Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: hot in the house, well nearly hot, and warm to hot in the car.

summary	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
	Late shower	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Mostly sunny
maximum	16°C	17°C	16°C	15°C	16°C	15°C	15°C
minimum	7°C	2°C	1°C	1°C	-1°C	0°C	2°C

Things that make me happy:

The Heat music by NeedToBreathe, plus the song You Wreck Me at Detroit on Youtube

Book I am reading:

same book, I have half read the first page

What I am enjoying on TV:

Selling Houses Australia, only one episode left on Wednesday and the repeats, I usually watch it twice, once properly

On the menu for dinner:

We had pumpkin pasta, but it was not as nice as our 80s one from the back of a Leggo's packet with bacon in it, mushroom Dolmio etc. Pumpkins make everything taste like squash. For my American readers, I have no idea how to say it differently, sorry

On my To Do list:
Make up my shopping list from my menu plan

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Nothing special

In the craft basket:

Yesterday my husband fixed the hem on my daughter's uniform that embarrasingly came down at school, it looks like it was helped along to me lol

Looking forward to this week:

Paying a few bills

Tips and tricks:
My daughter used philo pastry and frozen mixed berries to make a dessert using raspberry jam to sweeten the filling

My favourite blog post this week:
Special Needs Marriages (clickable)

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Were Rabbits, (clickable) lovely lunchboxes and Japanese things, "vegetarian with a bite"

No words needed: View from the top of our other roof



Lesson learned the past few days:
That there is such a thing as Google Chrome

On my mind:
As little as possible

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
laying things at the foot of the cross, have no idea which scripture it is

This meme is from Sandra's blog.

Spiritual Sundays

I just listened to this video by Needtobreathe a Christian band, who really have few Christian themed songs on their CDs. Well, I haven't noticed being hit over the head by anything. I love really getting into these songs when I am in the mood, like on a long drive.

This interview mentioned Corrupted Small Towns, and as my blog is about my experience of small isolated town living I liked how they said that, I feel they understand.

Having come to be friends with my high school friends and some friends from Primary school again, I have been thinking of issues about how I have left a lot of that behind compared to some of the others. Living here has created other distance, but it is nice to see what they are all up to on Facebook.

My husband's trip out to the interstate

He took a little trip there today and these are the things he saw. The trip is one hour and twenty minutes. Our son came home for a break before winter semester at uni.

One photo is of bush in a gap before the land flattens out, one shows wattle and another bracken fern.





Then there is a jay having his winter lunch, as jay's do.



We have always admired this mystery tree. I love Victorian gardens, another of my mystery trees. The bird and the tree are on the main highway from Melbourne to Sydney.





This town is in New South Wales, and it looks like a typical old-fashioned New South Wales town in the country. This shop is for sale.





A flower and some galahs. If they were red and darker grey they would be gang gangs.

Back To Basics Challenge

Sowing seed or Planting

No seeds or planting.

Planning for The Future

My husband found a nasty surprise under the ash in the heater. He is going to see if he can buy a new hearth firebrick? Remember we bought the house very cheaply. The fact that the heater fan didn't work should have alerted us, we fixed that right at the start. But we have been using the heater, though the house is not as warm as it could be. We blamed other things. A bit like cars, sometimes it can be more than one thing wrong.



We didn't move in last winter, so many things prevented it, so working on all our jobs while we are living in our normal house.

Working for the Future




My husband applied a little elbow grease to the discoloured chimney pipe I showed you last week. Next a scrubbing brush and sugar soap to the paintwork. Apparently he put back 1 1/2 rows of bricks last week.


Building Community

Today I saw photos of a school reunion I didn't attend, so I feel a little more in the loop.

Learn a new Skill

I asked a few questions of my husband this morning who helped my daughter with her deliveries in the rain just in case I have to help one day.

This meme comes from Belinda's blog.

My Favourite Trucking Songs

I went to comment of Tatersmama's post about truckin, ("Jerry Garcia actually wrote "Truckin'" just for me") have no idea what she was talking about, so couldn't comment. Have since read the lyrics of the Grateful Dead song, maybe where "keep on Truckin' comes from" or they wrote to that theme. Probably nothing to do with trucks themselves, will have to read the lyrics again.

Anyway, I love this song Convoy, and another new one by Jayne Denham. I found some great truck videos on an earlier post. Her truck is going along where I live, or the song goes along there. Apparently Australian trucks a couple of years ago where still very much like Convoy trucks, from that era. Around here there are few wonderful old trucks like I have never seen before. I lived only a few houses down from an interstate for years until they built a bypass. The truck stop could be seen from our back verandah. I missed the brake sounds I think and the lights at night. Not sure if I still would though. Check out the red truck in the video, not sure if there are many of those here, maybe, I only go on a 2 hour or less stretch when I go to Canberra, which hasn't been very often lately.

