18 June 2015

Nothing fancy, just ordinary day stuff


This is what today looks like: I'll let the chickens out soon, give them some warm porridge and watch as they push past each other so they can be the first out the gate. It's been raining here on and off for about a week so there'll be worms and bugs for them to catch; extra protein in their diet to turn into delicious golden yolked eggs. Then I'll feed Hettie before I go back inside to have breakfast, after which, I'll wash up. Today's lunch will be roast chicken with fresh herb stuffing, Brussel sprouts, potatoes and pumpkin. A hearty meal on a cool day will keep us fuelled up for work in the afternoon.




But this morning, apart from preparing the roast, I'll make bread rolls and clean out the fridge. The bed needs to be stripped and clean flannel sheets put on the bed. That will make one load of washing which I'll put on and Hanno will hang out. I washed three wool jumpers yesterday so hopefully they'll be dry enough to press and put away. While the press is hot, I'll also do a small pile of tablecloths and pillowslips sitting there. That's not the end of the ironing but the rest will have to wait a little longer. I don't want to spread myself too thin today. After we eat lunch, I'll wash up and surface clean the kitchen then sit down for an hour. There may be some knitting done then. I'm knitting Hanno some mittens in pure Merino with a strand of baby Alpaca for extra warmth. Since he had an accident with a chain saw and nearly cut off his hand, the circulation in that hand is a bit slow and it's always cold. These mittens are to warm up his hands while he's on the computer or watching TV.



After lunch, finally, I'll be able to do some work with the new plants and pots I bought on Tuesday. I'll start potting new plants in the pots and if time allows, I'll repot a few hanging baskets. On the weekend, I'll need Hanno's help to move some roses in the front garden so I can plant new salvia and Chinese lanterns where the roses once grew. There is a lot of pruning to be done out there but I think that's a weekend job too.



So many things to do, but I'll get to all of them, eventually. All of it has waited patiently for me for these past few months, another day or two will make no difference. I have to do a small amount of grocery shopping, dust and rearrange my cook books, bake a cake, scrub the outdoor table on the back verandah, clean and organise the green house, clean the bathrooms, make soap. Oh, the list could go on and on. I'm sure you know the score and have similar, if not identical, work in your home. It's nothing fancy, just ordinary day stuff, but it feels so good to be doing it again.  What are you doing today?
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34 comments

  1. We've kept our 2 year old grandson for 5 days and took him back yesterday. Today, we're picking up toys, washing clothes and resting up! A tropical depression has moved up from the coast and it's raining buckets, so no outside work today!

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  2. My day has started very much like yours.........the chooks have been let out and fed their warm breakfast, cats are fed and I'll walk the dog in a minute, as soon as I've finished my cuppa. I have the binding to finish on a little quilt, and will walk to the post office later to send it off. It's raining here too, so no outside work today, so a bit of tidying then some knitting this afternoon....I'm making my son some merino sock slippers, to wear indoors. There are lentils soaking for a curry for lunch. Satisfying work! Are Hanno's mittens fingerless, please do show us when you're finished.

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  3. Dear Rhonda, for many months now I have wanted to make changes in my home life. I have been shuffling from one book to another but the inspiration just was not there, then I found your blog and felt like I had landed on planet earth! Your blog is amazing in that simplicity of life that is so precious, I can not thank you enough for how this has helped me :) I am slowly making my cleaning products, something I have longed to do for years, I can not believe how well it works! Thank you so much, best wishes.

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  4. Hi Rhonda,
    Wow! that is a very long list of chores that you have there - please take care of yourself after your recent illness. But I know that you are enjoying being able to take these tasks on again. I'm sure that it will feel like a big weight will lift when your book is finished.
    I do love to see all of your photos of your daily life as there are so homely and soothing!!
    On Monday it was our 24th wedding anniversary and today it is my youngest sons 17th birthday - where has all of that time gone?! As he has gone to the cinema tonight with his mates his birthday tea will be tomorrow - chosen by him: chicken in red wine (in the slow cooker) and homemade chocolate caramel shortbread for pudding!
    So that is what's happening in our life - as you say ordinary things but its all good!
    xx

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  5. Goodness, you have managed to fit a lot into a day. Today was a catch up with family, meeting halfway in The Cotswolds for lunch. Don't get to see each other often these days, lots of family commitments for everyone.

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  6. It's good to hear that you have a lovely ordinary day ahead of you Rhonda. If you hear a knock on the door as you carve the chicken that'll be me making a third for that delicious lunch. ;)

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    1. No worries Rose. Bring the family, there is plenty for all of us.

