Finding joy in the everyday

What a morning....... The sort that things don't got quite to plan........ Got up at 6:3am to drive my husband to the bus stop (10 mins trip) but before we left he noticed 2 screws in the front passenger tyre, fortunately they were so tightly in that no air was escaping,  but it always make me nervous as I dislike flat tyres when I am by myself (I am hopeless at changing tyres). Dropped hubby at bus stop ..... drove home safely ..... had shower ......  got dressed (in more suitable attire) ......  took 17 year old to school (early) ..... went to tyre shop to have tyre fixed and waited 20 mins for this to be done ......  got half way home and realised that my bank key card was still at the tyre shop  ..... turned around and went back to pick it up.......finally got home .......  had breakfast and read for a little while. Now I can relax.  I am off to have lunch with 3 friends, that should be nice.   So to return to a calm relaxing state ...

"During World War 1, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of the Australian soldiers were concerned for the nutritional value of the food being supplied to their men. Here was a problem. Any food they sent to the fighting men had to be carried in the ships of the Merchant Navy. Most of these were lucky to maintain a speed of ten knots (18.5 kilometers per hour). Most had no refrigerated facilities, so any food sent had to be able to remain edible after periods in excess of two months.  A body of women came up with the answer - a biscuit with all the nutritional value possible. The basis was a Scottish recipe using rolled oats. These oats were used extensively in Scotland, especially for a heavy porridge that helped counteract the extremely cold climate. The ingredients they used were: rolled oats, sugar, plain flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup or treacle, bi-carbonate of soda and boiling water. All these items did not readily spoil. At first the biscuits were called Soldiers’ ...

Enough of vacations - back to the domestic world ..... I am at home all this week on holidays (alone) and I thought Monday would be "cleaning the kitchen day".  With the help of Ruby  (you can see her in the photos "helping") I have spent the morning doing just that and it felt great.  So far I have thrown away 3 bags of rubbish (old/broken plastic containers, lids with no bottoms, things I never use etc...) plus a bag of food past the due by date.  And this is what it looks like now ...... clean and organised ....... however non of the males (husband and sons) will be able to find anything for a while.  Just have to mop the floor, but I will do that when I eat my lunch. One thing I did do was move the herbs and spices - they were in a cupboard (slightly above my head) which that made it hard to see what I needed, now they are in the drawer (near the stove) and all I have to do is open and read the labels - should make looking for what I need much easier. Whil...

Softly and Tenderly (by Will L Thompson)   Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,  Calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,  Watching for you and for me Refrain Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home! Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, Pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not His mercies, Mercies for you and for me? Refrain Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, Passing from you and from me; Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, Coming for you and for me. Refrain O for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me. Refrain  (taken at Floriade, Canberra)

I am glad to be home - even though I quite enjoy a holiday break away from home, the best part is returning.  My sons did a good job at keeping house - however they do need some more skills on cleaning kitchens (as I could guess what they had for dinner by the little messes on the bench top!!).   The animals were all well looked after - the cats decided not to like me for the first hour of returning home - as punishment I am sure, but now Ruby is back sleeping next to me as if I am her best friend.  I  am home all next week on leave so they can have my full attention and hopefully forget that I left them all alone!! (well, not quite).  The dogs are always thrilled to see us return and have convinced Steven that they have been under-fed all week and need extra food:)..... * * * * * Today's photos are my more "arty" ones which I hope you enjoy. I love taking photos of the sea, however I am always on the lookout for something of interest that can be added...

I'm back.  The bags are unpacked, the house has been cleaned (it was in a pretty good state, thanks boys), two loads of washing are hanging on the line (not mine, I did mine at the cabin - my sons) and I have downloaded all my photos!!  What can I say - it was a relaxing break, - the accommodation was wonderful, (would recommend it to others), the walks the beach prefect and I have been connecting with nature (as you will see). In this first installment of our holidays - I will share with you the accommodation we stayed in - "The Bower at Broulee" contains 6 cabins, all hidden amongst the trees so you couldn't see or hear your neighbours - very private (no children allowed) - in fact we didn't see anyone the whole time we where there. The picture below is the front of the cabin (ours was called the Red Bower) and the next photo is the back of the cabin with a lovely large deck.   Below is the view from the kitchen window looking out the back of the cabin - isn...

