Finding joy in the everyday

Today Sunday 28th September A perfect spring day Outside my window What was once a lovely garden has all been cleared ready for a studio to be built in October  A new fence The perfume of spring I am thankful . . . For the sunshine, rain and spring Having the most wonderful dad who I can have long conversations with For a smooth and problem free month of September I am wearing . .  Long pink and grey stripped skirt, white t-shirt and pink cardigan.  I can hear . . .  Birds singing Music playing Neighbours mowing their lawns Whistling from my husband In the kitchen A bowl of homemade hummus Fresh pineapple and sultana muffins making the house smell yummy Indian lamb curry (defrosting for dinner) New measuring spoons to measure a drop, smidgen, pinch, dash and tad! Will be use to make non-dairy yoghurt for my sons.  Around the house . . ....

Dear friends and family,  It's July.  We have reached the half way mark in 2014.  Half the year has gone and I don't feel like I have achieved anything I set out to do six months ago. However I have learnt a bunch of things I wasn't planning on learning and they have in fact been far better for me than my own plans. When God intervenes in our lives and changes plans, it is ALWAYS for the better.  So what have I been doing latterly. Nothing very riveting so I won't bore you with the ordinary!!  However weeks after starting this skirt, I have finally finished it. My hips and waist do not fit a standard pattern so I spend ages fiddling around getting skirts to fit my shape!! This one fits beautiful even if I say so!! It is knee length and looks very nice with a pair of boots.  Suitable for all seasons. Fully lined. What I wore on Monday. Can you see Ruby, the cat? I am going to have a break from sewing clothes and move to quilting. ...

Source Outside my window Grey, wet, damp and cold and I love it. Its the sort of day one stays indoors (with music playing in the background) reading, sewings, cooking or other cosy activities. I am thankful for For so many things - the list is endless. But mostly knowing that God is always with me, through every storm. I am wearing Black skirt, black shirt and red shoes. From the kitchen Banana bread cooking (my husband's favourite at the moment) I am learning To not count my chickens before they hatch! From the sewing room Very excited when I visited Lincraft and found suiting fabric for $5.50 per metre - this is great for business style skirts.  I bought 6 metres (black, brown and blue). This can now be added to the 3 metres of black and 2 metres of red that I bought the other day. All I have to do is turn this into clothes!!  So far I have cut out 3 skirts. Next is a couple of winter dresses and I might try my hand...

Outside my window The heat of summer is gone and in its place is Autumn with warm sunny days and cool fresh evenings - if only I could bottle it! However today is overcast and quite cool with rain on the way - perfect for indoor activities. Whilst we enter (my favourite season) Autumn, most of my readers are entering spring. Enjoy.  I am thankful for The 1/2 day each week I spend with my youngest son (he no longer lives a home).We go out for lunch at my son's restaurant of choice and chat over a nice meal.  Afterwards we go for a stroll and check out the nearby shops. These are very special times together. I am wearing Long blue skirt skirt with white flowers, white t-shirt and red cardigan.  From the kitchen My new favourite dish at present is chicken or pork laksa. My husband loves this soup full of fresh crispy raw vegetables and hot spicey soup, its easy to make making it ideal for a Friday evening dinner. Been trying my hand a...

Some old cookbooks stand guard near my front door.  I thought they looked nice on display Outside my window I am writing to you from my study which overlooks a lovely enclosed side garden full of green trees where the birds love to play in and Ruby (cat) loves to look watch.  Today will be very hot (37C//99F) but this morning there is still a cool breeze blowing in which I am taking full advantage of. I am thankful for I am thankful for having such wonderful supportive friends (and that includes you!). I am wearing Clothes, aren't you relieved!!  A red cotton dress ready for the heat. From the kitchen The fridge is clean and its looking good (thanks Roxy for the reminder!). I found a few questionable things at the back and anything past the use-by date has gone to the bin. I like Roxy's idea of doing a clean out the day before shopping day. The chest freezer was defrosted this morning, taking advantage of the warmth in the house. T...

A mothers love knows no bounds  (Two ragdoll cats) ( Source ) Outside my window A warm sunny day outside. We have been blessed thus far with a very mild summer, cool nights and lovely warm (but not hot) days. We have even had some rain that has been very welcome I am thankful for Having God by my side 24/7. The cooler summer temperatures have meant the house hasn't got as hot as it usually does at this time of year and  I am getting a good nights rest. That my mother did not break any bones when she fell over on Christmas Eve, however her road to recovery will be painful nevertheless.  I am wearing A favourite blue and white cotton stripped skirt and a white t-shirt. Bare feet as it is summer. From the kitchen Why hide away all the dry foods in the pantry when it can be on display and add character to a kitchen.  Here is my collection of "French roosters" as my husband likes to call them. They look quite smart all in a row ho...

