Big Saturday, Relaxing Sunday

Wow!  What a week!  I had a week that was like a Tardis... sersiously... it appeared to be just 7 days long, but I fitted so much more into it than I normally would; and it felt as though it lasted longer than my normal week.

I came home on Thursday from Brighton where there were cheeky chickens and fresh eggs and mosquitoes were big blood-suckers that followed me around at dawn and dusk.  I hated them... and the mozzie repellent didn't work.  I had to pick up my television from Eagle Farm with my Mum and Dad and we had to cross the Gateway Bridge twice to get the tv back and other time to get home!  And once home, my tv still didn't work - but we knew why.  It was the antenna, not the tv.

On Friday, I went to Garden City nice and early to do some banking and to buy some food.  It was also the day the antenna guys came out to fix my television.  I wasn't home, but Dad went on my behalf.  And by the time I arrived home on the next bus, they had been and gone and Dad was just locking up.  We tried out the television and it worked!  Yay!  I was happy, so was Dad.

Then, yesterday, I was invited out to Ged Maybury's birthday lunch at his place.  He's an author and wonderful friend of mine who I've known for around 20 years, and lost touch with until I found him on Facebook.  We've been chatting and swapping ideas a lot lately and he asked me give the speech to launch his new book at the Logan Art's Festival next month.  So, yesterday, I was at his house to help celebrate his birthday and he gave his new book to read.  And during Earth Hour last night, I got halfway through it... yeah, it's  thin book, but it's also a funny one.  I finished it before going to bed last night.  

Today, I woke up to my alarm and didn't want to get out of bed.  I have been getting up early for the last 4 days, to run around, to get things done... to be on the go... and I just wanted to sleep in today.  And I did.  I didn't get up and started breakfast until 8am; and it felt good to just laze around for a while.  
This afternoon, I have to get in and work on getting my house tidied up again. I've still got stuff everywhere from unpacking.  The vintage suitcase I bought from Electea is still sitting by the wardrobe doors waiting to be used, and yet I've finally hung my necklace-holder and am using it and the lawn has been mowed too.  So, I guess I've gotten a few things done, but not all things.  

However, this week will be a busy one too.  I'll be going to my Craft Group tomorrow afternoon, then on Wednesday it's a shopping day back here in Logan City (thank goodness).  Then on Thursday, I have to go to the Chiropractors to see how my back is doing.  I haven't had any twinges lately and so I'm hoping I don't have to get it looked at too much.  Otherwise, this week is going to be a very busy week before it even starts.  How is your week shaping up?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.  

Earth Hour

Last night was Earth Hour.  I had prepared myself with new batteries in my big torch, grabbed some tea candles from the freezer and lit them beforehand - the make sure they'd work - and then pulled out the battery-run cd player and chose a cd to play.  The television was turned off at 8:30pm on the dot and I lit all the candles after I turned off the main light; and it was on for me.  The best thing I did for myself was wash up everything from dinner an hour before so I didn't have anything in the way for that hour.

I sat there writing in my journal by the light of two bright tea candles.  It was lovely and quiet.  I enjoyed my time without the brightness of the television set or the electric lights running my home and watched as the fish settled in and rested on the bottom of the tank; thinking it was time for bed.  Little Miss Stevie even had her own candle; and this time it was in a proper, safe holder of its own.  It's an old blue one which has a broken moon on the side that I don't use very often and I should.  I left the lid off so that the light got out more and out the sides, it cast off light in the shapes of moons and stars; very pretty and not too bright for my little bird, who went to sleep on her swing almost immediately.  So, I'll be using this one next year as it's not a bad candle holder.  So, that was Earth Hour.

Today, I was up at around 7:30am and out the door to buy the paper and some milk.  It was a lovely morning and I so, after breakfast, I thought to cut up some pumpkin and cook it up in a pot of water to make a cake for some afternoon tea; and invite my folks over for some coffee today.

While it was on stove on a low heat, I went out in the back yard and began working on removing the disgusting-looking bench two of my potted plants were sitting on.  I had picked it up off the footpath a few years back and now was harboring a Green Ants' nest.  So, after unclipping it from the fence, I found it was going to be a complicated operation.  I had to remove the top of the bird bath and put that on the table, grab the basket underneath, toss that over the fence into my carport, then grab the whole metal bench thing and throw it over the side fence before the ants attacked me!  I did that in two quick moves.  This thing that used to be really heavy years ago, was light as a feather now and went over that side fence easier than I thought... and it bounced!  I put the two heavy-duty metal planters in its place, put the plants back where they were and the bird bath top and the area looks just lovely!  It actually looks a lot neater and on its way to being something better than what it was.  I can see it's going to be something I can work with, something I can mould into what I want and need; and that's what I've been wanting to do for the longest time.

Well, after I went around the side and cleaned up my mess  and threw out what needed throwing out, I washed my hands and got the dirt and mud off me (yeah, some of it came out of a chair I tossed and I wore it; along with my shirt!), I scrubbed my shirt and then checked on the pumpkin.  And what do ya know? It was all cooked and ready to be turned off!  I did that, grabbed the colander, emptied out the vegetable and a pyrex bowl and mashed it up; and now it's cooling down for the next step in the process of baking this cake (which will start in half an hour or so).  

So, I've had a pretty busy weekend.  How about you?  Have you been up to much?  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here. 

Earth Hour

On Saturday night, we had Earth Hour.  I spent it in the dark writing in my journal by candle light.  I had unplugged all my appliances and made myself a pot of tea by boiling some water in a pot on my gas stove.  It took a lot longer than it usually would with the kettle and so it made me realise how much I relied on the modern conveniences of everyday things.  With the television and radio switched off, I found the house settled into the silence very quickly and it felt nice to have nothing to have to watch or listen to for this one hour; and so I sat down, opened my journal and wrote in it for about half an hour and sat drinking my tea and eating my chocolate for the other half.  

It felt lovely to just sit and not worry about anything.  And it's not often we get to do just this; and we should all do this more often; not only to save ourselves money in our power bills but to just listen to our world around us.  

I ended up going outside for a few minutes just before it finished and looking at the stars.  Without my lights on, or the television blaring, my little piece of the world felt nice and quiet for a while...  even if it was only for one hour.

So, what did you do for Earth Hour?