Thursday, December 31, 2009

Last day of the Year

The last of the year, I feel strangely calm, after all it is just another day.  The past new years eves I have scurried around like a mad woman - house has to be clean, the new year has to start how I want it to go on. Can't have a dirty house or an unfilled larder.  The lawn needs mowing badly, the little rain we have had over the past few days has greened everything up and the lawn is coming back to life.  It will get done I am not stressing over it.  My house is tidy, the christmas things all packed away.  Life goes on wether the cobwebs are there or not.  The spiders are taking advantage of my lethargy and are busy in the bathroom with their silvery threads.
I suppose my N.Y.R. will be, I have decided, to just do everything in my time, no one elses.  No stressing out over anything.  I have learnt a few lessons this year, I didn't quite trust my gut feelings, refused to listen to the voice of reason, but I learnt from it which is the main thing and came out of it a little wiser but a little poorer.
So looking forward to this bright new year I will calmly re-evaluate my situation, the house needs work doing to it. Do I sell up and buy a small unit in town or do I carry on here and do the work when I can afford it.  Do I get stuck into the craft room, open an Etsy shop, trawl around all the crafty type shops in the area, do I finally get to do the Visual Arts course I've always wanted to do.  So many resolutions I could make. Do this, do that, not do this, not do that. Soooo..........my resolution will be - NO STRESS, NO WORRIES, JUST BE. 


I don't have pretty pictures of a shabby chic house, or wonderful mouthwatering cupcakes and biscuits, but I do have lots of views from the area I live in.  Scruffy and his friend come up every morning after the kookaburras have eaten, ready for their breakfast they wait patiently.  When I stayed at the retreat and went for my strolls around the garden overlooking the river out they would pop from no-where - all of us getting a shock at seeing each other there.  When we meditated they would come up close to see what we were doing, feeling their curious eyes on you.


ooooooarh, I told a porky.  Here we are - Eccles Cakes, one of the very few cake like recipes that I can do quite well.  After a nostalgic trip down memory lane (one of my favourite place to go) a friend and I decided we would search out the recipe for them. Luckily in my book collection I had an 1940's Good Housekeeping book that had just the recipe we needed. People are still raving about them and begging us to make more.  Ooooops - I've just remembered what that digusting lump of something was when I cleared out the cupboards - left over dried fruit from the last batch of Eccles cakes I made, which was, now let me see, could it have been way back in March when I made the last lot. 


One thing you don't want to do when you are quietly strolling along enjoying the view is to step on one of these things.  When they are freaked out and scared the first thing they do is run up the nearest straight thing.  I hid straight away behind my sis in law and she promptly went behind our friend.  But Mr. Big Lizard just slowly sauntered across our path, gave us a couldn't care less look and slowly made his ascent up the nearest tree. 

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

christmas cake for breakfast

The bread had gone mouldy, its so so hot and muggy that it doesn't stay fresh for long and the fridge is full so I can't stick it in there.  The last of the milk - coffee or cereal.  Coffee won so the only thing for it was either a mince pie or a slice of cake (or left over pasta salad, coleslaw - nah not for brekky).  Looks like the ants have found the mince pies - thats okay, I don't particularly like mince pies so I don't mind sharing.
Finally able to shut the cupboard doors now the food pile has gone down. 

What can I do today, got to try and beg, borrow or steal a ride into town but there again I might just stay home.  I'm feeling out of sorts with people today, I really don't feel like being sociable, I feel downright disagreeable.  This is what happen when I have this huge build up of not being able to get motivated, this huge block that is stopping me from being creative. Something has got to blow. Must find a pretty picture in my stash, must meditate, must curb this need to be nasty. I'll go and rip a few weeds out - tear off their heads,  pull at their roots.  Oh dear, woe is me.

This is the sorry state of the santa we had to put up with this christmas. It makes me smile. It was a very hot day and santa needed a break with his little elf daughter who refused to give him his beard back.  It was hard work throwing all those lollies at people (literally hitting people on the head, she's got a mean right arm that little one) .  That day was one destined for the family memory box.  My son - santa claus, what more could a proud mother want.  Hang on, that makes me Granny Claus.
Oh beep beeep beeeeep. 

Saturday, December 26, 2009

After spending time going on a road trip round all the wonderful blogs in my list I suddenly got homesick.  After 17 years as an aussie I'm craving Pennine hills, Lake District waterfalls, Yorkshire Moors, Lancashire hotpot, Coronation Street,  SNOW.
If ever I ever get back to the land of my birth I'm going to have a long list of all the wonderful places I want to see, all those lovely little country craft shops.  Bugger going to see the reli's, I want Cath Kidston.
But the only way I'll ever get back there is if I find a new rich Hubby or win the lottery.

