Baking Pasties & Christmas Declutter.

We had another family, and this time an evening picnic, down by the creek reserve, and hardly anyone in sight compared to a week or so ago. I decided to make pasties to use up some mince, using a recipe which is very rare thing for me,  and ended up making 28 of them. I had forgotten how good they are. Froze 20 of them and will take some for lunch this coming week on our medical visit in Brisbane.

Used my nifty turnover maker, of which there are 3 in the box. This one cuts 4 circles in a sheet of shortcrust pastry, an ideal size, and the 2nd. largest. Had them for years.

The pasties turned out really nice, and not bad for 500grms mince and a few veg.

Sprinkled with Poppy seeds and hold 1/4 cup of mix.

I also have finally collected all the Christmas Decorations from around the house and dragged out the other boxes not used. Mostly stuff that hangs on trees.  There is actually 5 boxes in all.

Decorations I actually used this year.

I went through everything, and threw out what we no longer needed, plus a couple more as when I refilled the boxes, they had to all fit and ended up with 3. Some of the Santa's and snowmen are kept in there original boxes of stryafoam to protect them and would probably have only been 2 boxes, if not for that, so was a big declutter.

Ones for the Op shop.

Packed and ready to be put away

As this stuff lives in my very large linen press/storage, fitted neatly in to the corner, for another year.

The garden is now being attacked every morning till 10 by me, but John is helping and lasts till lunchtime, but the humidity I find too much so I have been changing over to the Sewing Area at the bottom of the stairs and  which is 5 or more degrees cooler.

It is on a trolley so a sideway photo.

My eldest daughter suggested getting rid of a tv unit as had a big bench top, but not a lot of easy storage, so when the eldest son was here got him and our DIL to take it up to the top level for pickup hopefully by Lifeline.

 I have stacked cube storage up the wall, which gives me way more space, although, I now have to find the time to finally get this area in working order.

 

Bonus is, I have decluttered a lot in this area last year.

Needs proper organizing I have just shoved cubes in to see the effect.

 

There is a two cube wood unit to put together for the left side, when I get time. 

 

After not being in any routine,  now that everyone is back at work, it is nice to settle down to one. I feel more grounded knowing what each day brings. 

There are a few projects for 2023, that I need to start, like the sewing room, and organizing the vegetable gardens, to begin with.

 

I hope your year has started well also.

 

 

Till Next Time.

Decluttering Books and Getting Real.

 Years ago I took this photo of the bookshelf all painted and finished way back in 2015 when I first painted this room.

 

 

Sad to say nowadays it is a real mess. I have eliminated most of the magazines, and still going through the rest of it. I seem though to be jumping from one place to the next and getting no where with half finished projects.

 

So today will do a bit more  decluttering, books this time, but I must say it is becoming BORING.

 Maybe it is declutter overload, but waiting for the cupboards to go back in and with the dining room also a big mess, (although  I have started to pack up all the collections in plastic bubble wrap for donation) plus the sewing room which Miss P and I worked on yesterday, it seems everything around me is major untidy, and it is getting to me.

 The constant workload of it I think, but I am determined not to leave it for the kids to sort out, that is not fair. 

This hanging basket of petunias is looking great at the moment.

Johns life revolves around the Community garden minimum, 3 days a week, and his computer, with a hourly happy hour visit every evening from the  neighbour, with little input of the day to day maintenance of everything or in our own garden, which itself with the warmer weather weeds seem to appear out of nowhere. We live in two separate worlds it seems. 

Gone are the days where we did a lot of travel, weekends away seem few and far between, although in saying that I am looking forward to our Lord Howe Island trip end of October that the kids gave us Christmas 2020, Covid certainly threw that one out.

Sweet peas Pink Lady have gone mad, can't keep up with them.

What is also happening is writing up a blog every Sunday, about the same old uninteresting stuff my life is, must I think, also be boring to everyone who reads it. I know as the numbers of visits, has dropped off.  So once more I have decided to take more time off from it, and pick up again mid October before we start to go on holiday.

