Winter, birthdays and babies

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It’s cold,  wet and windy 

Definitely a stay inside near the fire day 

Hubby has gone to the farm to meet the solar power man. He will give him a quote to set the house up as a stand alone solar power home 

He said he will be back today. 

Way too cold to sleep overnight 

Today this little four year old is 35  

It only seems like yesterday  

The day she was born it was very cold  no wind but the foggiest I’d ever seen since that day or before! 

You couldn’t even see the front of the car  

And she was coming fast  

We did get to the hospital in time and she was born less about an hour after we got there 

Yesterday the girls were over, as usual 

Georgia was very happy as the antibiotics seem to have worked. She still won’t stay asleep when I put her in the cot though. 

He daddy says she’s got grandma well trained. 

Not that grandma cares lol 

Ana is now totally fine sharing me with her sister. She had become very mature and helpful 

I bought some storage boxes for their room 

I had to take her picture so I could send them to her mummy 

She, ever so nicely, asked if she could use the boxes to “ organise “ her craft stuff. 

Obviously I agreed and she spent ages doing that. 

Grandpa was here and was in the sewing room with her. She didn’t need help. He was just there to keep her company 

At one stage she came out and asked to use one of my little pink containers. 

I use them to put all the threads in to throw away. 

I guessed she was organising her pencils and needed it for the shavings. 

She emptied it and brought it back after she had finished. 

This little cutie slept quite a bit. 

This is how you know she’s tired. She starts to suck her thumb 

This is exactly the way her cousin Brianna used to sleep. Once she’s fast asleep her thumb comes out 

Watching Bluey. Georgia was also watching bluey but it was time for a bottle and sleep. 

You can see her face. Five minutes earlier she had been laughing at Ana dancing to a YouTube by someone named Danny Go 

So now your up to date 

Other than washing I intend to stay close to the fire and keep on working on my projects. I need to get more hexis made for the quilt top. It’s getting bigger. Im going through the hexis quite quickly 

I hope the weather is nice where you are and if not then I hope your having a lovely time inside. 

Sleepless in Devon Meadows

​night before last I thought the melatonin had started working 

I went to bed a reasonable time. Woke up after about eight hours sleep and I was able to get lots done. 

Next minute 

I take all meds, as usual, and wait for that relaxation sleepy feeling to hit. 

That didn’t happen. 

It didn’t happen the whole night!

I ended up going to bed the same time I woke that morning. 

5am!

I then slept until just past 6.30am

To make matters worse, the power was out. That means no coffee 

It was a perfect storm for a complete meltdown. 

Thankfully the power came back on about 45 minutes later and I was able to calm the beast within 

I’m going slowly but I am going. 

Last night I was just too tired to finish cleaning the kitchen. I know ironic, right. 

Everything that fitted in the dishwasher got washed. Anything that couldn’t or shouldn’t go into the dishwasher was left in the sink. 

I emptied the dishwasher 

I washed the remaining dishes

I wiped down all benches and all trays that live in the oven, I put them on the dining table while I use the oven, got put back away. 

The kitchen looks so much better. 

A clean kitchen is great for my mental health. 

Today my brain really isn’t in a state to concentrate on knitting cables. 

So I’m back to hand sewing 

I can do that asleep. And I probably will 

I’ve got myself organised and comfortable ready to start. 

I’ve turn the telly on. It’s on a news station. Currently the transport industry is complaining about the price of diesel. 

I feel their pain. When we first got married we had a transport business. 

The price of fuel hit a dollar a litre for the first time ever. We bought 1,000-3,000 litres a month depending on where the products had to be transported from and to where. 

It didn’t help we were in the middle of a recession we had to have 

Any Aussies old enough to remember the late 80’s will know exactly what that means 

It got so bad we were actually going further and further into debt 

That’s when I had that great idea that the only people who make money from trucks are those that repair them. 

Hubby was a diesel mechanic and to me it made sense to start a mechanical repair shop 

The rest they say is history 

Even though we have been out of the transport business for over thirty years, we still hurt for those still trying to make a living trucking 

I fear they are the canary in the coal mine. If transport stops. Pretty much all businesses stop. 

The future isn’t looking bright 

Maybe that’s why I’m not sleeping?

Too much is going on 

Lucky

​this morning I decided to find something interesting to watch. 

I went into my HBO MAX streaming channel and found a live feed of the Artemis 2 mission 

I love all things space. 

As it all began while I was sleeping I had to start from the start 

I got all the information 

I watched as the crew became the humans who had traveled furtherest, is that a word?. From earth 

I then watched as they saw an eclipse from outer space. 

