tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post7449128162748586220..comments2024-03-29T21:11:37.724+10:00Comments on down to earth: Where to from here?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-88499913425939477732017-07-07T08:26:54.175+10:002017-07-07T08:26:54.175+10:00I've gotten so much out of your blog. It's...I've gotten so much out of your blog. It's so pretty, visually. The writing is so inspiring. It's helped me in so many ways, especially in becoming debt free. TheAwakenedSoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636961399581011120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-5359845585240630612016-09-15T13:19:45.835+10:002016-09-15T13:19:45.835+10:00Hi Rhonda,
I would be so happy to have your p...Hi Rhonda,<br /> I would be so happy to have your posts to look forward to yet. One of my favorite series you did was the one where people sent in pictures of their kitchens and favorite places. You can do a bi weekly post where people report in on what they did all day, or goals or plans. I think you asked a few times, "what are you doing today?" They were great. I can't wait to see what is next. Daledoe853https://www.blogger.com/profile/03417944604275614243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4157776560258159502016-09-13T21:06:06.402+10:002016-09-13T21:06:06.402+10:00Sounds great Rhonda! The best thing about a blog i...Sounds great Rhonda! The best thing about a blog is you can write whatevet you want!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68098015080386134292016-09-07T13:21:03.722+10:002016-09-07T13:21:03.722+10:00Kate, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Than...Kate, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing your heart... such a hard road to travel. I am sorry for your troubles. <br />Sending hugs across the miles from New Mexico Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10558882718576845511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-36668299901213562932016-09-06T19:31:49.150+10:002016-09-06T19:31:49.150+10:00I enjoy reading your posts and if it is still poss...I enjoy reading your posts and if it is still possible to give suggestions (or wishes) I would realy love posts on 'how to' make, bake, cook, clean etc. You have so many skills that a lot of us would love to learn! It would be great if you could teach us in a series of posts! Many thanks for your lovely blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-92159815443187260902016-09-06T16:28:44.941+10:002016-09-06T16:28:44.941+10:00Fiona, I made mandarin jam this year with the surp...Fiona, I made mandarin jam this year with the surplus mandies from our tree. I used a recipe I found on pickyourown.org and bottled them in my fowlers bottles. It worked beautifully, and tastes really good...sweeter than marmalade, a definite 'jam'. Cassandra xx<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-36223348879086605722016-09-06T09:23:00.565+10:002016-09-06T09:23:00.565+10:00I think my favorite posts are the ones where you j...I think my favorite posts are the ones where you just talk about what you did all day, in between lovely photos of your home and garden. I feel like I'm right there with you, enjoying the simplicity and beauty of a day puttering around caring for a home. I can't wait for the cleaning cloths post tomorrow! =) It will no doubt encourage me to analyze my own stash.Melindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13044832128382757722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17824154662649066712016-09-06T09:15:40.160+10:002016-09-06T09:15:40.160+10:00Hi Rhonda, thank goodness you're not hanging u...Hi Rhonda, thank goodness you're not hanging up your metaphorical boots just yet! We all take such a lot from your posts and blog archive, and in turn I think many of us are passing on the simple living philosophy and skills to others around us; I recently spent a lovely afternoon with a young mum that I work with, showing her how to make soap and no-knead bread. I strongly believe that it is more important than ever to maintain and propagate skills such as these, and your posts and those who learn from them are such a valuable resource. julesnznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64578484911680042572016-09-06T08:49:17.839+10:002016-09-06T08:49:17.839+10:00I just wanted to let you know how much I love your...I just wanted to let you know how much I love your blog and seeing your photos - I live in the United States so your pictures give me a glimpse of the world !<br /><br />I am so looking forward tomorrow to your post about rags and cleaning cloths! memehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06917472273921446916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18566478717546831202016-09-06T08:18:09.035+10:002016-09-06T08:18:09.035+10:00Rhonda, I am 81 and I love your blog and glean lot...Rhonda, I am 81 and I love your blog and glean lots of ideas from it. I live in an independent senior apartment. This means no meals or housekeeping amenities. I do my own shopping, cooking 90% from scratch. I learned to crochet last year by watching YouTube. I have a couple who help me every other week with cleaning the tub, floors and vacuuming. I also have an awesome support group of friends of various ages. One grown son who lives several states away. I have vision problems and have not driven for 1 1/2 years. I take a special bus. Friends would take me but I tell them I'm saving them for the fun stuff: coffee and/or lunch dates. I do accept rides to dr appointments. I'd love to read about positive ageing. Most of what I see is either depressing or it's all about expensive travel. That's nice, but I like down-to-earth, reality based for us that try to keep learning, being, and doing in a more simple way. Thanks, Shirley Pacific NW USAyoung77https://www.blogger.com/profile/14523388053844339703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9639785270883940752016-09-06T08:12:45.811+10:002016-09-06T08:12:45.811+10:00Hi Rhonda,
