tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post4068287106345941826..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: The first step towards simplicityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55897794469172354032009-08-21T07:25:38.587+10:002009-08-21T07:25:38.587+10:00Greetings once again and I pray the Lord will bles...Greetings once again and I pray the Lord will bless you as you reach out to help others live a "plainer" life and learn contentment.<br />This week I have been away from home most days and it has brought a great deal of frustration to me as I am a homebody 99% of the time. I preserve about 1000 jars of food per year. My dh brought me a pressure canner ( not pressure cooker) from the States ( e-bay Australia has them on their site) and I preserve foods now like vegetables/soups and casseroles. We live on a farm and I have been blessed to be given a vegie garden paddock that currently I have 25 fruit trees growing happily down one end, my hen houses and the gardens at the other end.<br />Your site is such an encouragement to me. I have been telling folk over the last 5 years to grow vegies/ preserve/ store foods/save seeds but most of the time the response has been " we hear you Karen" and then they do nothing. I sincerely thank you for taking the time to do your blog. God bless you.<br />KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-21812247047594832722009-08-20T01:08:14.491+10:002009-08-20T01:08:14.491+10:00How very true this is! I've been studying up l...How very true this is! I've been studying up living simply and how I can reduce the amount of things I buy by either growing them or making them from healthy products. (Home cleaners and such.) Some things I think aren't worth making at home or growing, some things I can't- such as raising animals. (Hopefully that will come someday!) But I'm so happy with what our life here is becoming! Your blog has been a big help- a lot of inspiration to make me take a step back and look at what really matters. Thank you for posting!<br />Courtney<br />PS Oh my word, the lemon cake looks heavenly. :Obookflutterbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12426712911284917236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-46515902531747519622009-08-19T17:59:30.020+10:002009-08-19T17:59:30.020+10:00Rhonda;
I first have to tell you how dear your blo...Rhonda;<br />I first have to tell you how dear your blog is to me and how much I enjoy it. I have been reading from the beginning to present and enjoying every bit. Your blog is a breath of fresh air for me. It is so in tune with how I feel and what I try to instill in our lives here and teach our children. In your Jan 3, 2008 post was about bathroom cleaning. You suggested using your broom to scrub the floors. I had never heard of scrubbing with your broom! You see, even though I am still relatively young, my hands are in constant pain and I am not able to do many of the things that I used to do and took for granted before. I was dreading a scrubbing that my kitchen floor needed and knew I was going to suffer for days. I instead tried the broom and was shocked at how quickly and easily the dirt was removed even a few dried on food bits and it was barely more difficult than sweeping! I thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into your blog and the helpful hints. Without this tip I would still be in there scrubbing on my hands and knees!<br />Keep up the good work and keep inspiring others to keep their goals in sight despite what the neighbors might think!<br />Thank you<br /><br />Amy, USAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4357093932217373022009-08-19T07:32:46.906+10:002009-08-19T07:32:46.906+10:00i really enjoyed this post. what is simple for on...i really enjoyed this post. what is simple for one may seem very challenging for another. we all need to define simple living for ourselves and then not compare ourselves to others. Nor should we judge others standards of simplel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-86542190803457886372009-08-19T06:47:01.469+10:002009-08-19T06:47:01.469+10:00Rhonda,
I am interested in your "starting off...Rhonda,<br />I am interested in your "starting off vinegar" Could you share your vinegar making process? Thanks for all your ideas and inspiration.Cherylnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-39243744173321910872009-08-19T06:00:10.517+10:002009-08-19T06:00:10.517+10:00Thank you for this post and its reminder that for ...Thank you for this post and its reminder that for the simple life to work it must be our very own version, not a copy of someone else's. It is so easy to get carried away with trying to imitate others!<br />I'd also like to say that cake looks divine. I'm sure I'll be trying it soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-16678884409602606952009-08-18T14:59:36.434+10:002009-08-18T14:59:36.434+10:00Hi Rhonda,
