A thoughtful gift...

A friend visited on Monday and somehow she knew that a bunch of lillies would hit just the spot...

And she was right...

Now they're starting to open... Just beautiful...

Blessings,

One just opening...

Today, this one opened fully...

And here's the second one...

Surprised and sooo blessed...

The family and I just got home from our community Christmas party, when my dear friend Joan dropped up a package that we had to take with us on holidays...

What a beautiful and delicious surprise...

All from the local baker at Aratula :) Nom, nom, nom

Blessings,

Time to read...

Love my new candles... Thanks Margaret for my lovely gifts...

Blessings,

So blessed...

Late last week, I went and dropped off the sprout raising kit I had bought for a friend...

On my way out I scored the most lovely present!

Oh, Jamie Oliver... How I do adore your receipes! How did she know is had my eye on this one... It's all about no wastage... And I'm so into that...

My friend is such a blessing. I'm so proud to call her my sister in Him!

Blessings,

Valentine's Day...

I realise I'm late but I am enjoying my present from hubby... So is the rest of the family :) Also love my card... He always knows just what to write :)

We also went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream... So yummy :)

Cheers

Kumquat marmalade...

I had the pleasure of going along with my wonderful friend Margaret to her local special school parent support group luncheon at their local RSL Club. Was great to support them as they had just reopened since being totally flooded out in January 2011. It was great to talk with so many lovely ladies that all had allot in common...

One lady there at one stage offered me her kumquat tree full of ripe fruit. I couldn't refuse ;) Margaret did a great job giving instructions of how to get to Kath's house... So much so we ended up in someone's yard that we still have no clue what their names are. To say the lady and her daughter were shocked at seeing us in their backyard (one was rather annoyed at the two guard dogs as they licked us, not shredded us, as they are supposed to lol) looking for a no existing tree, yep it is an understatement lol. We couldn't stop giggling, it was something you don't think you're ever going to do but here we were...

Anyway, we got to the right house, second time lucky, again let ourselves in, as we had permission this time, and except about 20 or so, we picked the tree clean :)

The smell when cutting up the fruit and when making the marmalade yesterday was... Amazing... The only tedious job was getting the seeds out of the marmalade before it set. Hubby and I scored sore backs out of it and am pretty sure there are still some in there... A little surprise for the receiver lol

I ended up with a heap of bottles that I waterbathed and the clamps come off tonight. I will then date the jars and give most away for Christmas.

One jar is in the fridge for use today already :) I love it though that the airtight jars will last about five years this way :) Love using what I can and making it last as long as possible!!!

My thanks again to the wonderful Kath for her generous donation. And off course to Margaret for getting us to the right house in the end and for helping me pick the tree clean ;)

Wow, what an adventure!!!

Cheers

Onion Marmalade...

Yep that time of year again. Was going to town couple of weeks ago and came across 10kg boxes for $5. So I got two boxes and ended up making 23 glass containers of onion marmalade... Started at about 10:30am and finished my last batch of water bathing at 1:30am... I was had it by the end. But so worth it. Will make great presents :)

Cheers Damaris

Snow Flake Galore :)

My plant from my hubby :)

The one I bought from Aldi :)

Russell bought me home on of these... just because :) I then also found another one in Aldi and it was just as beautiful so bought it :)

They are both still giving us lots of lovely dainty flowers. Once the stop flowering I will but the bulbs out in the garden somewhere sheltered. :) Can't wait for the next lot but from the garden.

Cheers Damaris

Birthday Present...

Russell's creation. :)

My Mum enjoyed her 60th Birthday last month... This is what Russell came up with for her Birthday... Made with love, wood chosen by me and accessories chosen by Russell... I love the way he crafts his fountain pens... He is rather clever I think. :) I am soooo biased but that's ok. :)

Cheers Damaris

Girls' Night Out...

Lots of food was had...

My beautiful friend Margaret... Love that smile, even if she's tired...

Caught her snoozing. lol

Her reaction to when I told her that I had a photo of her sleeping. lol

Dylan with his heavy-duty gear on...

Margaret has never had a Girls' Night at her house... Ever... So I was most honoured to be invited :) This Party was a huge step for her and I am very proud of her that she did it. I was glad I was able to be there to support her. :)

We spent most of the day together and I even got my first chance to watch Dylan at a Rugby game that he was playing in... Boy he has shot up. :) He fits the uniform very well and looks rather scary with the head gear and all that...

