Don't just stand there.....

....do something!!

That's my theme for 2014.

I think it's called living!!

May 2014 be a wonderful year for you all :) xx

Serving Suggestions, Special: New Years

Here's a treat for you. 

The 'young' Ben, Hayley and Scott are played by Hayley's brother and sisters.

A future in acting perhaps!! 

Enjoy :)

(watch in full screen)

What's that sound???

Wait....

Oh...I remember now...it's the sound of silence!!!

It's just been awhile since I've heard it :)

We've had friends of Marnie's (Stephen and Karen and their 2 girls) staying with us from Brisbane for a week.  Sleeping in their tent in our backyard, but joining us for meals.   I enjoyed getting to know them and the days Marnie was working they took Denver with them on their outings.

They had never been to Tassie before and loved it.  But then who wouldn't!!

Here's a pic of some of them having a 'serious' game of Billionaire. Karen, her 2 girls, Marnie, Denver and Marnie's friend Craig...

On Christmas Day I volunteered to help at the Combined Churches free Christmas lunch (for those who were on their own/new to the area, etc)  We had about 55 people turn up.  I spent my time helping in the kitchen (mostly washing up).  I really enjoyed it ( and got a free meal too) and would do it again next year.

Here's a pic of some of the folk in the hall...

 

 

Karen, Stephen and girls left this morning for the ferry trip back to the mainland, and Marnie and Denver have gone camping for a few days. 

 

And that's why I'm hearing the 'sound of silence' and looking forward to a few days 'home alone' :)

 

 

 

Culling

No...I'm not out shooting wildlife!

I'm getting rid of excess stuff...

Admittedly it's not all mine (most of it is Marnie's and Denver's), but just knowing some of it is really stresses me.

And then this morning in one of my devotionals I read this:

"Never keep anything you are not using."

Food for thought?

KARAOKE: It's Christmas for Zombies Too

Ben was in a Secret Santa swap.  He made this video for Danielle.

Hayley did the drawings and Ben wrote the song, sang, played the music and animated the drawings!

He's even got the words there so you can sing along!!

Clever boy :)

(Go to full screen to watch it.)

The List

These are the Top 10 Books I have read this year.  All highly recommended and in no particular order.

If you want more info and reviews on them, go to Amazon and you should be able to look all of them up.

F = fiction  NF = non fiction.  It's interesting I ended up with 5 of each on my list.  I didn't plan it that way:

The Last American Man - Elizabeth Gilbert (NF)

The First Warm Evening of the Year - Jamie M Saul (F)

Redfield Farm - Judith Redline Coopey (F)

The Gifts of Imperfection - Brene Brown (NF)

Mere Christianity - C S Lewis (NF)

The Last Runaway - Tracy Chevalier (F)

All Is Grace - Brennan Manning (NF)

The Midwife's Tale - Grechen Moran Laskas (F)

I'm Off Then - Hape Kerkeling (NF)

The Light Between Oceans - M L Stedman (F)


What books have you read this year that you would recommend?

when in doubt....use humour

This is a postscript to my previous post, so if you haven't read it go HERE.

I do most of my thinking on my morning walk and my mind seems to function best in the (literal) greyness and fog.  And for the 'photo fans' here's a picture I took on my walk this morning at 6.30am...

So, just thinking back on my previous post, it occurred to me that perhaps I hide my vulnerability behind joking and humour.

I guess to some degree we all hide behind something.

What about you?

Character Traits

Q: What do you do when it's 2am and you can't sleep?

A: Get up, make a cup of tea and write it down!


So here it is....

I was having a conversation with a friend recently about character traits.  Those we desire/admire in ourselves/others.  Are we drawn to those traits in others that we lack?

We decided on two traits that were important to us.

Mine were openness and honesty.

His were confidence and vulnerability.

I desire openness (which on reflection is really another word for vulnerability...or allowing others to see our vulnerability) and honesty in others, and I consider they are character traits I possess.

He considered he was confident...but not vulnerable (?)

On first appearances the two traits of confidence and vulnerability appear to be completely opposed to each other, but then I thought about how the two can work together.

