I am up before dawn this morning and beginning work on my novel as I sip an espresso coffee and watch the sun rise.
It is still chilly so I've wrapped myself in a woolen doona and have my feet up on the day bed, the new iMac in a bed table in front of me.

Before I began work I went into facebook and deleted my facebook page account.  No interruptions today, I have a work plan to put into practice,

I saw a few seniors walking around town today wearing T shirts saying, 'Nothing is impossible for me.' and then underneath that it said. Constructed 1965 or a similar date. I loved it, want one of those T Shirts. 

Then in the physio I was called a Keenager. I LOVED that :-) :-). Going to live as a keenager from this day forward. 

I did some research into the word Keenager and found that A Keenager is over 50, as keen as a teen, with a growing sense that age shall not weary them.  Keenagers are FUN-LOVING, with a strong social focus and enjoy a variety of activities that contribute to their health and wellbeing.  There are many websites out there that support this Keenager mentality. It is a great word :-).  While many young seniors - the keenagers, are downsizing now we realise possessions are not the source of happiness and we are valuing our freedom and ability to travel while we are freed from family support responsibility perhaps for the first time in our lives, we are still a consumer group to be considered. The over 50's are becoming a huge consumer group of usable products and products like dead sea salt are marketed to our age group, as well as the younger set. Now what a great way to finish a busy day.  I found my rock salts when I cleaned the bathroom yesterday. A soak in a dead sea salt bath with a good book to read is going on my to do list for today.  This keenager has earned it. I ahve earner it. :-)

I illustrated this post with a watercolour and pastel called 'Ducks day out.'  I still have the original available for purchase and I have used it to create art gift and prints,.  Art & Art Print Gifts can be viewed & purchased from Kathy Shell

I have been talking about children's classic books and nursery rhymes with my face book friends. I wonder how many of these were written in order to explain to children the effects of illness or the mental health behaviour of adults.

A brief ‘lay persons’, analysis of the two great Children’s classics.

This is my feelings about the possibly health condition and behaviour being explained by the stories in, ‘Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll”, and Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie.

I never liked 'Through the looking Glass', though I live' Peter Pan’.

I see Peter Pan, the story of the mischievous boy who never grew up as the child fiction explanation of the adult who needs supervision because they have lost their executive function and have a cognitive function disorder, or Frontal lobe degeneration and or dementia . I have a 'Peter Pan', and I'm Wendy the carer and I love our Never Never land, (eco-therapy), life.  Oh and there was a dog, in the Peter Pan story.

Through the Looking Glass, or Alice in Wonderland, I feel is probably an explanation to a child of an adult’s uncontrolled schizophrenia nightmare and it scared the heeby Jeeves out of me when I first read it as a child and saw the film and I still do not like the story. I do not choose nightmares as my reading entertainment :-)

Writing out a problem does help.

As soon as I wrote out the problem of conflicting goals for an artist (long sedentary activity hours) and the need to stay fit for the physically demanding work of staging art exhibitions, the answer popped into my brain.

I still would LOVE to hear if you have any tips or solutions.

Conflicting Goals, I thought up my artist solution. What is yours? www.kathy-shell.net
Kathy Shell Fine Art Australian Landsape Painting

I would love to hear your comments here and on my facebook Kathy Shell page.

Well they say don't judge a book by its cover...but...Frank Samways you sure look like you were a good bloke and a dog lover to me :-).

This money is being put to great use to fund a veterinary clinic which will in turn help fund the Melbourne Lost Dogs home which receives no government funding and has to survive on donations and trying to be self sufficient.

Melbourne Lost Dogs Home has received a $3 Million Dollar gift from the late Frank Samways.

www.doggiesblog.comLight hearted look at life and travel, through the eyes of a dog.

Kathy Shell

 I just blogged a photo story about how I left Reg cutting up the meat for our braised steak and stew and Indigo our poodle 'conned him,' told him 'he was cutting it up for her.' The dog was very happy with the outcome.

I qualify for the aged pension this year and I don't think social security benefits  allow for feeding the dog prime steaks, lol.

That is three times this holiday the dog scored our steak I had planned us to have for dinner. :-) We had a great active day :-).   Getting used laughing when the dog gets the steak.  I cannot watch 'them' 100% of the time and Indigo is not sharing the carer duties she is out for what she can get.

Family are asleep now, I plan to write.

Kathy Shell

"This is monumental cinema, awash with gorgeous tones, and carrying an ultimate message that will resonate with every viewer, young or old: there is darkness in all of us, but we can overcome it."

(BEWARE: Spoilers throughout.)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow, Part 2, review www.telegraph.co.uk

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – the eighth and final film in the blockbusting series – begins with our teenage heroes fighting for their lives, and for their entire world.

BREAKING NEWS!
The Pity Train has just derailed at the intersection of Suck It Up & Move On, and crashed into We All Have Problems, before coming to a complete stop at Get Over It.

Any complaints about how we operate, can be forwarded to 1-800-waa-wah with Dr. Sniffle reporting LIVE from Quitchur Bitchin. If you like this, re-post it.

If you don't, suck it up cupcake, life doesn't revolve around you.

When I saw that post in a friends status, I loved it.
I love anything that reminds us of the importance of striving to maintain a positive mental attitude.  For sure we all have tough times and grief. I have struggled with a few health issues over the past year but my year has also been one of achievement and happiness and wonderful companionship and I consider myself blesses. lol, I will still be glad when Reg and I shake off the last of this Whooping cough ` but no pity please. :- Hey I 'used' being sick - I have written and published a novella and almost completed a full length novel and a non-fiction 'how to' book.
Non of that would have happened had I not needed more time resting. 


When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I'm a great believer in that.