We got one!

After a lot of consideration we decided to purchase a dehydrator.

~~~

I have seen these in use on blogs that visit so I am looking forward to having a go...

Wishing you all a great day,

xTania

Happy 30th Birthday

Today my first born daughter turns 30 years old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

sweet

Sarah Lee,

we are very proud of your achievements,

wishing you a lovely day...

Lots of love

xoxoxo

The ants were marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah...

I was greeted this morning to an army or should I say several armies of ants inviting themselves into my kitchen.

Since we moved here nearly 10 years ago I had managed to keep them at bay, but the little blighters snuck inside in the dark of the night.

My treatment for these pesky little creatures is this...

Talcum powder!

There was talcum powder everywhere on the floor, along my window ledges and a big white line across my pantry door entrance. They did not get into my food, thank goodness.

Hubby arrived home to find this mess and couldn't help himself...

He left this lovely message for me

awww!!

It was really hard to clean up, but is all gone now and

SO HAVE THE ANTS!!!

What do you do to get rid of ants?

XTania

Busyness

I have been absent because...

there have been

nectarines

galore...

Picking, cooking, packing away in the freezer for some enjoyment later.

I was going along nicely until the weather changed, (from cyclone Yasi) just as the majority of the nectarines were ripening. Hubsy was at work so it was left to me to pick the rest of the crop, hopefully before all the rain and humidity ruined them. I saved most but threw a lot away (the chooks had a feast). I invited my friend to come around and pick some too.

It didnt take long for this to happen...

I had nectarines lying everywhere trying to dry them out, to which I had great success. but the moisture still managed to get inside many of the fruit.

There were so many nectarines that I ran out of freezer room and had to give some of the stewed ones away.

We didn't preserve them this year as we have plenty still left over in the cupboard from the last crop.

Then...

my daughter brought me some plums...

I cooked these whole and froze them also.

These plums have so much flavour...YUM!

Then my dear friend Wendy gave me a box of tomatoes,

It took me a few days to get going but i eventually made some...

tomato relish

end result was 13.5 jars of relish

A couple of sunsets from the past week, cant help but share as they are so pretty.

They have been a lovely orange/pink which means Autumn is on it's way.

I think Summer has skipped by us this year with not too many very hot days.

We have had plenty of rain with more coming later today and tomorrow.

I have been cutting my computer time down lately as I need to get moving to shift this weight, and sitting too long at the computer is not helping. Have also been catching up on jobs (cleaning/tidying) that really needed doing around here. So I am still here only a little quieter, popping on briefly to catch some of my favourite blogs and getting off. I must move myself from here now and go for my walk while it is still cool.

There is a life outside these four walls and I need to go and find it.

My fitness and health is still going well,

I have lost another 1.6kg, so that is 5kg all up. Not far to go to my ideal weight now and I must do this. I have plenty of energy from all the good food I am consuming.

Hope all is well with you and your families.

Take care,

xTania

The year to get fit and healthy

I have decided that now is the time to get fitter and healthier. In less than two years I will be 50 years old, I cant believe it, not already, NO!!!

So...

This year is the right time to change the way I live. I am going to be eating healthy, exercising more, taking care of me. I want to be a healthy person as I approach middle age, and hopefully it will keep me out of the doctors surgery and live out the rest of my life with few health problems.

What I have done so far since 1st January 2011:

*Cut out all junk food.

*Saying NO to sugars and fats.

*Walking 4 kms a day, weather permitting.

*Doing other exercises like skipping, stepping, weights, boxing bag, push ups, push outs, exercising in the pool (really good on days like today, 45C/113F), gym ball exercising.

*Wanting to add Zumba on DVD, exercise using Wii fit and riding my bike and maybe even Karate.

*Eating only healthy foods and limiting breads and pastas.

*Drinking 8 glasses of water a day.

*Lost 3.4 kgs (7.48lbs).

To help me achieve this:

*I have tossed out all unhealthy food in my pantry.

*Cleaned out the fridge and put healthy food ONLY in there. It is nice to open the door and have all those bright fruit and veg looking back at me lol!

*Reading the labels carefully on food products and choosing low fat options.

*Reading inspiring books to push me along.

*Keeping a journal of what I am eating and my exercise routine.

*Trying out new healthier recipes.

I am feeling motivated and ready to do this.

My body is full of energy and already I can see and feel the results.

Below are the books that are helping me in my journey, plus the weight watchers site and face book page.

Also helping me to keep motivated is the Michelle Bridges site and face book page. I would have loved to do

Michelle's 12 week body transformation challenge,

but decided I couldn't afford it, and due to the fact that I only have a few kilos left to lose, surely I can do it...

What makes me think I can do it this time?

20 years ago I gave up smoking for a New Years Resolution. On the 16th January 1991, I went cold turkey and have never picked up a cigarette since.

So with this in mind and the same determination I have set about with my new challenge...

I will keep you posted...

Hope the weather is being kind to you.

Australia is taking a real battering from Mother Nature lately.

Cyclones now threatening along both sides of the country, bringing strong winds and lots more rain, something that Queensland certainly doesn't need right now.

Enjoy your Sunday,

xTania

At Home

Apricots,

first crop...

Cut up

with the slicer my dad made...

stewed and ready to be frozen for later use...

with sponge topping...

YUM!

Zucchinis

taking off, even though slowly...

The heat has set the garden back...

Cucumber,

only one plant left.

Capsicums,

are doing well,

the third year of crop from these plants,

with self sewn tiny tomato plants popping up everywhere...

picking plenty of these...

Silver beet,

getting there...

spectacular rainbow...

in full beauty...

Sunset from last night,

temperature soared to 47C (116.6F) yesterday...

Cool change today with 36C (96.8F).

More hot weather on the way, Summer has arrived!

Happy AUSTRALIA DAY to all my Aussie friends,

xTania

Christmas 2010

Christmas day was hot and windy...

Photos were taken at my youngest daughters property with

Devil's Peak in the background.

The girls had their sister visiting from Western Australia this year, she is 17.

L-R Tegan, Talia, Sarah & Kyla

Not a good day for taking photos

as it windy...

Add Jack and Blake.

Then my Mum and Dad and me in the purple

Family group...

Kyla, Tania, Jack, Sarah & Talia.

Sing-star fun at our house later in the day,

Talia & Tegan kept us entertained.

Getting tired...

Jack & Nanny...

My mum and dad...

Weather is still warm to hot here and now we have some humidity also...yuk!

I have my laptop back and running so will be able to post again with photos.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Queenslander's that are stricken by bad floods (thank you Kimmie for the link) that are happening right now. Mother Nature can be so cruel at times.

Take care everyone,

xTania