Lemonee, Lemonah

Today I have been reflecting on what a year it has been.

I have said goodbye to my beautiful girls and still have moments where my heart catches in my throat when I remember something they did, or if I think they have entered the room (maybe they have - I hope that they do).

My emotional health became very unwell due to my job. I lost my inner joy and peace. I forgot who I was.

A change was necessary.

So I pulled up my big-girl trousers and took myself into a company to apply for a position. 

Things must have gone well because I have now been working there for three weeks!

I am a totally different person to the one I was 2 months ago.

I am painting again, noticing the stars, enjoying the clouds, baking, reading, and SMILING!!!

I was actually startled during my first day at the new job because I laughed... it had been so long!!

*happy, content sigh*

Before I began my new chapter, Boof and I took a trip to the river. The picture above was the sunrise I got up to watch. Kookaburras were cackling right outside our window.

I stopped in at my faaaavourite Cafe.

Everything on the menu is vegan, and while I am a pescatarian that simply prefers the taste of soy milk to cows, I love love love the options here! 

And the decor is relaxed retro/vintage/boho. 

It is such a comfortable place to tuck up on the couch and enjoy a soy chai latte and a jackfruit Reuben!

Boofs mum and dad have a beautiful garden and let me take home a huuuuge box of lemons! The same day we got home I busied myself making oodles of lemon cordial.

Thin slices, dehydrated in the oven to add to a cup of black tea.

Or a jug of iced tea.

Of course there was lemon pie...

And gooey lemon bars!

Now i am a bit lemon'd out so have spent the last 2 weekends making mulberry jam from our tree. No pics though, I forgot. Today I picked 2.5kgs of fruit!

Last year the fruit was very small and dry. This year with a bit of love they are enormous, super juice and lovely sweet.

The flowers have been  going bananas! I have been picking roses to bring inside (a dream I've held tight for years!). The foxgloves and hollyhocks are booming!

I spotted Mr Moth while exploring the depths of my bit of nature.

When all the chores are done -or even if they aren't and I just ignore them - I pick up the Dahlia blanket again. This one will only be a throw so not too big. Ooh those colours!

Springtime is finally arriving and we have had some beautiful days, though my shoulders feel a bit sunburnt.. must've been while I was picking mulberries. 

Til next time...

🤍🤍🤍

Weekend Delights... on a Wednesday!

Its the end of Wednesday.

The evening ritual is underway.

A cup of warm, sweet tea has filled my belly.

I've enjoyed a soothing hot shower using beautiful handmade soap.

The room has been spritzed with 'sleep' mist, and the matching oil has been splashed into my bedside dish (handmade by Son2) of lavender.

My fluffy pillows and doona swallow me in, safe in my nest.

The only light is from my dim bedside lamp (and phone as I type).

The wind is whooshing through the peppermint tree in the front yard.

PoochGirl has kerplunked herself (n)ever-gracefully on the carpet on my side of the bed.

I would usually read a chapter or two before switching off the lamp and letting the oils and wind drift me away to Slumberland, but tonight I want to share some Weekend Delights with you.

A few weekends ago ~ my favourite time of week ~ I decided it was time to pull up my 'stonker' (that's Aussie for big, hehe) beetroot and make something deelish.

Definitely a record for beetroot grown in my patch!

It would have been the perfect size to pickle and slice for sandwiches and burgers, but I had a more exotic plan for this baby, and its friends that remained protecting it.

I had found a simple but tasty looking recipe for beetroot and feta salad, so it was decided quite instantly that that would be my Saturday lunch.

Beetroots were cleaned, boiled til tender, then mixed with oodles of feta.

A zesty lemon and parsley vinaigrette drizzled on top.

Nom nom!

But wait!

Such a simple yet fancy treat can't be had on its own.

I took some juicy sweet lemons that I'd been allowed to help myself to at Boof's parents and squeezed and squeezed....

To make the bestest home made lemonade to go with my salad.

I took my tasty lunch into the garden and enjoyed the sunshine as I ate and drank, admiring my spring-awakened garden.

I am a simple girl.

(The rest of the beetroot haul went into a tart)

The poppies are coming to an end.

Son3 and I have begun collecting the seeds to spread for next year and to share with friends.

It has been a rewarding feeling to host so many bees with my poppies.

Til next year, my buzzy buddies..

Also a few weekends ago, I completed a special crochet gift for a friend.

She and I work together.

She has a little scooty stool (for lack of adult terminology) that she uses but its vinyl seat had been cut a few years ago and taped back together.

It wasn't holding together very well anymore so I suggested making a cover for it.

I followed a pattern for half of it but then had to wing it to make it large enough.

She is such a bright and bubbly character, it had to suit her sparkly personality. 

She was thrilled to bits when she saw it.

Nyaw, I get warm fuzzies in my tummy just thinking back about it :)

My sleepy oils are setting in.

Eyes are getting drowsy.

Breathing is getting deeper. Longer.

