Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone out there. I find it very difficult getting in a Halloween state of mind as I don't regard it as a Southern Hemisphere occasion. But for all those who do, have a great night.

Clare looks so beautiful for her Halloween night 

Mikayla doesn't have a clue what Halloween is but how cute does she look

I have had a great week with lots of fun and some revelations and important decisions made.

Firstly the fun part was looking after my two beautiful granddaughters Clare and Mikayla while their Mum and Dad are sunning themselves in Thailand for a week. We had lots of fun with painting, swimming and going to a party.

Clare at her swimming lesson

The girls loved being at Gail's birthday lunch

They are such good girls but when they went to their Nana's for the weekend I did enjoy my bubble bath and full nights sleep. I pick them up again on Sunday for some more fun. 

Today was another great one starting it off with a very inspiring group of friends. The discussion during the morning made me aware of a toxic so called friendship I have in my life. It also made me consider whether I want this type of influence in my life. Why must some people feel they have to talk behind their friends back? I'm the sort of person that if there is an issue I would rather talk it directly with the source to get the correct story. But unfortunately that's not the case with everyone!!! What should I do, what would you do? My weeks oracle card for this week now makes perfect sense. I WILL have the strength to make the right decision. 

Animals, Animals and more Animals

How many pets have you had throughout your life?

Having recently lost our beautiful little Zoe, it got me thinking of all the love I have received from the animal world throughout my life so far. So I sat myself down and made a list of all the pets I have had and loved. There has been very few times in my life that I haven't had some sort of pet. In fact the only time I can think of was our time living in Toronto, Canada back in the 1980's. So today I would love to share with you a list of my four legged (and in some instances two legged) family throughout my 61 years.

1. David - Golden Cocker Spaniel. 

David was my first animal. I presume I loved him but I don't really remember him. 

David (that's the dog, don't know who the boy is!)

2. Fritz - Dachshund (Sausage Dog). 

Fritz was a lovely dog and he was definitely my Dads dog.

 I remember the day he died was the first and one of the only times I saw my Dad cry. 

Fritz

3. Moe. 

Not sure where Moe got his name? 

Moe

4. Freddie - Poodle. 

My cousin Susan owned Freddie's father (Cuddles) and while visiting I just fell in love with this fluffy little puppy. Dad said we couldn't have another dog as we already had Fritz. 

So what did Mum and I do - we smuggled Freddie home under a blanket in the back seat with me. 

Freddie

5. Jack - Galah. 

Dad bought Jack home after finding him on the side of the road with a broken wing. 

Jack

6. Sam - Magpie. 

This was another new family member that Dad found with a broken wing. Sam was definitely my bird. He would sit on my window ledge and sing to the records I was playing. He also barked exactly like our dogs. 

Sam and Me

7. Blackie and Brownie - Bantom Hens

8. Chooks (Hens) - not really pets as we ate them. 

9. Lots of different types of birds in averies

10. Budgies and Canaries

11. Buttons

Buttons

12. Butch - Mix

Butch

13. Tara - Dalmation

As she had her papers I fully intended to breed her with another Dalmation. But she had other ideas and she got out of out our yard and mated with a black Labrador. 

Oh well - the eight pups she had were pretty adorable. 

Tara

14. Fish

15. Guinea Pig

16. Mice

17. Rambo - Mix

We owned Rambo while we lived in New York. 

He had the habit of jumping in the bath while Shane (my son) was having his bath. 

Rambo

18. Tammy - Mix

I must say out of all the animals I have had Tammy would be close to being my favorite. 

She had such a gentle, sweet nature. 

Tammy

19. Caspa - Black Cat

Caspa was my son Shane cat.

 He got her for Christmas and for many years they were constant companions..

Caspa

20. Zoe - Miniture Poodle, Australian Silkie Terrier Cross

Beautiful Zoe was a beautiful dog - if maybe a little loud. 

Zoe

Missing In Action

Yes I am still here, just have been missing in action for the past month. I really wanted to write every day during my 30 Day Challenge but even though I have stuck (pretty much) to my other challenges I haven't written in my blog at all. I guess life just got in the way because I have had a pretty busy time with friends, family and life commitments. It has been a pretty good month. I have done a few markets with my jewellery DavineRaeDesign, spent time online with some very inspiring groups of friends that have motivated me to get up off my bum and do the things I want to do.

DavineRaeDesign Collection

I have also started volunteering with Wesley Do Care and have spent some time with a lovely 84 year old gentleman who is in need of some company. I can honestly say our visits will probably do as much for me, if not more than it does for him. I have also had a wonderful few days spending time with both my children Shane and Rachel and their families. It's exhausting but I love having my four grandchildren (Clare, O'Shea, Mikayla and Finn) around me. They all have such different personalities and I can see my two babies in all of them. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Clare

Finn & Mikayla

O'Shea, Clare & Mikayla

O'Shea

With only three days left in our 30 Day Challenge I have put a mini challenge out there for each challenge member to spend 10 minutes each day on some "ME TIME". I think we should all spend some me time every day because we deserve it. My "me time" today will be tonight when I sit down and do some cross stitch I am almost finished. How about you? Do you deserve some "me time"? I think you do.