A Curve Ball

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Posted on June 21, 2015

Well, hello! I expect you have been wondering about my disappearance.

The past 8 days since I last posted have been more than just busy. My mind has been totally consumed by other issues and I have not even considered blogging.

My mother underwent open heart surgery 6 days ago and is now recovering. She is progressing well and I will be back with more everyday tales soon.

It is a cool, crisp day here on the winter solstice. How about at your place? Are you in the northern hemisphere and enjoying warm days and the long evening twilight?

I look forward to hearing from you.

An Introduction & Dog Food Delivery

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Posted on March 19, 2015

Introducing……..GMan.

I know it is nothing like any of your suggestions, nor is it remotely linked to any of the ideas that I put forward but my husband is satisfied with the title so that is what matters.

So, The Duke is no more and GMan has joined the cast at Organised Castle.

We are not huge fans of online shopping but there are some instances where it is definitely worthwhile and pet food and supplies are one of them. This tends to be GMan’s domain and he orders tick and flea medication for the dog online. A few months ago he discovered that we could buy the dog food we usually purchase and it was cheaper to buy online and have it delivered than we where we had previously bought it. We buy 2 x 15kg sacks at a time and they are delivered to the door within a couple of days of placing the order. We no longer have a 70km round trip to buy it and don’t have to hoist 30kg of dog food into and out of the boot of the car. This is definitely quicker, easier and less expensive so we will definitely continue to buy it online.

Do you shop online? What do you buy?

Flasback Friday

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Posted on March 13, 2015

Today marks the beginning of a new series of old posts. I was inspired by Julia’s comment last week in which she said how much she was enjoying the links to some of my previous posts as it gave her a reason to read some of the content I had published before she started following my blog.

I have also been enjoying re-visiting some of the earlier blog content as I continue to add back more of the photos. So, I have decided to dedicate my Friday posts to some interesting tidbits from the archives. It will not always be a simple link – there may be updates, comments or even additional photos to go with it.

This week, I thought I would start with a post that is mostly photographs which showcases the area where I live – Living in Paradise.

Perhaps you would like to share a little about where you live and why?

An Anniversary

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Posted on March 12, 2015

Today is a milestone in the life of this blog. It is exactly four years since I tapped out those first tentative words and then hit ‘Publish’.

It is a rather daunting prospect to write and not know who will read or what their reaction will be. I have to say that the experience of the last four years of blogging has been overwhelmingly positive and that is entirely due to my readers. Thank you from the depths of my heart.

I have been lucky enough to meet some of you from the USA and UK as well as the other side of Australia. To develop a connection with fellow bloggers is really special and I have formed some enduring friendships.

Recently, I have been working to re-instate the photos which I inadvertently deleted from the first two years of the blog. It has been interesting to re-read some of my posts and to see how things have changed. A real lesson in the dynamism of life.

When I began I was not really sure how long I would or could continue blogging but it is now such a part of my life that I would feel quite lost without it.

Thank you once again for your continued support and comments.

Welcome & What’s New

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Posted on February 21, 2015

A warm welcome to all my new readers. Please leave a comment and say hello. I would love it if you would tell me a little about yourself and your interests.

This blog is wide-ranging and reflects what happens to be on my mind. It can be anything from mending, gardening, sewing, cooking, decluttering or anything else that catches my fancy.

I am currently posting a series titled, “Sew My Stash Sunday” in which I am showcasing what I am making from the fabric I already have. Do you have a stash? I’d love to hear if you are trying to reduce it and what you make.

I have also changed the settings on the blog which should mean that you never see any ads on the blog from now on. If you do, could you please let me know?

This week has been a bit unsettled with the approaching cyclone and then some very wet weather. Hopefully, I will soon be back on track with lots of news and tips to motivate us all in our quest for a simpler, organised life. If you have anything that you would like me to focus on, please let me know.

Meanwhile, take some time to smell the roses (or any other flower that you have in the garden).

Why Blog?

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Posted on October 31, 2014

It is not that many years ago that most of us had never heard of a blog, let alone read one, or heaven forbid, actual written a blog post. Some days now, it seems as though everyone is writing. All of this got me to thinking about what made me start and why I continue to blog.

My blog is not an advertising vehicle. It is not a money-making exercise.

My blog is a diary. I am able to share my thoughts and ideas on a wide range of topics. It allows me to connect with others who share similar values and interests. It is me. Pure and simple.

Behind the Scenes

Carpet Cleaning

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Posted on July 28, 2014

We have carpet in the three bedrooms and I generally keep it clean by vacuuming regularly and a sprinkle of bicarb soda on any grubby marks. However, I get it cleaned every 2 – 3 years and today was the day.

We removed everything from the 3 rooms apart from the cast-iron bed frame in the main bedroom. The other rooms are completely bare.

Moving everything out of 3 rooms makes you realise how much stuff you have. Here is some of it stacked in the study.

The two chests of drawers fitted in the hallway just past the bedroom.

The mattress and base were in the bathroom and more stuff in the living room as well. Smaller items found temporary homes in the wardrobes.

It was a sunny day and I took the opportunity to wash and air all of the bedding.

The carpet is still a bit damp underfoot so we have re-assembled and made our bed and plugged in the alarm clock but other than that the rest of the furniture and effects will not be returned to their rightful homes until tomorrow evening.

I have cleaned all of the louvres in the living room (79 of them) and The Duke washed down the outside of the house and cleaned all of the outdoor furniture.

Blog posts may be a bit hit and miss for the next couple of weeks as we are really busy. In between full-time work, preparations for our overseas trip in 11 days ( who’s counting?), a milestone birthday celebration for The Duke, guests arriving on Thursday and preparing the house for the housesitters who will be here while we are away there is not a lot of time for blogging.

What’s happening at your place?

Spreading the Love

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Posted on July 17, 2014

If I am speaking to someone about a particular topic, I often find myself referring to something I have written on my blog. Then comes the inevitable question – what is the blog address? I then find myself scrabbling in my bag or surroundings for a pen and paper.

Even though it is purely a personal pursuit, I have often thought about creating a ‘business card’ for my blog. I finally designed one a few weeks ago and here it is.

The quality of the photographs is rather poor but I can assure you that they look great in real life. The web address for the blog and a contact email are on the front of the card while the reverse contains a brief description and a quote.

I ordered them online through Vistaprint. 500 cards cost me a little over $50.00, including postage.

Simple Pleasures

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Posted on June 18, 2014

I have been absent a bit recently for no reason other than the fact that I have a life to live as well as a blog to write. I am busy at work and it is a little over 7 weeks until our overseas trip and the days are filling up fast with appointments as diverse as dentist, retirement seminar, work conference, tax accountant, haircut and so on.

I am able to work away from the office some of the time and yesterday was one of those days. After spending the best part of the day at my desk, I ventured outside in the mid-afternoon. This is the peak season for the citrus that thrive in our climate.

The netted tree in the foreground is the mandarin. The birds do not touch the oranges, lemons or grapefruit but they love the mandarins. It may be because of the thinner skin but the scrub turkeys would take them all if it were not for the protection that the netting offers.