Look no further!
Go visit your local nursery for a free lift of spirits

Free you say!

Yes definitely because no money changed hands.

By letting my mind be refreshed and calmed on a hot hot day under the misting sprinkler.

I remembered …
Lavender cutting/slips growing under some greenery
Hibiscus cuttings/slips slowly growing roots in a glass jar
Red trumpet creeping vine cutting/slip started in a pot
Big Red geranium growing lushly from a cutting/slip

It was a stepping back in time of how old gardens were created.
Networking and sharing.

How to best utilise what I have at home in the garden…..just a moving round and swapping positions. Or repotting with large recycled pots from the neighbour’s hard rubbish clean out.

There was no instant gratification costing $$, just some methodical or random planning and a little patience.

Have you ever done this?

Blessed

Joining Through the Garden Gate

Joining Frontier Dreams

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

Courtesy Jaeb@morgueFile free photos

Having just arrived home from a lovely driving visit interstate with family and friends I came across a refreshing recipe. It would be wonderful as an entree or for a gathering of friends and supper. Light, but I would say very moorish.

I would add a delicate sprig of fresh Dill as well for its wonderful scent and aroma.

My dream raised garden

Dill brings back memories of my dear mother when she still had her own garden and little herb patch. Whenever we visited Mum always chopped up some Dill and added it to her wonderful mixed salad and home made dressing….between us three girls there would almost be arguments over who got more of this delicious trademark salad

Here is this refreshing recipe of Salmon Rillettes

Alternatively you could experiment just with some smoked salmon and flake it instead of the fish stated in Downtownshift.
I seem to recall a friend of mine does this, or is it potted shrimp…..Keren if you are reading, is this how your mum makes her dip?

…and so I’ll sign off for now and maybe do a bit of unpacking. The painful part at the end of a trip…..but I have many wonderful memories which will spur me on:)

From country to city and back again, day by 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

By AcrylicArtist@morgueFile free photos

Tuesday 16 June…blown off course

A fleeting moment

I was amazed to see a precious sight
The graceful flight
A Monarch butterfly
In winter

Very much blown off course

His colour was resplendent, not tattered at all
Bright and richly hued his coat

Hungry for his food

Dipping into my lavender hedge and feasting on the flower heads
A dip here and a taste here
Up into the air and down again
A few more sips and off

The breeze too strong for him to resist
The urge to wander
Over the fence and away
Even before I had my chance
No photo shutter snap
Even though,
Even though I wished him back

Indeed a sight to lift the heart. Ethereal grace.

It also makes me glad that I still have not pruned my Lavender hedge. It pains me to think that I WILL have to do it….one day!

Would we seize that moment and make the most of a fleeting opportunity. Could I. Whatever it be. Give a moment of joy. Create a moment.

My wishful moment of stillness right now.

By Jusben@morgueFile free photos

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

Courtesy ‘xenia’@morgueFile free photos

The power of networking
Sharing, supporting each other, extending oneself, opening new horizons, searching out new ways to help yourself by connecting with another

My example of networking came to me randomly as I was reading about the struggles farmers go through.

Courtesy ‘click’@morgueFile free photos

We support a butcher who is I guess is semi rural. When I drive to visit one daughter I always have to go past him so I decided to get bulk meat for the family on the way through for daughter or on the way home when buying for myself. I always SMS daughter before I come over to check if she needs meat as she doesn’t drive this way in business hours. We would mainly purchase chicken breast, amazingly cheap legs of lamb and if asked he will butterfly the meat by carving out the bone which I then use for soup. At times bulk mince, bulk rump steak and lamb chops. All are way cheaper than the big supermarkets….and his legs of lamb are THE best…so delicious and tender.

Courtesy ‘Kakisky’@morgueFilefree photos

Now the networking connection I learnt recently is that this butcher has a contact at a country farm quite a few Kms away, maybe a five-hour drive. So he has cut out the middle man and is helping himself AND the farmer.

Courtesy ‘Richcd’@morgueFile free photos

Then we learnt of the next networking connection. Our daughter’s local semi rural IGA independent grocery store now sells meat from this butcher….again a plus for everyone.

Times are tough but people can work together for the benefit of all.

We can help each other just by being there for someone, or we know that mummy X is really good at doing Y so she can help mummy O….so many ways of social interaction to provide needs whether of succour, support, deeds or things.

Let’s find ways to network with those who need or find ways for our own needs. In return hopefully we will find a mutual benefit.

Help is more than just caring….
Do more than care, help
William Arthur Ward

Courtesy ‘Hotblack’@morguefile free photo

In real life situations
Young and older together
Family, friends and acquaintances
Helping and learning and laughing together
At camp Staycation…the best

Linking in with Essentially Jess at #IBOT
PS…this post was scheduled to load after midnight for Tuesday…well the technology didn’t work as I discovered on coming home from a day out…Oh well…I had fun anyway today

Courtesy Jusben@morgueFile free photo

Happenings whilst trying to have a conversation when little children are part of the picture

Conversation on the phone with a mother …
Chatting about every day happenings
Hearing little boy playing in the background
Oh you’ve finished, that’s good says mum to boy
We continue chatting
Little voice pipes up, Quick quick
Mum saying, good boy, quick into the bathroom!

