Busy..What is it ???

Busy

A word I hear way too much,,,,Every one is always busy these days...

I know I seem to be...

Busy cleaning the house...

Busy washing, ironing..

                                         Then there is the airbnb, more washing, cleaning...

Mowing, weeding, planting, pruning.

All these  jobs are jobs that need to be done. 

Then I have my real job 3 days a week..

May-be I am just getting older and things take so much longer to do!!!!

I think that's it as I am not really doing any more than I have done in the last 11 years...In fact with 6 out of 7 children gone their is less work really...

So I might just sit here in the  sunny glasshouse

 on this fine winter day and enjoy a cup of coffee and think about all I have to do..

Things like not being so busy, making time for friends and family...

Learning a new skill, breaking out the sewing machine.

One thing I would love to do is pottery, I did a course a few years ago when I sold the workshop.

I really would love to do more, maybe even have a go at free hand pottery...

Below are the pieces i made at that pottery class...Yep really need to practice..hahahah

What is something you would love to do more off.....

Mandy

 

Laundry Day.

Happy Monday everyone.

My morning started by having to make Laundry Liquid before

I could start the washing, so I thought I would share the recipe with you.

10 Litres water

1 cup lux soap flakes

1/2 cup WASHING soda

1/2 cup bi-carb.

Heat 2 litres of water on stove with soap flakes, until dissolved, then add washing soda

mix  until mixture thickens then add bicarb.

I then pour the  hot soap  liquid into my plastic tub and SLOWLY add

water to make up to 10 litres. I use my stick blender to continually mix while adding water

other wise the mixture can go lumpy. I also like to add a fragrant oil at this time. Today I used peppermint.

One liquid is thoroughly mixed I pour it into my empty vinegar bottles. How easy is that, 5 mins that all it takes to make 10 litres of laundry liquid, quicker than running down to shops.

Tip- Leave a gape in each bottle so you can shake the mixture as it sometimes gets thick.

My laundry is a small room but it works for me, one side is the washing machine,

and the other is a bench that I fold the clothes on into piles for everyone. Above

the bench is my vases as I also bring my cut flowers from the garden here. The basket on the 

washing machine has my gardening gloves  in it.

I love my clothes line, I went from a hills hoist to this about 6 years ago now,

a great old guy built the deck and line for me. What I love most is it doesn't swing around in the wind.

Do you line dry your clothes? I love the smell of sunshine on my clothes.

I know a lot of countries only use a clothes dryer and have no line.

My laundry isn't big enough to iron in so i do that here in the 

family room next to the laundry.

So the washing is done and not yet dry so I'm off to do some gardening.

We have a student free day in in QLD today so I am going to put 

my boys to work helping me in the garden,

 They don't know that yet and I still have to get Robbie out of bed but that's the plan. :)

Have a great Monday what ever you are doing today.

Mandy

A Home Day...

Yesterday was a day of spending with Family.

I had 5 of my 7 children home for Mothers Day which was great.

We had a barbque breakfast on the veranda as the sun was shinning and the weather was great.

Thank you for a wonderful day kiddos.

Today I am staying home.

I don't get to have many days at home any more, so yesterday I decided I was going to get my home cleaned.

Both bathrooms have been cleaned, I am going to have to do something with the family bathroom soon as it is getting grungy..Looks OK with the shower curtain pulled though.


Floors have all been vacuumed and moped.
Laundry scrubbed and washing done. Always plenty of that to do after the week end.

I am enjoying being home and just being Mum. I miss the days when I was always home. So when I can catch a day here alone I tend to wish for what was shed a few tears and wish for the days that were Hmmm probably a good thing I am not home alone to much...lol

When the house work is finished, I am hoping to get out into the garden, there has been rain falling all day. Hopefully after lunch I will get out there to plant some seeds.

Blessing to all

Mandy

Enjoying Monday......

I am loving these winter days full of sunshine and crisp air.......bliss.
I have ordered my new fruit trees. I have ordered them through Garden Express, they had a brochure in the July issue of Gardening Australia. When I rang them and talked about the different fruit I wanted they were very help full.
This is what I ordered.....
2 Thornless gooseberries, blueberry (brigitta), blueberry (northland), peach, apricot, nectarine, kiwifruit male&female,apple (pink lady), and granny smith apple tree. I am looking forward to getting these in the ground, and in a couple of years the fruit from them..... I need to replant my window box on the shed wall, as it is looking very unloved and sad. Yesterday on the way home from church we found a new market had started up at our local shops. I was able to pick up some good plants from there and get some fruit. We will now be leaving for church half an hour early so I can drop in there for our fruit. It is a lot easier than the big markets to get to for us.

