Brussel Sprouts look out!

Actually these are mini-cabbages.

Seems we have to pick them early before the Wicked White Moths descend.  I'd like to say that it is a good way to eat them, but sadly it is not.

Speaking of cooking. ...... what do you cook on?  I don't mean hotplate or grill, or even brand names of saucepans, I'm talking type of cookwear.

I think I've tried them all.  Starting off with a very expensive stainless steel set when first married.  Then the various teflon types.  However, I've always been wary of teflon.

So we have gone back to the basics.  Not all the time, but cast iron cookware definitely has appeal ...... and it's good in so many ways.  Including muscle building when lifting out of cupboard.

Not so good for the person stuck with the washing up however!  More muscles needed here too. Luckily Son is either doing the cooking or the washing up so win-win.  He's definitely doing the eating (refer previous post  What's For Dinner Mum)!

Sigh..........I have to frock up and front up to a big Big Night Out in the City this weekend.   You definitely know you're getting old when you'd much rather be at home with a book / glass of wine / knitting or all three!. .. or I would anyway.

cheers for now
Wendy

Unforgettable

Anyone with child/ren will relate to this I’m sure.  Or even those who don’t!

I wonder if you remember the first full sentence your child spoke?   I remember very clearly as our son was in the child seat in the back – “What’s for dinner tonight Mum??”

Now bear in mind that he was (and still) is our only child.  Of course it goes without saying that of course he was (and still is) the cutest, most intelligent, kind, loving helpful child on the planet ... yada yada!

I’m sure he was about two years old, give or take, and had been talking lots but had not actually strung a sentence together.  I can remember hearing that cute little voice from the back seat and being shocked to the core.   What did you say?  How did he know how to put those words together?  Amazing!  Say it again son, that’s fantastic!!   

Fast forward another 16 or so years. He is now 18.5 years old. He has a very much deeper voice.  Have a guess what I have been hearing nearly all of those 16 years – and even more and more of these days?

What’s for dinner tonight Mum?  He is on an extreme fitness curve and apparently has to eat every three or so hours.  Oh – and this is on a Paleo diet, so if I’m not cooking, I’m spending more and more time and money hauling carnivore type food into the house!

Before anyone gets too upset, he does cook at least 3 out of 4 meals himself.  He does clean up the kitchen. He does help unpack the car.  He is on Uni break and he and I seem to be spending more time together than ever before – and food and menu planning keeps getting mentioned in the conversation a lot.

 

However on the plus side, this time last year he was at Gold Coast Schoolies.  So I can only thank our lucky stars that it is all over.  Sending kind thoughts to any parents who are going through it at the moment.    Not good for parents well-being at all.  Anyway, that’s done and dusted and it doesn’t seem to have changed him significantly.  I think he was just glad to get home to some decent food.

Thankful too that our son has finished Year 1 of University - he has changed to a Business degree and it really fits him well.   I didn’t think that he was an Engineer somehow.  So many of his friends have dropped out from various courses, we are pleased that he has at least finished first year.

And this framed stitching is a pickup from the local oppy some months ago?  Still showing it's $4 price tag.  For some reason it ‘spoke’ to me, maybe it reminds me of myself.  Maybe it reminds me of the queue up in the kitchen sometimes. 

I got in touch with my latent creative side and painted and stamped the frame.  Not that it looks much better, but I’m so over brown in this ‘80s house that I change everything I can.  Not permitted to paint the walls apparently (according to husband)  though we do talk about it at times.

 

Just a couple of gratuitous snaps of Dex, just necause he is so cute and at least he still lets me cuddle him!

{  Jo if you happen to be reading this - I know that our son is getting closer and closer to leaving home, so I'll be back reading this post again then!}

Cheers for now

Wendy 

Objects of my Affection - revisited

I know, I know.  I have been neglected my blog lately.  A lot actually.   So I’m slowly down a little and re-visiting an area of my blog (Objects of my Affection)  which I started off some time ago.  I might just throw in one of these posts occasionally to remind me of things around me that I do appreciate.  

In a roundabout way (as you do) I stumbled this post.  Linking my blog in #4!  I was totally surprised and amazed – except now I feel like a schmuck because I’m not doing much decluttering lately (I will I promise).   Thank you very much Barb.

However I have decided to appreciate things.   I am looking around me and liking a lot of the objects in my possession and thinking of the sentiments attached to them.  There are still a lot of things that must go sooner or later.  One of these days we will move and then I'll have my work cut out for me!

I still have these two pieces.  I sold the remainder of the original setting last year.   It was one of those tough decisions, as I have always loved using this set and in fact this was our family dinner set when I was growing up.

However, on the plus side of things – I still have these two pieces and I cherish them.  So that is the lesson today dear friends.  If you can’t keep all of something – at least keep part of it!  Hmm. .... I guess that could be applied to a lot of things.  Also - if you can’t keep any of it, at least take photos before the parting of the ways.

Can I just say too – I’m waving hi to my new followers!  Thank you and to any others who chose to look this way.  Welcome.

Cheers for now

Wendy

Still Around!

Thanks so much for the comments on the last post.  I'm still here, still around and still able to comment on other blogs - just not too much activity on this one.  We are limping along, hooked up to the old laptop which has limited abilities. ... which unfortunately includes not having a photo card slot?!?

So until such time as as old/new computer is up and running, readers will have to put up with the limited old  photos that were stored on the laptop.  All very basic I'm afraid!

This is Dexter aged about one year old I would say.  The double chinned wonder holding him is now incredibly tall, lean and handsome (you just have to take my word for it).  He would never be seen in a shirt like this, that's for sure.

I'd like to thank whatever lucky star was shining on me the day I approached my old boss to let him know that I was looking for work and to let him know that I needed him as a referee.  He emailed back to say that he might be able to offer some part time work.

Not really the exact work I've done before, but hey who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks.   Nothing like being thrown in the deep end and pretending you know what you are doing!!

So I'm incredibly thankful for this opportunity and will just wait and see how it pans out.  The downside is that it is a 1.5hr commute each way (!?!?) but I'll be catching the train and catching up on my reading as well.  This situation may or may not work out, but at least it is throwing me back into the current workforce which will look a lot better on my CV.

Chooks, dogs and to a certain extent, family willl have to struggle on the best they can. It may be a wake up call for certain members of the family (not mentioning any names of course).

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We have a new addition to the chook yard in the form of a peacock.  Well peahen I think.  It just turned up one day and has made itself at home.  It nests high in the trees at night.  Does anyone have any experience with them?  Would it just be looking for company and/or food?   I've been giving it some grain and it has water access.  I'm guessing though that it is looking for a mate.  We only have Little Dandy the bantam rooster, sorry Ms Peahen.  

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Cheers for now - I think I will go back to commenting on comments, it seems more personal.
Wendy