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There are two of the roses I'm growing - the pink one is called Pinky and I've forgotten the name of the other rose. I have it written down so when I present my gardening post next week, I'll have it for you along with the names of all the other roses. I have a mix of Old English roses, Floribunda bush roses and miniature roses as well as lavender, salvias, butterfly bush, gaura and pelargonium.
I thought I'd be writing about gardening in this post but I'm not ready to present the garden to you yet. It's taken me much longer than I thought it would because I've lost a lot of my strength. After I do a couple of things, I have to sit down. I'm using a walking stick when I'm walking on the grass now ☹️ and that's slowing down much of what I'm doing. I ran out of potting mix yesterday so this morning I went to the local farmers' co-op to pick up another six 30 kg bags. They were loaded into my car and after driving home, I've only managed to get two of them out. I'm using my trusty green plastic trolley that I used to declutter the house last year. I can lift a bag out of the boot and let it fall into the trolley (difficult), then wheel the trolley through the garage to the clothes line (easy), then wheel it over the grass to where all the pots are (difficult). And the icing on the cake is then I have to sit down for ten minutes to recover! grrrr. Apart from all of that, I'm enjoying the process and I only have the smaller pots to deal with now. I think it'll look lovely when it's finished.
She's watching her bedding dry.
Gracie and I are doing well. I've just brought her bedding and blankets in after washing them so she'll be wrapped up warmly tonight. The temperatures have dropped and although it's not as cold here as it is in southern Australia, it's dropping to 6 or 7 or 8 every night this week. I'm warm in my bed because I have an electric blanket and two doonas! LOL yes, two, otherwise my feet get cold.
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I did my fruit and vegetable shopping at the local roadside stall this week. I love it there. They sell produce from local growers and backyards, much of it is organic or chemical-free and all of it is fresher than the fare at Woolworths.
I made a madeira cake, aka pound cake, through the week. I used my little bread loaf tin and baked a really tasty cake. Here is the recipe I used. If you haven't made one of these cakes before, it's a different texture to a normal cake or a sponge, it's heavier than both of them but it moist and full of flavour. I used a light icing made with plain icing sugar and orange juice. It would be a good cake for lunchboxes.
I've heard terrible things about the weather across the US, I hope you've not been in the areas of extreme heat, storms or floods. I hope the time you've had at home has been comforting and productive. Have you baked a cake this week? Or maybe you've been sewing or preserving. Let me know what you're up to.
❤️ 😊 ❤️
ADDITIONAL READING
We look forward to seeing the results of the garden work.
ReplyDeleteThe cake looks delicious!
Have a beautiful and creative week!
Hi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog about a year ago and have slowly read my way back to the start.
This is my first time commenting but I did want to thank you for continuing with your blog and sharing your life with us all. I am younger than your sons however I do find it inspiring hearing about how your life changes and you adapt to suit. I feel that older woman are expected to 'retreat' more and more the the older they get. Thank you for showing us what positive aging can look like and that no matter the age, women have so much they bring to society.
I have been saving up my 'fun money' and purchased Down to Earth and The Simple Home. I'm thrilled to have my own copies!
In short, thanks and it's good to see you are still enjoying gardening.
Warmest regards,
Rachel
Thanks for commenting, Rachel, and for your kind words. I agree with you that older women are expected to step back as they age. I believe all elders, female and male, have a responsibility to guide and encourage. That is what I've been doing and intend to continue for as long as I can. I'm pleased you've got my books. I hope they help you long into the future. ❤️
DeleteMy partner has recently been told he is pre-diabetic and also needs to reduce his salt intake so we have completely changed our diet over the last two weeks. It’s been challenging but fun to try new foods and different ways of cooking. Looking forward to seeing all the changes you’ve made in your garden! Xx
ReplyDeleteSorry that you’re having trouble with the potting mix, Rhonda. Those bags are awfully heavy and I have to get my husband to help me carry them even though I’m in my twenties! So, you’re doing great.
ReplyDeleteToday I baked a lemon and ricotta cake for morning tea this morning and we will use the rest in our lunch boxes this week. I have also been pruning our garden as most of the old branches on the salvias have died off and new green shoots are appearing near the roots. Although the winter garden can look bare, it makes me excited for spring and summer. We also have blue wrens nesting in our hedges behind the orange tree. They are without a doubt the best neighbours a girl could ask for! 🌸
I am looking forward to seeing your garden update. Take care and keep warm xx
Pruning is vital to keep gardens helthy and productive. I've clipped everything in sight here. I wish I had blue wrens here. What a delight!
