Sunday, March 30, 2008
The study
*all walls and skirting boards wiped down and cleaned
*all furniture removed and thoroughly cleaned
*all floors vacuumed
*all drawers cleaned and sorted
*all books sorted
*all *get rid of* stuff taken to the Salvos
*all rubbish chucked*
*all cables sorted, labelled and cable tied so they aren't everywhere.
I walked in here tonight and smiled. It just WORKS. I heart being organised, truly.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
We're in the handbasket on it's way to hell...
In order to do this properly, I pulled all the clothes out of the bag and worked out what I wanted to keep. Everything else, went straight back in the bag. Then, I pulled all of my clothes out and did the same.
The study
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Time to start being more effective...
This time though, my aim is to get every room sorted, cleaned and done. Finished.
I will miss him like crazy when he does go; but the thought of having the house to myself 4 NIGHTS A WEEK is, at the moment, a really nice thought.
It's not even as though G gets in the way. He's up early for work, so he's in bed early - but once the kids go to bed of an evening, this place is MINE.
God help my house.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter and other news...
The time was superb. Simple life, simple food and great conversation. G is one of 4 boys, and three made it up. It was lovely to catch up with them again and have a laugh. I love them dearly and I truly value the relationship they are forging with my children.
In other news; G is going away for work. For FOUR MONTHS. It's not too bad, because it's not that far away and he can come home/I can go up on weekends; and due to his job, nearly every second weekend is a three day one. So, at the end of the day, rather than moping about, I intend to use this time to get my house in order. The next four months of blogs will be "organising your house" LOL!!!
It's just so nice to have everything done in my life. R has his grommets, Easter is over for another year; and it seems we're just about at the end of summer. I need to get back into the vegie patch this weekend and start seriously preparing it for some Winter vegies.
But here in wannabe hippy land - things are great.
Monday, March 17, 2008
How positively RUDE of me!!!! & Oatmeal biscuits
Obviously, I am 30. Just turned, if you've just tuned in. I live in a green wedge part of Melbourne and I am very daydreamy. I love listening to my Ipod whilst pottering away on a nice still evening after the kids have gone to bed. Sometimes with a Baileys, sometimes without; but always my music.
I have been with G for 10 years now and married for 7. We have two kids Riley and Connor who are 5 and two respectively. I work 3 days a week for the family business and whilst I am there, Connor goes to daycare and Riley either goes to kinder or my mothers house. It is a really fantastic spot to be in workwise, working for my father, because it is truly flexible. I am horribly lucky to have this job - but in saying that, I worked awfully hard for it.
We have a dog, Harvey, who is a golden cocker spaniel, and whom I adore. We did have his brother, Arnold, who was put down just over a year ago. Roger, our adopted cat and Bill, our galah, make up our weird and wonderful home.
I know I haven't been tagged before, but I have been constantly seeing this tag of "7 things about me" - which, I personally think, will make this whole thing easier on both of us.
1. I have an irrational fear of stitches. Every time I have had them, I actually have anxiety attacks with the fear that they will burst open.
2. I adore the cure. Anything and everything. I have no idea what planet Robert Smith was/is on - but everything he has ever produced has resonated with me somehow.
3. My favorite food is a cold roast lamb sandwich. With margarine and lots of salt; washed down with a glass of full cream milk. Obviously it's a special meal - it probably has an entire days calories in it. But, oh *bliss*.
4. I read tarot cards. Not for anyone; but with them. I don't believe Tarot cards tell the future; anymore than I believe that pigs fly. But, they are a useful tool in providing an alternate point of view. It's nice to see a situation through a completely new set of eyes.
5. I have a severe case of map reading disorder. I'm sure people think that I am kidding when I say that 'no, seriously, do NOT follow me, because I have absolutely NO sense of direction' - but usually, they find out. When we first moved here, I got lost going to the milk bar. One street away.
6. I cannot go to bed without the pillows on the couch being just so. Don't ask me why, because I really couldn't tell you. And trust me, I've TRIED to leave the house 'as it is' - but I lay in bed and brood on it.
7. I have only developed a love of gardening over the last 3 years. I was reading Gardening Australiawww.gardeningaustralia.com.au yesterday and they were taking nominations for gardener of the year. Just seeing last years winners completely made me wonder why people even bother. Why can't they have a 'most enthusiastic gardener'???? I might have a hope!!!
So, there you have the bits and bods of me. Well, the bare essentials anyway.
Lenny has asked for my oatmeal cookie recipe, so I shall provide without delay.