Tomorrow is my best friend of 65 years, birthday, I just wish I could celebrate it with her in Victoria, I know she got my parcel though so will ring and catch up. Happy Birthday Miss A!!

I also have a serious of specialist medical stuff to go to Heart, Liver,and Knees, so will get that out of the way also, that is just depressing.

Stay well everyone, see you later.

Till Next Time.

Finished Decluttering The Craft Room.

I had a nice surprise of my DIL joining Miss P this week, in helping me get the craft room under control. 

I have been working on it for what seems forever a couple hours every week. Sorting and throwing out so much as well. It wasn't till a couple of weeks ago, mid sorting, that I thought I had better take some photos of before, so it doesn't look as messy usually, just normally cluttered. I was opening and closing drawers and cupboards, but you will see the before and after picture. It is so organized now really love it. This room is 8 x 10 feet and an old bedroom.

Before Paper storage

After moving some more in like my cardmaking and shifting other stuff around

Bank of cupboards which is Ikea Kallax system, checking all drawers the drawers insides.

I have also started labeling the drawers. Tickets on the front are to let me know if empty or suitable Inside

My desk is rarely clean although this is exceptional as using it to sort. I need to get in the habit of putting things away, but after going through all this for months, determined never to let it get out of hand again.

Before A Hot Mess

After and so relaxing to sit here.

Below is a Scrap Rack which holds everything little in co-ordinated colours. eg If I wanted something Pink it will be in several plastic pocketed pages. This was swapped around with the drawers, which were gathered from all over the house and now hold pens, pencils, tape and anything flat and small.

Ink Pads, Scrap Rack and Die Cutting machine,

This is up against the Paper Storage cupboard in a Kmart Cube Storage.

I mentioned labelling everything and I got on Flybys Rewards, a little Cricut Joy machine, just for doing that and also making cards. It is very small and I have had to learn a new program "Canva" as it operates by bluetooth only. Pleased to say I have conquered that and started printing on sticky vinyl. 

Only 20cm across.and 20cm depth with the lid down.

With all the decluttering I have been doing it is so nice to have one room finished. Next will be my sewing area at the bottom of the stairs. 

A big thanks to my Scrapbooking DIL for giving ideas after I was bogged down, and sorting many dies into a co-ordinated system. I just needed that last bit of motivation and alternate thinking, to conquer it all.

Till Next Time.

 

 

Take Back Your House

I started a course earlier in the year called "Take Back Your House". It is not a do this "thing'" week one or even every month but more of a thinking course, with lots of advice. Three You tubers I have followed for years, worked together to combine their knowledge of organization and decluttering to produce it, Minimalist Mum, A slob Comes Clean, and Clutterbug should you be interested.

Several things have finally clicked which were, What is your Clutter Threshold, The Container Concept

and Your Fantasy Self. 

A Clutter Threshold is how much junk and stuff on flat surfaces and in drawers can you stand till suddenly you have to deal with it, which takes forever and depressing.

 

Hanging basket on verandah just starting to flower.

The Container Concept is when the container is full that's it. No 2nd. container choose what fits and donate the rest. A Container is a drawer, a wardrobe, a pencil box, or a shoe cupboard, you get the picture. eg. If your clothes don't fit in one wardrobe and bedroom drawers, maybe you have too much.

Although I don't go the way of Minimal Mum with one cup, one glass, a bowl, a plate and a set of cutlery, per person with a "Guest Box" with a few extras packed in a cupboard, it is worth thinking just how many of these things, whether its kitchen gadgets, bathroom or bedroom linen, mugs, cups and dinner sets or cutlery you have or kept  for those dinner parties you never have, crowded in to your containers.

 

First flower of my new roses.

 

Your Fantasy Self. This is a big one for me because I love craft, and it takes up so much space. I can never have my craft room looking nice, plus I spread it around the house so I realised that I am not going to be making jewellery, of porcelain dolls anymore. Out it all goes.

