WALK BOLDLY IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS

Good Afternoon - welcome to Ruby Tuesday in my City where the sun has shone for most of the day and the air has been warm and pleasant.

We did have cloud this afternoon and I think that kept the temperature down for us.   However by the end of the week we can expect a return to winter with rain and cold temperatures.   Mother Nature is indeed fickle.

I spent the morning pulling weeds from my front garden and felt the pain of bending for most of the afternoon, but there is certainly an improvement.    A friend helped me and it is always easier when there are two of you and you can talk as you work.

I love flowers and pretty gardens, but must confess that gardening is not my favourite pastime, but I am left with a feeling of satisfaction for a job well done and the green waste bin was filled very quickly.

Most of our spring flowers have finished now, but the blossoms and daffodils were beautiful and for a few short weeks the streets were lined with pink blossoming trees.

It has been a nice day - but a day when I will be glad to climb into bed and read for a while and then hopefully off to sleep.   I did think of a nap this afternoon but decided against it in the hope that I shall slip into the arms of Morpheus tonight and sleep well.

The weeks are moving along quite quickly and we are now approaching the time of the Royal Adelaide Show - 9 days of bringing the farm to the city - of rides, exhibitions, samples and crowds who gather to spend lots of money, become very tired and usually watch a fireworks display in the evening.

There will be events such as cow judging, wood chopping, Show Jumping and displays with sheep, cattle, pigs and goats.  Handicrafts are displayed and it is quite the celebration.  I shall be working on two days for Donate Life, spreading the word about organ donation.

I know that many of you have busy lives and only get to dream occasionally - but please dream dreams and dream big and then go confidently in the direction of your dreams and make them come true.

To those off on holidays - Bon Voyage, Happy Trails and be safe - but mostly enjoy the scenes, smells, and sights of new cities.   Enjoy your flights and get lots of rest during the flight so that you have energy for sightseeing.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart and I wish you sweet and peaceful dreams when your night time comes.

Love and hugs,

HITCH YOUR WAGON TO A STAR

It's Monday evening and here I am doing a blog post before bedtime after what has been a beautiful winter day.    The sky was blue, there were white fluffy clouds and the sun shone for most of the day.   A perfect day to get laundry done and out on the line to dry.  I did some cryptic crossword puzzles with a friend and generally enjoyed the day.

This first herald of spring was gracing my garden when I looked out there this morning - a truly beautiful daffodil and a special gift which I cherish.

I was part of a mid year "Christmas in July" gift exchange between a group of online friends and my Secret Santa gift arrived today and I was very pleased.

I received three pink pens (Santa must know me very well) some small Christmas cards, Christmas tree earrings and three lovely frames for photographs/Christmas images - It was a a lovely gift and much appreciated.

When I am alone I often do much thinking - and I was thinking of the plans we make, the places we go, the people we meet.  Alexis and Naomi have made plans and reservations for their holiday later in the year and are very excited about it.  I know they will have a wonderful time, but it is great for me to see their excitement and hear them talk of what they are going to do.

Others have plans for special holidays and it brings me such joy to hear of their plans because I know how much these holidays are needed and wanted.  

They will be grand adventures and times of fun, and also for others time out away from the extreme stresses of how life has been ~ such wonderful plans and excitement all round.   Sometimes I think the planning and the anticipation is just as exciting as the times away.    

It is the fulfillment of dreams - that hitching the wagon to a star and setting off for the great unknown, with all the necessary precautions taken, the butterflies in the tummy and the stars in the eyes.

 What plans do you have for holidays and grand adventures?   Is there somewhere in the deep recesses of your heart a dream that need hitching to a star?   I hope that you are able to hitch the wagon and take the journey.

My Father was a seafaring man and he was never quite settled when he was shore bound - he always claimed he was "born under a wandering star"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnbiRDNaDeo

Listen to Lee Marvin sing "I was born under a wandering star" ~ I did and it brought lovely memories of a movie out with my Father.

