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Almost, but not quite…

The new school year starts tomorrow. Meaning that today is still holidays! Woot!

I feel very blessed that we start the new school year with a short week, because of the Australia Day celebrations. As in, the public holiday we’re having today. It makes for a lovely start to the year 🙂

Here’s wishing you a lovely week too, dear Reader!

– KRidwyn

On toe rings

It was a couple of years ago that I bought my first anklet. Several months later, I bought myself a toe ring. It was mid-December 2018, and the jeweller has discounted it from $80 down to $10.

How could I refuse? So I didn’t, and was exceedingly happy with my purchase… right up until it broke, 8 months later.

So I’ve been on the hunt for a replacement. Stronger, sturdier… but still a bargain.

A few weeks ago, I stopped into a City Beach store on the Gold Coast. And lo and behold: not just one toe-ring but three! For $9.99! Yeh, yeh. Not the ‘real thing’ – but who cares!

I bought them and was the proud wearer of a toe ring again… and when the inevitable happened (even before its first outing, I’m sad to report) it wasn’t as devastating a loss as previously. It’s the pretty ‘loveheart’ ring at the bottom of the photo 🙁

So, that’s my story for the week. How about you, dear Reader? Have a jewelry story to share?

And have a fantastic week!

– KRidwyn

New Year, new start

Welcome back, dear Reader!

Last year was a ‘photo’ post each week, which challenged me to improve my photography skills. Which worked… to some extent. In fact, I even considered challenging myself further and committing to a years’ worth of “selfie” posts (because those ones are like, a zillion times worse than actual photos. Well, for those of us who remember a time before the internet was even invented. Am I right?)

But no. Perhaps next year. But I’ll still attempt to include a photo with each post this year. Let’s see how we go with that, huh?

But today’s post is still about challenges. Specifically, the Goodreads challenge I set myself last year. 3 books per week. That’s 156 books in the year. Which seems a lot.

And I made it!!! So proud of me 🙂

Admittedly, numbers of those were the picture books which I ended up reading to my classes after being made redundant mid-year and being blessed enough to get Teacher Librarian work in July. But still 🙂

So. Goodreads challenge this year. 208 again – because I can! and it’s only 4 per week. right? – but the aim this year is to have only one picture book per month. Perhaps two. But no more than 24 of those 156 will be picture books. Because, well, why not? 🙂

How about you, dear Reader? Are you planning on reading books this year? How many? And if you’re also on Goodreads, want to connect?

Oh! And I almost forgot. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

– KRidwyn

50/52

I’m rather proud of myself – that title up there tells me I’ve almost made it! A years’ worth of ‘photo’ posts… for someone who HATES posting the photos she takes, this is a pretty good achievement, even if I do say so myself.

So this week’s photo was the surf at Rainbow Beach – where the family and I stayed last week. So beautiful, so peaceful, so needed (after the tumult that was the 2019 academic year!) and just wonderful.

How about you, dear Reader? What was ‘wondrous’ in your life this week?

– KRidwyn

 

[Update: now with photo! Whoops!]

49/52

Six weeks ago or thereabouts, I posted how ecstatic I was that the ‘human encroachment’ into my favourite writing place had been dismantled and removed. The beauty of the natural environment would get the opportunity to restore itself! I was so happy!

I guess it wasn’t destined to last. This was what greeted me the other day:

Sigh.

Here’s hoping you have a more successful week, retaining the beauty you’re wishing for in your life, dear Reader.

– KRidwyn

48/52

Miss14 graduated Middle School last week. Her Graduation Dinner was a truly enjoyable occasion, honouring the efforts and achievements of the young men and women who had made this milestone in their journeys.

She wore her first ‘formal dress’ with high heels, and was wearing jewellery and perfume.

It was a beautiful evening! I laughed, I choked up, but mostly I was proud of the young lady God had given to Hubby and me to raise.

What a memorable event. I trust your own week is just as memorable, dear Reader 🙂

– KRidwyn

46 / 52

As a teenager, I owned a couple of budgies. As a Mum of a teenager, I was happy to acquiesce with Hubby’s suggestion that we convert the kids’ old cubby house into an aviary. Space underneath gave plenty of flight area, and the ‘house’ itself was excellent weather protection and for breeding box placement.

Well, breed they have. Clutch number one had two chicks raised and weaned successfully. Clutch number two had seven, from seven eggs.

Exhibit A: Sherbet and Huffle, two babies from this second clutch. We kept five and sold two. And now, their Mum has seven more eggs ready to hatch in about a week. Seven more! Bringing our total to over 20…

It would seem I am now in the budgie breeding business. (If you’re interested in their antics, my Miss14 posts photos and videos on Instagram: budgie_buds__ and she’d love more followers…)

Have a “fruitful” week yourself, dear Reader!

– KRidwyn