Thursday, May 6, 2021

Just ordinary days...

 These autumn days are still warm, around 29C (85F), though the wet season has passed so they are dry days now. The nights are down to 20C (70F) and there's dew on the grass each morning; the flowers glisten as the early morning sunlight appears over the mountain.



I'm reading through the book of 1 John with my breakfast this week, slowly pondering each verse and applying it to my life and character.
With the cooler mornings it's time for porridge again, which I sprinkle with hemp seeds, cacao nibs, fresh berries, a little coconut sugar and oat milk...simply delicious.
I've had those hemp seeds and cacao nibs in my pantry for ages and not used them so thought it time to do so.



I began a new crochet blanket at the weekend. The pattern is from Lucy at Attic 24, the Hydrangea Stripe Blanket, which she shared back in 2019. I gathered my new and used balls of DK yarn, then set about choosing fourteen colours I though would blend nicely.


After laying out all my balls of yarn and deciding on the flow of colours I hole punched some cardboard and added short lengths of each colour in sequence so I'd not get confused later. I find this one small thing helps me whenever I crochet a striped blanket.



A row here, another couple there, when I sit down for an afternoon break or in the evening...



...and just the enjoyment of adding the next colour to see how my vision for the blanket is coming along is enough to keep me going with one more row before bedtime. Not much was done yesterday though, as it was a day for deep cleaning the laundry and kitchen, but I did finish the darker blue rows after dinner. 


Fresh bread baked, and leftover chicken curry thawing from the freezer, dinner was organised early.




Taking some time out with a cup of tea and ginger slice was welcome relief mid afternoon. I don't know about you, but I like to make those breaks a little special by setting everything prettily on the table, regardless of the cleaning chaos still in progress and things waiting on the table to be put away.

A gentle moment in the midst of a busy homemakers day is restoring and calming...




Four loads of washing, a sprinkle of bi-carb soda and eucalyptus oil over the rugs and couches, vacuuming the floors and couches afterwards, pulling the oven door apart to scrub it clean, dusting the furniture, reorganising as I went along...it was a lovely day, quite fulfilling to my homemaker heart. 

There's so much gentleness in days like this, and I relish them more with each passing month. One thing which has added to the delight of cleaning and baking and everyday tasks is music playing in the background. Here's a very calming 3-hour instrumental I've been listening to the past couple of days...


I will be having Cully May and Rafaella today and have planned a few fun activities for us to do while Blossom catches up with her own homemaking chores and tends to Charlie David who is in the distressing process of cutting his first tooth. 

Last Thursday I had the girls and we went to the beach playground, ice-cream shop and library before coming back to my place for afternoon tea and beading. They had so much fun (and Blossom got lots done at home) that we decided to make this a regular thing, though we'll swap the days to Tuesday or Wednesday from next week. 

I shall leave you with photos from the autumn garden today. May your own days be quietly blessed with gentle rhythms which bring joy, satisfaction and gratitude to your heart. God bless.

hugs














 

20 comments:

Tricia T said...

Your blanket is coming along beautifully! Thanks for the music. I have it bookmarked. I love the birds singing in the background!!

earthmotherwithin said...

I love the colours in your blanket! I like quiet ordinary days too

Lorrie said...

I John is one of my favourite Bible books - so full of God's love for us, His children. Your blanket is going to be beautiful. Keeping little ones can be such a boon to a busy mother. On Thursdays I keep almost-two Iris so that her mother can care for 5-month Cora and get a few things done around the house. Ordinary days are filled with such loveliness.

Joanne said...

Hi Jennifer,
You set the scene beautifully :)
Hope your allergic reactions have settled, cleared up, after the last blogpost.
We will be warming up to 20 C by Sunday :)
hugs,Take care,
Joanne

Lin said...

Beautiful photographs Jennifer and the colours you have chosen for your blanket are stunning! It is going to be gorgeous. xx

Tammy said...

