February and Hot!

The heat is on... as the song goes; but not everyone loves this sticky, tropical heat. I don't and so when it comes down to it, I think it's just a matter of time before other people think it's high time we got some much-needed rain.

Well, over the past month, I've lost 2.5kg in weight; just because I've cut back on ice coffee drinks and started drinking a lot more water. I've also cut back on sugar as well and had a good look at my house... yep, I've been decluttering. And to go with the decluttering, I've started a new blog (yeah, I know, another one!) which works around my journey of decluttering my place. 'A Work In Progress' is my new blog and I'm hoping it takes off into a new direction for me. I talk about decluttering being a very personal journey, a difficult thing to do, and how hoarding isn't something to be ashamed of but to work on making sure you work through. However, having too much stuff can be just as bad as having too little stuff. So, a happy middle ground is best. Anyway, go and have a look at it and see what you think of it.

While I've been working on that, I've also been working the security of my blogs. You see, my Flash Fiction blog has had a stalker on it for the past year; and he's become very political, very much an arsehole and I'm not going let him bother me anymore. So, I'm afraid that the security of the blogs (all of my blogs) have had to be upped on a permanent basis. I'm sorry, guys'n'gals, but to keep this stalker from insulting my good name I've had to do this.

Anyway, I've been out and about doing things to raise funds to The World's Greatest Shave. I've been to my Dad's 70th Birthday and I've been also working on the large tapestry of Lake Como... it's really coming along well! I have also started up craft group again too. 

So, seeing the school year has started again, what's been going on with you all? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Weeks

It's always good when life gets busy, isn't it?

I've been trying to work on my decluttering more again and it's working out for the best. I've gotten rid of 5 drinking mugs and replaced them with a set of 7 Mexican Glass wine glasses. I fell in love with them at Vinnies; and knew they'd look great in my kitchen... and I'd use them as well.

Then, I've wrapped up and gotten rid of some smaller glasses which I don't have a place for anymore. I just simply don't use them for anything; and so I have given them to Mum to give them to the right people. Anyway, I didn't know until it was almost too late that the set of 5 glasses with apples on them have a large jug that goes with them; so I'll have to get that to Mum as well (and thus freeing up more of my cupboard too). 

Otherwise, I'm painting, creating and getting into my gardening again. With Summer on the way, everything is growing faster in the hotter weather. And the best thing is that there's been some rain hanging around too; which means the gardens are getting fed too. I'm still watering, but with the rain coming at the right times, this means I don't have to water so much.

My brother's birthday was yesterday and my niece's birthday is on Saturday. So, we went out last night for a seafood feast at Sandgate. It was great! My brother loved the rough-cut serving platter I gave him made from Camphor Laurel and the pressies I gave Riley were perfect for her - she just loves them all! 

Yep, it's been busy, but a good busy for this fortnight. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Year

It's been around a year since I wrote a post about what I've been up to over the year of my birthday... and so I'm at it again.

It's 4th, October. Tomorrow is my Birthday and I don't mind aging. I guess it's got to do with wanting to experience the world as it is; and enjoying myself while I do.

During this past year, I've given the boutique markets a rest. Last year, I didn't make any money, so I took a step back and figured out why... it was my product placement and that some of the things I was putting out there were produced properly. So, I have been working on making a better product; taking my time and learning new skills to work with the markets again next year.

I'm writing more books. Yep, once a writer, always a writer... it's the creative in me who gets a right workout. Being like this makes life exhausting; but I'm also painting as well as doing needlepoint, which makes life so much more colourful. But I wouldn't be an artist if I didn't have these things in my life.

My garden got a great makeover. It's the third year on and it was time to repot things over Winter, so I did. I started up a new blog about my garden, and have had another blogger who put my garden blog on his blog roll, to help kick it along. I also still have my garden facebook group too. 

My next door neighbour and her guy broke up, and she and I have become close friends. It's been good to be able to just hang out with her for hours on end and not feel as though I have to leave. She's so much happier and is working harder at work as well. I'm so happy for her because she's happier in herself.

