At Four Months...

 

good morning!

 

with mr m sharing my computer,

it feels like i am a visitor who pops in now and then

&

i feel the need to reconnect today

to see how everyone's faring.

 

on my 'visiting days'

i usually try to skype my little grandson.

 

he is now four months old

&

in taiwan where he lives

they have a few customs that are very different

to us here in australia.

 

 

 

 

one of those

is the tradition of tying a red string

with cookies...or more recently...

the trend of tying donuts

around the neck of the baby and family and friends

eat them.

 

 

 

i'm not sure

what this means really

but maybe you've heard of it

and can let me know.

 

little kai also had his first swim recently

&

was accompanied by about forty other babies

who were born at about the same time as him.

 

sounds like good fun!

 

i'm off to shop for dog food

in the cool of the morning

&

then when it gets hotter

i'm heading down to the pool myself to keep cool...

my kinda fun.

 

i hope you've got some fun things lined up for today...

or maybe the weekend

too!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 



How does your garden grow?

 

good morning!

 

when i last wrote,

i lay down my pen...so to speak...

&

took a rest.

 

it was like at the end of all those 500 posts

i'd finished

&

really didn't know whether i'd take it up again.

 

 

 

but this morning

after a dry spell

i leapt out of bed and there had been a storm in the night.

the world was new again.

 i had a desire to write again as well...

to share something fresh.

 

 

 

i don't know quite where i'm heading

with all this

but as with life itself...

it'll just unfold

&

a story will be told!

 

 

 

oh what a beautiful morning...

oh what a beautiful day....

 

doris day here is warbling away!

 

have a great day...

 

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 



Post No. 500!

 

 

hi!

 

i was just about to write 'good morning'

but the morning has escaped already...

&

it's already past noon!

 

 

 

this is my 500th post.

they've been written over nearly 3 years.

my 1st was in august 2010.

it was written with as much angst

as anticipation.

it was a scary thought

that anyone but family might read my writing

&

i didn't know what family may think either!

 

 

 

now

we are old friends, my blog and i

&

all the people i've met and spoken to.

i look forward to spending time here...

some days more time than others.

 

 

 

my creative mojo has waned

but that's just part of life.

i've crocheted, sewn and knitted here

&

you've seen it all.

today i'm excited about my daughter's

garden transformations.

i'm her assistant

&

todays task as been to water all her babies

as they sun themselves under our bright blue queensland sky.

 

 

 

i do have a tiny jumper to finish knitting

&

with life a little less chaotic

maybe my creative mojo has just temporarily

ducked out for a cuppa...

here's hopin' anyway!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 



A Bit About This & That!

 

hi!

how are you?

 

today i feel the need to just chat a bit...

 

 

 

life is full of little opportunities,

like the time the sun was just shining perfectly

on this tiny spiderweb

&

despite its broken unevenness

it made a moment beautiful.

 

of course not all moments are beautiful are they?

 

mr m has had a heart infection over the past few weeks

fortunately after many tests

the most recent tell us he's on the mend

and his heart size is back to normal...

 

then mr m's dog became very unwell...

it turned out that she had a two cancers in her uterus.

a week and a half ago

she had a hysterectomy and the vet took out the aggressive cancer...

the size of a baseball!

she's on the mend

&

bouncing about like it never happened!

 

 

 

ms b is transforming our garden

she's truly a green thumbed girl

like her auntie jill and both grandmas.

she's planted this pot of sweet Williams

&

tool boxes full of pansies and renunculas

to bloom in spring.

lavender and mondo grass to withstand the summer heat

&

fuschias, hibiscus and frangipanis

now grace our garden as well.

what a treasure a good gardener is!

 

our tiny kai is now 3 months old!

it has sped by and he's growing up

faster than a weed...hehe!

check out this bright baby boy...

 

he's the apple of his grandma's eye.

 

how are things at your house?

we have plenty to be grateful for.

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



Sweetly Said...

 

good evening!

 

thank you for all your sweet comments yesterday...hehe!

 

 

 

i couldn't help but notice

that most of you commented that

you don't think you would have enough

willpower to do it though.

 

i didn't think i had enough either,

that's why i decided not to 'go on a diet'

but after watching the youtube video...

sugar: the bitter truth...

i was struck by the chemistry

showing that sugar acts like a poison in your body.

 

who would look after themselves

by eating poison?

 

i would be interested to hear

what you have to say

when you watch the clip.

 

i can honestly say

that when i have had my 'day off'

i actually feel so sick

that i am longing to go back to my non-sugar state

the very next morning

&

feel it's now my more natural lifestyle!

 

 

 

maybe you have found like me

that i was craving carbohydrates,

becoming bloated and full

but not satisfied.

i don't feel this way now...

the cravings have gone.

 

however

my once a month sugar/floury treat

is to satisfy any feelings of deprivation

that have arisen over that month

when i look at what people around me are eating...

it's the social thing.

after all, eating itself is more than nutrition

and is a very social activity.

 

when i do get to eat my 'treat'...

the deception goes and i see once again

that sugar just tastes sweet

and i think...oh, that's all...

not really worth feeling deprived over!

 

if you really are interested

in being sugar/refined food free...

my best advice is

just take one meal at a time the first few days.

if you fail

just keep doing the best you can.

don't punish yourself

or call yourself a failure.

write down every meal you get through without sugar

so that you can see them adding up into days.

 

before long

you'll trust yourself

to continue

without writing everything down.

 

if you believe in God

ask for help...

 

 

give yourself some timeout

once a week/once a fortnight/once a month.

you will realise you're not missing much at all.

 

it gets harder

before it gets easier

but it's worth it!

 

 

 

wishing you all the best

with your sugar free journey...

{if you want one}

 

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

ps...aren't the sweet peas a treat? a local florist put together this posy for me on monday, a small thank you from me for a job well done by my daughter in law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Sugar Please!

 

hello!

 

 

 

today i am celebrating

having been {almost} sugar free

white flour free

practically processed foods free

for six weeks.

 

i say 'almost' & 'practically'

'cos

i allow myself one day a month

to indulge in anything i may be totally yearning for

&

sometimes a little tiny bit of white flour or sugar may

creep into a meal

as a thickener or to enhance a flavour

but

for as much as possible i have stuck to it.

 

was it easy?

not at first.

it was ok for the first few days

then it got harder

before it got easier again.

the best video inspiration?
go to youtube,
watch "sugar: the bitter truth"...enlightening!

 

meals were not much of a problem...

basically meat or protein with veges/salad.

 

snacks...

i have learned to love nuts, raisins, dates

& fresh fruit,

sometimes a bit of cheese.

 

desserts...

my favourite is

greek full fat yoghurt, banana,

a tsp honey and a bit of fresh cream...yummo.

this satisfies all my sweet 'n' creamy desires!

 

have i lost weight?

yes...not really fast but it's going.

 

what are the advantages then?

i sleep better.

i'm happier with a clear conscience knowing

my body is getting vitamins and minerals it needs to thrive and heal.

i am more energetic.

i'm setting a better example for my family.

 

i want this to be a way of life, not a diet.

it's early days yet

but

i've got this far!

 

what good things are you doing for yourself today?

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

p.s...what did i indulge in on those two days?  first day in july, american marshmallows and sausage rolls for dinner....second day in august, sticky date pudding with caramel sauce and cream! i wonder what september's will be?

 

 

 

 



A Pretty Blue Parcel!

 

hi there!

 

i've managed to wrest the computer

from the grip of my son for a few hours

so that i can say

 

a

 

big

 

 

thankyou

 

to jane green of planet baby fame

for her delightful gift.

 

a few weeks ago

she emailed me

to ask me whether she could send kai

a gift.

 

i was touched.

 

 

 

last week

this gorgeous liberty wrapped

 

 

 

'kai' sign

came in the mail.

we all loved it

&

it will be sent on to taiwan

very soon.

 

i just can't resist

including another little 'kai moment'

to round this post out....

 

 

 

taken from the latest batch of pics

sent over from his dad.

 

 

beautiful blogging mates

are the best...

 

cheers to all of you!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 



Twelve Weeks Old!

 

a new week!

i feel as though they're racing away this year

&

baby kai

my first and only grandson was 12 weeks old

on saturday.

 

look at those bright eyes,

they were blue at birth but are turning brown...

 

 

 

it has been so hot in taipei

that he gets around in his aussie bond's singlets mainly...

 

 

 

but i was thrilled to see

him wrapped up in the blanket i knitted

&

sent over before he was born.

 

this is my favourite pic.

 

just look at the way he gazes

adoringly at his dad.

his mum has had to go back to work

but

dad works from home

so is there with him every day.

it's an arrangement that's working for everybody.

 

i've just noticed the church across the road

has put up a sign

for a 'trash & treasure' day

next saturday...yay!

 

 

i hope they have some goodies for me...

have you found any lately?

 

 

enjoy your monday!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 



Around the Backyard...

 

hi!

 

i know it's been a while...i apologise.

 

things have been pretty stressful around here

&

when i'm in turmoil

my creative energy leaves me completely.

 

there were a few years

when i didn't get 'round to anything creative at all...

probably serving out the dinner attractively

or brushing my daughters hair into a ponytail smoothly

were the artiest things i did at that time.

 

well thankfully

those days have passed

&

i have only needed a few weeks so far...hehe!

 

 

i thought i'd take you on a little tour

of the happenings in our backyard today...just for fun.

 

 

 

 

 

i haven't seen this variety of pansy before...

we found a metal toolbox to plant them into...

much cheaper than a ceramic or plastic pot.

 

 

 

 

 

we couldn't resist buying this stunning hibiscus either.

 

 

we have had many days recently

cleaning walls and furnishings

and rearranging the furniture

to fit an extra body in the house.

 

 

 

we thought a pot of lavender

at the front steps

would be just the thing to survive

the intense afternoon heat

of queensland's summer sun.

 

i haven't bought seedlings for ages

&

it was a lot of fun shopping for them

with my newly arrived home daughter!

 

are you thinking of spring yet?...

just a few weeks away now

down here in australia!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 



Jonquil Study & My Sister's Giveaway!

 

good morning!

 

i feel like i'm almost a stranger here in my own space

having only briefly popped in

over the last week or so.

 

wandering through our local shopping centre last week

i was delighted by these jonquils

&

had to bring a bunch home...

 

 

 

in the winter

our dining room gets the afternoon sun

which is the only time

to successfully take some pics...

 

 

 

the setting sun

was brilliant

&

cast a golden glow into the room...

 

 

 

late in the day

&

as mr t and i messed around having fun with the camera

the light grew into night

and evening was upon us!

 

 

 

enjoying these jonquils calmed my battered soul.

 

it has been a week of emotional stretching...

wonderful to embrace another adultchild into the fold again

but of course change...

even a good one...

brought the household into a state of chaos

physically and mentally.

 

 

equilibrium

has been gently reached

&

peace obtained

although we're all a little weary and fragile.

 

enough about this though...

 

my sister jill (the artistic talent of the family!)

is having the most superb giveaway!

 

 

a set of these handpainted designer coasters...

the choice of which is yours...

 

 

may be yours

 

just by going to her giveaway post

&

leaving a comment

 

on her new design blog..."jill butler design".

 

 

'cos I've been late telling you..

there is only about 30 hours left to enter...

the draw is tomorrow...saturday at five pm, nz time...

so don't delay.

 

i got a set for christmas last year

and love them...

they designs are stunning

&

they wear really well,

even after many hot cuppas this winter

and all the icy cold ones over summer

they look brand new!

 

 

enjoy your weekend

i hope the clouds flee and give us a sunny day!

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

p.s...kai is seven weeks old tomorrow, maybe i can score some new pics off his mum and dad!!!

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Lego!

 

good morning!

 

after thinking about it for a couple of years,

i finally went downstairs

and fetched the huge bucket of lego

from under the house...
collected by five children over about 15 years
it's quite a collection!

 

as the children became adults,
it's been sitting there since we moved in nine years ago...

still with packaging tape around it to hold it all together

from our move to queensland from canberra.

 

at first i thought i could just chuck all the pieces in the bath,

fish it out and dry it on a towel...

it's not that easy.

 

i realised that i should get it ready for the next generation

of little boys...and maybe girls...

we haven't any girls yet

and our little boy is only six weeks old!

 

 

i spent several hours

dismantling all the buildings

after realising i couldn't do it under water with wet hands..hehe!

 

after that

i washed the container

and put them back in there to bathe with some sugar soap overnight...

 

 

i found that lego men love to float.

 

 

i've been fishing the lego out with a sieve...

 

 

rinsing it under the tap...

{'garage' is one of the pieces from mr w's collection... early '60's most likely!}

 

 

drying it off with a towel...

 

 

separating legomen, monkeys and fabuland animals

and all the tiny tiny pieces

so they won't choke babies

and will be easily found to play with by the older ones.

 

i'm just doing a bit at a time

so it will probably take another couple of days

before the job is done.

 

we have all decided to shun sugar

and refined foods here

so have to go out foraging this morning

in our local supermarket

for nuts, seeds and berries!

{and a few other things...}

 

i hope you enjoy your day too!

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 



 



 

 



 

 

 



This Week...

 

good morning!

 

i'm just taking the time

on this rainy saturday

to think about some lovely things

that i enjoy at the moment...

