THE FALLS

Dangar Falls at Dorrigo, which I suppose would be classed as my 'hometown' as I completed High School there and three of my siblings still live there.  The school boys used to swim under the falls but I was much more conservative. The track led to the upper pool and I only went in well back from the falls. This was before the time of council pools, when country children swam in rivers and wherever they could.

Linking up with Watery Wednesday and  Outdoor Wednesday

 

and

DAYBOOK

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It has clouded over again! Oh no, it might even rain again.  It is damp and dank underfoot.  This morning was so bright and sunny, not a cloud in the sky.

I am thinking... about our walk this morning, it was good to meet up with our group again.

I am thankful... that Barry enjoyed his birthday so much yesterday, and do you know what the highlight was ....LOL... when I presented him with a little homemade birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday Mr President a la the voice of Marilyn Monroe.  He had gifts cards, messages, friends call in, a long phone call with his son, and I prepared a beautiful meal with our best friends along, and the song is what tickled his fancy!!!!!  He is doing much better this year, after health issues, praise The Lord

In the kitchen... Everything in order. I prefer not to have a dishwasher, and do not allow friends to help, so I washed up early this morning before going walking.

I am wearing... still in my red and white walking t-shirt.  It is a group sponsored by the National Heart Foundation.

 

I am creating... Have a few projects on the go, but nothing new.

I am going... nowhere special at the moment. We did plan to go to Russell Crowe's Museum of interesting things for Barry's birthday, but the flooded roads between here and there stopped that, so we will go soon.

I am wondering... just when we will be able to clean up the garden and get the grass and weeds under control.

I am reading... just the Bible and odds and ends, I took the library books back, and didn't borrow any more just yet ..... does doing crosswords count...LOL

I am hoping... that we will have a good year with Barry's health.

I am looking forward to... all the regular activities gearing up, Know Your Bible and two Ladies Groups at my Church this week.

I am hearing... the whirr of the ceiling fan.

Around the house... not too bad, things slipped a bit with the Australian Open tennis on over the last couple of weeks, some matches went until the early hours of the morning, and even if I went to bed, I could not rest properly until the TV was off etc.

I am pondering... how much I have been enjoying blogging again... and I have been thinking about a post for Spiritual Sundays.

One of my favorite things... having friends over for dinner.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Just regular activities. We start singing for Aged Care again next week.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Just to remind me to get walking more often!!  It is a pic I took of the badge they sent last year.

Thank you to Peggy for the Daybook format, see her blog and many more posts here.

SUNLIT SUNDAY

Just browsing and came across a new Meme Sunlit Sunday.  Couldn't resist posting my favourite 'sun' pic!

It was taken just South of the small town of Texas just over the border in QLD.

Blessings, Jan

REACHING OUT

As we go into the new year I have been reflecting on the dynamics of friendship and life in a our country town, and wondering if it is the same in other localities.

Whilst I love living here, even after eight year years, we are still 'newcomers' to those who have lived here all their lives.  This has been brought home to me by my friendship with Kay, who has only lived here for the last couple of years.  We have both noticed when we go to meetings, even our bible study group, people chat and appear friendly, but it doesn't spill over into our everday lives.

My hubby and I have some friends who call in and phone, as we call in and phone them, and have them over for meals, but these friends are among other comparitive newcomers to the area. I am not complaining, we do have full lives with our entertaining for Aged Care and our interests, but it is so much more difficult for those living alone.   

Today we were going out for lunch for Hubby's birthday, and Kay asked if she could join us, and I gladly said yes, though it was a bit of a surprise, then when we were seated, three other friends came in and they were thrilled to join us, Ellen and her severely mentally challenged son, and Betty from my walking group.  They were so grateful, saying we made their day etc..... and this is so sad among Christians, people faithfully attending church services every week. Why are people so lonely when we are acquainted with so many from church congregations and community activities we all attend.  

It is an old cliche that one can be lonely in a crowd,  it brings home that everyone else appears to be confident with lots of friends and we are missing out.

Are we "loving our neighbours" if people at Church and in groups feel so lonely and alone? I must admit we are contented at home, and it is hard get motivated to make the effort to contact and visit others.

We have to reach out more this year, and our lives will be the richer for it.

Linking with Chalotte at Spiritual Sundays

 With Peace and Joy,
Jan

My All in All - Then Sings my Soul Saturday

My Faithful Guide 

Jesus, my faithful pilot and guide...

help me to begin each new day

with Your name in my thoughts,

Your love in my heart,

Your Spirit at my side to guide and lead me.

Since we live by the Spirit,

let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

From One Minute Devotions by BJ Hoff

Joining Amy and friends at Then Sings my Soul Saturday  

Skywatch Friday

Overlooking Port Macquarie, on our recent trip.
Happy Skywatch Friday 

Blessings, Jan

Hopefully getting back into routine for the year

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...

The  sun has been trying to shine after recent torrential rain. It has been humbling watching a couple of sparrows sheltering in the aluminium louvres outside our living room window.
I am thinking...
how quiet it is staying home on an Australia Day holiday, when activities that we planned to attend have been cancelled and there doesn't seem to be much traffic.
I am thankful...
that we came home a few days earlier than we originally planned and missed the landslide on the mountain and the flood at Bellingen
In the kitchen...
Some small cakes that I made for an out-of-town friend who was calling in yesterday, but she was unable to get out yesterday or today. We have arranged to meet for lunch tomorrow.
I am wearing...
A sleeveless cotton dress, very cool, I got two in a sale at a very reduced price somewhere on my travels.
I am creating...
Nothing today, but I did make seven of the knitted teddy bears for "Care and Share" while we were away, I am  a better passenger if I am knitting....LOL
I am going...
to get busy in the garden when this rain is finished and it dries a little!
I am reading...
Haven't been reading much, still dipping into the Healing Musician
I am hoping...
for a fine weekend so that we can celebrate hubby's birthday as planned
I am looking forward to...
the above (more later)
I am hearing...
the TV in the living room
Around the house...
started tidying cupboards...... ran out of inspiration on that though
  One of my favorite things...
visiting family, but will have to be content with phone calls and FB for months to come
A few plans for the rest of the week:
as mentioned, lunch at the club tomorrow, and hopefully a couple of days away over the weekend.
Here is picture I am sharing...

GD from UK at Three Sisters, Katoomba, NSW 

Thanks to Peggy for The Simple Womans Daybook, click here to read other posts.

 

Love and Blessings, Jan

End of holiday mode

A quiet day at our house as we have had a lot of rain this week and some areas are flooded. We are not inundated ourselves, and live in a floodfree area, but roads are cut in the area and local Australia Day activities have been cancelled.

We had a wonderful time away, mainly catching up with relatives. We danced on New Years Eve, saw a GD who lives in UK that I haven't seen for more than 10 years, caught up with other GDs and their current boyfriends, and also Barry's son, GD, brother and nephew.  We visited new-to-us free camping sites, including at Richmond on the northern outskirts of Sydney, provided by the local bowling club, and had a week with the local motohome club at their January venue.  I had a day in Sydney with a working year's friend, all in all we did everything we envisaged.

Next week the normal round, which has been suspended since mid-December, or end November in some cases, swings into action again.

GD from UK and daughter

Love and Blessings,
Jan