Alexa - A Simple Life » food for the soul http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com Living simply and content Thu, 29 Jun 2017 03:00:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.40 Days gone by http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/days-gone-by/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/days-gone-by/#comments Sun, 11 Jun 2017 15:27:19 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=2576 Days gone by, living in the moment, winter warmers, winter fire, slow combustion fire, glory vine

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.

Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, iPhone photography

1 June the first day of Winter.
Braving the cold wind in the garden
Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, how to dress for winter gardening
2 June
Mending day with 60 year old faithful
Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, Bernina Record sewing machine, don't throw out your old sewing machine, sleep old sewing machines serviced,

3 June Saturday
Grey skies so I always go looking for colour in the garden
"Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, Bernina Record sewing machine, don't throw out your old sewing machine, Euphorbia Lipstick, Euphorbia, winter garden colour

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
Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, Bernina Record sewing machine, don't throw out your old sewing machine, Euphorbia Lipstick, Euphorbia, winter garden colour, family days, easy family meals, birthday family days
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
Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, Bernina Record sewing machine, don't throw out your old sewing machine, Euphorbia Lipstick, Euphorbia, winter garden colour, family days, easy family meals, birthday family days, boys going fishing, gone fishing , country style fishing , dam fishing

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
Days gone past, living in the moment, Driving home through the always beautiful countryside. Worrombi and Cobbity- my favourite Observing the low sun created shadows as it hastes to bed amongst the hills
Driving home through the always beautiful countryside. Worrombi and Cobbity- my favourite 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
Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, Bernina Record sewing machine, don't throw out your old sewing machine, Euphorbia Lipstick, Euphorbia, winter garden colour, family days, easy family meals, birthday family days, boys going fishing, gone fishing , country style fishing , dam fishing , sunset, Autumn in Narellan, Autumn leaves, what to do in Autumn

, share morning tea at home, Days gone by, living the moment, winter roses, last Rose, iPhone diary, winter warmth, winter garden, winter gardening, Bernina Record sewing machine, don't throw out your old sewing machine, Euphorbia Lipstick, Euphorbia, winter garden colour, family days, easy family meals, birthday family days, boys going fishing, gone fishing , country style fishing , dam fishing , sunset, Autumn in Narellan, Autumn leaves, what to do in Autumn, al fresco dining,

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.
"Days gone by, living in the moment, winter warmers, Euphorbias

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.
Days gone by, grandchildren

Days gone by, living in the moment

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

Days gone by, living in the moment

Alexa-asimplelife

Linking up with What Joy is mine

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth
]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/days-gone-by/feed/ 3 Our need for water http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/our-need-for-water/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/our-need-for-water/#comments Tue, 07 Mar 2017 08:32:36 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=2459 <img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg" alt="Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair" #Floweringmanchurianpeariwantone Flowering Manchurian Pear tree #heritagecollege Heritage College Kindy, Bulli Beach, hardy agapanthus, echinacea flower, #echinaceaforcolds , #echinaceaprepareforwinter

Memories of a recent school run whence I picked up and drove home two of our grandsons

Question – Bailey, are there puddles at school after all the rain?

Answer – Yes, a big one on the Basketball court. But last week is was REALLY BIG!

Question – Bailey can you climb into your car seat without stepping in this big river of water in the gutter?

Answer – Look Grandma, as he carefully dips the toe of his shoe in the water…the water goes around my shoe.

<a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg" alt="Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair" #Floweringmanchurianpeariwantone Flowering Manchurian Pear tree #heritagecollege , Heritage College Kindy

Boys and water are attracting poles on magnets.

<a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg" alt="Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair" #Floweringmanchurianpeariwantone Flowering Manchurian Pear tree #heritagecollege Heritage College Kindy, Bulli Beach

Boys of all sizes loving the Beach!

~*~

So on we drive through the country

“Grandma, did you know it isn’t Summer anymore?

It is”. ..pause…

I help with the starting syllable, Au…

“AUTUMN” is the response

“I have to look at our house for the coloured leaves ” was the wise comment from Mr5yr old who has just started school.

~*~

Having completed my grandma love errand and remembering Bailey’s words I then made this observation.

It being March 2nd, the leaves on the Manchurian Pear trees not two minutes from our house are changing colour to the brightest red and falling.
What beauty surrounds us if we can but see it

<a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg" alt="Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair" #Floweringmanchurianpeariwantone Flowering Manchurian Pear tree

We had heat wave maybe a week past then cool change.
Presently sunshine, grey skies, rain and humidity

Poor nature is so confused

Lawns are growing so lush and fast they look to be on steroids.

Maybe the rain will ease enough for the lawn mowers to go out to work…it has been very quiet on that front in the neighbourhood!

A note for hubby. Buy fuel for the mower before the can is empty and lawns are humungeous . He discovered this for himself having gotten changed into gardening attire ready for action.

But a feast for the eyes is the greenness everywhere on hills which would normally be brown.

A benefit too is the fact that there is no need to water the garden…the postman delivered our latest water bill …need I say more?

Even though our Australian summer was very hot and dry I could not starve the garden. I love being out there too much.

Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair

<a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg" alt="Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair" #Floweringmanchurianpeariwantone Flowering Manchurian Pear tree #heritagecollege Heritage College Kindy, Bulli Beach, hardy agapanthus

Thankful for our beautiful surroundings which creates food for the soul.