Yesterday afternoon I spent teaching Cassandra how to sew. Cassandra and Robbie have been on to me for ages to teach them, but I didn't really want them on my good machine. Last week when Spotlight had their sale on I got them a good little Brother machine for $249. It is a great little machine for them to learn on. Cassandra made herself this apron, she soon got the hang of sewing and has decided she loves it. Next week-end she wants to learn how to make some pants using a pattern. May-be Cassandra will be like me and enjoy sewing as her 3 older sisters certainly don't!

I need to get in and get the housework finished so I can get out to the garden and plant my new plants. I also have to dig a few holes for the new fruit trees. I love Mondays, planning and getting ready for the week ahead, each Monday is a new beginning I always feel...

Green Cleaning....

Today the biggest kitchen discussion is all about cleaning the healthy way. If you don't already clean green then I highly recommend going over to Rhonda's and have a look at her cleaning recipe's. I touched on this subject yesterday already, when I spoke about my enjo cleaning clothes. What do you use for cleaning, do you clean green, what recipe's do you use?

*************************************************************************

Guess who came

home for a visit

today?

What a lovely day we all had together just being here together, lying down holding hands and just enjoying looking at each other. You don't realize how these simple gestures can be missed.

Drum roll here please..............

Greg is home to stay on Friday......yaaaaaaaahhhhh 2 more sleeps. Yes we are all so excited, when I took Greg back today the doctor came around to see him. Was very pleased with his progress so yes Friday he will be home. 6 weeks and 3days he has been gone. What does the future hold? only God knows that but for now the fact that he can come home is enough for me, after all we can only live one day at a time, so why waste today worrying about tomorrow......

Blessing to all....

Mandy

Biggest Kitchen Table.........

What can I make instead of buying????

Today the discussion at Rhonda's is about eliminating disposables from our house.Not just disposables but what about things we can make?Things like washers and dishcloths.When I first started to read blogs I was amazed at the amount of people that knitted/crocheted there own. This is what first inspired me to knit.Daisy Mum took pity on me and sent me some to get me started, which I will be forever grateful for...I still use those dishcloths. I had always bought material ones from the shops, but making them myself is even better, throw them in the wash and their ready to go again.

I have never been one for using chemicals in my house,strictly a bi-carb and vinegar kind of gal...

About 10 years ago I was invited to a (enjo) party. Since then this is all I use now, the picture below is all I use for cleaning plus water.There is a mitt for cleaning the car, bathtub, stove, and one for washing-up in cold water. There is also a glass cloth, dusting, and all purpose cloths. Also the mop

which is my favourite of all.There is many of these type of clothes on the market now and well worth the investment, as I said I have had mine for 10 years and I am only looking at having to replace some in the next 12months..

Now what about disposables????

I can think of a lot of items that come under this heading, we will touch on a few here, I'm sure you can come up with many more.My pet hate in disposables is nappies......always have been

always will be. I have never seen a good argument for them yet.Babies have so much washing any-way what is an extra dozen nappies.I am passed the washing nappy stage now, but for 22years I had nappies to change and wash, it really wasn't any extra work at all, the washing machine does most of the work....

One of the things Rhonda talked about was paper towel..hmmmm this is a weak area for me, I have thought about not using them, yet continued to buy them. Well I have run out,so today I have been cutting up rags to have on hand to use instead.We do use napkins as I think a table looks so elegant when it is set and napkins used...I keep my every day one in the broken scales above and

have my good ones put away. In saying this they are all second hand that I have picked up from the op shops.

Above is the hanky basket, I still do buy tissues. I think I might have to go cold turkey on tissues as the girls use them most of the time...I will keep a box for visitors though...What is your thought on hankies verses tissues????Some of the other areas that bother me but I don't know what to do about is..

bin liners

cling wrap

alfoil

What is the alternative for these products.....what did our great grand parents use????

What about shopping bags...

I think this is the one thing that most people do try in..Even if some of as do leave them sitting at home on the pantry floor....I also have made little net bags that I use for my fruit and veges.

I do use any plastic bags that I get again.Another area I need to change is party time.I do tend to by plates, napkins and cups.I have a good supply of cutlery but sometimes I do need to buy them as well for big gatherings.

