I have a sneaking suspicion that my interpretation of the topics this month could turn the focus more towards my inner world. Despite the sometimes darker nature of this, this is great for me. I always benefit long term. My view from my desk today looks a little like a horizontal prison. I mostly feel imprisoned lately, both physically and mentally.
Long Life Milk
I live on my own and don't use a lot of milk. To save money, I use long life milk most of the time. Even when opened and in the fridge, it lasts longer. It is cheaper to buy by the litre, especially if you buy the store branded milk. There is nothing wrong with it. It’s great for people that live alone as you don’t waste milk (and money) by throwing it out when it goes off.
Photo Challenge: FEBRUARY
Doing the Photo Challenge each day, at times felt like a chore, but mostly made me stop and think about how I viewed the world. Got me thinking more deeply in general, which is what I needed back in my life. So I'm going to continue with February's Photo Challenge.
Day 31: YOU. AGAIN
I didn't attempt to take a photo of myself, as they are always disastrous. But a happy snap gleaned at Christmas time, I felt was appropriate to share. I still dislike my own photo, but I must embrace this challenge and learn to love what I see :-)
Day 30: NATURE
Nature continues to amaze me at it's complexity. The way it cycles, works with and against itself. Droughts, floods, earthquakes, changing seasons and weather patterns. This little photo shows my rejuvenated green backyard, with long grass, when prior to the recent rains, even watering the garden each day didn't produce the lushness these rains have. And had our lawns approaching burn off stage. It may be just water, akin to that from our taps, but nature in it's inter-relatedness knows what it's doing!
Day 29: INSIDE YOUR FRIDGE
This is my year to finally tackle my weight. I know I can do it. I'm a smart lady and determined in so many other areas of my life. I'm probably going to fail many times, but this time I'm going to pick myself up and continue. Not give up like usual. So today sees me sign up for the Channel Ten Million Kilo Challenge, and have just stocked my fridge according to their shopping list. Wish me luck!
Weekly Budget
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I am on a very low income of a disability pension. I am extremely grateful to have this and to live in the country I do. But this is a topic for another day. It just goes to explain perhaps the tediousness of my budgeting due to a fixed low income and the unpredictability of my illness(es) that prevent regular earning of extra income.
Overall, my budget is similar each week, as is most people's. Food, utilities, leisure, annual bills, savings and the like. But I do sit down each week to see what needs to be taken care of during the coming week(s). That way I keep track of what's going on, both with "needs and wants". I'm not surprised and then stressed by something I'd forgotten about. And mostly, I'm able to span these purchases out evenly over the weeks ahead instead of taking them all out of one pay period and leaving myself very short. This little 'sit down' doesn't take long. Not much longer than to drink a cup of coffee. But it certainly keeps me on track financially, reduces greatly the stress money worries can have in your life, and gives me a great sense of pride in myself and my organisational skills.
I rarely use ATM’s or EFTPOS. People lose track of how much they spend this way. I go to the branch once per week and withdraw the amount I want for the week ahead. I’ll have a budget worked out and will ask for my money in the denominations matching the budget.
Eg: Food $60 = 1x50, 1x10 Petrol $20 = 1x20 Prescriptions $15 = 1x10, 1x5
I'll use this method, right down to the smallest purchases. That way I don’t go over my budget and I know what money is for what item. I put these different purchases into little bank coin bags in my wallet, labelled.
No mistakes, no money wastage.
Day 28: LIGHT
It's been raining most days for over a week now. Each morning when I get up, I need to turn a light on. It's easy to forget it's supposed to be summer.
Day 27: LUNCH
I had ambitions of a healthy garden salad and tuna for lunch today. But life seemed to get in the way, between demanding errands, obligations and temperamental cars. So I was weak and purchased this Coles salad, that is ever so yummy but not overly healthy. Oops.
Digital Photo Printing
· I live in a small country town with no access to photo printing services within my town. So, when I get my digital photo’s printed, I save them up and send them off to one of the larger companies, when a good deal comes around. If possible I upload them online. This saves me postage. And then, because I have a significant amount of prints to be returned to me, the postage they charge is usually a flat rate and far less than it would be if calculated on the weight and size of the print parcel returning to me. So all round, a great deal! It also reduces a big and often tedious job down to only a couple of times per year.
Day 26: COLOUR
Today's colours must be inclusive of our Aussie green & golds and our flag colours. Australia Day always reminds me how fortunate I am to live in the country I do. I reflect on what I am grateful for .... mostly my freedom to be me that in many other countries would not be so easy. Often just for the simple fact of being born female.