I started a new painting when I came down with laryngitis over the weekend my 20 year class reunion happened. On the Saturday night, I was out and about, and okay and then the next morning, I discovered that my voice was croaky; however it became worse, not better. By the Monday, I went to the doctors and he told me what I had and to stay home, not talk to anyone and not talk at all... woah! That's so much easier said than done! But I got a lot of reading, painting and cleaning out done in that week. I still have the cough from it after 4 months though... can't do much about that.

Life itself has been good. I'm still cleaning out my house. I sold my late-Grandma's kitchen table to somebody in Beenleigh, who wanted to do it up for her family. To replace it, I bought a Chiswell dining setting off a man on Gumtree... it's beautiful, and I love it! Life is getting better as this year passed by. I've started saving up big for something huge I want... it will take time to get to my goal, but I'm not saying what it's going to be yet. So, there I am... my year in a blog post. It doesn't seem as though I got a lot done, but I did... I even got my heart stood on by some dude out there who I thought I knew - but didn't. Oh well, just as well I found out now than later, right? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Year for Tomorrow

It's a mere 24 hours until I bid farewell to one year and say hello to being another... and I feel as though so much as gone on during this year that I'm not sure where to begin.

Since Dad bought me my car last year, it seems as though all I've done is drive it and enjoy it. I've been to and from quite a few markets, gone shopping in it it, bought a collection of things at Bunnings and found out just how much that little car of mine can really carry!

And then, there's my other hobbies I've delved into as well... like my love for fixing up old furniture. Earlier this year, I found an old chair which somebody threw out - well, okay, one of my neighbours did - and after we unwrapped it from its packing/wrappings, we were stunned to find a lovely old chair sitting before us.  Seeing my neighbour found it, I gave her first shot, but she said no and let me have it. I had fun fixing up that lovely piece.

Before that, there was my standing work bench, which looks like it's always been at my back door now... not only been there since February. It's been an asset to my hobby business and has helped me work better as well. But my art works still leaks into my kitchen and living room - oh well, can't win them all! 

My garden has had a huge make-over during Winter and I'm so proud I've been able to use the car to get in and grab things that normally without it I wouldn't have been able to. I still have other plans for it... and I won't be able to work on those things until next year. I have time for that.

In the past year, I've done some big pieces of writing. I have started organising a book filled with Flash Fiction that I put onto my blog... I'll be looking at getting it published in the next few years into traditional print and ebook as well. Then, there's an Angelic Romance I wrote late last year, which I didn't think would work, but somehow it did. It had everything from love and sex to Knights of Hell and a few new things I made up to keep things interesting. I'm also looking into working on my Fry Nelson works again... it's been a few years since I looked at the books and now it's time to look into editing them properly and making them into something for the public to read. 

Yes, I'll be busy ... but being busy is great. Over the past couple of years, since I have had the use of a few cars, I've been the busiest in my life since I was doing full-time work - and I love it! It's wonderful to be almost back to how I was in my 20's. And it's all because of how I've been taking care of myself and working with my doctors too.  

As for my Birthday? Well, it's another year to be living on this blessed planet we call home. It's another year to enjoy here. Since I've survived Cancer and am living with a horrible medical condition which kills and destroys so many people's lives every year, I am blessed to have the life I have now. It took over a decade to be where I am - well over a decade - and it was all worth the pain and the horrors of it all. I'm just seeing life for what it is and how it is... and that's the glass half full - and what a beautiful glass it is indeed!

Rain! Time to Relax.

It's been nice and sunny and warm over the last few weeks; and I've been on the go over that time too. However, the rains have come and cooled everything down - thank goodness! - and so it's time for me to slow down a little to keep myself well enough to make it to Christmas.

Yep, I've been busily working on my Crafty Pegs gear for the next few markets, my house (cleaning it out) and the garden too. 

Man, life just hasn't stopped!

Now, it's raining, I feel as though I can slow down and watch the days go by nice and easy while I paint or read a bit. The good thing is that the weather has cooled down a little too - so that's nice for this time of year as well, don't you think?

The garden isn't completely finished, but it's almost there. Earlier this year, I scored some half-finished steps for my garden and stored them at my parents' house to be completed. In the last few weeks, Dad completed them and now they're at my place. They look great! I can fit in another 10 or so plants in my garden and it looks wonderful. Just yesterday, I went out to Bunnings and bought some Mondo Grass and planted it in the half-pot I've been trying to grow something in for the past year. Now it's got longer hooks to hang from, I'm sure it won't be having any problems with the plants surviving.
Then, I divided up the Agapanthus into separate pots. Instead of buying new pots and waiting yet another year, I recycled some pots I already had. They look great! And hopefully, they will all flower this year again too.