OATMEAL COOKIES
3/4 cup Rolled oats
3/4 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup caster sugar
2/3 cup desiccated coconut
140g butter/margarine
2 generous tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda (see, this stuff is good for EVERYTHING!!)
1 tablespoon water
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line baking tray
2. Place oats under grill and toast until golden
3. Cool oats slightly and process in a food processor until finely ground.
4. Sift flour & baking powder into bowl with oats, sugar & coconut. Make a well in the centre.
5. Melt butter with syrup in small pan. Dissolve soda into the water and add to pan. Stir until butter has melted and mixture froths a little. Remove from heat.
6. Pour butter mixture into well of dry ingredients and mix well with wooden spoon until combined.
7. Roll heaped teaspoons (and yes, DO this, they will be HUGE otherwise!) of the mixture into balls. Place on trays leaving room to spread.
8. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Leave biscuits on tray for 5 mins, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Ciao for now!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Ears, holidays and other things....
To get to that view, we had to walk through this delightful one;
Talk about a beautiful place. I would move there tomorrow if I were brave enough to up and move my entire life. Maybe one day. It was beautiful catching up with my darling friends again and I wish we could do it once a month. I missed them even on the plane home to Melbourne, even though half were sitting next to me!!!
Whilst I was away...I don't know what you'd call it actually. But, all of the pieces just seemed to click. Like I had all these pieces of a puzzle and I had nearly finished; but that week in Byron really clicked it for me. I feel so much more focussed on what really matters and less on what really doesn't. And, truthfully? It feels good.
It's been ridiculously hot down here lately. I mean, it's Melbourne. Who ever thought Melbourne would see such a heat wave? Our garden has held up unbelievably well considering - and we still haven't used mains water to water. The whole garden (except for my camilias, which, unfortunately, didn't appreciate it) seems to be thriving on recycled water alone. Obviously the vegies get the good stuff; but there are not much of those growing at the minute. I did plant some more snow peas and some lettuce seeds; but I think it's still a tad too hot down there.
Bizarre as this is going to sound, given how ridiculously hot it's been here - I have been cooking.
This is what went into my minestrone soup that i made for our lunches. Now, I'm not a big fan of soups at the best of times (and doesn't my waist know it!!!) - but this soup was/is really really nice. I have no idea as to quantites, and used a fair bit of stuff that was nearly finished in the fridge; but all in all, it truly is a yummy soup. "They" tell me you can have it cold; but uggh.
I also made some oatmeal biscuits. Can I just say that they are the nicest things I have ever had? They are yummy and, with my bread roll baking, are two of the yummiest things that I have ever tasted. What is even better - I made them.
After all that rambling, I should probably go and get organised. What I *do* find weird is that I feel I am writing this to people - when I have no idea if any people are reading it!!! Ploise let me know if you are reading - I am feeling rather alone over here! :)
Have a good week and I hope everything works out.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Richness vs wealth
So many people think that the latest gadget, flat screen or couch is a great indication of wealth. Because it doesn't suit anymore, or because it's too small or not working anymore; some people delight in the upgrading of their lives.
I ask - what is missing? Why do people turn towards the thinking that buying stuff will make them better?
Stuff is just that. Stuff. Meaningless rot that we cannot take with us when we leave. It's the emotions and the closeness and the love that should be treasured; instead, our society as a whole is shutting down.
I'm lucky. I smile at my neighbours on my morning walk and they smile back and say good morning. Sometimes there is a collaboration of dog walkers meeting in the park discussing their babies. Sometimes, neighbours will both happen to be out the front and have a discussion that turns into a BBQ dinner.
Our kids won't know that I don't believe. I believe our society is heading further and further away from direct communication - and I think it's the beginning of the end because of that. If people don't care about the people and things surrounding them - how is anything ever going to get done?
I could have all the money in the world. But, I'd be the least richest person in the world. Or, I could be where I am now; certainly not wealthy, but not living hand-to-mouth; but living a life that is so rich and full and meaningful that sometimes, I forget just how lucky I really am.
I am one of the richest people alive today.
Riley has his surgery on Thursday. I am very pleased about that. He has had an accident whilst I was on holiday; we are missing a shaving of bone off one of his feet bones. He's walking on it again now (thank GOD, do you HAVE any idea how hard it is to constantly carry around a 28kg child?!!!!) and we're all set for hospital on Thursday.
My holiday was just as I expected. I have a great number of photos to put up - but time has not been my friend this week. Although, thanks to the public holdiay today; I am just about ready to take on whatever is thrown at me again.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Light goes on, light goes off....
I had an excellent time in Byron and feel as though it's a whole new world.
I have spent the little free time I have had this week back in the garden. I will post some photos tomorrow.
I'm just grand.