Friday Favorite Five

I can't believe its the end of the year today, where did the time go? There have been many changes in the last year and yet some things just stay the same. I reflect back on the year and the path my life has gone and its twists and turns and I have to be grateful for all the blessings I have. How could we not?

1) When you think of it, it really is a small world after all. This year my daughter moved out to Alberta. It's really not that far away when you think about it, but when she first told me about her plans I was none too happy to have her go there. I thought about it for a bit and realized I was just being selfish and thinking about my feelings and not hers. She has been there now for two months and I am missing her, yes, but I am ever grateful that she is in a nice town, sharing a house with my son and is safe and happy. She helps my son and takes care of his house and that makes me feel happy for both of them. She has her Aunt and Uncle there as well and cousins so she is not alone. The world is her oyster as they say and I am excited for her and happy for her.

So she may be far away from here, but she is close and I can rest easy with that.

2) Sometimes when you look at something, you do not see the whole picture. It might take a few times of revisiting the scene and really looking at it closely to see what really is there. It's one thing I love about Photography. I am constantly seeing new things each time I gaze upon a photo. I also love how it also resembles life. I can look at a situation I am involved with and not see the whole picture. I can see it maybe from my view but not someone else's. I can try to make them see it the way I see it but can I really do that? And maybe I cannot see what they see in it all. It doesn't make it right, It doesn't make it wrong either, it just is. I love food for thought, I am never hungry!!

3) I love paths. I have walked my path, rocky and smooth now for a lot of years. There have been lots of forks in the road, lots of offshoots I may or may not choose to travel on, lots of intersections of my path with others, lots of light airy spots on my path and lots of dark scary spots as well. I have shared my path with others, and walked it alone. And sometimes I have sat, not sure which way to go, not sure if I can, basically in a rut. I am grateful for this past year of paths. I am grateful for those who travel with me and I am sure looking forward to continuing on and seeing what is beyond the bend.

4) I am happy and grateful for the many blessings in my life.

When I allow expectations and feelings about how things should be to make me happy, I am letting disappointment fill my life and resentment to seed my soul.

When I am full of disappointment I can never see that my life is really blessed in so many ways.

And when I am resentful, I push away those most precious to me and then blame them for my unhappiness.

My life is very blessed, I am very lucky. And I am loved.

5) And lastly, I am going to be a willing participant in all I can dream my life to be in the coming year. I can dream the best for my life, and I can make it happen.

I could not of imagined everything that happened from this past year but it has been the best dream and I am onward to the next year with much anticipation.

To everyone who visits my blog, who follows my blog I thank you all for coming here and joining in! I hope you keep coming back and I promise I will too!

I wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!

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Friday's Favorite Five

Lots to be thankful for this week! It's not hard to find five favorite fives!

1) Balance: I have had a harsh bout of Vertigo for the past couple of weeks. It has really limited everything in my life while the world spins around. There is not much you feel like or are able to do when you are so dizzy. The past four days I have been able to return to work, still feeling a bit off kilter, but much better than before. I do love balance in my life.

2) My cat Scarf - who managed to find a hole in the back of my free standing fireplace on Monday and get herself stuck in it. She was stuck for four hours and it required dismantling our fireplace to get her out. We took her to the vet to be checked out and I am so thankful that she is okay and there does not seem to be any side effects from her ordeal.

3) My Photoshop course I have been taking ended on Wednesday. I wrote my final exam and handed in my final project. I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot. I am looking forward to the next one, the Advanced Photoshop course!

4) Shirley, my hairdresser who cut my hair yesterday and today coloured it. It looks great!

5) Lemon and Ginger Herbal Tea- I have drank gallons of it the past few weeks. It settled my stomach immensely and kept me hydrated.

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Friday's Favorite Five

I have to work all this weekend, albiet from home. It is not work that I enjoy doing at all. I am not one who likes to take any work home ever, and this work means working at home. I just find it invasive. 

So, it would be a good thing for me to find five favorite things to be grateful for as I go into this weekend!!

