It's December! #takingstock

I am pretty sure I forgot about Taking Stock last month. I am not sure if I closed my eyes at the wrong time somewhere in August, but the last few months have been a total blur. 


Making:  End of year presents for my tiny Tot gymnasts. I am thinking Reindeer noses. My last gym classes for the year are on December 15th. Our Kindergym class is getting a visit from Santa on the 14th. 

 My sour dough bread making is improving.

Cooking: I am going to attempt a lavender and blueberry 'magic cake' sometime this week. It like a custard cake that magically cooks in wonderful layers. I've never attempted it before, so why not experiment with some cool flavours.

Drinking: A white. I've been drinking a little too much. I was going to write I think, but I know. Going to do my best to cut down some.

Reading: How to's on the internet. How many times has Google taught you to do something? The latest is how to turn a chambray dress (op shop score) from a size 16 to a size 14 and shorten the sleeves. Going to try to attempt it today. Wish me luck.

Wanting: To do some online shopping. I have a new niece to find a present for, and I am lusting after the Classic Countdown CD. We've been watching the Countdown series on a Sunday night on the ABC. Reliving my youth with music!

Looking: Forward to seeing the super moon tonight. I may even take the kids for a drive where we will have a fab vantage point to see it. Maybe take some photos.

Deciding: What to get Brett for Christmas. I have NO IDEA.

Wishing: I had the money for hydrangea plants for an area in my garden. I've talked to a friend of mums and she has said I can get cuttings from her anytime. I will do that, but wish I could have them flowering in my garden NOW :)

Liking: My new garden arbours my hubby has made to replace the rusted ones that have been there in what feels like forever. He has done a good job. Will post them on Instagram today. 

Wondering: What the hell we are doing for Christmas Day. Mum will be working at the old folks home all day. Will catch up with my sister today to nut it out. 

Considering: Stealing the green waste bin from the empty flats next door, to get rid of some garden waste. I filled mine up today!

Buying: My girls some new runners. I was trying to stretch it out for the next two weeks of school. I don't think I am going to get away with it!

Watching: Struggle Street on SBS. I've become hooked on watching other peoples life's struggles.

Hoping: To spend some time fishing this week. God knows what day, I will have to make time. I really felt like going yesterday.

Marvelling: At how amazing my girls are. They shit me most days, but they are truly amazing little people.

Cringing: At how shocking my chin hairs must be looking. Better get some wax strips today!

Needing: To hit the pavement and get some exercise, eat better and lay off the bourbon cans. I could do with losing a few kilos!

Smelling: Our REAL Christmas tree! I cannot remember the last time I had a real tree to decorate. Well the kids decorated it, the smell is nice.

 Wearing: Some warmer clothes this week. Going from heatwaves in the high thirties down to temperatures in the teens sucks. Did you hear that Tassie has had snow?!

Noticing: The snails have eaten my sunflower seedlings! I won't forget the pellets when replanting seeds this time!

Knowing: I need to make a day where I clean this house from top to bottom and declutter on the way. I am reasonably well at being ruthless when it comes to it. It's just the coming to it bit.

Thinking: The strawberry plants have been amazing this year. We are getting lots.

Admiring: All the pretty flowers in the garden right now. I haven't picked a vase for inside for the longest time though. I've been picking fresh herbs for a little vase on my kitchen bench though. Parsley and mint. 

Disliking: How down I can be on myself. I need to remind myself of all the amazing things I do everyday and how much I have achieved so far in my life.

Giggling: Along with my girls, when they warp their faces on Aunty Margi's iPad. They left surprises for her in the way of funny faces when she wasn't home today. I hope she gets a laugh too.

Snacking: Aaaargh. On too much processed food! Besides that, I am not sure why, but a plastic wrapped cheese slices! They are my go to in the fridge lately. Maybe it's my body telling me I need more calcium.

Hearing: The jingle jangle of Christmas bells! Don't you love this time of year? I do.

An InLinkz Link-up

October. So surprised to see you so soon - Taking Stock

Wasn't it just Christmas in July? Now the real Christmas is beating down our door. The last term of school is the craziest time, with so much happening. I am not looking forward to how quickly it will flash before my eyes. All I can do is hang on as tight as I can!

