In other words don’t question the value of a gift – a gift is a gift!
In these strange times, the giving of gifts can be random, with simple acts of kindness the most appreciated
Celebrating Motherhood and Grandmotherhood on Mother’s Day
On this special day I stop and recognise the efforts by my mother, my mother-in-law, and others, in their role as mothers in my life.
Now that my daughters are now mothers themselves, they get to celebrate too. Here are my lovely daughters and their gorgeous babies.
A mother’s love knows no bounds! My best Mother’s Day gifts were their births all those years ago!
You always gain by giving love.
Reese Witherspoon
The beauty of an early morning bike ride
This particular early morning was for a photoshoot by the local council and we had to be out riding at 6.30am! It was a freezing cold, frosty and foggy morning but it ended up being a real gift and one I wouldn’t have missed for anything!
Random positive comment
The guy who runs the local camera club, and is a photographer himself, made the following comment on my photos (the ones shown above) which I’d shared on my facebook page – You have an artists eye for a photograph. Good shots. This random unsolicited feedback made me smile – sometimes it’s the little things isn’t it? A real gift!
Baking scones
Scones
If you were here with me I’d give you a scone!
A photography lesson from my sister
I really liked an early morning photo I took recently, but didn’t know how to edit it to remove the power lines, so I asked my sister for a quick lesson. We scheduled in a Zoom chat and she talked me through how to do some quick edits and you can see the results below. The photo on the right is the original and the one on the left is the edited version. How much better does it look?
That’s ‘giving’ right there!
Life is a gift and giving life has been my best achievement ever.
Just a few random thoughts for Sunday Stills this week.
Leave me a comment to let me know how you’re going during these strange days. Thanks for your visit.
Deb xx
Giving is the prompt for Terri’s Sunday Stills this week.
All my Sunday Stills posts can be found here
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Deb's World 
Hi Deb, The photos of your family are precious. I love the smiles! I did not know there was a way to edit out power lines. Still sheltering-in-place around here until we hear differently. The upcoming concern is the May long weekend at the end of the month. All travelling has been discouraged. Hopefully, people are not becoming complacent. Overall, I always count my blessings. Take care.xx
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Hi Erica, thanks I love sharing photos but only the ones I’m allowed to share! I’m trying to learn about editing photos but there’s a lot to it! My sister makes it look so easy. I understand the worry about people becoming complacent and although things are OK here many shops are still shut and people aren’t encouraged to get out and about too much. Yes counting our blessings is always a good thing to do 🙂 x
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Deb, your photos are always beautiful! Your posts are always a breath of fresh air and a joy to read! xx
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Oh Erica, I really needed to read that comment today!!! Thank you so much it made me smile and hum a little tune :). xx
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Beautiful post Deb. It’s these simple pleasures that mean the most these days. Kind wishes and unexpected compliments, scones, early morning walks and of course the love from our families. Hope you had a lovely Mothers Day. xx 💙
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Thanks Miriam, simple pleasures are so important at the moment and they all made me smile, so it’s a win/win. Yes I had a lovely day and I hope you could finally see your daughter!
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Not yet but hopefully soon
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I am loving the photos from your early morning bike ride and totally agree with the feedback – you absolutely have an eye for landscape photography. Lovely colours and lines, well done.
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Happy Mother’s Day. I love the picture sans wires and the scones looked so inviting I could have taken one off the plate, dusted off the remnants of flour and warmed it up.
btw I shared your Alphabet picture post with a friend who takes pictures and she has been working her way through the alphabet ever since.
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Thanks Michele, I love hearing stories like that, sharing the creativity around the world! I can tell you the scones were delicious 🙂
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I’m not an early morning person but, the times I’ve forced myself to get up with – or before – the sun, it always seems magical. Your photos are lovely!
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Many thanks Janis, I’m much the same about mornings but always enjoy it after I’ve made the effort!
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Happy Mother’s Day, Debbie! You are so blessed with talent and zest for life! I’m waiting patiently for my youngest daughter to get married and have her first child, so I can officially be an Oma! How wonderful to enjoy your relationships with your daughters and grandchildren–true gifts indeed! Beautiful photos and I see that in the one edit how you bumped up the exposure. Huge difference and an edit I always do. Thanks for joining Sunday Stills this week!
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Happy Mother’s Day to you too Terri. I love learning new things and can really see the difference in the one without powerlines. I do enjoy my daughters and grandchildren, it’s hard as we live so far away from them all though. Glad to join you on Sunday Stills this week. Thanks for your kind words 🙂
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Hi, Deb – You do have an artist’s eye for a photograph. Your pictures are stunning!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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Oh you are too kind Donna! Thanks and hope you had a nice Mother’s Day too x
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Your photographs are lovely. We also celebrated mothers day today and I was sad not to see my sisters and my aunt. My mother is sheltering in place with us so I saw her and my dad. Have a lovely new week.
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Oh thank you so much for your lovely comment 🙂 Glad your mum was with you!
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Me too.
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What a great article. I love that expression, “you always gain by giving love.” That’s something to think about every day. Toni x
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Hi Toni, many thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Yes I like that quote too, it says it all and we should all try to live by it every day! Happy Mother’s Day to you x
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That photo editing is so good Deb, looks so much better. You are so right about taking advice and help, it’s always wise to accept the ‘gift horse’ but not sure where the mouth comes in. Never thought about the phrase much before but is it something to do with the horses age and it’s teeth?
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It’s a funny saying isn’t it? It just appealed to me for some reasons so I went ahead and used it!
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Happy Mother’s Day Deb and thanks for sharing the beautiful morning photos of NSW. It has been a long time since I visited NSW and Queensland and I am sure lots have change in the scape of things. Have a lovely celebration with your daughters. Blessings!
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Many thanks for your kind comment! It was a quiet day at home but I was in touch with each of the girls which made me happy!
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Great!!👍😀
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Happy Mother’s Day Deb and I agree that giving life is the best gift. My children usually spoil me with gifts but the most special gift to me, was having Rachel run the Virtual Mother’s Day run to keep our tradition alive. It made my day. Your daughters and grandchildren are beautiful just like you. If it wasn’t for social distancing I’d be over like a shot for a scone and a cuppa and maybe some photography lessons! Have a great week my friend. xx
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I love that you and Rachel continued with your tradition, although itv was different to how it usually is! The reasons for you running are very special and I admire your drive. I’d love to have you pop over for a cuppa and a scone! Lovely to chat with you 🙂
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How clever is that editing? I’ve been loving your early morning pics. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
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Yes it was really good to learn something new Jo. I’m not up very early most mornings but when I do make the effort, it’s well worth it!
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