Catching up with long lost friends

It's wonderful to keep in touch with friends from across the sea, especially when you've traveled far and wide over the years. 

For instance, I'm regularly in touch with friends from the other side of the world, in Australia.

It's great to hear from them especially when we are suffering winter weather... seeing them basking in warm sunlight and sharing bright, sun-filled photo's and then of course we can reciprocate. 

Well we can try!

Catching up with blogs and photographs help to keep me in touch, but it can also bring memories flooding back.

I experienced one such fabulous reminder this week of the time that I volunteered to plant up trees for the local council on a warm Sunday morning.

The plants were tiny seedlings and we planted hundreds along the creek... bringing the native bush closer to the community.

If you'd like to see what the project was about then click on the link below.

Sunday Community Planting Project

Muffin and I would often walked past the area that we planted the native plants, and although I planted many trees on that Sunday morning, I took a special note of one particular eucalyptus tree... so that I could keep an eye on it's progress.

The photo below shows that little sapling, just before I left Melbourne... nearly four years ago now.

I was so proud of that little tree, but imagine my surprise when a friend sent a recent photo of it, towering up through the canopy! 

(I'm hoping that you can see it... it's right in the centre of the photograph).

My Melbourne baby... has grown up, quite literally!

My friend also included an update of both a lemon tree and a lime tree, that I'd bequeathed to her.

Once again, I'm thrilled that they are producing fantastic fruit, especially as the lime was only young and never actually produced fruit for me.

Something a little different today, but I hope you liked it.

Take care if Storm Doris is visiting you... it appears that we have escaped her here.

But I'm not complaining.

Thanks for your visit today and I hope to see you again soon

I'm linking up today with Wordless Wednesday

A kiss to a Rose...

I'm aware I'm neglecting you all and hope you'll forgive me. I'm a little like a headless chicken just now and that doesn't really lend itself to being creative even if I manage to squeeze some free time.

I just thought I'd do a quick post tonight just to let you know that I'm still here...

Are you having wafts of fragrance emanating from the page? If only this post came with a scratch and sniff button because the rose below knocks your socks off with its perfume.

After visiting a garden centre a few days ago, both my SIL and I just couldn't pass this rose without stopping to admire...and guess what it.....just jumped into my boot! Amazing eh? ; D

I've potted it into a large tub and it seems to be very happy in its new home... 

Here is all the details for anyone who would like to know more....I must dash to dish up dinner....sorry :-/
 

 

Have a good week everyone...keep smiling (I am) : D

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, Wednesday 23rd November 2011...

Outside my window...is the outside entertainment area. There's an old vine weaving and winding its way through the lattice covered structure that gives much needed shade during the summer months.
Its now the new home to another dove nest {or could it be the same couple just moved upmarket?} She was peering down at me yesterday as I swept the area.
There are lots of plants with a handy large herb pot by the kitchen door. Also garden tables and chairs ~ plus two comfy loungers, a barbecue, wood burner, weather thermometer, and a large pottery teapot. Well it is my home after all and tea features a lot here. It actually travelled from the Middle East and is still in one piece which is unbelievable really.
There's also a white butterfly fluttering around.
Oh yes, nearly forgot...the suns out but there's lots of various shades of cloud from white fluffy to heavy greys. Don't you just love clouds?

I am thinking...how we can have a Christmas without a turkey. I've never done one of those. I'm not convinced yet so there's still time to revert back to the traditional. I mean, I've actually cooked a turkey Christmas dinner since I first got married {way back...} sometimes in 40+ degree's, so this is a big deal and a long standing tradition. If you have any idea's on an alternative to help me please let me know...I'd love to hear from you.

I am thankful...for this blog. I'm seeing things in a positive different light. I'm fascinated looking at the world map where you all are situated and hence my geography has improved immensely.
My numbers are rising unbelievably which blows me away because I can't believe anyone would be interested in my nattering. I'm also meeting lovely people who have similar ideas and interests and are so encouraging and inspirational.
I had no idea creating a blog would give me so much pleasure. I have to confess I'm hooked! There I said it....

In the kitchen...because I'm a little later blogging today everything has been cleared away. All ship shape.

I am wearing... jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt, with hair tied up. Its a little fresher today. I needed my sleeveless quilted jacket on first thing when walking Muffy this morning, but not anymore.

I am creating... my own Christmas cards from photographs I've taken.
I'm also regularly adding more paint to my silk painting...I know its a slow process but you have to wait for each session to dry before you can carry on, which usually means its the next day before I get back to it. I will let you see the results but its taking longer than I thought.

