My review for 'The Outsider' by Ann Gabhart has been posted at Relz Reviewz. Click here to go and have a little look. It was a completely fascinating read, set in a 'Shaker' community.

One of the biggest thrills I get is when an author takes time to pop in here and leave me a little comment....which Ann did yesterday. Thank you Ann ~ it was absolutely the bright spot of my day!

Ponderings and Resolutions

I'm not one for new year resolutions although I do tend to be one who uses the change of a year to take stock of the last and look to what changes can be made for improvement in the new. I usually tend to focus on activities in my observations and cull what has left me feeling stressed and over committed.

Over the last two weeks, thanks to some rather stinging comments, I have been pondering more character related lessons. It took me a little while to decide if the comments were worthy of my contemplation. Was it a case of comparing bananas with guavas or am I really that unreasonable a person? I decided that perhaps there is a little truth on each side of fence. Not that I believe I'm unreasonable to the extent that was indicated, but perhaps there are some areas of character that should be identified to be improved upon. At the same time I was reading 1 Peter. Goodness only knows why I decided that I should be reading that book at that time, but two little verses did pop out at me.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (v 3-4)

I've noticed that many very conservative Christian women use these verses to declare we must be fairly plain and only wear dresses. To me, the two verses together indicate that our focus should be on our true beauty being within instead rather than our focus being the beauty of what we wear without (not that there's anything wrong with dressing well!).

My goal for this year is to pursue what a 'gentle and quiet spirit' looks like for me. God hasn't made me to be quiet and gentle, naturally. However, there must be a gentle and quiet that fits with how He has made me. And so, my prayer for this year is that God would show me what and how I need to change for that inner beauty to be more true in me.

Fruit Mince Pies

I know Christmas is over, but I had some leftover fruit mince stashed away in the freezer. The idea of little fruit mince pies appealed to me yesterday, and so here they are.

Because I'm having a few little problems with wheat at the moment, I decided to give Maggie Beer's sour cream pastry a go, using gluten free flour. The pastry came together fine, but it was a tad on the difficult side to work with. However, I did manage to accomplish what I set out to and will enjoy the fruits of my labours for the next week or so...one pie at a time. They don't really look so pretty, but they certainly taste good to me. Maggie Beer's fruit mince recipe is absolutely delicious.

I'm pondering now, my luncheon options for today. We have some friends coming for lunch. I'm thinking the kids might enjoy sandwiches made from lavash flat bread. A burst of colourful flavour is always so much more appealing than an ordinary sandwich! I also have a loaf of bread in the bread machine for the 5yo who is likely to declare "But I don't want that"...vegemite sandwiches are always the way to his heart. For us grown ups, I have some roasted capsicum and feta in the fridge...I might roast some mini roma tomatoes and make a warm pasta salad ~ with gluten free pasta. My friend has also gone back to a wheat free diet. We make a good pair, I think!

I also need to come up with something to take for a shared lunch next Wednesday. My criteria? Very inexpensive, healthy, simple. I don't want much, do I?

Back to School....

The kids and I went shopping this afternoon. Armed with my grant from the government for families of Year 7 children, we took to Kmart and Big W. A school bag each....T-Shirts, shorts for Mr Busy, shoes for Miss Sunshine....they are all happy. The girls still need some summer 'bottoms' to go with their tops but I think an Op Shop trip might be in order there.

When we arrived home I received my third letter from school this week ~ busy beavers those office staff! My letter though was not addressed to 'Dear Our School Parents', but rather 'Dear Our School Staff'. Staff! OK then. I guess I'll find out nitty gritty details when I arrive on Wednesday morning for staff meetings LOL. All I know right now is that I will be working as a Teachers Assistant. How exciting!

In The Garden

Just before the holidays I posted pictures of my vegies...the few that are there. Bean tendrils have reached the top of the posts they are climbing on. I also discovered a few beans that will need to be picked very soon.


The tiny little tomato plants, which I was assured needed no staking, are also bearing fruit. I think they won't bear much, as the plants are quite small. However, we will get to enjoy some homegrown tomatoes with a great deal of joy regardless.

I also found a self seeded tomato plant near the beans. I wonder if they're cherry tomatoes or regulars?

The basil died. I suspected it would, without daily care. I'd like to re-invest in some flat leaf parsley and add basil, thyme and oregano to my herb garden.

My Op Shop Treasures

I've had some magnificent Op Shop finds lately. Some, from one of the local shops in Our Town. Others from further afield...like the nearest and furtherest reaches of Gippsland. Because you know, you just can't go on holidays unless you scour every Op Shop within cooee of where you happen to be! Lucky for me, the families we camp with love a good Op Shop experience. And most fortunately we all look for different things!

The picture above are my most recent finds. The plates and cups on the right are from Our Town and the more retro vintage plates, cups, book and basket are what I discovered along our journey. The basket was mine for a mere 50c. I nearly died of shock and snapped it up before anyone else had the foresight to reach for it! As you can see, my mismatched collection of vintage plates is well on its way. I have been completely inspired by my local quilt shop owner. Every time someone brings something for morning tea at Sewing Circle she pulls out a pile of bread and butter plates. They are a stunning, beautiful, simple collection of retro and vintage plates...I love them. I could just go and sit in front of her cupboard and dream over her collection, really. So I decided to start my own.

'The Hostess Cookbook' is published in Australia in 1952. It is a charming glimpse into the insights required for lone-hand housewifery! I do believe I may just give sponge cake making a go. Mine never turned out as light and moist as my late mother-in-law's and so I gave up, never having had the foresight to have her show me how she did it before she died. This book has many little tips and tricks included for success.

A Beautiful Thing..errr...Things

I just had to post. I have a new toy...a new control panel on the wall. Right next to the heater controller is now a cooler controller. Oh yes I am one happy and very cool lady right now! Unfortunately, it wasn't able to be turned on til about 3.30pm, so the poor thing is working pretty hard right now, considering it's 34C. But in our home it's a balmy, cool 26C. Oh yes....now you can bring on summer ~ we're all ready for it!

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While I was on holidays, I received two awards from fellow bloggers. Both are surprising and thrilling!

I received this fabulous blog award from Jenni. According to the rules I must list 5 addictions, and then pass this on to five other bloggers. Wow...talk about put the thinking cap on LOL.

My five addictions:

1. My Family
   
2. Reading Christian Fiction
3. Really really good food
4. Craft...fabric/sewing craft to be specific
5. Chocolate...of course. Although a good Tira Misu never goes astray!

This next award is from my dear bloggy friend, Kate. for blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude. I cannot tell you how perfectly timed this award is for me. You see, I've just had my annual dose of being made to feel like the very worst parent on the face of the earth. Perhaps it's never intended, but that is certainly how I end up feeling. My advice to anyone tempted to do so is this: Do not ever comment publicly about your negative opinion of someone elses parenting style.

So Kate, I cannot thank you enough for your encouragement of my blog and subsequently me. It also very much tickled me that Little Jenny Wren was included on that same list. Now there is one inspiring role model when it comes to gratitude and attitude!


Now I am supposed to pass the first award on to five other blogs and the second one to ten. I don't think I even have 10 that I read regularly....that would require more time than I have LOL.

If your blog is on my sidebar, then consider yourself awarded and tagged.