I love discovering and learning new things. Like what you can cook with the most unexpected ingredients. 

Making : Travel plans. My son and I are Sydney bound for a few days next week. I am SO looking forward to spending some time with him and his paternal family. It has been too long. 

Cooking : Eggless pavlovas. How? I hear you say. Well, you learn something everyday, and if I hadn't have tried it, I wouldn't have believed for myself. With the juice left over in a can of chick peas!

Drinking: Black label Johnny Walker. Our grand final weekend drink of choice. Some also made it into our chocolate mug cakes last night.

Reading: I've just finished Tara Moss', Speaking out. 

Wanting: For the rest of the year to slow down! Time waits for no one!

Looking: Out for new things coming up in the spring garden. I love the surprises like ranunculus and tulips that show their sunny faces, I had forgotten were there.

Playing: Twister. I am definitely too old for it and not as flexible as I used to be. The kids thought it was hilarious.

Wishing: I could have a relaxed week. I have two holiday homes to clean, a doctors appointment and the car is booked in for a new windscreen(darn truck flicking up a rock). Hopefully the end of the week will be a little less busy.

Enjoying: Using fresh herbs from the garden in the kitchen.

Waiting: For our new tent to arrive. We are spending New Years camping and I insisted we buy a new tent! Apparently it takes two minutes to set up. I will believe that when I see it! I can hear the arguments already...

Liking: That daylight savings has started. Longer daylight hours and with that I associate warmer days too.

Wondering: Why the hell I had to wait until tonight to find out what's been happening on Survivor!

Loving: The new bird cage my hubby built for our canaries. He doesn't like birds in small cages and he's built them the Hilton of bird cages in the back yard. They can fly!

Considering: Roasting some chillies and soaking in oil, to spray the aphids on my roses.

Buying: Loads of new plants. I got Bunnings vouchers for my birthday last month and of course I spent the lot on the garden.

Watching: The Bachelorette! Sophie Monk is all sorts of entertaining. I hope she finds the man of her dreams.

Hoping: I remember to turn my phone alarm off. We are on school holidays now, I don't coach in the holidays and some sleep ins would be awesome. No swimming lessons for the next couple of weeks either.

Marvelling: At how crazy my kids make me one minute, and how in love with them I am the next. 

Cringing: I went out to photograph the garden today, only to realise later that the memory card wasn't in the camera. Doh!

Needing: To print out some photos. Mum works at the old folks home and I was there on Saturday taking photos of the residents at their grand final celebrations. I could do it at home, but I've run out of printer ink. I should just buy more ink, it will save me having to squeeze in a visit to Harvey Norman to have them printed. Why is printer ink so expensive though?! These days is cheaper to buy a new printer with ink included!

Smelling: Coconut and lemongrass. I found a stray scentsy star tucked away in the writing desk(which is like a big junk draw!), it's scent wafted from the oil burner last week.

Wearing: Yesterday was tracky dacks and a hoody. Kinda like a pyjama day, because I had slept in them the night before! I went nowhere. Did some washing, cleaned up a bit, and watched a movie with Summer. In the arvo I checked how the winter neglected garden irrigation was working, got soaking wet, showered and put on different tracky dacks and a hoody!

Getting: Motivated to do some spring cleaning. The longer days and warmer weather does it to me every time. On my list is to clean and repaint our interior doors, also pressure clean the back deck. The walls could do with a clean too.

Bookmarking: Clothing websites(I can dream) and recipes. Always lots of recipes.

Disliking: The conflict that has arisen because of the same sex marriage vote. So much for free choice and freedom of speech. 

Giggling: At Puns on Facebook. Most of them are like really bad Dad jokes, but funny.

Snacking: Trying not to. For some reason cheese single slices are my go to snack. Like four in a row. Could be worse. Oh and yesterday it was choc chips from the pantry. 

Hearing: I love hearing birds in the morning. Wont be long and the cockies will be making their racket too. Some people hate it. I don't at all.

What new and exciting things have you learnt in the last month?

What has made you happy this week? 

An InLinkz Link-up

September. How I love thee.

