A full day

Yesterday was a juggle, first a few loads of washing, then baked some Aniseed Rusks and left them in the oven to dry out while we went to the shop so that I could find a top for a function.
I found it in the first shop that I went into... but do you think I purchased it then... no, typical, I went to 3 other store's before back-tracking. Then on to grocery shopping, followed by our fortnightly trip to the library. Back home, a quick clean of the house and then into the garden for some weeding while Rebecca picked gooseberries and fed the rabbit. After a shower it was time to put on a pot of 'Texas Rice', one of Wayne's favourites (my mother-in-law's recipe) to welcome him home for his first home-cooked meal in two weeks. Boy, did we miss him!

After all that I was pretty tired and my back was sore from all the weeding. I just sat here with tea and looked out over the garden while Wayne & Rebecca bounced on the trampoline...

morning

My favourite part of the day is the morning. The earlier the better, I love to be up before the sounds of the day, when all is quiet and slowly you hear the birds begin as the sun rises.
Rebecca is the same. Early to bed and early to rise.


If there is no school, its morning prayer and then back in bed for a little bit. The benefit of a slightly older child, they can entertain themselves for a while, not just zoom around the house from sunrise to sunset (even though it was fun too). At the moment she is not still, she is bopping to a Hillsong Kids DVD. - Pic could be a little clearer.... sorry


Breakfast.

Have a great day!

Sweet hospitality

A simple offering for a sudden guest. Choc chip cookies.



Pursue the practice of hospitality... live in
harmony... giving yourselves to humble tasks.
Romans 12

Reading

I call it a Spring present to myself. A couple of times a year I order books online and I've just heard that my new batch is on its way!!! Yippee. Rebecca and I go to the post office and get a large parcel that we rip open the minute we get home and then sit on the floor for the next while reading the backs of the books, deciding which we will begin with.

I'm excited about this arrival because it contains a Lief Enger novel (Wayne and I loved his last book) plus Jan Karon and Edith Shaeffer, as well as books for Ruby. We love books and our shelves are groaning with everything from 'War & Peace' to 'The Wombles', yes there was a book (several) before the television series.

So tomorrow is my collection day! Hopefully the sunshine will continue and we can sit outside and read while sipping something ice cold.

Hello Sunshine

I'm so grateful for the lovely weather today!

On Friday night we had a 'girl supper' (Wayne was away), with my friend Anthea and my sister.
A is actually such a rock in my life and I don't see her nearly enough and Manuela always makes me laugh (i.e just before she popped a bean dish in the oven she said to it, 'you're gonna love me and I know I love you already, see you soon').

On Saturday the gardener, Rebecca and I worked in the garden and this afternoon it was so gratifying to just sit and look out at a neat and trim yard. Rebecca actually sang to us (not really work), she kept asking Shep, 'So do you know this one?' and then without hesitation broke out into song.

Today we just enjoyed the sunshine, but early this morning on the way to church I realised that I had left my bible on the table. Fortunately Rebecca had her real bible with her, not one of her toddler ones. So I took her one in with me (and her pencil - she went to children's church) and only when I sat down did I realise that her cover was bright pink with cartons all over it and I had to write with a 'high school musical' pencil.

I decided to be outside instead of baking so the 'medieval gingerbread' is still on the backburner.

Wishing you much sunshine for the week ahead.

Words

Sometimes (when I have time) I add a note to Rebecca's lunch. Just something simple to tell her that I love her during her lunch break. Today, however, I got the surprise!
I didn't have time this morning to pack my sandwich so when I opened my bag I sure was surprised. I found a container of bran cereal, a little container of mixed nuts and a love note. I don't know how she matched up the right bowl and lid? Impressive as that was, considering my tupperware drawer, the most gracious bequest was naturally the hand-written letter.

'Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones' Prov 16.24

This was one of the first scriptures Rebecca had to learn. Words have the power to heal and strengthen (gets right into your soul) - bringing a deep comfort. And it did to me today!

Vintage and more

Since I'm re-reading Jane Eyre, I thought that the perfect accompaniment to my reading would be my favourite Banana Bread, with chocolate chunks, from 'Bills Food' (it tastes wonderful and has just the right texture), served on my very vintage Wedgwood & Co, given to me by a great lady that owned a antique store many years ago.

Rebecca loves to Google, gosh, it sounds like its a sport?? Anyway her new interest is the Queen. She googled her and even watched a piece of her coronation ceremony - at least she isn't quoting weird Yak facts (Yaks, her last topic of choice). So naturally since we are on this English vein,we have had several tea parties this week with my silver tea set and favourite cups & saucers.
Cute thing is always so careful with my stuff (cause I might cry for a week if my grandmothers cup breaks but that's a different story). Sometimes she likes us to pretend we are princess sisters, and her language becomes slower and the r's are so much more pronounced, "rreally sister, do have morre tea".

Banana Bread with my home grown beauties (this was a large bunch - half eaten).

PS On the vintage theme, I've decided to make a recipe this weekend that I have always wanted to try, its called 'Medieval Gingerbread' (and I do love Gingerbread) so I'll let you know how it turns out. Also Rebecca asked if the Queen likes receiving guests as she would like to make a turn whenever we are next in England!