So I until then I will wander aimlessly down the cobbled country lanes and the wide open countryside of Blogland.

Janjan

Friday, December 25, 2009

PANIC

I have just been informed that I am cooking christmas dinner for the family, by noon.  Phoned up my son to wish them merry christmas and asked what he was doing for christmas dinner and he said "coming over to you Mum, Matt invited us". Wheres Matt - fast asleep in bed, wheres Mum - running round the kitchen like a headless chook.  Veggies all peeled and cut up, table set.  Its like feeding five thousand (or however many there were), I didn't buy too many veggies  I hadn't cleaned behind the dining table as I didn't intend to open it out - now I know where all the spiders were living.  I had to rearrange all the christmas displays around the house sp that I could make a table display,  move the christmas tree - christmas table runner was under the tree.  So now while the rudely awakened Matt make us our christmas bacon butty I'm catching up on the puter. Phoned mum, who was having a seniors moment and had made the full works christmas dinner for her and my brother - only to realise that she was a day early and it was still chritmas eve (UK). 
Thank the Lord for the christmas Hamper - full of lovely goodies to share around.

Okay leg of lamb ready to go in, quick tidy up before the family get here. 

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Lucky Day


Wooooooohooooooooo. Not included in pic are chocolate turkish delight TimTams (very hard to photo once they've been eaten), small frozen turkey, bottle of Rose wine (I gave that to my friend as she loves Rose) a very very large plum pudding - both it and the christmas cake have been liberally soaked in brandy.
What a lovely surprise when Pat phoned to say I'd won the hamper in her computer club raffle - especially since I hadn't bought a ticket.  She bought four in my name as part of my chrissy pressie. Its practically everything I would have bought if I had had the money to.......and it all came in a large heavy duty wash basket, which I am particularly rapt in as my basket split in two early this morning.  That christamas spirit is creeping back in. 

It funny but the day before when we were shopping I said how much I missed it when Mik always used to win at least two hampers every christmas, I jokingly said 'Come on Mik, get yer finger out and work some magic'. 


Janjan

Side-tracked

Well, I went out to get the mower - I decided to attack the lawn (rather, the dandelion patch that used to be a lawn), on my way there I thought I'd take some dead leaves off a plant, looked on the potting table - what a mess, went to tidy that up - found a bag of shells that my son had fetched me from one of the beaches in Townsville, washed those shells - how pretty they were (piccy to follow), decided they would look good in the old goldfish bowl, went hunting for the goldfish bowl, didn't find that but found a nice pot to put another plant in, this lead to me moving the freezer, finding a new place for the plants, sweeping out under the verandah sofa, moving the table, going into the big shed to look for a piece of wood, found a piece of ply that might just fit the bottom of dresser drawer so went to find the drawer, didn't fit but it fitted the gap between the house and the concrete, still looking for the goldfish bowl, it looks like its going to rain now and I need to find the christmas table cloth. 

Coffee time I think, now where did I put the coffee.

Janjan

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I finished a UFO woooooooohooooooooo

I did it and on schedule and I am so pleased with it.  I dug out my stash and all my sewing stuff, dusted off the sewing machine (thats a post all on its own) and got stuck in. I got into a panic when the friend whose gift it is came round so I had to quickly stuff poor old Jaimee behind the sofa.  We went off for coffee and a quick look at a shabby chic style, antiquey, gift shop in town. They look sadly in need of proper shabby chic stuff so I might get my finger out and start using up all that fabric I have been collecting.  Back to Jaime, last stitch put in around  2.30 p.m., all the sewing stuff put back in its hidey holes by 3.00 and I sat there all smug and happy.  The fact that it should of been finished a long long time ago passed by.   I did actually start to enjoy doing cross stitch again so I might go through all my photo albums and see if there is a nice piccy to turn into a cross stitch.



I packaged up the dishclothes and I know at least two people who would be happy to get them. Hey, I got estactic when Pat fetched me back the old fashioned sort from the UK a couple of years ago. I still have two that haven't been used. Just an old fashioned girl thats me.

Going chrissy shopping properly today, was going down to the BIG CITY but I'm not in the mood for the long drive and the excessive heat and the crowds. So I'm sticking to the SMALL TOWN.  Still excessive heat (not as bad as on the cost but its still hot) and the shops will be busy but at least I won't be tempted by things I don't need and home is only 12 minutes away.

