Living in the moment.The ever changing scenes of a week gone.
A Diary of sorts

31 May being the last day of Autumn.
Remnants of Roses. A fleeting glimpse of Summer gone.

1 June the first day of Winter.
Braving the cold wind in the garden

2 June
Mending day with 60 year old faithful

3 June Saturday
Grey skies so I always go looking for colour in the garden

4 June. Sunday
Sharing Birthday lunch with family and friends.
Boys…Friends and cousins showing off their trampoline skills
Then hurrying off to fish in the dam over the hill

Driving home through the always beautiful countryside.
Worrombi and Cobbity- my favourites
Observing the low sun created shadows as it hastes to bed amongst the hills


5 June Monday
Taking deep into the soul brilliant blue skies and warm hued Autumn leaves
Finding sunny nooks amongst Winter shadows for a slow morning tea
Sitting in a warm sunroom before dusk approaches
Seeing a molten gold sun slip silently behind the western hills

6 June Tuesday
A mending, bed linen washing, soup making kind of day.
Starting off clear and windy for line drying but changing to cold and wet. Needing a cheerful fire and happy flowers kind of day recently enjoyed at our friends home.

7 June
My beloveds birthday
Wet and cold. Double bar gas heating start to damp morning
Boys in school uniforms to be picked up
Happy birthday to be sung to grandpa….we love our grandchildren. Big and small.

I love these sorts of weeks
The plain, the mundane, the grey, the ordinary mixed with the extraordinary
Find exquisite beauty where you can
However small or humble

Linking up with What Joy is mine

Glamping. A child’s perspective …

We have fun glamping

We have the glamping tents up lots
It’s real cool

Raining or sunny

They are so much fun

A place to chill

Or pretend,

‘specially us boy cousins

That’s the very “bestest fun”

All you need are sheets and cushions

LOTS

Grandma always has heaps for us to play with
They are her old sheets for fun stuff

Maybe even Grandma’s patchwork quilt if we can get it before she looks

We can make a BIG tent with LoTS of sheets for us ALL
We can make LITTLE tents for one person

We use Grandma’s laundry Airer and lots of pegs
You have to fix the sheets to stay there
Grandma pegs the sheets to lots of things
Like the door handles and hooks on the wall and clips it in the windows

It’s funny when Grandma has to crawl in the tent ’cause she is big

We go Glamping on grandma’s back verandah.

No pause button here. Beautiful endless youthful energy. Precious.

Because “us” boys have discovered that with a click we have our own “house” When the adults were talking we giggled and locked our door
“Hmmm…unlock the door please” they said

But that’s no fun!

We can make a HUGE tent outside too in a tree that has pink flowers in the hot sun. It has a funny name. Grandma knows what sort it is.

Really fun this sort of Glamping

We just have to get to Grandpa and Grandma’s house….

“Please can we go mum”

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Courtesy Pennywise@morgueFile free photos

My kitchen table
Bare feet
Perfect for sitting and thinking
Door open to the back garden
Slight breeze from outside
Slow whirling fan on the other side

How blessed

Washing on line showing off its drying flip flying dance

Courtesy SavaMatkovitch@morguFile free photos

I can just sit and ponder
At nature, even in a small suburban back yard
Dreaming of the country

There is nothing earth shattering here
Just peace and contentment
Clean and fresh scented sheets for this evening

Now a battered straw hat by my feet
A garden inspected and watered
New growth shooting forth from recently planted hedging

Mud dauber wasps with their dangling long legs
Searching for that perfect bit of mud and soil
Ponderously flying like a water laden fire fighting plane
In orange and black hues
Beware they say to me

Thinking back

Where have the years gone
Our very first experience of grandparent hood
Joy and adventure
Seventeen years and a few days
The birth of our first granchild, Renee

Courtesy GaborfromHungary@morgueFile free photos

A new era
Precious
All of them
Family

My five minutes of contentment on this day
Enjoyed doubly by writing
Hoping you too found a moment to pause.

Joining With some Grace
For Flog Yo Blog on Fridays

jdurham@morgueFilefree photos

This is a Post-it note
Notebook
Diary to myself
To remember

Old-timer
Waiting patiently for a new outfit
Having been so very patient
Hoping to be smartened up

Forgotten
Neglected
Once so bright and fresh…
A garden bed
Waiting
Waiting a year?