September brings so much sparkly newness. Spring. Warmth. New growth(including weeds!) and it's my birthday month!I am in disbelief that I am turning 45. I don't feel one bit of 45. I feel 30 in the body of a 45 year old!Hubby has just turned 50, and our 10th wedding anniversary has just passed. I can't say we celebrated our anniversary, as it wasn't until I had put the rubbish out that evening, that I realised it was the 8th of September and indeed our tenth anniversary.

I walked in the back door with my hands on my hips, and announced, "By the way! Happy 10th anniversary Boggy!". His immediate reaction was "Oh fuck", and proceeded to give me a hug and a kiss. He suggested we find someone to look after the kids and go out for dinner. With snags already cooking and a case of the CBF's, I suggested we stay home...I spent yesterday clearing weeds in the garden in preparation for the summer veggie patch, and for the hi-dolly dahlias to emerge from the ground. Izzy helped me in the garden, and we planted basil seeds.It is an exciting time. We also discussed the produce we could enter into the annual show in November. She must defend her sash titles for the best junior produce, cut flowers and cooking sash. Even if her cooking sash was for chocolate crackles. I think presenting them in Christmas patty pans was the trick!Making : Loads of salad mixes to have with my dinners. On a health kick in an attempt to eat more fresh food and less processed food, and loosen my pants.Cooking : While de-weeding my veggie patch yesterday, I found a rogue beetroot. Looking forward to roasting it with some fennel and mixing with some lentils for lunch tomorrow. Maybe with some feta mixed through at the end! Mouth is watering already. Drinking : Pu-erh tea. On our recent holiday, we drove up to Mount Tamborine, where I bought some loose leaf tea at one of the shops on Gallery Walk. I only drink herbal teas, mostly bagged teas, so this is a little special than the norm. I've bought this tea before in the Central markets in Adelaide.Reading: This always stumps me, because really, I don't do a lot of reading. I'd love to have more time for novels and magazines. I bought the latest Better Homes and Gardens a couple of weeks ago, mainly to take away on holiday with me. Of course I left it home and haven't looked at it since. it did come with a free taco stand...Wanting: For my new phone to come in the mail! We ordered it at the end of July, and it hadn't come as of Friday and asked for a refund. A refund we got and ordered another phone from someone else. It's my birthday at the end of the week and I hope it arrives before that!Looking: At my floors. The house is a shambles. SO looking forward to some alone time at home, with Brett back at work at the girls at school to clean the house. Not that it will stay clean for long! I did spring clean the fridge over the weekend. There was mould growing on some of the gunk in the veggie crisper. Ew!Deciding: Where to put the seeds in my newly dug up veggie patch. I have seeds saved from last year and am keen to get them in the ground. Isabel did a fabulous job of helping me in the garden, and I've agreed to let her help me plant the seeds. Going to have a good look at my companion gardening book to decide where to put stuff. We have climbing beans, chilli, pumpkin, tomato, beetroot, carrot and radishLiking: The goodies in my first ever Bellabox. I took the opportunity to order my first box for ten dollars and am enjoying having some new skincare and a few things to feel like I am pampering myself. I would probably have never gone out and bought them myself otherwise.Wondering: What will come up to disturb my zen today. It's always something!Loving: That spring has sprung. The days will only get longer and warmer.Listening: I've bought a couple of kids CDs lately and had them playing in the car. It keeps the kids amused for a while, and I have quite enjoyed singing along with them. It is quite uplifting listening to them singing Der Glumph! went the little green frog at full voice. Makes a change to them WWE fighting in the back seat.Considering: Reading the 5 languages of love. I was talking to the mum of one of my Tiny Tots gymnasts, and commented on how well he responds to encouragement and praise. She told me that was his love language. Intriguing, as after that class he initiated and gave me the loveliest hug. I felt as though I had made a breakthrough with him, and as a coach it was an encouraging feeling.Buying: I've run out of Vitamin B pills and St Johns wort. St Johns wort is for nervousness, anxiety and mood. Not sure if my terrible moods have been because I haven't been taking it or the fact that I have been premenstrual the last few days.Watching: Still hooked on Survivor Australia, I missed watching it when I was away and caught up with over the weekend with encores. I watched Gardening Australia on the ABC yesterday too, it gave me the motivation to dig over the veggie patch and get ready for summer veggies.Learning: How to use a dishwasher! I don't have one at home, except little ol me. Or room on holidays did have one. My best friend from high school came to visit with us a couple of days and she could not believe I had never used one. She showed me how and I used it for the rest of the holidays with gay abandon.

