Using Oma's Doona cover...

It's been wrapped up for 10 years... Time to use it or give it away... So, it's in the wash and will be used :) Love useful things...

Blessings,

New line...

Pegs aligned and waiting for something wet lol

My washing line :)

One thing that has always annoyed me is that we have no shade at all on our property... 8 acres of no shade... This means that when I put out my sheets for drying they are not sheltered at all from the harsh sun, especially in summer... I have been saving for a while to get myself a folding clothesline that I could put up on the eastern side of the house so that I could put out my sheets late morning and they would dry in the shade, therefore not making any sun lines on them... I know bit OCD but there you have it...

Well I now finally have it and Russell and I put it up the other week. Have used it already and am loving it. :) Hangs a load which is great and all protected from the nasty sun... Loving it :)

Cheers Damaris

Fiona making a sling...

Fiona hard at it :)

Phoebee asleep :)

When Fiona and I go walking we have to take her two youngest kids with us as her hubby is away at the moment for the term teaching up north...

I had no trouble using the backpack for Phoebee but knew that we had a bit of a challenge for Lewie...

So at the end of July we talked about maybe seeing if we could make something. That morning we had nothing else to do so spent the majority of the morning with some left over material and my sowing machine... Yep, I held the baby while Fi did the sowing. Lol

She did a great job... The sling works really well too...

Was a fun way to spend the morning together and Phoebee even slept on me as well. She is soooo cute... :)

Cheers Damaris

Finally a tidy Linen closet again...

Nice and neat, just what I like...

I like to have my linen closet, any closet for that matter, very nice and tidy. Helps me to be calm and ensures that I can find what I need when I need it.

Well, the Linen was starting to go all over the place. Piles were starting to merge and there was way too much stuff in there that was not even being used... So drastic action was called for. :)

I ended up taking down the towels from the top shelf so that the boys would be able to reach it as well. No more messy piles there. :) I also got rid of flat single sheets and will actually cut them up into cleaning rags. I don't use them on the beds so why have them in the cupboard.

I got rid of a 94l container full of just stuff. There was even material from 20 years ago that I found. Might make something out of that one day. Yeah right!!!

All in all I took 8 large recycle bags to Lifeline. They loved me off course. :) Hope allot of people benefit from my newly rearranged linen closet. :)

Cheers Damaris

Sewing...

Making new hand towels from an old towel...

The finished product...

I must admit it has been quite a while since I last had my sewing machine out and making full use of it. Today, with all the rain that we are having at the moment (200ml in 48hrs) I thought that it would be a good opportunity to get rid of my mending pile...

I did really well. I got rid of it. Not by doing it all though. hmmm, I actually got rid of things that I knew would not last anymore even if I did stitch them up, again... So they are off to the pile of things that can't be rescued and will be used as filling for the boys' Target. Photos of that one will come later when it is done. :)

A while ago I had cut up an old towel. It had allot of wear in it still but some of it was rather worn. I couldn't bring myself to throwing it out so cut it into four pieces. One could not be saved and it went to the shed. The other three just needed two sides finished off with the sewing machine and hey presto, three 'new' hand towels. They look great too... Will wash them before using them so that the ends come lose a little and the little fiddly bits don't flake everywhere. Other than that they are done. I was able to give new life to a dress from a friend as well and that was satisfying. :)

I have that to do with a tablecloth as well. It was square so I cut it in half and then half of the other half I was able to use also. The other half had candle wax on it and could not be saved... But they make a new nice doily and small tablecloth. I just have to round off the edges properly and then finish them off with the machine.

That is what I love about being at home. When you have something that is no longer useful in it originated state you can always turn it into something else that is useful. Items in one's home don't have to be use a few times and throw away. I hate to throw away and make sure that there is absolutely nothing else I can do with it before I do. I like it that way. It saves Russell and I allot of money. Things can always be given a new life such as a spade, etc. But one has to also look after things as well. Allot of things are made these days with the mindset that we can always just throw it out and get another. That is not how we work in our home. We buy the best we possibly can and then look after it as best as we can also.

I like being stingy with my money. Why should I give it to a company that is only out to make profits. Why bring something into my home that will only clutter it up anyway. When I am out shopping, which I do as little as humanly possible, I always ask myself... Do I REALLY need it? Even if I hesitate, I leave it.

Used to feel that if I walked into a shop I had to buy something... Not anymore. I want proof first that they deserve my money. That is the way I look at it and that is helping us get ahead. :)

Cheers Damaris

Duck roast...