Your lemon cake recipe will be appearin...Hi Rhonda,<br />Your lemon cake recipe will be appearing on my list of things to make this week! All of my family likes anything to eat that has lemon in it. Thanks for all of the great tips and ideas that you post. Have a great week.<br />Hugs, Aunt BeaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-16890264187954258862009-08-18T12:45:25.285+10:002009-08-18T12:45:25.285+10:00Ooh that lemon cake looks like something my family...Ooh that lemon cake looks like something my family would really enjoy! I must make it next week! Part of my simple living plan was to stop buying those little individually packed snack foods for my daughters lunch box and I have to say, it has been so much easier than I thought. There are no little packets of junk in there now, only real food. Every week I'll bake once (or twice..depending on how long before the goodies are gobbled up) for the lunchboxes. I find that I always have the basic ingredients on hand to make something tasty and it saves an incredible amount of money each week. My daughter appreciates the care that goes into making her lunch each day as opposed to just throwing in a handful of packets!Sharon Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-90496273438702049472009-08-18T09:37:35.585+10:002009-08-18T09:37:35.585+10:00Hi Susan, caster sugar is fine granulated sugar. :...Hi Susan, caster sugar is fine granulated sugar. : - )Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71232672118990335652009-08-18T09:09:46.752+10:002009-08-18T09:09:46.752+10:00When I saw that scrumptious picture of the cake I ...When I saw that scrumptious picture of the cake I thought, "I hope she gives the recipe..." and you did! <br /><br />What is caster sugar? (I'm from the US, maybe this is an Australian term?)If it's not available here would regular granulated sugar work?<br /><br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70628105028431905652009-08-18T05:01:01.495+10:002009-08-18T05:01:01.495+10:00Thank you for the recipe. I will definately try i...Thank you for the recipe. I will definately try it - I love lemon! Every day I read your blog I pick up new tips. Today I learned to let the lemons sit before juicing them. I have never heard that before and we juice lemons a couple times a year to freeze. Thanks so much!Dawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-60897327458133353622009-08-18T03:22:07.518+10:002009-08-18T03:22:07.518+10:00Hello Rhonda,
I just love it when you post about ...Hello Rhonda,<br /><br />I just love it when you post about this subject! I am trying so hard to live my life in a more simple and gratifying way. I think that simplicity does not necessarily mean that you have to homestead or live on a farm, but that you slow down, take accountability for the way you live no matter where you are. We are responsible for the imprint that we will leave on the earth. I have been contemplating this way of life for some time now, and it has just been the last few months that we have decided to make some big changes in the way the we handle our lives. Thank you for being a part of that decision - I don't think you realize how many lives you touch. By the way, the lemons look delightful, and I can't wait to make the lemon cake!<br /><br />Have a wonderful day,<br />BarbBarbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158897469583069249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-73834966098240584812009-08-18T01:58:57.891+10:002009-08-18T01:58:57.891+10:00I agree, simplicity could be different for folks. ...I agree, simplicity could be different for folks. I have to work full-time outside the home but after that, I don't commit to too much outside the home anymore. My true love and passion is at home caring for the farm animals, our land, house, and husband. If I get good quality time at home then I'm much more content in my life. <br /><br />FYI - I'm in a small USA town in North Carolina.Joanna@BooneDocksWilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11889259406024845745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-82980952038153922942009-08-18T01:16:14.882+10:002009-08-18T01:16:14.882+10:00This summer off from teaching has allowed me to ma...This summer off from teaching has allowed me to make the steps more towards a simpler life and I have enjoyed reading your blog. One thing is that I have found my passion again for reading and have turned off the tv (not that I watched a ton, but I don't watch any now). I don't miss it and I feel better. I am sewing once again, baking more, making my own yogurt (in the crockpot!). I am playing with my 2 yearold non-stop. I am trying to get the courage to stop working sometime in the next year and be a stay at home Mom, which I think should be on my simple life plan! Thank you for a great blog! Any suggestions for a partner who, although very supportive, doesn't share the same philosophy to the simple life? I should clarify that, he has been better about budgeting.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03520036843631361886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-80700652067285756942009-08-18T00:28:32.952+10:002009-08-18T00:28:32.952+10:00I thank you for this post. There are so many who t...I thank you for this post. There are so many who try to tell us how to live simply, and if we don't do it their way then it is wrong. I have always disagreed with this way of thinking. It is all an individual effort. Plus whatever you put into this way of life is what you get out of it. Do what is right and good for you, or you will be living someone else's life.