“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ....Oscar Wilde

Tuesday 5 March 2013

A Simple Woman's Daybook




FOR TODAY ~ Tuesday 5th March 2013



Outside my window...well there's actually no window this morning because I'm sitting outside making the most of this beautiful day we've been blessed with. As I look across to the table and chairs I remember indulging recently in dinner with friends. Eating, drinking, laughing and enjoying each other's company. There's nothing better than sitting outside eating al fresco on a warm evening. The table flowers are still on display as are the remnants of the candles which gave a perfect glow to the evening. Everything is tidy and surprisingly there aren't too many leaves scattered over the area. The clearing of falling leaves can be a daily ritual here and we haven't even got going with autumn yet! 
Muffin is curled up in a little square patch of sunlight that has manoeuvred its way through the vine lattice canopy. She's had her walk, eaten a good breakfast, so it's time to relax. Not bad having a dog's life eh?
It's still early and the sun hasn't visited this side of the house yet...it makes an entrance later in the day.
There's a beautiful hint of a breeze just gently whispering through. The temperature this week is reported to be in the low 30's. (Celsius) and I have to admit I really like this early start to autumn. The days are hot and sunny, but the nights are cool and therefore no problem with trying to get to sleep. I'm glad we've left the 27 degree night-time temperatures! They weren't fun. 
The pool is rippling with the breeze and making that beautiful trickling sound as the water falls over the spa ledge, enticing me to take a dip but I'm going to resist until later.
The birds are very vociferous today...there's lots of gossip going on. 
As usual I have music gently wafting through from the kitchen (sigh) I think I like Tuesday morning and therefore I'm shall embrace it and appreciate it fully. It would be rude not too!    



I am thinking...I need to apologise to all my readers because I've been inundated with too many anonymous comments lately for me to ignore, so much so that I've decided to make the big decision to enable the comment moderation option on my posts, in the hope that the annoying spam will stop! I've only placed it on older posts for now. Hopefully I'll be able to remove it later and that you'll forgive me! 
 

I am thankful...for being fit and healthy. I'm fully aware that there are many people out in blog land that have daily struggles for whatever reason. I hope that today will be a little easier for you ;D


In the kitchen...Everything is reasonably clean and tidy. There's even fruit cake because I decided that I really should work my way through my store cupboard. This boiled fruit cake is the easiest cake in the world and has featured in a previous post. The recipe is here. It's so moist and lasts brilliantly. 
 
My cup is patiently waiting for my next cuppa...which is imminent! 
I am wearing...nothing on my feet (nothing new there) black linen Capri shorts and a shocking pink shoe string vest. Ha...you'd think it was summer!


I am creating...a few things but I'm not making much progress, so after I've finished this daybook I'm going to try to be productive. I've got three projects to complete and I'd love to have them all done by the end of the week....LOL 
I don't think that's going to happen but I hope to certainly have made some progress. I know you can't rush these things but I need to get a wriggle on...seriously I've procrastinated long enough! 
Here's a little project I finally got to earlier in the week...I took these precious photographs out of my treasure box and placed them in frames.  


They are my Great Grandparents on my maternal side. Quite some time ago I started to trace my family as in the 'Who do you think you are' programme, which is always a favourite for me. I might even post about my ancestry one day...but for now I still need to do more research. 
It feels only right that they should be out in the daylight. I wonder what they would think about being here in AustraliaMy Great Grandmother came from Scotland and was the daughter of a farmer and my Great Grandfather was one of seven children and the son of a labourer! No blue blood found in my ancestry line yet, but I'll keep looking! ;D

I am going...on another couple of trips soon and I'm hoping you'll come with me? Are you free?
I'll swing by your place on the way...so pack your bags! :D 


I am wondering...when I might manage to have a good old chin wag with my sister and brother. I've not spoken to them person to person for a while and it's time we checked in with one another. I know they are fine thanks to texts etc.
Thankfully with text, tweets and Skype communications are far easier than it used to be. It's just getting the right time for both ends of the earth to be available and 'in sync'! It's quite a task!

