2 April 2017

It's like heaven

I wish you could see my home. It's like heaven here now.  After the cyclone, we had a couple of days of high humidity and rain and now, well now, my friends, it is a paradise.  I was sitting outside with Hanno earlier, it was coolish at around 20C degrees, a slight breeze was rustling autumn leaves and new green shoots are coming up everywhere. We had morning tea there later and I could not imagine being anywhere else or wanting to move an inch. There is so much to love in Autumn.




Hanno had a tooth out during the week so we're on soft food for the next month while the hole heals over.  He's on Warfarin so we have to be very careful. I've been making quick soups all week - one pot fed us for two days and I made three different soups. Sweet potato and pumpkin, mushroom and leek and finally herby tomato. There were no cans and no preservatives, just real food cooked as we like it. Today we're progressing onto "soft food". The soft food special will be savoury mince with vegetables. I'm cooking cabbage, onion, capsicum, carrots and celery but it will all be run through the food processor for ten seconds and then cooked with the meat.  It sounds pretty grim but I'm sure it will taste good.



On Saturday we celebrated Jamie's sixth birthday at an activity centre over on the coast. Along with Kerry, Sunny and Jamie there were Sarndra, Alex, Eve, Hanno and I, and about 12 of Jamie's friends. The kids played dodge ball and jumped on the ground-level trampolines to build up their appetites and then had pizza, slushies, drinks, Minecraft cake and lollies. I was going to show you the Minecraft cake but I forgot to take a photo when I finished it and all the photos I took at the party had children I don't know in them, and I don't want to show them here without their parents' permission. The cake was chocolate with bright green (ack!) cream cheese frosting and chocolate icing. It was cut into large squares with two levels and steps leading up to the levels.  Minecraft figures stood on the top level with a wolf on the steps. It wasn't my best work but I think the kids enjoyed it.



My sister Tricia is coming up for a visit at the end of the month. We haven't seen her for a year so we're looking forward to the visit. While she's here I plan on having a big family BBQ and will try to get the whole family here together. That can be quite a feat of organising - four families in one place for a meal, it doesn't sound difficult but it's a challenge.

Yes, I know I'm spoiling her :- ).  I made an extra bed for Gracie in my work room.  She sleeps in there until I go to bed and then wanders out and spends the rest of the night in her bed in the lounge room. 

We finally got our invisible dog fence up and connected and will start Gracie's training tomorrow. I hope we can get her to the point of not needing the collar but we'll have to play it by ear and see how she goes. She's a very intelligent dog so I have my fingers crossed the training will go well.

It looks like a week at home here again. They're my favourite weeks, with nothing to do but potter around our home, doing this and that. We did a big shop last week so I hope to make do with what's here and not go out the gate at all. During the week we'll continue with Gracie's training, I'll be working in the garden and I'm going to start work on a baby doll in a sleeping basket. Eve will be two soon and she likes bags and baskets. I think a baby doll wrapped up in a fluffy knitted blanket and quilt, sleeping in a basket she can carry around, might hit the spot with her.  What are your plans for the week?

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27 comments

  1. Another week at home here too :-) Our favourite green grocer has announced they are now delivering orders - yet another reason to not leave the house - yah! That quick soup looks just the ticket - I'm copying that for dinner tonight.

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  2. I love the sound of your week. My week will comprise of recovering from a change of season virus, nursing myself and my little boy, trying out my new menu plan and looking after my home and seeing clients. Then I get to prepare for our travels to Tasmania to visit my mum on her new acreage (I haven't seen her for 2 years!). Enjoy you week, and I hope Hanno heals quickly.

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  3. Gracie looks very relaxed in her new bed. Why not spoil them with love! (Children and dogs:>) I have pre made tomorrows dinner of Shepherds Pie but I love the look of the Zesty Tomato Soup.
    Hope Hanno feels better soon.

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  4. We're well into spring here, so vegetable and seed planting is the order of the day. Like you, the weather is pleasant and it's nice to be home, working around the property. Have a great week!

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  5. Loved your pictures...looks so inviting at your home. And Gracie is beyond adorable :) This week I am continuing to go through stuff and get rid of things either by donating to the thrift shop, selling on eBay, or putting aside to re-use. Let's just say it's a process. Having a late breakfast with my college age son on Tuesday before his trip to California. Today is a beautiful sunny day (after 2 days of rain) so I am hanging out laundry right now. Then I will work on scanning old family photos for my genealogy project. I love to scrapbook, and am making two duplicate albums to eventually give to my kids.

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    1. Hi Debbie in PA. That's where I'm from as well.:) I just tried connecting with you from your Blogger Profile Page but the contact link isn't working.
      It sounds like you're doing what I should be doing --- going through stuff and getting rid. :)
      Have a great week.
      ~Sue

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  6. It does sound like Heaven. Those tomatoes look beautiful. Can't wait until we have fresh ones again.