An InLinkz Link-up

Taking Stock - How is it even August?!

Making : I'd put it of as long as I could, but the nagging of my eldest girl Isabel got he better of me and I helped them make slime! We had no food colouring, so it looked a little 'Something about Mary', but the girls added glitter and it turned out well. 

Cooking : Dinner last night for my brother and sister in law. It was the AFL South Australian show down between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide. We watched in disappointment as Port got flogged, but ate well! I made roasted veggie couscous and creamy bacon and broad bean pasta. My SIL Margi, bought along carrot salad to go with our barbecue meat. 

The weather was rough as guts, with a high of 8, and a 'feels like' temp of 2! Not the best barby weather. Boggy set the BBQ up in the shed with the fire box going. 

Roasted veggie cous cous is as easy as roasting cubes of eggplant, pumpkin, capsicum, onion and tomato. Throw some peeled garlic cloves, cumin, salt and olive oil over the top and bake at 200 for 20 minutes. Mix through some prepared cous cous, and mix in some finely chopped preserved lemon. Add lemon juice and zest if you don't have preserved lemon. I served it with feta cheese broken up over the top. Delish.

Drinking : Eight dollar cans of UDL at the pub over the weekend. My friend Elle and I went to the Raw Muscle male revue show at the Sporties (local pub). It was a fantastic ladies night out! 

Trawling: Online shopping sites. Is it just me, or does everyone else has a multitude of unchecked out shopping carts, in their 'Other bookmarks' folder?! It's like an online wishlist reminder!

Wanting: For rainbows to actually have a pot of gold at the end, and that rainbow to end on my front door step!

Looking: At online plant suppliers to cheaply fill the gaps in the garden where I have pulled out other stuff and gotten rid of ivy. I have a big space to fill that is shady and am thinking Hydrangeas or Camellias. Big beautiful plans! 

Deciding: What my lesson plans will entail for my upcoming Tiny Tots classes on Friday. I started teaching gymnastics to a class of six, 4/5 year old children this term. Challenging, as I have never done it before and I am still getting to know the kids. Challenging too, as the end of year concert is in early term 4 and I have to have them skill ready to perform. I am not putting too much pressure on, ten lessons isn't much time to reinforce a well seasoned four year old gymnast! 

Wishing: I don't usually enter, but I am hoping, like every time I see it come on, that the Sunrise Cash Cow would ring my dear old darling Dad. If anyone deserves that call he does! Hopefully he isn't on the dunny when they call!

Enjoying: A Pinot Grig(io) after my footy dinner party. 

Waiting: For my new phone to turn up. I am going to love, love the 13 megapixel camera. My camera/phone is so last century!

Wondering: Wondering when my kids will stop being sick. The first week of school holidays I had Isabel home from school for two days with a bug, and this week Summer has had a sore belly and an on and off temp. I need a break!

Loving: That Survivor is back on again. It fills the hole from Masterchef and gives me something to get excited about watching when the kids go to bed. I have not gotten on the Netflix bandwagon and can't see myself making the time for it either. Mainstream TV is floating my boat at the moment. I have always been daggy like that.

Listening: Well, intending to listen to Woogsworld podcast called The Hot Flush. I think I had my first hot flush on Saturday night before going out. My face and neck felt so hot and I found myself fanning my face in an attempt to cool down. The rest of my body was cold. Husband was worried I was sick and coming down with something. My cheeks still felt hot as I ordered tea, and thank goodness it had settles down before dinner arrived and the impending male review show! LOL.

Considering: Ordering menopause herbs and concoctions!

Buying: New undies. Is there any pleasure that is better? Besides new sheets of course. Now there's a debate.

Watching: Old reruns of the Kenny Everett show. Oh the memories of being a teenager in the eighties. It's still ridiculously funny. The teenage must watches or die a horribly devastatingly death of FOMO, was missing Kenny Everett, Countdown or The Goodies. Monkey Magic too for argument sake :)

Hoping: I have a carefree, stress free week. There seems to always be something lately that throws a spanner in the works. 