Also going to the Fairy Shop in Malanda while Pat has her hair cut - lots of pretty things and some shabby chic but nothing hand crafted. In fact the other shabby chic shop in Atherton has nothing hand crafted. Unfortunately both shops are up for sale (and have been for a long time) but it might be worth just running up a few things and seeing if they will take them. No harm in trying.  Somewhere in my stash I have a very pretty chintzy rose fabric, metres and metres of it, I bought it in an op-shop in Cairns for about $3.   I don't remember seeing it when I was looking for the fabric for Jaimee's borders. Please, please don't say that in one of my clutter cleaning exercises I sent it to the op-shop.

I am getting serious withdrawal symptoms from not being able to op-shop at will.  I'm even dreaming about op-shopping now.  I need my fix - will we have time today to sneak into just one op-shop, I mean its just round the corner from BigW and IGA. I so miss working in the op-shop in Malanda, I just hate having principles and  scruples sometimes. Way back in winter we packaged away a lot of chrissy stuff that came in, there was a beautiful table cloth and some cute little pottery santas, I was going to get them there and then but no, I put them on the high shelf at the back of the shop.  Its a long story why I won't go in and its not even anything to do with me but I am loyal to my friends but I can feel that urge getting stronger and stronger and I'm going to break sooner or later.


hugs, love and light


janjan

Sunday, December 20, 2009

I'm Happy - really I am, despite everything

I went to the markets after tidying my craft table and clearing a place for my jewelry making bits and pieces, while looking for something I found some fabric I thought I had used up - basically browns with lots of cute puppies on - perfect for the border of  Jaime's picture.  No.2 cross stitch will be finished on time but I am not happy with it. It was the first one I scanned and used in the cross stitch program and I am not happy how the colours came out, I'll persevere with it and maybe make it up into something else where it won't be on display all the time. 

I also found at the markets a gem cutters stall and I bought 10 round faceted purple flourite beads, perfect for a bracelet. I got all the veggies and then drove into town and got the basics for the week, threw in a few treats as well.  It doesn't seem chrismassy at all, its strange, everyone seems jaded, as though they are all just going through the motions - lets get this over and done with and roll on next year.  I looked around town this morning and even the same old same old christmas decorations that the council drag out each year are looking worse for wear. 
I'm going to go play with beads now.

janjan

SUNDAY before Christmas


I'm trying to get myself going and get out the door.  The mist is swirling outside, I want to walk down to the markets early (I've been up since 5.30). Its probably the best time to go, stall holders will have just set up and the tourists won't start arriving till about 8.30 a.m.  I want to see if I can get my youngests son girlfriend a nice bracelet, though really I should clear off all the yarn on my craft table and make one.I have all the bits needed, lots of beautiful semi-precious stones (Come on girl, pysche yourself up - you can do it) I've got some very very pretty freshwater pearls (nearly there, feel that spark) Okay, Okay, maybe this arvy I'll get out the jewelry making supplies, (Yes, but if you can't find what you want to make the markets will be finished and you'll be stuck without a present), OKAY, I'll go into the craft room right after I've posted this - you happy now (Don't you just hate the voice of reason sometimes) Hopefully Matt will be home soon with my car then I can get into town and do the rest of the food shopping. Its only going to be the normal weekly shop with just a few extras thrown in.  I'm off to the craft room before this damm inner voice starts up again.

Saturday, December 19, 2009


Now that wasn't very nice, I was just about to write something down, fingers poised over the keys and the gremlins hit publish post.
I was just thinking how I really should clean the mirror that the above wreath is hanging over. It usually hangs outside every chrimbo - the wreath not the mirror, but this year it stays inside, its made from op-shop finds glued to an old grapevine wreath so its not expensive but I like it.  This year all over the shire things have been going missing - someone even nicked the baby jesus out of IGA's nativity scene and people have had their outside christmas lights vandalised.  The aforementioned mirror I picked up at the op-shop for $6, its been behind the sofa for ages waiting for me to make my mind up as to where it was going, hence the dust.
I stuck it on the wall, wondered what it would look like with the wreath on it and there they both stayed.
I have the house to myself tonight, matt got home from work, showered and then went out again, so I'm lighting some candles and incense, having a nice shower and settling down to watch The Bill and crochet another dishcloth.  This cotton seems to be never ending, I keep finding more and more balls with just enough left to do a dishcloth.