a positive twist

isn't it funny how things turn out?

I did my first proper weekly home blessing in years yesterday.

and was going to write about my long-term 

relationship with flylady...

then last night, the main fuse in our house blew 

just as I was about to serve up dinner.

normally this would bring out my anger or 

frustration as I would have been tripping over 

random objects trying to find a candle or torch.

instead, I was able to comfort little mister J 

when he was panicking, go straight to the locations 

where I store our candles, light a fire in the wood heater, 

serve up dinner and then enjoy a game of cards with 

the kids before tucking them into bed.

even when the power company had fixed the fuse

we decided not to turn anything back on

(with the exception of a quick tidy in the kitchen before bed) 

and I had a candle-lit conversation with the love of my life

snuggled up on the couch in front of the fire.

[image credit]

what would normally have been a disaster

turned out to be a blessing!

i thought wow i have an amazing mother   by ellowyn(<=10 year old vandalism!)

a goal for the week...

our grocery budget was even smaller than usual last week 

(we shop on a Friday) as my lovely man starts his 

final placement this week and he needed a couple 

of essential items (and petrol) to be able to partake.

he will soon be a qualified enrolled nurse! I am so proud of him!!

so Mr G has to travel an hour each way,

5 days a week, for 7 weeks, without pay...

tightening the already tight purse strings will be

a challenge... but I am up for it!

I will, however miss having my

 personal chef preparing all the evening meals... 

I have been very spoiled the last 2.5 years.

I love baking and cooking.  

being frugal can bring out an unexpected creative inspiration.

so, my goal for this week is to prepare a nutritious

and thoughtful menu to get us through the week.

yesterday, we had:

 

MONDAY

breakfast:-   cereal

morning tea:-   yoghurt, apple, homemade brownies

lunch:-   lettuce, cheese & tomato sandwiches

afternoon tea:-   banana & choc chip muffins

dinner:-   spaghetti with garlic vegetable sauce

today's plan:

TUESDAY

breakfast:-   cereal

morning tea:-   yoghurt, apple, banana & choc chip muffin

lunch:-   E=peanut butter/carrot wrap, J=rice cakes with vegemite

afternoon tea:-  baked oca (New Zealand yams)

dinner:-   vegetable omelette with cauliflower 'rice'

then...

WEDNESDAY

breakfast:-   cereal

morning tea:-   yoghurt, fruit salad, anzac cookies

lunch:-   noodles

afternoon tea:-   fruit toast

dinner:-   tomato and lentil soup with damper

and...

THURSDAY

breakfast:-   cereal

morning tea:-   yoghurt, apple, anzac cookies

lunch:-   sandwiches with spread

afternoon tea:-   caramel popcorn

dinner:-    vegetable curry with rice

and FRIDAY?
your guess is as good as mine!!
whatever is left in the pantry...

freeeeeezing!

brrrr! a clear blue sky and a heavy frost greeted us this morning.
my car looked like it was covered in glitter!

the end of last week was a bit of a non-starter.
the weather turned grey and rainy and 

we have all come down with varying degrees of head colds.

so, since my burst of activity last week, I haven't moved
very far forward... physically, anyway.

during my bed resting and trying to stay warm, 

I did look at a lot of blogs and TED talks.

 there is some AMAZING inspiration out there!

happiness, wholeness, mindfulness, simplicity, minimalism,

sustainability, self sufficiency, organisation and fulfillment...

though, sometimes I think these things elude me on purpose!

I desperately desire slow, intentional, uncluttered living.

but it just doesn't come quick enough! *chuckles at self*

(unlike the grass I mowed only a week ago!!!)

like climbing uphill during an avalanche...

so once again, focusing on the here and now.

practicing being in the moment.
loving how pretty my washing looks on the clothesline...

noticing an unexpected, dainty addition to one of my plant pots.

I <3 LOVE <3 what IS around me and I am completely grateful.