1) Photoshop - I started a new University course on Wednesday with our local University. It is a credit course toward a Media certificate. It is a challenge and I know that it will also help me to create much better photos than I put out now. I am excited to learn!

2) Photo Club - my girlfriend Cindy and I joined the local Photo Club and went to the first meeting this past Monday. They promise that membership will enhance our Photography skills!

3) The local Library - where I stocked up on Photolife Magazines and a new book for the weekend.

4) Chapleo Coffee Shop - where Hubby and I love to go and spend time on rainy afternoons. We take our laptops and enjoy specialty drinks and read the newspaper. My favorite drink right now at the coffee shop is Mocha Chai Lattes!!

5) Berry Park, behind our house is a newly built Sports Park that was officially opened on Thursday. The sports field is always full of children playing soccer and lots of people cheering!! The park has a quarter mile track around it which I am really enjoying walking around, especially with lots to watch on the field. I love to see the park now used by children and their families doing just what kids should be doing - playing!!

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Friday's Favorite Five

Hello and welcome to Friday's Fave Five. I am learning to love the lists!!

1) Oprah Show, which I watch sometimes has things every now and then that resonate. I turned it on this afternoon and the show was celebrating 10 years of her magazine. Dr. Phil was on it who I never watch but he told everyone that every now and then you have to do something in your life to shake it up. He talked about some people never knowing they are depressed until suddenly they become happy. That you have to have something in your life you are passionate about and that you do the unexpected every now and then. Change is hard and scary. It keeps people in thier ruts for too long. Then he proceeded to shave off his mustache on national TV! He put action to his words!!

2) The reason the above made so much sense to me was because I did the same thing this very morning, without even seeing the show beforehand. I had my hair cut! I mean really cut. I've never been brave enough to have done what got done today. And I love it!!

3) My son surprised me this week by showing up on my doorstep on Sunday morning. I had been very worried about him for a while, and he was not answering any phonecalls and is subject to deep bouts of depression and I knew he having troubles so to see him and see he was okay was so relieving and good. He drove here from Alberta where he lives, he was feeling homesick. So good to see him!!

4) Sockeye Salmon - there is a huge run of salmon this year after years of nothing and we bought fish for our freezer from commercial fisheries. The first salmon on the barbeque was incredibly delicious!!

5) Extra Spicy Clamato Juice - Can't get enough of the stuff lately!!

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Friday's Fave Five

Its been some time since being able to post here. I have been quite busy this summer and today have a bit of respite being at home catching up on all those mundane chores that have to be done. So here are this week's Fave Five for you!!
1) My long time friend Jane was here this week visiting from her home in Las Vegas. We have been friends for over 30 years and it does not matter how much time passes between our visits, we are able to pick up where we left off and it seems like no time ever passes for us. I really enjoyed her visit this week, and I miss her already!!
2) My hubby who made sure we could get to all the things we wanted to see and to visit while Jane was here. He was our driver the whole visit.
3) A week off work so that I would have all the time needed to enjoy Jane's visit. It has been hard to get even a day off work this summer with lack of staff, and everyone working.
4) Cooler weather! We have had a very dry hot summer and as a result our province has a lot of forest fires burning. The bit of respite of cool weather has really helped all the fire fighters do the work they are doing. The bit of rain has not helped much, we do need some more.
5) Outdoor concerts: We are going tonight to the last of the free outdoor concerts held throughout the summer. There has been excellent musicians playing, and wonderful concerts to be enjoyed!!

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Friday's Fave Five

It's been a while since I have visited Friday's Fave Five, and I am feeling the need to express my gratitude about all I have in my life at the moment. I shouldn't just do this when life is challenging, such as it is right now, but anytime we look at all we have I think is a good thing

1) My home is my solace and my refuge. All kinds of things can happen while I am out, but I know at the end of the day, I can go home. It is the quiet port in the storm of my day, the place where I long to stay in the mornings and long to return to in the evenings.