DeleteYour roses are beautiful. Ours don't look as healthy just yet, I'm still learning. I look forward to seeing your completed garden project and hope you find the best way to pace yourself. We enjoyed some warmer days this week in our little village in South East Queensland, but definitely far cooler mornings and nights. We started the week making a slow cooked beef bourguignon to share with unexpected guests, a large pot of french chicken casserole, then made a pot of thick special soup and enough stifado to fill our freezer. Visits from friends and family, a cyclonic birthday picnic in extremely chilly conditions gave us all plenty of laughs trying to keep delicious food on the table and in our mouths. Family, friends and homemade food made for a good week. Take care Rhonda x
ReplyDeleteWell done getting all those home cooked meals ready for family and the freezer. I makes such a difference having meals on standby. Today is mid-winter so temperatures should start improving soon. xx
DeleteOh, I look forward to seeing your garden as it progresses. Most of us slow down as we age, but it doesn't have to stop us from pursuing our goals. Things just take a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful market you have! The produce looks delicious!
I love the simplicity of that pound cake. It looks scrumptious.
Enjoy the week ahead, dear Rhonda.
Thanks Daisy. Enjoy your week too. xx
DeleteHi Rhonda! I'm trying to get back into the swing of blog-reading/writing, and I'm so glad you're still posting. I'm eager to see how the garden has turned out! I love the signs at the fruit and veg stall -- so much personality with just a few words. I'm in Minnesota, and luckily my region has had plenty of rain but without the flooding other parts of the state/country have seen. Last year's drought was so bad that I hardly had to mow the grass all summer! The wildlife is booming this year, which is lovely to see (although if the rabbits in my garden could do slightly less booming...).
ReplyDeleteThat's good news about your booming wildlife, Anna. I'm pleased about the rain you had too. xx
DeleteHi Rhonda, I'm looking forward to the coming garden reveal! And it's always a pleasure to see Gracie, especially when she is watching to make sure her blankets are being cared for properly :). I love pound cake, and yours looks very tempting. I made a zucchini cake last week to take to a friend's house for lunch. It's a very moist chocolate cake that includes grated zucchini, with a topping of brown sugar, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Everyone really liked it, so I was happy. That roadside stand looks amazing - beautiful quality of fruit and veg! We had a short but rather violent thunderstorm last night, one of several storms over the last couple of weeks. I picked up a lot of sticks and a few branches this morning from my back yard trees, but no other damage, Unfortunately, my next door neighbor's beautiful Japanese Maple lost two big branches, and the crown seemed damaged too. I hope it will survive. All minor though, compared to what other parts of the US are going through - I especially feel for the people of Houston. They have had a horrible week of damage and heat. Thanks as always for your lovely post. Beth in MN
ReplyDeleteBeth, Gracie always keeps an eye on her blankets. 🙄. Your cakes sounds divine. xx
DeleteHi Rhonda, It's been a while since I've commented but I'm still reading your lovely posts. I also suggested that my sister begin reading. I've been experimenting with sourdough, potato flake sourdough to be exact. It's proving to be more manageable for me than traditional sourdough. I can't wait to see your garden!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of potato flake sourdough. I'm glad it's working out for you. I'll be staying with my soaked flour bread but I'll post about it when I have it worked out.
DeleteYAY you for continuing to work in the gardens. I will forever remember Mom's wise words: Be grateful for what you CAN do, not angry for what you can't do.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a fabulous week :-)
I’m happy you’re finding contentment in gardening again. My husband was badly injured in May (he will be fine, it will just take time) so I’ve been carrying the load here at home. I work full time and am trying to take care of the home and garden. I’ve given myself grace to not do everything perfectly. My garden is starting to go full speed. I’ve been picking cucumbers, zucchini and green beans daily. I’m going to make a zucchini cake with brown sugar frosting this afternoon. Much love to you and all who read here!
ReplyDeleteKristina in Nebraska USA
I'm sorry to hear of your husband's injuries, Kristina. You've got a lot to do now, make sure you take care of yourself too. xx
DeleteI'm interested to see how the garden turns out. The vegetable market looks really colourful.
ReplyDeleteIt’s so frustrating as we get older that we are not able to do as much as we used too.
ReplyDeleteM biggest problem is asking for help. When I don’t and do it all by myself I get told off by my son and husband. They’re both here as our business is on the property and will come over almost straight away if I need them. I feel bad though.
No cakes as then I eat them lol I have made jam, and I’ve finished a jumper for hubby now working on a mosaic crochet blanket.
