Finding joy in the everyday

The Kookaburra (part of the Kingfisher family) lives in woodlands and open forest and like to eat snakes, lizards, insects and our barbecue.  We had 5 that visited us daily at our cabin and they were so friendly.   Those who have lived in the Australia countryside/bush would know the distinct sound that they make - the Kookaburra "laughs" at dawn and it is a beautiful sound - they don't make the laughing sounds at any other time of the day. According to an Aboriginal legend, the kookaburra's famous chorus of laughter every morning is a signal for the sky people to light the great fire that illuminates and warms the earth by day. Click here to hear the sound of their laughing: http://www.soundboard.com/sb/kookaburra_sound_clips.aspx Sitting on the barbeque having a chat.  When the owners first bought the property they noticed the lack of birds and thought this was odd.  After a few months they discovered traps and someone was catching all the birds (maybe to sell)....

I Asked . . . . I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak,  that I might learn to humbly obey . . I asked for health,  That I might do greater things. I was given infirmity,  that I might do better things . .  I asked for riches,  that I might be happy. I was given poverty,  that I might be wise . . I asked for power,  that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness,  that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things,  that I might enjoy life. I was given life,  That I might enjoy all things . . I got nothing I asked for -- but everything that I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all,  most richly blessed! (Anonymous) From: " Stories from the Hear t" compiled by Alice Gray

I love reading old books and thanks to my mother, who had quite the collection (of which I now own some of) I have read great old books. So I thought I would share a few with you, starting with one of my favourites “ The Amazing Quest of Mr Ernest Bliss ” by E Phillips Oppenheim (1917).  I don’t own my mothers copy as it has fallen to pieces (from so much reading) so after much searching I found a copy from Abe Book Sellers - it is difficult to buy and now quite rare so I won’t be surprised if you have never heard of it before (it was turned into a movie in the 1920’s, but I have never seen it).  So what is it about? Main character: Mr Ernest Bliss, aged 25, very rich but in "poor health" due to sitting around all day with nothing to do. Bliss says “You can’t image, Sir James (the doctor), how bored I really am with life. Not a soul I care about, not a thing I could take any interest in doing.  When I wake in the morning , I feel as though I’d just as soon be going ba...

1. Gardening : I have been laying down sugar cane straw/mulch in preparation for winter - it's a messy job and I usually end up covered in the stuff (followed by sneezing).  Tomorrow I am planting some Saffron Crocus' (yes, the sort that are used in the production of saffron) and some Dutch Iris'. 2. Ruby : A trip to the vet yesterday to have her little operation (spayed/de-sexing) - she wasn't very lively afterwards (this is her fast asleep after returning home), but today she back to her normal self eating heaps and running about.  Ruby has a thing about sinks and loves to sit in mine and play with the water (if I leave the tap dripping). She "helps" with the breakfast washing every morning and if I don't do it she sits and waits. 3. Crocheting : I have decided to learn how to crochet - never done it before but I now have all the tools and ready. Ruby plans to "help". I would like to make a "granny" rug - not sure how many winters it...

I have been reading Ruth Graham’s book “ Fear Not Tomorrow, God is Already There: Trusting Him in Uncertain Times ”.  Yesterdays’ chapter was “Embrace His Forgiveness” and tells the story of the Prodigal Son. The son who leaves his fathers home after demanding his inheritance and cutting himself off from his family.  Things don't go well for him, he lives irresponsibly, runs out of money, creates enemies.  He has hit rock bottom, things can't get worse. Have you been there?  He decided to return home and ask for forgiveness.  His father had been watching the road, and sees his son and runs to him. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:20-21 As Graham says “What an incredible picture of forgiveness, as the father embraces the son, there is n...

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’ ...