Skywatch Friday

These were photos taken on last Saturday morning about 15 minutes from here. The first one is looking towards the mountain where there is snow in winter. It is winter here on the 1st June, not sure when it will actually snow this year.











Check out the "sky watch" at the bottom of my page. It doesn't fit this blog, but maybe someone else may like to use it too. I wonder if they got the idea from Skywatch?

70s Music ~ Love It or Loathe It?

The other day on Facebook I mentioned that I liked Cat Stevens and Suzie Quatro. A friend Rhonda mentioned to me that Cat Stevens was in concert around Australia. My favourite song I said it Moon Shadow.

A lot of my friends from High School still love their 70s music. I love it too, but won't play it more than a couple of times then I move on. I even discouraged my husband, and he plays his CDs in the car. Anyway that was awhile ago, and after listening to Cat Stephen's songs on Youtube I don't think I am over him at all, and he is my favourite, I was right. Very uplifting.

Potato Cakes

I'm sorry I have been having trouble locating the recipe my husband used for our potato cakes. I did send him lots of recipes that day, but I think he made the one his old mother in law used to make.

I found this one first:

Potato & Carrot Pancakes (vegan)

Credit for this ABSOLUTELY YUMMY recipe goes to Margaret Ogilvie.
These pancakes are fantastic for weekend lunches.
You will need:
4 medium-sized potatoes
2-3 medium-sized carrots
1 medium-sized onion
1 tsp curry powder
1 heaped tsp self-raising flower
2 egg-equivalents (Egg Replacer, Egg Like or No Egg)
1/2 to 1 tsp salt
Method:
1 Coarsely grate the potato and carrot. Finely dice the onion.
2 Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix well.
3 Fry the mixture in spoon-sized quantities in a fry pan with sufficient oil to cover
the bottom of the pan. Flatten into pancakes and cook on both sides until golden
brown and the potato and carrot is cooked through.
4 Serve as a side dish or as a meal on its own.

From: Vegetarian Network Victoria

Layered Potato Cake

I think this is it, it comes from the blog Exclusively Food Potato Pancakes Recipe

I found another with cooked potato, but we didn't make that as potato cakes are meant to be grated and squeezed and don't look like the picture, but flatter and crispier.

Indian Stuffed Potato Cakes

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Wednesday...

Outside my window... it looks like a very pretty day, sun seems to have a bit of warmth in it

I am thinking... happy thoughts. I wonder what kind of lollies my daughter will buy at the sweet shop. She is out on another sports day

I am thankful for... the clothes that were given to my daughter at church. I got an assortment of girls clothes that would fit either of my younger girls, in styles that they like and colours they like and possibly even some for another year when my youngest gets bigger

I am wearing... a pink windcheater, jeans, beige skivvy that doesn't roll down at the top

I am remembering... that I enjoyed the Supersize vs Superskinny book, lots of good hints in it

I am going... not sure, our son is able to come home a week earlier than I expected for his break between semesters. His exams are finished, the exams in general finish next week. He is doing winter semester otherwise he would have had a very long break, anyway, maybe I could pick him up at the bus stop

I am reading... One True Love by Lori Copeland unfortunately I haven't read book 2

I am hoping... since my homesteadblogger blog went onto Wordpress yesterday (you may have noticed the posts showing up in googlereader) that I will get an email or figure out my new password. Very exciting having a Wordpress blog, maybe in the distant future I could figure out how to make it nice like the other Wordpress blogs out there

On my mind... thankfully nothing right now, thinking nearly put my back out this morning

Noticing that... my daughter seems more clear in her mind this morning about her VCE subject choices which is good

Pondering these words... I always get caught out with this one, thought of something only yesterday that I was pondering, wonder what it was. I know I was reading the lyrics to the album by NeedToBreathe that I don't know The Heat, which I think is better than Daylight except for the song Haley which I love, it is a young people's song though. The Outsiders is our favourite album, yesterday I was playing Through Smoke. I put some songs on the Mixpod, but often it doesn't save the way I like (see sidebar) (Actually it looks like it saved just fine.) More Time is a lovely song if you are having a hard time about money. Shades of Cat Stevens there perhaps?