I then had to turn off and get some work done 

Washing was put into the machine, and I folded the dry laundry and put that away 

I then placed the wet wash on the clothes horse to dry 

I ordered a ship from the supermarket and put that away when it was delivered half an hour later. 

I had a few jars that didn’t seal so I made some pasta sauce and some meatballs in a tomato sauce in the oven. 

I even made some banana bread 

Intermittently I worked on this 

I’m using 8 ply yarn. But the pattern is written for 16 ply. 

I didn’t have enough yarn in the same colour to double up so this will be for Ana. 

I’ve ordered the correct ply yarn from Bendigo Wool mills 

I received this in the mail. Saying they had no choice but to increase prices. 

They haven’t raised them since before Covid. The price rise isn’t a huge amount but it does add up when ordering a large quantity 

Since I only really needed the yarn for this pattern, I didn’t do a huge order. 

Thankfully I did order a large quantity a few months ago, so I’m good for yarn for a long time. 

In the late afternoon Bella walked up to the fireplace and stared at it. Then looked at me 

This is code for, I’m cold please light the fire. 

She was soon joined by Trixie. This is pretty much the only time they call a truce 

So what’s a for baby mama to do. 

I went outside, got some kindling 

And lit the fire for them. 

I’ve brought in enough firewood for the rest of the night. 

Tomorrow is going to be a cool one, so it was a good idea to have it going today 

I’m now going to go and take my meds get into my jammies and work on my knitting until I feel sleepy. 

I’m hoping the melatonin I’ve been taking for two weeks works k like it finally did last night. 

I hope you all get a good nights sleep too 

Unaware

​today I found out just how unaware I’ve been. Fibro fog and sleep deprivation is to blame. Well that’s what I’ll blame it on 

The criminally insane rooster, was dispatched a week or so ago. I hadn’t heard him crowing but I just put that down to sleeping in as most nights I’ve not slept until the early hours of the morning 

The second unknown to me was that daylight savings ended Saturday night 

As today is Monday it’s pretty obvious just how much I don’t care much about the time. 

I’ve been avoiding social media and the internet. Basically for my own mental health, so I missed any posts reminding us about the change. And I don’t watch the news 

I only noticed today because the clock in my room was different to my watch. I then checked my phone and yes. It was an hour earlier than I thought. 

Bonus hour sleep in 

Meanwhile I’ve just continued to do what I do everyday 

General housework 

And crafting 

The EPP as of this morning 

It’s a kind of a wonky rectangle. It’s got a name but I just can’t remember it. So if you know please enlighten me in the comments 

I have these two patterns. I’ve been wanting to make these for ages 

The red one has measurements up to age 15. So I’m going to make that one first for Melody 

I’ve got my plan of attack all written out. 

Which basically means its how I keep track of my rows 

Meanwhile hubby is outside cooking peppers on the BBQ. He kinda  blackens them and then takes off the skin. 

We freeze them in small plastic bags. The during winter. We just defrost bag and it’s like they were jusṯ cooked 

So now you’re up to date. 

Just like I am. Unless of course there is something else I’m oblivious too I guess 

Easter break

​we decided to stay home these holidays. 

We have heaps to do around the nest and four days having a helping hand was too good to pass up 

I bought this mesh cage at Aldi  oh how I wish they had more  it was the last one  at only $20 it was a bargain 

We’ve used it to cover the peppers  I’ll put a second layer of mesh on it and hopefully it will be enough to protect it from frosts  giving us a head start next spring. Fingers crossed. 

I’ve ordered bits and pieces from Amazon to make covers for all the wicking beds   Stay tuned 

As you can see  the shorter bed is ready to be planted out  I’ll do that when I get the things I need to cover it  

I’ll be planting brassicas in here and we still have those little white butterflies hanging around. And as you know I don’t use sprays 

Meanwhile I had to find space to store all the jars I made 

In the back of the plastic cupboard I had spare mugs. You know funny ones, souvenirs, and gift ones. 

I’ve been going to pack them up and take them to the tiny house on the farm 

As you can see I also have a small tea pot  perfect for two cups of tea  

I had all this bubble wrap left over from packing Christmas decorations away  

I obviously got more efficient at packing them away 

Here they are all packed and in the white plastic bag  next too more things for the farm  

We now have quite a haul including a double bed and two sofa beds 

We just need a strong pair of hands to help with taking them all of the truck and into the house  

I’m not much help with that 

I finished the little cardigan for baby Georgia. Mum picked the buttons. 

