13 April 2018

Weekend reading

Gracie has a new toy - a pink pig called Vivienne (Westwood). She took great care with Vivienne the first couple of days she had her but now she's slowly removing the ears and legs.  Poor Viv.




Thanks for dropping by this week. It's good to see so many names I recognise from past years.  I know most readers eventually move on but it's endearing and comforting to have many of you return year after year. I hope you have a great weekend and to those of you who are preparing gardens and containers for vegetables, herbs and fruit, I wish you the best with your endeavours. I hope we all have bountiful harvests in a few months. xx


Are your phone camera and microphone spying on you?
A love of gardening transformed into food for the community
Is it worth paying for carbon offsets next time you fly?
6 trusted ways to sterilize jars for jams and preserves
Kitchen Kitsch: Vintage Apron Patterns
Here is Anna's blog - Banana Moon. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Anna was one of the bloggers who took my last online course.  
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33 comments

  1. Hi Rhonda,
    I'm still here, I've been reading your blog since the beginning and following you from the forum days before your blog.
    I don't comment often, but I always read your words and often learn something.
    Cheers Kate

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  2. Gracie has an almost guilty look on her face, like she knows she shouldn't chew Viv to pieces but she just can't help herself! Thanks for the weekend reading, looks interesting!

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  3. Oh that naughty Gracie! Do have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your very special day, Rhonda!

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  4. I am always looking for cheap ways to entertain the grand kids, as I hate to to put them down in front of the TV. I found some invisible ink pens at k mart and they made my last treasure hunt very special. It adds an extra dimension. I like the idea of a cooking challenge - must try that.

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  5. I hope Gracie's pig does not squeak. That would drive me nuts. She is a cutie.

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  6. I have strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and an apple tree starting to bloom; tomatoes planted, cucumbers and melons started, and a couple of herbs in. More to come; I look forward to approaching late spring and summer harvests. Love to read about others' experiences as well. Gracie looks like she has a great life! She is quite a darling doggie.

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  7. Our dog does the same thing--very careful with a new toy at first, but eventually he'll be found systematically removing all the stuffing. I can't even remember how many years I've been reading here now, but I still look forward to each post!

    We're nearing the end of the planting season--for many things, if it's not in the ground now, we won't be able to harvest before the summer heat kills it. But we're starting to see some tomatoes and also have been enjoying lettuce from the garden. Harvest time is my favorite time. :)

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  8. Look at those gorgeous Gracie eyes! Have a great weekend, Rhonda.

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  9. Hello! And I started somewhere in the middle of the blog but greatly enjoyed reading from the archives! Thank you for all of it!!

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  10. Poor Viv! Your Gracie looks like quite the bit mischievous, isn't she! Have a lovely weekend. Meg:)

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  11. What is it about Gracie? Just sooo cute, I insist family members look at her photos too!

    Have a great weekend,

    Madeleine.x

    PS Rhonda, I have just been re-reading a beautiful book, so well-written, called Timeless Simplicity. I notice that the author, John Lane, also has a book called The Art of Ageing: Inspiration for a positive and abundant later life. I thought it might be worth a look :-)

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  12. Gracie doesn't need to talk - her eyes say it all!

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  13. Hi Rhonda you might be interested in the Australian grow free cart movement it allows the community to share their home grown produce have a look at their web page



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  14. Don't you just love a terrier's personality? �� Gracie is lovely and full of expression.
    I have started a small vegetable garden here in suburban Berwick Victoria...very much learning...but love the journey. Thank you Rhonda
    for your wise enouragement to us all.
    I have found and purchased a copy of The Country Table on ebay..so am very excited to read it now and continue my education in another area.
    I feel a lot of calm and direction when I read your blog Rhonda...thank you

    Karen Berwick

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  15. I read every post, but am not much of a commenter. However, your ideas on simple living bolster my resolve about living the best life I can with less. I live in a small apartment on a very limited budget with costs increasing for everything day by day, so I really appreciate all your advice. I cannot have a real garden, but do grow herbs for flavoring and cook only from scratch. I knit, mend and sew baby quilts by hand and use my library for all the books I read.

    Thank you so much for being here for all of us!

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  16. Hello again. Thank you for these links to read over this weekend. Will definitely enjoy the different topics. I am looking into what citrus trees I can grow in pots in Central Queensland but take with me when we move out of this rental. The ideas for crock pot sauerkraut will be of particular interest. Hello to Hano.