Memories are sweet as are the memories in the making with all the lovely plans ~  Whatever your plans are I hope that you are having a wonderful time making the memories and then when you do get to go on your trip - making real memories will be wonderful.

Hitch your wagon to a star and follow your dreams - and thank you for visiting the musings of my heart - a heart filled with lots of memories and other memories in the planning. 

Love and hugs,

Linda

WELCOME TO RUBY TUESDAY ONCE AGAIN ~ SPARKLE AND SHINE

Good early afternoon from a City filled with sunshine and blue sky.   There are lots of white fluffy clouds in my sky and all is well with me.

I have been to the hairdresser, chatted with the girls, done some talking about organ donation there ~ they are hungry to learn and know.  Home again, had lunch and now to spend some time blogging.

I write today with a thankful heart ~ a friend named Patrick has just received a call and is now waiting for his heart transplant and I rejoice with him and his family at this anxious time.   I also acknowledge the donor family at their time of grief and loss.  When one door closes another opens.

Shrouded in wonder and awe of the miracle that is organ transplantation ~ I began another day with gratitude and thanksgiving.   The journey I am taking is filled with wonder and awe at so many things, and I am blessed to have special ones to share it with me.   

I have over the last few days, done some deep thinking and learned so much about myself, my journey, my actions and my reactions.  It is a wonderful journey and I am in total awe of it all.

I am very blessed to have someone who also thinks deeply to share the journey with and to share the thoughts and emotions that emerge at a time like this.   It is WONDERful; full of wonder.

Like the rest of you I get frustrated when plans I have made don't work out the way I would have liked them too ~ I know this happens to many people.    We have to be careful not to get caught up in the happenings around us at the neglect and expense of the nurture of of our body and emotions.

A very dear friend told me that there comes a time when we need to be a little selfish in this life and reclaim the time and space for ourselves.   We need to nourish and nurture ourselves so that we can become the best person we can be and then go back out into the world and sparkle and shine.

There is so much I would like to share with you, but I think the image below says it all:

What have you seen today that has brightened your world ?  For me there are several things that I have seen and felt already today:

• A new diamond ring on a finger and very sparkly eyes
• A toddler walking with faltering steps and holding the hand of someone much older.
• The changing of the seasons and the shortening of the days as Autumn settles here.
• I heard the crunch of a dry leaf as I opened the gate to get the car out.
• I REALLY heard the lyrics of a song playing on a DVD in the car.
• An email from a friend from long ago (she was a child I cared for and now an adult friend.)
• Lovely message from a friend who was admitting fatigue and taking care.
• My laundry drying in the warm breeze.

and there are so many other things and my day is only half way through.

I hope you can find joy in the little things of life and courage for the bigger things, which will and do come along.  The joy truly is in the journey and that's what life is ~ a journey and not a destination.

Weather conditions all over the world are causing such distress for many many people and my thoughts and prayers are with my American friends as they struggle to recover from the tornado filled days of late.

New South Wales and Victoria are still in the grip of flooding with rain continuing to fall, Queensland too is very wet ~ why are we so surprised ?   We prayed for rain long and hard and now we have it.

These are similar flood patterns from long ago but as always we seem to go full circle.   My heart and thoughts are with you all as you struggle to stay dry and maintain your homes.

There is much sickness and pain about and to those of you who are ill I am remembering you and those of you who are caregivers I acknowledge all you do and are and encourage you to take care of yourselves.

My family are all well ~ Naomi and Alexis survived their flooded road trip to Broken Hill and the huge detour they had to take and Rebecca and Nick are very busy with deadlines at work and with Writer's Week.  Our dear family friend Mary, on holiday from NSW took a tumble on Sunday and is a little bruised and shaken but otherwise okay.

It is really so important to be there for each other ~ to share, to care, to love and cherish. 

In your busy days and life ~ take the time to care for yourself so that you stay well and happy.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart ~ today a thoughtful heart filled with care for others.

Love and hugs,

Linda.