Marvelling: At my gorgeous little ray of sunshine, Summer. She came home from school telling me her friend(a boy) was doing Gangnam style dance at school. You know the wrist on wrist pony move. So she joined in doing the waving the wrist in the air and holding on the reigns move with him. Too bloody cute. I would have loved being a fly on the wall. She said no one was watching, and it resonates with me with the quote to dance as though no one is watching. A total five year old initiative. 

Cringing: At myself. I realised at the end of the day, as I reclined back on my couch, that I'd had my tracky daks on inside out all day! Total bogan move. It didn't look that obvious and I realise I I don't spend enough time on myself in regards to getting dressed in the morning. 

Needing: I am sure I say this way too much, but a holiday on my own.I have to plan a weekend away before we go away to the Goldie at the end of the month.

Questioning: Whether it was wise to buy a whole cask of Pinot Grigio. It was out for $11, surely too good to leave in the bargain trolley. 

Smelling:  An auntie Janet died a while ago and my uncle had her old perfumes and passed them on to my mum. She's been sharing the smelly love and I ended up going through it and picked out a few of still good old school Avon scents. Brings back memories. I also went through the five dollar bargain bin at the chemist and got some eau de parfum, so I am smelling fine.

Wearing: Comfy, warm clothes. I wish I had a pair of good ugg boots. I don't. So it's thick warm socks and slippers inside. It's super cold right now.

Knowing: I am more aware of the need to make the time I have during the week when the kids are at school, and my husband is at work, to do all the things I need to do to make my life easy and happy. I am learning to leave all the rest for whenever, like housework and the things that makes everyone else comfortable. The next important thing is making sure the kids are happy. I am not responsible for my hubby, he's on his own, and big and ugly enough to pitch an look after himself. 

Thinking: I need to keep up with making an extensive list of jobs at the start of the day to make sure I am on task for the week. The easy things are feeding the animals, a dog, a cat, the chooks, the canaries and the hook beaked birds in the aviary. The extra stuff is lesson planning for gymnastics and keeping my son on an even track with his appointments and life goals. I do realise I have a little more responsibilities than the average Joe, which is why it is so important to keep on top of things. 

Admiring: Teachers everywhere. I only have two classes a week for gymnastics, that I have to lesson plan for. I have total respect for teachers who lesson plan an entire year of classes, every day of term. 

Getting: An understanding of being a committee member and employee of a sporting club. Lots of extra work that goes unseen and unappreciated until you become a part of it. Get involved and help out if your your child is part of sporting organisation, if you can. 

Bookmarking: Unchecked out shopping carts, for you know, a rainy day. I can assure you that some of these shopping carts will remained unchecked out!

Opening: A can of whoop arse if my sons flatmate doesn't cough up some rent money this week! I am a ninja warrior bitch mofo, so look out sunshine! I am one of those people who gives a bit of slack and then all of a sudden whips like a rubber band to the ball sack. It worked last time anyway. #takenoprisoners #itstoowetfoyoshittobeoutonthestreet

Closing: My account with Booking.com. I can't cancel a booking who has not paid a deposit, can go suck my not existent balls.

Feeling: Good.

Dreaming: Of the warmer weather of the Gold Coast at the end of the month.

Hearing: Rain drops.

This is before she put on her footy boots. They were caked in mud from the week before!

Celebrating: My little Isabel fairy, getting her first improvement award at footy. Go my girl. Here I was dreaming of her winning medals for her gymnastics, and she's given it away to play footy. My son played footy for Tant for years. I thought my days of waiting at footy practise and weekend footy days were over. You never cease to amaze me my girl x 

Pretending: This parenting shiz isn't hard. It's bullshit hard. Just when you think you got it licked, it kicks you in the reals. Just when you don't need it to. Little fuckers. Also pretending that when I yell and carry on like a pork chop passers by can't hear it. I am such an optimist!

Embracing: My new role at the the Millicent Gymnastics Club. I am loving it. It's early days and I am an accredited coach, but it feels like I am faking it as I make it. I have loved the first term of Kindergym and am loving and acing it. Of course there is the new challenge of teaching four and five year old children gymnastic skills and I am nervous and stepping in unsure ground. I am sure my kids are going to yell "the ground is lava in 3,2,1" at any moment! I have nightmares about this shiz you know!

