Are you miserable?

In my travels last year I found a quirky little book called 11,002 Things To Be Miserable About by Lia and Nick Romeo.  

Evil sorcerers
Being a third wheel
Social obligations
Adolescent eye rolling
Charismatic villains
The file on you that may exist in some government office somewhere
Condescension
Buck teeth
Knowing how uninteresting your thoughts are
The silent machinations of your enemies
Teachers who justify their cruelty by saying they are preparing students for the real world
Men who shave their chests
Pretentious melancholy
Sad people who look like frogs
Visible sneeze particles
Grim librarians
Taking the road not taken and getting eating by a grizzly
Untalented children of celebrities who become famous singers
Weirdly shaped baby heads

Longing, dreaming, wishing.

I often have story ideas floating around in my head. When I say often, I mean constantly. My frustration is that I don't always have the opportunity to get them down on paper.  These ideas usually pop into my mind when I witness something in my day, have a flashback due to a sight or smell, or during a discussion, although many times I have woken through the night with an idea from a dream or something marvellous will burst forth when I'm in the shower.  Have they invented a waterproof notepad yet?  I would love to have the luxury of countless hours to wile away my time creating plots, inventing characters and generally embellishing on my many ideas.  I have note books of point form lists for stories that sit in my drawer.  They remain colourless grey-blue lists when the books are closed but when I open up to any of these ideas they immediately take on a soft, warm, pink hue and beckon me to cast aside my responsibilities and everyday plans (including my job).   Tempting but not realistic.    My ideal environment for writing contains sunshine, a gentle breeze, lavender oil burning, the delightful call of wrens, wagtails, magpies and finches.  Throw in a moo or bah and let the juices flow!  I always dream of coming into money (don't we all).  I know exactly what I would do.  Quit my job, buy myself the perfect house in the most perfect location (pretty much where I am now but with a house that isn't actually falling apart from old age) and spend my days immersed in the world of words.   I think I could spare a day for art.   Alas!   If only I had a wealthy relative or actually spent money on lottery tickets!
I must always remember to look on the bright side of life (yes, go ahead and whistle).
I work part time so that I can write on my days off.
I have a wonderful family encouraging me to continue my studies and to hurry up and get published!
I live in an inspiring location.
I have so many ideas to use that I will never run out.
You know what they say: Keep on keeping on.

Spring Spring Spring

I am thoroughly enjoying spring time at the moment.   Birds are singing, baby animals are frolicking in the grass with their newborn friends and the flowers are displaying all their glory.  Several chicks should hatch from eggs and a baby goat should be bouncing around our legs anytime now.
What more could you ask for?

The mulberries are ripening and Mum and I have been madly picking them before the birds swoop in and eat all the good ones.  You have to be quick and the best way to stay on top is to pick them everyday.  So every afternoon after work we head outside with buckets in hand and pick pick pick.  You may have stained fingers but it's well worth the effort for a mulberry pie at the end of the day.      

We have been enjoying the biggest, sweetest strawberries which we buy from a local strawberry farmer.  Every year we watch in anticipation for the strawberry sign to change from closed to open and when this happens we are there with our money in hand waiting to buy our delicious strawberries.  The strawberry in the middle is the average supermarket size. 

Wisteria blossom has burst forth and sends a gentle fragrance through the open windows of our house.

We have also had quite a bit of rain which fills our paddocks up with water.  I like to think that for periods of time we have"lake views" or that we live in the lakes district.