Is his confidence (strength of character) really masking his vulnerability? 

And is my vulnerability (or willingness to be vulnerable) really showing a confidence (or strength) I was unaware I had?

hmm....food for thought??

Now that I've got that sorted....I'll get back to bed :)

Keeping company with old friends...

...getting back to my hippy roots with Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young...

Loving Neil Young's new cd Prairie Wind!



 

Pen's Tiny House

My friend Pen has a 'Tiny House' in her garden.  It's beautiful.  Go take a look HERE.

giving and forgiving

read this recently on giving....


"I am a humble pensioner myself for my daily bread;
Shall I forget my brothers who seem in greater need?
I know not how it happened that I would have more than they,
Unless God meant that I should give a larger part away.

 The humblest wayside beggar and I have wants the same,
Close side by side we walked when God called out one name.
So brother it but happened that that name was mine;
The food was given for both - here, half of it is thine."

(Helen Hunt Jackson)

and this on forgiving....

Unchrist-like Forgiveness

There are some people whose forgiveness is little better than their malice. They never let you forget that they have forgiven you. Indeed, you sometimes almost wish they had not forgiven you at all, so miserable and so aggravating is their charity. Let us learn to forgive generously, richly, making our forgiveness complete, sweeping forever away—all grudge and bitterness.

(In Green Pastures - J R Miller)

 

 

 

New love of my life...

HA!!  Bet that got the family worried :)

 

I just love my new lawn mower.  How did I ever live without it!!

Worth Watching

For you folk in Aussie land, there is a good show on SBS tomorrow night (10th December).  This is one of the charities I support.  Their website is here. They do amazing work.

 

 

THE SURGERY SHIP

Tuesday 10th December at 8.30 pm (60 minutes)

Channel: SBS

Surgery Ship, The. Surgery Ship follows the remarkable story of the Mercy Ship docking in Guinea for 12 months and performing thousands of life changing and life-saving surgeries for conditions that have often long since been eradicated in the Western world. Amongst the volunteers are a dozen Australian doctors and medical staff taking this special journey. These world-class medical teams perform thousands of procedures representing a turning point in the lives of many, but limited time and resources mean just as many are turned away in a life or death decision made on the spot. (From Australia) (Documentary) M(A,G) CC

Lynda's Christmas Letter 2013

Just typed up my Christmas letter.  Some of you will get a copy in the mail (if I get around to doing my Christmas cards), but thought I'd post it here too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To everything there is a season, a time for ever purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
Dear family and friends,

As this year comes to a close it seems my' time to weep and mourn' is coming to an end and I am entering my 'time to laugh and dance', but at the moment I'm in my 'time to wait' ...but that bit isn't in the Bible :)

Since moving to Deloraine in July 2012 I've had Marnie and Denver living with me on and off (more on that off), as Marnie continues to deal with various health issues. Hopefully the worst is over and things will improve from here. At the moment we are sharing a 3 bedroom rental house.

So this year my life has been put on hold as I cared for Marnie and Denver. But things are looking up! Natasha and Jefferson are buying me a home of my own! I'm not enjoying the search for the 'perfect' house, but Jefferson assures me the wait will be worth it :)

It has also taken me 12 months to find a church, but I now feel happy and settled at the Deloraine Uniting Church (which is a union of the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, although there are still some independent churches of the three denominations in Australia).

I'm loving living by the river and mountains but I did initially miss the sea (after my 18 months in Stanley). I walk the paths around the river early every morning when it is quiet and peaceful with no people around. It's my time for relaxation, exercise and prayer.

Christmas day for me will be a bit different this year as I have volunteered to help at the free Christmas lunch that the combined churches in Deloraine provide for those who are in need of some company on the day. I'm really looking forward to it...even if I am only washing dishes all day!!

I wish you and your loved ones a joyous and peaceful Christmas with many blessings in 2014.

much love, Lynda xx

 

A walk on the wild side

My son Jefferson is visiting from Sydney for a few days.  Today we went on a bush walk to the Alum Cliffs near Mole Creek.


Here's Jefferson, Denver and Marnie taking a break along the track...