Old drainage removed from two sides of garden
Thanks Liam and friend for wielding the pick
Now there is a growing pile of cement

Hedging for one side purchased at short notice on a very hot day
Brought home squashed into two cars
Then a family day of visitors
Hard slog of hedge planting wielding pick and spade in the summer heat started by Rachel whilst extended family visits

Little boys playing happily
Exploring the garage thinking no one is watching
Heaven!
Pulling out everything they think can be played with…for two minutes

Must not forget the ice blocks and ice creams savoured that night outside in the cool of the evening.
Watching the free and hilarious antics of the little ones sitting in their little chairs on the grass. Listening to their chatter. Ice block juice dripping and running down bare little arms…no problem….just splash the arms in the paddling pool close by.

Hedging continued by brother-in-law Derek another morning

I must remember to buy an axe to remove chunky old tree root where one hedging plant needs to go
Plants and ground slowly deep watered by soaker hose again

Rain some days later gave the best soaking start

Thank you Rachel for sanding the bathroom door as it rested on a saw horse. A new experience for you with a power orbital sander with instructions by your hubby dear
Bathroom door has two coats of paint…hip hooray…it only took a year
Thanks Steve for your help
Side gates nearly all painted. One more coat on the bigger gate and meter box and it’s all done
Straggling uneven plants removed on driveway boundary side
…now all streamlined

Getting there
Now the endless job list seems do-able because we can see results
A goal in sight
One step at a time

Thanks to the team effort of young and older

A lesson to remember for our Life’s journey.
Side by side.
Full of vibrant energy
Or the remembered strength of youth

anitapeppers@morgueFile free photos

Love you Husband dear for working beside me
And love the brilliant sunshine of the young
In the heat or in the rain
Hand in hand
Moulded by the hand of the potter

Joining Blog on Friday

We wouldn’t have it any other way
Wonderfully blessed
Making memories

AUSTRALIA DAY AT HOME
Jan 26 2015

A hard day here
Sitting on the back verandah on this Australia Day

Australia a land of contrasts indeed…
Deep fried in the intense heat yesterday
Grey, cool and overcast today
Wishing it was a trifle warmer with the sun showing its face
( we are never ever satisfied are we! )

Egg and bacon breakfast cooked by husband dear
Minding two grandies in their parents home
Children happy and content
Grandparents enjoying the luxury of a Verandah

Savouring the view over green lawn to surrounding bush
The old lush mulberry tree
Listening to the birds and their different melodies trying to out sing each other
Hearing the old hens give their distinct call

You know this is a home to a busy family
Basketball on the lawn
Tractor truck on the verandah
Bags of potting mix next to plants waiting to be potted

Long strips of curled up bark from the gum tree lying on the veranda from a made up and now discarded game of hop scotch (grandma did not want to be the first to draw with chalk on newly re painted decking)

Little boy calling out, grandma, I’m hungry

Joys of being a grandparent in this little corner of Australia

Our laid back Australia Day

morgueFilefree photos

My gratitude for today was being able to go out with all of my grandchildren ages 16 to 3, just me and them. Grandpa has another week of work till his temp work is finished.

Off to the park we went with all the requirements to keep little ones fed and watered and older ones occupied.

Like a long string of colourful beads we wound our way along the footpath. Two scooters and correctly garbed excited little boys. Colourful Bicycle helmets atop sun hats. Cool dark sunglasses on and exposed tender skin slathered with sunscreen for the adventure. Big lads with their scooter and bike in the lead for safety followed by one little scooter after another. Then grandma and sixteen year old granddaughter following each other and running to keep up with the fast fun happening ahead. We are pushing prams for the homeward journey when little scootered out legs are tired!

Scootering is serious business for little boys. Full throttle and whizzing down hills and across a causeway over the creek.

One little boy remembers to stop and listen out for the frogs he heard the other day near the creek. It’s a little bit hard to put your hand behind your ear to listen when you have a sun hat and a bike helmet on. There are no frogs today.

Courtesy binks@morgueFile free photos

Along the track we whizz, one on this side of a split track and me on the other as I try to take short cuts to keep up.

