Carnival 2012

This weekend just gone has seen the end of the annual Carnival of Flowers.  The gardens around town are just blooming with flowers this year - more so than previous years if that's at all possible and the fireworks have been amazing (as viewed from my back steps).

The carnival kicked off last weekend with the parade.

The biggest one I've seen, it went for a good two hours.  Apparently, back in the day, two hours was a short parade.

The best part again this year, I think, were the storm troopers.  I had to wait so long I was starting to think there was a space battle somewhere that was keeping them from participating.  But it was all good 45 minutes in.  Even Vader put in an appearance this year.

 I'm thinking about joining this club so I can put my beetle-bug in the parade next year.... LOL

I also ran into my friend Kel and her walking artwork too.  Kel is an artist (among other things) and has a talent for body art.  I keep meaning to do a post on her work - amazing! - until then, here is a taste....

What a great parade!  Next year's has very big shoes to fill, very big shoes!

This is where I'm at right now....

Like the ad sang, I'm going to "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don't mess with nothing in between".

The LOML and I have had a few times in our lives together where we've chosen a more positive path and have lost a few people on the way.  Sad as it was at the time, we're mentally healthier because of it.

It seems that time is upon us once more.  

Now, more than ever in our lives, we have no room for negative talk, negative thinking, negative attitudes.  We have chosen to surround ourselves with people who are happy, cheerful, friendly, nice, respectful.....and it's rubbing off on us.

It's amazing how the conscious decision to focus on the good, on the positive, on the bright side can make all the difference.

My glass is half full.

Special Delivery

No, nothing to do with children.  

I made that mistake recently on facebook.  

A rather obscure post about good news and looking forward to the future and all of a sudden it got out of control.  I should have expected it.  "I always knew you'd change your mind!  Congratulations!  You'll be such a great mum!".  Ummmm no.  Big NO.

This special delivery actually was a delivery.  To the post box.  

An exciting delivery.

 A while back now I joined in the great Apron Swap on Down to Earth and I was paired up with the lovely Wendy in England.  We've exchanged emails for the last month or so and then yesterday I got a special parcel in the mail.

Soooo excited!  

I posted my present two weeks ago - Wendy, I hope you got it ?? (and I hope you like it!).

I absolutely love my beautiful new apron and have used it already.  In actual fact, I do believe that once the parcel was opened, it went straight on!!

Hmmmm....so I may have consumed a couple of glasses of wine prior to the taking of this photo....!  At least you can't see the socks and slippers!!!

And I'm planning on baking Wendy's Ginger and Oat biscuits tonight - they sound totally yum!

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Have you ever done a swap before? This was my first and I think I may just be hooked.  The good feeling in my soul that comes from making something with my own two hands for someone else makes me almost burst at the seams.  Add to that getting a little something in return that some other good-hearted soul has made with their own two hands....the icing on the cake!