I had such a lovely night with Margaret. Margaret also gave us all a calender that I have hanging in my walk in robe and look at it every day. I love it. The pictures in it are so uplifting and am grateful that I have it there to look at so often.

Met some other ladies as well and one Irish lady that was there was particularly nice. The other two were most interested in having a conversation amongst themselves. No matter I was there for Margaret anyway. Just another way for me to get my fix :)

Cheers Damaris

Feeling special...

For the last three days I have had my right wrist in my splint. The splint that I got from Ipswich Hospital when I was there to have the benign tumour removed 1.5yrs ago. Whenever it gets aggravated it is great to have and to wear for the day or the night. Well this week it is not settling down at all... Was in so much pain yesterday that I couldn't even sweep the floor in time for when Russell got home from Brisbane. I abandoned the task...

So what does Russell come home with for me??? A lovely bunch of flowers... To cheer me up. Not because it is Mother's Day on Sunday... Just because... I usually like plants that have roots on them so that I can plant them but this was such a lovely surprise. Thank you so much Darling. :)

Cheers Damaris

A Dust surprise...

A red 'Vienna' candle is inside :)

Just beautiful :)

The Oil Lamp that had to be returned...

For Valentine's Day this year, Russell got me a beautiful Oil Lamp. It was filled with Rose Oil and smelt so beautiful. Such an unusual design that I had not ever seen before... Unfortunately whenever the wick was burning the clasp holding the wick was too tight so no oil could travel up the wick. This meant that it would always go out...

Russell sadly returned it to the Dusk Store that he got it from and came home with two other presents instead... The red candle in the little canister is called Vienna... how appropriate as that is where I come from, well Linz but Vienna is Austria's capital city. Very thoughtful of him. :) The other candle is actually also able to be used as a room deodorizer.

Will see how Timothy goes with that one as he is really sensitive to smells. Hope it doesn't play up with Joshua's nose either.

Have always loved Dusk candles and anything to do with their shop... Was such a lovely surprise as anyone that knows me knows how much I love candles of any sort. :)

Cheers Damaris

Plants getting there...

Went out to the greenhouse yesterday afternoon to check on how things where going in there and found that all of them had actually grown quite a bit... All of the four cuttings of Russell's Mum's Rosebush have taken and are budding. Yay!!! For some reason have always been able to do that :) A couple will go into our garden because they are from Mum but the others will become presents. :)

Quite a few of Lisa's plants are ready to go out and will be relocated in the next week or so. Might do that with Joshua's help this week. Timothy is off to Bluecare for the week and is really looking forward to tomorrow when he goes... :)

Cheers Damaris

Celebrating Christmas with Friends...

Dylan and Joshua...

Beautiful spirited James...

Determined blowing Timothy. lol

Two great friends and their wonderful kids :)

My present from Margaret, she knows me very well :)

Went to Brisbane yesterday to see my Doctor. I only see her when I really need to now as she is 1.5hrs away from me but oh she is sooooo worth it. :)

So while I was seeing her at 3pm I made sure that I was able to see my dear friend Margaret and her boys Dylan and James (as well as housemate Ken). We ended up spending just over four hours there and oh we had so much fun.

I love talking to her on the phone but it is nothing like seeing her face. I love that girl. :) She makes my heart sing. Over the years we have been through allot and one thing that is always a reassurance for me is that she is there for me if I need her to be. :) I love her dearly and her two boys as well. :)

Thanks again Margaret for a lovely time. :)

Cheers Damaris

Christmas Get Together...

Joshua doing his Diabolo show for everyone :)

Family watching Joshua intently :)

Mum taking in her family :)

Russell, Victor, Alison and Mum, Her three kids :)

Timothy, Mum and Joshua :)

Joshua and Uncle Bob mucking around :)

Yesterday was Russell's family's Christmas get together...

We only see most of them once a year and was nice to see them all in one go :)

Russell's sister Alison is getting a new car soon and said she would come up and see us. Can't wait to see her as I love to spend time with her... Oh and the car too. lol

Few things have changed this year in every one's lives and was nice to see Jason's kids growing up and getting taller... People said the same about Timothy and Joshua as well. :)

Loved watching Russell's mum sitting at the table and listening to the conversations going on. Think she might have been in her element... Was also a great opportunity to get some family photos done. :)

After my Brother in law and his wife move into their new home, Mum said that she would like to come and stay with us for a week. The boys and I can't wait. :)

Was soooo lovely to see everyone. :)

Cheers Damaris

Christmas Tree update...