From the kitchen... I love tamarind so much, I am tempted to put this recipe for Spicy Chickpea Casserole in my menu, I have nearly used up all my dried beans, but there are lots of chickpeas I can put into the next menu, or eat now lol. Allrecipes seems like a good site for recipes, not sure how they come up with such good ones, so far at least. Lovely site as well, and at the moment that page has apple crumble recipes (link) on the right side. Uh oh, I found heaps of microwave desserts

If we don't have that we'll have Italian Vegetable Risotto, since the chickpeas will have to soak anyway

Around the house... some of the new clothes drying

One of my favourite things... my Japanese maple looks very pretty today, though it is more orange and blotchy than I remember, maybe it varies slightly each year

From my picture journal... Saturday and some of my family went by the river



Meme from: Simple Woman's Daybook, please visit Peggy and the other daybookers. Peggy has given me some interesting words to ponder because I have been waking up worried.

"For Christians, the beginning of the day should not be burdened and haunted by various kinds of concerns that they face during the day. The Lord stands above the new day, for God has made it. All restlessness, all impurity, all worry and anxiety flee before him. Therefore, in the early morning hours of the day, may our many thoughts and our many idle words be silent and may the first word and the first thought belong to the one to whom our whole life belongs "
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

That's My World Tuesday

My two younger daughters and my husband went early to collect wood on Saturday so they could be back before lunch, and my daughter could help set up the lights for a play with my eldest daughter's boyfriend. There was a big rehearsal on Sunday.

They saw seven deer, which are not native to this country. They turned one way then another and my middle daughter snapped this picture. OK, my husband did have to enlarge it.

They are not sambar, but smaller deer. One of the happy things that happen sometimes living in a non urban area. Very special.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The fog was dripping this morning, I got up early, showered and took the girls to school, usually my husband takes them when he goes to work

Things that make me happy:
My new Raggedy Ann that I got from the op-shop, next time I go, if I get good things like I have the past two times I'll have to try to take a picture for my blog. Also the deb photos of my daughter were really nice. There was one with a white rose background, her laughing at something the Bishop said. Because there were some with a table in front, and another with a chair, there were lots to choose from

Book I am reading:
Lake News by Barbara Delinsky, it is the op-shop book. It turns out the library has it, but fantastic fiction the website tells me that it is book one of two, so I will be able to borrow book two and read it soon

What I am enjoying on TV:
River Cottage Treatment
Beyond River Cottage

On the menu for dinner:
Not as excited by dinner this week

On my To Do list:
I'm trying not to look at my to do list lol

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Nothing

In the craft basket:
My little girl has been making pictures

Looking forward to this week:
My son being finished with his first uni exams until next semester

Tips and tricks:
Make pappadums in the microwave

My favourite blog post this week:
Discrimination by another name (about discrimination against children in public)
Making your life your job (I liked one of the sentences near the start)

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
These Melbourne blogs and the place they are found looks good, maybe the blogs are just as good for other cities

No words needed: Saturday's trees



Lesson learned the past few days:
That if chimney caps rust out and water gets on the heater, very quickly you may find yourself having to buy a new heater, worth checking the cap

On my mind:
My step-brother

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
About hospitality

This meme is from Sandra's blog.

Back to Basics Challenge

Sowing seed or Planting

Nothing.

Planning for The Future

The meal planning was a bit of a challenge this week. I had to get recipes from all over the web to match in with the ingredients I had. I wished I had bought the tofu I saw in Coles. It was much cheaper than something like bacon, only $1 something. Meal Plan here.

Working for the Future

I was in Albury on Thursday. I went to BBQs Galore to get a chimney cap for my husband. I also got the thing, a square thing that goes on the chimney then you put the cap over that. My husband asked his friend about them and was told he has to put some mortar or concrete over it then to stop it from rusting. He did a bit of research on the net. This is for our other house.



This is how it was before with the old oil heater cap, which contributed to the staining on the chimney.

And after:



While I was there I got a bulk lot of underwear as I can't buy the kind I like here, got my hair trimmed as I have trouble with that too here. Got some tights for my daughter's costume to keep her warm in rehearsals and the nights themselves. Got her some winter good clothes and a warm jacket as well. The jacket is lovely and warm, if anyone needs something that is actually warm try this. It is hard to tell just by looking on the net. I feel a bit better that the money I saved on food paid for these clothes. Still. I bought a school jumper and school pants this week, and a university text book, I feel a bit skint.

The girls and my husband got some more wood for our wood heater today, this is them driving along.




Building Community

I went to the op-shop I have been going to, it is an hour from our home, I was driving past. I usually stop nearby anyway to stretch my legs. The ladies are all sitting around a table having morning tea, so kind and helpful to each other. I got a beautiful Raggedy Ann, a large one, a novel of the author I have been reading for $2, not sure yet if the library has that title or not, in hardback. A black set of clothes that fit really well for my other daughter to help out with the lighting and not be seen. Originally she wanted to buy them retail on the net, she is happy with them. I got two giraffe costumes. Are these people going to bring out the whole ark? Last time we got two kangaroo suits. The tails on all of them are nice.