The duck, resting before going in the freezer...

This morning a lovely couple from Maryvale came and got my old mattress off me. They also took all the linen that I had taken out of my linen closet and had earmarked for Charity. They will put it to good use I am sure...

They stuck around and then I mentioned that I was 'processing' a drake today... I was asked if I wanted some help... I did not say no. I loved having their help actually as they have done it many times and I have previously only done a chook, not a duck.

I ended up gutting it and that was really a very strange feeling. Very warm. The dogs loved the wings, innards and feet too. Yummy treat for them...

I ended up skinning it as well and ended up with a great looking duck that is currently resting on the kitchen bench and will shortly go into the freezer. Russell said there is no way that he is eating it so will not have it for the Sunday roast that I had planned but the two boys and I will have it on Monday when Russell is not here.

Must say though I am really thankful for the advice and help in getting this duck ready for the freezer. Thanks again... Can't wait to eat him now. Will let you know how he tasted. This meal will be really special as it will also have our homegrown potatoes and carrots in with the duck. Our first Complete homegrown meal. Woohoo... That is what it is all about for us here...

Cheers Damaris

Update on my new Mattress...

My new mattress with new quilt cover on as well...

It has been a week today since I got my new mattress. A friend has had a lie on it and wants it. But can't have it. Sorry Margaret... lol

The boys also love the feel of it and Joshua especially falls asleep on it very easily. Russell and I are adjusting to it. It takes time I guess. I keep feeling like I am rolling into the middle of the bed when Russell is in there as well. Is that normal??? I have never had a pillow top mattress before so will have to ask a friend of mine who does... I hope that is not how it stays.

Will have to get used to turning the mattress every so often, more often in the beginning. Can't flip this mattress. There would be no sense. No pillow top on the bottom. lol

I love having my new queen size quilt cover on it as well. You know, the one from Adairs??? From DFO??? Ring a bell. Yes, lovely, lovely, and more lovely. I must admit.

Off to make dinner and then an early night with a movie maybe... Very chilly and a lot of wind here for the last two days. Hope it dies down soon. New chooks that I bought at the Pig and Calf last Wednesday are not liking the weather. One silky is rather crook. Hope it doesn't die on me. Only been here two days... Don't hold much chance though. Will see how he goes.

Cheers Damaris

Bargain Hunting at DFO...

New Quilt cover hanging in the breeze...

Previously I have written about my little fetish with buying sheets. Well I was in heaven last Sunday... I went to DFO at Jindalee in Brisbane.

There were alot of shops there that I could have spent alot of money in but didn't really want to. There was nothing that I NEEDED...

Well, I went into Adair's and that is just about one of my favourite shop in the whole wide world. I saw this beautiful bed made up with lovely sheets and bedlinen. I had a look at the price of the Queen size quilt cover and pillow cases...

I could not believe my eyes. Being factory seconds but still in excellent condition there were quilt covers reduced from $220.00 to $19.95 each. Pillow cases were $25.00 down to $5.95 each.

Needless to say I had to get two sets. These are pure cotton and have a lovely feel to them as well. I can't believe I got them. I paid for them out of my own spending money off course. I didn't want this to affect our budget and it was something that I needed not what Russell wanted. So I got the two sets, washed them this morning and hung them out. The piccy above shows them swaying in the morning sun this morning.

They have come off the line now and are waiting patiently in the cupboard for when the new mattress comes and then will be put on at that time. I am sooooo happy. :)

Cheers Damaris

PS Next time I will show off my new peg bag that I made up with an old coat hanger and some shade cloth. It works really great...

Making my bed

I love my bed...

In the morning when I get up I love making the bed before I do anything. It seems to sort of start me off for the day just in the right way. I open my blinds that cover the sliding door and let the sunshine in. That is the eastern side to the sun rises there. It is a beautiful way to wake up. I see the retaining wall with all my little flowers and plants in, some tumbling over the edge.

Russell says to me that making the bed just before getting in is making the bed. I disagree with that. I like to be able to walk past my bed or when in the bathroom and see a nicely made bed that is ready for me to get back into and re-energize my body overnight.

I must admit I have a little bit of a fetish when it comes to 100% cotton sheets and anything linen for the bed. I love to have earthy tones if at all possible. Whites are out here really as there is just too much black soil. I would have a very hard time keeping it clean.

Russell is off to work this morning. Just staying up to say goodbye and then I am back off to that lovely place called my bed...

Cheers Damaris