It is so easy to take miraculous things for granted. We often live our lives in a predictable pattern, wake at the same time, eat the same things, watch the same TV shows, shop in the same places, relate to people the same ways and go to bed at the same time. I try so hard to be present and conscious in my day and give thanks often for the small things. I say thank you to a butterfly who appears nearby, I thank the birds who come near me or show their beautiful feathers and share their lovely songs. I give thanks for the air in my lungs, the water piped hot into my home and many things every day.

This month I am doing another Gratitude List. This one is a bit different in that you list 3 things each day for 21 days.

I was watching a show about houses ‘in paradise’ and they kept showing people’s ‘views’, often the owners say they bought the horrid fixer upper because of ‘the view’. In my opinion, just because you can see a long way away does not mean you have a ‘view’. A view means that whatever you can see is worthy of sitting and ‘viewing’? I am so grateful for my view. It is just exceptional.

I had such a calm and relaxing weekend last weekend despite our plans going awry somewhat. We were supposed to go for lunch with Caitlin, Wes and Bree on Sunday but Cait and Wes were sick and did not want to risk making us sick. We have rebooked for tomorrow so I am looking forward to that.

On Saturday afternoon we headed to Stodels to finally use my gift voucher. It only took me 2 years (maybe 3?). Since I had received so many new plants and pots recently I did not intend to buy any plants except for a vine for the back wall, but ended up picking up some little things on sale.

We stopped off at the very clean looking cafe for a ‘coffee and a bun’ as Norm always says. I just float along behind him, a bun obviously means ‘something to eat’ in Scottish.

Their coffee was really nice, creamy, not bitter and really hot.

I ordered the Breakfast Bagel. It was a sesame seed bagel with scrambled egg, bacon, tomato and cheddar cheese.

It was really tasty and I enjoyed it. We had a leisurely meal and tried to ignore the 2 children screaming at the top of their lungs in the play area, then headed home.

We relaxed the rest of Saturday and I faffed about in the garden a bit until it started raining. Norm popped out to get us dinner. I had a Campagna pizza from Massimo’s: black figs, pancetta, mozzarella, mascarpone & honey. This is the most amazing pizza, sweet, smoky, meaty. Yum.

On Sunday I had a long lie in bed drinking coffee provided by my handsome husband, then got busy outside. I set up a little station for potting my plants and started replanting.

My previous brain cactus lived on the front porch but it was thrown about by Finn so many times that the brain died. I picked up a replacement for cheap and have done a brain transplant. Look at my cute little shovel!!!!

I also found this tall cactus on the sale table and brought him home with me too.

I decided to create a little display using all of the beautiful greenish turquoise pots on the 3 tier shelf Tamlyn had also given me. The design on some of the pots feels very Art Nouveau to me. I love them all and love the little clippings I sourced for them. Since I did the video I have enhanced a few of the pots with more plants. Hopefully the plants will all take off.

While I was working on the plants I spotted this Cape Bulbul coming into the garden to look for apple bits.

I always feel so peaceful after working with my hands in the dirt. Mother Earth seems to absorb the negative energy. After I finished in the garden Norm came home from the shops with some steaks for dinner and some vegetable dishes to go with them. We had a creamy potato bake, cinnamon butternut and creamy spinach.

Then Norm cooked all on his own on Monday. He did chicken sausages, mashed potatoes and steamed baby broccoli. If you think the char on the sausages is a bit much, I like them like that. His were nicely browned like a normal human prefers. Marry the man who burns your sausage, even though he thinks it is disgusting.

On Wednesday we had the builder come to do the template for our understairs cupboard. We want to close it in as we use it for storage but it is a mess to look at. Closing it in will hide the mess and make it look tidier.

Then on Wednesday afternoon Vanessa arrived to do my pedicure. As I missed my last 2 appointments due to travel and sickness, my hooves were in a bad way! I always enjoy my appointments with Vanessa, we always have such a laugh. She gets my sense of humour.

Our last set of curtains came back from the dry cleaner. We sent all of the downstairs curtains to get cleaned because they were such a mess. I ordered these new blinds so that we can keep the windows open for a bit of sunlight. These are the only 2 windows with no view, the left one looks out on the water collection tank and right one looks out on a bit of razor wire between our house and the neighbour (this fence is where they entered when we had our home invasion). I am really happy with the look.

I also had a delivery of some adorable little bits for my Fairy Garden. I have had my eye on that mousey for ages and we all know about my lizard obsession. I also ordered a gorgeous hook for hanging my new fuchsia.

Then when Norm went to hang it up, the hook part of it broke off completely. If it was so fragile I doubt it would have held a decent sized pot. This was very disappointing to have paid for it for nothing. Needless to say I was upset. I knew it was not Norm’s fault but I was still upset. Next time Norm had to go out he came home with a bouquet of proteas to apologise for the breakage and he bought a plain black hook to replace the broken one. He is so sweet!

He hung the new hook for my plant and the plant could care less if it has a dragonfly, it is just happy I finally watered it.

On Friday Kim came to work in the garden. He painted the large pots outside on the road in front of our house.

He also put up the trellises I bought and planted my new vine. He was shocked at the price of that plant. He is determined to keep it alive.

He also painted the giant pink tire looking planter and removed the other pink one and added green pots.

But the kicker for me this morning while I was doing my prayers on the hill I spotted that my airplant is fully blooming!

This afternoon I am off to a women’s group meeting. It is a lovely but overcast day today and I hope it does not get as hot as yesterday.

I hope you all enjoy your weekends and the week ahead. Until next time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxoxox