September Already

Have to keep pinching myself to remember we are now well into September.   Remember when we were young and the year seemed to take an eternity, now the days are spinning by at 1000 miles an hour!!!

It is a beautiful Spring day, 23C at 4pm, and the sun has been shining all day.  We have had showers of rain lately, but it dries out very quickly, reminding me I am planning on doing some mulching.   We have spent a lot of time in the yard, and not finished yet.  I have been getting rid of all the bushes that need pruning and taking to the tip regularly, the ones that grow like the 'beanstalk'' again in no time at all.

We want to put a 'properly constructed fireplace' in the backyard too, and Barry fancies a pizza oven type thing, as we like to make our own pastries, pasta, dampers etc. so we have been googling and hoping to find something that we both like.

We had Barry's brother here, and when they left, they were going to Yamba.  The next night they were in Lightning Ridge,  up to the north west of NSW, so we will be interested to here what inspired that trip.

When they left we packed up and went to QLD to see my son and Emi.  We took the plants they left with us for safekeeping for their move from Sydney back to QLD, and thankfully we delivered them safe and sound and alive, plus a new mandarin for them as a Happy Birthday, Happy Move back to QLD gift. We have a good time there, lovely to see them, and Emi makes the most scrumptious crepes, and Barry and Rob have a jam, and I ventured to play the ukulele with them this time.

Talking of jams, a lovely friend who has a long necked mandolin has moved into town, and she has a little cabin in her yard for her spinning and music, and she invited us over to play during last week, and also made another time, so we are thrilled about that, as it is not easy to find compatible people to share music and just play along with. She has done an awesome amount of work on the home and garden they bought, her hubby can't help as he is fairly restricted in his movement, in fact they were building a ramp in the backyard for his wheelchair.

We sing again tomorrow and Friday, then I go to the North Coast Christian Womens Convention at Ballina on Saturday. Quite a few of the ladies from our church are going, in fact transport is provided in our church's school bus. Ladies from my Know Your Bible group (another church) were also invited and a few of them are coming too. There will be lots of chatter all the way, and we start early as the sessions are from 9-5. Morning and afternoon tea and lunch are provided.

That is about all the news for today.

Take care and God Bless.

PS: Pic is my Cymbidium orchid, the only one I have, my boss's wife was repotting her's when I left work in Sydney and I was lucky enough to be there to say 'yes I would love one'  at the right time. xx

Halfway through August!

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... Beautiful clear blue sky, no wind, lovely 'winter' day and I'm in short sleeves.  I see on our weather site it is 22C.... perfect, and 22C in here too.
I am thinking... about a few things as usual, the projects I have started in the garden, Barry thinks I have started too much at the same time, but the various components depend on each other.
I am thankful for... family and friends, everyone going well at the moment,  son and family going to Bali for a week, they are excited.
From the kitchen... I've just been through the vegetables, and there is cauliflower that need using up, cauliflower and cheese soup coming up.
I am wearing... gaardening clothes, short sleeve mauve shirt and jeans
I am creating... new areas in the garden, veges planted and new outlook at the front, then we are working towards an outdoor living area.
I am going... to a retreat, but just on Saturday, not staying this year.
I am reading... nothing new this week.

I am hearing... peace and quiet
Around the house... it is all happening outside!
One of my favorite things...photos.  So grateful we can have wonderful photos so easily these days.
Here is a pic of a surprise basket my daughter sent.

A few plans for the rest of the week: We sing again tomorrow and Thursday. We sang to about 200+ people from Fri 5th to 12th.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing... the trailer I filled yesterday, Barry has just driven it away now.  I would say there is one more load to go. It was time for a change, to plants that do not need so much pruning. 

"I Come into Your Presence" lyrics:

I come into Your presence
With nothing in my hands
I only bring thanksgiving
For Jesus, God and Man
I cast myself on mercy
I cast myself on love
I trust Your gracious promise
To wash me with Your blood
I will not fear Your judgment
For me, no wrath I dread
For it was spent on Jesus
Poured out upon His head
When Satan’s accusations
Make my poor heart afraid
I hear my King declaring
“Father, that debt is paid”
Jesus my only hope, my only plea
My righteousness, my Great High Priest
Who intercedes for me before the throne
Jesus, I trust in You alone.

Thank you to Peggy for the headings. I don't link mine, but if you wish to see more to see more Daybooks, just click here.

With love and blessings, Jan

Today's Thoughts

Hard to believe how quickly the year is racing away.

We are spending a lot of time in the garden, totally revamping it.  We were inspired by the amount of foliage we have to cut off our trees and shrubs and the high cost of taking it to the tip, when several adjacent councils offer a 'green waste' bin.  I have also been noticing homes that don't have messy shrubbery and garden beds can look quite classy, and the potential to use less water, whereas ours gets quite sad after an extended dry period, as I don't water much. Our garden looks after itself a fair bit of the time because we are away.