<br /><br />Peace and Blessings,<br />Bethherbalcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874640523044498966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-47883023515158127992009-08-17T23:04:22.564+10:002009-08-17T23:04:22.564+10:00i really enjoy reading your blog. I admire what yo...i really enjoy reading your blog. I admire what you do. I am slowly doing things to make my life simpler and more environmental(it's hard when no one else in the household wants to do it)<br />My decision last week was to start buying a wash powder that is an environmentally friendly one that can be used in grey water (my next step is to find a way to get that water outside to be used on the lawn etc)<br />I guess every little bit helps (when my washing machine disintergrated I demanded a front loader as it uses less water than a top loader - I had had a twin tub for years but my back no longer liked to use it so when it broke I took my chance)<br />You cake looks scrumptious, I will be trying that this week as there are some lemons sitting on the bench that someone gave to meKatrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15549293426495736514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-16016878347256248402009-08-17T21:04:19.134+10:002009-08-17T21:04:19.134+10:00Fabulous post, beautiful pictures and i wish we co...Fabulous post, beautiful pictures and i wish we could grow citrus fruit, but I don't have room for a glass house... <br /><br />thank you for sharing and inspiring me<br /><br />x AlexPink Feather Paradisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362222817573569135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-60550765497809136202009-08-17T18:38:35.416+10:002009-08-17T18:38:35.416+10:00You hit the nail on the head when you said about f...You hit the nail on the head when you said about finding your own version of simplicity based on what's important to you. <br /><br />I was on a blog the other day where the owner had almost run themselves into the ground trying to mold themselves into someone else's idea of self-sufficiency while holding down a full time job. Crazy! <br /><br />I said the same thing you did - don't follow anyone else. Do what you can in the time you have and don't feel guilt-tripped into doing something because a book or guru tell you to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62792582355834390342009-08-17T17:41:06.009+10:002009-08-17T17:41:06.009+10:00Hi Rhonda
The cake looks great! What is the toppi...Hi Rhonda<br /><br />The cake looks great! What is the topping made of?<br /><br />Many thanks<br /><br />DonnaDonnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06648648116611133471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-84174411707082604062009-08-17T16:10:57.469+10:002009-08-17T16:10:57.469+10:00Hi Jody dear. A bush house is an outdoor structur...Hi Jody dear. A bush house is an outdoor structure where gardeners raise seedlings and nurse sick plants. It's a warm weather version of a glasshouse. :- )Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17616954483649286522009-08-17T16:04:56.833+10:002009-08-17T16:04:56.833+10:00Rhonda, I am curious. I am not familiar with what...Rhonda, I am curious. I am not familiar with what a bush house is. Could you explain? JodyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91430523583302874342009-08-17T16:03:17.467+10:002009-08-17T16:03:17.467+10:00I really appreciate how you express that we need t...I really appreciate how you express that we need to find out our version of a simple life. I am doing an evaluation of how my life can better express my values in my day to day at the moment. Thanks so much for helping making me think!Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01272960666200716023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2892232215467647532009-08-17T16:02:50.745+10:002009-08-17T16:02:50.745+10:00We never set out to simplify. We just had x amoun...We never set out to simplify. We just had x amount of income and had to stretch it. A neighbor got us interested in gardening, the gardening bug caught on in a huge way! That led to canning and other food preservation. I already sewed for the family but now did gifts and more sewing for our home. We paid off our home and land. It may not be as big as we want and it is not in the country but it is all ours. It has limits but still there is Much we can do to be independent here. We found ways to save on the groceries we did have to buy and as the years went on bought less and at little cost. Keep a good pantry. Keep reading, asking and learning and trying. The work is hard at times but so rewarding! There is always something to strive toward. Something you want to try. There is no hurry, we Want to do this. It is our life we are creating so only we can say what that is and it feels so natural. Ronda you have been so helpful to all of us. We each have our own lives like you say but you have taught us sooo much! Thankyou! JodyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42306140691503461802009-08-17T12:36:48.351+10:002009-08-17T12:36:48.351+10:00Rhonda a trick for the juicing of lemons...
The da...Rhonda a trick for the juicing of lemons...<br />The day before you juice them leave them to sit over night in the bath tub in cool water the excess of the juice is astounding and made rich by the oils in the lemon skins. It is how I treat them before juicing and freezing the juice. Ice trays then bagged is a nice way to have just that bit extra for a small recipeDonettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530145585581721795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7784568800017477152009-08-17T12:02:03.561+10:002009-08-17T12:02:03.561+10:00Okay, I think we need the recipe for the lemon coc...Okay, I think we need the recipe for the lemon coconut cake. But then, everything you produce looks like a picture out of a cookbook! Go Rhonda!Mary S.noreply@blogger.com