I am going... out to buy birthday cards, pressies and maybe a little something for the party season if something catches my eye ; )

I am wondering... who is going to win tonight's Junior Masterchef Final, although I have to warn you that I saw a clip showing the winning celebrations and it gave it away. I could see who raised the trophy from the overhead shot....I have to tell you I was so annoyed. So if your a fan and the clip comes on LOOK AWAY! Although I noticed last night that they changed the final clip, so its not the same. Maybe they received complaints ~ I know I nearly contacted them myself.
I'll still watch it though because I'm hooked. The trouble is I feel so inadequate as a cook now. These 11 and 12 year old cheflings are so amazing. I just don't know how they do it. It doesn't help that I often rush getting dinner ready so that I can watch uninterrupted but then its not so good watching what they've produced and then looking at our plates. I'll hopefully be better and back to normal after tonight final.

I am reading....well I've not started it if I'm truthful but I will...

After serving as a nurse in Philadelphia for three years, Annie Weaver returns home to her Amish family, begins to nurture a budding romance with a community farmer and soon finds herself with several important choices to make.
The author Vannetta Chapman has published over 100 articles in Christian family magazines. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta is a multi-award member of Romance Writers of America and holds a B.A. and M.A. in English. She
currently teaches in the Texas hill country, where she lives with her husband. A Simple Amish Christmas is her debut novel. Visit her on the web at www.vanettachapman.com

As I said I haven't started this book yet but thought it might be quite interesting and very timely with the Christmas season upon us. Its had very good reviews.

ISBN: 9781426710667
ISBN-10: 1426710666
Number Of Pages: 256
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Dimensions (cm): 21.336 x 13.97 x 1.778
Weight (kg): 0.386
Audience: General

I am hoping....that my waistband stops expanding!

I am looking forward to...my book clubs Christmas night out. I still have to purchase my book choice for the lucky dip but that's not a problem. Spending hours in a book shop has never been a problem for me.

I am hearing...my laptop playing Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu new album,
He is a blind Aboriginal who plays hauntingly beautiful songs in his native tongue. You don't need a translation when the music touches your heart...Its a remarkable story...

Around the house...plants gasping for a drink...note to self...get to them as soon as I finish this post.
Dust and bits that need hoovering (or should I say vacuuming?) I really should start to organise the big cleanup before the decs are brought out of the store cupboard.

I am pondering...what the boys in my life might like from Santa. Girls are so much easier on that front. My OH for instance has requested socks!!!! YES...REQUESTED!

One of my favorite things...my mobile. It keeps me connected, on time and organised. I love its little alarm which was created specially for me. Even though I'm not always wanting to hear it....it wins me over. I enjoy its little tinkling tune.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
I've got to decide where all the Christmas decorations will fit best in this new house. That's the trouble with moving house so often I always have to rethink all the decorations ....and I have a lot!
I've got to start baking the mince pies too at some stage. Rounding up more pressies and getting my Christmas cards into the post to reach their destinations world wide.
I'm wondering if our Magic Christmas Elf will find us in this new house ~ I hope so. He's due to arrive soon if he's coming....
So basically I'll be preparing for the holiday season.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Water droplets dangling on the Deer's Horn (pokok tanduk rusa) plant.
It reminds me of so much of reindeer's antlers...very timely.

I know that's two photo's....so sue me! I just couldn't resist them both.

And that's it for this week . . . my day book.

Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries 

Have a wonderful Wednesday and Happy Thanksgiving ; D

Sunshine and Showers.....

I spent most of today outside...you guessed it...a beautiful sunny day at last. It has been really quite cold lately, so it was good to get outside and do a little gardening with the sun warming me.
I had planned to tidy up the debris left from my trawl last weekend through the boxes of old photographs but as they say when the sun shines.....

Here's a glimpse of a few of the packets, albums and boxes.

How we managed to pay the mortgage on top of all this film developing...I wonder? I think the waiting for the processed results was traumatic too...sometimes days....can you imagine snapping something now and not seeing the results immediately? Sometimes by the time you went back to the shop to collect them, it was difficult to remember what you'd actually snapped!

As you can see...both Muffin and Zac aren't impressed that their play area is taken up by all this rubbish. They don't get to leave their toys lying around....shocking!

This photo is one that I've had in my mind to find for some time.

It goes under the heading 'Life in Brunei'

Gone are the days that my son volunteers to help in the garden.

Apologies for the quality....I just took a photo of the photo {if you get my drift} just to show you.

How cute....

And here's another from my memory bank....

Such sheer joy at being out in the tropical rainstorm. The temperature would be in the high 30's so what better way to cool down and have fun....

Now that's rain!!!

It's nearly the weekend {again} so remember to make the most of it and seize the moment.

Whether your wet or dry....

Enjoy ; D