I sent pictures of all the buttons I have but took individual buttons I thought were appropriate. 

If you make the picture bigger you will see round wooden buttons with kitty cats on them 

I’ve also replenished my hexi supply so I can now keep going on making the quilt top bigger. 

Progress photos coming soon 

So today I’ll probably spend most of it sewing and either listening to an audiobook, currently its the book of Enoch. People have  been taking about it all over the socials so I thought I’d better find out what it’s all about  

Or watching movies. 

I’ll surprise myself lol 

Enjoy your Easter break and eat all the chocolate you want  Easter chocolate has  no calories it’s guilt free 

The end! finally

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This bag of tomatoes and this bowl of home grown peppers was all I had to chop, cook and can today 

I had a couple of jars that didn’t pop so I re boiled them while I started cleaning and chopping 

I separated the tomatoes into three containers. Then I topped each one with the chopped peppers  this way all the portions were a good balance between the two ingredients 

These are the last of the processed bottles 

Plus the others that had already been processed 

Makes a nice amount of prepared sauce to be used in all sorts of dishes over winter  

This represents four days work  

In older times, when I was young and healthy, I would make this in only two days of just a few hours in the kitchen  I also had children to run around to all their extra curriculum activities  

But times and I have changed 

I’m pretty happy with this  haul  

I plan to just plod along doing what I can over the long weekend  

I’m not going to over tax myself,   I need to rest and recover 

  

Almost done

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Today I started early  I was continuously chopping up tomatoes 

While I had two pots cooking them down  it was  much better way of cooking them  

I had two nonstick pans going at the same time.  cooking time was reduced and I was able to get the sauce into the jars quickly 

They don’t look big  but they actual held a lot of the chopped tomatoes 

Once I had finished chopping as many tomatoes as I could I started the water baths   I was beginning to get very sore legs and ankles standing all that time 

The tall pot for the tall jars and the short pot for the rest 

The top bench has the jars I made from the first box  I didn’t quite finish that box  I added what was left into the one box and threw out the empty one  

All jars on the red tea towel were made today 

This is all the tomatoes that are left 

Tomorrow I’ll get hubby to pick all our peppers from the garden. I’ll chop those up and add them to the tomatoes. 

That sauce will be excellent for spaghetti sauce 

Baby girl and family arrived bringing pizzas for dinner 

It was nice to just sit and enjoy talking with her and son in law. 

The girls, as usual, amused themselves 

They were very excited as the school term was over and they now get a few weeks holiday 

I can’t believe the first term is over. It felt like they started the new year just a few weeks ago 

They left for home loaded with bags of odd and ends. I like buying them clothes when I see something on special. Baby girl scored the best. A couple of cardigans, a coat, and two pairs of boots. We have the same size feet 

I bought those boots for me but they’re lighter colours and I didn’t feel comfortable in them. 

Like mutton dressed as lamb

So I’ve kept the black and dark brown ones. And she’s scored the light brown and off white ones 

And of course eggs, some tomatoes and chocolate Easter eggs 

I hope they enjoy all their spoils 

Feeling poorly

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This little princess was not feeling well at all. She mainly didn’t the day sleeping in grandma’s arms 

I did try to get her to have a play. 

She only lasted five minutes and acted out 

After feeding and changing her nappy grandma needed to eat. We had left over roast chicken pieces. So while I ate that I gave Georgia some tusks 

She was using her two bottom teeth to grind them 

By the time I had finished, it’s amazing how quickly you can eat, she had almost devoured them. 

When the pieces got too small to hold I gave them to trixie. She was waiting patiently next to me 

When daddy arrived to pick her up I was one tired grandma. 

I don’t know why really, I spent most of the day sitting with her in my arms. 

Hopefully her fever breaks and she is able to go back to daycare. 

If not, I’m still plan B. If they need me 

One box down

​today I finished processing the second half of the box of tomatoes 

Instead of putting it all into the big stock pot I divided it between two pots 

They boiled down quickly and I actually got these a better consistency. Much less liquid. 

I did use the stock pot to boil the tall bottles. 

Another large pot was used for the shorter jars 

Here they are. Cooling down. 

Hopefully by tomorrow they will be sealed 

This evening I’m working on the cardigan for Georgia. 

Once the sleeves are done all I have left to do is add buttons. 

That will be the fun part.  Choosing the buttons that will compliment the pretty yarn 

Mummy has messaged that poor little Georgia has an ear infection and had a fever. 