2) My Hubby, always home for me. My home is a home because he is there, whether or not he is home or at work, it is the place he returns to, my constant. My home is my home because he is there for me, with me and by my side always.

3) Understanding, others out there may not get me but here in my home, it is the place where I can be me, totally me and it gets me. No other place is safe to be me such as my home is. It is a deep and abiding relief to be able to let my self just be my self.

4) My sustanance is here. I can ask for what I need, I can give what is needed. I don't want for anything. My needs are met, and I am able to give and receive.

5) My surroundings, the park behind our house, the sundeck where I am sitting outside typing this. The lavender roses on my deck, and their sweet scent. My two cats, Speed and Scarf who love me unconditionally and who just happen to leave cat hair all over my house as well. It's all good. My surroundings ground me, they shelter me, and make up the home I call home and come home to. How could I regret any of that, even the cat hair!!

All kinds of things can happen to me in the big bad world, but I am blessed. I am loved and I am protected and valued. My life is beautiful.

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Friday's Favorite Five

Summer has finally arrived and its time to look at the things of Summer I like the most!!
1) Cherries!! I wait all year for fresh B.C. Cherries to show in the stores and they are finally here! I eat so many cherries when they come out so I hopefully won't miss them when their season is done.

2) Raspberries: The Central Fraser Valley where I live is the capital of Raspberry growers. They are now ripe and in all the fruit stands and ready to buy. I love them just plain and fresh but they are also really good with Vanillla Ice Cream!

3) Strawberries!! Are you sensing a fruit theme here!! You can get strawberries all year round, but the fresh picked locally grown berries are the best.

4) I could post more photos of fruit if I had some but maybe its time to move on here. For number 4 I love the Farmer's Market. Every Saturday morning we head on down to the market to check it out. A cup of delicous free trade coffee fresh at the market and a fresh baked Eccles Cake makes a good breakfast on  a Saturday morning. I love buying bunches of fresh herbs at the market.

5) The Sunshine!! We have had a wet cloudy spring here so seeing the sun finally come out for more than a couple days in a row is wonderful. The heat is in the 20's (Celcius) and the wind helps keep the bugs down and the air a bit cooler. I love some summer!!!

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Friday's Favorite Five

 

Five favorite things for this week!!
1) Days Off - Seems I have been waiting all week for these next two days off. What a long week! The sun is supposed to shine all weekend and they say it will be 16 Celcius tomorrow.
2) Pineapple - fresh at least from the store. It seems like summer when you eat it. I've eaten enough of it lately to make my mouth sore. But that doesn't stop me!
3) Daffodils - Today is Daffodil Day, wear a daffodil to support Cancer Awareness. I am on my way to the Daffodil festival when I finish this, to stand in fields of daffodils and get some good photos. And I am bringing some home with me to cheer up the house!!
4) New Balance Runners - new I mean, white and clean and not creased at least for a little bit. Love me some new runners!!
5) Tulip Festival - Its all about the flowers this week. Spring flowers. I am going tomorrow for the tulip festival. More pictures to follow for that.

Here is a preview for you!!!
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Friday's Favorite Five

Grateful for a lot today, and also quite a bit sad.
1) Right now I am grateful for Advil and the Ice Pack on my back. Must of overdone it this week at work with outings. We did a lot of outings and not a heck of a lot of work.
2) Steak, Scallops Bites wrapped in bacon and grilled. Then dip it in a combination of Ranch Dressing and Chipotle sauce. Little skewers of yumminess!! We tryed this at Sammy J. Pepper's restaurant and have reproduced it at home now. It is delicious and a little bit addicting.
3) A beautiful sunny day, a walk along the ocean. Huge pink starfish with 20 legs, tons of crabs walking in shallow tides, lots of tidal pools, seagulls, herons fishing, white sailboats and bright kites, fresh fish and chips eaten on a picnic table by the ocean. Sounds like a wonderful day and it was! It was my day today.
4) My cat Speed, who knows I am feeling a bit sad and is snugged right up to me on the couch as I type this. He can always sense when my world is a bit tilted.
5) One of my clients is in hospital, just taken off support.They do not feel she will make it through the night. She is in good loving hands who are caring for her through this transition. I have known her for the 22 years that I have worked for this company. She lived in two of the homes I worked in and cared for her for over half of these 22 years on a day to day basis. My sadness is just mine, I know she will not suffer anymore, a better place is waiting for her. And I am very grateful for that.

