may you find the star you seek

may your journey be safe and fulfilled

may peace & love abound in your life.

image

see the list at Marg’s Blog

This was a fabulous book to read.

Really a charming story, with a nice little twist.

5/5 star for sure.

(a 7 day turn around read from my local library)

just to tie off some loose ends, projects started now completed.

Back HERE I posted re my teeny bathroom storage problems.

Here is how I solved the problem.

and HERE is the post re a cottage garden.

here is mine now…

fresh salad and herbs any time. The berries are ripening.

back here I posted a MEMO to Santa…with an image.  Here is the real deal. I was delighted to receive this photo from my daughter. Even more delighted at her handiwork,  and shed a few soft tears over her thoughtfulness.

finally, after a challenging month I am begining to feel ‘Christmassy’.

I have taken part in the Virtual Advent Tour for a few years now.

Marg & Kailana

continue this fabulous annual event.

Great work girls.

On Thursday 24th December I will be sleeping in late, don’t ring me. I will also grab a nap a bit later in the day if I can,

though with our swimming and family dinner at a mexican restaurant ( a  l-o-n-g story)

I might not manage.

Why all this sleep you ask?

Yes, I can hear you….

I am going to sleepover at the home of 3 of my grand daughters.

I shall be in the room with 2 of them.

And what time do 5 & 7 year olds wake up on Christmas morning?

I hope hope hope for 5am. P-L-E-A-S-E.

However before we get to all that, I am striving to focus on the real reason for Christmas.

I had occasion to hear this world famous choir and was deeply moved

the beauty of the lyrics, the harmony and the amazingness of the orchestral music all compounded

to deeply touch my heart.

here are the lyrics:

For unto us a child is born,
To us a son is giv’n;
The government shall rest on him,
Th’ anointed one from heav’n.
His name is Wonderful Counselor,
The Mighty God is he,
The Everlasting Father,
The humble Prince of Peace.

The increase of his government
And peace shall never end;
He’ll reign on David’s ancient throne
As ruler of all men.
Upheld with justice and righteousness,
Forever his kingdom will last;
The zeal of the Lord God Most High
Will bring these things to pass.

Lord Jesus, come now and reign in me,
Be Lord of my life this hour.
Come be my Counselor and my God,
My source of wisdom and power.
Watch o’er me with your Father care,
My heart and my mind, fill with peace.
I worship you, my Lord and King,
My praise will never cease.

image from Jo Young at Flickr

just think, in a week, you may well be about to sit down for a fabulous meal with all the special people in your life.

OR

you may not be.

Some will be lonely, sad, alone;  alone, even in a crowd, others will have there 1st Christmas without the someone they love most. Many families will be struggling to find some joy in the day, children will go without. Some will have no heat, others no cool. Many will lack food, or even peace. Some will lack safety.

Yes, Christmas is about

so please, find a way to share it. Receive it when it comes your way ,

and give it freely where ever you can.

To my family, friends, including virtual friends and all of you who visit here

check out Marg’s loot, and read others on Mr Linky

I loved the Master Chef Book. I went out and bought it. Great introduction

for young adults, young married, perhaps even children.

within the sorrow of loss, I cannot find the ’space’ to read this, maybe another day.

this was ghastly to read. I am sure the author did her best, but there were too many cliches for me.

I did not get past 40 pages…

Posted in Library Loot Tagged: Library Loot, Master Chef ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/library-loot-3/feed/ 1 Jane library-loot Master Chef CookBook Obamadreamsfrom ym father American Destiny http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/inner-city-beauty/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/inner-city-beauty/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:26:39 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4289 ]]>

this magnificent tree, with sunlight playing upon the flowers caught my eye and reminded me

that amidst the sorrow of loss, there is always the beauty of everlasting nature.

read the intro here

comments from the mum

Teenagers in the kitchen cooking dinner…a beautiful sight to behold…

the boys have now moved in to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen…

the kids have taken up their $50 a day on meals challenge, and are being very responsible.
They are cooking and cleaning…and I am in mummy heaven…lol

Chicken and mushroom fetticine with mango and avocado salad

Not breakfast we have Weet bix and cornflakes galore. Milk they need to provide and they drink that by the truck load. They plan itheir lunch and dinner menu, I take them shopping. I want them to have a sense of ownnership and responsibility.

