Alexa - A Simple Life » sense of adventure 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 Farmer gets a wife http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/farmer-gets-a-wife/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/farmer-gets-a-wife/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2017 09:58:37 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=2335 of 1978, country life, country wife, rural living, old homestead , stone cottage, visiting a farm with children, cookery the Australian way, scones

Impressions from my sister in law.
Memories of 1978.

#farmergetsawife
Agriculturalists gets a wife
City bride new to the country
City spouse new to the country
City girl marries her farmer
City miss weds her rancher

All of the above are depending on from where you live in this world.
Different expressions….same meaning

“I married my beloved farmer or rancher as the Americans say. A young lady who lived nowhere near the country but by the sea. Near Semaphore in Adelaide, South Australia.

We had a four day honeymoon on Kangaroo Island, a remotish tourist destination where the only access was via a two hour ferry trip down the Port River and over the ocean. Being a roll on roll off ferry we were able to take our car to explore this rugged place.

On our return and in light of the fact that this boat berths unpleasantly early we sat in our car outside of my parents home waiting for them to wake up. Waiting for the household to show signs of stirring.

I was particularly looking forwards to seeing my mother; and which girl doesn’t!

Knowing likewise that I would not be seeing her again for quite a while to come.
A new country wife living a few hours away where distances are measure by time depending on the roads.

Well all this came to nought. No happy catch up time. No time for chit chat.

#farmergetsawife, country living, country isolation, homesteading, memories of 1978

Country life line

Rather, a call had been received from my parents in law asking that we return to the farm property immediately for my husband to help with the grain cleaning. In those days you needed to wait having made a booking for a man to go to your property or ranch on a set day to do this job …well that time slot had come early!

So with my heart heavy we headed to my new life with dear husband who didn’t even have any work clothes with him. Fortunately there were some extra garments sitting at the main farm for him. Work boots, jeans or shorts, flannel shirt or T-shirt and the ever present hat of sorts.

As for me, after dropping my man off I proceeded down the white unsealed road with scrubby bush on either side, trusting that I would wind up at my new home, an old stone cottage with resident snake!

All roads here have a striking resemblance with each other to the uninitiated city folk….directions can go like this- go two Kms , then turn right and go another two Kms. At the telegraph pole turn right over the sheep grid and follow the road to the house. I must say it’s far easier to do in the day.

There was no new bride to be carried over the threshold. I ventured into our stone cottage myself.

#farmergetsawife, country living, country isolation, homesteading, memories of 1978, country life, country wife, rural living

of 1978, country life, country wife, rural living, old homestead , stone cottage

But I love our life here. Over the years we’ve lived in a few different houses. First was that stone cottage.

Now our son runs the farm with hubby working for him. New ways, new methods, new ideas, new generation, new energy, new grandsons.

Cycles of family life.

Alexa back here again.
Our cycles of life
The years roll by
Silently but ever moving

of 1978, country life, country wife, rural living, old homestead , stone cottage, visiting a farm with children

Our family visiting the Farm

Now I must search out that pastie recipe from an old school book when we did Home Economics at High School. My sister in law bakes an awesome one.
Best eaten on a cold day which is the opposite to what we have here presently in Australia. Summer heat waves. Yet I guess you could eat it with a salad.
I think I will wait though so that the oven does not over heat the already warm house.

What a pity I did not keep my copy when I culled all my books during our recent move. The modern copy is rather pricey now.
Live and learn.

Recipe of pasty…….
Page 7 of 8
“Cookery the Australian Way” 50 some years old and still serving and teaching our young.

Memories are the threads of life
A tapestry in the making

Alexa-asimplelife

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/farmer-gets-a-wife/feed/ 2 Message in a Leaf http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/message-in-a-leaf/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/message-in-a-leaf/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2016 05:30:23 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=2295 Leaf, play, sense of adventure, simple living, #considerthelilly, #momentintime

On the first day of August
Which now seems light years away

It being the last month of official Winter in Australia.