Day 25: SOMETHING YOU MADE
My first mosaic creation! It was like grown up cut and paste. I often make things ... knitted items in the winter time, cards from time to time, scrapbook pages. I love crafts and am endeavouring to spend more time this year indulging my creativity.
Day 24: GUILTY PLEASURE
'Guilty Pleasure' makes me think of food and this makes me aware of how much of a love/hate relationship I have with food. So I couldn't seem to include it in this photo segment. But today, coincidentally, it was raining, I lay on the bed "quickly" after lunch to read a book, and ended up waking to this time on my alarm clock after a Nana Nap. Today's guilty pleasure :-)
Day 23: SOMETHING OLD
I often catch myself in daily life remembering things my grandmothers did or something they told me. Girls probably remember more of what their grandma's share and boys their grandpa's. But it's lovely to have had this in my life. A connection going way back. Sharing ways, beliefs, joys and even tragedies, that made them who they were. This in turn helped shape me. And in turn, I am helping shape my nephews. The old ways, the more traditional ways, are ways I long for now. Ways that I keep passing on to the younger generations, as I fear for them entering an increasingly fast paced and materialistic world. Hold onto what you value from the old ways and share it with those who are our future. A way to slow down and preserve our beautiful earth.
Day 22: YOUR SHOES
My Gardening Crocs. They must be the best valued shoes in relation to price/work ratio. They're often kicked off at the back door after pottering in my garden. Easy to slip on, so no excuses not to work in the garden. Easy to rinse off. Not stylish, but hey, somewhere along the line I missed the female gene that is in love with shoes. I've never got it!
Day 21: REFLECTION
Taken at a local open garden, this shows nature in all it's glory. I felt it was almost twice as beautiful due to it reflecting itself, the sky and surrounding trees. I always feel most at peace in nature. It also opens me up for personal reflection, letting me untangle problems and for peace to flow within.
Day 20: SOMEONE YOU LOVE
This lady is the reason I'm here today. She gave more than was required. She cared when I couldn't. She loved when I needed it. She 'held my hand' through the darkest of dark times. She helped me sort the jumble of child abuse to let me have a future and some freedom. She in effect re-raised me. She became more than a counsellor. Over the years we left this behind and we became friends. More than friends. It's been over a year since she tragically died and I miss her every single day. It's not always her absence but her presence, in what she gave to me, that makes me miss her. I love you Linda xxxx
Day 19: SWEET
My first thought with this challenge was something sweet to eat. But then I glanced across my desk and saw this little solar powered flowerpot, that dances happily in the sunlight each day. I gave one to my 79 year old friend and she loves it, referring to it as 'sweet' and making her smile, each time she looks at it. It's lovely to brighten someone's day with something sweet and as simple as this.
Day 18: SOMETHING YOU BOUGHT
It's closing in on back to school/work/study time, so while I was out buying the paper this morning, I took advantage of the half price sale on USB Flash Drives. A rather mundane purchase but a great money saver.
Day 17: WATER
Water ... so many great things could be photographed and said about this. Today, after busily running around, I realised how thirst quenching an ice cold glass of water can be. Ahhh!
Day 16: MORNING
My mornings usually see me up early, enjoying the peace and that extra time to potter around in the garden, getting things done. But today's drizzly weather sees me indecisive about what to do next. So much must be completed today, some depends on fine weather. I guess this could become a lesson in doing what I can and not trying to be perfect for the visitors that call by tomorrow. Ho hum, life lessons, always fun, even the small ones. :-)
Day 15: HAPPINESS
Today I sought a simple, but complete, definition of happiness. Mainly because I think we forget that this emotion is a scale and not always at the intense overflowing end of that scale. I thought I wasn't feeling particularly happy today. But I was, because when I asked myself "well then what would you change?". I came up with no answer, leading me to realise I feel content with my life, am happy and today I was just tired (and hence, not unhappy).
Day 14: SOMETHING YOU'RE READING
At the moment I have a little pile growing next to my bed. I had planned to do a lot of reading over the Christmas/New Year break, but that didn't happen. Seemingly lately, every time I read, it puts me to sleep. And the material isn't even boring ... far from it! At the moment I have some lovely magazines to flip through, an inspirational story about a family battling their 12 year old daughters cancer and a book on child abuse, which is a little like a support group for me as it allows me to feel understood during vulnerable moments.
