Spring Clean!

The first day of the holidays, and I’ve blitzed the deep cleaning I tend to put off when I’m doing the regular cleaning… feels so good to know it’s done for the time being and I don’t have to scrub anything for a bit πŸ˜€
I finally got around to sorting out the outdoor display rack as well, which has been the depository of all the junk and odds and ends, as well as dust…

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There’s even space for some new things now!
I’m feeling accomplished, but tired… decided to have a soak in the bath with some epsom salts in the middle of the day, which was relaxing but I had to fend off feelings of having to be somewhere doing something else…
A good start to the holidays, and a chance to enjoy a more completely dust and dirt free environment than usual πŸ™‚

Published in: on September 23, 2019 at 7:40 pm  Leave a Comment  

Silver Lining

…without a cloud in the sky!

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Sunday just gone was our 25th Wedding Anniversary – I have now spent half my life married ❀ That seems like a dramatic statement! I am very happy that we have come this far – here’s to the next 25 years!
Our boys are old enough to look after themselves, so we decided to have a long weekend in Caloundra. We stayed in a three bedroom unit, but it was still compact enough for us. The balcony looked out onto the beach, and it was only a short walk to the sand.
The main street was close, so we took in the markets on Sunday morning, and went to Kawana Waters Farmers Markets on Saturday morning to pick up good food for the weekend. We also got to say hi to an old friend as well as getting some great hand made (gluten free) sausages… if you’re in the market for quality sausages (and are on the Sunshine Coast) you can’t get better than Saintsational Sausages! πŸ˜€
Hearing the sea so close was good for peaceful sleep. The weather was bright and mild.

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Our first sunset there…

Caloundra seems quiet and sleepy, especially in term time. We could just meander, and still feel like we got a lot done. There were bits of artwork dotted about the main part of the town as well, like sparkly gems waiting to be discovered…

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King’s Beach was lovely, and not too busy even on the weekends, but we also had a walk along Shelley Beach, picking up shells and looking at the wildlife in the rock pools.

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The sea was the most beautiful blue, and there were tiny fish and crabs, as well as bigger crabs, sidling along under rocks…

The weekend was meant to be a chance to spend time together, and we did that. It was also a chance to share good, quality food – whether crisp chips or gelato by the sea, or rich picnic food on the balcony.

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Sunday’s breakfast – free range eggs, oyster mushrooms fried in butter, avocado on olive, feta and rosemary sourdough bread, and Saintsational sausages (chicken, lime, coriander, mango and coconut). We indulged in proper full cream milk (there was actual cream on top!) and the juice is “Energy” juice from the markets – based on beetroot juice, with additions such as ginger and celery… There were stops at various cafes for good coffee, finishing with Greenhouse Cafe on the Monday morning before coming home.

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Lemon Curd gluten free doughnut πŸ™‚

Such a lovely weekend! We were sad to say goodbye, but happy to be headed home…
Sunrise on our last day…

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We had a good run home, and blitzed the unpacking/washing when we got back.
What more can I say?

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Published in: on September 17, 2019 at 5:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Sweetest Bean @ 16

Sweet Bean is looking forward to a quiet day tomorrow, after finishing his exams for the term today… he feels he did well, but above all is glad he’s done! πŸ˜€

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Celebrated that, and his birthday yesterday, with a bit of Grapetiser. We’ve had lots of cakey type celebration as well, and he had a fun afternoon with his friends Saturday – we left them to it and went upstairs. They seem to have spent the time talking and catching up (and eating…) They’re all wonderful boys, and we’re always happy to have them round.
So proud of my beautiful boy ❀

Published in: on September 11, 2019 at 10:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Exceedingly Good!

A blast from the past for us today – Biggest Boy brought home some bread from work, and also a few cartons of Mr Kipling’s Exceedingly Good cakes.
These were some of the first British type things I tried when I moved over there – relatively cheap at the time, and easy to find. My favourites were the Fondant Fancies (they’re called French Fancies here), but the Viennese whirls are nice with a cup of tea!
We’ve given some to the neighbours, but there’s still quite a lot left… here’s what our fridge looks like at the moment.

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I watched an episode of A Touch Of Frost this afternoon, and am watching Bargain Hunt at the moment – just my cup of tea!

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❀

 

Published in: on September 6, 2019 at 8:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Come On – Get Happy!

Chase all your cares away!
I’ve been on a quest for “happy” songs, which has lead me around YouTube, and found not just the feel good, dancey, not too much thinking needed songs… I’ve enjoyed a bit of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and gone back to the 70s for classic rock.

Not exactly theΒ most feel-good lyrics, but makes me want to dance.
It’s the bagpipes…

I’ve been reminded of the importance of standing up for what’s right, even if it starts with little things.

I’ve experienced again one of those moments where a beautiful voice, a connection with others, a memory and an iconic event combine to form magic.

The happy songs? I’m sure there are many, but I’ve only included a random selection.
An obvious choice if you feel like you need to walk on sunshine!

Or need to remember every little thing will be alright.

Just shake it off…

…and make your own kind of music!

Just say yes πŸ™‚

All The Little Birdies Sing!

At least they’re starting to…
We’re on the last day of winter, and what a non-winter it’s been! A few cold nights and blustery days, but the trees and birds seem to have been a bit confused for the last month or so.
About four weeks ago I took some photos at a friend’s place, and have taken some more at intervals…

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Waiting to open; complete with teeny-tiny spider!

 

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Some type of nectarine blossom, I believe – looking happy!

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A couple of weeks later – sunflower with bee πŸ™‚

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The latest phase – waiting for the seeds.

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…and baby offshoots, with native bees.

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A promise of more fruit.

