I hope people have been having a good, or at least an ok couple of weeks. We've been pretty quiet here. Weather has been starting to warm up, but I am glad of a cooler day today as I want to cook Christmas cakes. They are cooked slowly from a cold start oven and I don't want the oven on for half the day when the weather is hot, so today's the day!
Our neighbour's house is being auctioned tomorrow, so I anticipate we'll join half the neighbourhood going for a sticky beak. I am not sure what their plans are re house moving locally or interstate, and it seems a bit rude to ask. It will be interesting to see who might buy the place (or not). I love to browse home listings and I've seen a number of properties being withdrawn or being passed in fairly recently.
I managed to pick another lovely bunch of sweet peas on Wednesday evening. They just keep coming, I do love a plant that repeat flowers!
Not much more happening at present, other than a lovely lunch with former colleagues last weekend and a coffee with a friend to look forward to next Tuesday, weather permitting. That should be enjoyable, especially if we get good weather.
We are still waiting for an appointment day/time for Cheery son to follow up his investigations. Probably won't be until next year, I might have to chase this if I hear nothing by the end of the month.
Today other than Christmas cakes and Cheery son's girlfriend visiting, I'm debating whether to do some more window cleaning. Cheery son and I have done the whole of one side of the house and I"m just about to go around the corner to do the shortest stretch. If I can I think I will persist so I can say I've done half the house, which is a good feeling. Weather is due to warm up next week, so beating that might be good. Also, more weeds to get on top of!!!!!
More appointments, tests and phone calls as we set up aged care support for Mrs BA and myself. She discovered a referral letter among other papers which may bring us more support.
We are beginning to set up Christmas decorations, as we can only manage short spurts. Last weekend grandkids helped me with outside lights. Tomorrow we hope to hang waterfall star and enormous baubles (from the big green shed) on the Murraya tree in front of the house with their help.
On the cancer front, my PSA score dropped from 800 to 46 after the first hormone jab. Have had the second and will have further review in first week of February.
That's really good news @Barnabas_Aus, I hope that your numbers will be even better at your review.
I love the sound of your Christmas decorations and how lovely to have the grandchildren to help you with your set up, that makes it even more special.
I am sure having that referral letter will help as you get your care needs sorted. It's quite the job I believe, just from chatting with my Aunt and her getting stuff sorted.
I'm very thankful to have finished the two Christmas cakes, they came out of the oven looking pretty good and tomorrow I will wrap them and hide one away, so that we don't eat it before Christmas. I can feel a trip to the Swedish shop coming on to find a nice tin to pack the other cake in to help protect it before I put it into the post. I'm glad to have that job out of the way and now I can begin my search for nice Christmas cards. I'm also pleased to report that after only trying two supermarkets I came away with a large jar of fruitmince to do some tarts closer to Christmas. I was shocked when I went to my favourite supermarket which is usually pretty good at stocking things, to find they didn't have any and the assistant I spoke with wasn't sure that they were even getting any (shock horror)!
No surprises there. This time last year no fruit mince in any local ( Sydney eastern suburbs)supermarkets. Saw some on the shelf 3 weeks ago & grabbed 2 jars. At least my sister will get some. 15 Xmas cakes made ( sizes varying from 15 to 25 cm); some to post overseas, some to go interstate & some to go local. Will start puddings this weekend (6 planned). I might add that neither spouse or 3 children are interested so all to be given to extended family and (mainly overseas) friends. At least not providing Xmas cake to work this year as no longer in paid work. Also relinquished job of providing World AIDS day cake ( 01 Dec) -red velvet cake with white icing and fondant red ribbon( worked in sexual health clinic with large HIV case load) for 9 years): baton passed to RN colleague who was a talented pastry chef in a previous incarnation.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people, that they plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be of thee plenteously rewarded
I miss the Collect for the Sunday Next before Advent - Stir Up Sunday - none of this "Christ the King" nonsense for me!
@Barnabas_Aus glad to hear some goodish news from you. Hope the quest for moré aged care assistance proceeds at a reasonable pace, and that the grandchildren are able to help on the Christmas decoration front.
Glad to hear that someone is enjoying the cooler days @Cheery Gardener, I’m finding the temperature swings a bit trying and accumulating a pile of half-worn clothes from the warmer and cooler days. The winegrowers were very unhappy about that -2°C overnight about ten days ago.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people, that they plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be of thee plenteously rewarded
I miss the Collect for the Sunday Next before Advent - Stir Up Sunday - none of this "Christ the King" nonsense for me!
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people, that they plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be of thee plenteously rewarded
I miss the Collect for the Sunday Next before Advent - Stir Up Sunday - none of this "Christ the King" nonsense for me!
Although, to be fair, it is used as the post communion prayer at the Eucharist.
I've been thinking we should be well past cool nights @WormInTheGrass, but I'm hedging my bets by having both winter and summer pj's out ready to wear and I've left the winter doona on the bed, but also have a light quilt that I can use if it's a warm night. It feels crazy, but I'm just rolling with it!
