Friday, October 11, 2013

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
 
 


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

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
 
 
 
 


Thursday, August 22, 2013

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
 
 
 
 


Monday, August 19, 2013

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
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

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?
 
 
 
 


Monday, August 12, 2013

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
 
 


Monday, August 5, 2013

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
 
 
 


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

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
 
 
 
 


Friday, July 12, 2013

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!!!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

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
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 


Saturday, June 29, 2013

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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

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
 
 
 


Saturday, June 15, 2013

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
 
 


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

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
 
 
 
 


Sunday, June 9, 2013

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, June 7, 2013

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!