The magpies and plovers seem to have been nesting, and we came across the first half a hatched egg yesterday while walking. Spring seems to have well and truly sprung.
Will tomorrow’s sun rise more brightly with the official advent of spring? Probably not. But the warmer days are coming!

 

Published in: on August 31, 2019 at 3:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Simple Life

Another Monday morning, with a week full of promise – if I take what’s offered!
I was reading last night about a prolific author, who committed to write 400 words each day. Not a very large commitment, at first sight… a few paragraphs. Those words added up over time, building to greatness with consistency…

I tend to tie myself up, aiming for the big things, and missing them more often than not. What is my version of 400 words?

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This morning I have some deadlines to work towards – some things to work on. Well – let’s be honest here. Things to start working on (properly)!
I have made myself a cup of coffee from scratch – grinding the beans and making it in the small saucepan – and have chosen a pretty plate for some quality dark chocolate. I have lit some incense sticks (frankincense and myrrh) and spent some time praying for friends needing a fragrant breath in their day today.
It’s time to dive in and “write” those words!
What words are you writing in your day today?
❀

Published in: on August 26, 2019 at 12:05 pm  Leave a Comment  

Resting, With A Book In Hand

At least, I will be… πŸ˜€

The Lifeline Bookfest is on again, just up the road from us. We went down before school let out, so there weren’t loads of people there yet. The starting time had been changed from 3pm to 9am, which meant we could browse a bit longer, and the quality of the books were good – there seemed to be a number of folio quality editions of children’s classics, and lots of good quality cookbooks. That was reflected in the price – it costs more at the Lifeline Bookfests than at the Library book sales. I had told myself I’d only get a few books, and only if IΒ really wanted them… it’s hard to refrain from buyingΒ allΒ the books, but I managed.
Here’s my bargains!

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Two of the nice editions of children’s classics. I had thought I didn’t have “Heidi” (I knew I had “Heidi Grows Up”) so bought it – turns out it’s “Pollyanna” I don’t have. This is a better edition than the one I had before, though. The other book is by the same author of “The Wind In The Willows”. I don’t know this book – it will be fun finding out about it!

 

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This appears to be a sort of bite-sized version of philosophical ideas, explaining the ideas that shaped our thinking over the centuries. It’s salutary to remember that what we take for granted hasn’t always been around…

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I enjoy the Spot What books πŸ™‚ The other book is by the author of the “Wreck This Journal” books, but perhaps weighted more towards writing than art.

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A book for my Babe, to have a giggle πŸ™‚

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A more modern edition of an Australian classic! Pretty sure there was some sort of law that we had to have one of those cakes at our birthday party when I was a kid… I do have the original version (the one with the train cake, or the swimming pool cake), but this is very pretty.

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The entire second series of Fame for $5! I already have the first series. My Sweet Bean found the other DVD, and thought I might like it. Reckon I’ll enjoy watching that.
So much serenity…

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They also had a pile of soft toys over by the checkouts. I’ve not long finished the Gish Hunt, so I couldn’t resist a sock monkey!

So, I have a choice of reading/watching material tonight…after I’ve finished the library books that are due back soon.The Bookfest will be open tomorrow and Sunday, from 9am to about 4pm. Go grab some bargains!

 

Published in: on August 23, 2019 at 6:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Spark Of Beauty

Fifty years ago this (longish) weekend, on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York, “half a million” hippies and dreamers descended on a music festival that became a symbol of a generation. Woodstock was billed as “3 days of peace and music”, and became 3 (nearly 4) days of amazing performances, bohemian behaviour, and lots of mud… There were worries about the potential for disaster, with so many people in so close proximity, but it seems to have been a peaceful gathering on the whole.
Yasgur was a conservative Republican who supported the Vietnam war, but he also supported freedom of expression, and hoped the festival would help to bridge the generation gap. He appears to have been satisfied with the outcome, and saw it as a victory of peace and love.

After all these years, it’s easy to see the summer of 1969 as a sun-drenched time of peace and love, and forget anything else that was happening. Was it a time of innocence and hope? I don’t know – I was six months old, and not much given to philosophical reflection…
I suspect that the reality is much deeper, and more complicated. People are contradictory; history becomes as we would like it to be. Whatever the truth was, we could do with a bit of wide-eyed hope, peace and love about now.

It’s certainly worth giving the performances another listen – go through the line-up and set lists for inspiration. Here’s some clips. I decided to keep them to footage taken at Woodstock, which seems to limit what I can post. Nevertheless – enjoy!

Freedom, from the first set.

Joe Cocker, feeling the music.

A song for their generation.

Tripping…

…and a white rabbit, obviously high.

Janis, trying just a little bit harder.

Joan, looking forward.

An evening raga.

Jimi, closing the festival with his own take on patriotism.

And someone who didn’t make it to the gig, but wished she had…

Playing The Unplayable

Once upon a time (in 1980) there was a man (John Stump) who decided to write a parody of a musical composition, designed to be unplayable, and including such directions as “insert peanuts”, “have a nice day”, “remove cattle from stage” and, of course, “release the penguins”. The score purports to be based on a Cro-magnon skinning chant, with words and music by John Stump, and… arranged by Accident.
The piece is apparently well-known as a musical absurdity, and it would be easy to think it’s a hoax. John Stump did exist, apparently, and worked as a musical engraver as well as composing other (more playable) pieces.
There are clips on YouTube that are supposed to be this piece, but most are another composition by Japanese composer Junya Ota called “U.N. Owen was Her”.
There is one clip, though, bravely attempted by the Aurora division of the Colorado State Music Teacher’s Association. I’ll leave it to you to decide how successful it is!
https://youtu.be/sCgT94A7WgI

Published in: on August 9, 2019 at 10:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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