I'm reading...I'm very excited about this book and just wish I could find more time to read it in one go. I'm only managing to read late at night which isn't ideal.  A book club friend put this forward as a recommendation and I must say after seeing her face talking about it and after reading some reviews, I couldn't resist. So it's my Book Club entry for this month. 
 
Details taken from Gillian Flynn own website...
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. ..

For more reviews click here


About the author: Gillian Flynn is an American author and former television critic for Entertainment Weekly. As of 2012, she has published three novels: Sharp Objects, Dark Places, and Gone Girl. 
Born: 1971 Kansas City
Education:  University of Kansas, Northwestern University
Awards: CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, CWA New Blood Dagger, Black Quill for Dark Genre Novel Of The Year
Nominations: CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger,
 
I am hoping...that I can do justice to a piece of work that I want to produce. I can't say too much here and now but hopefully if things go well, I'll let you see the end result. Wish me luck :-/
 

I am looking forward to...discovering new things. Whether it's on my next trip or within my artwork...there's always something new to discover. It's all about the wonderful journey. 

 

Around the house...I know there is ironing lurking (isn't there always) but I'm just not looking! There's a large box of beautiful mangos bought fresh from the market at the weekend. I'm not sure we needed 15 but for $5 dollars I don't think anyone would say no. I think there could well be a large jug of mango smoothie in the fridge by this afternoon. ;D
All of my fur cushions went to the groomers on Saturday (well they do look like pet furry beasts) and they are all fluffed up and fresh...back in situ sitting pretty. I wanted to make the most of the weather to give them an airing!They could possibly win best in show now!  

A favourite quote for today...A woman is like a tea bag ~ you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water! Eleanor Roosevelt. 

One of my favourite things...I recently was sent the link below by a friend...it's special and I wanted to share it with you.
It's a female golden Lab with a little Down's syndrome boy who has likely never seen a dog up close like this before. The dog is so gentle and keeps trying to engage the child. Its just so beautiful....if you are like me perhaps have a tissue to hand....

A few plans for the rest of the week:  At this point I normally say.....Work, rest and play but not necessarily in that order...it still seems appropriate! : D

 


A peek into my day... Hopefully this won't shock or distress anyone...
It was a photo that was sent to my hubby during last week from an plant in Darwin....apparently the crocodile just appeared on site! A new recruit perhaps but I'm not sure he's suitable ~ he seems a little snappy! 
I'm thinking that this might be a good camera lens because I don't think anyone would want to get up close and personal with this baby! It's okay though because he moved on after doing his value checks....everything seemed to be in good working order. :D
 So that's it for this week; I hope you enjoyed your visit and if it's your first time reading my daybook entry, I hope you enjoyed it.
Don't forget to pop over to The Simple Womans Daybook and check out the other day book entries

Have a fabulous week and hopefully the sun will shine for you....keep smiling!

https://secure.quebles.com/content/hotmail/emoticons/1511763.gif I hope to see you again soon...Have a wonderful week everyone.




22 comments:

  1. I love to visit when you give us such a detailed description of your day, your life, its so interesting to see such an intimate birds eye veiw of a country I will never visit.I'm sorry you have had spam trouble, it does seem to come and go, hopefully they will back off.I will be interested to see where your trips will be, I will following along right beside you, lol, I love the sound of those mangoes, do you know i never tasted a mango until I was almost thirty years old, enjoy your cool evenings, take care my friend,

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    1. Oh there you are Laurie,
      I thought I'd made a pig's ear over my settings because I didn't get the notification via my email that you had called. I'll have to go back and check...grr...I hate changing anything on this blog because you never know if it's going to work or if it's what you want!
      But yesterday I had to delete 75 of the little $%#^&%$! So I had a little tantrum. Anyway...enough of my rantings. ;D

      I'm so happy to see you here and to hear how much you enjoy my natterings about my day! I really can't believe it but this post always seems to be a popular one...so who am I to deny! LOL

      Yep we are going on two trips...the first is only for a weekend but I think you'll like it and the second trip will involve a flight! I love to know that you will be right beside me...I'll try to show you some spectacular or interesting things along the way.