Lovely drop of rain last night, pond looking lovely and fresh. Ground also softened up nicely so Cheery husband mattocked some weeds out and I attacked some tree suckers coming up in our gravel driveway, which had been really frustrating me. I'm having a weeding break tomorrow (she reminds herself), as my aching back and hands woke me in the night. That and the fact that is was a warmish night for sleeping, bler. I hope I might sleep through tonight as I had to cancel Cheery son's visit with girlfriend as I was too tired to go and pick her up on Friday. We have postponed until tomorrow.
A quick visit to the Swedish shop this morning, to try for a Christmas tin to use rather than wrap one cake for a gift. No luck, but I did see that one of the sewing/crafty shops has one that might be suitable. I'll try to get there early-ish tomorrow to grab one.
Christmas cake making was really successful on Friday. I really enjoyed baking on a cool day and was happy that I could get pecans and glace cherries to decorate the top. Mother in law always decorated with almonds and used them to make flower petals with the glace cherry as the daisy centre, but I am not so talented, just a cherry in the centre followed by a ring of pecans and more cherries around the edge. They look quite respectable and are now wrapped and ready to store.
I hope others have had either a relaxing or productive weekend as the mood takes them!
Comments
Our neighbour's house is being auctioned tomorrow, so I anticipate we'll join half the neighbourhood going for a sticky beak. I am not sure what their plans are re house moving locally or interstate, and it seems a bit rude to ask. It will be interesting to see who might buy the place (or not). I love to browse home listings and I've seen a number of properties being withdrawn or being passed in fairly recently.
I managed to pick another lovely bunch of sweet peas on Wednesday evening. They just keep coming, I do love a plant that repeat flowers!
Not much more happening at present, other than a lovely lunch with former colleagues last weekend and a coffee with a friend to look forward to next Tuesday, weather permitting. That should be enjoyable, especially if we get good weather.
We are still waiting for an appointment day/time for Cheery son to follow up his investigations. Probably won't be until next year, I might have to chase this if I hear nothing by the end of the month.
Today other than Christmas cakes and Cheery son's girlfriend visiting, I'm debating whether to do some more window cleaning. Cheery son and I have done the whole of one side of the house and I"m just about to go around the corner to do the shortest stretch. If I can I think I will persist so I can say I've done half the house, which is a good feeling. Weather is due to warm up next week, so beating that might be good. Also, more weeds to get on top of!!!!!
What has everyone else been up to?
We are beginning to set up Christmas decorations, as we can only manage short spurts. Last weekend grandkids helped me with outside lights. Tomorrow we hope to hang waterfall star and enormous baubles (from the big green shed) on the Murraya tree in front of the house with their help.
On the cancer front, my PSA score dropped from 800 to 46 after the first hormone jab. Have had the second and will have further review in first week of February.
I love the sound of your Christmas decorations and how lovely to have the grandchildren to help you with your set up, that makes it even more special.
I am sure having that referral letter will help as you get your care needs sorted. It's quite the job I believe, just from chatting with my Aunt and her getting stuff sorted.
I'm very thankful to have finished the two Christmas cakes, they came out of the oven looking pretty good and tomorrow I will wrap them and hide one away, so that we don't eat it before Christmas. I can feel a trip to the Swedish shop coming on to find a nice tin to pack the other cake in to help protect it before I put it into the post. I'm glad to have that job out of the way and now I can begin my search for nice Christmas cards. I'm also pleased to report that after only trying two supermarkets I came away with a large jar of fruitmince to do some tarts closer to Christmas. I was shocked when I went to my favourite supermarket which is usually pretty good at stocking things, to find they didn't have any and the assistant I spoke with wasn't sure that they were even getting any (shock horror)!
As is right and proper.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people, that they plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be of thee plenteously rewarded
I miss the Collect for the Sunday Next before Advent - Stir Up Sunday - none of this "Christ the King" nonsense for me!
Glad to hear that someone is enjoying the cooler days @Cheery Gardener, I’m finding the temperature swings a bit trying and accumulating a pile of half-worn clothes from the warmer and cooler days. The winegrowers were very unhappy about that -2°C overnight about ten days ago.
Well, quite.
Lovely drop of rain last night, pond looking lovely and fresh. Ground also softened up nicely so Cheery husband mattocked some weeds out and I attacked some tree suckers coming up in our gravel driveway, which had been really frustrating me. I'm having a weeding break tomorrow (she reminds herself), as my aching back and hands woke me in the night. That and the fact that is was a warmish night for sleeping, bler. I hope I might sleep through tonight as I had to cancel Cheery son's visit with girlfriend as I was too tired to go and pick her up on Friday. We have postponed until tomorrow.
A quick visit to the Swedish shop this morning, to try for a Christmas tin to use rather than wrap one cake for a gift. No luck, but I did see that one of the sewing/crafty shops has one that might be suitable. I'll try to get there early-ish tomorrow to grab one.
Christmas cake making was really successful on Friday. I really enjoyed baking on a cool day and was happy that I could get pecans and glace cherries to decorate the top. Mother in law always decorated with almonds and used them to make flower petals with the glace cherry as the daisy centre, but I am not so talented, just a cherry in the centre followed by a ring of pecans and more cherries around the edge. They look quite respectable and are now wrapped and ready to store.
I hope others have had either a relaxing or productive weekend as the mood takes them!