From the lookout at the end of the walk it's a long way down...

To the Meander River flowing through the bottom of the  canyon...

Looking to Mt Claude and Mt Roland in the distance....

Sunday afternoon with Clive...

...Clive Staples Lewis that is!

On my way home from church I stopped in at the Alpaca Shop and bought a new pair of knitting needles.  Takumi bamboo needles are my favourites.  They are a bit more expensive than other knitting needles but lovely to knit with. 

I'm reading C S Lewis 'Surprised by Joy' at the moment from my boxed set.  This is the autobiography of his early life.  Have only just started it so will see how it goes.

So I thought I'd spend the afternoon knitting (with my new needles) more blanket squares (in 8 ply wool yarn) for charity....

...while watching Shadowlands.

It's the true story of C S Lewis and Joy Gresham.  A bit of a tear jerker, but I really enjoyed seeing it again. 

And I must say I'm a bit partial to Anthony Hopkins :)

good reads

I seem to have come across an abundance of good books recently.  I won't go into too much detail about them.  Sometimes it's best not to know other people's opinions before you read them, but if you do want to read some reviews (and possibly an excerpt from them) you can always go to amazon.com.


Picked this one up at the library recently ( the title is 'I'm Off Then' - don't know why they have to put the bar sticker over the title!)  It was a really good read...interesting...informative...and funny!!

Another amazing book!  About slavery in the US...the underground railroad...and the Quakers who helped the slaves escaping from the south to Canada...and the war between the north and south.  Such a good read. Highly recommended by me!!

Recently bought this boxed set of C S Lewis books.  I hadn't read any of his writings before, but started with Mere Christianity and will certainly be reading more.  I really like the way he reasons out his faith.  I'd call it the thinking man's guide to Christianity!

Still reading this one....

And picked up this pile from the library yesterday.  Will let you know how I go with them....

To make you smile....

You'll have to copy and paste the link.  I couldn't work out how to actually get the video to play here.

It's worth watching :)


http://www.youtube.com/v/nFtfk0bZVRM?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=Q8Ev-HCzXsgiRcFhxCOEAg&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&feature=share

I loved this book!

I've just finished it.  Read it for yourself and see what you think.

Healthy Halloween

Ben, Hayley and Scott have been making more movies!!

The Breath of Peace

 

That's the name of Penelope Wilcock's new book!

 It's No.7 in The Hawk and The Dove series.  I have all the others and have just ordered this one from Amazon.  Can't wait for it to get here!!

It's a unique and wonderful series.  I've really enjoyed all the books.

This is a Trilogy of the first 3 books



So why not get yourself a copy and read them all !

There is more info over on her blog HERE.

Sunday Afternoon

Been covering these books in contact...it's the frustrated librarian in me...I always cover my books in contact or plastic :o)

They are headed over Bass Strait tomorrow to a friend in Victoria who is borrowing them to read...

A blast from the past.  Been listening to these CD's from the library...

Finished reading this book recently and really enjoyed it.  About Quakers and quilts, slavery and the underground railroad in the US...what more could you want in a book!

And I'm about to start reading this book....

Serving Suggestions, Episode 6: Cheese

My son Ben, daughter in law Hayley, and their friend Scott, have been making short movies about some of the serving suggestions you see recommended on various product packaging.

This is their final one for the season. 

And just in case you don't get the Aussie humour...they are supposed to be funny :o)

Their other Serving Suggestion videos are HERE. if you're interested.

Breakfast

 

Care to join me for breakfast?

 

I have my son, Jefferson, to thank for getting me started on this yummy, healthy breakfast!

 

Here are the ingredients - goat's yoghurt, granny smith apple, white quinoa, local honey, red quinoa.

 

I usually have this 3 or 4 mornings a week.

 

I prefer the red quinoa, but am using up the white that I had, so have a combination of both here.  The red quinoa holds its shape better and is a bit chewier than the white (a bit like the difference between white and brown rice).  Boil gently in twice as much water as quinoa until water is absorbed/evaporated.  Put in bowl while still warm....

