tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post6042664850782981704..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Beauty and practicality, I rate them equallyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-10840650297392704722022-11-28T12:01:21.652+10:002022-11-28T12:01:21.652+10:00Isn't it funny when they won't look at the...Isn't it funny when they won't look at the camera? We had a cat who would look away, but it always made me feel guilty that I was using her and she knew it. She was very smart, beyond her cat-ness. :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12503930255842185609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-32824594006932860702022-11-20T03:34:54.836+10:002022-11-20T03:34:54.836+10:00The garden looks gorgeous and I love your longer h...The garden looks gorgeous and I love your longer hair. XxAisling Kiernanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16034797167435186191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-39330073432522591402022-11-13T18:06:57.131+10:002022-11-13T18:06:57.131+10:00Those pastries look delic! I have got to make som...Those pastries look delic! I have got to make some! Thank you for sharing. Gail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-25028233358560736242022-11-12T11:37:38.141+10:002022-11-12T11:37:38.141+10:00Thank you for the recipe, Rhonda. Your pastries lo...Thank you for the recipe, Rhonda. Your pastries look beautiful, and you've inspired me to try making some using peaches and custard. I hope your replacement aprons turned out well. I always enjoy reading about your sewing projects.<br /><br />With love from,<br />Kelly (Mrs. Kiwi)Mrs. Kiwihttps://www.mrskiwi.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18714247760584632742022-11-12T06:20:40.955+10:002022-11-12T06:20:40.955+10:00My life too has undergone significant changes in t...My life too has undergone significant changes in the past year and a half. At times I get overwhelmed. A calm, gentle blog like yours is refreshing and sustaining. Thank you and best wishes. signerjackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08171879420375217226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-65321773656638605972022-11-09T04:36:09.383+10:002022-11-09T04:36:09.383+10:00Thank you for this timely post Rhonda, but you hav...Thank you for this timely post Rhonda, but you have always seemed to have a gift of knowing what your readers need, when they need it. Your posts on retiring kept me going for two years until I could complete that wonderful step, and again today you are right there. <br />I’m down with a bad case of covid despite all the vaccines, and appreciate those “small things” I can’t do right now. I think my home appreciates them too, as it isn’t in the best state at the moment! But only if you slow down (or are forced to slow down) enough to notice the small things, will you see what a difference they make in your “big things”. I’ve received a new lesson on that.<br />Thanks again!Anne in Upstate NYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12060026815476300042022-11-08T12:01:09.736+10:002022-11-08T12:01:09.736+10:00Good Afternoon Rhonda
So pleased to read your blog...Good Afternoon Rhonda<br />So pleased to read your blogs, always interesting, informative and educational. Also pleased to see that your life is coming together again and I take this opportunity to send you my love and best wishes as you explore your new life.<br />We now live in a town house so don't do half the gardening and outside work we used to, on top of this we moved here just 3 1/2 years ago and I was making my way in the community till my Husband had a small stroke last November and our lives closed down with his needing much more of my time. Life is starting to regain some of it's equilibrium now, thankfully, and I am able to get out and about again. So for each of us we must take what life hands to us and make the best of it. I am one of the lucky ones, so many are in as worse situation than we are and I am so thankful for that. Cheerio and all the best.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4462367240681688162022-11-08T06:24:18.576+10:002022-11-08T06:24:18.576+10:00I have read your blog for years but have rarely co...I have read your blog for years but have rarely commented though I enjoy your posts immensely. You have become like a road map for living a simple life into old age. I am seventy-two tomorrow and it is great to see that preparing the home, and ourselves, will make aging a smoother experience gmvhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14687166914056106284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14535258193770077292022-11-07T09:19:44.013+10:002022-11-07T09:19:44.013+10:00Those pastries sound so delicious, Rhonda. Thanks...Those pastries sound so delicious, Rhonda. Thanks for the recipe. I want to make them with cherry jam and cherries! I was shocked at what it cost you to have your lawn mowed. I covered mine with straw, manure, and lasagna gardening, and just have have plants and fruit trees now. I find it much easier, since I never felt like mowing the lawn. You are doing so well handling everything. I just finally found a group of painters to stain the cabin, and they did a gorgeous job. It's rewarding to take care of our homes and gardens.TheAwakenedSoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636961399581011120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70179058657414714092022-11-07T01:18:15.322+10:002022-11-07T01:18:15.322+10:00Long time reader (and have all your books) here! ...Long time reader (and have all your books) here! Wow you have a large lawn! Since we live in Phoenix, Arizona, we don’t have a lawn…when we moved here from a rainy state, we figured woo hoo, we won’t have any yard work since gravel and cactus are easy ;). We were wrong. Easier than grass, but still we have to rake and cut. Your yard and home look great! And having a small garden on the veranda makes much more sense to me (I am 66). I often look at large gardens and am in awe of the amount of work it takes. Thanks again for your writing. Hilogene in AzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-81565388999348417512022-11-06T14:06:02.949+10:002022-11-06T14:06:02.949+10:00I love having a pocket on my aprons, Rhonda. I can...I love having a pocket on my aprons, Rhonda. I can tuck all sorts of handy bits and bobs in a pocket, including my glasses which I'd lose otherwise! I also like the idea of usung jam on those pastries. I've made them with custard instead of the jam but jam sounds lovely too. <br />MegAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-52806036072515601702022-11-06T12:47:50.114+10:002022-11-06T12:47:50.114+10:00Rhonda, I hope you will show us your aprons when y...Rhonda, I hope you will show us your aprons when you've made them. I really need to get in and make some more for myself too as with all of the rain we've been having I've not been able to wash often and ended up with a tea towel tucked into my jeans instead! You've made me realise I need to add pockets to mine, I don't know why I didn't think of it myself!