An InLinkz Link-up

Taking stock - the July edition

This is my second Taking Stock post, inspired by many other bloggers who have taken Pip, from Meet me at Mikes' lead.




Making: Chocolate cake for school recess, because there is nothing except a packet of twisties in the pantry.

Realising: My wine glass is empty!

Cooking: Shephards pie made with the tunisian spice mix I posted last week. I added after browning the mince. It was good! Hubby is taking the leftovers for work. I used mashed potatoes on top of the mince, but when I make it again, I might try sweet potato.

Drinking: Not enough water. Have to get into the habit of drinking more water. 

Reading: Making an real attempt to stop wasting time perusing Facebook, and to connect by reading more blogs and linking up more places. 

A new blog I am enjoying reading is Extraordinarily Ordinary, by a former local girl, Jess. She lives in WA now with her husband Jeff. She writes about life with three boys, who are all on the autism spectrum. She is doing an awesome job with her new blogging venture.

Wanting: To order some more of Leanda Michelles', Write to Heal essential oil blend. She has just featured all of the oils and how they relate to the Chakras on her Facebook page, and it's made me want more after running out earlier in the year. My favourite place to roll it on was my neck and wrists, and am feeling the need for it's calming and relaxing qualities. 

Looking: At my newly cleared garden patch. We've managed to kill off most of the ivy, and hubby cleaned up one of the garden beds where it had taken over. It is so good to see the garden bones that I created about 15 years ago. It is also exciting because I can replant! Look out garden centres, I am coming!

Pondering: Running away for a week. I wonder if anyone will notice I have gone?!

Enjoying: Having the opportunity to take some time for me. I had a peaceful few days at home last week where I could catch up looking after myself. 

Waiting: Our holiday home is listed on the Stayz website, but this week I listed it on Airbnb. So waiting for our first booking through them! We stayed there over the weekend. It was bloody cold down the beach, so not holding my breath that anyone would want to come and stay. While I was down at Blackfellows Caves though,  fishing with Izzy, we met some tourists who were staying at a house there, so there is hope. It is pretty quiet during winter, holiday rentalwise.

Liking: That the cat has been desexed and we can let it outside without the fear of it getting pregnant. The cat we got for nothing, has turned into a two hundred dollar cat! We took it with us to the holiday house, the lace curtains have suffered. It's not coming again!

Wondering: If when I ring at eight o'clock, I will actually get an appointment at the doctors surgery for my son. He needs scripts. I rang on Friday and they are fully booked all week! So it's up to ringing in the morning to try to get one of the appointments that open up. You would think that a schizophrenic who needs a script for meds would have one of those appointments before having to ring at stupid oclock. Got me fucked.

Loving: The gorgeous winter sunsets and sunrises we are getting at the moment. It's keeping the hope of warm sunny days alive. It has been biting cold the last couple of weeks, I am not a fan.

Listening: Next terms Kindergym theme is 'Under the sea', so I am listening to songs for children that I can incorporate with warm up and cool downs. I have an old phone that I am purposing for music only, that I can stream via bluetooth to the gyms sound system. Makes my job a lot easier. Trouble is I keep misplacing the phone during warm ups! I am finding some good songs on You tube that I can use.

Considering: Going to bed and finishing this post in the morning! Summer has just come out of her room and wants me to lay down with her.  

Buying: More bandaids. I cut myself quite badly a week ago while preparing dinner, but I am running out of bandaids. I am relieved at how well it is healing. It was touch and go in my head whether to go to the ER, but it's all good now. Amazing actually.

Watching: The Voice finale. How awesome these young people get such a fantastic opportunity. Boy George was one of my faves when I was a teenager. I had a scrap book with pages and pages of pictures cut out of magazines of Boy George and The Culture Club. It was a bit of an obsession! Not just them either, all sorts of eighties bands, made it into the pages of that scrap book, not to mention the four walls of my bedroom!

Hoping: I remember the bucket behind my car in the morning, when I take the kids to school. Izzy caught two fish on Sunday morning. She wanted to bring one home in a bucket with sea water in it. It is still on the ground behind my car. She caught rock cod, which aren't the best eating, I don't mind them, but I think the cat will get this one. 