I was wishfully speeding the approaching Spring on
to valiantly burst out of Winter’s very tight coat

Leaf, play, sense of adventure, simple living, #considerthelilly, #momentintime

Apple blossom finally bursting from its tight winter coat now in October

adventure, simple living, #considerthelilly, #momentintime, apple blossom

So,

I took a stroll with one of the grandsons
A quick walk before the early winter darkness encroached
Because little boys need to wind down for sleep soon

adventure, simple living, #considerthelilly, #momentintime, apple blossom, sleep time, how to prepare children for sleep

Hand in hand for a run up the winding path to our little park

Quickly a swing, a slide and another swing

See the street lights are flickering on
Time to run back

But wait, what a find

Usually all finds end up in little hands

Look at this leaf

adventure, simple living, #considerthelilly, #momentintime, apple blossom, sleep time, how to prepare children for sleep, winter colour

It is mine

I carefully hold it by the stalk
and selfishly do not give it to my little companion

It is mine

Much too precious to share
Brim full of the essence of life

#momentintime, apple blossom, sleep time, how to prepare children for sleep, winter colour

Then that very night
Photographed under mean kitchen lights
A fluke of a picture

#momentintime, apple blossom, sleep time, how to prepare children for sleep, winter colour, rivers of life

The rivers of life
Days and nights of weather encapsulated in one single leaf
Alone on the path

Leaf

“I study the leaf veins
they are little streams of life
yearning for the sun
static trees stand sentinel
watching our brief lives go by ” A Poem by Andy Brookes

I sit here now enjoying the afternoon sunshine after this mornings grey gloominess.

The Simple Life.
So easy to find.

May your week be Blessed
Alexa-asimplelife

#messageinaleaf #momentintime #whatdoyousee #considerthelilly

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/message-in-a-leaf/feed/ 1 Spring is in the Air http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/spring-is-in-the-air/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/spring-is-in-the-air/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2016 06:59:09 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=2247 Spring is in the air, gardening in spring, propagate plants, Adventure, children, Fun in the fresh air, Gardening with children, grandchildren, Memories, raise a child, sense of adventure, figaro dahlia, Nastertiums , geranium, Big Red Geranium, orange blossom, pruning hedges, hedge , Lavender

Preparing for evening

Today the sun does shine beautifully here in Sydney.
Contrast to yesterday when the same sun was out but the wind nearly blew one over. Even sitting here in the kitchen I could hear the wind gusts roaring through some tall gum trees at a park over the road.

I know in some parts of Australia we are expected to receive some bad weather today with flooding that has already been going on for days with its associated heartache.

Considering the wind yesterday we caught a brief lull and managed a quick game of “Rugby” in the back yard with young grandsons. Let’s tackle grandma was the call to which I replied and acted, let’s TICKLE you!

Spring is in the air, gardening in spring, propagate plants, Adventure, children, Fun in the fresh air, Gardening with children, grandchildren, Memories, raise a child, sense of adventure, figaro dahlia, Nastertiums , geranium, Big Red Geranium, orange blossom, pruning hedges, hedge , Boys play
Lucky that they are still only five and under. There will come a time when it’s time to stand at the sidelines and direct!

The sun with its awakening rays bring weeds and flowers alive together in abundance.

Joy for the soul at the mass of riotous colour from easy to grow Nasturtiums, hardy Calendulas, bright Geraniums and tough Heartsease.

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Raised Garden

Easy to grow but patience required during the long dark days of winter with Roses in hibernation.
Note to self – plant some of the above earlier and and do an extra later planting too. I’ve had to prune some of the nasturtiums back a bit today….no pain no gain

As we have only been in this house for three seasons next year I will know how this garden grows and flowers. I am really hoping the Figaro Dahlias come back again from their corms as they were brilliant last year. I was able to cut them back twice and got Dahlias on Steroids as my daughter called them

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Calendula and Heartsease

Heartsease thriftily divided , one nice plant into four and then again as they grew
Calendulas price slashed and nursed along from sad straggly seedlings. These are tough. It’s the first time that I have grown these.
Nasturtiums were grown from seeds
Geraniums from cuttings. As they grow I take more cuttings from the “Mother Bush”.
“Big Red” a much appreciated gorgeous potted geranium left behind by the previous owner. Fabulous for colour in the drab of Winter

Spring is in the air, gardening in spring, propagate plants, Adventure, children, Fun in the fresh air, Gardening with children, grandchildren, Memories, raise a child, sense of adventure, figaro dahlia, Nastertiums , geranium, Big Red Geranium, orange blossom, pruning hedges, hedge upkeep,

Hedge Trimmer at work

The warmth brings the hedges out of their slow and dormant growth. Time for a green haircut by my man and his garden toys.