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Friday's Fave Five

1) The Sunshine: Spring has really arrived a couple of weeks early and the skies have been big and blue and sunny!! It's a shame to have to go to work and not have the day to really enjoy the sun.
2) Cherry Blossoms: Nothing like the beautiful pink colour of cherry blossoms against a bright blue sky.
3) Longer days: The days stay light out now until about 6:20. That means I can enjoy an early dinner and head out to the park after and walk it off!! Daylight savings starts in 8 days. I love the lighter evenings.
4) Movie night with my hubby: We went on Wednesday to see Shutter Island. I always look forward to the red licorice we buy for the movie!!
5) Seafood: My daughter came over for supper the other night, and it was a great excuse to go out and buy a bunch of mussels, scallops, prawns and white fish to make a wonderful dinner to spoil her!! I ate some for lunch the next day as well.
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Friday's Fave Five

1) In this last week of the Olympics, I have been really enjoying watching the Figure Skating competitions. It is my favorite thing to watch whether it is the Olympics or other events. Joannie Rochette's emotional skate was something else to see.

2) I got to spend three days this week catching up on paperwork. For my job, spending that much time and having that much time to spend is huge! I powered through a lot of stuff that I've been behind in.

3) Firsts I got to experience this week, all at work with my clients. We went to LaserTag to play a game, something I have never done before. I had so much fun! It's going to be something I go and try again. Always good to try something new!

4) I am very grateful that my kitten Scarf came through her little operation on Monday with flying colours. She was spayed and her ear tattooed as well. She has a little scar that is healing well and although they promised it would slow her down for a bit, it has not stopped her at all!

5) My hubby bought a camera for our business and we went out this weekend so he could learn it. It was different to go out with him and both of us looking for photo ops!! I have my camera and I also use it for our business, but for both of us to go out and just have fun snapping pictures it was a lot of fun.

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Friday's Favorite Five

This week has been a hard one for me. I have woken up each morning dreading to have to go and do the things I have to do, especially go to work. I notice when I have trouble with one thing in my life, it takes the balance out of all of the rest of my life. So I thought for my list I would use this opportunity to bring to my attention things I know I have in my life to be grateful for.

1) My clients at work are all developmentally delayed and all have special challenges that for the people that give daily care to them, can be very taxing. Some days are especially hard and no matter how much we love and care for our clients we all sometimes watch the clock, have our jacket on and car keys in hand to run out the door with what is left of our patience and get as far away as we can and closer to the sanctuary of our homes as fast as we can. We all work together as a team and bounce our difficulties and trials off of each other so I am grateful for the clients who continually test me and my limits and the staff who hold me up.

2) Somedays I get home from days such as above and have not managed to process the day before bringing it into the home. I am grateful for my hubby who makes me a cup of tea, clears a spot in his day and gives me undivided attention and listens to the remnants of my day. He helps me put it all into perspective and see the silver linings.

3) Sometimes I feel like I am running close to empty and don't have much left to share with people. It always happens at those times my energy is at its lowest that a challenge appears to shake me out of myself and encourage me to make a choice to step up. My hubby likes to bring home "strays" as we sometimes call them. For years we fostered Level 3 behaviorial teenagers, those kind with lots of letters behind thier names, such as FAS, ADHD etc. We were one of the last of the line for these kids and although we could not save them all, one or two made it all worthwhile. We have been out of fostering for a while, buy hubby still works with teens and now and then has to bring them home until he can find homes, jobs etc for them. So on my worst day this week at work, he brought home a teen to stay at the house. So it shows me that as much as I think my circumstances are rotten at any given time, there is always someone who has much worse states than I am in at any time. Gives me back some humility.