Well quite a few things here, I realize that I am not as green as I thought I was....As my Mum used to say when I was young Always room for improvement...

Now of to finish cutting up those rags....

Blessings to all

Mandy..

Running on empty.......

At least that's how I'm feeling...

Maybe it's that it is nearly mid year and I know that

I usually feel ready for a break at this time of year.

I am tired and am not getting any where most days.

These photos are of the boys room and no only two are in there not six.

I have not seen that floor for 2 weeks I kid you not, and the rest of the house isn't much better.

I have taken the sheets of the bed to wash, at lest I'm on top of the laundry.

So there you have it the real me mess and all, I have been working on the lounge room and family room this morning and they are

looking better..I don't cope real well when there is mess all around,which

probably explains why I am feeling so over whelmed..

What with assignments, exams,homework and not getting home real

early when we have been to the hospital it is all getting a bit.....well much...

Exams finish this week so that will be a bit of breathing space, and

then next week is the last week of school.

When Greg gets out of hospital you won't get me in that car again

for a long time as I'm sick of driving. It is a 40 min trip from here to the hospital each day

and so some days I am spending 2 hours in the car if I get the children

from school and take them back to visit dad.

Sorry that this post is a bit of a rant, but hey, please tell me others

have bad times to, I suppose that's life isn't it the

ups and downs. When I can see the boys floor then I'm

sure I'll also see that light at the end of the tunnel....

Blessings to all.......

Mandy

Busy.....

Today I have been trying to bring some order to

the boys bedroom, no easy task. Trying to get them to throw things out isn't easy

as every-thing has a story to it. We did manage to get

it all nice and clean. Then we tackled the wardrobes and so the whole room is clean inside and

out...........

Winter uniforms are all aired and ready for Monday, last terms

lunch has been scraped from the bottom of schoolbag (I kid you not

the smell is still in my nose) shoes are polished, ready for school..

Then it was onto the fridge.

why o why do I let it get so bad........

There was so much stuff in there I couldn't fit another thing in there.

After the fridge I thought I might as well

clean the pantry. Half way through we had visitors

turn up which is when I realized

I'M STILL IN MY P.JS

talk about embarrassing.Thank goodness it was only in-laws

and they already know I'm strange...lol..

I had to get these jobs done as at the beginning of

the school holidays I said I will get these two rooms cleaned,

well today is the last day so I was out of time...

We have nothing planned for the week-end

which is how I like it.

Theirs no place like home.....

Have a great week-end all.

Mandy

Hello Autumn!!!!!!!

I have made a start on the house work. The

chairs are up and the floors are ready to be vacuumed and mopped.

But it is so hotttttt! So like all good bloggers I've left the chairs where they are

and came to do my blog, excuse me for a moment I forget to make a coffee.

O.K back again...

Autumn is my favorite month, I love the colours reds, browns, bronze and all the colours in between. I love the leaves turning then falling, and most of all the promise of cooler

weather....Happy Spring to all my friends on the other side of the globe.

I am looking forward to reading about your spring.

We had a busy weekend, what's new they're all busy with children.

On Friday we had Alanah-Mays senior induction.

They all got there badges and certificates. This is a great way

for them to start the year I think. Above is Alanah and her 2 best friends Laura and Brianna

These girls have been friends since pre school. Laura and Alanah have been friends since they were born. I think it is a blessed thing to have a special person

in your life that's has always been there for you.

They are lucky girls to have one another.

I nearly forgot Alanah got her learners on Friday

as well, so she had a great day.

Congratulations Alanah-May.

Friday night was our local community Barby and

you all know how much I enjoy these.

Lovely to catch up with friends and neighbours.

Saturday I was up and out onto the garden, perfect day weather wise.

Got lots of weeding and planting done.

. Then I tried to chop the top of my finger.

Nearly succeeded too. My old mower that I tow a trailer on needs to

be pulled started now. Well as the day goes on it gets harder to pull

So here I am pulling the #**#!! thing and I got my finger

caught on a bit of tin. Hurt to!!!!

Should have had stitches in it but couldn't be bothered to go to the doctors.

It's all right now, I have it all bandaged up I can use it.

Those chairs are still up on the table waiting for me,

so I had better go and get some house work done.

Have a blessed day all

Mandy

Monday Madness

Cleaning is whats going on around here today..........Lots of it.
I even have the boys helping and they think there throats are cut.
Monday is always house work day.