Beautiful photos my friend. I love hemp seeds. But they are pricey....Love the crochet blanket you are working on. Those colors are stunning together

Kay said...

Such a lovely post. Day to day life can be inspirational. x

Anonymous said...

Jenny the crochet is beautiful. You are challenging me to get out my crochet hooks, but I DO NOT NEED to start another project!!
Thanks for sharing. Mary beth

Jenny said...

The colors you've chosen for you blanket are simply lovely. It's going to be so beautiful. The bread & tea look pretty yummy too.

I'm enjoying the music. Thanks for sharing.

FlourishingPalms said...

Your crochet piece is already so pretty! I really like Attic 24 designs, and though I've only crocheted one of them (Moorland afghan), my experience using DK yarn was great. It's really nice! Now, what might I do with all the yarn leftovers? Your porridge made me hungry! I think it's time for a late breakfast - a bowl of oatmeal with the same toppings you used, though I don't have berries on hand. Your loaf of bread looks tastily beautiful!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

What a great post - love the crochet and the kitty hiding in the shrubs taking a nap! Have a blessed day!

Quiltsmiles said...

I feel your love shining through this post and am enjoying your playlist, thank you. That bread you showed looks perfect. Would you kindly share your recipe? The moistness, oft and air pockets evident look perfect and I'd love to try this recipe. My mother in law used to make "home made" bread from a pre mix package of Spruce bread and I'm still looking for it and would love to surprise my husband of 47 years. TY

Carol in Texas said...

Jenny, I know you have given us your recipe for ginger slice, but I do not know how to access it. Do you have your recipes in a separate category? Carol in Texas

A Walk With Susan said...

I truly enjoy receiving your posts. They are so gentle and full of God's grace. The colors you chose for the crocheted blanket are scrumptious. I can appreciate your table setting it has been so long since I have been able to sit down to a lovely cup of tea. I have decided to pick up 1John as well. Blessings to you and your family. Hugs Susan

flourgirl said...

Yes, please share bread recipe. Thank you!

Ondrea said...

Your weather sounds perfect. Love your crochet. The colours are beautiful and I can see why you want to keep going..I am like that too. LOL, a cuppa and biscuit on the coffee table while I watch something is my afternoon tea.Have you found another tea you like? Great fun with the girls.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Carol, I aim to set up a recipe page here soon, but it's just getting some time to do so. :-)
In the meantime, here's the recipe I shared in 2014. It uses gluten free flour but replace with the same amount of ordinary self-rising flour.
https://www.elefantz.com/2014/03/ginger-slice-my-gluten-free-version.html

KingsailK said...

Beautiful colours in your blanket!

Serenity, Serendipity & Stitches said...

I love my Earl Grey tea in the afternoons, occassionaly having a dandy chai as well. My gut issue was getting worse despite being very careful with my diet. Recently discovered chicory was in a lot of the herbal ‘teas’ I was drinking especially the dandy chai and in a few I wasn’t expecting it to be in. Ginger, and mint teas, supposedly good tor gut issues play havoc with my gut. My afternoon ritual is a pot of earl grey and a favourite china cup and saucer. Earl Grey and relaxation go together. I’m glad you got to the bottom of one of the causes for your dermatitis but sad you have to stop your earl grey.

Serenity, Serendipity & Stitches said...

Weather turning a bit cooler up on the Tablelands, dug out my Hydrangea blanket I made a few years ago. Made in leftover wool and in heath and heather colours. I decided the other night it needed to be a bit bigger, luckily I found just enough wool to do about 20 rows. I love this pattern and I’m going to make another in brights using leftover acrylic yarns. It will be a knee rug for our knitters and hookers group that make blankets for care homes. Sorry you can’t have your lovely relaxing Earl Grey tea anymore, it’s my favourite way of relaxing in the afternoons. I’m glad you found out about the bergamot though. I discovered chicory was one of the triggers with my FODMAP issues so my dandy chai had to go and a lot of other herbal ‘teas’ as well.