It’s fun. Then there are the many exercise stations dotted around this park where all the boys have to take a turn to try out. Scooters and bikes on the grounds in lazy abandon. The biggest one can manage a high chin up because he has the height of a man but the others still want a go. Little boys are lifted up so they can feel that they are “big” too.

Trying out

Did I say it’s fun?

Now the playground and lunch and playground again and then to watch the eels. Those ugly things living in the lake along with various ducks, moorhens and lone pelican. I wonder where the swan was that lives there? Maybe it was nesting time somewhere in the reeds as it is spring here in Australia. Saw a family of ducks and their brood of ducklings sticking close together ….they weren’t on the agenda for the little boys today. It was a boys, cousins action day of fast fun time.

From here the older boys went home with friends to ride some more bikes at a pace more fitting older lads!

For the little boys then time to head home with grubby little faces and hands that had been washed numerous times already with wipes. They scootered for a while but then into the prams they gladly hopped for their chariot rides home in style. Scooters were slung over the top of prams, helmets on laps and cold bag from the lunch was slung over grandmas shoulder. Along we walked, my granddaughter and I, pushing those prams homeward bound and to brave the territory of that swooping bird again protecting its young…. It was my turn to be bombarded and swooped upon this time. Luckily I had my hat on and only felt its wings crash into me!

I did say it was fun didn’t I! On top of that it keeps me young and moving…although I do admit that I flaked out afterwards at home:)

But most importantly I am ever so grateful to have had the privilege of time to spend with family.

Do you have a small yard for the children?
Do you feel cooped in?
Do make time to find ways to get out in the fresh air and get those legs working. Those lungs pumping and those eyes finding new sights. Discover new horizons, they may be just around a few corners. Listen to the laughter and the yelling. True joy!

Make the time
Take the time
To connect
Have gratitude for today

Courtesy of B Thomas our brother in law. Circa 1955

Courtesy B Thomas our Brother in law. Circa 1955.
Time to connect

This link has some interesting thoughts. I found it when Googling for another meaning of gratitude.

Joining in for a Thankful Thursday

Joining in a bit late for IBOT with Essentially Jess

Photo by Paula Presswell and edited by Alexa a Simple Life

Reflection…
Now this story started after our birthday cum Father’s Day family get together this last weekend. I was thinking back to our lovely time spent together. Then I thought “O bother” now why didn’t I take a photo of the lovingly laid out table. So a hasty email was sent

“Hi Paula, any chance you’ve got one of your choc chip cookies left …I’d love photos of it sitting lone some on that gorgeous glass platter and dome. I wanted to add it to my blog with its recipe as well….:) ”

Here was the reply

Basic Biscuit Mixture:

1 cup sugar
500g marg (I used butter)
1 tin sweetened condensed milk
5 cups SR flour

Turn oven to 180 degrees Celsius and grease a large baking tray. Put your butter and sugar in a large bowl and cream (electric mixer) until pale. Add condensed milk and flour and mix together well using a spoon.

You can add any of your own ingredients at this point. I added peanut butter and choc chips. Stir until well combined.

Roll mixture into teaspoon sized balls and place on greased tray. Press lightly on the biscuits with a fork to flatten slightly. Bake in the oven for 10-15 mins until golden brown.

Others flavour options for the basic mix:

Smarties
Coconut
Milo and choc chips
A squeeze of OJ and some finely grated zest
Golden syrup
Honey and rolled oats
Rocky road – peanuts, marshmallows and choc chips
Muesli
Choc mint – cocoa and peppermint essence

Variations are as limitless as your imagination.

I usually split the basic mix into 4-5 bowls then add different flavours to each bowl.

The raw mix can be frozen in balls. Alternatively I roll the raw mix into a log and wrap well then freeze. Then I just take out what I need, let it thaw slightly and slice into rounds of desired thickness and bake.

I’m pretty sure the raw mix keeps for a few days chilled in the fridge also. Xx

This recipe was from a cook book we both have from Simple Savings. I had originally made these biscuit or cookies as the Americans call them and passed it onto my daughter and then forgot about them over time.

