With a lockdown behind us and school holidays almost over, the normal pace of life will return again soon. I love the rhythm of life in my home. It's comfortable and calm and it helps me with both productive and creative tasks. I like the predictability of it, the knowledge that one day echoes through the week with familiar patterns and expectations. But I also love the surprises of life that sometimes happen along the way.
There were no surprises this week although we had Jamie here yesterday and he always adds a lot of interest, especially now that he's on the verge of change. Things are falling into place for him and yesterday, while we were weeding the back garden, he told me that it's better to work in winter because you don't get hot, and if you're cold you just have to get up and work and you warm up. He's right of course and I love that he feels that work is a normal part of his life. We're a family of workers and it feels right that Jamie fits in like a piece of our puzzle. It's Alex's birthday tomorrow so we'll have two savvy ten year old boys in the family.
It's raining today and while the rain fills the tanks and seeps into the soil it will mean that I stay inside most of the day. Although later on, after the morning chores, I intend going out to the back verandah to give it a good tidy up. At the moment there are garden tools, bags of potting mix, pebbles, straw, pots and watering cans all over the place. Most of the time we just put things back in place and move them around but it's a good idea once in a while to have a focused clean up and organise what is there to best support the work we do outside.
I've been working with the Ikea and the home-sewn cloths for a couple of weeks now and I have to tell you I much prefer the Ikea cloths for cleaning. They're exactly the right size, the cloth is perfect for cleaning and they're easy to wash. I like the tea towels I made but I'm now using the cloths as a paper towel replacement - draining, lining vegetable bins and wiping up small spills etc., as well as for cleaning glass. Did you buy some of the Ikea cloths? How have they worked in your kitchen?
A big shout out to everyone in lockdown in Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong where the Covid Delta variant is spreading. I hope everything is going well at your place and you're staying happy and healthy. Hanno and I send our best wishes to you and hope you remain safe.
Thanks for your visit today and during the week. 💙
Weekend reading
- 9 Ways to Combat Microplastics at Home
- Canada is a warning: more and more of the world will soon be too hot for humans
- Avocado ice cream
- How to organise a freezer
- Create you own drip irrigation system
- The four best online sewing classes of 2021
- The six best online knitting classes of 2021
- A quick guide to decluttering your home
- July in the mountains
- Hudson Bay inspired dishcloths
- A clean sheet: small changes around the house can make a big difference in lockdown
- Why walking helps us think
Hello Rhonda. This week, we had 3 of our grandchildren (two 9 year old boys and a 6 year old girl).... today, it's the last day, and I'm exhausted !!
ReplyDeleteWe go four days by the sea, then, I will start my routines again at home.
Kisses from France
I'm sure you had a lovely time with the grandkids and I understand the exhaustion. I feel it too. We have two 10 year old boys and a six year old girl. They're all charming and wonderful.
DeleteAfter not finding decent dishtowels for the longest time, I ended up sewing several from both flannel and cotton homespun fabrics. I purchased flour sack towels from Walmart for the glass shining projects and I keep some assorted bar mop towels for heavier cleaning. The only thing I don't use is home knit dishcloths....they don't seem to every dry out here.
ReplyDeleteThe homemade cloths are fine. I think the Ikea dishcloths are better than my homemade flannel cloths so I'm using them instead for draining fried food, spills and cleaning glass. They're excellent for that. Are you using knitting cotton for the knitted cloths, not wool?
DeleteThe Delta variant is ramping up all over the world. I suspect a new set of lockdowns soon. We had a short-lived reprieve, I fear. Of course I'm a stay-at-home semi-recluse anyway so... lockdown, schmockdown. :-D Have a grand weekend, Rhonda. ~Andrea xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI spend most of my time at home too, Andrea. Stay safe, love. xx
DeleteThank you for the link to the kitchen cloths! The flowers look lovely. We are on summer school break so we have been cleaning and organizing the house. I can't wait to finish so we can get back into a good routine.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Enjoy the holidays and your routines when you get back to them.
DeleteHi, I bought the smaller and medium ikea clothes but go to receive them until tomorrow…I will let you know how they do ;)
ReplyDeleteHi, I got the cloths and decided to return them…they were too thin for the work I need them to do. I appreciate getting a chance to evaluate them though. Alas, in the US, return shipping is not free so it did cost me the return freight.
DeleteI love reading your posts Rhonda, they are very comforting ... and I will be getting some of those IKEA cloths next time I am over that way (I buy a lot of our bed linens there because most are pure cotton).
ReplyDeleteI finally have a Grandbaby ... a little boy, now four months old and to say I'm besotted is an understatement. I feel as if I have joined a fantastic club. XXX
Thank you. Yes, it's worthwhile looking for the the cloths.
DeleteCongratulations of becoming a grandma. You ARE in a fantastic club and it gets better every year. xx