While the quinoa is cooking, peel and cut up some granny smith (or your choice) apples and simmer with some cinnamon and cloves and a little water until cooked. Remove the cloves after cooking (they just give it some extra flavour).  While still warm add to the quinoa....

Spoon on some goat's yoghurt, or cow's if you prefer, but I like the goat's, it doesn't seem to sit so 'heavy' in my stomach...and tastes delicious!  I prefer the plain, but could only get the mango last trip to the shop, although I find it a bit too sweet for me....

And lastly drizzle over some honey....

Enjoy!!!!

read...listen...crochet

Marnie and Denver have gone to Devonport for the weekend, so I have been enjoying a nice quiet weekend 'home alone' :o)

 

Finished reading this book recently and really enjoyed it.  It's the settings that get me in more so than the storyline really.  England...cottage...seaside.... (and also the covers, although not this one necessarily).

 

What draws you to a book?

 

Have been listening (and listening! and listening!) to Josh Groban.  He has an amazing voice....

And last night I got out my crocheted squares again.  They are in wool yarn and I am edging them in a grey wool/alpaca yarn.  Will then sew them together into a lap blanket....

I hope you are having a good weekend!

Signs of Spring

The batteries are flat in my camera and I can't find the charger, but I did manage to get some photos for you before my camera died.

The daffodils are in bloom....

Still working on the lap blanket....

And the baby jumper.  Have the back and 2 sleeves done and started the front.....

And reading these two books, both of which are very good....

Mennonite info for Jessie (and all who are interested)

Jessie put a comment on my post about the Annual Mennonite Conference here in Tasmania asking for info about the Mennonites. I  thought I'd post the info here (rather than just replying to the comment) in case any one else is interested.

The only Conservative Mennonite church I know of in Australia is here in Deloraine Tasmania.  I think there are other Mennonites around the country, but I do not know of any other churches.  The contact address for the Deloraine Mennonite Fellowship is:

Harold Weaver
PO Box 330
Deloraine
Tasmania 7403
Australia

Joseph van Loon in Deloraine also has a lot of info and sermons from Conservative Mennonite churches on his Anabaptist Mennonites website   HERE. 

Another Anabaptist site you might be interested in is the Gympie Anabaptist Fellowship.  They have a church in Gympie Queensland and there website is HERE.

And there is also the  Detention River Christian Community in Tasmania.  They are  Hutterites (another branch of Anabaptists) and there website is HERE.

Hope this info is a help and of interest.

Long time no post!

Hello friends!  Sorry I haven't updated here for quite some time (thank you Bean for your concern...all is well...just busyness keeping me away).

This will just be a quick one as well, as I have to go pick Denver up from the school bus soon.

 

Still getting organised in this house, being bigger and older means more to clean and try and keep tidy, plus Marnie's  health is still not too good so much of my time is spent caring for her and Denver.

 

Also had eldest daughter Natasha and 3 boys here from Thailand for 2 1/2 weeks and son Jefferson here from Sydney for a few days during that time too.  Lovely to see them all, but as you can imagine it was quite a busy time :o)

 

Getting back to my normal (?) routine now.  We've had lots of rain (it is the middle of winter so to be expected) and the river has been in flood.  Unfortunately I don't usually take my camera with me when I go walking but will try and get you a few photos soon.

 

And because you all like photos :o)...here are a few to tide you over.... 

 

 

 

This is the lap blanket I am working on at the moment.  Using up random 8 ply acrylic yarn I have left over from various projects and adding in some beige/fawn yarn (which I bought ) every second round.  It's coming along nicely....

 

Reading this book (which I picked up at the op shop yesterday).  I am enjoying it so far.  It's set in the backwoods  mountains of America in the early 1900 ( a setting I like - the country backwoods and the era) about a family of midwives. And as I'm interested in herbs I'm enjoying the reference to them throughout the book. 

And one of the charities I knit for has requested baby cardigans, so have started knitting one from this variegated yarn I had.  I had actually knitted it up into a garter stitch diagonal baby blanket, but didn't really like it when finished, so undid it all and will knit some cardigans and jumpers from it.

 

 

that's all folks....

