~ Simple Joys Saturday ~ #8

As so often happens, things don't turn out how we expect, and we have had to adapt because of Barry's cold. Still it has been a great time, enjoying relaxing by the fire here, and more time with daughter and grandaughter, and some chats on MSN that I would have missed out on. I've had time to mess around and find a new background on my site too.  I have not felt the cold, much to my surprise, it was minus 7C yesterday morning, and cool again this morning, but I just thought it was lovely and brisk..... would have been happy to do something. The sunshine is glorious, in the peace of a country homestead, only the sounds of the birds, and the leaves in the breeze if I listen hard.

So it has been a time of Simple Joys and relaxation.

Barry says he is well enough to drive and we leave the Blue Mountains tomorrow and drive through the scenery below to his brothers. And later to the historic town of Windsor where we were last week. I will catch the train in to see my son and D-I-Law.  On Saturday, if Barry is still sniffly, I will catch the train to Parramatta for the Reunion that was the excuse for this trip.

As I said on my Simple Joys introductory post for this week, No 8, this is the last time I can be sure of being online until we get home after the weekend.

I just found a Christian site with the invitation to share the quotes and contents. Here is one of them.

I invite dear friends and readers to share your Simple Joys.... click here for Mr Linky.
on the site "Simple Joys in our Life".

With love and blessings
Jan

~ TODAY ~ The Simple Woman's Daybook with Jan

Outside my window..... well it is my daughter's window.... smile.... the sun is shining but it is cool. 
I am thinking.... It is hard to keep track of the days.
I am thankful for.... my daughter and family, and the wonderful time we have had here.
From the kitchen.... I will be making dinner soon.
I am wearing.... a cardigan I made on last trip, a matching vest (sleevelesss jacket) warm trackydaks and ugg boots.
I am creating..... family memories.
I am going..... to a couple more things before we go home... but if Barry does not get over the cold in time, I will have to go by myself.
I am reading.... friends' sites.
I am hoping..... Barry gets over his cold soon.
I am hearing....  the crackle of the wood fire.
Around the house ..... everything is cosy.

One of my favourite things.... The real fire that my daughter has here .... as we live in a warmer climate, we bring out a small heater when needed.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... hopefully catch up with friends on Thursday, see my son and D-I-L and his daughter on Friday, and the reunion we came down for on Saturday.
Here is the picture for thought I am sharing...... (saved from online)

I am just sharing with friends this week, but for anyone who would like to meet our host, and see more of The Simple Woman's Daybook........ click here

Late afternoon walk ~ photo post

We took a walk just before sunset...... 

I'm joining in at Scenic Sunday, and you can too..... click here 
and with Smiling Sally at Blue Monday...... click here

Have a lovely Scenic Sunday and Blue Monday,  Blessings - Jan

Adventure Tours with Cathy - Bridgeclimb

I'm excited my friend Cathy has started a new meme at A Bit of the Blarney.

Now I want to join in, so I am trying to think of an adventure I haven't told you about already.

When I get back home, I will scan some more pics, but for now, it is just me and my laptop..... smile.

Being in the Sydney area, I am reminded of the year our end- of- year Christmas work function was a group Bridgeclimb, then dinner. Two of the staff would not participate, but it was a great opportunity, as, as you can imagine the tickets were very pricey, and not something I would have done myself.  I do have a photo of our group at home, for another day perhaps.

(Pics from Bridgeclimb photo gallery)

Blessings for your new meme, Cathy.

Love and Hugs - Jan

Then Sings my Soul Saturday

 To meet our host Amy and even join in Then Sings my Soul Saturday, click here!

Looking for a song for today, I love the singer's voice, and the music just suits my mood.

It is wonderful to spend a few days with my daughter.... and the sun is out this afternoon!





~ I WILL EXALT YOU ~
Verse 1:
I will exalt You
I will exalt You
I will exalt You
You are my God

Chorus:
My hiding place My safe refuge
My treasure Lord You are
My friend and King Anointed One
Most Holy.

