It’s time for another Taking Stock post – these are always fun to do!
Only one more Taking Stock this year after today’s post, where has the year gone?
Taking Stock #4/2021
For me, the idea of these Taking Stock posts is to write a response without giving it too much thought, so be aware it’s usually the first thing that pops into my head.
Denyse is the author of these Taking Stock prompts and you can read her latest #lifethisweek post here. It’s her 5th year birthday of running her linkup, so many congrats are in order Denyse – well done and thank you!!
You are more than welcome to join the linkup too. So many great blogs to discover!
Let’s get into it!
Admiring: The amazing Duck Cake my daughter and son-in-law made for my granddaughter’s 3rd birthday. It’s considered to be one of the hardest to make (from the authors themselves) from The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book. Thanks to the Bluey episode for making this the go-to birthday cake these days!
Becoming: Vaccinated – I’m now fully vaccinated, as are all of my family, and I feel quite relieved!
Curious: Are you sick of the news? What headlines would you write?
Delighted: With our new car!
Excited: The weather is finally warming up helping the garden to come alive.
Feeling: Lots of things – all the feels!
Going: To have my hair done as soon as possible after lockdown is over – it’s been over 14 weeks since my last appointment!
Helping: By donating money here and there.
Imploring: My blood pressure to respond to the change of medication the doctor has put me on.
Joking: What is your inner blossom?
Keeping: A look out for snakes in the grass – literally! They’re starting to be spotted out and about already.
Loving: Springtime.
Making: Better choices with what I’m eating.
Next: Visit to see my mum as soon as possible.
Observing: How muscles feel sore after a good work out.
Pleasing: To know I have muscles that are capable of feeling!
Reading: The Comfort Book by Matt Haig – actually he’s reading it to me, which makes it even more lovely!
Staying: On task with this month’s #September2021 daily photo challenge on Instagram – hosted by our intrepid leader Denyse!
Trying: To stay positive that our plans for a family Christmas come to fruition.
Understanding: Everyone sees things differently and unless you walk in their shoes you don’t know what they are going through.
Viewing: My granddaughter’s 3rd birthday party over Zoom – due to lockdown. Here’s a little gallery of some of my favourite shots from over the past three years of having her in my life!
Welcoming: Parcels arriving in the post – someone’s been doing a lot of online shopping 🙂
X (our choice): Join us for our next What’s on Your Bookshelf Challenge – another edition coming this Friday (third Friday morning of the month for those in the Southern Hemisphere and the third Thursday evening for those in the Northern parts of the world).
Yes: Saying yes to getting up and exercising online with friends twice a week!
Z – (our choice): Zach my youngest grandson has started crawling and pulling himself up, he is growing up too fast! He’s not even 8 months old yet!
How about you?
What are you taking stock of – how is life treating you at the moment?
How would you answer any one these prompts?
I always enjoy doing these posts! I’d love to hear from you 🙂
Have a great week.
Deb xx
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Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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Deb's World 
I can’t believe it’s the third Friday this week??? Where did that go? As for headlines, I saw a great one out of UoM that they might have discovered how to stop COVID replicating in cells and were on the way for treatment and stopping spread. I hope this makes people realise the importance of funding Universities, because that’s what funds research…Sorry you missed the third birthday but fingers crossed for a family xmas! #Lifethisweek
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I know, time is rushing by (some weeks) and as slow as a wet week at other times. Now that is a great headline to read, love these good news stories and you’re right, university research is very much underestimated. My sister is being made redundant from her university role this month which is so sad and a waste.
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That is a beautiful duck cake, Deb, and happy 3rd birthday to your granddaughter! Congrats on your full vaccinations, too. I plan to join you at this week’s WOYBS challenge. #lifethisweek
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It’s an iconic cake here Natalie! Looking forward to seeing you at our next WOYBS 🙂
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Loved this post Deb, your positivity, your inspiration! Happy birthday to your sweet granddaughter! 💕C
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Thanks Cheryl, that’s so lovely of you to say! She is now celebrating each of her toys birthdays, I think she’s trying to extend the fun and excitement she had for her special day. Every toy gets their own happy birthday song 🙂
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Great responses Debbie, I wonder if I could think of so many answers 🤔
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It takes me a few days to do them but I try not to overthink the responses Alison and stick with my first thoughts. Give one or two a try!