This Friday is my Mum's birthday. I went out yesterday - before going to Bunnings - to buy her present. When I arrived home, I found I didn't have any wrapping paper. So, I found one of my book bags I had made for the stall, and thought her Kindle would look great in that, and put her present in that. Very cool. 

I've also been working on Riley's 16th Birthday present. Because it's a big, major birthday, I'm making sure she gets something important and wonderful. Her next one will be her 18th. I just hope she likes what I've made her and bought for her. 

Well, that's all there is from my life. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Okay.... I'm back... Phew! What A Week!

It's been such a busy week, I don't know where to start... but I'll try to fill you all in on what's been happening.

Last Saturday, 7th, February, I had a full day out.  I was away from the house by 9am and off to the Hyperdome Library where I attended a meeting on how to get my name out there into the world when it came to writing and publicising my books.  It was great because what I learned here I could use with my Crafty Pegs business too.
From there, I was off to Mum and Dad's house for around 20 minutes to pick up some things from there.  Once everything was laminated and ready, I was back in the car and off to the bank, then driving to the Mamma Mia Mini Markets which started at 3pm and went until 8pm. 
I didn't make any profit... only a little bit of money and that was it, but no profit.  Oh well.  Anyway, I got onto the road by 8:30pm or so, and was back at my folks' house by 9pm where I had a cup of tea to unwind and I was home by 10pm.  I was in bed by 11pm

What. A. Day!

However that wasn't all... a neighbour two doors down came home with his loud friends and started up a party at 11:30pm - music and all - just when I was dropping off.  I called the caretaker (who complained his hands were tied and that I should call the police) and then I called the police and at 1:30am, the neighbour's party closed up.  This was after the caretaker talked to him at 11:45pm and after I called the police... 

The next day, I was out again.  I felt like crap.  But I went out again because the family was going to the Moreton Bay Yacht Club for lunch for Dad's birthday.  It was a brilliant lunch in a great atmosphere.  Afterwards, we all waddled back to Gabe and Kat's place where we scoffed into Baked Custard with Rice and German Friendship Cake.  I made the former and Gabe made the latter... yummo!

Monday was my craft group and we were all there for the first group of the year.  So many thing were brought along for us to look at.  I bought a big black plate of a fish (which I'm using as a fruit bowl) and we all sat and chatted all afternoon while doing our craft.

On Tuesday I worked on my shopping list and cleaned out more stuff from the house and kitchen table.  My bin was almost full when I put it out that night.  Wednesday was shopping day and I still had stuff to put in the bin just as the rubbish guys came to pick it up.  And I was exhausted, so I didn't go on the computer that night... just shuffled off to bed.

Thursday was the day I received a phone call from the Leukaemia Foundation asking if I was going to take part again... yes I am!  This time I'm going to shave the lot off - a #4 buzzcut - and then donate my hair to make a wig.  The woman on the other end said it was best to look for a wigmaker in my city.  Well, that's a post for another time!

Anyway, Friday came around and I had two appointments:  one for my optometrist and one for my chiropractor.  I received my sponsorship book from the Leukaemia Foundation and within the first day, I raised over $130!  How cool is that?

On Saturday, I did my volunteer work at the Logan Art Gallery.  We had Music in the Gallery for the 20th Birthday Celebrations of the Gallery here in Logan City.  It was so great!  I totally enjoyed the music.  Mum and Dad were down to come along, but it slipped their mind.  So, I recorded some on my phone and showed them when I got off work; and Dad said they should have gone.  Oh well, next time! 

So, it comes to today.  This morning, I had pancakes with lime and sugar and fruit.  The leftover pancakes have been wrapped up in foil for afternoon tea... yummo!  Anyway, that's my week. I hope your week has been as busy and filled-up as mine has.  I'm totally stuffed and need to catch up with my sleep.  But it's good to be tired and happy like this.  So, do tell, how has your week been?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Hey, Here I am... But Not For Long!