Day 13: IN YOUR BAG
Wow, I was a little scared to empty the whole contents of my handbag. I never quite know what will be in there! But the 'little' that has overflowed doesn't look too threatening :-)
Day 12: CLOSE-UP
I almost ran out of time today to even think of the Photo Challenge. A quick glance at the list and topic as I was putting away groceries, saw me take a close up of the strawberries. I didn't realise how many tiny seeds were on one strawberry.
Day 11: WHERE YOU SLEEP
My comfy bed, my retreat from the world, the place I dream good and bad things, the place I fluctuate between sleep and constant insomnia. But a lovely room which would look far more elegant if I made the bed every day. But after all, I must consider my little furry friend who finds this satin doona cover too slippery to jump upon, if the bed is made correctly *laughs*.
Day 10: CHILDHOOD
This week, my gorgeous nephews Jake (9) and Braydon (8) are staying with us all in Tenterfield. So I get to be a 40 year old child for most of this week, playing with them, sharing their likes, dislikes, fears and joys. I get to impart the positive aspects of my childhood with them and learn to see the world through the eyes of children again. This is always a joy and gives a new perspective to my life, as well as added motivation.
Day 9: DAILY ROUTINE
Because I have always had a tendency towards thinking too much, ruminating and being unable to sleep, and just anxiety in general, a little trick that works for me, is to write a list of things I need or plan to do. Usually I do this in the evening, fine tuning it in the morning. The above photo is an example of a list of errands to do down town. Lists give me a daily routine without the excess anxiety and worry.
Day 8: YOUR SKY
The view in my backyard this morning, as I sat relaxing with a cool drink, after mowing my lawn. Slight breeze, cloudless skies, my lovely garden giving the illusion of far off neighbours. Rocked by the gentle swing of my garden swing seat.
Day 7: FAVOURITE
My most favourite book in the whole wide world, as a child, was the "Magic Faraway Tree" series written by Enid Blyton. I must have read them over and over so many times. I loved the little magical characters and the way you could escape to magical lands at the top of the tree. And also how brave the children were, when it was a risk to see if it was a good or bad land. I loved them. They were almost my friends. As an adult, I purchased the series as a lovely illustrated set, that I treasure.
Day 6: MAKES YOU SMILE
I love the days when I am home, with few plans other than to 'potter' around home. Doing things like watering pot plants and generally just enjoying my home and the peace it brings. This makes me smile, inside and out.
Day 5: SOMETHING YOU WORE
With age comes the daily use of glasses to read with. How lost I'd be without them and how many more headaches I'd have from eye strain. They're my constant companion these days, now owning 2 pair, BUT I am yet to resort to hanging them around my neck! I guess further age will see me doing this too.
Day 4: LETTERBOX
My Letterbox. Did ever a little metal box ever evoke more emotions than the humble letterbox? Dread, fear, anxiety when strapped for money and bills are due. Frustration and impatience when waiting upon something. Tears and sadness at bad news. Expectation and excitement as special dates draw near or ordered goods are due to arrive. And surprise, happiness and love with unexpected cards and acts of kindness arriving. Truly a mixed box, the humble letterbox.
Day 3: SOMETHING I ADORE
I adore a few things ... friends & family being most obvious.But I also adore my dog Bessie. She is the current 'furry friend' in my life and I'd be lost without her. In fact, I know I would not be here today without having had little 'furry friends' in my life during the hard times. Those dark times, dark hours of the night and early morning, when I had no-one and things seemed worst, there was always a little warm body to reach out and cuddle. A reason to live because I knew how much they depended on me. I knew no-one would care for them like I did. Someone that loved me no matter what. Someone to come home to, when the world took much from me. My little furry friends ... Emmi, Jazzy and now Bessie ... you have helped give me a future xxxx
Day 2: BREAKFAST
I often wake early, enjoying the peace of the mornings and the time before commitments intrude, to do jobs around my home. In doing this I often rush breakfast or skip it altogether. I aim to eliminate this habit. Today saw me enjoy wholemeal seedy toast, with avocado, an egg, tomato and spinach. Yummy and a much healthier start to the day.
Day 1: YOU
I have been feeling very down on myself lately, so my photo reflects this and does not show me clearly. As this
photo challenge progresses this month, along with me pursuing some of my goals and nourishing pursuits, I hope by the end of the month, when I need to photograph myself again, that I will feel more whole, alive and loving towards myself, revealing more of me. Have a great month, and photo challenge!
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