First of all, thank you for sharing yo...Hi Rhonda,<br /><br />First of all, thank you for sharing your life and advice with us over the past 10 years.<br /><br />I read your posts, regardless of the topic, so I'm happy for you to keep writing about whatever you want to!<br /><br />One topic that I'd particularly be interested to hear more of your thoughts on though, is aging and death, as you come across as both thoughtful and pragmatic in regards to these topics. My grandparents are still alive and in good health in their 80s, but they'll often make comments (both light-hearted and serious comments) about their age, and eventual death. <br /><br />I'm 33, so I must admit that I feel a twinge of sadness and don't quite know how to respond sometimes when they discuss their deaths, but they're at an age now where they've experienced the death of their parents and many of their friends, and are now at a comfortable place in their minds, where they understand and respect the journey and stages of life, but can be light-hearted and joke about the topic of death - a topic that society usually doesn't like to discuss until after it's happened (I know plenty of people around my age who refuse to get a will done because it's too confronting for them to think about their own death)<br /><br />I've noticed that you seem to share the same wisdom as my grandparents do in regards to life and death, and would love to hear more of your thoughts (if you're happy to share them of course!)<br /><br />Hope you have a lovely week :)KJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-35804197206161300232016-09-06T07:57:31.737+10:002016-09-06T07:57:31.737+10:00I for one do not expect you to post every day Rhon...I for one do not expect you to post every day Rhonda. I don't even know how you have managed to do everything that you do on top of blogging and writing. How about just giving us some deja vu posts? We can all look up the blogs in the blog archive but if you wanted to start re-posting them - maybe with a little editing or comment - that would be just fine with me. What you write about and created here is timeless. And every day you have new readers who discover you and old readers who remember things you wrote about and search for them. SunnymidnightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45456576170830850372016-09-06T07:47:43.417+10:002016-09-06T07:47:43.417+10:00I have been a faithful reader almost from the begi...I have been a faithful reader almost from the beginning! I use my Saturday posts to encourage people to stock up and be as much self sufficient as possible. I really believe the encouragement you give and the wealth of information will be even more important in these next years. Brenda@CoffeeTeaBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719695370857675146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71781378846942422322016-09-06T01:32:36.506+10:002016-09-06T01:32:36.506+10:00I am looking forward to whatever the future brings...I am looking forward to whatever the future brings. We have to look forward and not live in the past. That said, we do need to bring from the past the things that work for us. Thank you for doing that. I will be here reading and learning.<br /><br />Thanks, Rhonda!<br /><br />DarleneDarla Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02586908593785930696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41954393662462621282016-09-05T22:20:12.285+10:002016-09-05T22:20:12.285+10:00Dear Rhonda, I look forward to reading your future...Dear Rhonda, I look forward to reading your future posts as I have read all you past ones. I don't comment often, it's not my style, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate every word you write. One thing I would love to know more about is compost, sounds silly I know but I have a new three bay compost system and would love advice on how to produce really good compost!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45240086669464333162016-09-05T21:43:00.194+10:002016-09-05T21:43:00.194+10:00Happened to be home and have internet for a night ...Happened to be home and have internet for a night and wanted to check in on you.. Looking forward to whatever you write on your blog and know it will be interesting.. <br />We will be home again soon and get back to blogging.. Missing you.. Faye Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292425181042066079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-79440219939819713702016-09-05T20:55:57.915+10:002016-09-05T20:55:57.915+10:00Good on yer Rhonda! (not to die just yet and keep ...Good on yer Rhonda! (not to die just yet and keep us informed lol!)