Yes very cold indeed down here in the south of Victoria
I’m looking forward to reading about your gardening next week! It’s school holidays here in NSW and I’ve been decluttering the children’s bedrooms. We’ve been getting firewood for the slow combustion stove. Made a lemon slice the other day and I’ve been winding hanks of yarn into balls ready to knit or crochet. Next week I will start in pruning everything in the garden.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing the garden.that cake looks delicious 😋. Glad you are back blogging, I've missed you.
ReplyDeleteI've printed out your recipe. When the heat is drops below 100 F / 37 C I will dare to use the oven again. (Though the Republican convention may push the heat even higher. )
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda, I haven't baked in a while. I will be picking that up again. The weather in The Netherlands hasn't been that good. Low temperatures and lots of rain since last October. Today was a warmer day, but rain is falling again.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week. Hugs ❤️
Hi Rhonda, I have been lugging bags of soil up my driveway in my wheelbarrow and planting, too. The soil is rocky, and the weather is hot, so it is a challenge. I'm glad you have help from your family. I bought a walking stick, too. It has many uses. Your pound cake looks delicious. I am making more pizza dough today and maybe will bake a batch of scones. The blackberries I planted are ripening. Hopefully the local bear won't get them.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your potted garden Rhonda, I'm sure it will be beautiful! You are lucky to have such a well stocked roadside stall selling reasonably priced local produce. It makes shopping for fruit and vegetables a pleasure. So pleased you consider yourself an 'elder' with much wisdom still to offer because that is the way I see you too. You have been incredibly generous in sharing your knowledge and experience and helping us to improve our lives over these many years. Margot xx
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing your garden. I too love the cottage mix of flowers. The roadside stall of beautiful produce looks amazing, especially the tomatoes. I'd go there any day rather than a mall. NZ Ingrid
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back. Your blog is always a ray of sunshine in a dark world. Very much looking forward to seeing the plants in their pots.
ReplyDeleteHello, dear Rhonda.
ReplyDeleteI llove that you are writing here again as it's always a comforting read. I've never made a pound cake but it sounds delicious. This week, I made double batches of Weetbix and oat slice and choc chip cookies.
Meg
Hello Rhonda. Can't wait to see the unveiling of the garden! As always, thanks for sharing your heart, your wisdom and you life with us. You are truly inspiring and you motivate me to keep going on so many projects. And I love how Meg put it above. I totally agree--your blogs are always a comforting read. Very sorely needed in today's stressful world climate. Thanks for everything. xoxo --Donna
ReplyDeleteThanks for your latest blog Rhonda...loved reading about your work in the garden! Keep coming back to your page to see the progress. No pressure of course, just looking forward to seeing how you are going. :-)
ReplyDeleteOoh I’m going to try making the Madeira cake for our lunchboxes. I’m trying hard to make more and more things from scratch. Unfortunately it doesn’t always go to plan - tonight’s Yorkshire puddings didn’t rise and the apple crumble for dessert was much too crumbly!! Lei in Perth
ReplyDeleteHello Rhonda, I wanted to leave you a comment because I have just purchased your ebook and found your blog at the same time. I used to borrow your book from the library, and use it for the washing liquid recipe. I thought about how long it has been since I first found the book, and how much my life has changed now, I was grateful to have read your work and heard your ideas. I love in particular, the idea of being free of debts and living within your means, making our own things (being conservers, not consumers). Just wanted to say thank you. Some of these ideas are quite rare in our culture now and I am grateful to hold on to little things like that. Much love to you and your little dog and garden.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda, I've been binging on your blog over the last couple of days. Your kitchen looks so cool, do you have a post about how you designed your kitchen (if you did), please? Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteI did design the kitchen but that was about 25 years ago - way before I started blogging and long before Bunnings' kitchens. We had a local cabinet make build our kitchen and I have no doubt that's why it's still functioning perfectly now. So there are no posts about installing the kitchen. However we had a dishwasher leak in 2007 so there are a couple of posts about the kitchen being taken out, the floor and benches replaced and the kitchen put back. https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/03/organising-kitchen.html and https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/11/kitchen.html. There may be others.
DeleteLook up "kitchen triangle rule" that will give you the common way kitchens are built. I used that rule but I made sure the jobs I did frequently were in the right location and close to those related to it. I think the best advice I could give is to NOT have a kitchen that it too big. I think island benches take too much space. I attached a large work space in an L shape near the sink. That's worked beautifully over the years and we've had a wedding here with many guests, we had frequent family dinners and we also used the kitchen as the main part of the house. When I have people over, we sit at the kitchen table. So work out what's important to you and go for it without trying to impress your family and neighbours - just put in what you love.