I just realised something a bit silly of me..

I have already titled this post so will leave it as a bit of a funny..

But I only just remembered it is not actually Wednesday today..

It's Thursday!!

Haha, ah well!

It was a good Thursday and it makes us even closer to the weekend!

I hope yours is full of all things that make your chops shmile and your heart sing.

But for now, I'm of to Slumberland 🤍🤍🤍

Day by Day

The first few weeks of winter have been nice.

The mornings are pretty darn cold and hard to get out of bed but the sun has been shining so if you can find a place out of the wind, it's not bad at all.

I haven't been doing much at all lately and am fed up with the slump I am in. 

The boys have been scrapping a fair bit lately and Son 1 has amped up his attitude and behaviour.

I feel so run down, so I took the day off work to breathe, rest my ears and voice box, and do a little housework I've been putting off for too long.

I need to do some baking too, so hopefully I can push myself to do that as well.

Our oven had more problems a month ago so we decided to get a new one installed.

You'd think I'd be baking up a storm of cakes and pies.

Our chookens have slowed up on the egg laying, I wouldnt/dont want to work in this chilly weather either!

This is a pic of our summer eggs.

I love the range of colours and was ridiculously excited when I found Ore was to be an olive-egger!

I've been growing sprouts on the kitchen bench.

Just 1 or 2 tablespoons of alfalfa seeds in a jar with some lace cloth over the top.

Rinse with water each day.

Lean the jar up in a bowl like this to drain excess water.

By day 2 they will begin to sprout.

In a few days, depending on your growth preference, you will have a nice full jar of nyummy sprouts to have on sandwiches and salads.

Our garden has been fairly neglected of late.

Boof and I stood in the sunshine yesterday discussing plans for a new vege garden layout but are torn whether to do it or not as we plan on moving in upcoming years.

When nursery stocks are back up we'll be planting 6 mixed colour bougainvilleas along the front picket fence for added privacy. 

Flower bulbs are starting to emerge and I pruned the roses. My first time - hopefully I did it right and the bounce back strong.

What is happening in your garden?

What deliciousness is cooking in your oven?

Inspire me!

I need it.

Today I am grateful...

1. For sunsets in suburbia. While I dream every waking hour that I owned more land and had more space between neighbours, I feel very lucky to have what I do and that I can still glimpse the beauty of the suns daily journeys. 

2. That I forced myself to do something. Even though that something was just dusting cobwebs and mopping floors, I can say I achieved something today. Best advice that has stuck with me always 🤍

Change On The Horizon

Life has been feeling a bit stagnant lately.

Stifled.

I've admitted before that I'm a dreamer, there's always an ambition bouncing around in my mind that I feel like if I can't begin bringing it to life by tomorrow I might burst!

This dream is real.

Boof and I have been talking a lot lately about moving to a new town and my heart and mind are set.

My heart hasn't felt comfortable here for quite some time now and my soul is ready, but we have decided to wait for the right time.

That will be when our boys have finished their schooling, by then they will be beginning their own journeys in adult life. 

I'd love for them to choose to come along and see what future is to be had in our next town to call home.

We have chosen the town, a place we have visited together and all love. 

I've done lots of planning and researching and it is definitely do-able, especially being a few years off. I cant wait!

But here is where I am.. for now.

So I will go forth with my days, caring for my family, garden, and my soul by doing things I love to balance out the stresses.

My dahlia blanket is about half way I think and despite my heart-dizzying love for it, I am leaning toward selling it, which in itself would be another big accomplishment for me.

This was the most of our summer vege harvest and while we were going to rest the garden beds over winter, with the lack of groceries in our stores currently due to people stockpiling (which, I want to add, I see nothing wrong with being prepared.. just please let's not get violent over it).. we have decided to put in a winter crop after all. 

We have topped up our seed supply and got a few seedlings to go in directly but as I sit here, relaxing and typing this post, I should really be in the backyard shovelling cow doo and hay to plant into.

The day after I posted about my home made rain barrel we had a bit of rain, not a lot but enough since to fill it to half.

Yay!

I read a couple of books last month.

The sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilkas Journey. It was a really captivating story.

Another of the same context, Hetty, by Hetty Verlome. It is her real life account of her time I  Bergen-Belsen. Her story is the most graphic and touching I have ever read about the holocaust. She conveyed her recount in such a way that broke my heart just to read it, let alone try to comprehend actually living it as she did.

In my last couple of posts I forgot to continue on with my gratitudes so I will do a couple extra today..

I am grateful..

1. That everyone's quick actions saved our beloved pooches life nearly 2 weeks ago. Not a story I want to talk about but she is safe and healthy, and smelly as ever 💚

2. My family are healthy and strong, especially in times like these.

3. To have a dream to hold onto. That can soothe my racing mind at nights and carry me through the day.

4. For books to take me on adventures when I can't physically go.

5.  For love. What a beautiful world it is when you  have love. 

💙💙💙