<br />xxxSandies' Patchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11022362234675324965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-49762763236477235752016-09-05T20:21:06.209+10:002016-09-05T20:21:06.209+10:00Rhonda, I have been reading your blog for maybe 2 ...Rhonda, I have been reading your blog for maybe 2 years now. I am 46, which is still young enough, but I have multiple autoimmune diseases that are causing me to "age" sooner than my peers. That is what has brought me to this simple living journey. I have spent the past 3 years slowly but purposefully and continually downsizing and living a simpler, slower life in order to be healthier and happier and it's working well :) . I look forward to your posts on aging. It's something I am already thinking on and planning for, in the very near future, if not now!. Please do share on that topic! I long to hear honest conversation on how to live as we experience these changes in life. It's not something I can talk about with my peers as I feel they are still busy keeping up, while I happily let go of those expectations when I started this new journey in life. My goal is to live honestly in tune with what I need, day by day, one day at a time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-82108381074838346452016-09-05T18:20:07.111+10:002016-09-05T18:20:07.111+10:00I'll be back. 😍I'll be back. 😍Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14771215692369687323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70762255947685136992016-09-05T18:03:08.457+10:002016-09-05T18:03:08.457+10:00Fiona I just happen to have a mandarin preserves r...Fiona I just happen to have a mandarin preserves recipe in my Paprika organiser. Good luck.<br />https://manyhatskitchen.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/preserved-mandarins/rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-30386268458744652372016-09-05T17:31:39.297+10:002016-09-05T17:31:39.297+10:00Thank you Rhonda I personally have got some much f...Thank you Rhonda I personally have got some much from reading your blog and my time on the forum we would not have lived the life we have over the last few years if it was not for here. Every post I take a small bit away with me and use what I can in our everyday life so that things are more simple, the house runs smoother, the garden grows, food put on the table. This blog is my go to for so many thingsSarah Munroehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13727918797108721900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-87763865391607739792016-09-05T17:12:00.766+10:002016-09-05T17:12:00.766+10:00Oh good, was a bit worried you might be finishing ...Oh good, was a bit worried you might be finishing up and I love reading your blog. Can I ask for unrelated advice? My friend's mandarin tree is heavy with delicious ripe mandies. Can I bottle mandarins with Fowlers bottles? I bought my setup second hand and I haven't got a book. Hoping you read this and share your wealth of citrus knowledge. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866161214077269517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29910752658437399312016-09-05T15:25:52.534+10:002016-09-05T15:25:52.534+10:00I love your blog Rhonda. I still make my own washi...I love your blog Rhonda. I still make my own washing liquid for my washing machine using your recipe, which I have been doing for simply ages. Now I have a few old towels that I need to re-cycle into the next stage of their life - cleaning cloths. So I'll check in again to read what you have to say about that subject. We need your ideas !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70714300932843888962016-09-05T12:59:12.826+10:002016-09-05T12:59:12.826+10:00Rhonda, I'm a "plus one" on so many ...Rhonda, I'm a "plus one" on so many of the comments that were posted today and last week. I will be very interested in what you have to say about ageing and would also like to hear any thoughts/advice you have about taking care of elderly parents. You answered a comment from a reader awhile back by mentioning that you helped care for your Dad, who had dementia. Anything you would like to share about that time in your life would be appreciated. And, since you asked, I always perk up when you mention visiting the bushland - pictures and thoughts about those visits would be welcome if you wanted to share them. Thank you x a million (and bring on the surprises!) Beth in MN Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-47301375608551282702016-09-05T11:23:19.704+10:002016-09-05T11:23:19.704+10:00Hallo Rhonda. About 3 years ago my DaughterinLaw (...Hallo Rhonda. About 3 years ago my DaughterinLaw (nearly) gave me your Down To Earth book after she had interviewed you. It is now my favourite "go to" book. My mother (80) had a prolific summer last year knitting over a hundred knitted cleaning cloths and converted the entire family! I make my own laundry and cleaning solutions but have come back to trusty old vinegar for cleaning! I have also adopted and adapted the Whole Orange Cake recipe. I made a Jaffa Cake last week by adding 1.5 Tablespoons Cocoa to the recipe. YUM!! Although we are only 2 in our household it doesn't last long. I love to read your blog and books, especially now as I can't really use my hands that have swollen and we (me and my GP) are still looking for the reason. I live west of you on the way to Kingaroy and am revelling in the beautiful weather we experience (formally from South Australia) and the way stuff grows in Southern Queensland. So, thank you for some wonderful and amusing reading and for helping me keep my sanity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com