• That "The Country Look" is probably not coming back in style so it is time to get rid of lots of craft magazines from the 90"s of Handmade, Homespun and Country Threads.
• I never cook from a cookbook anymore, as easier to look up the internet.
• I knew a lot about gardening and do not need all my books for that either.
• Decorating for Christmas has become a chore, even though I used to love it, but John couldn't care one way or the other, so will declutter and sell off.
  

My Fantasy Self is starting to get real!

New White Azalea for the side garden.

John has been really sick with a heavy cold this week and wouldn't stay in bed so inevertably I was going to catch it despite him wearing a mask when near me, and being on the computer all day and night, but as I had to use the washing machine in the same room Office/Laundry, and he used the kitchen etc. germs obviously were on surfaces, so I now have a cold and surviving on Panadol. 

It has given me the opportunity to go through my magazines one by one and pull out anything of interest that I may do, but at least it is one folder and not take up a lot of space on the bookshelf. So boxes have been packed for donation.

I put together a 3 tier trolley from Kmart and will put all my craft I am currently working on in that rather than leaving bits and pieces everywhere, and wheel it around to where I need it.

 

Next to the washing machine is a 2 section modular unit I put together yesterday, to corral all the bits and pieces that seem to clutter on the bench my computer also sits on. Soap,sprays, suncreams, etc.

Current Veges growing.

The dining room table is still full of stuff while we decide what to do with the floor in order to get the cupboards locked in, but it has been like that so long now I don't really think about or miss what is there, so I may keep a few for decoration but 90% of it will be packed up. 

 

I have made new daily and zone lists to tick off , set up my planner for the next 6 months and ready to go again.

 

It is a work in progress but I am getting there, and loving this course. My Grandma's advice was always a place for everything and everything in its place, I just wish it had stayed that way.

 

 

 

Till Next Time.

Taking A Month Off.

 Having spent a slow week organizing the "Sewing Room" which is actually the largish empty space at the bottom of the stairs to go outside, it is really not Blog worthy in my mind as no-one wants to know about wrapping ribbons or braid onto cardboard, decluttering knitting needles and crotchet needles. Just in case though here is the current declutter mess.

Thinking of something to write about each week, has been a bit of a struggle, as with all this rain, working in the garden has slowed down, and cleaning and decluttering is not that news worthy. Plus with Covid  and now the Flu season is on us, going out is still a worry. Everything is wet outside, even at 9.30am when I took these photos, trying out my new phone.

Mold is developing on the paving, which makes it slippery.

Carrots and Snow Peas.

 Miss P couldn't come yesterday as she has come down with covid as has her sister at Uni. Both are ok. I was aiming for her to help me with painting the kitchen wall, which I haven't had the energy for. So as the heading says I am going to take some time off, the first time I believe in 7 years, and wait maybe a month, which hopefully by then, I will have something to write about of interest. 

For those who are wondering about the hay bales they are now ready to plant in, and I have some bean seeds in the glass house and waiting on them to be able to plant. I will put soil in the hole I will make, in the bale, as planting into the straw just feels wrong. Apparently it is not necessary but I will do it anyway. A cucumber has popped up as well so will give it a go also, at least I think it is a cucumber could be a zuchinni lol, time will tell. 

Although it is still seems to  rain, late in the day or at night, the sun is now appearing on the front verandah about 9.45am so it is lovely to have a cuppa out there morning tea time. I have been lighting the fire at night also, and noticed how the damp feel is disappearing from the inside. I do like Autumn, usually it is the best of both seasons before and after.

Queen Elizabeth Rose.

 I will be decluttering, deep cleaning, getting the garden ready for Spring as best I can over early winter, pruning roses and painting the kitchen wall, well that's the aim, and doing craft at night. So "see" you in a month. 

