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

Tuesday 10 July 2012

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY ~ Tuesday 10th July 2012

Outside my window...unfortunately it's dark(ish) still. I can't quite make out what the sky has planned for the day, at the moment...the trees are dark silhouettes against the sky . I suspect it's going to be a damp day because there doesn't appear to be any colour to anything. If I look towards the garden path I can see it's wet and remember that at 3.30am this morning, I heard the gentle pitter patter of rain. 
Spring definitely came to call over the last two days, which was wonderful...so we know its approaching and hopefully will stay soon. 
There's the sound of the magpies...they're still chorkling...nothing stops them. There's also the screechy call of the whattlebird, which is a large, noisy honeyeater. We have a cheeky one who visits late every afternoon. He dive bombs our pool for his evening bathtime! I love birds visiting, but feel slightly put out when I've just spent two hours cleaning it. But we share this planet. :D
Other than that it's pretty quiet and still...waiting for the day to begin.
I am thinking...oh don't even go there...it's frightening even for me, plus I don't think you'd have the time!  


I am thankful...for heat and light being readily available whenever we need it. Many in the world don't have that luxury. I'm grateful I do.


In the kitchen...no goodies today. I haven't baked for so long. Really what have I been up to??? They'll be mutiny I tell yey...Oooh Ahhh Captain Sparrow :D (whoops...sorry I apologise ~ I have no idea where that came from! See aren't you glad I didn't complete the question about what I'm thinking about....it's scary let me tell you!


I am wearing...I'm still in bed...so mind you're own business! ;D

I am creating...today I'm hoping to try and doodle another design. It's already drafted up and I had hoped to get to it earlier. I've not done any drawing since last Thursday, so I'm feeling a little techy. Nothing that a few hours drawing can't solve though.

I am going...to try and organise something for my OH's birthday. It's tomorrow! Eek! 
Unfortunately, what I had in mind hasn't worked out. All the tickets are sold out ~ I'll not say for what because I'm wait listed and you never know by some miracle I may get lucky. 


I am wondering...where all the missing socks go to? Here's Robert Arthur Miller poem...he also mulls over this conundrum....
My missing socks
There's something in life that I'd like to know, 
where in the world does that missing sock go.  
You have them all when they go in with the clothes, 
but where they end up no one really knows.  
When it's time for folding when the dryer is done, 
you look for a match but can only find one.  
You look in the dryer you spin it around, 
but still there is no missing socks found.
Is there a sock monster
what does he do,
and what is the reason
he takes one and not two.

I'm reading...The Seamstress by María Dueñas. I'm now half way through this book, so thankfully I think I should be on track for our August book club meeting. My reading seems to be taking a back seat just now, but it's a good read so far....


Maria Duenas' million copy best-selling tale of adventure, tragedy, love and war, "The Seamstress". Spain, on the brink of civil war, 1936. In love for the first time, Sira Quiroga leaves Madrid, along with everything she knows and cares about, to run away to Tangiers, Morocco with her lover Ramiro. She entrusts him with all her inheritance only to be left by him - pregnant, penniless and in trouble with the authorities. At her lowest ebb Sira falls back on the one skill she possesses: sewing. Moving to Tetouan, Sira survives by sewing beautiful clothes for the English mistress of one of the most powerful men in Morocco and for her German friends. As the women unguardedly gossip about their husbands and lovers, Sira is placed in a position very valuable to the British secret service, and she is soon forced to move to Madrid where great danger lies. A grand and epic story that tells the story of Spain's civil war, Madrid in the Second World War and reveals a world of war, glamour, espionage and passion. "A wonderful novel with intrigue, love, mystery and tender, audacious and clean-cut characters". (Mario Vargas Llosa). "A magnificent novel that flawlessly brings together history and intrigue". (Juan Gomez-Jurado, author of "The Moses Expedition"). Maria Duenas holds a PhD in English Philology and is currently a professor at the University of Murcia. She has also taught at American universities, is the author of several academic articles, and has participated in various educational, cultural and editorial projects. She is currently writing her second novel.
 
I am hoping...that everyone who is supposed to be in their summer season, actually gets to feel it before their autumn arrives. I'm hearing so many horrific tales about the wet weather, no sunshine, floods etc that I hope things settle down and everyone gets to experience some of summer's delights.
I am looking forward to...possibly a snowy white Christmas deep within a woodland setting, with the log fire burning, beautiful food wafting from the kitchen, laughter and my beloved family around me sharing all the delights Christmas can unfold. 
 