If you google Basic Biscuit Recipe you will also come up with lots of recipes. In my version I actually make my own sweetened condensed milk quickly which is very cheap and you have no worries about having forgotten to buy when you suddenly have the urge to bake! All you need is sugar, powdered milk, water and a dab of butter in a blender. Will post recipe another time if anyone is interested.

Photo by Paula Presswell, edited by Alexa-asimplelife

So now as we sit awhile in a comfy place let us take a moment to pause, to reflect and look back into that window of our life and be thankful. Thankful for much and for those many things we take for granted…..like the most vivid blue sky today here in Sydney over us this whole long day whenever we care to look up.

By Alexa
Photography by Alexa

Sent from my iPad

Fathers, Family, Friends

Father’s Day was celebrated on Sunday gone here in Australia. It always happens on the first Sunday of September, the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

It is a time when I truly would prefer not to visit the shops as there are such a number of people about, with car parks overflowing and spilling onto the road….people, people everywhere. This is the commercialised side that I do not enjoy.

Photo by Paula Presswell, edited by Alexa-asimplelife

Rather we delighted in a beautiful time of family catch up spread over two days. Why two? Well, because on Saturday was one little grandson’s birthday having turned “three old”. Family fun beginning with a laid back afternoon tea with nibbles of cheese platter, crackers, fruit plate, homemade dip, home made choc chip cookies looking extremely posh being displayed beautifully on glass stand with its domed glass lid, and drinks of choice. Then present time of course because that’s the exciting bit for little ones and for grandpa who is like a little boy himself again going into the Toys Are Us choosing the gift, but under instruction from the mummy of what is really required.

The afternoon was spent in chatter and playing. Older and younger cousins interacting and making up games outside and inside….little boys instructing…then the bigger ones…follow the leader…take your turn pushing the little toy lawn mower round the lawn regardless of whether you are three years old or twelve or fourteen…short or tall. Very grown up sixteen year old grandaughter running out and joining in whatever game was happening. Hand ball with numerous and ever changing rules…cricket with a Ping pong ball as all other balls had disappeared.

Later observing two little squatting figures nearly invisible in the growing dark playing with their jazzy cars which glowed red. That’s basically all you could see, the red glow. It was precious.

So the day wound down to tea and bath and story time. Delightful. Beautiful memories.

Today another round of catch up. Lunch together at the other daughter’s home for the young ones with us two joining them after our own quiet lunch out….but always having a little space for some dessert!

Nothing really grand happening, just being able to sit, chat, laugh, hold the baby, pass round the baby to various laps, snuggle and kiss that fresh baby scent, join in a game, watch and absorb all the little happenings unfolding around us, running, scooter riding, teen grandsonson whipping the cream for late dessert, kiss for that cheeky face and jump out of the way of that moving toy car.

Fathers, family, friends.

Life.

A journey following an unfinished map….

Remembering with love those far away.
Those who could not join in.
Those in pain.
May you travel well.

Joining Essentially Jess IBOT
Also joining http://amamasstory.com

Courtesy hotblack@morgueFile free photos

Impressions…
Winter fruits in a bowl
Bringing cheer

A cold South wind
Bringing Snow on the Alps
Silently falling on some high flung Snow Fields
For skiing enthusiasts
For me though, I must find that oh so lightweight merino wool wrap cardigan from Aldi purchased for a song
Ah, yes, it’s lovely and warm to take with me to Worship

Later observing other peoples impressions as I drive home

Find and soak up that spot of sunshine sheltered from the wind
Watching young children run round and playing
Young hot blooded fun in sports attire
With hair blowing and streaming behind
Yelling and laughter
Whilst us oldies watch pulling collars up round our ears
Indeed also tightly wrapping jackets closer and wishing for that hot coffee

Courtesy pippalou@morgueFile free photos

Seasons of the year and cycles of life, constantly changing
One moment young and in a blink it seems we are old

Greyest of lowering skies at the start of day
Ending with teasing hues of vermillion and orange sunset

Courtesy hotblack@morgueFile free photos

To the blackness of night on a Sunday in winter

Courtesy hotblack@morgueFile free photos

To rest and peace, preparing for a new week inside homes we are blessed to be able to warm.

By Alexa

Awesome photos by hotblack & pippalou of morgueFile free photos