Verse 2:
Because YouÂ’re with me
Because YouÂ’re with me
Because YouÂ’re with me
I will not fear

Chorus

Verse 1







Have a wonderful weekend.
Love and Blessings - Jan

This week for Simple Joys Saturday

As my friends know, we left home last Saturday and travelled for 11 hours, and it was a good trip. We felt great joy attending the Unveiling of a Plaque on Sunday.... see Simple Joys Saturday.  Monday we met up with Barry's son Garry, and had a good visit with him. 
Tuesday we went to a large new town nearby, but were not impressed..... all the parking available to us was 30 minutes, and we had to park about one kilometre away, though it was a blessing that it was free.

We bought a new jumper for Tilda, for the cold weather ahead.

Tuesday Evening we attended the Country Music Evening with new friends we met on Sunday.  It was the most hospitable group we have ever met, we were introduced to everyone.   Afterwards we went up the Blue Mountains to Barry's brother. He waited up for us even though it was after 11.30pm.  It is always good to see him.
Next morning it was so damp, but that keeps the temperature up, and I did pray for it to be mild while we are in the mountains.

Then it was a bright sunny day on Thursday, and we drove to daughters in the afternoon. Along the roadway we saw hundreds of crimson rosellas(pic from internet).

It is wonderful to have this few days with daughter, are so enjoying being with them. It is also great to get online and catch up a bit.

This is what I saw when I got up this morning, see the mist in the valley below my daughter's home, and hearing the chorus of native birds, such a joy.

To see more Simple Joys Saturday, and see friends posts, click here.

Love and Blessings,
Jan
.

~ TODAY ~ The Simple Woman's Daybook with Jan

Outside my window...... 7am on Tuesday morning, just after the shortest day of the year.... apricot coloured cotton-candy clouds with blue sky background... the sun isn't up yet.  The thermometer says 10C, and I'm still in bed in our RV.
I am thinking....  I am so pleased that we decided to do this trip a week earlier that we were planning.... A lot more time to see family.  I am also thinking of my Blogspot friends, though, and missing seeing their posts and comments.
I am thankful for ..... travelling mercies and the great time we are having.... I haven't been cold yet.
From the kitchen..... We mostly have the same meals as at home when we are travelling, though we do have more treats.
I am wearing..... nightwear
I am creating..... memories
I am going.... out and about again today, when Barry and Tilda awake
I am reading.... library books.  We also play Rummikin in the evenings, when Barry isn't playing his guitar, or watching a DVD on his laptop.
I am hoping.....  it will be mild when we go up the mountains tomorrow.
I am hearing.... the news on ABC radio.... more Australians killed in Afghanistan, Australians through the first round at Wimbledon.
Around the RV..... didn't wash up last night, will do it soon. 
One of my favourite things.... I love listening to the radio when we are away. 
A few plans for the rest of the week...... this evening we will attend a country music club with the new friends we  met on sunday, then on to Barry's brother and to my daughter's on Thursday.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing......  waiting for Barry's son at Windsor.

  I give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
and sing praises unto thy name.
— Psalms 18:49
To meet our host Peggy and join in The Simple Woman's Daybook, click here.

Just a little note

My posting and comments will not be regular over next couple of weeks, we decided only this morning to drive to Sydney tomorrow and attend an event on Sunday, and have RSVPd for a Reunion a bit later.  I will catch up at libraries etc as and when I can.

We are looking forward to visiting with family and friends.  I have posted about it on my Simple Joys Saturday also.

Dear Grand and daughter at a show

 Looking forward to seeing son's daughter too.

This pic my only grandson, won't be seeing him.

Looking forward to seeing others too.

Going to daughter's

We will be freecamping except when we are at relatives' places.

Take care my friends, with hugs and blessings - Jan

Going back a bit

I've referred to when we lived on a boat or yacht a few times, and now I am posting a photo that I just scanned.  When I first saw printers that scanned, I was quick to buy one, thinking that I would scan the box of photos in my cupboard, and I haven't started yet....(smile).