She can’t go to daycare with a fever so a bonus day with grandma 

It will be nice to have a special one on one day. Hopefully grandma cuddles will make her feel better. 

Canning time

​well it’s more jar-ing than canning. But I’m sure you know what I mean 

I found someone selling boxes or organic tomatoes for $25 a box. 

I sent hubby along to get two boxes 

About half of the box ended up in the big pot. 

Once the sauce got to the, it looks like watery tomatoes, I poured it into a nonstick pot. It’s about half the size of the stock pot 

After boiling it for a few hours I put it into washed and sterilised jars 

They’re currently back in the cleaned stock pot being boiled again 

They will stay in the water bath boiling for about half an hour  I’ll then turn it off and they can stay there until the water cools enough that I can put my hands in 

They will finish cooling on the bench. 

I love hearing the pop of the lids as they seal 

I also made five bags of beef stock. 

Those bags and the chicken ones are now safely in the freezer 

This is the sauce or similar to this that I buy. Usually it’s whatever is on sale 

So my five jars are worth around four dollars each. 

That’s $20 approximately 

Since the box cost $25 I’ve pretty much covered the initial cost. Now all the rest of the sauce from this box is free 

There is still a good half of the box left 

I’m pretty happy about that 

Got to love a bargain 

Fuel crisis

​Today Ana and her parents had an appointment at the school down the road from us. 

It’s the school her daddy and aunt went too. And hopefully she will start attending next year  I know  how is she old enough to be starting school next year 

The appointment was at 11oclock. 

The original plan was daddy would come in the morning as usual, with the girls 

And mummy would arrive in time to go to the meeting. 

But then the mango Mussolini did what he does and now the whole world is in a fuel crisis 

So plan B 

Mummy was always going to work from home today. But instead of using two cars, the whole family arrived this morning. 

She set up her work space and got into it. 

Meanwhile I did what I normally do on a Friday. 

The bonus was. I didn’t need to heat milk and feed Georgia. 

She could drink straight from the tap! 

I was able to spend that time with Ana 

We started with Ana having a small area of floor space to colour in and do some drawings. 

She eventually spread out as more and more of the craft supplies were added to her “ work space “

I’m still trying to get her into the habit of putting small things away so that when Georgia starts crawling we won’t have any accidents. 

She is pretty good now. Just a few instances where the offending objects were hidden behind her or she was sitting on them 

Georgia was much happier to sit in the play station  the seat can spin round and give her lots of views of her surroundings 

But she’s not quite strong enough to move it 

Ana was showing her sister all the different toys we have added for her to play with 

After lunch, stewed fruit, I gave her some baby rusks. These pretty much dissolve as soon as saliva hits it. 

Still grandma was right there the whole time 

Yesterday I got my stock pot out to make, funnily enough, some stock lol

I boiled one of our home grown and processed chicken. 

No. Not the rooster. He’s still walking around. 

I boiled the whole chicken until it was well and truly cooked. 

I then took it out to cool and then took all the meat off the bones chopping it all into bite size pieces 

I then placed all that meat into a smaller pot with some of the stock,and  egg noodles 

Once the noodles were cooked I let the whole thing cool while I got the egg and lemon mix ready. 

I added that to the pot and mixed well until the egg cooked 

This is the Greek chicken soup. I think traditionally it’s made with rice. But I do the noodles as well. Just for a change. 

Once completed cooled. I left it over night so that I can skim any excess fat from it. But I didn’t have to. 

I’ve bagged it up and it’s now in the freezer I ended up with six of these bags.  Once frozen I can take the baking dish out and just leave the bags in the freezer. 

I’ve got one more chicken to do and some big beef bones, again raised here, and I’ll make beef stock 

It  will save me having to buy lots from the supermarket during winter. I do use quite a lot of stock in my cooking

And finally I used one of Georgias body suits to measure the cardigan I’m making 

The yoke looks to be a perfect fit. 

I’ve measured the length of the body and the arms. I can now continue knitting 

Between that and making more hexies I’ve got enough to keep me busy during the evening while hubby watches all the sports he can 

Winter has definitely arrived. Last night I lit the fire. I wanted the place nice and warm for the girls today.

It’s been going all day and we needed it. 

There is a very cold blustery wind blowing from the south. There is nothing between us and the South Pole except for Tassie. It’s not big enough to block all the freezing winds. And I live about 45 minutes from the bottom of Victoria 

So that’s it for now. I’m sure plans will chop and change now to save on excessive driving and using all the fuel we have. 

The government has talked about a maximum amount limit anyone can buy

I fear this is going to get much worse before it gets better.