      Psst....don't spread this around will you but I didn't taste mango until I was in my early 30's but I've made up for it since! I know I'm only just 30 (cough) and a bit (hysterical laughter...can you hear that?).
      Still a little toasty here at the moment, but it'll be cooling down soon. Hence I'm still here and not ironing! ;D
      I hope you are having signs of spring appearing all around your little nest.

      I love having you visit Laurie...I know it's not easy for you but I do hope you'll continue to pop by whenever you can.
      Take care my friend and I'll be in touch soon :D
      xoxo



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  2. Nessie, you are such a great writer. I feel like I'm sitting there with you. I so enjoyed hearing how much you appreciate all the wonders around you.

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    1. Oh Boo that is so kind of you...you'll have me blushing ;D

      People seem to enjoy the Daybook entry, which always surprises me. I really enjoy writing it because it does make me stop in 'the now' instead of either being in the past or rushing into the future. It also enables you to see the same details that sometimes get overlooked.
      Sometimes I'm even surprised in which direction I go with the journal but I suppose that's a good thing and makes it so enjoyable for me.
      Maybe you should try writing one...I'd love to read it :D

      Have a wonderful Wednesday ~ enjoy!
      xoxo

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  3. Neesie Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I appreciate it very much. Your blog is so lovely! I look forward to reading your future blog postings!

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    1. Oh that's so kind Maria, I'm glad that you enjoyed visiting my blog. I hope I can keep posting things that will capture your eye, interest or imagination ;D
      Have a great finish to the week with an even better weekend ~ have fun! :D

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  4. Hello lovely lady! Oh how this post made my heart sing (even made me a bit teary!) Maybe it's because I'm on "juice cleanse - Day 32!" and I'm detoxing old emotions but it just contained so much of the stuff that REALLY matters. Sunshine, family, creativity... cake! :-) Thank you... for always being so true to yourself. It's always a pleasure to drop by and see what you're up to. I cant wait to hear about the travels. Oh and that cake.... sigh... ♥♥♥

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    1. Wow Angy...I've savoured your kind words and read them over a few times....
      You really hit the spot there and if I'd have been on 'juice cleanse' any day never mind Day 32 I might have got a little teary.
      I'm always unsure about writing but when I get a response like yours then I know I'm heading in the right direction.
      When I started my blog writing was one of the things I wanted to improve on. Thank you so much for your comment ~ I'll treasure it ♥

      Yep just a few weeks to wait and then we're off on our trip...I'll pop over to you first to check out what's happening in your world.

      See you soon but in the meantime...enjoy the weekend. I hope its a wonderful one! :D

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  5. Oh how I wish we were having some warm weather.. Its coming but not fast enough. You make me want to pull up a chair by you and bask in the warmth. :) Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Well there's warm and then there's roasty toasty Cris...and we're having a really toasty time at the moment. Melbourne's weather usually changes so frequently that whatever the weather is 'doing' you have to make the most of it, because it's sure to change. But this hot spell has been around for a few weeks and will continue until at least next Thursday.
      I fear that once it disappears then we'll be into the autuminal weather so I'm trying to appreciate what's here now. Phewph....
      If you pop over maybe you should bring your swimmers with you because you'll probably find me bobbing about in the pool on the lounger!
      Have a wonderful weekend and I'm trying to attach some of this heat to my email...I hope it arrives okay ;D

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  6. What a sweet day I picked for my visit, Neesie! I don't get to visit nearly as much as I'd like, and this was a perfect day. Perfect weather, perfect sounds, views, and a WONDERFUL video (tissues, please). I'm so glad I was able to stop by! ~Zuni

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    1. Hi Zuni,
      I'm so happy that you enjoyed your visit to my place. ;D
      I haven't been posting as often as I would wish, so we're probably even!

      The video is very touching isn't it? I was mesmorised when I first saw it.
      It's time I nipped over to see what you've been up to...see you soon.