So too does the warmth bring out our little grandsons when visiting. They love to poke, prod, dig, cut and chop in the garden all under the supervision of either myself or grandpa dear.

We did miss them though with their chatter when we attended to some gardening chores last weekend.

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Spring is in the air, gardening in spring, propagate plants, Adventure, children, Fun in the fresh air, Gardening with children, grandchildren, Memories, raise a child, sense of adventure, figaro dahlia, Nastertiums , geranium, Big Red Geranium, orange blossom, cut flowers, potted geraniums, chickens

“Chicken Heads”


But a lovely reminder was there for us should we lift our eyes to the front steps next to a flowering pot of red Geraniums.

The easiest of craft activities if little hands become tired of wearing disposable gloves just like Grandma for digging.
Fill them with soil instead and get Grandma to tie a knot. Instant chickens that do not need feeding.

Now the afternoon sun causes the kitchen to glow as it illuminates and makes the yellow Nasturtiums appear translucent in their vase on the window ledge. These are complimented beyond the window by the golden hedge on our boundary and a golden tree in its Spring coat.

Spring is in the air, gardening in spring, propagate plants, Adventure, children, Fun in the fresh air, Gardening with children, grandchildren, Memories, raise a child, sense of adventure, figaro dahlia, Nastertiums , geranium, Big Red Geranium, orange blossom, cut flowers
Did I say that I love Spring!

Hope you all have a good day.
Find something to lift your spirit even if only briefly.
Pause a while.

Spring is in the air, gardening in spring, propagate plants, Adventure, children, Fun in the fresh air, Gardening with children, grandchildren, Memories, raise a child, sense of adventure, figaro dahlia, Nastertiums , geranium, Big Red Geranium, orange blossom, pruning hedges, hedge

Sun soaked Orange Blossom’s sweet perfume

Alexa-asimplelife

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/spring-is-in-the-air/feed/ 6 More than skin deep http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/more-than-skin-deep/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/more-than-skin-deep/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2016 12:36:41 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1368 More than skin deep, Adventure, Australia, country, first impressions, home made, joy, Memories, More than skin deep, observe a lesson, Observe with a quiet spirit, sense of adventure, simple living, rural living, glass louvres, fly screen, antique wheel rim , antique door hinge, vintage paint, fencing wire, fence posts, old window, rain water tanks, fuel tanks, Hahndorf , new car, old homestead

What do you see
Your first impression
When you compare

First fleeting impressions hit the eye immediately.

How plain
How happy
How tall she walks
How sad they look
How harried they appear
How naughty that child

Wow, beautiful or handsome
Wish I had some of that

But that is only an impression
Not the true picture

Yet rarely do we say anything of people’s character
That they have a generous spirit
Are kind or thoughtful
You child are trying so very hard

These thoughts arose after looking through some photos I took recently of what at first may appear as junk, old, obsolete or old-fashioned….

“A gift to myself”
A visit to the country
Spending time to wander round
In quietness observe with a different eye
Sights and impressions not noticed in an everyday rush

More than skin deep, Adventure, Australia, country, first impressions, home made, joy, Memories, More than skin deep, observe a lesson, Observe with a quiet spirit, sense of adventure, simple living, rural living, glass louvres, fly screen, antique wheel rim , antique door hinge, vintage paint, fencing wire, fence posts, old window, rain water tanks, fuel tanks, Hahndorf , new car, old homestead

The very first morning I hurried outside to make the most of beautiful weather not knowing what the morrow would bring.
I needed to savour these delights.

As the days continued I found more treasures to lift my soul.
Sights unseen on the ordinary day

Colours, combinations, textures, shapes, shades, forms, sharp, soft, lofty or insignificant.

Images of time
Of labour
Of life
Past

Yet in essence they were rusted drums, old tanks, fencing wire, peeling paint, weary old stone cottage with its silent walls and long gone school children and families.

It presented me with beauty, character and charm in a palette of rich colours.

Then as I attempted to choose which photos to use I observed another layer of impressions.

How many lessons taught to bring education to children in this cottage school house

How many throats cooled and thirsts quenched from the now empty and old, rusted rain water tanks.