Monday night- Bbq chicken salad $35
Tues night -pizza night 6 pizzas got one for free $32
Wed night-chicken and mushroom fettuccine and salad $37

5 x 3ltrs milk @ $3.16 = $15.80

Lunch items for the week
nuttella lge $5.98
bread $8.00
fruit $15.00
cookies ingredients in pantry
wraps12 $3.95
lettuce, tomatoes $5.00

lunch things bought together at the beginning of the week, lunch menu decided between eachother.

Thurs- Taco’s
Fri – shepherds pie
Sat – chicken salad wraps
Sunday-bbq and salad

We actually have two nieces staying with me since Saturday so the $50 is stretching a little further than 7. Girls are 18 and 15…

I have taken the kids shopping each day…we had decided to do the dinners individually to give them a sense of ownership the lunch things were bought at the beginning of the week.

Kids fine tuned their menu on Monday night at Family Night, one of the kids had already been assigned to Monday dinner.

This year

I will be hanging my stocking next to Miss C, Miss A, & and Miss A’s.

At the moment I do not know how to say what I want to say, so I will say nothing.

…pass the tissues.

maybe tomorrow

Posted in australia ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/december-09/feed/ 0 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/not-happy-jan/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/not-happy-jan/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:42:18 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4275 ]]>

some computer internet NASTY has *hijacked my browser.

I want it back.

I have managed to get IE8 up and running but Google Chrome has wafted off somewhere.

*actual term

meet Lexie.

friends came over for dinner. I used a cake stand to serve the salad.

not sure why the image is blurry. Managed to find a few Christmas decorations today.

are you a believer or not?

weather grid

check out what’s hot and not at the Copenhagen Climate Summit

looking for a name for my new baby.

image from flickr

as another farewell looms; this time a young mother, suddenly gone from her lovely daughters

I am grateful for the HOPE that stems from belief.

Thankfully the Wyunnum writer has the same hope, at this time of her brother’s passing.

s i g h

the food challenge reports will be posted shortly – I have had other things on my mind, see previous post.

a dear friend left us this week.  Not gone, but gone before...

THREE words. One question. A life changed.

Today is RUOK? Day, a national day of action for suicide prevention.

Why ask? Because research shows there is no harm in taking a real interest in how someone else is feeling – in fact the conversation could change a life or even save one.

LEARN MORE HERE

You can ask tomorrow, or the day after. Or any day.

Just ask.

a community service

While America recovers from too much turkey, and gets ready for Black Friday

Downunder we can really get into making Christmas goodies.

How about these delightful & clever treats

make them like this or add your imagination – maybe your children’s

then the skys the limit.

Get the recipe & instructions from

SWEET PAUL

*this is a 2 week sticky  post scroll down for all new posts*

5 kids – $50 a day can they feed their family of 7?

WHY? READ HERE

I decided to get creative.

On this week’s walk to the library I returned

‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’.

I really enjoyed the book, the creative premise for the story and the characters.

I learnt a few things, and for me that’s always good, no matter what I have been reading.

Sure, it is a charming story, but it has hidden depth.

As I was walking onwards to the fruit shop, I only picked up one book today.

It was nice to have the librarian recognise me and ask how my walking was going.

A family of 7 are about to start a budgeting experiment.

why?

The Parents have decided to give the 5 kids a budget of $50 each to plan for 2 meals a day, lunches and dinner…for 7 people.

“…the kids think money grows on trees and cannot understand why our food budget is hitting the $500 mark weekly…a taste of reality hopefully will do the trick”…sigh!