Love to give...

Here is how it looks now with all the presents underneath it... I have had these wrapped since August so was happy to get them out of the cupboard...

Boys were a little disappointed that theirs weren't there though... As if!!!! hehe

Cheers Damaris

Conserving...

Jam on the left and Plumbs in behind...

Love to get fruit and then make it extend as long as possible... During the week I got ahold of some plumbs and 1/2 kg of Strawberries... I knew straight away just what to do with them all. :)

So yesterday afternoon I conserved the plumbs into 4 x No 31 Vacola Preserving Jars. I also made Strawberry Jam and put that into another jar as well. Water bathed them all and now they are just about ready to have the clips taken off them and labelled and stored...

These will make Christmas presents as we can't use that fruit but am very fortunate to have it all the same. Makes it easy for Pressies. :)

Cheers Damaris

Soap making time...

My ingredients...

With Rolled Oats...

With Quick Oats...

This was my week to make sure that I did my soak making in time for Christmas. Just four weeks. I know... bit late as ideally the soap should cure for about six weeks. Four will have to do... This morning was the day... Joshua loved the smell of it.

This time I used a different recipe and am still chicken about using Lye... So I googled recipes without Lye and came up with one from 'The Notebook' that is easy enough even for kids to do it...

1 cup of Pure Soap Flakes

1 teaspoon of Sunflower/Olive Oil

1 tablespoon Rolled Oats/Quick Oats

2 drops of Essential Oil

I did two lots. One with Rolled Oats and one with Quick Oats so that I can see what the difference in texture is... I also used Sunflower Oil as that is what I already had. Had plenty of Soap Flakes from the last time I made soap last year. :)

So all you do is get the flakes and mix 1/4 cup of hot water with it, mix, put into microwave for 30 second intervals and stirring till smooth consistency. Then add the Oil, Oats and Essential Oil. Mix again and then put into oiled (I used spray oil) container. I used cake tins... Put aside with towel on top so it doesn't dry out too quickly and then just turn out after a day and then cut into whatever size you want. I will do square chunks as that way it is easier to hold in the palm of your hand. Then turn every day for the first week, then every second day till you use it...

Joshua asked at one stage if I was putting in the oats so people had something to eat while in the shower... Smarty pants. hehe

Will see how it turns out... Can't wait to use it. Now for Christmas all I have left to do is in the last week just before Christmas I need to make a whole heap of Fudge... Yummmm (Failsafe off course. :) hehe)

Cheers Damaris

Gone quackers...

Timothy and the new drake...

Timothy and the female duck...

Beaks forming a loveheart...

All three at the water container...

Wednesday was a real blessing. I was to go to the Pig n Calf to get a couple of ducks for our lonely one here at home... She was bobbing her head towards chooks. That is just too sad for me...

On the Tuesday a friend called and remembered that I was after a couple of ducks and said that there were some being given away and did I want them. Sure I did... Saved me a trip to the Pig n Calf and got me home from town much quicker than I thought I would so was very happy on the way going past and picking up a male and female pair...

Have had them in the relocation cage for the rest of this week and have added the other lonely duck as well. You should have seen the action that the male got up to with my boys not even having shut the door on them. He was right into it, or her should I say... hehe

Anyway, they are all getting along really well and will let them out in another week or so. Timothy has fallen hard for the male and he is his. Joshua was sad when he saw him as it reminds him of his Drake Quack that he lost a while back to a fox...

So here is hoping that they lay soon and that we get some more girls out of it. :)

Cheers Damaris

Cashing in...

Russell mopping... what a champ :)

For Mother's Day this year, Russell and the boys gave me a whole heap of vouchers that I could use whenever I wanted to... I have them there but don't remember to use them...

Yesterday, I used my first three. Timothy I asked to do the sweeping of the whole house... Russell I asked to do the mopping of the whole house and Joshua did the washing and drying of all the dishes that were in the sink... By the time I went to the first Progressive Society meeting at 9:30am it was all done. I loved it... Joshua gave me his voucher back... He is happy for me to use it again and again. What a darling... Timothy, needless to say did Not give me his back... lol. Neither did Russell... He knows that that is his job each week anyway. :)

Was nice to cash them in... Was even nicer to know that I didn't have to do those jobs... hehe Must work on Timothy though, he liked to rush it a bit and the whole job ended up taking him allot longer than it should have... Time and practice I said to him. That is all it takes... He ain't too sure about the practice bit, needless to say ;)

Cheers Damaris