The numbers game....

Having just finished my essay re Home Made Food is much better for our health here is a small excerpt of what I wrote:

"Now we hear numerous accounts of children with such problems as ADD, ADHD, excema and asthma, irritable bowel syndrome in gigantuan propertions. If we as a society have become so advanced and have it all, how and when did this happen?

I believe these modern day problems are strongly linked to the foods we eat today. We are so highly geared towards fast meals. Time is of the esswence. Many families are dual income - both parents working because of need (or is that greed). Our mortgages and debts are mounting, our lifestyles frantic and our families are being fed on the run. Takeaway has become a norm and our kids "freak out" if they don't get McDonald's regularly. Have you stopped outside your local takeaway lately and noted what a roaring trade they are doing - any night of the week?"

Anyway.....it gives some foo for thought....

Have a beautiful week,
TK

Monday Musings...

food additives...checking out ALL those numbers is horrifying.....will write more on this subject tomorrow! I have just finished an essay for my English class, we had to right an exposition of persuasion - any subject we chose. My choice was my hatred for pre packaged and processed food!!!

XX

Well I WAS going to try & post a YouTube link of one of their songs.....but cannot do it!!! I am retarded when it comes to tricky computer stuff......so check them out on http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com & do a search back to last week's blogs OR check them out on YouTube........go on I dare ya!!

TK

So what am I listening to in my lounge....

XX - a fab UK band that the wonderful Pip Lincolne (blogger extraordinaire - & a glam rock chick with a vintage soul) had on her site a week or so ago.....LOVED them sooooooo much that went straight out & bought the CD!!!

Love, Love, Love the XX

Monday Musings...

Well today I am mainly musing on our dear 14 year old Cocker Spaniel Dudley. He is so much a part of this family it's hard to imagine life without him! Now let me pre-empt all of this by letting you know I am NOT an animal lover generally BUT when I met & married Shaun, Dudley was his companion so he wasn't going anywhere!!!

Now I love hime dearly. He is my little shadow & follows me everywhere including the bathroom!!! Its like haivng a 2 year old around the place!

Yesterday morning we had a truly unromanitc start to Valentines Day (not that I am in to it, I think it is just a HUGE commercial gimmick). I couldn't find Dudley anywhere & when I went outside I could see all this vomit or something along the back. I woke Shaun up & told him I thought something was up & he went in search of Dudley. He finally found him under the hibiscus bush (his safety haven) having what appeared to be a stroke. Shaun finally got him out & we took him straight to the vets. He was not responsive at all but seemed to pick up a little on the way.

It wasn't a stroke but some other long name I can't even begin to remember.....We could have kept him at the Vet Hospital but we chose to have him home with us. He slept most of yesterday, just waking when we forced him to so we could hand feed him & get him to drink.

It made Shaun very sad just having to think that if he doesn't improve we may need to look at putting him down. It also upset me as I have become so attached to my little buddy.

Today he is a little brighter & trying to get up to walk & follow me so that is a good sign.

Dudley being suddenly sick has once again made me realise how precious life is.......life is good & we are to make the most of every day.....

Have a blessed week,

TK

memorable quotes....

I just love this one....
"Just as there is a trend toward high tech today, there is another trend toward high touch - homemade & wholesome." ~Meryl Gardner~

What a wonderful surprise....

lurking in our shed!!!

Shaun had a day off & we got busy moving our boxes (yes there were lots!!) of books back into the house (yes it was hot!!!!) in preparation for our soon to arrive bookcase (yes we are still waiting for the timber!!!)

Talk about feeling on top of the world. Despite the hot thirsty work I had such a fabulous few hours going through my books - many like long lost friends - & re connecting with them. I stopped along the way & took a moment or two to rest with a coffee in hand & read some passages in many of my newly reacquainted old friends.

I have always loved reading & books...& soon it will be the first time that I will have a proper book case to put up ALL my books!! I will post some photos when it is all done.