They have to plan, prepare and cook.

But not breakfast they have cereal galore.  Milk they need to provide and they drink that by the truck load. They plan their lunch and dinner menu, I take them shopping.

“I want them to have a sense of ownnership and responsibility” the mother said.

There are 7 two. Adults 15, 14, 13, 12 & 10 yr olds 4 Boys and one young lady.

“It is exciting to see them excited. Let’s hope the enthusiasm sticks around for week 2.”

Posted in Family Food Experiement Tagged: Budget, Family Food Experiment, moneytrees ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/family-food-experiment/feed/ 1 Jane Food Family http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/come-fly-with-me/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/come-fly-with-me/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:23:23 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4207 ]]>

World’s Top Ten Airports

Incheon in South Korea

I flew in and out of this airport in 2002.

I don’t recall anything about it.

I was too excited to be seeing my son, what is architecture to that?

Below is Kansai in Osaka.

We spent 7 L O N G long hours here waiting for a flight to Australia.

The luggage-less guy who looked like a terrorist to me ending up sitting by us.

He was vegetarian so my son got to eat all is ‘extras’

We watched Ice Age (1).

Changi (below) in Singapore.

I don’t think it looked like this when I flew in and out of here years ago.

But really, after being collected and dropped off by a chauffeur driven Mercedes Benz who cared about the airport.

Maybe a bit late but if you need it you better check out his Prep. Countdown to Thanksgiving.

GoodHouskeeping

If you have done nothing yet, you are going to be busy,

but hey you will be organised.

Meanwhile downunder…

Here is Australia we are some four weeks from Christmas.

Christmas Countdown here

How will you set your table?

Buffet?

sit down for a crowd?

or a special dinner for 2 friends.

By the way today I am thankful for a comfy bed, great books to read and the internet.

How about you?

I have a garage.

not exactly like this but old,

it requires hand opening and closing.

Up & down, up & down:

what great arm exercises.

in just over 2 weeks I can see/feel the difference.

Bet Michelle Obama doesn’t do it this way.

Posted in H O M E, Michelle Obama Tagged: Arms, Garage, Michelle Obama ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/fringe-benefits/feed/ 0 Jane Hand rolled door http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/mainly-monda/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/mainly-monda/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:12:22 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4187 ]]>

As the world rushes home, or off to soccer, or is walking the dog I am sitting here in a lovely breeze at my favourite cafe.

Now I notice others are arriving, for an end of day pause.

Turns out there is a French Class Monday, late afternoon.

Quelle merveille!

Before I go, here is stage one of my garden based on Daisy’s idea

I will be off to the farmers market on  Saturday to stock up on plants. Using the drawers and the underneath area.  I will post more pictures as I proceed with this project.

getting closer to having one of my own.

Adirondack Chairs

Take the Turkey Trivia Test

Today’s 5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Modern medication & surgical procedures

2. Laptops, iPhone & the Internet

3. The ability to think.

4. The ability to articulate my thoughts. (and yours)

5. Insight

what are you thankful for?

without the cottage?

I have an old blue-washed desk I can’t seem to place correctly in my new HOME

I had been wondering about the small inner courtyard. It gets the morning sun.

NOW I am inspired.

I found these images on a lovely the lovely

DAISY PINK CUPCAKE BLOG

Inspired by Marg’s example

Now that I have moved I have set my Wednesday afternoon walk to include a visit to the local library.

Today I found these books to bring home with me.

Latest in the series

research reading

A ‘Fast Back: 7 Day Loan – can I do it?

even readers have to eat.

these were made for and by a group of Twilight fans attending the midnight showing of

New Moon.

fabulous work girls

wiki commons

We don’t have Thanksgiving in Australia.  To me this very American (yes I know other nations celebrate it) holiday is represented by turkey – just put Thanksgiving into google and see what you get – mad dashes back and forth the country by planes, trains and automobiles.