Around the house...I'm trying not to look at my chaise longe here in the bedroom that looks like it will surely tipp over if I put another item of clothing over the end. That's the trouble with Melbourne weather....layers are always needed but no more so than when the season's are about to change. There's thick fleeces, jumpers, t-shirts and numerous trackies and jeans....all in various states of being worn. It's one of life's dilemma's don't you think....when you have clothes that are not clean but not dirty enough to wash....what do you do with your's? Mine obviously gravitate to the chair and wait.
  
A favourite quote for today...'A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty' ~ Winston Churchill



One of my favourite things...Is breakfast...so I'm away to start the day!
 
A few plans for the rest of the week: Work, rest and play but not necessarily in that order : D
 
A peek into my day... Well it was a peek into Sunday if I'm truthful. Warning....look away any vegetarians. I have to confess that we are 'meatatarians' in this house.
This was Sunday lunch although the Lamb Shanks took four hours to marinade and two to cook, so as you can see by the candlelight...hardly lunch. I was going to write a post (I may still) about the recipe because it was delicious. I just snapped this photo because I was trying to keep the hungry hounds at bay...my OH and son were drooling at this stage. 



 So that's it for this week; I hope you enjoyed your visit. 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 where you are : D


14 comments:

  1. Loved reading a daybook from another part of the world.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Pat,
      I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for popping by and I hope you'll come again soon ;D
      Have a great week ~ enjoy!

      Delete
  2. spring, imagine, its hard to fathom that as your write and as I write we thousands of miles apart because when we converse its as if we are just across the road,

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    Replies
    1. Hello Laurie...it's incredible isn't it?
      But imagine if we did live across the road from each other...I think I could become an annoying neighbour, because I'd love to come and watch you paint, constantly asking questions, requesting stories from your childhood and want to sample some of your delicious baking, to name but a few things.
      You'd be pulling the blinds and hiding as I approached the door...this way you can shut me out until you want me to visit! LOL :D
      I hope you're having a good week and life is treating you well.
      Say hi to Garry and I hope he's still behaving?
      Catch you later my friend ;D xoxo

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  3. This is really a nice day book. Thanks for sharing part of your life there and see you around:) have a blessed day!

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    1. Thanks Joy,
      It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to like me nattering about my day.
      It's great that you stopped by to comment, because that way I know I'm not nattering to myself! (LOL) ;D
      Have a great week whatever you get up to....have fun!

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  4. I talk for a living - I'm a Lecturer - so I actually enjoy some quiet time reading what other people have to say. You must write a post about the meal with the Lamb shanks. I was trying to enlarge the photo to see what wine it was you were drinking!

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    1. I know you're partial to a drop of vino Mark; D
      so I'll help you out here...I had to zoom in just to make sure which bottle it was and that I'd got the right details...
      So here you are...

      Vintage 2003: TypeRed
      Producer: Orlando
      Varietal: Red Blend (Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot)
      Designation: Museum Collection
      Vineyard: N/A
      Country: Australia
      RegionSouth: Australia
      SubRegion: Limestone Coast
      Appellation: Coonawarra

      Does that help? I'll try and post the lamb shanks later in the week but it was difficult to take photos but I'll explain all that in the future post.
      Thanks for stopping by and listening to me :D

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  5. Your winter sounds like mine ... Rain and dressing in layers :)
    We have hooks on the wall near the door for long sleeve T's, sweaters, hoodies, fleece, scarves, etc.
    It all has to be accessible and not nearly folded and put away - so your system is perfect in my view :)

    A snowy Christmas? Are you planning a trip? I would miss that so much if I lived in the Southern Hemisphere and had high summertime in the middle of December .....

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    1. Hi Kimmie,
      We also have a cupboard that would be ideally located near the door but somehow the chair just seems to magnetize the clothes ;D
      There could be a trip to snowier climes but I'll let you know the details nearer the time...you can be sure I'll definitely post about it if it goes to plan ;D
      I'm craving a cold snowy Christmas after having an Ozzie one last December. :D
      Have a great week ~ enjoy!

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  6. Hi Neesie, is still feels like Spring here too because Summer has still not started, just rain, rain and even more rain! Love the poem about the socks - it is just so true and the Winston Churchill quote is so true too. Love the look of the lamb shanks, please do do the recipe, we love them too and yours look great. Anne x

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    1. I've been hearing all about the terrible summer or lack of it!
      I've always been mystified by the whole sock syndrome thingy, so the poem tickled me ;D
      Watch this space for the lamb shank recipe Anne...it'll come sometime in the near future.
      Great to see you ~ have a wonderful week :D

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  7. Enjoyed this post. What a great poem, I've often wondered about those wandering socks myself.

    Darla

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    1. The missing sock syndrome is one of life's great mysteries Darla,
      I've always wondered where they go and if they are having a good time! ;D
      Thanks for popping by ~ it's great to see you. Have a wonderful weekend whatever you get up to.

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