 

It sounds like I spend all my days knitting, crocheting and reading (I wish!), but you don't really want to hear me moaning and grumbling about the reality of my days do you?? ... :o)

 

Gotta go...

 

Will try and get back sooner rather than later.  xx

Flowers

Not the real kind, but fabric ones!

 

 

I'm in a snail mail/round robin yahoo group and to celebrate our anniversary of the start of the group we have a swap each year.  This year it was a bookmark and some fabric.  I think 10 ladies took part and I have received about half of my fabric so far.

 

I decide to do hexagonal/english pieced flowers with mine.  I like to wash my fabric first, so here it is drying by the' hungry monster'...

Then I found a template pattern in one of Marnie's craft books.  The smaller one for the paper pieces and the larger for the fabric.

Her are some of the fabrics I've received so far...

Cut out and piecing...

And some of my 'flowers' made up.  I've done 9 so far and I'm eagerly awaiting the fabric from the rest of the ladies so I can make more...

The Hungry Monster

I'm so happy to have a wood heater at our new place.  And now we have something to feed him!

 

He has a choice of this....

Or this....

 

 That should keep him (and us) warm for awhile :o)

I also finished my 'rainbow blanket' I've been working on.  Now for another project....

And this morning the sunrise was so pretty.  The photos don't do it justice as it was so beautiful.  This one was taken about 7am...

And this one was taken about 10 minutes later...

 

 

 

I'm hopefully off to buy a washing machine today.  This washing clothes by hand is fun for awhile...but....

 

I hope you all have a blessed day!!  xx

Thank you Bianca

Bianca took the time to write this lovely comment to my post about possibly closing my blog.  I've copied it here for those of you who don't read the comments:


Hi Lynda,

Your blog and Christian journey has been a real pleaure to relate to, and I have always loved the plain & pleasant appearance of your site & I must say, at times it's been a sprig of good medicine for your thoughts & pretty photos remind me to slow down. Mostly, I want to wish you the very BEST in all important things! You are so lovely, just the best and wonderful Luck! ...you have inspired me to take more walks in parks & to keep up my faith and if you decide to go for some time ...please come back in Spring!

love Bianca

And in my reply to Bianca I wrote that if my blog makes a difference (and is an encouragement) to even one person, then maybe it is worth keeping it going!

So it looks like I'll stay around for awhile :o)

We get the keys to the new place tomorrow.  Some men from church are helping us move the heavy furniture on Saturday and Marnie and I will move the rest in our cars.

Will try and get back next week with another update. xx

going...going...

...but will I? ...go?

Trying to decide whether to close my blog.

 Seems I'm not alone in this dilemma as a few blogger friends seem to be having similar thoughts.

Will be moving house in a couple of weeks.  Marnie, Denver and I will be sharing a house together.  We have separate place at the moment (both of which are too small for us to combine in) so we are moving to a bigger house a couple of blocks from where I am now.

What with caring for Marnie (with her ongoing health problems) and looking after Denver, I don't really have time to keep this blog up.  I also question the relevance of it (when I would prefer to write letters) so think I may close it for awhile and maybe open it again after we get resettled and when spring arrives in a couple of months.

Also not with the Mennonite church now.  Did go back for a few weeks, but couldn't settle there.  Feel I need a church that is not so 'inward focused', but has more outreach into the community.

So ... I'm back with the Baptists! 

Will just have to see how it goes.

A bit of an update for you.  Will think on the blogging question over the next week and let you all know what I decide. xx

Morning walk

I thought you might like to come on my morning walk with me :o)

 

Down the hill...

 

 

...to the roundabout, railway crossing and road bridge over the river...

...check for trains...

 

 

 

...the river from the road bridge...

...along the walk track...

 

 

...the river...

...the walk track...

...one of the ponds...

...over the river walk bridge at one end of the track...

...taken from the walk bridge...

...along the other side of the river to the walk bridge at the other end of the track...

...taken from the walk bridge of the spillway and looking back to the train bridge...

...back over the road bridge...

...up the main street hill...

...around the corner...and it's all down hill from here...

 

 

Congratulations!!  You've just done a 40 minute walk :o)