Down by the seaside in summer Outside my window Outside my study window is a lush green garden where the birds like to play, it is one of our favourite places to sit.  (Ruby loves looking out of the window and watch them) I am thankful for Having a son who rings me during the week just to say hi.  I am wearing Demin skirt and blue t-shirt, bare feet. From the kitchen I bought some coconut sugar which I haven't tried before - it tastes like raw/brown sugar. I was impressed with the taste. I am not sure how much healthier it is compared to cane sugar, but it appears to contain more nutrients. I will give it a try in something. I am learning Learning not to panic and stress when news is bad . . . there is rarely an issue that can not be handled or resolved when one turns to the Lord. Trying to teach my son the same thing, a little harder with a 21 year old - it all looks bleak and unmanageable.  I am reading I am Malala by Ma...

I thought I would drop by, say HI and see how you were doing? What have you been up to? As it is a Saturday. I am at home and indoors where it is warm, it's very chilly outside even though the sun is shinning bright. This morning I popped out for a little while to pick up some groceries and visit a bookshop that is closing (always makes me sad). I managed to find a few cookbooks, one in particular by my favourite author Roxie Kelley and illustrator Shelly Reeves Smith which I can read in bed tonight. I now have three of her books. I also found a book on bread-making (to add to my collection) and one about Jane Austen and her books that looks very interesting ( What matters in Jane Austen ). The chicken stock is made and in the freezer - so easy to make and much nicer than the stock you buy in the supermarket. Mine contains very little salt, but lots of flavour and a big plus, its cheap to make. To make life easier (something we are all want to be able...

The weather: It is overcast and cold, but warmer than earlier this morning when it was minus 3 (26.6F).  The washing is on the line, not sure if it will dry, the towels certainly won't!  We have had some very cold mornings of late - only the other day we started the day at minus 7 (19.4F). What am I wearing: To keep me warm I am wearing a long woolen navy blue skirt, long sleeve cream t-shirt and a cream cardigan + slippers.  What's cooking: As I write a vegetable and lentil soup is bubbling away on the stove (I've added a bacon bone to enhance the flavour) and in the oven is a "Rustic Chicken Casserole with chorizo sausages (my DH loves chorizos and wanted me to make something using them, happy to accommodate) - the latter will go in the freezer to be eaten later this week. Around the house: For the last few days I could smell a chemical smell in the house but couldn't work out where it was coming from - it was worse when the house was cold.  No one else co...

Outside my window - overcast after a sunny day, rain has been promised.  Warm What am I thinking - how lovely it has been spending 2 hours with my elderly neighbour, enjoying a cup of tea, a mince pie and chatting.   She showed me some of the Christmas presents she has bought for her grandchildren and she has given me some ideas. What am I thankful for - that my husband and sons have safe jobs that when they go off to work, they are more than likely to be coming home in the evening.  Thinking of the 29 miners who have died doing their job at the Pike River mine in New Zealand.  How harrowing it much be for the families who have lost loved ones.  Mining is such a dangerous occupation, but we use so much of this natural resource I am sure we don't think very often of the men who dig it all up for us and the dangers they face. What am I wearing - demin skirt and red/white t shirt. I am going - nowhere, been out this morning to buy a few things + fo...

Outside my window - the sun is shinning but I can see threatening clouds (we have been promised rain and a thunderstorm).   A few birds are singing on this muggy hot day (the first heat for the season). What am I thinking - about my mother-in-law who will not be with us for much longer and organsing an air ticket for DH asap. What am I thankful for - the arrival of spring and watching the bloom in the garden take over and create a patchwork of colour and smells What am I wearing - a cotton summer skirt in pale pinks, purples and black + a t-skirt, it is nice to be in summer clothes for a change! I am going - nowhere today as it is late afternoon and I need to think about dinner and taking the washing off the line. I am reading - I have just started Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America by Jeff Pollard - I have no views on it yet as I have only read the first chapter I am hoping - that I can book this flight for DH in the next few hour and he ...

Outside my window - The sun is finally shining through the clouds, after a very bleak day yesterday and many millemetres of rain with more this morning.  Even though the sun is shining the wind is icy cold and winter attire is required.  The heating has been on all day.  What am I thinking - About how much I love a Saturday, being at home pottering about.  I am also thinking (right now) that the mouse I currently have is terrible (it wants to move in the opposite direction to where I am pushing it) and needs to be replaced-very soon!!  It is as bad as having a wonky shopping trolley:) What am I thankful for - The rain God has provided that is filling up our dams ready for summer. They have now over 80%, the first time in 10 years. What am I wearing - A long demin skirt with a grey long sleeve t-shirt. Purple slippers on the feet for comfort and warmth. I am going - I have been out this morning to buy some pans to cook Bienenstich tomorrow + to buy a ...