4) I have to put a couple of things on this list that are not so depressed sounding!! So here goes! Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. I am going to make these for hubby for Valentine's Day. Along with a dinner to share before dessert of course. I watched a cooking show that showed how to do this, so am going to make this for my Valentine!!

5) Love Hearts! I bought a bag of these to photograph them for a photo contest I entered last weekend, and I have been eating the sweet things since.

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Friday Fave Five

1) Our spring like weather - It may be the middle of winter here but the weather has been very springlike, so much so that cherry blossoms, crocuses, daffodils etc. are blooming away. Our weather is not what the Vancouver Winter Olympics would call wonderful though. There isn't nearly enough snow on Cypress Mountain and they are having to truck it in from Manning Park. There are no upcoming reports of snow in the forecast either.

2) Spaghetti with Meat Sauce - that my hubby cooked for supper tonight. I was so starving after getting home from the Seminar on Bookkeeping I attended today I could of chewed on my own arm. Those two pieces of Raison toast for Breakfast did not last long.

3) My new book on Colour Correction for Photoshop. Something new to learn.

4) Survivor - actually just counting the days until the first show on Thursday. And last but not least!!!

5) My daughter Lora - who is celebrating her birthday tomorrow. My beautiful daughter has grown up to be a kind, thoughtful and gentle woman. All the things we had to go through especially in those teenage years have made her the wonderful human being she has become.

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Friday's Fave Five

My Friday's favorite fives are all happening right now!!
1) Taking the day off from work and sleeping in. I didn't get out of bed until 10am which for me is like sleeping in an extra 6 hours. Normally I get up at 4am to get ready to go to work. Usually a sleep in for me is getting up at 7. So I really got to sleep in this morning!!
2) The house to myself. My hubby works from home running our business but is in and out with it so this morning he is out and it is just me and the cats. I wouldn't like it too often to have the house quiet like this but once or twice is nice!
3) A pot of Starbucks Christmas blend coffee and some whipped cream to whiten it. So creamy!!! And a slice of Texas cut Raison Toast and butter to eat with it. I know, its not very nutritious but it sure is delicious!
4) The sound of the rain on my skylight. Its a relaxing sound to hear when you are warm and cozy in your home. I love watching the rain from the shelter of my home.
5) My new book that I borrowed from the library that I have been reading. It is called Exposure and Lighting for the SLR Digital Camera and I can read it slowly and try out its suggestions at my leisure. The heat is on, the rain is falling, the coffee is flowing and the house is quiet. Excellent learning conditions!

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Friday's Favorite Five

1) Hard to believe it is already January, of a new year and a new decade. This time last year we were digging out of a couple feet of snow. So today one of my favorite things is the green! Sure we are having a bunch of rainy, soggy days, but I am loving not having to shovel it or be stressed having to drive in the snow.

2) Avatar 3D. What a wonderful movie to watch. The theater was packed, and everyone with their Blues Brothers Style 3D glasses. It was quite fun to see. The movie in 3D was magical. We sat close to the front of the theater and so some of the effects seem to float all around us. I highly recommend going to see this movie!

3) Facebook. Lately I have had contact with old friends from high school days thanks to a recent school reunion and a facebook page for my graduating class. It has been nice to catch up on all our lives since we parted ways in school.

4) Polarizing filters for my camera. I have been out and about getting used to them. My hubby gave them to me for Christmas. I love new toys for my camera!

5) Cinnaparts from McDonalds. These cinnamon buns are just evil but oh so good. Little pillows of soft sweet dough bathed in brown sugar and cinnamon and bathed in icing. That and a cup of coffee makes a sinful breakfast, which two days this week at work we all enjoyed. I guess the diet might start next week.

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Friday's Fave Five

I thought because Christmas is just around the corner, I would do some Christmas faves for you all.
1) Christmas Light Displays: I got home from work late tonight and even later than I normally would of because I took a bit of a scenic route to see some of the beautiful Christmas light displays that are up. Some of the displays are amazing! Such talented people out there. A few are set to music as well. It is quite a bit foggy outside tonight and that just added to the magical quality of the light displays I think.

