Today I'm participating in Maxabella's 'I'm Grateful For' bloghop.
It will be an ongoing event every Saturday and I will be tagging my posts with this gorgeous image of five little 'Gifts of Serendipity' resting in the Robin's nest.

Gift 1 - I'm grateful for a helping hand from a stranger who has become a friend

This week I have finally resolved the problem with my RSS feed and centred my sidebar images.
To do this on my own there would have been MUCH hair-tearing and more than a few choice words.
But with the help of lovely people like Maxabella herself, I'm as hirsute as I would like and the kids haven't picked up any 'surplus lingo'...thank you.

Gift 2 - The recommendation of a great read from my local bookstore

Are you looking for a great read, something that is truly 'unputdownable'?

I have just finished 'Ape House' by Sara Gruen and can highly recommend it.
Sara is the bestselling author of 'Water For Elephants' which is another wonderful read.

So, not wanting to give too much away here's a bit of the blurb:

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani and Makena are no ordinary apes.

Capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships, they, unlike most

bonobos, also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist as the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets, especially the bonobos.  Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans...until she meets John Thigpen, a down-on-his-luck reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protestors outside the lab to see what's really going on inside.

When an explosion tears apart the lab, severely injuring Isabel and 'liberating' the apes to an unknown destination, John's human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he'll risk his career and his marriage to follow.

Ape House is a riveting, funny, compassionate and deeply moving novel in which a family of apes teaches us what it means to be human.

Thank you Lucinda for your recommendation.
If you, dear friend, do end up reading it, I'd love to hear what  you think.

Gift 3 - Winning a giveaway!

The wonderful Amanda at Calico & Co. hosts the most generous giveaways.

I read last night that I have won some sensational art from Wallspank and am over-the-moon happy and grateful too....thank you Amanda.

Gift 4 - Going on a date with Captain Valentine

On went my LBD, the big earrings & the heels and off we went to enjoy a new dining experience at The Waterfront, Noosaville.
It was a special night and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal of grilled snapper with potato cake, stuffed tomato and green beans.
Surprisingly there aren't a huge number of dining establishments right on the water but this one is a keeper.
Thank you to my gorgeous man for being a romantic, you truly live up to your name!

Gift 5 - The joy of blogging

Having only started my blog a couple of months ago I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun I derive from it. 
I love connecting with clever, funny and like-minded people whether it be through reading their blogs or receiving comments on my own.
This week my blog received it's 100th friend which was very exciting.
I'm looking forward to sharing a giveaway soon to celebrate.

To read more about what people are grateful for, skip over to Maxabella's place and join in!