Marvelling: At my mad cleaning skills. After returning home from our weekend away, I managed to get most of the washing done and the stack of dishes I left on the sink before we went away. I usually like to leave the house clean before we go away, so that I can walk back inot a clean house. I just could not be bothered on Friday.

Cringing: at the look of my banana tree after the frosts. It looks so sad and dreadful. The fruiting flower was jsut coming out too. I wonder if it will last through winter, I hope so.

Needing:  To repaint my toenails! I guess it's one of those winter things that don't get done as often, like shaving my legs, which I actually did do a couple of weeks ago! 

Questioning: If I need to write when bills are due in my diary, as I realised earlier in the week, I had been driving around without a licence for 10 days. It happened last time too, for three weeks! Lucky the coppers didn't pull me over.

Smelling: Jonquils! They are flowering in the garden right now, and I am eyeing them off to bring inside. It's feels like ages since I had flowers from the garden on my table, and it has been!

Wearing: Ha. Right now. A black hoodie and aqua leopard print pyjama pants. Otherwise, mostly trackpants and hoodies with runners during the day. Easy warm winter clothes to throw on in the mornings. Not much winter style going on here lately.

Following: bronzfinepix on instagram. She is a local photographer, who took out the local council photo competition, with her autumn trees shot at Mt Burr. Ive been following her for a while and was stoked that she won.

Noticing: That the filters in my reverse cycle air conditioner may need cleaning. The heating has been on for a while and I still feel cold.

Thinking: I should make some more patch work blankets. There have been a couple that have perished because of age, and I love the look of a patchwork blanket. Would be a good excuse to visit the fabric shop. Plus I have taken a few of our blankets to the holiday house, for the renters and there's not enough to go around here ;)

Admiring: The fit people about the place who actually get out and exercise. I need to do that, probably just walking, and lose some extra flab. I am more likely to get more use out of the winter clothes that are a bit tight in my wardrobe.

Getting: Sick of feeling like I do everything around here. I have made a pact with myself, that I ask for help from the other half, that doesn't sound like I am barking orders. I think that is just it. I need to deligate responsibility to the person who should be helping me out, and not feel resentful, just because he doesn't know what needs doing.

Disliking: How quickly my floors get dirty. 

Opening: Well hopefully if I remember, a new tub of Gumption. My kitchen sink needs a good going over. I have found this the best thing to get it sparkling in no time.

Giggling: Facebook has been giving me some giggles via the Puns page this week. If only my Facebook feed was full of good stuff. I have just been through my feed and unliked the pages that post click bait, my feed is much better for it. 

Feeling: Sorry for my Mum, her falsies broke last week and she couldn't get an appointment til Wednesday this week. You should have seen the look on Summer's face when she saw her Nanna with no top teeth! I was trying hard not to laugh.

Celebrating: Surviving my first term of leading Kindergym at my local gymnastics club. My last lesson is actually Thursday. The best thing is, I get to do it all again next term. 

Pretending: My kids are asleep. I am in denial that one of them will come out and say they need something or for me to lay down with them. 

Embracing: The school holidays which start on Friday. I cannot wait to sleep in past 7 am. I hope my kids will comply!

Joining Denyse for #lifethisweek

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Taking stock - the June edition

This is my first Taking Stock, sounds a bit like a confessional doesn't it. I saw this version on Sandra Kelly blog, but she attributes Pip from Meet me at Mike's for hers. So here goes. 

Making: Warming soups now the weather has turned. Mum gave me a couple of wild ducks someone had given her. I slow cooked them in the oven on Friday. It was fairly gamey and hubby didn't think too much of it. I didn't think it was too bad, so picked all the meat off the bones and made a yummy soup with a packet of McKenzies soup mix in the pressure cooker. So good!

Realising: I should be going to bed. I don't usually work on a Monday, but the other Kindergym coach is on holiday and I am taking her two Kindergym classes in the morning and then a Tiny Tots gymnastics class with eight, four year olds! Pray for me!

Cooking: Cake! And not just one. The last cake I baked was coconut with some choc chips thrown in. Meant to be cooked in a slab tin, in other words, to feed an army, I poured it into three tins, baked, and froze two cakes. So handy for school lunches, when there's bugger all in the pantry.

Drinking: Too much wine! I was thinking tonight I would love a hot chocolate. In fact I've been craving chocolate all day. 