Yep!  Last week was such a busy one, I don't know where to start!  First off, I was at the shops doing my grocery shopping when I found some 'Blessed & Lucky' roasted peanut paste with 'a drizzle' of Maple Syrup... aawww... yummo!  For just $2.40, I thought to try it out!

Then, I had a few days to myself and Dad and I were off and running with the building of the new work bench... how very cool is that!  I had fun designing it, thinking about it and then finally having the money to make it happen!  And Dad was there helping me with the little things that went wrong... so cool!  I love it!
And last Tuesday, we got it finished here at my place as the legs were too long and we even got a metal piece along the shelf so I can put my finished magnets to get varnished onto it.  I am so happy that it went from a drawing in a sketch book to a reality in a little over 4 months... and amazed at how quickly it happened too.

Then, within a few days, it was my Dad's birthday and I had a market at Murrarrie, writer's workshop at the Logan Hyperdome and lunch at the Moreton Bay Yacht Club at Shorncliffe.  All three of the latter things happened within the last weekend just gone!  But Dad's birthday was last Thursday.  I had bought him a bottle of 'Label 5' whiskey... and he loved it.  Now, I know what to buy him in the future... it's a nice whiskey too; and not too expensive.

This week, I have had Craft Day today at the Springwood Community Centre.  Tomorrow I'm off to the doctors to get a skin tag removed (oh, yeah, that sounds like fun, right?) and then, there's shopping on Wednesday and then I have Thursday and Friday to myself.  Woah... that's a first in about two weeks!  On Saturday, I'm sure I'm working at the gallery, but I'm not certain - I'll call up and find out.

Otherwise that's what's been happening, what will be happening and is happening in my life right now.  And why I've been quiet for so long.  And have you checked out my new look for 'A Natural Background'?  Yes... it's got a name change and background... it's been changed over for my hobby business called Crafty Pegs so I can cover more ground with other people in social media.  Go and have a good look at it... Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Weekend Ahead

This weekend is going to be full; very full.  I have spent this week pulling in my reserves of energy, sleeping in, making sure I haven't exhausted myself and hoped I have everything organised.

Well, there's always one thing to be forgotten, right?

I have the Murrarie State School Organic & Craft Markets tomorrow and I hope to get there before 9am, find out where my stall is and set it up well before 10am so I can walk around and find the toilets, water fountains and move my car to where it's supposed to be before the markets themselves open... the last thing I need is to be lost in a school when I don't know where anything is.  And I'd like to have a good look around for something for my brother's birthday too.

But this week, I got in and worked on a few things, listened to an audio-book (titled 'The Watcher' by Jo Robertson) and then, today, I worked on a bit of my lunch for tomorrow.  I'm hoping I haven't forgotten anything there.
Today, after breakfast, I packed the car as much as I can with everything, both stock boxes and the stores box and then threw a blanket over the lot and put in the two-wheel trolley and locked it up.  I still have my bag to pack as well the esky and then that's it.  I'll be working on getting enough sleep tonight and taking off by 8am tomorrow - maybe a little before - and getting there by 8:30am.  I don't want to be rushing; which is understandable.  

For the rest of the weekend, I'm hoping to get to Mum and Dad's place to have lunch and enjoy time with my older brother and his family for his birthday, then come home and chill out.  
On Monday, there's my Craft Day and I'll be heading off the Garden City to pick up something from there before heading to my afternoon with the ladies at Springwood.  Otherwise, early nights are on the cards for a while.

Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Birthday Weekend

Yesterday was my birthday.  I slept in after I received a phone call from my folks and then, decided to walk to the service station to buy a paper.  When I stepped out onto the footpath, I saw a motorcade of old, fixed-up cars, trucks and motorcycles coast past!  They were gorgeous!  So, out came my camera and I took some photos of them driving down the road... what a sight!

Once I had the paper and was home, I made pancakes, and ate them while reading the paper a bit; and jumped online for an hour or so.  However, that time got away from me and before I knew it, I was running late... it was past midday!  So, I jumped in the shower, dressed, put on my make up and packed the car.  I was going to Gabe and Kat's place for lunch; and to celebrate my birthday with family.

It took me around half and hour to get there - and when I arrived, Gabe said he had called my place to see if I had left, and when he had gotten my machine, he knew I was on the road and didn't called my mobile (knowing I'd not pick up while I was driving).  I said I never touch my mobile when I'm driving the car, and that it can wait until I get where I'm going.  He agreed.