      In the meantime have a wonderful week :D

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  7. Love that quote!! I've been wanting to read Gone Girl, but have so many books lined up already...hopefully soon! The photo didn't distress me, I live in Florida and there are crocodiles everywhere!
    Here’s My Post

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    1. I've just torn myself away from reading 'Gone Girl'...it's really good so maybe you should try moving it up your wishlist Vicki?
      I'm only about half way through and it keeps throwing up surprises!

      I'm not sure I'd like to find crocodiles everywhere...thankfully Melbourne isn't prime crock country...well as far as I know it isn't!!! ;D

      I keep thinking it's still the weekend because today is Labour Day here which is a holiday. Nice long weekend for everyone with beautiful weather.
      Have a wonderful week...enjoy whatever you have planned for this week. Enjoy! :D

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  8. The capri pants made me smile. Where I am I just downgraded from parka to warm jacket!! That cake looks amazing, the photo is so pretty. I just finished Gone Girl and made my husband read it. Neither one of us could put it down!! It's been awhile since I've read a page turner like that!

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    1. Hehe...well I'll no doubt be heading into the warm jacket soon, but last night was the hottest night we've had in Melbourne.
      It was 35C and very uncomfortable, but thankfully the cool change has arrived this morning. There is a beautiful breeze which I'm fully appreciating!
      Every door and window has been flung open.

      I'm so thrilled to hear your reaction to 'Gone Girl' because I told my husband that he's got to read it after me.
      With the weather being too hot to do very much I've given in and managed to read more, which as you know with this book...isn't a problem.
      I think I'm not going to want it to finish! I wonder if her other books have the same page turning thrill? I'll have to check them out. ;D

      Keep cosy for now and thanks for nipping over here...did you manage to grab some heat whilst you were here?
      Have a great week whatever you have planned! :D

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  9. Yikes! That's one big croc! Fantastic photos of your great grandparents. They definitely should be proudly display. :) Hope you got to some of those projects you had in mind. Best wishes, Tammy

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    1. He is a big boy isn't he...I don't think I'd like to meet him on my morning shift!
      I haven't been as productive as I would have liked during this last week due mainly to the heat, but we're cooling down today so I'm hoping I can catch up.
      I keep looking at my new photos of my great grandparents and wondering what they were like? I think I'm going to have to do more searches on my ancestry. Last time I did this I managed to go back to 1747 on my Mother's side but I had problems on my Fathers side.

      Thanks for visiting my place and I hope your week is going well.
      I'll pop over to see what you're up to soon...in the meantime have fun! :D

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  10. Hi Neesie, thanks for visiting my blog. I just bookmarked your fruitcake recipe, I'm keen to try it out! Greetings from ice cold and snowy Rhineland! Valerie

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    1. Hello ice cold snowy Rhineland! Brrrr.... ;D
      I'll try to spread some of my heat here across to you via this comment. We've certainly had high temperatures for a sustained 9 days which is unusual for Melbourne. Record breaking apparently!

      I do hope you try the fruit cake because it is so good. It's easy to make, bake,and take! lol
      It stays moist for quite a while and is great to have just ready to produce if you have an unexpected afternoon tea party!
      If you make it...I'd love to hear what you think. :D

      I hope your week is going well whatever you're up to...I'll pop across to see. I'll need to wrap up before though by the sounds of it!

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  11. Oh the crocodile is so funny! It looks like it is doing a great job! I am also looking forward to your forthcoming trips. Of course do I want to come virtually with you! Many thanks for the invitation and good luck for the projects you want to finish until the end of the week! Will you post them here?

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    1. Yep he worked the whole shift alone LOL
      Thankfully for the other workers, he became bored and moved on!

      I'm glad that you're free to join me on my forthcoming trips...not long now, although I have friends coming to stay first before we can head off.
      I'll certainly be posting all about it here...so pack you bag ready! ;D

      Because I've been a little quiet on the blogging front lately, I've actually managed to do three projects...although two of them aren't finished yet.
      I hope to get back to posting again in the next day or so.

      I hope your week has gone well and that your weekend will be even better! :D

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I get so excited to see you here and love to read your thoughts and comments.
I always try to answer each one personally (I think it's only polite)
...♥...I truly appreciate your precious time here so thank you ...♥...

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