We had a fantastic party on Saturday night in Toowoomba for a friend, it was his birthday retirement and Christmas party all in one.
We danced the night away till early morning, all the young ones left early, but us oldies kept partying.....Kids don't make them like they used to.........


Now your probably wondering why I have this photo.........Are you a Mother of teenage daughters? Well then you will understand.........

That's all the photos on my camera. What happens to the ones I take for the blog......who knows.
There is only smiling, posing teenagers instead....The one above was in with my photos and it is Chloe at work, now there wasn't just one photo...O no! There's about 20 of the darn things. Must have been a quiet day.............My girls read my blog and will have a fit when they see these photos........

Alanah went to a dinner party on Friday night , it was a formal dinner. I was trying to take some nice photos but they were playing up and doing terrible posses, so this is it........


I got lots of gardening done on Saturday no photos to show you though. There is so much weeding to do, I am getting up early and going out and getting a couple of hours done before it gets hot.........Today isn't hot though as it is pretty windy and alot cooler. Will be going out to the garden as soon as the house work is all finished.
Time to get back to it I suppose, now I've stopped for a break I don't feel like starting again.........


Mandy

A Day In My Life

My Day started at 6:30 this morning..slept in after last night................

Panic stations....every-one out of bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to make the school lunches.

Breakfast was nice and quick, weet-bix.

7:40

Time to catch the bus, this is a 4min drive up the road.

Children all on bus, chat with some Mums and back home.....


COFFEE...........

Put on a load of washing.

Make the beds.

Clean the bathroom.

Update blog and have a quick look at others.

9.30

Up to the local hall to set up for our ladies craft morning.....

I started this craft morning about 5 years ago for the local women. Over the years we have learnt many things, but the last 12 mths we have just been bringing what ever we are working on.

Today though I organized some one to come and teach us about stack and whack quilts.
Below is the one my Mum just made me for my birthday(I am so spoilt)
This sounds like a fun quilt to make.

Lots of chatting and yummy food and more coffee of course, then it was time to pack up and back home.






12.30p.m

Make lunch for M.I.L I don't need any ate to much at craft.

Do another load of washing bring in dry washing, fold and my dear M.I.L ironed it for me....

Went up to sewing room and put first coat of paint on a lamp that I am doing up.(forgot to take photo)

Played with our new 6 puppies, they are so cute.

Went for walk around garden and pulled a few weeds.

3.45p.m

Time to pick children up from school bus.....



4.15p.m

Afternoon tea, I didn't have to make any-thing today as one of the ladies made a birth-day cake for me and there was some left. Also the other ladies love to send me home with leftovers from the morning tea ( the children love craft days)

Clean up kitchen.

Bring in towels from veranda.

Get the children out of the pool.




5.30p.m

Bath time.

Home work.......Just realized I have a meeting up at the school tonight.....Better get tea under way.

Hubby is home from work...

Tea time.....Sausages and salad. I have just picked my first lettuce this season from the new vege patch.....






6.40p.m

In the car, up to Toowoomba for meeting for children starting grade 0ne next year. Things have changed in 5 years with the introduction of prep here in Queensland.

9.00p.m.

HOME.............


Thanks for joining me today, I am now of to bed........

GOOD NIGHT ALL

Mandy

Spring Cleaning Part 1

I thought that while I am Spring Cleaning the house this month, that as I finish a room I would show you. So this month will be a tour through my home. Remember that it has just been cleaned, after 3.30p.m they no longer look like this......You know children.....

Yesterday I got 3 rooms cleaned. Office, Family Room and spare Bedroom. All the chairs are slip covered so every thing can be washed.

Above and below is our Family Room. This room was once the out door entertaining area. We had it enclosed about8 years ago.

The above photo looks from the back door, the laundry and a toilet open off the back of this room. I just realised the drawers aren't in the cabinet, they have my doilies in them and I took the drawers with me around the house to put clean ones out, never mind.

Above I am looking from the laundry to the back door, which leads to the courtyard and the garden. All the furniture in this room was bought second hand and I did up (except the 2 round coffee tables) The T.V my husband won through work so that didn't even cost us any thing.


Below is the office, you walk upstairs from the family room into this room. I am standing at the bathroom door to take this photo. At the end of the office is the spare room where my M.I.L sleeps when she is here.
The art work on the walls are paintings the children have done over the years, that I frame and hang up.




I didn't mind being inside at all yesterday as it was so hot and windy out-side, and lovely and cool in the house. Today is a much cooler day though here which is much more pleasant for the garden and animals.

Have a great day.........

Mandy