Stressful family get-togethers (maybe I have seen too many Hollywood movies)

check this list

I know so many people are having a tough time across the world including in USA

however I think & feel there is always room for

Gratitude, thankfulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. (Wikipedia definition)

Here are my top 5

I am grateful for:

1. My children  2. My grandchildren.  3. My parents.  4. Hugs

more tomorrow.

ELLEN seems to be helping some

and now a little history…

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the USA since 1863. It did not become a federal holidayuntil 1941. Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks  to God,  and is still celebrated as such by many families,                                                     but is now also considered a secular holiday.

Most Americans celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast. Though the holiday’s origins can be traced to harvest festivals which have been celebrated in many cultures since ancient times, the American holiday is tied to the deliverance of the English settlers by Native Americans after the harsh winter at Plymouth Massachusetts and that event has become the pre-eminent foundation story for English North America.

Every year my mother would send me money to buy a dress.

Yes, it’s birthday dress time.

Though  mum is gone now, here are some dresses we may have considered.

~ This year from Nieman Marcus ~

(roll over for designer)

I quite like this one. Mum would like the colour

Love the blue in this, of course, however my cardiac surgery scar might not suit the neckline.

I think we would agree this is a fun dress. Just a tad short for me.

I really like this, though I’d drop the hemline a little. I think mum would appreciate the detail.

I’m so not into black and white and hey I am not this shape either. We’d skip this one.

Now this one, we’d both choose on first glance. I’m not really a pink gal but I’d look great in cashmere if I was that shape. I swam yesterday and walked today. The day draws nearer….

I like this one, but not for an Australian summer.

Can I have this instead?

Love you mum. Forever. xx

I made a new image header for my blog, and a new statement.

Check it out here (in case you are reading this in a reader)

remember all is © Janezworld

* * *

the new warning level of

‘Catastrophic’

has been evoked

for south australia’s north west corner.

We hope and pray it does not come to pass.

what Freedom I will have when this is in my itty bitty bathroom.

It’s prone to cause drama in the online world.

And, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, it’s the word of the year.

“Unfriend” beat out a tech-heavy field that included “netbook,” “hashtag” … to take the annual honor.

“It has both currency and potential longevity,” said Christine Lindberg, a language researcher for Oxford’s U.S. dictionary program. “In the online social networking context, its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interesting choice for Word of the Year.”

Oxford defines “unfriend,” a verb, thusly: “To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook.”

check out CNN’s report

Powells Books

I understand there is a NEW MOON due any moment…

no, not this kind but this kind.

girlfriends have arranged midnight movie session.

I’m not into it all but for those who are

Ellen loves the film. Robert Pattinson is on her show Thursday/Friday depending where you live.

check out these 5 reasons

there are even Twi-mums (I think I know some)

and a 10 things you should know before you see the film video clip

Posted in Movie Tagged: Ellen, NEW MOON, Robert Pattinson ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/new-moon/feed/ 0 Jane s real new moon love it or loathe it: it's here http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/edward-woodward-dies/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/edward-woodward-dies/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:05:36 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4091 ]]>

wiki

Edward Woodhouse: ’sustained a “brave spirit and wonderful humor” throughout his illness’.

read about The Equalizer

What have you been doing for the last 30 27 ( ok it turned out to be 27 hours?)

UPDATE:

Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital head of surgery Leo Donnan emerged from the hospital shortly after 1pm to announce the twins had been successfully separated after almost 27 hours of complex surgery.
*UPDATED REPORT HERE

woken up, caught a bus, jogged, worked out, rode to work, eaten, driven, swum, run, facebooked, shopped, went out for dinner, collapsed in front of the TV,  slept etc ?

Consider this:

A team of 16 surgeons and associated medical teams have been operating all that time.

SURGEONS are still working to separate conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna.