Reading: Well not much really. Oh, ok! Usually crap news stories sourced on Facebook! Or cookbooks.

Wanting: A holiday on my own.

Looking: Through my photos from the last year, trying in vain to decide which ones to enter into our local photography competition. I have about a week to work it out, and get them printed!

Pondering: Why I am grinding my teeth so much lately.


Wishing: That time would stand still, so I could catch up on everything that hasn't been getting done.

Enjoying: Watching Masterchef. I really wasn't that into it to start with, but have become hooked. Again.

Waiting: For Spring. I do not like cold weather, I don't care how much it rains, but I don't like being cold, and the last week it has been icy.

Liking: That despite the frosty nights and mornings, the sun makes a presence during the day. The wind is still bloody freezing though. 

Wondering: How long I can sit here without my five year old, who is still awake, disturbing me....

Loving: Having a little extra money here and there, with my job at the gymnastics club and holiday house cleaning.

Listening: To music in the house, really loud. Well not too loud. the neighbours would have certainly heard it though. I've been revisiting music I haven't listened to for years. Like INXS' The Swing album and Harry Chapins' greatest stories.

Considering: Getting a hair cut. My usual hairdresser closed down in March, so I need to book somewhere else. 

Buying: New pillows and a storage trunk for the house in Pelican Point. There isn't a hell of a lot of storage space for towels and spare linen there, so I've bought a trunk to put at the end of the main bed to store stuff. Plus it will look good. Wink, wink.

Watching: Reality TV. I have been trying to avoid the news lately, my tender soul doesn't want to hear about the tragedies befalling innocent victims. It all seems like a horrible nightmare. If only it was a dream.

Hoping: My son will be OK in his new flat, I spent Friday and Saturday helping him move and clean up his old flat. He seems happier. He's not 'just around the corner' anymore. But just down the road from my mum. She might get the early morning drop ins, just to see whats in the fridge or pantry.

Marvelling: At the bulbs coming up from the ground in the garden. There should be Jonquils soon. One of the things I do look forward to at this time of year.

Cringing: About how cold the gym is going to be in the morning.

Needing: To go to bed!

Questioning: What is wrong with the world? There's been lots of comments about 2016 being the worst year ever, even the year before. But 2017 is turning out to be a doozy!

Smelling: Gardenia oil in my oil burner. I usually burn incense, it does wonders to relax me. Lately I have been remembering to buy candles for my oil burner, all classy like from the cheap shop, along with smelly oils.

Wearing: Warm clothes! I need to lose a few kilos, because my tracky dacks in this weather are becoming way too comfortable, and I know there's plenty of other pants I could be wearing if I lost a couple of kilos round my belly!

Following: Some amazing local photographers on Instagram. I am in awe of the fantastic way they capture our area. Like trosenthal636 and stevechapplephotography 

Noticing: That my youngest has a cough. Darn winter. 

Thinking: Too much about everything I need to fit in this week. One. day. at. a. time.

Admiring: My mum. Loads of people say nice things about her, and they are right to. She brought us five kids up, and now finally has done some study in aged care and I am so proud of her.

Getting: Quite uncomfortable sitting in our recliners after a couple of hours. the padding is going on the back and the frame is killing my back!

Disliking: Getting in a freezing cold car to take the kids to school. 

Opening: A new tube of mud face mask that came in the mail this week. I wasn't game to do it tonight, in case I had a bad skin reaction. I don't want to be leading Kindergym with a poxy red face.

Giggling: Summer running from the toilet holding her pants up, to answer the home phone today. Brett accidently rung it from his phone, he was sitting two feet from it. It was funny. You had to be there. 

Feeling: Generally with life, I am feeling pretty good. I have my moments, when I let it get on top of me, for about two minutes and then get back on with it.

Celebrating: I've had a few good life wins lately, it affirms to me that you get back good things when you give generously. It's nice to know that Karma has my back.

Pretending: That I am not nervous about taking a class of eight, four year olds tomorrow. Some parents will be watching me too. I hope the kids behave and are not looking at me like I have two heads!

Embracing: All I am learning to do with gymnastics. Embracing the kids who are giving me great feedback with their smiles and enjoyment in the gym. Even the good vibes from parents who are amazed at the facility we provide our community.

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