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How many Kilo-meters or miles of fencing put up over the years and repaired again and again

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Those drums asked how many machines were serviced to provide food and sustenance for this and other households over the decades

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How many litres or gallons of diesel used over the decades to to run a farm

More than skin deep, Adventure, Australia, country, first impressions, home made, joy, Memories, More than skin deep, observe a lesson, Observe with a quiet spirit, sense of adventure, simple living, rural living, glass louvres, fly screen, antique wheel rim , antique door hinge, vintage paint, fencing wire, fence posts, old window, rain water tanks, fuel tanks

These shutters spoke of shelter from the rain or cooling relief from breezes.

More than skin deep, Adventure, Australia, country, first impressions, home made, joy, Memories, More than skin deep, observe a lesson, Observe with a quiet spirit, sense of adventure, simple living, rural living, glass louvres, fly screen, antique wheel rim

Old door
Battered door knob,
Big key hole for long shafted key
Sturdy lock standing the test of time

More than skin deep, Adventure, Australia, country, first impressions, home made, joy, Memories, More than skin deep, observe a lesson, Observe with a quiet spirit, sense of adventure, simple living, rural living, glass louvres, fly screen, antique wheel rim , antique door hinge, vintage paint

How many bodies have brushed through this door
Slowly and carefully carrying a heavy load
Or rushing headlong as children do with much banging
How much joy or sadness entered these doors
Now stealthily visited by critters

How many different views through this now empty window

More than skin deep, Adventure, Australia, country, first impressions, home made, joy, Memories, More than skin deep, observe a lesson, Observe with a quiet spirit, sense of adventure, simple living, rural living, glass louvres, fly screen, antique wheel rim , antique door hinge, vintage paint, fencing wire, fence posts, old window

If walls could talk

Look around you, what do you see. More than skin deep. See depth. A multi layered depth.

What story do you see around you, yesterday, today, tomorrow.

Till later

Alexa-asimplelife

a-wise-woman-builds-her-home

Also Linking here

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/more-than-skin-deep/feed/ 5 Glamping … A new camping http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/glamping-a-new-camping/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/glamping-a-new-camping/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:58:56 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=2079 Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, visiting Grandparents, how to keep young being a grandparent , easy fun with grandchildren, frangipani tree, frangipani

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

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, uses for old sheets

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

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, grandmothers quilt, patch work quilt

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

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, patch work tent

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, patch work tent , playing hungry hippo
Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children
Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one

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.

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, rainy day fun

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


We have our own door too, which makes it more fun.

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.

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, play tent in the sun

Really fun this sort of Glamping

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

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, visiting Grandparents, how to keep young being a grandparent

Glamping...the new camping, pretend play, children, family time, grandmother, Imagination, imagination play, joy, make do, make time to play with children, Memories, play, raise a child, reconnect with children, camping with children, chill time, quiet time for children, play tent for one, visiting Grandparents, how to keep young being a grandparent , easy fun with grandchildren

“Please can we go mum”

Alexa-asimplelife

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]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/glamping-a-new-camping/feed/ 7 Swiftly fly the days http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/swiftly-fly-the-days/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/swiftly-fly-the-days/#comments Fri, 13 May 2016 06:37:07 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1973 Swiftly fly the days, Tags Australian bush,Bellini Intelli, children, cousins, family, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Remember when, sense of adventure, simple living, Skinnymixers recipes, 1950's children
Darting Swallows far away to our North.
Where spring is underway.
Busy, oh so busy,
Building or repairing nests
For shelter, nurture and home.

Such has been life….

Moving into another house. Loving it here. A snip of a Rose here, finding a home for this. Food for a group , or just for one. Trying out this magic Thermal cooking machine the Bellini Intelli and Skinnymixers recipes or filing these papers(sigh).

Oh the garden is calling me again.

Australian bush,Bellini Intelli, children, cousins, family, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Remember when, sense of adventure, simple living, Skinnymixers recipes, 1950's children, visiting the farm, we were young once, young parents, feeding chickens, love my roses. Roses

Sad to see the roses slowly finishing their season in the sun

Thinking of dear ones who are not with us any more, or ageing mother far away.

Time marching on.

Are we really that old?
I am young inside.
Yet today I seem to creak.