Alexa-asimplelife

<a href="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg"><img src="http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/image33.jpg" alt="Our need for water, food for the soul, #foodforthesoul #boysandpuddles #autumnintheair #welovethebeach #buildingcastles #beachanaustralianloveaffair" #Floweringmanchurianpeariwantone Flowering Manchurian Pear tree #heritagecollege Heritage College Kindy, Bulli Beach, hardy agapanthus, echinacea flower, #echinaceaforcolds , #echinaceaprepareforwinter #hibiscusbeauty

Joining Our World Tuesday

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/our-need-for-water/feed/ 6 Savour The Moment http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/savour-the-moment/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/savour-the-moment/#comments Tue, 24 May 2016 12:51:52 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1934 Savour the moment, winter comforts, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder

Winter is on its way

Wishing with all my heart that I could paint…
Longing to paint and capture that emotion

Holding our youngest grandson recently

At one with the calm Australian bush scene before me

Savour the moment, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder, the Last Rose of summer, a last scent of summer, little Tykes pedal car, time is fleeting, the passage of time, Autumn , rain in the Australian bush

Savour the moment, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder, the Last Rose of summer, a last scent of summer, little Tykes pedal car, time is fleeting, the passage of time, Autumn , rain in the Australian bush
Quietly standing sheltered from the rain
Under the pattering metal roofed verandah

Falling big plops of rain
Dripping from the corrugated iron roof edge
Splashing on the bottom step
One footstep away

Little fingers outstretched and reaching
Little brain processing that new-found sensation
Cold rain in an endless stream of splashing
Splashing on a tiny hand

Watching
Escapee hens enjoying new-found freedom
Speckled, black, white
Iridescent red with browns
Leading endlessly long charmed lives
For now
No fox getting near enough for a taste

Savour the moment, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder, the Last Rose of summer, a last scent of summer, little Tykes pedal car, time is fleeting, the passage of time, Autumn , rain in the Australian bush, escapee hens, homesteading chickens

Escapee Long Legs

In the rain
Sparkling orbs of reflected light
Rain drops on lush green grass

Clucking hens pecking merrily away
Beady eyes endlessly searching
Then darting for that perfect morsel
Around and under and over
an abandoned for now toy car
Brightest of primary hues
Yellow, red and blue,
Little Tykes, a pedal powered car

Like a artists paint palette before us
Those vibrant and clashing hues
Eye popping in the ozone charged air

Nature versus man-made
It’s own tapestry creating

My arms were full of a sweet munchy little boy
…so precious

With no room for camera
…so sad

No candid shots today

Memory snap shots will have to suffice
So too that all surrounding Earthy, clean washed and lingering remembered scent

No “wow” for all the world to exclaim over

But

A simple still moment

Try it

Savour it

Food for the soul

Balm

Savour that moment today because these ever rolling years have wings and stop for none…they run without a pause button

Savour the moment, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder, the Last Rose of summer, a last scent of summer, little Tykes pedal car, time is fleeting, the passage of time

Time is like a child, it runs

Indeed wings as I found.
This draft was prepared near a year ago and only published now

It was a time of rain

of sand, summer, peace, family, ocean, beach,Heppenheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany

As the Flower of the field, it toils not nor spins…

Cherish each day

Savour the moment, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder, the Last Rose of summer, a last scent of summer,

A last burst of summer sunshine to gladden the heart

Embrace the seasons and stages of life
Finding joy and beauty where you may

Savour the moment, children, circle of friends, food for the soul, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Memory snaps, nature versus man made, peace, reflection, reinvigorate, Reliving memories, savour the moment, Sharing, time to ponder, the Last Rose of summer, a last scent of summer, little Tykes pedal car, time is fleeting, the passage of time, Autumn

#savour-the-moment

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/savour-the-moment/feed/ 4 Time for soup http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/time-for-soup/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/time-for-soup/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2014 05:39:33 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1257 the soul, soup for the soul. Chicken soup for the soul, easy chicken soup , how to extend left overs

Why soup is good for the soul…

On being absent for some time…others needed me

Just lurking in Blogdom
Being inspired and occasionally commenting
Being refreshed

So back to my original comment on soup. But why soup?
Here in the Southern Hemisphere we have our winter. Colder in some parts of Australia than others.

Well winter is here in this household, along with myriad mounds of discarded tissues filling the bins, sounds of coughing and a pyjama and dressing gown day. Great to be able to have these without having to bring in a sick certificate.

Time to let the body take care of itself with a smile.

What better day than to serve soup for testy appetites with a smile.

There was enough for one serve of chicken broth and vegetable soup left in the fridge from yesterday but not enough for two.
So my aim was to make it stretch for both of us with minimal effort.
The bunch of celery was still sitting on my bench in its cellophane from yesterday’s catch up vegetable shopping as was a large bag of the freshest young carrots.
I snapped a couple of pieces of the top celery leaf stalks off and chopped them.
Grated some carrot.
Microwaved them briefly with the addition of a little bit of the left over refrigerated soup..carrots first as they take longer and adding the celery bits at the end.
Added to soup
Added water to quantity required…for us that was one and a half cups
Add some stock powder as per instructions
Chopped and threw in a little of some cooked chicken gotten at bargain price yesterday
Added some of the cooked Spetzler I had in fridge
Also added some Roux which I had a small portion of to thicken soup
Cooked in microwave and stirred

Voila! Easy and nutritious.

Soup for the sick
Soup for the soul
Chicken soup for the soul

Take care and eat soup :)
… And imagine a beautiful place

the soul, soup for the soul. Chicken soup for the soul, easy chicken soup , how to extend left overs, beautiful images, lavender a healing herb, lavender hedge

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