Marvelous May

May 11, 2017

May, Flowers, Marvelous May

For Lovin’ Life this week I wanted to shine a light on the month of May.  Why?  Because I love the month of May! 

It’s Autumn in Australia and here in Brisbane it’s finally starting to cool down.  After a long, hot and humid summer a cooler climate is most welcome.  It’s a nice time of year to get out in the garden.  The sun is warm and pleasant during the day and our mornings and evenings are comfortably cool and sometimes even crisp!  The downside is shorter days but I can live with that as a trade-off for more comfortable weather – easy peasy!

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time outdoors in the garden – making up for the neglect it suffered during summer.  We filled in our leaking pond and are in the process of creating a new water feature with surrounding paved garden.  It’s nearly done!  I’ve also ticked off oodles of inside jobs, with many more planned for completion soon.

A couple of recent posts to Instagram:

Late April and into May is the turning point for me.  It’s when it finally gets cool enough that I feel more energised and inspired to get projects done and I am much more productive.  During summer I go into survival mode, either staying indoors in the air-conditioning or spending time in the pool.  It’s too hot to garden or do anything much else at all.  My energy is zapped!  Exercise is generally done very early morning hopefully before the heat of the day sets in.  The good thing about summer is that I do tend to get more writing done!

May is also a month of celebrations here at the WOTM household.  Let me show you what I mean!

May 1
Labor Day Public Holiday 2017

Niece’s birthday
Was father-in-law’s birthday (now deceased)

May 3
My Daughter’s birthday
My Mother’s birthday

May 14
Mother’s Day!

This year all the family are coming over for a barbecue lunch
to celebrate Mother’s Day as well as my Mother and Daughter’s birthdays.

May 15
Sister-in-law’s birthday

May 18
Niece’s birthday

May 20
Husband’s birthday

May 31
My birthday!

I intend to enjoy May to the fullest this year because in mid-June I’m scheduled for a hospital stay with a little surgery involved and in late June my son travels overseas for a 3 week holiday.  So from mid June to late June and into July I’ll be recovering and farewelling my boy (and welcoming him home again in mid-July).  I’m hopeful that once recovered from the surgery my 2017 will be healthier and happier for me so I can get on with Lovin’ Life! 

Meanwhile, I’m living in the moment day by day and enjoying May 2017.  I’m trying to be more mindful, a practice that I have let slip a bit.  A lovely mindful moment was one morning recently where I made myself a cup of coffee and went outside to sit in the sunshine to drink it.  The sun was warm on my skin.  The birds were singing.  The coffee was delicious.  I closed my eyes and absorbed and felt it all.  Ahhhhh the simple things can be so delightful can’t they?

Anyone else got a birthday in May?  Do you feel more productive at certain times of the year more than others?  Got any plans for Mother’s Day?  How good is coffee?!!

Ciao for now,

 

P.S.  If you’d like to know more about being ‘mindful’ or ‘mindfulness’ – have a look at the series of posts I’ve written on the subject here.

Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:

Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit
Lyndall of Seize the Day Project
and Jo of And Anyways

[Note:  Kathy of 50 Shades of Age is currently holidaying in Europe]


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26 Comments

  • Reply Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life May 11, 2017 at 7:57 am

    It sounds like you have had a very productive time recently. I love your water feature! Enjoy all your family celebrations!

    Ingrid
    http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 10:01 pm

      I wouldn’t say ‘very’ productive LOL but certainly more productive than I am in summer! Thanks Ingrid. 🙂

  • Reply Kerrie @travelswithmum May 11, 2017 at 7:57 am

    I love May as well, I love the cooler weather and the fact that I can snuggle down under my quilts! This May I have one of my daughters turning. 21! So a big party is happening!