2) Shortbread: It is my favorite cookie of all the year. I love it just plain, no cherries, or dip in chocolate. It has to be made with real butter too. Believe it or not, I know a couple of people who actually use margarine to make their shortbread. That is just wrong!! (I am also one of those strange people that loves fruitcake, the dark kind!)

3) Eggnog: I am glad this only comes out on special holidays. If it was available all year round it might not be so wonderful. I love eggnog in lots of different ways - ice cream, with rum, lattes, straight up, substitute for coffee cream. I like it warmed up as well, in drinks in place of milk. It makes excellent french toast as well.

4) Candy Cane Ice Cream: Another thing that its good it is only out at Christmas. I don't even waste time getting a bowl. I am the only one in this house that thinks this is wonderful. So I can eat it right out of the container with no guilt at all!!

5) Ponsettias, Garlands, Wreaths, Christmas decorations: and here is the wierd part in that I don't like putting them up and especially hate to take them down. I love seeing others decorations and store displays. I just don't like decorating in my own home. Weird huh???

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Friday's Fave Five

1) Its my favorite day, or rather evening. I love Friday evenings, its the start of the weekend where I can sleep in, lounge around the house drinking coffee, watch Saturday cartoons with my hubby and not have to get up to go to work until Monday. Its the start of my down time!!

2) I am so glad my older cat Speed is getting along and "embracing" our newest kitten, Scarf. I really had serious doubts that he would accept another cat into his territory but I think because she is such a new kitten, he has taken on the roll of her surrogate and protector. How cute is this, them cuddled up and sleeping on the couch.

3) And not neccessarily in that order, (just the way the pictures downloaded) my Hubby is my favorite! He is my best friend, my calm port in the storms of my life, my breath of fresh air. There is nothing I like better than spending a day with him wherever it takes us!!

4)Greek Salad!! Is there any better combination of vegetables around?? Seriously, I could eat this every day. I buy a home made Greek dressing from one of the greek restaurants here in town. I could not make dressing any better than this stuff. It rocks the salad!!

5) My new Concrete Driveway!! My hubby and one of the Concrete finishers are outside babysitting it as I type this. It is still wet and curing, and they are guarding it so that no one who feels the urge to deface it while it is drying can do that. I might just have to take a picture of it in the morning, it is so wonderful!!

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Then go and read everyone's entries for the day!!

Friday's Fave Five

I've never posted on Friday's favorite Five but I really like the idea and have been lurking for a while. I enjoy reading the posts I have visited. It's about time I added my part to it!! So here goes. I added some photos I took tonight on a walk around the park.

1) I love paths. I've said it before here, and am always drawn to walk on a path, seek out paths especially the ones that are less travelled. I wonder who before me has travelled the path, where the path might lead, what I will learn on the way through the path. Lots of things to like about paths!!

2) It is hard to tell here but the wind is really blowing. Its gusting about 30 or more miles per hour and the wind is warm and soft. I love walking on windy days, feeling the breeze against my skin, the gentle push against me as I walk. I am one that would be out in a hurricane trying to challenge my ability to push through what it throws at me. I love the wind!!!

3) I love Fall for all the crisp layers of leaves fallen from the trees, just begging to be walked through!! I don't much like raking leaves, unless it is into piles so I can turn around and shuffle my way right through the middle of the pile. I love the crisp crunch of dry fallen leaves.

4) Blue Cheese!! I did not like blue cheese for the better part of 40 years and have just discovered its creamy sharp yumminess thanks to my neighbour who forced me to try it and see what I was missing.

5) Halloween candy season and I am munching on a Skor Chocolate bar as I write this. I stole them all out of the chocolate box and now have a stash in the freezer. Oh and they taste great too with a glass of Shiraz!!

Please visit http://susannesspace.blogspot.com/ to read other entries to Friday's Favorite Five!! Its great reading!!