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  7. It is lovely to see the sun again after a dismal week isn't it'? I don't know how our Northern Hemisphere friends cope with their long and cold winters. I think weeding will be on the agenda today after the washing is hung out. Enjoy getting back into your routine, Rhonda.

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  8. Sounds as though you are back into the usual rhythm of life, which must feel lovely. I am far from home today, looking at a country town we may be calling home soon. It all aligns very well with my ideas of simplicity, but I'm not that great with major change in my life so am pondering how life may look here and whether I am up for the change/challenge! Have a great day Rhonda.

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  9. I've been making my chickens oats for breakfast and they are loving it - they are pushing things aren't they!! :) Jan x

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  10. As you, my days, right now, flow around home. We are in the midst of a heat wave, so my work is done early -- three loads of laundry by 8 a.m. on the line; goats, chickens, pigs fed before that; a closet cleaned; sashings on a quilt block; knitting on a baby blanket; kitchen cleaned after three home cooked meals; plants watered; winter clothes stored; and so on it goes. Every day is a joy! Slow, steady, set by our needs and what makes home work for us. It will be difficult to return to campus in August!

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  11. Today we did school in the morning followed by a playdate at the park, during which the kids and I all got to catch up with dear friends. Came home for lunch and finished up some homeschooling paperwork, then got to work on some domestic tasks that have been waiting for me to finish an editing project--laundry, cleaning out the fridge, freezing some peppers we picked in our neighbor's field, taking care of the chickens, etc. Trying to stay in as much as possible during the heat of the day, as it has been unusually hot (even in Florida, 99.5 degrees in the shade is hot for June) and dry, so we end up hiding inside during the worst of it. I enjoyed hearing about your day, it sounds quite peaceful.

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  12. Love that little green dish with the fruit. You are quite an inspiration for me. Thank you!

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  13. You must be enjoying your day today Rhonda. Sounds like a lot of chores but we all know these are things you love doing, I'm hearing a lot of satisfaction in your writing.
    Would you mind sharing the instructions for mittens? I just finished my first knitting project and would love to start another one. Mittens are perfect as I always have cold hands.

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    1. Hi Frances. Hmmm, I'm a bit of a demented knitter so I have no pattern. What I'm doing it measuring as I go. I started off with about three inches of wrist band and now I'm doing stocking stitch and adding one stitch at the end and one stitch half way through the row on every knit row. I have a marker at the half way point. I'll keep doing that for a while, then measure it on Hanno's hand and when it's long enough, I'll start reducing. I'm working with straight needles and will sew up the side seam and knit a thumb to sew in. I think you'd be better off with a Ravelry pattern but if you do this, let me know how it goes.

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    2. Thank you so much Rhonda! I will give it a go and let you know how it looks like when I'm finished. I'd love to be able to look at something and just do it without a pattern/guideline.

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  14. I loved reading about your day Rhonda. I have come away feeling more relaxed for the rest of my day.

    I am home alone, and just pottering around doing some chores, nothing to strenuous as I don't get many days like this when there is just me. I might get my knitting out later as I want to knit another teacosy as I gifted the last one I made to my daughter for her new kitchen. I have plenty to do but no inclination to do it :)

    Later I will pick some green for our chooks as I am reluctant to let them out to forage around because we lost five of them last year to cheeky foxes in the middle of the day.

    I am glad to hear you are still having peaceful days in among the busyness of writing your book. We all need that from time to time. Wont be long and you will be enjoying more days like this one.

    xTania

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    1. Hello Tania, it's good to see you, love. Enjoy your day alone, there's no rush to get the housework or gardening done. It will wait for you. I've finished all the book chapters, just have to do some reading and approve editing now and then I'm a free woman!

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  15. Good Morning Rhonda and Hanno. Today started early letting the chooks into a patch of garden we want weeded. I have silverside in the slow cooker ready to cook for dinner. hopefully left overs to make corn fritters tomorrow. Like Hanno I also had an accident trying to cut my hand off but with a circular saw. Life changing and I cant do everything the way I used too but determined to do most jobs. I wear gloves now as my hand tells me when it is cold. Does Hanno suffer with nerve pain and does he do anything to help it. cheers Julie

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    1. No nerve pain, Julie, but his hand is cold most of the time and he has problems picking up small things and unscrewing lids. He went to an occupational therapist for specialised in hands for a few months after the accident and I think she did a lot of good but the damage was too great to escape completely unscathed. I hope you get some help with the nerve pain.