This is an Adams motorsailer with an 80HP engine, cutter rigged.  It had three cabins one with en-suite and another head also.  There were two steering positions, in the wheelhouse or on the deck.  We installed solar panels and were able to have an iron, hairdryer, TV etc.

We lived aboard for five years from 1991 to 1996, I think.

I posted a photo of the Harwood Bridge recently.... this is us waiting to be called through.

I am posting to Watery Wednesday

and Outdoor Wednesday.  Hope you join in the fun too.

Have a great week... Hugs and God Bless  - Jan

~ TODAY ~ The Simple Woman's Daybook with Jan

Outside my window.... dark again, after 9pm. It was a milder day, max 20C and min 12C overnight.  No heating on tonight.

I am thinking..... of DH with his sore wrist after his fall at tennis on Monday. He remembers a similar injury to his wrist when he fell off a high ladder and put his hands out to save himself, many years ago.

I am thankful for.... the free time I had today.... we were expecting guests which would have been lovely, but they postponed because they still have the flu.

From the kitchen..... we had the lamb roast, but I didn't do the sauces, dessert and cake.


I am wearing....polo shirt, zip-front sloppy joe, blue jeans, sneakers and socks.

I am creating....... a new look for my site here...... must admit I thought of changing it when I saw that Linda has changed hers.

I am going .... to finish my Bible Study homework. We are in Romans 7: 1-25.  It is with Know Your Bible and we have a lovely group of ladies.   Does anyone else do KYB?

I am reading ..... my Bible. 

I am hoping.... that Barry's wrist won't give him too much trouble, and will heal quickly.

I am hearing.....an occasional note of music from the front room as Barry works on his songs.

One of my favourite things.... my cup of milo at night.... and I've just noticed I've let it get cold.

A few plans for the rest of the week..... hopefully singing on Thursday and Friday.

Picture for thought I am sharing......  it has been in my file a long time, saved from an email.

To see the other Daybooks and join in yourself, do visit Peggy.

~ Monday Night ~

I should go to bed as I have Walking Group tomorrow morning. It has been cloudy and the max was 19C and minimum last night 11C.  Had a few spots of rain.

We went to tennis this morning.... I am slowly improving.  Barry fell again, and seems to have taken it on his wrist.... not good for a guitar player.  Still he was keen to go to dance class this evening.  It was hilarious, it is in the tennis club rooms, and only $3 each, and  a family attend, and the children are keener to play table tennis, every time the music stopped,  than dance, and Barry joined in with them.... Mary the teacher was very patient.  

I got my Skype going again recently and hooked up with dear DIL.... had a half hour conversation with her this afternoon.  Both she and my son are RNs and she is in Oncology, she was saying how sad it is sometimes.

Just remembered I am still working on my Bible Study homework for Wednesday, need to do a bit more.

Looking forward to entertaining good friends to dinner toorrow night.

The pic is an azalea in my garden, it only has a couple of blooms at the moment, the bush is smothered in flowers in the season.

Love and Blessings - Jan

Blue Monday

Hello Everyone, my Blue Monday is different today, I mentioned the shortie cardigan I knitted in about four days, and friends asked for a pic.

I have to tell you it is to wear to the old-time country dances in our winter time here, and it was just right to put around my shoulders as I sat down in the breaks.  It is quite thick as I held two strands of 'wool' together, and I already had the dark left over from another project, so it only cost me $3 for two 100g of the blue on special. The sleeves are three-quarter and I wore a black long sleeved top.

My skirt is a bit more sparkly than it looks here, I would not normally buy something like this but I had it for my granddaughter's Deb Ball.  I have shortened it a bit at the top.

Do join Smiling Sally for all the Blue Monday posts.

Have a great week friends..... and I must mention..... thanks to all my readers, I do appreciate you.

Love and Blessings - Jan

We had a lovely surprise this afternoon. A car pulled up outside with unexpected visitors, and it was my brother, the one next to me, hadn't seen them for a while.  We had a lovely visit, catching up on their news, and the news from my hometown.