Well!  They were ready for me and I had taken my new esky with me I had bought for myself for my birthday with my cake inside it.  It was so cool!  We had spring rolls with rice paper - a make it yourself thing... where you soaked the rice paper in hot water and it softened and then you picked out what you wanted to eat from the buffet on the table; delicious!  We listened to some great music and had some good laughs too.  While I was there, I got Gabe to shorten the necklace he gave me for my birthday; and once he did, he said he forgot how incredibly short I am... hehee... yeah I am quite short; only 5ft nothing.  

Before we knew it, it was time for Riley to pack to go home to her Mum and I had to start making tracks home myself; to beat the traffic.  I had given Riley her birthday gift; but she didn't want to open it until her actual birthday, so that's okay, up to her.  She just knows it's going to be something really cool (as she told me that I always give her cool stuff for her birthday and Christmas - how cool is that?).  Well, I came home and made it here in about half an hour - the traffic was pretty good getting there and coming home.  
But I was expecting a friend of mine to visit and I had arrived around 4:30pm.  It got later and later and he still didn't show.  At around 7pm, there was a knock the door and one of my neighbours I barely speak to said that he had texted him to ask me to call or text him on his number.  I thanked him and did... and what do you know?  My friend had been at my place at about 4:30pm and I wasn't home - at the time when I was just pulling into the driveway.  He said we must have just missed each other... don't you hate that?  I do.  Oh well.  Next time.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Time To Clean the House

Seeing I copped a really bad bout of sinus, I thought it was high time to get my butt into cleaning the house... seriously cleaning the house.

And I'm also having some friends over for a gathering on Saturday for lunch.... another good reason to do this too.

So, I started downstairs.  I got two big loads of laundry done and dried and put away.  The living room got a big clean out done, vacuumed, dusted and now it looks great!  Then, the kitchen floor was washed, so was the laundry floor and the toilet cleaned as well.  

This took two days to do because there was so many fiddly things to get done in between.

Then, today, I spend only two hours on the upstairs rooms of the master bedroom, study and the bathroom.  However, the bathroom took up about an hour of the time to get cleaned.  I scrubbed that place until it shone... and yet nobody will see it on Saturday.  I know, I know... silly, but Mum advised me that my friends will wander upstairs.  I don't think they will.

Well, once upstairs was vacuumed and dusted, the shoes were put away and I put the wash basket downstairs, I looked around and found there were only small things to get done - you know, last minute stuff - to do.  This will all be done on either Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Otherwise, I'm hoping to get the lawn mowed again on Friday afternoon, the car moved on Saturday morning and the kitchen completely cleaned up by that day too.  This place will look good and working well enough to have friends over.  
I still have a few things to do beforehand.  I have a salad to make and two dips to make too... otherwise, I have coffee (plunger and instant) and napkins, tea, corn chips and snack biscuits in the pantry waiting to be used.  

Tomorrow is Mum's birthday, I'm going out to see her, then we're all meeting up to have dinner out later on.  It'll be wonderful.  Saturday is my folks' 45th Wedding Anniversary, and I'm hoping to work it into my birthday celebrations too... but I want it to be a surprise.  It's not quite working out that way... I don't want to wreck the surprise and yet I wish them to enjoy the day.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wednesday .... what can I say?

Today was my Dad's Birthday.  I gave him a Super Cheap Membership Card.  Very cool... he loves it.  But I was up very early today to get petrol for the car.  However, seeing everyone put their bins out behind my car, it was near impossible to get the Pajero out of the car port.  So, I got a great idea:  photograph the problem and e-mail it to Dad (or anyone who cares about this problem).  And I did... well, after his lunch anyway.

This morning, after the petrol was gotten, breakfast was eaten and milk was bought, I was hanging out here online when my mobile rang and the service guy was here to fix my washing machine.  It had begun to make a high-pitched singing sound - this is called grinding and isn't good for the machine.  It's the seals wearing out and they normally put some gunk around the seal to make it stop singing/grinding for the next few years.
Well, once that was done, I paid the man and he was on his way, then I jumped on the phone and called my folks.  Mum had told me that she was thinking of taking Dad out to Runcorn Tavern for lunch and I was invited.  So, I took them up on the offer.  But I had to shower first and get myself into some clean clothes after washing my hair.