Fun visiting the farm

Fun visiting the farm

Tags Australian bush,Bellini Intelli, children, cousins, family, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Remember when, sense of adventure, simple living, Skinnymixers recipes, 1950's children, visiting the farm, we were young once, young parents

Were we ever that young?


Where did that time go?

But go it has!

I was reading through some old diary notes and this one struck a chord. March 2015. Fourteen long months ago.

Tags Australian bush,Bellini Intelli, children, cousins, family, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Remember when, sense of adventure, simple living, Skinnymixers recipes, 1950's children, visiting the farm, we were young once, young parents, feeding chickens
Utter joy

Taking a stroll with a “nearly ready to walk on his own” grandson Austin back from looking at some exciting funny chickens

Holding this tiny oh so soft hand

Asking his three-year old cousin Bailey to join in by holding the other little hand.

Grandma one side and proud older cousin the other.

Little steps, baby wobbly steps

Reminding Bailey the older one, just little steps

The look of utter joy on a chubby baby face. I can do it!

Laughter springing out of little eyes as he shares a walk and connection with someone nearer his size

U.N.F.O.R.G.E.T.A.B.L.E

Fast forward to yesterday morning.
Walking in the Botanic Gardens.

Two older preschool cousins and little Austin walking across rustic stepping-stones. Perfectly placed for little boys.

Us Singing songs, counting steps, pretending being on a bridge in a creek. I say “Can you hear the water?”
But children have such imagination with no prompting needed from adults!
I turn around and see…
Boys lying on stones , pretending to be on the deck of a boat.
Toes to head, head to toes.
Three little bodies all in a row

Repeat again and again.

Singing the ABC song as the stones were stepped upon.

Following the leader and singing the song. Little Austin chiming in and singing too….Bailey stopping mid stride and looking at me as if to say “how can little Austin know this song” ….

In all seriousness he wisely said “I learned him the song”

Infinitely P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S.

Just an ordinary day sharing morning tea.
Definitely not ordinary.

Finding a thing of beauty through the eyes of a child.

Australian bush,Bellini Intelli, children, cousins, family, grandchildren, joy, Memories, Remember when, sense of adventure, simple living, Skinnymixers recipes, 1950's children, visiting the farm, we were young once, young parents, feeding chickens, love my roses. Roses, abstract art, abstract flowers

Budding artist and his abstract number flowers

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/swiftly-fly-the-days/feed/ 4 Finding beauty in the simple life http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/finding-beauty-in-the-simple-life/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/finding-beauty-in-the-simple-life/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:23:42 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1941 Finding beauty in the simple life, lavender hedge, find a thing of beauty every day, memories, prepare for retirement
It has been so very long since my last post. So long that I cannot remember what I wrote about without checking back.

If I do pause to reminisce and check my last article then the internet may drop out. The pause will be like discovering a drawer full of old photos. Memories. Ghosts. Sadness. Years passing with the speed of light. Joy. Laughter. Loud laughter and silent chuckles. Sadness for a dear sister lost. Sadness for alone ageing parent too far away to see often enough.

Time has passed taking with it sickness and death, an inevitable part of the cycle of life. Yet when it is family it brings with it a vulnerability. It says to me, you too are getting older.

Today, after a morning tea and play with the little grandsons and family I waved them off to their various destinations. Littlest one to sleep, older two to play some more. One mum to shop and the other to share precious time with visiting in-Laws

Having time to spare I decided to stay and explore the beauteous spring showcase at the Mount Annan Botanical Gardens. It beats browsing any Harvey Norman, Domain, Myers or other big name store hands down.

One section was titled “A room with a view”

There are vast green spreading lawns, small bushland gardens or tropical rainforest settings…..a thing of beauty.

By a still pool a timber bench was placed inviting a passer-by to stop, rest and contemplate.

The unobtrusive memorial plaque said it all.

“Find a thing of beauty in every day”

Finding beauty in the simple life, lavender hedge, find a thing of beauty every day, memories, prepare for retirement, Finding beauty in the simple life

Flower shop in Stirling

Finding beauty in the simple life, lavender hedge, find a thing of beauty every day, memories, prepare for retirement, snow drops in Stirling garden

Delicate snow drops in spring garden

Gratitude for this day, Adventure, connecting with grandchildren, exercise, family, family time, fun at the park, Fun in the fresh air, fun times with children, grandchildren, gratitude, happy, joy, keep fit, keep fit in retirement, Memories, raise a child, scooter fun, frogs, frog, find frogs with children, nature fun with children,

Courtesy binks@morgueFile free photos

My thing of beauty this very instant is listening to the frogs merrily creaking and croaking away in the distant creek thinking of how I will grow a few summer salad plants when we move into our house God Willing in a month.

