Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?

"When you think things are bad

when you feel sour and blue,

when you start to get mad...

Just do what I do!"

"Just tell yourself, Duckie, 

you're really quite lucky!

Some people are much more...

oh ever so much more...

oh muchly much -much more

unlucky than you!"

For suppose that you lived in that forest in France,

where the average young person just hasn't a chance

to escape from the perilous pants-eating-plants!

But your pants are safe! You're a fortunate guy.

And you ought to be shouting, 

"HOW LUCKY AM I?"

(Dr Seuss)

So that's what I'm doing, not just for the pants

(Against Aussies, French forests just don't stand a chance)

No, the reason I'm making a great song and dance

Is to thank these 3 women for making my day

And to give them back joy in my personal way

To Faerwillow at Serendipity, Thank you for the Kreativ Blogger award. Your own blog inspires me with positive, uplifting thoughts to guide each day. May you benefit from the brightest blessings that you so generously wish for others. So pleased I fell or stumbled upon you!

To Jeanne at Collage of Life,  Mille mercis for the Sunshine Award twice in 2010. I must be doing something right ;-) Jeanne, I have become accustomed to having your honest but gentle opinions and eye for truly beautiful things filling my world - to the extent that I can't imagine life without you... Warning to others - do not 'just pop over for a quick read' of Jeanne's blog when you have 'work' to do - all ideas of working fly straight out the window when faced with subjects such as beauty, joy and the odd spa retreat in Provence!

To Maurie at This Northwest Life, I am honoured to have been bestowed with the Happy 101 award from a fellow nature lover, hiker, brocanteuse and ecochick like you. If you wanted to know 10 amazingly interesting things about me ... you can get the puffed up long version here.

I know the goal is to pass these on to other bloggers who inspire and show particular signs of being globally head and shoulders above all the heads and shoulders. The problem is, I'm bedazzled, confuzzed and confounded by the sheer number of entertaining, informative, hilarious, touching, talented people there are in cyberspace sharing their lives with us. So much so that I am completely unable to reduce them to a mere 10 or 12. So in this post HERE, I suggested a treasure hunt. 

Rather than take my word for it ... I invite you to step out into the complete unknown and meet a few of those lovely (of course!) people who follow my blog. I dare you - choose 1 per day for the next 12 days and blog about who you found. I'll drop by and say hi when you do!

Phew, I'm feeling quite humble tonight

Thank you for the vote of confidence and happiness

I'm taking this as an indication that I'm doing something right ...

Now, a lucky girl like me should get some sleep.

And while I still have my wits, and my pants about me

I will bid you all adieu for ce soir

Bisous!

Victory belongs to the most perservering!

Napoléon Bonaparte!

As the house comes out of a veritable quarantine battlefield for the second time this winter just in time for two weeks school holidays I hold clear this image in my head!! 

Looking around I can see the housework, the 100 page report I have to edit, the 5 lamps I have to finish, the three artworks for the winners of my competition which are awaiting their final brushstrokes, and the hearts I wanted to paint and post for Valentine's day ... 

But victory is nigh! 

Like Napoleon, this little warrior shall not be beaten by the dreaded lurgy.

Yesterday I decided it was time to show my bronchitis just who's boss.  After pelting it with essential oils and a good dose of copper, I forced it onto my mountain bike where we battled it out in an hour long ride through ice and snow. I came back clearer in mind, if not in body...ONYA Napoleon. Nothing like a bit of Corsican Toulousain sunshine to strengthen the troops' morale!

And who would not appreciate a bit of English sunshine?
(especially the English ;-)

Look! I got some from Jeanne at  A Collage of Life.! 

~Sunshine Award~

'The Sunshine Award' is "awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world." 

My instructions are as follows: 

1. Post the award on the blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees in a post.
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blogs.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you've received this award.

Jeanne, I'm sincerely touched. This is just the day when these supportive awards really do some good for the morale. I have also been the lucky recipient of another from Faerwillow at Serendipity, but I will have to save that for another moment as there is rumbling from up above which means the messmonsters are preparing their comeback  in force... No time to lose! Finish this post before the small stuff are upon me!

Right then, instead of nominating 12 other bloggers (Hehe I love to change the rules of a game and as I'm pretending to be Napoleon today, I invoke my right as divine Emperor to do so!) I'm going to suggest you go straight to the 'followers' on my side bar, and take the time to click on 12 avatars that you don't already know. 

Why?

Because those that are 'beside me' for my journey bring me sunshine every day - there's nothing like knowing people out there love you enough to 'enlist' to listen to your ramblings...

Behind every avatar there's a real person. Maybe someone who could bring you some sunshine. Now let your own heart guide you ... 

'MAMAAAAAAAAN!' 

'MUMMMMMMMMMMMMY!'

As I rise, still coughing and hacking, to the battle cry from above, I wish you this: 

May you find the strength to perservere and win your own battles today also!