We had our lunch, sat around with our coffee and hot chocolate at the club there, scored ourselves some free hats at the bottle shop not far away... then we were off!  Mum and Dad had to drop in to the Medicare at Logan Central. 
This turned into a small shopping trip for them both.  Dad needed to go to Coles and I walked around there with him helping him find stuff and we found the checkouts were all closed - except one - and we had to go through the self-service checkouts (something he hates but I don't mind).  Anyway, we met up with Mum and were on our way back home before we knew it.  It was nice to be out and about around my way... Dad didn't mind it too much.  He was amazed at how well I knew my Coles, and that everything was packed in so tightly.  

I arrived home, opened up the house and didn't really want anything for dinner.  So, I made myself a light salad and had some Green Tea and watched some Supernatural.  Before I knew it, it was around 10:30pm and I'm now on here... woah!  Where did my evening go?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.

My Grandma's Birthday

Today would have been my Grandma's 95th Birthday - only days after Doris Lessing passed away, aged one year younger, and they had the same first name.  

I miss my Grandmother.  She was the coolest person in my life.  She was funny too and knew how to see the hilarious side of life when things looked really bad.  Grandma always asked me three questions when I was down about something:  'Is the sky going to fall on your head?  Is the earth going to swallow you up?  Is the sun going to stop shining tomorrow?' of course the answer to these would be no... and she's ask me why I was so upset and I'd tell her.  Afterwards, I'd not only feel better but realise my problem was pretty tiny really.
She bought me the coolest presents.  No matter what kind of presents they were, she'd either give me money to go towards it, or buy me something unusual.  I remember one time, she was at Byron Bay and was looking for a birthday present for me.  She brought back a coin purse made from Hemp with a marijuana leaf stitched into the front of it.  At the time I was working full time at RACQ and my boss thought it was funny, but still said it was tasteless.  when he found out my Grandma gave it to me, and knew what it was, he chuckled saying, 'Groovy Grandma.'

Grandma Killips was the best cook too.  Whenever we arrived at her house, and she opened the front door, the place always smelled like the best bakery in the world!  The aroma of cakes, biscuits and sweets wafted from the place all the time; and she'd feed us as though she was feeding an army!  This is because she had had five children!  So, there was always plenty of food to go around.  

Staying at Grandma's house - or hanging out there - was great.  There was the piano to play, the pool table to use or the massive backyard to hang out in.  Or better still, my brother and my cousins would get the home-made go-kart from the back shed, kick off the spiders, Grandpa would spray it with Pee-bo and brush off the dead bodies and we'd go racing down the steep hill of Wonderlost Outlook on the footpath - no helmets, no elbow or knee pads... and most of all... no brakes!  What fun we had!
I loved the side veranda at their house.  It used to be a bedroom for 3 boys:  Uncle Allan, Uncle David and Uncle Iain.  But, when I was young, there were bookcases of books, and a couple of wardrobes in it with an old oval dining room table in it.  I loved hanging out in there looking through the old 'Coles' books and not having a clue what the political jokes meant, but liking the drawing in Indian ink.  Then, I'd wash my hands and play the piano... but only my right hand would work whereas my left hand wouldn't move; or know how to.
I did try but would get the shakes if I tried too hard at making both my hands work on the piano at the same time.  It just wouldn't happen for me; not until recently.

But the things my Grandma taught me over my life was amazing... and I didn't realise exactly what she taught me until I went to high school and put those lessons to use in Home Economics.  Grandma taught me to cook with a wooden spoon - a few of them for different things - instead of a metal one; as the metal one would taint the food if you left it in the pot, whereas the wooden one wouldn't.  That goes the same for a wooden chopping board... but you have to keep it clean and oiled so it doesn't warp (and I have a $15 chopping board which I've owned for over 3 years and it looks brand new!).
She used vinegar in her laundry as a softener instead of regular 'Cuddly' softener; as the ones you buy at the shops caused a rash on her skin.  Well, when I found I was getting itchy from the same problems, I changed my washing softener to vinegar and have had great results.  And then I added Bi-Carb Soda in with my towels and they're fluffier than ever; and they absorb more water than ever before and smell wonderfully fresh.  