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; Is is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving. And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100 (NKJ) Source: http://rotyoung.deviantart.com/art/Down-the-path-26755184 “If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes.” --  Corrie Ten Boom --

I have left the office behind me   I am packing my bags Heading to the beach  For romantic walks along the sand at sunset  Barbecues for dinner  Relaxation, peace, tranquility  And leaving the house to the kids mmmmmmm - what will my house look next Friday? Yep, I am off on a holiday and I CAN'T WAIT leaving on Monday

Each morning I read " Our Daily Bread " Devotional and when I read yesterdays  I wanted to share it with you. So often when people (including myself) are suffering eg through ill heath,  an accident or a marriage  breakdowns they blame God for their problems and say "why didn't He stop this from happening", "doesn't He love me", "doesn't He care".   I have to trust in the fact of God's presences, in His promise to be with me, whatever I am going through, God sees me and hears me.  He knows my situation and he hears my prayers. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble . —Psalm 9:9 When we experience tragedy, we may wonder about God’s goodness. Is God always good? Yes, He is. He doesn’t promise that bad things will never happen to us, but He does promise to be “our refuge and strength” (Ps. 46:1). He doesn’t promise that we will never walk through heart-wrenching circumstances, but He p...

To all cat lovers  check out my blog dedicated to Ruby and all her friends ( ruby and friends). If you do not like cats  - don't visit!!  We own two gorgeous Dobermans (Gaia and Brenin) and they would NEVER do this to my 2 gorgeous cats!!! However they do dream about doing this to the cats who roam the streets and fight with Charlie Cat.

I have a wonderful recipe for Passionfruit Cake - it is easy to make, quick, moist and seems to always work (for me anyway) so I thought I would share it with you.  I often take it to morning teas and always get nice comments (maybe people are just being polite)!! 2 tablespoons butter (melt) 2 eggs 1/3 cup milk (I use skim milk) 1 cup sugar 2 passionfruits (or a small tin of passionfruit) 1 cup self raising flour Place all ingredients except butter in to a bowl. Melt the butter, add to mixture and beat well (2 minutes). Bake for 30 minutes in a moderate oven (180C). (I use a log tin for min) When cool ice with passionfruit icing: 1 cup icing sugar, 2 tablespoons butter [more if you like icing buttery] and 1 passionfruit - mix well You may notice that half the cake is missing its so good its had been eaten before I had the chance to take a photo!!

 (taken by me on one of my walks)   Miss Charlotte Elliott (born March 18 1789) was visiting some friends in the West End of Lon­don, and there met the eminent minister, Cesar Malan. Whilst seated at supper, the minister said he hoped that she was a Christian. She took offense at this, and replied that she would rather not discuss that question. Dr. Malan said that he was sorry if had offended her, that he always liked to speak a word for his Master, and that he hoped that the young lady would some day become a worker for Christ. When they met again at the home of a mutual friend, three weeks later, Miss Elliott told the minister that ever since he had spoken to her she had been trying to find her Saviour, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ - “ Just come to him as you are, ” Dr. Malan said. This she did, and went away rejoicing. Shortly afterward she wrote this hymn (1835). Just as I am, without one plea,
 But that Thy blood was shed for me,
 And t...

Helping me to clean out my drawers Keeping watch over the house - mine or his.  What happens when a branch breaks off from the neighbour's tree Mulching the tree Very happy brother and sister-in-law - they finally got to see the French Art exhibition at the National Art Gallery - some people waited for over 3 hours we only had to wait 1 hour and 40 mins. * * *