Having a change around and clean out

I have arrived at a point in my life where I need to have a good clean out.

I have collected so much over my lifetime, and have come to realise that all this 'stuff' is just NOT needed.

If you live in my area you may have noticed a pile of my collections go out the front of our driveway for other people to take for free if they want. It has all gone...

I also took the left over Daycare toys etc to the Salvos.

I feel so much better without all the clutter pulling me down.

I have started getting down to the bare essentials. I recently cleaned out the kitchen and removed anything that I didn't really need, but had in my possession just in case. My utensil drawer has only the basics in it now and it is so much easier to open the drawer and grab what I require without sorting through everything.

This photo is of my drawer as it is now, I forgot to take a before photo, but let me tell you it was at times difficult to shut or open this drawer.

I had a surprise visit from my special little grandson this morning. His dad dropped him off for a few hours while he ran some errands. He spent the whole time playing with our lego collection. Lots of Starwars things to construct, his favourite passion at the moment.

This is our spare room that has been cleaned out and will be now used for any guests that might need a bed. I was using a fold out bed but they are not very comfortable to sleep on, so we invested in a new second had bed for our son and his old one has gone into this room.

The wardrobe and dressing table therein.

We restored these quite a few years back and have always used them. I think I may remove the linen cupboard behind the door.

A spare students desk and a keyboard for when I have a little time to tinker around. The piano stool was recently restored by my husband for his mother, and then she decided that we could keep it.

My sons new bed and bedside tables...

Now he is older I have been able to free his room of clutter. Toys aren't the 'in' thing when you are 14 years old.

His passion for the moment is BMX riding and soccer.

Thought I would include a pic of our bed seems as though we are on the subject of beds. This bed is part of a bedroom suite that belonged to my husband's Grandmother. It was given to her for a wedding present from her husband back in 1928. It is in perfect condition and a treasure worth holding on to. My husband was lucky enough to inherit it along with many other bits and pieces. I will post some pictures of the rest of the suite shortly.

I received the poem below as part of an email from a friend and thought it would be nice to share with you all.

( sorry if some of you have read it before)

The Poem
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees..
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need

But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God! held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
'Your name I cannot find
I once was going! to write it down...
But never found the time'

It is cold, windy and raining here today...perfect for sitting inside by the fire.

Have a lovely Sunday,

xTania

Pancakes and a stroll around the yard

My son loves these...

Pancakes

(similar to MacDonald's hotcakes)

2 cups SR Flour

2 cups milk

2 eggs

1 tbspn oil

half cup caster sugar

couple drops vanilla essence

Mix altogether and cook as required.

I can't remember where I found this recipe but I would like to thank them as these are now a favourite at my house.

I was out collecting kindling for our fire this afternoon when I came across some toadstools enjoying the cooler wet weather

These ones are not that pretty like some of the photos I have seen recently on other blogs, but fascinating all the same.

The weeds are loving it...

A tree with some lovely yummy figs.

These are the white centred variety...

...knowing that it is Autumn by all the leaves

This poor Sleepy Lizard (Shingleback) is a bit confused with the season. I would have thought he would be in hibernation by now.

The weather although it has been wet and raining on and off for days, it is still not that cold. I heard on the ABC local radio this morning that temperatures in our area and west of us will be experiencing unusually warmer weather than what is typical of this time of year.

xTania

Awesome wonder

Rain (20mm) on Sunday,

Fog on Monday,

Beautiful sunset on Tuesday.

Fantastic weather we are having...

xTania

Doings...

Hello dear friends,

I would like to share with you some of the things going on in our lives...

The boys after some motorbike fun...

I thought it would be a nice idea to learn to ride a motorbike, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em right?

But on second thoughts I think I might stick to horse riding and get myself a nice docile horse. (Our dog Millie loves to chase wheels or anything that moves, she does not chase cars though).

We went to visit my mum for Mother's day yesterday.

Dad had found some treasures in his travels and kept them for me. Below is a lovely enamel bowl with some Panda bears painted on the bottom. I had an old jug already, given to me by my grandmother some years ago and so now I have a very rustic jug and bowl.

Dad also found this old meat-safe in very good condition except someone has replaced the handle. I will be on the look out for an original handle now, but I am happy with the one on there as it adds character.

The back...

The new cyclamen plant next to the safe was a gift to myself for Mother's day. I have a special present coming soon that I will share with you all when it arrives.

Inside...

It looks to be the original paintwork.

Now the nights are cooler I have organised myself to do some knitting,

just some more dishcloths, these are easiest for me as I can manage to finish them.

Big knitted projects never seem to get finished by me, I lose interest and start on something else before finishing the other item.

I even tried my hand at a crochet one.

I am hoping to try knitting bed socks next, now I have found a pattern.

A friend gave us an old barbeque that was no longer any use, well the bbq part anyway.

Hubby decided to use up some scrap wood and make it into a utility table, I am pleased with the way it turned out.

Bonfire season is here, we have not got to light this yet as we want to make sure that it is not too dry as we haven't had that much rain. A few fires got away recently due to it still being too dry even though it is no longer fire ban season.

The circus was in town on the weekend. We could see the tent from our back yard.

I hope all you dear mothers had a special Mother's day spent with your loved ones,

Have a great week everybody,

xTania