Simple things at home...

 

It's the last day of January already, and I find it hard to believe it's been three weeks since I last drove my car - but one thing we cannot do is slow time, or go back and redo what we wish we could. Every morning when we wake, it is a new day, a fresh moment, to look forward and perhaps make better choices. At least that's how I have come to see it recently. 

Our family (hubby and I, Blossom and Ross, Kezzie and her eldest boy) are struggling in a few areas - mainly health, employment, and transportation - but you know, it brings my heart so much joy when we laugh about the simplest of things, pray over what matters, look at our various situations with a glass half-full attitude, and always always encourage each other. For in the midst of it all is Jesus, and when Jesus is included in our challenges as well as our joys, we have peace in our souls.

We have been getting a lot of heavy rain on and off this wet season, and I have taken note of all the flowers and plants which are thriving in the hot, wet, humid tropics where we live, and the ones which cannot cope. Number one with thriving are the zinnias! Oh my, they have taken over a number of raised beds, shedding their seeds again and again, sprouting up zinnias of various sizes and colours, but predominantly these hot pink ones which once blooming will announce themselves in flower for at least four to six weeks. 

They have even taken over the sweet potato patch, but we do not mind as the sweet potatoes are still faring very well beneath the soil. Our Kelly-dog loves sweet potatoes so having a good supply growing through all four seasons of the year is quite a blessing. 

Other colourful successes in our wet season climate are marigolds, morning primrose, angelonia, vinca and pentas. The pentas, morning primrose and vinca are scattered around the yard as well as in pots, but some of them have grown together in the high raised bed where I grow herbs, chillies and spring onions all year through.

I get a lot of joy being surrounded by flowers, especially in a season where it's not as easy to grow them as it is in the warm dry seasons of winter and spring. Scattering seeds is not a difficult task, but you need to know if the seeds you are scattering will take hold in the season you are planting them. A bit like sharing the Word with someone, or cultivating a new friendship. Some seasons nothing will grow, but in others, there may be a good harvest.

This week I continued with the easy way of baking a sourdough loaf, and so far with a very basic/no weighing/no measuring/just go by feel or instinct process, every loaf has worked wonderfully.  I use different flours every time to hone my sourdough instincts, as different grains will require more or less water than each other, plus different proving times. Sometimes I can have a loaf baked by the end of the day, and with others, such as the rye loaf above, it can take two days. 

The rye sourdough loaf was so good, and one I will be baking regularly. It was moist, stayed fresh for ages, and was delicious plain or toasted. Above is yesterday's morning tea - rye soughdough toasted and spread with butter, peanut butter, and my homemade apricot jam. What a yummy way to begin the day!

Today I have a spelt sourdough on it's second rise before I bake it. As we have air conditioning in the main living area of the house, I leave my sourdough to rise in the sewing room where it's very warm and humid. 

The biscuits (cookies) in the photo at the start of this blog post were baked for hubby yesterday. He does not like cake (shame, because I do) but he loves his biscuits, especially in the evenings. These are a Frangipane Jam Drop recipe, made using almond flour, and were very tasty with a cuppa. I'm hoping we can make them last through the weekend. ;-)

During rest times for my knee this week, the number of small squares being knitted up has increased, and now I am beginning some larger squares as my plan (should it come to fruition) is to make a lap blanket before winter, using a patchwork-y mix of small and large squares. Then I plan to crochet a lacey edge around all four sides. In my mind's eye it looks amazing, but in practical terms I am simply winging it and hoping for the best. The yarn is a 4ply fingering yarn that I bought from Temu. Yes, Temu - are you surprised? I was! You see, before my knee would not allow me to drive (until it heals a bit) I dropped off a load of donations from that kitchen overhaul back HERE to a local op-shop (charity store) and then went for a stroll through. In the small crafts section I found a pack of six yarns, unopened, and described as being 92% Australian wool and 8% polyester. I thought this was funny because here I am in Australia, but the package of yarn had Chinese writing all over it, and had come from China. I carefully opened the package to feel the quality of the yarn and it was sublime. So I paid the $9 and took them home. After knitting a number of these small squares I did a search for the brand and found them on Temu, the exact same yarns and in a variety of colours. As this is my yarn project for 2026, and keeps my hands busy during the knee-up rest times, hubby agreed that I should buy what I need. So I bought another three sets of 6 balls, and truly, I am very happy with that decision because my lap blanket is coming along beautifully.  

If you are wondering about the yarn it is called Fancy Dyeing and the link I used is THIS one. Not sure if it will work for you but its the only one I can find on Temu. 

The sashiko block I was working on is complete, and I am pleased how it looks with the appliqued circles. I still have a lot of those circles to use up but for now I will put this block aside until a bright idea forms on how to incorporate it in a larger project. Perhaps more sashiko blocks with different coloured background fabric? For now it is not important, but shall be relegated to the bottom of my UFO list unless that bright idea emerges sooner. 

How did you go with your Adventure project finish for January?? If you missed that post and all the info about our 2026 Adventure, you'll find it HERE

I completed the Japanese embroidery and framed it...

...then completed the sashiko block, and though technically not really a UFO, it used up some of those little circles which were made back in 2024. Of course, now it is a real UFO for another time. Ha ha!

The rest of January was spent knitting squares. ;-)

Next week I am going to kick off February's Adventure by sharing with you what project I shall finally complete that month, but I also have a very different project to show you, one that you may be inspired to make as well. 

May your weekend be a time of rest and refreshment, and I also pray that if you have a big decision to make, that the Holy Spirit leads you to the right one. Not sure why I am praying that for you, but I trust the Holy Spirit and His prompting.

God bless dear hearts, until next week...

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