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 8:37 am

      Oh yes – snuggling down under the quilt is one of my favourite things about this cooler time of year too! Good luck for the 21st! My daughter’s 21st was last year in May! 🙂

  • Reply Jo Tracey May 11, 2017 at 8:34 am

    I reckon May has the most perfect weather of the year. Just gorgeous. As an aside, I’ve been enjoying your garden updates on instagram… #TeamLovinLife

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 8:38 am

      It’s a gorgeous time of year isn’t it Jo? Glad you’ve enjoyed the garden updates on Insta! 🙂

  • Reply JODIE FILOGOMO May 11, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    Well happy May to you for so many reasons!! And that extra time for just you is priceless, I think!!
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 10:03 pm

      Thank you Jodie! 🙂

  • Reply Denyse May 11, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    This May has been delightful down here in NSW too. I love your shots and your garden looks like such a peaceful refuge. You do have a lot happening in May! My late (and favourite) Aunt was born on 31 May so your birthdate is a special one for me too! I hope things go well for your surgery wise and that you feel tip top after recovery. Denyse x

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 10:07 pm

      Thanks Denyse! I love a bit of gardening and landscaping (can’t handle it in summer though) and do find being out in the garden or near the garden soothing and relaxing. Yes May is a busy month around here. Your Aunt must have been a super special person! Thanks for your well wishes for my surgery. xo

  • Reply Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au May 11, 2017 at 5:12 pm

    Love your photos and your backyard is going to look amazing. Hope the op goes well in June. My shoulder is giving me a lot of gyp atm and I’m looking down the barrel of an op if the cortisone injection I’m booked for in June doesn’t work. Great to link up again and to catch up on your May news x

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 10:10 pm

      Thanks Leanne! Hope the cortisone injection does the trick for your shoulder. I had one of those in my chest once for an incredibly painful pinched nerve. Worked a treat – pain was gone and never came back! xo

  • Reply Raychael Case May 11, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    Gosh so many birthdays in the one month. It’s hubby’s birthday tomorrow and we are flying to Singapore for a few days without the girls. I can’t wait.

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 10:11 pm

      Wow – a trip to Singapore sans kids – you lucky things! Hope you have a great time! Happy birthday to your hubby. 🙂

  • Reply Sydney Shop Girl May 11, 2017 at 8:26 pm

    So much to love and celebrate about the month of May!

    May is also the month I tend to go travelling overseas for a bit.. another thing to love.

    SSG xxx

    • Reply Min May 11, 2017 at 10:13 pm

      I wish May were the month I went travelling overseas for a bit!! Oh yes I read on your blog post today that you’re off to Texas, USA soon. Safe travels and hope you have a great time! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit May 12, 2017 at 5:53 am

    I want to see a bigger picture of that mosaic!!! Looks gorgeous. #teamlovinlife

    • Reply Min May 23, 2017 at 1:40 pm

      I’ll see what I can do Leanne. Thanks! 🙂

  • Reply Jo May 12, 2017 at 11:20 am

    Wow Min, your Water Feature is great. Clever you! And what a lot of celebratory days for you in May. You are a busy woman 🙂

    • Reply Min May 23, 2017 at 1:41 pm

      Thanks Jo – love the water feature and yes such a busy month around here!

  • Reply Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond May 12, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    I love this time of year in Brisbane as well Min and I’ve also been following you on Instagram. My husband’s birthday is on the 6th and of course Mother’s Day. I love the clear blue skies and cool crisp mornings and evenings.

    • Reply Min May 23, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      It’s become quite a bit warmer lately don’t you think Sue. I’d like some of those crisp mornings and evenings back!

  • Reply Lyndall @ SeizeTheDayProject May 12, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    Happy Birthday in advance for 31 May Min! We have a run of family birthdays in March and August – they are expensive months for us! I do love this time of year too, as it’s finally cooled down enough to snuggle under the doona at night, but the days are still quite lovely 🙂 #TeamLovinLife

    • Reply Min May 23, 2017 at 1:43 pm

      Thank you Lyndall! March and August for you huh? Yes – May is an expensive month for us too, as it is also around Christmas time!

  • Reply Janet Camilleri aka Middle Aged Mama May 15, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    I love this time of year too – and like you we have lots of family birthdays, wedding anniversary etc, this month!

    • Reply Min May 23, 2017 at 1:52 pm

      It’s a great time of year isn’t it? Happy Anniversary and enjoy all the May birthdays! 🙂

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