This sunset hovered over our house a few weeks ago. How is it possible that the world can be so routinely beautiful?
I need to notice it more.
I was talking about not noticing with my son's cello teacher. We went for dumplings to celebrate her birthday and she told me about a woman who takes one picture every day of something she's grateful for.
Have you heard of this? Isn't it a great idea?
A Gratitude Project. A photo a day.
So being a joiner and an enthusiast, I started my own and here's what I snapped.
Australian Parrots
When I stepped outside yesterday, these girls were meeting for lunch IN MY GUTTER. Aussie parrots are gorgeous. And loud. And show-offy. Cockatoos (which always remind me of cranky chickens), Galahs (grey with a splash of pink, perfectly accessorised) and Rainbow Lorikeets...how can these be ordinary Australian birds??
The Granddaddy of all Milkshakes
Okay, let's just get it straight that I love a sweet celebration when somebody makes a sports team. How many grams of sugar? A bajillion. And the stuff that looks like blonde hair is not a wig; it's fairy floss. Can you tell from the face that he wasn't too sure about the HAIRY MILKSHAKE?? (From Vogue Cafe in Macquarie Centre...we shared, if that redeems my parenting a bit.)
I'm grateful for extras -- like celebration milkshakes.
Instant Art Everywhere
Remember the days when you forgot to take a camera with you to a friend's birthday or to school assembly? Now we roll guilt-free. Our cameras are as close as a phone. And we can make our shots look like paintings...
or even like they were taken by a pro. Everyone can take pretty photos now. I'm grateful that my phone makes it easy to remember beautiful things.
Ordinary Days
I snapped this photo in a retirement village when I was ready to give up at the end of a run. I was there because -- thank you thank you thank you -- the roads in retirement villages are flat as a pancake. Trust me, running in retirement villages is awesome.
A gentleman drove by in a golf cart and said, 'Why are you taking a picture of that ordinary bush?'
I said because I'm grateful...for ordinary things.
And it's a beautiful day.
<Big thanks to Trish, for sharing the Gratitude Project. Let me know if you start one of your own...I love to imagine you taking photos of your prairie sunset or Grand Coulee view.>