 

my daughter arrived home after two and a half years spent in canada...yay!

 

spending time catching up and sharing coffee with her and my daughter in law...lovely!

 

hearing and seeing baby kai on skype...marvellous!

 

enjoying time out from regular events 'cos it's school holidays here...refreshing!

 

&

 

the little things...

 

 

 

sipping a hot mug of green tea this morning

 

 

 

finding a different google illustration when i switched the computer on this morning,
a reminder of the tour de france coming up...

 

looking forward to a friend's birthday lunch today,
good food and great company with much laughter and silliness...

 

makes this day special.

 

i hope today is special for you as well...

happy weekend!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Dragging My Feet...

 

hi there!

 

i have noticed everybody getting their act together

regarding the big changeover from google reader

to other circles and links

but i'm dragging my feet.

 

it's not that i don't love you

and don't want to belong

but

i have issues.

 

i have a problem

handing over more of my personal information...

address,

working status,

even my name

to another set of people who i don't know.

 

i don't do facebook or twitter

for the same reason...

and then there's the information or photos

i may post there...

what could they be used for or by in the future.

 

i am cautious...perhaps overly...

but i'm not committing 'til i see how this all plays out.

so if you see someone

behind the crowd...

just observing my friends racing ahead...

it's probably me.

 

....and by the way

 

 

 

i'm knitting a little jumper for kai,

'cos in another couple of months

the weather will be a bit cooler

and he just may need it.

 

 

the back's done...the front is on it's way...

 

waving to you from here

behind the crowd...

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 



All Kinds of Wonderful!

good morning!

 

this morning is all kinds of wonderful...

the sun is shining,

the bed linen is changed,

the washing is drying on the clothes line,

the dishes are done,

the ensuite is clean,

the dinner is cooking in the slow cooker...

 

kai is four weeks old today...

 

 

 

his dad has just informed me

that he's having his belly button checked this morning...

 

my ladies beach beanie is finished...

{it's called that 'cos i think it would make the perfect beanie

for walking along a beach on a cool windy day!}

 

 



 

i like the way it's looking

with its contrasting tiny stripes.

 

isn't it amazing how a little bit of sunshine...

and feeling heaps better after beating the lurgy...

can energise a person!

 

how's the weekend looking from your end?

 

haveagoodone!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 



Pretty Poinsettias...

 

good evening!

 

in between showers

these poinsettias have been growing and blooming

forming an arch

over our front path...

 

 

these flowers...

really leaf bracts actually...

are magnificent in the middle of winter.

 

 

 

 

 

i  love the way that here in our sub tropical climate,

flowers bloom

and trees are still clothed in bright green

even in our coldest months.

 

 

 

 

 

they cheer me up no end

on some of these cloudy dull days!

 

i've been recovering from a head cold

over the last couple of days...

the weekend was mainly spent sleeping through it

...a waste of a long weekend really...ah well.

 

today

made up for it...

morning tea and bible study

with friends

warmed my heart and fed my soul...

 

 

 

{....thanks for asking..

yes, i did make these covers, sewn and crocheted...

last year sometime.}

 

 

i hope there is plenty to cheer you up

this week!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 



Three Weeks Old...

 

hi!

 

yesterday

little kai was three weeks old...

 

awake...

 

 

 

 

 



 

or asleep...

 

 

 

 

his grandma

thinks he's the cutest baby alive...

though i'm sure

your baby is cute too...hehe!

 

i hope your week

is wonderful!

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 

 



Friday Snippets...

good morning!

 

i'm just quietly celebrating friday here.

it's queen's birthday weekend

so a long one for us with monday off work for mr w...and some of the boys.

 

it has been a normal week here...

no new babies

no falling down steps

or other nonsense...

thank goodness.

 

so i've just put together a few photos to capture

a normal week here...

 

 

..snuggling up warmly and comfortably

is popular at night here in front of the tv or computer...

 

 

 

 

 

...a bit more knitting has been done

over the past couple of days.

{ a beach ladies beanie actually??}

 

 

 

 

there's always washing up to do every day...

but the oranges are lovely freshly picked

from an orchard just up the road a bit...juicy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i love my new black tempered glass 'black board'...

i bought it yesterday from aldi...only $14.99.

i think it's a bargain..

my new toy.

 

mr m was very efficient putting it up for me...

he did a great job and it only took him 5 mins!

 

what's going on at your place?

 

have a great weekend!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

ps...some of you think we have baby kai here...unfortunately location wise he is in taiwan and we're in australia.  skype and email are our best friends!