the day of the full moon - full of potential and inspiration...
I am grateful for a day off with my beloved...
I am grateful for cupcakes and pots of tea...
I am grateful that I got a lot of work done in a short amount of time...
And I am grateful for a sweet night with my love...
With thanks... Friday September 24...
Today I am so grateful that Seven Sacred Sites is now available on Amazon - and that all three books should soon be available in the UK too.
I am grateful for a productive day at work on the magazines...
I am grateful for a lovely walk home in the gathering twilight...
And I am not so grateful that by the time I got home I had started feeling so sick and weird and migrainey and slightly delirious... Not sure what it was - a 24-hour bug caught second-hand at work? (Lots of parents of day care goers and preschoolers in my office...) Oh well, it didn't last too long, for which I am grateful!
With thanks... Saturday September 25...
Today I am grateful to my beautiful love, who was so sweet and concerned cos I was still feeling sick...
I am grateful that I started to feel better, not worse, as the day progressed...
And I am grateful that I got quite a bit of work done, considering - not writing, which requires a better state of mind (and body), but there were other things to do, laying out, editing...
With thanks... Sunday September 26...
Today I am grateful that I feel better, and I got so much work done...
I am grateful for sunshine and rainbows in my little purple office...
I am grateful that I got my website back up to date, added the Amazon info for Seven Sacred Sites, then worked crazily on my mini project...
And I am grateful to my gorgeous friend Daniella...
With thanks... Monday September 27...
Tonight I am grateful for the most breathtaking sunset sky, so beautiful it made my heart almost burst... Starting with that late afternoon, almost twilight golden light that's even more magical when there are ominous dark clouds about, then turning the most incredible pink-gold-red as the sun started flaming its way beyond the horizon.
I am grateful I got heaps of work done...
I'm grateful that I had an order for 10 meditation CDs from a Melbourne store...
And I am grateful for a cute night with my beloved, shopping for heavy things (soy milk! juice) before we have to take the car back, a cute little dinner, then laughing so hard at Good News Week, before screaming at the TV during Q&A. It never ceases to amaze me just how many Liberal MPs think that just repeating the same thing over and over, louder each time, will make people believe their lie is the truth. Even Sophie Mirabella is a horrible bully who sure doesn't let the truth get in the way of her story. A couple of times everyone, Labor and Liberal voters, just laughed, her claims were so ridiculous, and so calmly pointed out as a fiction by other panellists. It's such a shame that Abbott (and co) isn't going to be the better man and be a good Opposition that people will respect, and may consider voting for next time. Walking away from a signed deal, which he would have expected honoured if he had become PM is just petty and destructive, serves no one, and makes him look mean spirited and desperate to win at all costs... But I guess we knew that, and it's my problem for expecting better of him. Such a shame though...
With thanks... Tuesday September 28...
Tonight I am grateful for a lovely night with Cutes and the Diggers, catching up on their French adventure, regaling them with stories of the election campaign, and eating belated birthday cupcakes for Margie...
I am grateful for the incredible beauty of the moon, all golden and mist shrouded up over the ocean above Waverley cemetery...
I am grateful for a super productive day and some very good news...
And I am grateful to sweet Daniella for her kindness. and her talent, and for being so wonderful...
With thanks... Wednesday September 29...
Tonight I am grateful to be home after a looong day at the office. Haven't done a 13 hour stint at the magazines for a while (only at home on my own projects)...
I am grateful that we'll be able to watch House on the TV website cos I didn't get home in time to see it...
I am grateful to gorgeous Daniella for helping me get a little mini project to the printer on time...
And I am ever so grateful for bed...
With thanks... Thursday September 30...
Today I am grateful for a day off with my sweet beloved, and time spent chilling out, drinking tea, reading together, trying to relax...
I'm grateful that I also got some work done (no days off really when you work for yourself)...
I'm grateful that I found a potentially good short-run printer...
And I'm grateful to my sweet faery friend Annalie for her kindness and help in the faery gardens today :-) xx
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The Book of Faery Magic, Seven Sacred Sites and A Magical Journey are available from bookstores across Australia, distributed by Brumby Books, and through this website.
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