You Can’t Rush Into Things

We moved into this house in June 1999 – 13 years ago. It took us two and a half years to build, while we lived in the shed.

At the time we told ourselves that we had to finish E V E R Y T H I N G before we moved in or it would never be finished.  We were pretty good about it too……. except for just a couple of things.

One was the doors on the cupboards in the hall.  For 12 years, they were open shelves – showing off our linen and all my millions of magazines and other “junk”.  Admittedly, the linen cupboard at the end of the hall was usually fairly tidy.

Anyway, last year Mick had a couple of quiet days with work, so decided to finally make the doors.  They were to feature brush box timber, (made from left over floorboards) and mini orb, as featured in the hall.  He did a fine job making and swinging the doors, but then got busy at work again before he could finish them off.

Finally, a fortnight ago he varnished them and this weekend put on the second coat and added the closers and handles. 

They look so good.

The handles suit them so well.

He’s rather a clever chappy, that Mick of mine.

Now I will have to try and have a tidy up of the contents, as they don’t seem to be as neat as before the doors were added.

Yes, I’m Still Here

I think I am one of the guilty parties that Chooky referred to when she commented that it is a bit quiet in blogland.  I’ve been having a browse, but that is about all. So, here is a bit of a catch up.

Firstly, last weekend I stayed home……….all weekend………I didn’t go anywhere!  That is quite monumental for me.  It was just delightful.  Actually, our weekends have mainly been quiet recently, which we have really enjoyed.  It is that time of the year.  Mind you, when I look at our calendar, that is all about to change.

So, what have I done with all this time? 

I’ve baked each week.  Mick has to take a packed lunch to the site he is working at and it is nice to have some homemade bikkies and slice. 

I’ve dragged out the recipe folder which includes all those old favourites collected over the years from magazines, friends and from Mum’s recipe book. 

I’ve made things from recipes that I haven’t used in probably 15 years.  They are all good, easy recipes and I wonder why I don’t do this more often.

I ironed…….lots!  Now I just have to keep it under control.

I tidied the pantry……

And the top drawer of my office desk. Oh my goodness!!  You should have seen it before.  The number of times I’ve bought things, when I already had them hiding in the back of that drawer……and the number of old dried out pens!  Hopefully I can keep it under control.

Do you notice that these are indoor things that keep you warm.  Rather appropriate for this time of year.

On the sewing front I have done a bit more on Some Kind of Wonderful, but will do a separate post on that in the next few days.  I’m still making slow progress.

I’ve also signed up for Chooky’s SSCS again this year.  Now I just have to decide what to make when I find out who my partner is.

Friday was Daffodil Day, which coincidently marked the week that the daffodils in our garden have come out.  I took a couple of quick pics before I left for work on Friday morning.

The little Jet Fires are so sweet.

The Hellebores are also looking lovely.

I love violets.  It took me a while to get them going when we first moved out here, before we had many shady spots, but now we have lots.

I bought a bunch of daffodils at the supermarket for Daffodil Day.  They were only just starting to open, but overnight they all woke up and are looking so cheerful in the kitchen.

So, nothing very exciting happening, but I have really enjoyed just pottering around at home.  I think I might have to try  and create some more home time if I can.

What a Surprise

Yesterday afternoon I had an unexpected catch up with Chooky, Khris and Deb. It was nice to see them without being in a rush.

An added bonus was that we were joined by those two gad abouts, Peg and Dale.  I tell you what, I wish I had their social life.

And Now For the Weather

This week has had the coldest mornings for the year.

Now that the wet weather has cleared and we have a big high pressure system and a full moon we are getting some rather severe frosts.

Each morning this week has been below –5 degrees C.  Monday had a pea souper fog, but the rest of the mornings and days have been clear and the days have been reaching about 13 degrees C, so not too bad at all.

Yesterday was the coldest at –6.7 degrees C.  Brrrrrrrr!

However, it was rather pretty as I was hanging out the washing, just as the sun was coming up.  Just look at the frost on the lines.

The other thing that we notice each winter is that we have an increased number of visitors to the chook yard for breakfast.  We can have up to twenty choughs join our five chooks.  They are always there waiting, and just fly in to feed – not shy at all.

Yesterday was the first day that the crimson rosellas have been waiting as well.  Normally they arrive much earlier, but as last season was so good they probably still had plenty of seeds out in the paddocks without looking for extras.

I think yesterday’s rosellas went and told all their friends, as this morning there were heaps of them.

This morning was only –5.1 degrees C and a slight cloud cover came across.  Fortunately, it burnt off and we had a glorious sunny day.

I wonder how cold it will be tomorrow morning?  We are expecting up to another week of this weather.