I have found that it's the little things that have made a big difference in my life that I have learned from Grandma.  I stayed overnight at her place 4 days before she passed away; and stayed at her house for the whole day the next day instead of going home straight after breakfast.  This is something I have never regreted doing... as I just had a feeling I had to stay with her for the day; and it was the best thing I ever did, because it was the last day I saw my Grandma alive.  Happy Birthday Grandma.  I miss you so much as you taught me so much; and your memory still lives on through your piano which I have in my house, which I'm learning to play - with both hands this time (yay!).  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Riley's Birthday Weekend

This weekend, we celebrated a belated birthday party for Riley.  She turned 13 last week and, seeing the day was spend with her Mum, we thought to throw her a birthday lunch from our side of the family.  Well, at Mum and Dad's place here in Logan City, we got together with Gabe, Kat and Jay (the family dog), Aunty Helen, Kate and me to have a great lunch.  There were balloons hanging from the dining room light, a 'Happy Birthday' streamer strung along the window and we had a great lunch of either make-your-own sandwiches or wraps.  After that, out came the lollies and chocolates, with my home made ice green tea to cool everyone down and clean their palates.  This drink went down a real treat!  And I was thankful I made two jugs of it as it's been a favourite treat of mine to make in Summer for a while now.  One of my Bookcrossing friends from the South in America sent me the recipe and I've loved making it as it's just lovely.  I'll put the recipe at the end of the post for you all to try out.  
Anyway, Riley's birthday cake was lovely and we all sat around feeling like we needed a nap not long after; even though Dad made some coffee for us all.  At at around 4pm, one by one, we all had to leave.  The day was cooling off, the sun was going down and Gabe and Kat had a long way to drive home with Riley and Jay.  But we had all had a great day with her; and she enjoyed herself.  
When I got home, I didn't want to eat anything - seeing how much I had scoffed down that afternoon.  So, I defrosted some raisin bread and browned it under the grill and ate that.  Then, watched a few episodes of 'That 70's Show' until around 10:30pm and shuffled off to bed.  Before that, Dad helped me get my hard drive out of my computer, put it into the hard drive caddy I had bought a few days ago from 'Game Dude' on the service road and then he pulled apart the rest of the computer - taking what he wanted from it - and now I have a shell of a computer that I can toss out.  Well, from around 7pm - 8:30pm, I worked on getting my music from the Purchased section on my iTunes Store.  Most of it came through, some of it got stuck there and wouldn't come through.  So, what did come through, I'm happy with.  

Today, I put the music I had on there that were cds and this only took about half an hour.  I had to update my iPod with the iTunes 6.0 and then put my music on it... and it would work okay.  I'm happy now, and I hope it keeps on working; but the 4 pages of Apps I had on it are still not there.  So, I'll have to go back to the Apple Store at Carindale and have them look at it and have them put them all back on for me now it's updated and mostly fixed.
This morning, I made pancakes, read some of the paper, gave my Little Miss Stevie a cuddle and some shell grit and then came up here after washing up, scrubbing the cutting board and letting it dry on top of the fridge and wiping down the counter and some of the cupboards.  The kitchen now looks a lot better and I feel better about it now everything is cleaner in it.   And now... for my recipe:

Ice Green Tea

In a heat-proof bowl, steep two teabags of green tea.  Decaf is good to do with this.  Otherwise, you can use it with other tea - black tea is okay to use as well.  But Green Tea just cleanses the mouth.
Wait for it to become nice and strong and add 2 tablespoons of raw or brown sugar.  This will give it a nice flavour.  White sugar is too refine and far too sweet.  And adding the sugar while the tea is hot will make sure it dissolves properly.  Take the teabags out and let the tea cool completely.
Once it's cooled, get a lime - without seeds - and cut into slices until you've cut up half the lime.  Then, cut those slices in half and add them tea once you've added the liquid to your jug.  Then with the other half, squeeze some of the juice in with the tea and stir it a little with a wooden spoon, refrigerate with plastic wrap over the top overnight and then serve in a nice tall glass.  

Well, there you have it!  The Green Ice Tea recipe.  I'm sure I've written it down before.  Just look unk under the label of 'recipes' and it should be there - if not, well, here it is.  Until my next post, take care, keep keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.