Till Next Time 

 

Brisbane and Back

Well we finally made it to Brisbane to have an appointment with our Rheumatoid specialist for once. Unfortunately John has also been diagnosed with RA but luckily I am in remission, although today I am having a nasty flare up, and feel like crap.

I can only think it is the weather as after 38C in Qld. for the day, we are now again cold and rainy here, it could also be that I have been asked to stretch out my new lot of 4 injections (luckily) due to a shortage which may catch up in April. This means I missed my normal one last Friday and waiting it out till sometime this  coming week, as I am also having a booster the Monday week, then I officially have to miss a week while it takes hold, plus another week for stretching. Believe me, once my new script has been approved I will be rushing to the chemist just in case he can still get a hold of them.

Morning tea was by our usual place at Woodburn. It is off the highway but nice and open, as are the toilets, so a safe place to be in these times. Not very many people around early morning.

The little township is on one long stretch.

 Even early in the morning it was already 28C. although cloudy.

As Qld. time is one hour behind we had an hour to spare to duck in at Ikea and managed to pick up the 3 cupboards, which are now sitting on the floor. I have yet to pick a colour to paint them and the old cupboards, need to come down, but no hurry with this as I have to start painting the front entrance also. The closest Ikea to us is Logan on the Gold Coast, so doing it this way saved us another long trip.

Ready and Waiting

Other than that, have barely done anything in the garden, managed to fill the bin earlier in the week before the heat of the day, but now it is way to wet. So I have been attacking the downstairs craft area once more and packed up all the heritage cotton laces, plus some nylon ones, I had in my old retail shop in the 90's and sending them to a lady who owns an Etsy shop specializing in them.

Weighs about 2.5 kg. I vacuumed packed some laces to fit in a smaller box.

I contacted her in Tamworth, as it would be a waste to put them in the op shop, to see if she was interested and she was delighted and will pay for postage and I am pleased for her as it is her hobby, and she will be thrilled with what I am sending.

From the  Garden Pink striped Cosmos

To the Vase

Till Next Time.

An Autumn Week

 It has been rather a quiet week this week, sorted a ton of paperwork, which then I burnt in the fire. How I love sitting by it, the kettle usually simmering on top, I am  so enjoying the cold spell we are having. 

 John has slowly each day done some more pressure cleaning and it is such a great improvement from before.

Attacking the back veg. garden.

 

Gives you an idea of before.

Steps down by the first hedge.

I finished and dressed two mice, which I forgot to take a  finished photo of,  for the CWA craft room along with some other dolls, which I put on consignment so hope it will be an outlet for selling as I love making them, but can't keep doing it or I will end up with way too many.
 

 

Last of his kind can't get fur fabric anymore.

Now at the CWA

My obsession with the African Violets I spoke about last week, now equals 4 plants. The purple leaves I propagated in water, and once they rooted, transplanted them, and they are doing well. Now I am propagating two white flower leaves and the roots on them have grown, just need to put them in soil and keep damp for a week or so while they take off. 

White ones now ready to plant.

3 purple ones now.

The trouble is I got these from my Embroidery Leader and can't buy any, anywhere so if you have some spare leaves do let me know. 

Breaking down the Mother's Day Flowers

While I was at it my Mother's Day flowers were 10 days old, so  I pulled it all apart, re cut the stems and distributed them around the house. I took some cuttings of the chrysanthemum, but not sure they will work at all, even though you can also root these in water as well. 

I am in a declutter mode and as I tend to spread myself around from room to room, taken to collecting everything in site and then sorting. Sometimes it looks like I oversorted or overcollected with bits in a circle around me but it is working. The dining room table is full of stuff to sell, with more adding, so fingers cross that actually happens. 

I spent a lovely afternoon going through all my embroidery books looking for a wool blanket project, as I have  many blank knee blankets ready to do. This is because of the days working at Spotlight, with bargains. In June our group is starting on wool embroidery. This  month has been Brazilian embroidery work.

Next week we are off to Port Macquarie  for 2 nights for John's eye operation.

Till Next Time