Reflections, gratitude and a Giveaway!

If you are a regular reader of my blog, welcome back after a bit of a hiatus. If you are a new reader, welcome. Gratitude is the main theme of my blog, I aim to be in a constant state of gratitude, to live each day with an underlying attitude of gratitude, grateful for every day and each experience. In previous blog posts, I have spoken at length about why I do this and my daily practices that help keep me in this mindset.

I always like to take a moment every day and reflect on what is in my present moment that I am grateful for. When life's challenges invariably come up, I always try to balance the negative with acknowledging those people, circumstances and experiences that I have to be grateful for. So, to this end, today marks a day of reflection and immense gratitude, as well as my contribution to paying it forward and expressing my gratitude to others.

Today I reflect on all of the experiences I have had over the past 12 months and longer, all the new people I have met and all of the interactions with my friends and family.

This year held so much with the most significant, a month long adventure with my beloved, to the UK and France, experiencing different cultures, visiting beautiful castles and chateaux, learning so much about their history and way of life. We basked in the warmth of the British and French people, always welcoming, only to happy to show us another part of their beautiful countries. We lived in a 6th floor Paris apartment, imbibed with the locals in Paris at sidewalk cafes and ate pizza while sipping on wine by the banks of the river Seine, wandered through the Louvre, took in a sunset over Paris from halfway up the Eiffel tower and generally soaked up the Parisian culture. We drove from the bottom tip of England to the north of Scotland, immersed ourselves in the history of Kings and Queens, took in the spectacular scenery of the Scottish highlands, visited all the stone Circles I could and followed the Outlander trail.

Art wise, this year was so very fulfilling, my continuing art journal classes with a fantastic group of ladies, my foray into the world of You Tubing, and a continuing daily practice of Lunchtime Art Time. Acceptance in my local councils, Emerging Artists exhibition was a highlight and just last month, being accepted to hold month long exhibition in the Council Chambers at the end of next year means a busy but exciting 2016.

Last night I celebrated with my family and closest friends, sharing stories, laughing over old photos, and reflecting on our time together. All in all I consider myself blessed, lucky to live in such a beautiful country, surrounded by people that have and still enrich my life in so many ways. I am lucky to have made connections with people all over this vast planet and, while some I may never meet face to face, still share a bond and friendships that I cherish.

Today I turn 50 and what better way is there to celebrate than to give presents.

So to that end I am having giveaway today as a thank you to everyone who has taken time to sit and read my ramblings, as a way to spread the love and share positive energy, as a prompt for everyone to sit and reflect on what is important.

All you have to do is tell me what you are grateful for today. Leave a comment and in a few days I will draw a winner and send them something arty

****Thanks to everyone who entered, the giveaway is now closed but if you would still like to tell me your grateful thoughts please feel free to comment.***

thank you for your presence

Namaste

Lee
 

And the winner is..............

Thank you to my dear blogging friends, it is time to annouce the winner of my first ever giveaway.....

Gina (Tyggereye Art Love)

Congratulations Gina, a little parcel of artiness will be on it's way to you shortly.
 I am just putting the finishing touches to the prize so will be able to show some pictures of it this weekend.


Meanwhile I will show you a couple of other photos of what I was up to in the last few weeks.

 My husband and I went into the city on the Sunday afternoon after the footy match for some retail therapy ..

..and then a lovely dinner at a restaurant on the Yarra River.

It was a perfect time to do some shopping as it was a bit quieter and the weather was perfect for a stroll. I just love coming into the city and looking at all the old buildings. This one is Flinders Street Railway station.

In the photo below you can see the MCG in the background looking up the Yarra River. I do love the harbour of my home town of Sydney but after 24 years here I am a Melbourne girl now. 

Wouldn't it be nice to have a little apartment in the city so you could spend the weekend enjoying all the sights and sounds of the city and then back to your suburban sanctuary the rest of the time?

Ah to dream..... Oh, and that also goes with the dream of my little beach house for total relaxation as well. A girl can dream can't she??

Overall it was a lovely end to a great weekend.

Well there is no art here but I do have two pages in my journal to show you, I just have to get the photos in order so will be back on Friday to show you.

Hope you are having a lovely week everyone.

Here is a quote I came across this week

"You must find a place inside yourself where nothing is impossible"

- Deepak Chopra

Here's to infinite possibilities.

Namaste

Lee