Wind, Dirt and a beautiful Sunset

Yesterday the temperature reached 31C (87.8F) and we are still in Winter. Today is cooler with 23C (73.4F) but still a lot warmer than usual. We have had very little rain this year so things are looking dry, which is not unusual for this area.

Last year we were blessed with a lot of rain, but I dont think that is going to happen this year...

The blustery wind picked up the dirt.

But the sunset was beautiful...

Have a great day everybody!

Winter Wednesday - Not Quite

Winter appears to have left us.

For the past week temperatures have begun to rise from the low 20's gradually up to 29C (84.2F) today!

It is a typical Spring day outside, with north wind and dirt! Maybe not a good indication of what our Summer will bring.

This is my Winter Wednesday...

Mandarins turned into

Marmalade

Yum!

For more Winter Wednesday fun pop over to Hazel's Blog.

On My Mind

A collection of simple living books...

On my mind today has been concern for

the upcoming recession/depression that may be coming soon, and I want to be prepared if it were to happen.

We have no debt other than a small mortgage.

We have never been believers in credit cards so have not incurred debt with those.

We pay cash for all our purchases, if we dont have the money we go without, it is that simple.

So,

on with the stockpile...

I have a large cupboard to clean out this weekend to store some necessities in.

My list is ready...

Joining with

Down to Earth's

On My Mind

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY.

Winter Wednesday

Joining with Hazel's Winter Wednesday today...

Warm Bellies and Winter Sunshine

Winter time

is when citrus fruits abound.

I love homemade juice.

I just squeeze them, add some water, some flax seed oil, and psyllium husks for extra fibre.

Give a good stir and drink.

And nice steaming hot porridge.

I like mine like this...

1/3 cup rolled oats,

3/4 cup water/milk,

some sultanas,

1 tspn manuka honey,

1 tspn LSA (linseed, sunflower & almonds crushed)

sprinkle of cinnamon

Cook gently altogether on the stove and serve.

Early Winter sunshine coming in through the window...

I have included some pictures of the leftover vapour of a plane that passed overhead while I was hanging out the washing.

It left an unusual pattern in the sky...

The sun shining on it produced a bit of a rainbow effect...

Don't know if you can see it that well in the pics...

21C here today, building up to 24C on Friday.

I can feel Spring, even though the nights are still frosty...

Easy Peasy Citrus Cleaner

A new Trend?

Over at the Down To Earth Forum there is a lot of this going on.

3/4 fill a jar with vinegar,

and add citrus peel.

Leave to brew for 2 - 3 weeks,

bottle and

clean until your hearts content!

What you get is a vinegar cleaner with a lovely citrus smell...

This is my citrus brewing in the laundry window,

(please excuse the dirty window).

I have bottled orange, mandarine, grapefruit and lemon peel.

And put back into bottles when done.

I add some to a squirty bottle and top up with water or vinegar.

I had saved the recipe for doing this a while back from Penniless Parenting, but never tried it until nellymary over at Just like my Nan made posted about it.

Turns out that this is a really good cleaner, I have used it all over my house with great success.

It is very good when used on stainless steel and bathroom tiles, leaves them lovely and shiny.

If you have some citrus fruit, why not give it a try...

On My Mind - Wishful Thinking

Wishing we were hitting the road

in our newly purchased caravan...

Joining with Down to Earth's

On My Mind

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY.

Thank You Everyone

for all your kind comments.

I want you to know that you have lifted my spirits...

I have been feeling "blah" for a while, something to do with old age I think...

My continuing shoulder problem will be operated on the 16 August 2011, and hopefully that will be a lot better.

Ongoing problems that come with being a woman are driving me crazy, so hoping that will get sorted soon, maybe an operation there too!

I guess there is nothing too serious to worry about, so for now I will try to keep smiling...there are plenty of people worse off than me!