Little boy wanting to talk to grandma
I chat to him, he remembers things we did on holidays…”yes”

He tells me about some dogs coming into back yard
I know a lot of head nodding is part of the conversation
Bye grandma and a kiss is blown

Me back to chatting with the mother
Little voice wanting to chat again and tell grandma his finger is sore
Pointy finger held up I’m told by mother

More about the dogs in the yard told me by the mummy
The neighbours two young boys sitting in a toy electric jeep car found and salvaged by them from the annual council clean up.
Add a lot of yipping and yapping
One small dog and a larger strong dog
A struggle as they try to hold dogs

The picture…
Arms, legs and paws going every which way as they try to “drive” to their house next door

And one delighted and wide eyed little boy watching it all

Joys of a semi rural last day of holidays….for Rachel

…and lessons from a little boy to grandma to be patient and let him explain himself x

Photo Courtesy revwarheart@morgueFilefreephotos

5 Random Things I am thankful for this day

1..Summer Fun and memories
2..Cool days a coming
3..New lavender buds-love them
4..Comfort food for a cool morning
5..Observations from being with little boys

1..Thankful for the lovely family and friend times we shared outdoors during our summer here in Australia. Summer fun, Beach fun, picnic times, impromptu cricket games in the true Australian fashion when all that was available was a tennis ball and bats. Camp chair and Esky/chilly bins were pressed into service as stumps. Fun had by all…

Summer time is also our wedding anniversary so am thankful for the lovely time and meal we shared a La restaurant@home and a fabulous bunch of red roses from Aldi for $5. So love them.

Eating out at home in pleasant atmosphere

2..On to today and Oh so sad…today being the last day of Summer and the sky is definitely NOT showing summer weather. It’s grey and miserable with constant drizzle. Cool enough for me to search out my sheepskin scuff slippers this morning instead of bare feet. Thankful for warm feet.

Cold weather approaching and summer has passed

An upside of overcast weather is that photographs come out much better because the sun is not leaching out colour. I just use my iPad for convenience

3..Lots of buds happening in my garden on my Lavender hedge which I grew completely from my own rooted cuttings with a huge dose of patience. Happy days cause I love Lavender.

4..Cool weather this morning made for wanting a warmer breakfast but not as heavy as porridge. So out comes the trusty Couscous. A very easy and quick meal with only the breakfast bowl to wash up….cook according to directions on pack. I used the microwave. Towards the end add a few sultanas. Allow to stand for a while. I also add a drizzle of olive oil when cooking. I make sure there’s a bit of liquid left once couscous is cooked or else add some more then stir in a bit of milk powder and a drizzle of Maple Syrup. Breakfast done and nice warm stomach…thankful..(I think making it with quinoa would also work and be somewhat healthier, but more expensive.)

5..Observed one little boy on Wednesday…daddy snoozing on lounge chair after a long day at work. B going up to daddy with…Tickle Tickle…not much response…sometime later B climbs up and crawls under daddy’s arm, daddy cuddles him and continues napping…B rubs his fingers on daddy’s arm for a while, lies there for a while and slithers out again down the side of the chair…like a little puppy. It was so cute but because I was cooking I couldn’t take a photo and just observed. Too sweet and precious daddy time x

Observation about B’s little cousin on Tuesday during showering time. I put a bit of shampoo on H head and then proceeded to wash and rinse shampoo off….little voice piping up “awww grandmaaa” every time I put a container of water on his head…I was spoiling his fun playing with his toys…awww grandmaaa

Drawing of a field of flowers with colourful “blooms”

Grandchildren are SO precious and take our mind away from the cares of the everyday. Indeed thankful for blessings.

What are you thankful for on this day? Count them and you’ll be surprised.

So another week ends. Blessings

By Alexa
Photos belong to me too

Joining in and thanks ….
A rural journal blogspot Random 5 Friday

If you allow yourself to open up to others, it becomes a gift – it is a gift to yourself and to others.

A friend is a gift to yourself.

This ancient tree….

I wonder how many people have walked under or by this spreading tree, or observed it from afar wishing they could enjoy its cooling shade on a hot day.

How many scenes, dramas and stories have played out under its canopy. Picnic gathering with a couple or a tribe. Hurried bustle, gentle stroll, children of all ages clambering over those gigantic roots, friendships made and friendships lost or friendships even strengthened.

Being a friend requires a listening ear, which is THE hardest thing to do. We so often cannot wait to offer opinions rather than just listening with that hearing ear. It takes no monetary effort but our conscious effort.

So give that gift to another….because there will come a time when we need a friend in our life.

Now as we know there are different depths of friends as there are different types of people and all have various needs. This one fills a need for succour, another the need of companionship, that one supports us when we are weary, these ones help when we need to bounce some ideas around.

Young and old, we weave a tapestry together to create a strong unit and as the saying is “it takes a village to raise a child”

So let’s all try to succour each other, observe and seek out whom we may help.

Even the smallest deed from a helping hand can have great reach.

Or knowing of a need in someone yet unable personally to provide it. …by having succoured friendships we know who can provide that strength. That helping hand. That friendship circle….and you know that in life generally we probably already do that without conscious thought.

Also on another tangent, who hasn’t in conversation mentioned like I did some years ago, or observed “Oh how I miss being able to help my ageing mother who lives interstate” yet standing right next to me is a recent older widow. There’s many opportunities right under our own nose….people from other places with no familiar people for them, be a support for them or lead them to the right contacts for them.

So let us be a generous and awesome friend today. Are we up to the challenge?

From Alexa

Photos and content by Alexa

http://www.Alexa-asimplelife.com

Also on Facebook by same name