My favourite finds were "Sarah & The Magic Twenty-Fifth" by Margaret Epp & "Turkey Red" by Esther Loewen Vogt....both were Sunday School book prizes many years ago. Boy did I read those books over & over again!! "Sarah"is the worse for wear having completely fallen apart from her cover BUT she is all there still!!

I wonder what treasures you have lurking out in your storage area/shed that you may have forgotten about - its worth a tidy up just for the new delight in making what is old new again!!

Happy Hunting, gathering & reading!!

TK

Monday Musings...

Well here we are on yet another hot day...for my os friends in the Northern Hemisphere lets just say we are sitting at 34 deg C this morning at 9am!!!! Already ugly outside & a stay inside in the cool kind of day! Kids all cranky at school this morning, oh I am soooooo thankful I am NOT a teacher!!! I don't think I would cope!!

So here I am back home in my beautifully airconditioned home just thinking about setting up bedroom for my dad & mum who are driving over to Adelaide for a few days! So, yes I am spoilt with this airconditioning & I do thank the Lord for it on these hot days.

I spare a thought for my folks as they drive the 7-8 hour journey here but I guess it will be short stops along the way & staying cool in the car LOTS!!!!!! It will be good to have them here with us for a few days.

As we settle to yet another week, I just pray for help with the heat, it seems to bring out the worst in me! Shaun I were busy after church yesterday trying to refit new toilet in our back toilet room......lots of frustrations - it was too hot, we were cranky & all in all a "Jonah" kinda day!!! We both fell into bed early last night & decided to strike the day out BIG TIME!! Oh but the toilet room did get done!!! I am going to copy some decorative ideas from a blogspot I follow http://domesticallyspeaking.blogspot.com & paint some old vases white for the shelf that will go in there. Thanks a bunch Maryann for the inspiration! Maryann is a wealth of information on all manner of things!!

I love spending time with my dad & mum & it will be so nice to have them here to stay. It has been about 17 months since they were last at our home so a lot has changed since then....be great to spend family time, catch up, bake for my dad, coffees, shopping with my mum, maybe a meal or two outside if the weather cools enough in the evening.....you know those sorts of simple feel good things.....

Anyway heres wishing you blessings this week & may you find something good (or even great!!) to celebrate.

TK

Volunteer Work

I spent yesterday working at Max's school canteen.....his school is combined with another school's canteen so I get an opportunity to meet other mums that belong to Wynn Vale Primary, the school next door to ours.

It is always a great day - yesterdays big hit was Hot Crunchy Chicken Subs with lettuce & mayo!!!! & of course ice blocks galore!! I look back on the time when I was working ridiculous hours & trying so hard to be a good single mum (lesson learnt - you can't do it all!) where I didn't have time to help out at school or canteen, or anywhere at all really!! I am so glad that my life is now at a slower & more healthy pace where I can put something back in to the school, & bonus is I get so much out of it!

Hooray for all our volunteers whatever it is you do - GOOD ON YOU!!

TK

Monday Musings...

Can hardly believe that a week has just gone by & we are now into February!!! Time really flies!

Max seems to be settling into school well & we had a seemless morning with no frustrations (by either party!!!) My Max's Morning Routine list seems to be doing the trick & Max checks it off as he goes - yes not an original concept BUT IT WORKS!!!!

I spoke with my youngest sister yesterday via Skype. She is currently living in London & it was so good to speak with her. It made me stop & think about family & how blessed I am. I have a wonderful family & though we live many miles apart, I know that each of them are there for & when I need them, & me there for them.

Family is a blessing & we should always take care not to take a good family network foregranted. So as you approach a new week, stop & consider who you can be thankful for in your family or if that is hard your "family network" - you know those people who are like our family - & send them a note, a prayer, a thought, a message of appreciation somehow, just to let them know you are thinking about them.

In giving we are blessed....in being thankful we are filled.....
"Every time we remember to say "thank you" we experience nothing less than Heaven on earth."~Sarah Ban Breathnach~

Have a blessed week,
TK