A Beautiful Life.

Yesterday I thought I would capture the ordinary things that I enjoy in the day, particularly as the light changes in the house. Today I was looking at The Inspired Room and I thought that this would fit in with the gathering there.

Breakfast

Time to wake up

Dinner on the deck at dusk for the children



A Quiet Moment for me in the early evening

At present, I am thankful for feeling energetic and remarkably patient. Quietly starting the day in prayer is the only explanation. I am also enjoying my daily juice.

Juicing.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Dr-Oz-Green-Drink-Recipe-Intructions

A great recipe for my new juicer.

Tissues.

The older two went back to school today. Last night, tears as sentiment overtook our son.....This morning, both woke with excitement.....

Patient Husband.

Late one night, I had a bee in my bonnet, dear husband E obliged and helped me to move furniture around.

The Holiday's Finale.....

A lovely long weekend on the South Coast seeing dear friends, the beach, cliffs and green hills. This is dairy country.

Australia Day.

A Day of Being Entertained....

at the Groovy Aunt's house. She has Foxtel, so I sat in front of the Lifestyle channel, whilst the children were amused with painting, lolly packs and their toys that live at the Groovy Aunt's house. Some new presents were enjoyed as well. A delicious lunch of home roasted chicken and salad.....dinner was a barbeque with icecream and strawberries in chocolate boats. All children then enjoyed a bubble bath and then the drive home and straight to bed. I was given these beautiful orchids and enjoyed the sea breeze at her house.

Enjoyment.

This was one of my favourite gifts that we gave to 4 year old daughter for Christmas.

HoliDAYS.

The beach, swimming and tennis at Grandparents'.

Fevers, lice, fevers.

The Vine.

We went to our new church today, it was a lovely morning and we felt warmly welcomed.

"I am the vine you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit......." John 15:5

Passionfruit from our own vine in our backyard.

One of my Favourite Things.

Sunlight filtered through leaves that rustle with a breeze. This tree had me mesmerised in Canberra.

Tapestry.

I took this photo at the beginning of our holiday at home. 7 year old daugther is progressing and doing well with her first attempt at tapestry.

A Day in my Life.

I had to set the alarm to wake this morning, to ensure that we were all ready to get to 4 year old daughter's Occupational Therapy appointment. We made it. She had great fun with a large rolling mat thing and had to pick up beanbags and throw them into a tyre. The older children were a great help. I was thankful for a good parking spot in the shade.

Home for breakfast, coffee and banana cake. The children busied themselves. 4 year old daughter was busy with glue, 10 year old son read and then started playing his electronic game thing, 7 year old daughter helped the little ones. 2 year old daughter was everywhere!!

I started researching gutter guard for our gutters, we are in a bushfire prone area, so I would like to keep our gutters leaf free. Also a few emails and general tidying up. A quick game of Snap with the girls as well. Before I knew it it was lunch time. I made my spinach, ginger and apple juice as well.

We tidied up toys from the morning, I read to the younger two and put them in their room for a nap. I have also got dinner started in the crockpot, a new recipe from husband E's Aunt in Canberra. Indian curry. It smells delicious. The air conditioner is now on, 44 degrees on the deck, 28 inside.

The little ones did not sleep. I got them up, gave everyone afternoon tea and put a lot of decorations away. Hooray. I came out however to find that the little ones had drawn all over our new couches.

Meths got it out. Morroccan music, a nice cold beer that my Dad brought around, hommous and crackers bridged the gap till dinner. The older two built with Lego in the bedroom. We have decided to give the little ones an early dinner, put them to bed and then enjoy our curry with the older two.

I am thinking: curry, homemade strawberry icecream and maybe a board game.

Did end up baking two banana cakes as bananas were really ripe. It is still hot, but satisfying to get quite a lot done.

Glass Half Full, Glass Half Empty.

A difficult day, with fatigue a problem and the weather no help. Patience not a strong point, motivation non existent. All my ideals in motherhood escaped me today.

But the breeze lifted this evening, we had homemade pizza on the deck, husband E played "Scarborough Fair" on the piano while 7 year old daughter sat on my lap and I stroked her hair. I looked out the window at the lovely bush.

As I drove to do the shop to buy some groceries, I had the windows down and Classic FM nice and loud.

Tomorrow is a new blessed day.

7 year old daughter saw the beauty in this bark the other day.

Packing Away.

It is taking a long time to pack our decorations away.

Sweet Things.....

A four year old who can now whistle and do other tricks and strawberrry icecream.......

Strawberry Ice Cream.

To make this: 500g strawberries, hulled and juiced (include pulp)

In a pot, mix 1 cup milk and 1 cup thickened cream with a splash of vanilla. Almost bring to the boil. In a separate jug, mix 5 egg yolks and 125g caster sugar. Slowly add hot milk mixture to egg mixture and then put back in the pot. Stir over heat till thick. Chill both the custard mixture and strawberry mixture.

Mix both mixtures and then pour into icecream machine.

Mix both mixtures and then pour into icecream machine.

This recipe came with the Sunbeam icecream machine.

I will be making a sorbet with all the egg whites.......

New colours....

in lipstick, have not found one I like yet......

Bounty.

My neighbour just gave us a bag full of her own produce. Lovely. The Basil smells so good and the older two children have just eaten a tomato and declared them to be delicious.

Basil.

I planted Basil today to keep my cherry tomatoes company (oops, that would be 7 year old daughter's cherry tomatoes.....). It was so hot today, but we welcomed rain. After reading "East of the Sun" I am more aware of the welcome change when the heat breaks. Unfortunately, the relief was short lived. Fans tonight.

Holiday reading.

It is so sad to finish a good book...........
Now to enjoy the next by Jane Webster.

January Juice.....

I am increasing my intake of vegetables and to do this I am making vegetable juice. My sister in law's friend did not need her juicer anymore, so I am enjoying it. I had my first today: a handful of baby spinach leaves, a large chunk of ginger and an apple. It was delicious. 10 year old son had carrot juice with a slither of ginger. Nice too.

I am also drinking peppermint tea instead of normal and I prefer it. I usually like my tea with milk and sugar. I think that should reduce my intake of sugar in a day. I find the peppermint tea to be much more refreshing.

Canberra.

The Carillon. Parliament house. I rolled down the 'hill side' when I was at university......

The embassy for the United States of America:

The South African Embassy:

We have returned from a short visit to Canberra, Australia's capital city, where we saw an exhibition about Griffith Taylor. We also visited family, drove around the embassies, drove around Parliament House and the Prime Minister's residence, shopped, went to the Mint and walked to Blundell's Cottage from The Carillon.

Happy New Year.....

Happy New Year.


12:00A.M.