Finding beauty in the simple life, missing fresh rocket in my salad, how to grow rocket, bees

Missing fresh Rocket in my salad

That itself is another page in our journey. From a two storey home where we lived for twenty-nine years to a single storey home a little further out but with a nice size block just under quarter acre. I would have loved living a bit further out still but the voice of reason spoke.

Where we will live is still close enough to country with the likes of Cobbitty and its surrounds. Nice for a drive and a coffee should we desire.

We always said we would move before we were too old to negotiate stairs in the house.

It is the journey to love and cherish. To prepare, savour and enjoy. A move whilst we are able to make our choices and decisions.

Do find your moment of beauty this day.
Blessings…
Alexa-asimplelife

Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/finding-beauty-in-the-simple-life/feed/ 6 #Pause http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/pause/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/pause/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:51:52 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1845
#Pause, contentment, country, family, first grandchild, garden, joy, memories, pause, hit the pause button, peace, sense of adventure, Pennywise@morgueFile free photos

Courtesy Pennywise@morgueFile free photos


Hitting the Pause button…

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

#Pause, contentment, country, family, first grandchild, garden, joy, memories, pause, hit the pause button, peace, sense of adventure, Pennywise@morgueFile free photos

Courtesy SavaMatkovitch@morguFile free photos

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

#Pause, country living, live in the country, hobby farm, contentment, country, family, first grandchild, garden, joy, memories, pause, hit the pause button, peace, sense of adventure, our first grand child, our first grandchild, joy of our first grandchild

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

#Pause, country living, live in the country, hobby farm, contentment, country, family, first grandchild, garden, joy, memories, pause, hit the pause button, peace, sense of adventure, our first grand child, our first grandchild, joy of our first grandchild, Country Living Magazine

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

#Pause, country living, live in the country, hobby farm, contentment, country, family, first grandchild, garden, joy, memories, pause, hit the pause button, peace, sense of adventure, our first grand child, our first grandchild, joy of our first grandchild

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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

#Pause, contentment, country, family, first grandchild, garden, joy, memories, pause, hit the pause button, peace, sense of adventure, GaborfromHungary@morgueFile free photos, our first grand child, our first granchild, joy of our first grandchild

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

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/pause/feed/ 0 Post-it note to remember http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/post-it-note-to-remember/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/post-it-note-to-remember/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:35:24 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1786 Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy, children playing, re-purposed toys, soaking rain , deep watering, raindrops, new growth, morgueFile free photos, anitapepppers, clay in the hands of the potter, post-it note, jdurham@morgueFile free photos

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?

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden tools, garden hedge for privacy

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

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy, children playing, re-purposed toys

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

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy, children playing, re-purposed toys, soaking rain , deep watering,

Rain some days later gave the best soaking start

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy, children playing, re-purposed toys, soaking rain , deep watering,

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

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy, children playing, re-purposed toys, soaking rain , deep watering, raindrops, new growth

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

Do you keep a diary, family time, grandparents and family time, happy, Memories, Post-it note, Post-it note to remember, sense of adventure, support network, team work, Renovating, hedging, garden hedge, garden hedge for privacy, children playing, re-purposed toys, soaking rain , deep watering, raindrops, new growth, morgueFile free photos, anitapepppers, clay in the hands of the potter

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

image

]]> http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/post-it-note-to-remember/feed/ 5 Australia Day at home http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/australia-day-at-home/ http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/australia-day-at-home/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2015 02:01:04 +0000 http://www.alexa-asimplelife.com/?p=1763 Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure,
Privileged to live in Australia
Retired
Grandparents
With time to spare
Or so we thought

Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, playtime fun with grandchildren,

Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, playtime fun with grandchildren, pretend play

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

Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, Adventure, Australia Day, Australian bush, children, country, family, family time, Fun in the fresh air, grandchildren, joy, Memories, sense of adventure, playtime fun with grandchildren, , Australian Wattle

Our laid back Australia Day

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