When I was choosing my daughter's deb photos I got a chance to talk to someone I usually only say hi too and I suppose they got to know me a bit better, which after living here for six years, it doesn't hurt that someone knows a little more than not much about me. I also sat next to a lady about the same age as my deceased Nana and that was nice. It was a lady who did her deb 75 years ago, they were guests of honor. I'm sure her picture looked lovely.

Catching up with high school friends on Facebook. Helps put my own life in a better perspective than without talking to them.

Learn a new Skill

My husband tried out another hairstyle on my daughter who wanted her haircut again and saved us some money. It was more a ladies style but it looks nice. The directions were on the net.


This meme comes from Belinda's blog.

Weekend in Review

Well it is not Friday evening yet, but today I got to see the deb photos. I was in a cafe that had a large wall filled with paintings of The Man From Snowy River Jack Riley. They were paintings of all aspects, his house, paintings of the dark with the moon, mountains, lots of things, and huts in the mountains. I was in a cafe in the regional centre yesterday having lunch and thought it a bit plain, my fault really as I avoid the expensive looking ones, not sure I am even allowed in lol, though I'm sure that is not true lol. Anyway the one here was very inviting and comfortable. The frames made of wood, like handmade.

What was I going to say about the photos. I am not sure, but my daughter and her deb partner came home at lunchtime, they were very excited to be going to see the photos even though I have already ordered lol.

While I was in there I saw an article in the Herald Sun about Anne of Green Gables and Prince Edward Island, saw what Green Gables actually looks like.

I'm off to the library to pick up a Supersize vs Superskinny book. They alude to hints about portion sizes on the show, maybe there are more detailed hints in the book. Supersize is a TV program. Like lots with horrible names that put you off watching, this show is interesting. Often the fat people eat healthy food and the skinnys eat junk food. So you have to look carefully at the food they put out for the day to work out what they are doing wrong. One day I had to laugh, they put this larger nurse on the show and she is very proud of her work, as she should be. She was using this to judge the skinny person I think. Guess what, the skinny person was a nurse as well.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Wednesday...

Outside my window... it is dark

I am thinking... about how hard it is to say no to kids, feel sorry for them

I am thankful for... getting a lucky dip with a purchase of new school pants for my eldest daughter

I am wearing... same jeans and wincheater as usual, same electric blue slippers

I am remembering... I remembered to give money to my younger son for an anatomy text book for winter semester

I am going... hopefully to a Pumpkin Patch shop, but my daughter is playing football in the same town and I will probably get a call to take her home instead of her going with her friends on the bus

I am reading... nearly finished a romance novel

I am hoping... I get the cap for the chimney my husband needs to keep rain out at the newer house

On my mind... that I have to be home to look at the deb photos and to choose some

Noticing that... the autumn leaves are nice, especially the Japanese maple at the doctors and that I should be enjoying them and the sun while they last

Pondering these words... that my friends from High School (actually Tech) have been saying, I got overstimulated by that, hopefully I will sleep better tonight

From the kitchen... paella

Around the house... Betadyne, first time we have ever tried it

One of my favourite things... my reading glasses, this morning for a moment I couldn't find them!

From my picture journal... my new paella pan from buyster



Meme from: Simple Woman's Daybook, please visit Peggy and the other daybookers.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:

summary	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Frost then sunny	Mostly sunny	Sunny	Sunny
maximum	18°C	19°C	19°C	17°C	16°C	17°C	15°C
minimum	0°C	0°C	0°C	2°C	2°C	2°C	2°C

Things that make me happy:
My Mum's little shopping trips. At the moment she has been having fun with doona covers, not brand new ones.

Book I am reading:
Nothing, unfortunately

What I am enjoying on TV:
River Cottage Winter's Here
Selling Houses Australia

On the menu for dinner:
A soup that took so long to make last night that it is tea/dinner tonight. Last night we decided on German potato cakes.

On my To Do list:
To decide on what I want to buy exactly on my shopping trip. I have to return a garment, and it will pay for petrol to shop in the regional centre

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Well nothing. The ones with ingredients that are special, I have been passing over, the ingredients just never got bought

In the craft basket:
Nothing

Looking forward to this week:
Seeing what is left in the shops

Tips and tricks:
Something my little girl's friend's Mum thought of, making a pinata out of those bunny balloons

My favourite blog post this week:
Unleash the Army

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Secret Hippie (a Christian blog)

No words needed: taken on Sunday



Lesson learned the past few days:
It is nice to connect with school friends on Facebook, even if you aren't sure at first

On my mind:
My adult children

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Nothing that I remember

This meme is from Sandra's blog.