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I will 😀
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I recognized the duck cake from the AWW birthday cake book Deb – I think we all have that book indelibly printed on our minds from all the birthdays over the years! Congrats on the new car – it seems to be a trend atm for people to be buying cars – I’m feeling a bit left out 🙂 Lovely to read all the family news and to see that you’re staying positive through everything. x
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Yes the duck cake is iconic Leanne, as is that book! The new car took a long time coming but it was well worth the wait. We are fortunate to have it at all I think! Lots of fun family things happening. Hope you’re doing well x
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Such a positive post Deb. I think I am a Bloomin’ Wattle, still baking, reading and zooming with others.
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Good on you Carla, we need all the Full throttle Bloomin’ Wattles to balance out the Cranky Banky’s 🙂
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😂😂
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Positive, happy & full of love! Thank you Debbie.
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Thanks Cindy, it’s always fun to do these off the top of my head!
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Hi Deb, I made many birthday cakes from that book – I’m sure I still have it somewhere! Good on you and your family for being fully vaccinated. My family are partially done, so I keep reminding them! I was very relieved when my father-in-law had his second shot. Have a lovely week, regards Christina
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I know Christina, many of of us have used that book over the years haven’t we? My copy is very tattered now but still useful and holds so many memories. Have a lovely week.
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I recognise that duck cake! Well done to your daughter for doing it so well! Happy 3rd birthday to your granddaughter – that time has gone by so quickly! Very sad you couldn’t be there for it but thank goodness for technology so that you could be there at least virtually. Hmmm … of the Pandemic Petals I think I might be Cranky Banky – cos I’m so over it! Have a great week Deb!
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Yes Min that cake is a classic but a bit hard to shape! I still have my original cookbook with all my girls notes next to each cake they wanted each year. I’ve decided I’m a cross between a Cranky Bank and a Blah Blah Waratah – gave me a bit of a laugh at least! The Zoom party was chaotic but fun and we all dressed up and sang happy birthday to her together, different but fun! Hope all is well with you.
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Good to hear you’re fully vaccinated! I’m very interested about exercising online with friends – what do you do? Lifting weights and other things you can do at home?
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Hi Susanne, yes being vaccinated is an important thing for all of us at the moment! Our little exercise group meet online and go through a set of exercises, sometimes using weights and then we do a cool down stretch session, so it’s a full body workout and is a lot of fun!
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Hi Deb, I love that duck cake – it has been quite a year, and I’m really chafing at the bit here in Canberra for a little bit of normal life. Toni x
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Thanks Toni, yes the duck cake is a classic and many of us have seen it over the years! I just wish I could have tasted it. I just heard Canberra has another month of lockdown, so awful for you!
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I love a reading a Taking Stock Post Deb. The Pandemic Petals image made me chuckle. I love the duck cake. Thanks for the What’s On Your Boojshelf reminder.
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I really enjoyed your Taking Stock post too Jen! That pandemic petals was very timely I think! See you later in the week for the WOYBS post 🙂
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There are so many positives here, Deb, and so much joy.
That duck cake is absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations on your new car and on being double-vaccinated.
Love the smiles in the photos!
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Lovely to have you join in Donna, and I agree there are a few joyful moments there which make me smile too. The cake was delicious apparently so I’m pleased it worked out well as they were a bit worried about pulling it off! The car still smells new….
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Lots of things to keep smiling about, even in these days of extended lockdowns. Love the cake!
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Yes the cake was a huge hit! Well worth all the angst it caused 🙂
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Thanks for your kind words Deb. I love this little community here. I am a Blah Blah Waratah more than anything. Never did the Duck cake but the book of ours (now with my daughter) is 41 years old. Made my son’s 1st Bday cake..the ONE…My mum did more complicated ones and my daughter did Thomas the Tank for then boyfriend…so much more patience than her Mum. Zach crawling hey..they want to be doing what everyone else does. I too am listening to Matt Haig (great voice) but bought the physical book too. I tend to do that when I want to remember passages/quotes. New cars are very exciting… and am glad you did get to see your Mum.
Thank you for taking part in the 5th Birthday celebrations of Life This Week. Great to see friends who are bloggers linking up each week when they can. I appreciate each and every one of you. Next week, Mr W is back with Time Part Two. See you then if you have a post to share. Denyse.
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My pleasure Denyse! I am going to buy the actual book by Matt Haig so that I have it to refer back to easily, it’s so heartwarming and full of hopeful messages. The new car still smells new and hasn’t been out and about too much lately for one reason or another!
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