We did have a reunion at our place, a year or two ago, and there has been a few mentions of another one around the family, but no-one has tried to make a firm date.

They were keen, and he said the other brother that lives near them is keen, and my sister in Brisbane is keen, so it will probably happen in he next month or two. 

Here is my selection for today, an old familiar tune, one of my favourites.





To join in with Amy and Then sings my Soul Saturday, click here

Have a Blessed weekend, Everyone. God Bless.

~ Simple Joys Saturday ~

This time of year is such a Blessing, to be able to sit in the warm glorious sun on the mornings we are not rushing out. Today, Saturday,  is such a day, all we have to do is get the groceries.  I have my new ugg slippers on, they are so deliciously warm. I would not have bothered getting new ones, except we are going to colder weather at the end of the month. I had my previous ones since the 1970s, so you can imagine they were in a bit of a state, and the sides have split.

So I just sat for a while, with a grateful heart, giving thanks.

As I look out over the garden, there are some new lilies out today, "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin" Matt 6:28 KJB.

 (pic from last time)

This is a lovely clip, beautiful singing voice and background.  What a joy to just decide we would like to hear a particular song, and with a couple of clicks, we have it on youtube. 

To see more of Simple Joys Saturday, click here. Love to see your post and comments.
Have a Blessed weekend. Hugs - Jan

Harwood NSW

From Harwood Island, one of the 100 islands in the Mighty Clarence NSW.

This bridge lifts to allow yachts to go further upriver to the City of Grafton.

Be sure to visit Susan  here for Outdoor Wednesday, and here for Watery Wednesday.

"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and your dominion 
endures through all generations" Psalm 145: 13

Have a Blessed week. Hugs - Jan

~ TODAY ~ The Simple Woman's Daybook

~ TODAY ~
Outside my window.....At last I am doing this post in the daytime, it is a beautiful clear cloudless 20C Winter day. We are so Blessed.
I am thinking.... how good life is. We might live a humble life in some people's opinion, but we are truly grateful.
I am thankful for...... the way this blogging is going. I was looking for somewhere to journal and tried other places and after journaling was mentioned at Bible Study (with the idea of keeping a note of Blessings and answered prayer) I prayed about it and someone posted their Simple Woman's Daybook on Multiply just a couple of days later, and I was over here with a Blogspot set up within hours. Now I have a meme Simple Joys Saturdays and just joined "A Country Woman" which I believe will be a great Blessing too.

Visit A Country Woman
From the Kitchen..... Rhubard Crumble..... we were to have close friends to dinner this evening, but she rang and said they have the flu, so we rescheduled for next Tuesday, but the rhubard I bought won't keep, so I'm making the dish and freezing it.
I am wearing..... trackpants and top.... I've changed out of our 'glad rags' that we wear singing.   It was a hostel today..... so all the residents are able to walk and and have more faculties than some in the nursing homes.
I am creating.... just some knitting for 'Care and Share'.... I do like to have some on the go, and I am a better passenger when I am knitting.... smile.
I am going ..... nowhere for the rest of the day..... what a Blessing.
I am reading..... Romans V1 for my Bible Study homework.
I am hoping .... it will be mild when we go south at the end of the month.
I am hearing .... Tilda (our dog) snoring in the chair next to me. Barry has gone to visit freinds.
Around the house ..... We have a sunroom at the front that Barry uses as his office, and we gave up on trying to keep it tidy. Yesterday Barry built a partial screen to make a tiny foyer inside the front door. Now I've some plants in the area and a framed print on the new 'wall', and, we are very pleased with it.
One of my favourite things ...... just had a large delicious orange that was grown in Australia.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing......  'On the way home'

 Your Presence from One Minute Devotions by B J Hoff
In this quiet hour, Lord,
come to bless me...
Let me know nothing but
Your presence and Your peace.

Is not the Lord your God with you? And 
has he not granted you rest on every side?
I Chronicles 22:18 

Our host for The simple Woman's Daybook is Peggy here 


Have a Blessed week. Love and Hugs - Jan