Barry has been very busy building a green house too, and has his version of hydroponics in it, trying a few different methods.  I have planted some vegetables in the ground, but Barry has more growing than me at the moment.  He has been trying a raw food diet, and very keen to have his own organic veges.

Apart from completely getting rid of a  couple of trees and large bushes (all legit, I checked) which we have done over the past couple of days, and an unsuccessful herb bed, which I did this afternoon, I an also totally changing our front yard, but it is a larger project.

We sang again today, and I have tomorrow at  bible study in the morning and the rest of the day at home, then singing in the next city Thursday and Friday.  Usually after we sing we have the rest of the day fairly quietly, but our energy levels have been very good lately.  Perhaps it is because we are pleased with what we are planning in the garden anand want to see it through!!!

It is census night here, and I did it online this morning, didn't take long.  I do think some of the questions could be better, apparently they are exactly the same as the previous census.  Anyway I said yes to putting our details online in 99 years time.  99 years sounds like a long time away, and we don't know what will happen by then, still my father was born in 1913, so I hope I live to see immediate family details online soon, and I knew all four of my grandparents, who  were born during the latter part of the 1800s and when I get around to looking, I am hoping I will see their details, particularly on my maternal side, which I have not pursued so far.

(Pic from internet)

Hope all well at your place too.

Love and Blessings, Jan

Special Sings My Soul

Yesterday we had an unexpected "Sings my Soul" moment. We were told the concert was for the farewell of a particular person at the home we were going to, and we didn't know who the person was and  these sometimes occur when residents are moving to another home, but this time we found out when we got there it was the CEO of the whole of the organisation, covering homes throughout the State. He was going from one to another and being farewelled at each one and introducing the new CEO.

When we walked in the tables were set with the best  white linen and beautiful deep pink camellias and maroon table runners, and all the residents were there for the concert and they, pastoral care team, and  community care team were having lunch together, over 100 people, and we were invited as well. The activities officer and staff were a bit edgy at first, but when everything was ready they settled down and joined in our singing and enjoyed it, one of the biggest groups we have had. We played from 10.30 til nearly 12 noon when the CEOs arrived. They could only stay one hour and they had to eat lunch and do the speeches and receive gifts and hand out certificates to the community care team before moving on to the next home for afternoon tea on their round of farewells.

In his speech the outgoing CEO talked about The Holy Spirit as well as humorous remarks and then one of the staff led the CEO's favourite hymn

It was a privilege to be included in the day, and I hope we remember it for a long time.

For more Then Sings my Soul Saturday with Amy, click here
Love and Blessings,
Jan

Simple Joys and thankfulness

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thess 5:18

This is easy when things are going well, and we do try to find something to be thankful for even if we have health issues or other troubles, however life is good andit is a joy to be very grateful and  thankful every day.  I woke this morning listing in my mind the many things we have to be thankful for, and continued to think along those lines during the day.

We are always thankful to wake to the new day. I am grateful for our warm bed and refreshing sleep  and that we can please ourselves what time we get up now that we are retired.

I am thankful for my Bible and ability to read it, and also the freedom.  I think of Linda from our Church who has gone to Taiwan as a missionary, and also the other locals who have gone overseas as missionaries that we have been praying for at our bible study.  Our leader is just back from a short mission trip to Indonesia and we were very interested in recollections of her time there, in such a different culture, and the many blessings and her awareness of Him looking after them.

As I tidied up I appreciated my health to be able to do all my own housework, and having a home, however modest, to live our life in.

It was another glorious day, and soon our Tilda (dog) was waiting for us to take our coffee out the front and sit together and contemplate the day.

Getting on with the day after a smoothie for breakfast and a lovely warm shower, then a walk in the sunshine along to the church hall to join the ladies meeting there, with a cheery hello to neighbours along the way.

Chat and laughter with sisters in the Lord there. It was devotions and fellowship today as our secretary broke her ankle this week, just a simple slip in her back garden, and of course, the President didn't bother her hubby for the books etc.

We are thankful that Heather is getting the best of care in hospital, free under our system, and has a devoted hubby and family,  and we pray for her smooth recovery.

Then Barry and I went for our weekly shop, thankful that everything we need is available to us, and we don't have to worry about being able to pay for it.

It was good to meet people we know around the shops, one of the joys of living in a country town. I had a chat with Laura who is just handing out the leaflets for a ladies convention coming up (just one day) and learnt our minister has made our church's Christian School bus available to take us there.

Now we have worked together on the program for the concerts at the homes this month, and it has all come together, first one tomorrow, and will finish the day with a fresh salad and pleasing ourselves whether we watch a little TV or read.

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28

 (Pic from internet...source unknown)

With love and blessings,

Jan