The complicated procedure began yesterday morning and had been due to finish by midnight this morning, but was still going at 11am today (Tuesday) (AEDT).

But surgeons say the twins are doing well and the length of the operation is not a sign of problems.  Before the surgery began, the twins’ chances of survival were rated at about one in four.

Many of the complications they have expected have simply not occurred.

read about the long way to go

Posted in announcement, australia, Good News, Health Tagged: Krishna, RCH, Trishna, Twins ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/30-hours/feed/ 0 Jane Twins image frm newsdotcomsdotau http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/lauren-bacall-wins-oscar/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/lauren-bacall-wins-oscar/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:33:10 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4080 ]]>

“I can’t believe it – a man at last,” Bacall joked as she received the lifetime OSCAR.

Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall received an honorary Oscar at the weekend in front of stars including Jack Nicolson and Warren Beatty.

Bacall, 85, starred in more than 30 films but never won an Academy Award.

Saturday’s event marked the first time the Academy has presented an award away from the main ceremony in February. It was not televised.

Bacall paid tribute to her husband and fellow actor Humphrey Bogart, who died in 1957.

“He gave me a life and he changed my life,” she said of the Hollywood legend.

read who presented the award to Lauren Bacall and what the connection is.

Good to see the Academy  acknowledging a life of great work.

did he swallow?

Kevin Rudd had a meal with Aussie diggers in Afghanistan for Remembrance Day 2009

back in April we read this

Kevin Rudd has apologised for behaving badly to a RAAF female flight attendant when he did not get the sort of food he wanted on a flight from Port Moresby to Canberra earlier this year.

read coverage from The Age

so…did he or didn’t he?

they are not meant to fall at home, within the safety of a military base.

Speaking of the 13 dead, President Obama said “Their life’s work is our security and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — that is their legacy.”

turning off the freeway I pulled up behind this

Born Now free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born Now free to follow your heart

Stay free, where no walls divide you
You’re free as the roaring tide
So there’s no need to hide…

words by Don Black, music by John Barry (of James Bond fame) not the Jon-Barrie I know.

on my way to a date with my 3rd grand daughter I pulled over, and listened to the last post. I found myself shedding a tear or two, as I thought of those men and women who served, and serve now, that we may be free.

(no, I don’t mean the colour scheme)

is this the world smallest vanity unit?

It is in my new bathroom.

The fan is there as there are no windows and…er…IS that an exhaust thingy up there?

Who knows, as there is no switch for it.

Most of the space in the cupboard is filled with the plumbing for the sink,

the 3 drawers are itty bitty.

On the right is a double towel rack, attached to the wall and on the left,

as I took the photograph is the shower.

The total width is half a tile wider then what you can see on the floor at the bottom of the picture.

I am sure that even Millie feels better about HER bathroom reno; and who knows, I might be her MOTH’s new best friend, for the perspective I have added.

So suggestion ARE NEEDED!  where and how to put everything and make it look good.

Posted in HOME Tagged: bathroom blues, help ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/bathroom-blue/feed/ 7 Jane vanity unit http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/majic-monday/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/majic-monday/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:47:14 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4047 ]]>

I understand there is a hurricane in the Mexican Gulf

everyone seems to worried about if Britney did or did not lip-sync

and 2o years ago the Berlin Wall came down. 20 years?

That means almost a complete generation has lived without it existing.

I know there is a while world of events going on out there –

however for me…

I just want to get sheets onto my bed, all smooth and tucked in.

Posted in H O M E Tagged: goal, HOME, sheets ]]> http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/majic-monday/feed/ 0 Jane goals Todays Goal http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/wonderful-childrenfabulous-adults/ http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/wonderful-childrenfabulous-adults/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:47:10 +0000 Jane http://janezlifeandtimes.wordpress.com/?p=4041 ]]>

my children came and unpacked and set up 3/4 of my new apartment.

They have named the windowless storage room, built under the stairs, ‘the panic room’