make a wish...take a chance!

i was thinking about these words again today,  
they're my words for the year...
it was a thing a few years back,
to chose a word or words
to guide you through the coming year...
i know a few people who still do this,
i do,
it helps me focus on what needs
to be important for me...
there's a little blackboard on my kitchen wall
and these words are written across the top,
to remind,
to inspire,
to encourage...

...the tag challenge for this week is "words"...
something of significance
perhaps,
or just words you like
or even a single word...
so i thought i would use my chosen
words for the year...

i,ve not started the tag yet,
these are the ones from last month

...the brief for this one was a pocket and a treasure...

...the treasure is a tiny little note

that jake wrote to me,

i think when he was maybe 4,
and i've carried it ever since in my purse...
i know,
i'm a sentimental being
but it's sooo special....

...the next week we had to stitch a mini landscape,
and i chose a poppy field in france,

from a photo I took on my last visit...

...had planned to be there roughly about now,
but this is one wish that won't come true,
atleast not this year!

...the brief for the next tag was
"seed stitch",
and as i was stitching it on Anzac Day...
well...

...and the last tag for the month
was mini hexies...

...i do love stitching hexies,
and in fact had forgotten just how much
i enjoy them...
however in all honesty i did wonder
whether i had the patience to stitch 
these teeny tiny things...
turns out i enjoyed it way more than i first thought..

...when did you last make a wish
and take a chance...
sure, it doesn't always work out...
i've taken chances on things and people
and sometimes they haven't panned out,
but i wouldn't change a thing!
...because when it does work out,
well,
that's actually all that matters...

...last month i took a few days off,
which in all honesty was well overdue,
and i returned to my most favourite lake,

te anau!

...blissed out for 4 days of bush walks,

magnificent scenery,

new places,

old haunts,

early morning lakefront runs,

peace and quiet...

me time!

...lake mavora,

new to me,

and utterly beautiful,

deserving of a whole day on my next visit...

...i can't tell you how long it's been

since i've been to milford sound,

this one from on the way there...

...this one on the way back,

another new place,

lovely wee bush walk to get there,

the very pretty lake mistletoe...

...am endlessly happy

roaming through our native bush,

and also so happy to see these...

...honestly i did get some curious looks

from other hikers,

me down on all fours,

bum in the air,

to get the shot,

and i truly believe some of these little beauties

were coming through the dirt as i watched,

they were brand spanking new...

...had to cross a couple of these,

unfortunately,

because they scare the pants off me...

...i stood at the end,

told myself not to be a sook,

that it was perfectly safe,

then gingerly stepped onto it and without breathing,

(or atleast that's how it felt)

stared at my feet the whole way across,

tried to act brave,

and eventually after half an hour

(well, thats what it felt like!)

i got to the other side...

...why they can't make them so that they don't shake

is beyond me!

...so the bridge is at rainbow reach,

and i kid you not,

this was what i saw immediately before setting foot

on it...

...serendipitous,

maybe,

but I definitely made a wish!

...on the way to wanaka i stopped off 

along the shores of

lake wakatipu...

...and on the way home, 

stopped off at mitchells cottage,

another new place,

and well worth the time...

...lots of neat new places,

and just beyond wonderful to spend time

back in te anau.

...got a bit of secret stitching going on

at the moment...

...can't reveal too much yet,

but it is fun :-)

...we get the most jaw dropping

amazing

sunrises in dunedin

at this time of the year...

...make a wish on that,

you just never know

whether your wish will come true or not

unless

you take a chance...

jen

xxx