Jammy Jammy Jam Jam.

This past week has been good, it would have been better if it hadn't rained and been overcast every day. I read, knitted, watched dvds, sewed a little, today I topped it off by making a sticky mess in my kitchen. I made Strawberry Jam using Rhonda Jean's recipe, have 5 jars processing in a water bath right now. Was left with half a jar that we sampled on toast, the way my son added jam to our toast I can see the five jars not lasting long.

It took a bit longer to cook than I thought, my fault I was worried about it burning so had it turned down too low.

I usually prefer Raspberry to Strawberry Jam but this was way up there in preferences, I doubt that any store bought jam will ever be right for me now.

On the Needles

Started knitting a cardigan yesterday, am really pleased with it so far.

I've taken this week off work, am not due to go back until Wednesday, of course it's been raining all week. Managed to get out for lunch with a good friend. Was supposed to be a picnic, but the weather didn't permit. Instead we had lots of tea, very lovely sandwiches and Cinnamon Apple Scrolls.

I had taken the week off to get ready for my husband's birthday tomorrow but he decided he didn't want a party - not that the weather would have permitted it. Instead we will go out for dinner and maybe go somewhere tomorrow, seeing as soccer is off.

Sunrise

Last night worked on my stretch velvet redingote, procrastination raised it's ugly head but I finally got around to it - late though I had thought I wanted to wear it today but no go. I added pleats to the skirt - adding 14 inches to to the skirt back, it was easier working in inches. Got the sides stitched and attached the bodice. Am really pleased with it.

As mentioned I had hoped to wear it today but had some unpicking to do, I tried covering the raw edges with bias but it didn't sit right. When I noticed it was after midnight I figured it was time for bed.

This morning my plan was to see a sunrise in the mountains, so was up at 5.30. The sky was starting to lighten when I left, got just beyond Springwood before I noticed the first rays of sunlight.

Stood in the cold wind for a few moments before heading to the car, put the driver's window down to get full effect of the sun. I closed my eyes and noticed that the after image of the sun was emerald green, the colour of Archangel Raphael and healing. One of the things I noticed was that after a while with my eyes closed, could see mostly darkness apart from the image of the bright sun, it was like a torn piece of the darkness. I could actually see trees, sky in that tear, not part of the view that I was sitting in front of because in my vision there was a river. Don't have an explanation of what this was, it was just amazing.

Afterwards I drove up to Katoomba, the wind there was viciously cold and strong. Took a few pictures of the amazing colours which the photos didn't do justice. Then I went back to the car for a half hour nap, then into town for a lovely breakfast.


On the way back I called into Springwood for some shopping. Bought buttons, fabric and a bag pattern at a sewing store. Then on to Frou Frou, found a journal and a red velvet thingy there. The thingy was some sort of valance, think for a table, I loved the fabric. A jumper and a scarf completed my purchases from Birney's. Spoilt myself completely with tea and cake at a cafe before heading home.

Update: Here is the thingy on my kitchen table, it looks way too cool to cut up. I think it would look stunning on a market stall, if ever I get around to doing one.

Being called the mountains again.

This year the pull of the Blue Mountains has been strong, most years I would normally go once or twice. Usually a mid winter visit, all rugged up to keep warm. On those visits you can really tell the tourists and locals apart, the tourists usually wearing bulky clothing and the locals not so much. My last visit a couple of weeks ago I noticed that I was dressed more like a local, that is until later in the afernoon when it started getting colder.





This past year or so I have been making more forays to the mountains, sometimes on my own, sometimes not. I want to see a sunrise, so will be leaving well before daybreak - hopefully will be able to pull myself from bed for it. I am looking forward to a day on my own exploring where I want to.

I am on countdown this week, have only 5 days left at work before I get a break of 10 days, after which I will be going from 5 days a week to 4 days. Will be working an extra hour a day, so there's not a huge loss in hours, which I can recoup with savings from tolls, petrol and not buying lunches. The extra day off will be classed as a working day in the pursuit of getting some sewing done to sell online or at craft markets.

Focaccia

I've been reading more blogs again, today went to one of my favourites Down to Earth and followed a link to Slow Living Essentials, another Australian Blog. There I found instructions for Focaccia and just had to try it.

Used the Bread machine dough recipe, olive oil, garlic, home grown rosemary and cheddar cheese to stuff the focaccia. I need to add more ingredients especially cheese, there was no enough but every one declared it was good. My daughter's simple phrasing as she clutched 2 piece of "it's good" says it all.

There's another batch of dough in the machine right now for mini loaves .

Evil??

Have had headaches for the past few days, got a bit of a head cold today. On Friday they were threatening to become a full blown migraine, nausea, enhanced sense of smell but was at work and there was a lot to do. Paracetamol didn't work, it just tasted funny and the water I had with it tasted awful. So I grabbed my phone and listened to a hypnotherapy recording on it, a ten minute relaxation break, the difference was wonderful, I was able to function that is until a woman with the worst smelling perfume came near me. Sat in a dark room listening to it again and was able to function until the end of the day.





What has just gotten to me is that after facebooking about it I got a comment that I need to stay away from hypnosis, that it's evil and to take Panadol instead. It's no wonder I hide much of my beliefs from family members, I've only ever given the link to this blog to one family member and did regret it right away, I took the blog down for a while, I don't even know if they do read it. Apart from myself, my worst critics have always been some family members, which took the confidence rug right out from under me. Hypnosis has given back what was taken away.



I am trying to reduce the amount of chemicals in my life, the dependancy on man made drugs, eating more natural organic foods - which right now feels like a losing battle. I use earth friendly laundry wash, I won the battle with that, my husband kept coming home with the chemical laiden stuff until I pointed out cost. He's big on cost. He did however refuse to use the homemade laundry wash even though it was much better budget wise.



Really need to get out and start growing some vegies, my yard is very neglected. One of the things I remember about attempting this in the past is that my husband was aghast at eating home grown vegies and I quote " it's been outside, it can't be safe". That was a while ago and we've been watching River Cottage since then and I hope it's rubbing off. After watching that show I no longer buy barn laid eggs, opting for free range, organic - the same goes for Chicken, I buy free range but we still get the other stuff, again my husband does a lot of the buying and it's all cost to him. It only costs a couple of dollars extra per kilo and it tastes better, a roast chicken is so much plumper and moist when cooked. I tend to get more meals out of an organic one than the other.



I am changing , I hope for the better. I love my husband, even though I don't always show it to him and others, I have rarely worn my wedding ring over the past 23 years of marriage. A couple of weeks ago I discovered my wedding ring in the drawer and decided to make the effort of wearing it, it's only been off my finger a couple of times since - mainly to stop dough getting into the diamond settings. I really no longer am a diamond/gold girl and the ring looks a bit wimpy with out the matching engagement ring, it's still waiting to be repaired after the diamond fell out years ago. My choice of jewellery these days is silver with natural semi precious stones, once I went for miniscle pieces I now go for more substantial items. The top ring is my Grandmothers, I think it's a Topaz, the second is an Adventurine I wear most of the time, it's on my finger right now and the other is Eye of Ra, flanked by Ankhs - Male and Female energies. These all now are my preferred type of rings, I love wearing my Grandmother's ring out and love the attention it recieves. After Nanna passed I found it in her drawer and asked Mum if I could have it, she told me that I would probably be the only one who would wear it, or could for that matter, my fingers are larger than the rest of the females in my family and the ring fits me perfectly.