Simple Woman's Daybook

Apologies for the break in posting, my Mother-in-Law came from Singapore for a visit and consequently I haven't touched the computer for emails let alone blogging!  My google reader account had over 400 unread; now 200 - I think I need to revise my subscription policy:)

Outside my window...it is pitch black.

I am thinking...about what still needs to be done before we lose the internet in a weeks time and our removal in two weeks.

 
I am thankful...for having my old energy levels back.  Morning sickness I am glad to be rid of you.

In the kitchen...I am grateful for a week of not cooking.  DH wanted to cook fancy meals for his Mum last week and I managed to freeze enough leftovers for Ginger and I to eat this week while DH is out field.

 
I am wearing...ballet tights, leotard, gym shorts and a t-shirt.  I just had my last ballet lesson until after this baby arrives.

I am creating...well nothing.  I am cleaning out a lot though in preparation for our move and that should create a more harmonious experience unpacking in Darwin.

 
I am going...to have my best friend (aka Ginger's god-mother) up for the last time this weekend.  Brisbane and Toowoomba are much closer than Brisbane and Darwin. 

I am wondering...what moving tasks I have totally forgotten about and how to get rid of a non-functioning dishwasher.

I am reading...Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks, a novel about the advent of psychiatry.

I am hoping...we get everything done before the removalists come.

 
I am looking forward to...my 18 week scan the week after next (the day we move out - so DH can't accompany me) and our upcoming trip to Singapore for Christmas.

I am hearing...silence, finally.  It only took Ginger an hour to fall asleep tonight!

Around the house...I have so many piles of stuff, some for charity shops, some for the dump and some that need to buy a storage crate for.

I am pondering...how much we truly need to make us happy.

One of my favourite things...the stone fruit is in season - apricots, peaches, nectarines and cherries are all calling my name from the fridge

A few plans for the rest of the week...continue my clean out (fabric stash is next) and get the house cleaned ready for the weekend.

Simple Woman's Daybook March 28 2011

Outside My Window...
Clear skies and cool breezes.

I am thinking...
that I love autumn and am really going to miss it if we post somewhere tropical next posting.

I am thankful for... 
a thick doona (quilt) and flanelette jim-jams at night now the nights are getting cold.

From the learning rooms...
Ginger successfully stacked a ring on her stacking toy by herself.  I am learning all about English cookery of the 40s and 50s.

From the kitchen...
Trying a Japanese pork dish for dinner and I am cooking a plum sago pudding for dessert.  I made an apple crumble friday night for dinner to use up some soft apples, DH made custard to go with it.  But, we have much more custard than we had crumble, so now I am making a plum pudding to use it up with- which in turn will doubtless leave us short of custard.  Ah, its a vicious cycle!

I am wearing...
3/4 length pants and a pink striped long sleeve top.

I am creating...
bed skirts for the spare beds.

I am going...
to hang out 3 loads of washing after this and mop the floors.  I hit the ground running this morning and got lots done.

I am reading...
LM Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea and Jane Brockett's Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer.

I am hearing

the kettle bubbling and the wind blowing in the trees.

On my mind...where has the last year gone!  And, where do my days go:), I am thinking of keeping a time diary for a few days to find out - I have a feeling blogging might account for a lot of it.

Around the house...
floors to mop, toys to pick up, some sewing to finish off and kitchen to clean.

One of my favorite things...
Gooey, sticky, unctious almond meringues made by DH this weekend - good thing he took most of them to work with him.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Make bread to go in the new bread tin DH bought me at the markets yesterday (its so good to have married a man that knows me), keep an eye on my pudding for the next 3 hours, clean the outside of the windows and weed, weed, weed:)  And, later in the week we have Toowoomba show day (yay! - I am not in hospital this year so we can go) and Ginger's birthday party.

Small window into my life...

Simple Woman's Daybook - March 21 2011

Outside My Window...
Thick fog, it is 8:30am and it still hasn't cleared.  Up here on the range it often hang arounds for days.  It feels very autumnal.

 

I am thinking...
of the poor people in Japan and those heroes who are risking their lives to bring the reactors under control.

 

I am thankful for... 
finding the tick on our dog Monty before it did any serious damage.

 

From the learning rooms...
Ginger has learnt the word star, and is beginning to understand the concepts of 'in' and 'out'.

From the kitchen...
DH had a busy day yesterday baking and preserving - monte carlo biscuits (ever so rich), banana cake, chicken pot pie and quince preserve.  I need to put together a pumpkin gnocchi dish for dinner tonight.

 

I am wearing...
jeans, pink striped long sleeve top, socks and black mary-janes.

I am creating...
strips of quilting for my quilt.  I made quilts for both Ginger and DH for Christmas, so now I need to finish mine. 

I am going...
to take Ginger to storytelling at our church this morning, then hopefully she will manage a nap before we have to go out again to the chiropractor.

 

I am reading...
John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany (still) and Seek and You Shall Find by the Taize community.

I am hearing

Radio National with a story on hospital admittance predictors, as well as Ginger laughing as she chases the dog.

On my mind...
what we are going to do with the children if the weather continues like this for Ginger's birthday party.  Also, how is my baby almost one!

Around the house...
laundry in the dryer rather than on the line because of the rain, bed sheets to change, floors to mop and some major weeding needed in the back garden before the party.

One of my favorite things...
cups of hot tea - particularly now I have some yummy blends in the house.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
add button closures to 5 cushion covers I sewed last September which are gaping open!  Also, clean out the bedroom closets (bedroom zone on flylady this week), and make bread.

Small window into my life...

 

 

Simple Woman's Daybook - Early Autumn

Outside My Window...
Darkness, as evening seems to draw in earlier and earlier.

I am thinking...
how nice it is to have my chicken in the fridge marinating for tomorrow night.

I am thankful for... 
a dear friend with whom I spent a weeking sewing.  And, for a husband that looked after Ginger for 6 hours while we went to a Girls' Stitch-In.

From the learning rooms...
A baby girl who can walk, clap hands and say five words.  Each month I seem to have a different child.

From the kitchen...
A vegetable thai green curry, fortunately leftover in the fridge from the weekend - since I discovered at 4pm that the roast chicken I was planning for tonight's dinner needed to marinate overnight.

I am wearing...
ballet clothes and a t-shirt, having just got back from ballet in time to feed Ginger.

I am creating...
A birthday dress for Ginger.

I am going...
to finish cleaning up the kitchen, as DH has gone off to study, then put on a Lark Rise to Candleford and keep working on Ginger's dress.  I will have to tackle my first zip placement this evening.

I am reading...
The Prayer of Jabez and John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany.

I am hearing

the fridge whir, the dog scratch and crickets chirping.

On my mind...
how much I have to do before Ginger's birthday, and what party activities and food we should have on the day.

Around the house...
a stack of laundry to fold, DH wants biscuits (cookies) to take to work for snacks and a blanket that will need to be re-washed because we are having major water quality issues in our shire and the blanket is, after being washed this afternoon, now covered in mineral stains.  Such a pain.

One of my favorite things...
chocolate, and I am feeling the pain of giving it up for lent.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Ginger's swimming lesson, a pointe class, defence playgroup, lots of sewing, and a bathroom deep clean.

Small window into my life...

 

The Girl's Stitch-In I attended this weekend.