<br /><br />Madeleine.XAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-81757420560893236542022-11-06T00:47:47.017+10:002022-11-06T00:47:47.017+10:00I’ve been looking forward to catching up on your b...I’ve been looking forward to catching up on your blog since I missed the last few. You always teach me something or give me some new inspiration. Recently I started a blog of my own to share my own recipes and homemaking ideas although I don’t have as much wisdom as you. Thanks for inspiring me on that! We all have something to share with each other!Audranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-74338759651605824742022-11-05T18:29:08.523+10:002022-11-05T18:29:08.523+10:00Your visit sounds lovely. It's good to take th...Your visit sounds lovely. It's good to take the time to have a cuppa with friends. It's easy not to prioritise it. I was reading in GDonnas blog about how much more common it was to go visiting. It makes me sad to think people think they are too busy to make time for neighbours and friends. Or that that going to a persons house has become an event in itself that people worry about hosting. <br /><br />Have you made your little fountain you were telling me about? I have not set up our pond yet. It needs a rather big hole. <br /><br />Your pastry's look lovely. I have some puff pastry in the freezer that need using up, I'll have to pull it out. Im sure they would be happy. I made GF brownies this afternoon, Between afternoon tea and dessert tonight I don't think they will make it to tomorrow. xx<br /><br /><br />Emma Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08500696381837942950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-75837398746664197222022-11-05T14:36:06.715+10:002022-11-05T14:36:06.715+10:00An apron is such a friend, to keep my clothes clea...An apron is such a friend, to keep my clothes clean, and pop things in the pocket. Pegs, my mobile phone, a bit of rubbish enroute to the bin. I have been neglecting the mending for a long time, but have just mended two items and put them back into our wardrobes. It was a proud moment, There is lots more mending to be done though. Em Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-51555136994580310892022-11-05T07:09:55.918+10:002022-11-05T07:09:55.918+10:00That's part of the front yard, the back yard i...That's part of the front yard, the back yard is just as big. I never thought about the size of it because Hanno always took care of the lawn but now it's my job, I need help with it. Have fun with your mending. xxRhonda Hetzelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-46493431774983413242022-11-05T05:57:23.076+10:002022-11-05T05:57:23.076+10:00I always love a good apron.I always love a good apron.Out My windowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13456481267171643227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-28991858533456081842022-11-05T05:12:37.848+10:002022-11-05T05:12:37.848+10:00Hi Rhonda, thanks for a lovely post. Are the phot...Hi Rhonda, thanks for a lovely post. Are the photos of your front yard? I don't remember seeing such large areas of grass before. Your roses are stunning - I love that color. With winter on the way, I'll be getting my sewing machine out soon to address a pile of mending and other projects. It's good to see your small steps adding up in this post and your last one, and to know you're doing well. I will be looking for those plaits to show up in a photo one day :) Beth in MN Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9560399885534784172022-11-05T02:37:40.086+10:002022-11-05T02:37:40.086+10:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13539578220428741404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-34667876953583937132022-11-05T00:47:26.115+10:002022-11-05T00:47:26.115+10:00Thank you for explaining how to make the puff past...Thank you for explaining how to make the puff pastries. When I first saw the photo, I thought the apricot halves were egg yolks! I just figured that’s how you did it in Australia!Aunt Diane from Streatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-76586982332835633872022-11-04T23:37:49.705+10:002022-11-04T23:37:49.705+10:00I love posts about small things. So inspiring!
Oh ...I love posts about small things. So inspiring!<br />Oh aprons... I want to wear them and I need to (I'm a messy cook), but I never do. Thanks for the links to the tutorials. I'm hoping to sew some soon, after I made myself some dearly needed dresses. It would be nice to keep those dresses clean for a while.Maggiehttp://notastation.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29743531040342913132022-11-04T22:58:34.883+10:002022-11-04T22:58:34.883+10:00Love the new entry today, Rhonda. There was lots o...Love the new entry today, Rhonda. There was lots of varied content to read.Strangely enough I have two apron patterns out and was trying to decide which version I want to make. The pastries look scrumptious, and not difficult. It is always nice to have a little something different. Another coincidence is that I use those Raedecker brushes too; only I don't have that exact one. I use a dish brush that has replaceable heads; when one wears out you just replace it and the handle is still good. For Christmas one year I bought a hat brush for someone and also took advantage of a sale and bought a small laundry brush. That brush company cannot be beat;always good quality and helpful household items. Finally, the hairstyle issue is one I am facing this year, too. I have rather long hair and am not good at wearing it in different ways, but I notice a lot of older women like myself are wearing it longer and in different vintage styles. I am going to try to learn to do some of them. Thanks for a varied and interesting post today. hopflowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06114510834437210015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-31477239188603038102022-11-04T22:28:19.255+10:002022-11-04T22:28:19.255+10:00Wonderful post as always. Yes, the small things is...Wonderful post as always. Yes, the small things is what makes the big things happen. I must admit though, I am often tired out after getting through all the small things so the big thing can happen! I am retired now and do not have the energy of a 30-40 year old! My mind forgets that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-151109442513504012022-11-04T21:26:15.832+10:002022-11-04T21:26:15.832+10:00Rhonda, your garden looks wonderful. Thank you ver...Rhonda, your garden looks wonderful. Thank you very much for the recipe. It looks delicious. Have a great weekend ❤<br />Hugs from The Netherlands <br />Monique ElisabethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-57865531446715443602022-11-04T21:10:58.293+10:002022-11-04T21:10:58.293+10:00I always pop right here too! I always pop right here too! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com