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  17. Love the Gracie posts as they always make everyone in the family smile. While I don't comment much, please know that your blog is a place of refuge for me. You remind me a lot of my mother (before health issues made her retreat into herself) and her friends who were kind enough to be friends to me as a teenager. We live a very similar life -- dogs, chooks, and garden.
    --Ave

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  18. Hi Rhonda, a great list of links as always. Just a word of warning about your gorgeous Gracie. Hopefully Viv the pig doesn’t contain a hard plastic squeaker. Our dog ate a similar pig as a puppy and the plastic damaged her intestinal tract resulting in surgery. I would hate for the same thing to happen to your dear, cheeky Gracie. Kind regards, Jane

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    Replies
    1. One of our granddogs had surgery after ingesting a pin cushion and that did not stop him. He has eaten all sorts of toys and it is only a matter of time before he has a repeat of the surgery.

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  19. Dear Rhonda,
    You are an inspiration to us all. Gracie looks so mischievous, like my two who unstuffed a cushion this week while I was on the phone.(my fault, not enough attention). You have given me wonderful advice about being a new grandparent, you inspire my ever expanding forays into soap making, baking,sewing and so many more. Our grandson is doing well by the way.
    Thank you and keep up the great work.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Thanks
    Donna C

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  20. Thank you for another great reading list Rhonda.

    Have a wonderful and an extra special weekend! 💐

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  21. Have a happy healthy milestone birthday! After all age is just a number. Ex hippy sister is celebrating her birthday along with other sibling out in California. Wish I could be there but hubby has been poorly. FaceTime coming up.

    Best wishes from Best Bun.

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  22. Gracie is so cute. I've been reading your blog for many years, maybe ten? It motivated me to get back to work as a writer. I love working from home, and had forgotten how much I miss interacting with other dancers and writers. You inspire us to do all sorts of things. Thank you for you generosity and teaching.

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  23. I love your blog...don't comment much, but have been reading for years. We live simply and cook from scratch and keep a neat yard and flowers. But, we do not vegetable garden. However, I love your garden posts and keep thinking I might try it again. I used to grow tomatoes with good luck when we lived in Illinois...up against the white garage. I have lived in Florida for 32 years and have sand for soil. Tried to grow tomatoes in pots, in a screened in sunny lanai, but eventually they were covered in awful green caterpillars. Ugh. Too much for me. Off to the farmer's market I go....Just know that you are read and much appreciated by me!

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  24. I still keep popping in and out, your blog is like coming home. It grounds me. And I do the same with your books, I reread them or pop in and out of the A’s I feel the need. Thank you for your words.
    Leiani - Perth WA

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  25. I'm pretty new to your blog but always enjoy reading up on your tips for simplifying our lives. And, your photos of sweet Gracie are always a joy too---what would we do without our beloved animal family members?!

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  26. I'm popping in again to say I SO enjoy your posts and look forward to reading them every time I get an email that says there is a new one. :)

    We are getting ready to prepare our garden for summer planting here in KY. I have tomato and pepper plants growing under my grow light and soon I can set them outside to harden off. ~ Elaine

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  27. Hello Rhonda its a cold wet weekend in Gippsland I am am loving the rain 32mls so far, we desperatley need it, my vergie garden is finishing its summer produce and the winter crops are going in, last night I made from scratch chicken and veggie soup with home made stock using the left over b.b.q chicken(your stock recipie) it is the tastiest soup, then followed by a slow cooked beef casserole, again home made beef stock(your inspiration again) and was able to add in some home grown veggies, true comfort food, cost effective to make, nutricious and part of my cooler weather regular food, ah the good simple life is the only way to live, cheers Kat

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  28. I love your weekend reading list and usually read every one. Thank you so much for including Apron History. I have my Granny's apron and treasure it. Aprons were such a vital piece of clothing to our chain of mothers and I am glad to see they are making their way back in for those of us who cook almost all meals at home and gather produce from our gardens. Thank you, Rhonda, for showing us news bits from around the world each weekend!

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  29. Happy Birthday Rhonda Jean!! Your friend in North Carolina, Diane

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  30. Happy Birthday Rhonda Jean! Hope you have many many more! Is Gracie wearing a no barking collar? How is that working out for her? We have a 1 year old border collie that has discovered a constant habit of barking at squirrels and neighbors--very annoying! Melissa Jean

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    1. Gracie doesn't bark much at all. We have a little electric dog fence. The collar beeps when she goes close and then she turns around and walks back.

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  31. Happy Birthday to you Rhonda and wishing you many more! Based on what I see in the blog, you are are in one of life's sweet spots right now - so I'll also wish you more of the same for decade number seven. I love these pictures of Gracie. She is like Bailey - his favorite indoor spot was by the backdoor where he could keep an eye on his yard. I can see that Gracie zeroed in on something outside and then stood up and said, "Right, Viv and I will go sort this out!" Beth in MN

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