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    2. Hello Rhonda :) yes its the little things that are annoying to us .. putting on bras are my worst task :) and opening plastic milk cartons. oh well we are lucky to have our hands and are married to wonderful people. Yes the therapists are wonderful also. Thank you.. hubby and I are looking forward to your next book :) have a lovely evening. Julie

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  16. That sounds like a busy day to me Rhonda! Today there´ll be a last minute repotting of my tomato seedlings. They´re shouting out loud for bigger pots. Need to do a quick weeding in our raised beds. I haven´t written a list but there´s a lot more to do. Everything has to go quickly today so that we are ready for the BIG EVENT. At 5pm, we will cycle to the little heritage village near us with our grandchildren to dress the Maypole in birch leaves and wild flowers. Tomorrow at 1pm a group of strong fellow will lift it into place and then the Midsummer dancing begins. The only problem is the Midsummer weather....The forecast is for rain and a temperature of only 14C. Still, whatever the weather, we can all enjoy the long light summer nights when the sun never goes to bed.

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  17. I can imagine sitting on that (my) lounge eating those biccies!

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  18. Hi Rhonda! I must admit this post left me feeling soothed but also jealous! Then I remind myself I am 28 years old and all in good time. This week is my first full week back at work after having some time off to get married and I said to my husband (still a bit thrilling to write that!) this morning that I so desired just to be working in the home. I am making use of nights and weekends to fulfil my desires and also secretly hoping I fall pregnant soon so I can dream about months at home on maternity leave. Having some time off work has made me realise I do believe a house needs a person to run it whether man or woman I know with everything one of us could easily work 9-5 Monday to Friday in our home. I can't wait for this!! Thank you again Rhonda xx

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    1. Hi Alyce, it's good to see you again. I think when we spoke at Blackheath you told me your fiancé's name, but now I forget it. Anyhow, congratulations to you both on your marriage. I know you've been saving for your life together for sometime. And yes, you've got to go through the steps just like we all did. But you'll get there and then start to live the life you dream of. xx

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  19. I love ordinary day stuff. Just time to do daily work, putter a bit. It's all good!

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  20. Me ... I'm just doing the day to day stuff too.

    Watering, planting on and harvesting in the polytunnel, feeding and cleaning out the chooks. Moving the small run over so the new mum and her pair of fluffy chicks have fresh grass to scratch and peck in. Making meals from yesterdays harvest with something from the freezer, and all the other little jobs of the day that you do without even thinking about. It's what keeps the place ticking over and what keeps me sane :-)

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  21. Rhonda, could you please tell me a out your wood scrubbers? I have been in need of ones with the small handles and would really like to find them! Could you tell me who makes them?

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    1. Hi Lauren, I just did a search for the large round brush, it's made by Crabtree and Evelyn, a camel body brush. I never used it for that and I use it as a very efficient soft scrubber. Looks like they don't make them now. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=evelyn+crabtree+camel+brush&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HjaDVZuhK4a6mAWbm4r4DQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1421&bih=788#imgrc=HGpidCrlQWIUmM%253A%3BuHH9gE5ezkLE7M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimages.iherb.com%252Fl%252FCRA-21124-1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.iherb.com%252FCrabtree-Evelyn-Round-Body-Brush%252F39185%3B1600%3B1600

      The smaller brush is a hard bristle brush you can usually get at any kitchen shop and sometimes at a local health shop or organic co-op. Good luck.

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  22. Rhonda, are your chooks laying? Ours are not and haven't for a while. I notice you feed them warm porridge - I've never thought of that and maybe that's the answer in winter. I live near Coffs Harbour so the days are quite warm.

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    1. Yes they are, Janet. They did stop for a couple of months at the end of summer and started again about a month ago. We were feeding them too well with laying pellets and mixed grain. They free range on green grass every day so they don't need grain as well. We stopped the grain and gave them pellets only, and they started again. When they do stop laying it does help if you give them a boost of protein feed - and that's what the porridge is for. Apart from them loving it, it will give them extra protein and the feeling of being cared for. And we all know that contented chooks lay well. You will get the same effect if you soak stale bread in warm milk - extra protein in a warm nourishing meal. Good luck.

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  23. An ordinary day is my idea of bliss. Your writing helps me to remember and celebrate being content.

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  24. I just clicked on your cleaning posts to get some motivation to do some more housework. The floors are mopped, the carpets vacuumed, and now I will dust. I always enjoy reading your posts. Thanks again...

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