    Hugs
    Jane

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  7. I love those weeks where we don't have anything planned too. This week is not one of them! We will go to the Senior Center tomorrow morning for a couple of hours of knitting for me and billiards for hubby. I was picked for jury duty starting on Tuesday and I have my final post op appointment on Wednesday. Then we can stay home for a few days... unless I get picked to serve on the jury... which I am hoping won't happen.

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  8. Ooh your tomato soup looks so delicious Rhonda.
    Hope Hanno's tooth heals soon.
    xx

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  9. I can't believe Jamie is six already! It seems like just yesterday you were telling us about his arrival! Time flies when you aren't paying attention to the clock, doesn't it?
    Gracie looks so sweet sleeping on her new bed. And no; she is not spoiled, just loved!

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  10. Our kids love savoury mince Rhonda, one of their favourites. The Minecraft cake would have been fabulous and I bet Jamie was over the moon too. Sounds like you are in for a great week ahead and hope all goes well with Gracie.

    We have just started school holidays here. Our son is working most days and our daughter is spending 3 nights at Mum and Dad's. I'll continue in the garden as well as more research into feeding chickens, making our own hanging water bowls, cooking of course, reading, knitting. I also plan on staying home as much as I can. I noticed that when I'm out shopping etc. I just can't get home quick enough.

    Have a great day xx

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  11. Hello Rhonda, are these recipes written down anywhere? they sound so wonderful. One of my kids is autistic and will only eat a small range of foods, the tomato soup would be great for him.
    Thankyou.

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  12. We grew up in Florida and it was always amazing how beautiful the weather was after a hurricane, as we call them on our side of the world. The air is just so clean and fresh. Your soups look lovely and I am sure Hanno will heal well with your good care. Spoil on! She will just love you all the more. :)

    We have five children and getting them all together in one place is often years apart. We will see three of them next weekend but that is often as high as it goes. We did have two grandchildren overnight this weekend and enjoyed them so much.

    Have a wonderful, cooler week!

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  13. Home sweet home indeed.. Sounds lovely to me.. xo

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  14. Your soup looks delicious! Tomato soup is a comfort food for me along with a grilled cheese sandwich.

    I identify with the commenter above, I too,notice when I am out shopping I can't wait to get back home. Love taking care of our home.

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  15. Home inside the gate is so good. Not to be here unfortunately as I have work 3 afternoons, visiting my mum Wednesday who lives 120 kms away. HOWEVER, I did steam a whole chicken on the weekend and kept the stock. I'm sure you can guess dinner tonight and with lots of gresh vegetables. Hope Hanno is on too of the world soon. Enjoy your sanctuary Rhonda.

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  16. Another work week getting ready here. Baths for my girls tonight and some planning/writing in my journal. Love Sunday nights. Glad to hear the rains have stopped and Hanno's healing. Have a good week!

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  17. As you enjoy fall I wake up to spring. Your soup looks very yummy as do the scones. Enjoy the home time.

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  18. I always have lots to do in my home to keep me busy. Not sure of the activities of the week coming up other than the usual which I love. BUT I do hope to get in some reading time in with your "Down to Earth" book which I just picked up from my local Barnes & Noble bookstore last evening. They had to order it special for me but I finally got it! I'm excited! :)
    I only wish I could have them order your other 2 books for me but they said they can't order those. So I must find a way to get them here in the US. Not an easy thing I have discovered.

    Love the pic of Gracie --- she looks like she is relaxing/enjoying all the domesticity going on around her. ;)
    ~Sue

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  19. I am so envious of your tomatoes. :)
    A couple more months for us.

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    1. We're still buying tomatoes too, Bill. I found these beauties at a road side stall - they're small Romas, ideal for cooking. Our tomato seedlings will be planted out next week, I think.

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  20. I agree with you on the 'like heaven'. Cyclone Debbie seemed to drag all the humidity, and the last remnants of summer, off with her. I did not put the ceiling fans on at all yesterday. We have sheets and the doona cover on the bed. We have been using the sheet, with the fans on full till last night. No fans and sheet and doona cover pulled up last night. Loving it.

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    1. We did exactly the same last night, Jane. Doona on the bed and windows closed. It was very cosy. I think the flannelette sheets will be in the bed soon.

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  21. That sounds like simple living at its best.

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  22. I do miss the Queensland rain (but not the cyclones!). The land down here in SA would never cope with so much water all at once. I just wanted to comment about the new bog template again - I love it. Thank you so much for the work you have put in to it. Hope Hanno is on the mend now. Enjoy your lovely week at home in paradise.

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  23. I do love the layout of your blog it looks very bright and easy to read. Your tomato soup looks so delicious I'm sure it will help Hanno recover along with other soft meals. Gracie appears so comfy on her new bed. Do post a photo of Eve's little doll, is it knitted or sewn?

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    1. The doll will be sewn, Theresa. I have some skin coloured stretchy organic cotton. I'm going to use that.

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