Rainy days, mending, planning a new tutorial...

We've had so much rain this month that I've rarely needed to water the garden. In fact we've had so much rain that all four pumps in our front and back yards have been working overtime, and praise the Lord only one of them broke down. They kept our yards looking more like a lake than the oceans of times past. We are so glad hubby spent two weeks in May last year replacing and re-building all the pump wells and pipes because his hard work is paying off. We're still only in the first half of our tropical wet season, and more monsoons are yet to come, perhaps a cyclone (though we pray not), so knowing the pumps are moving the water out from the yards and into the council storm drain is a great relief. 

Each day at morning tea I sit at my desk in the sewing room and work on blogging, writing, homemaking and sewing plans for the months ahead. On the rainy days it was simply beautiful watching the rain drops glisten and fall from the Grevillea, Syzygium and Bottle Brush trees outside the window, and the little honeyeaters darting to and fro from branch to branch.

While it's been so wet, warm and humid, my attention has been given over to a jolly deep clean of the living/dining room, kitchen, pantry, bathroom and entryway...the evidence of each day's labour being my aching muscles at night. But working hard around home brings great satisfaction, and definitely worth the  aches and pains. 

I got down into the window tracks one morning, after washing the inside of the windows, and was horrified at the build up of dirt and dust. Obviously it had been a long time since I did that task.

 All the appliances were cleaned inside and out, and I must tell you that cleaning the dishwasher with citric acid is wonderful! Just add 1/4 cup where you'd normally put your dishwashing cleaner and run your regular cycle. When you open the door later it gleams and sparkles good as new. 

I've also done some mending of clothes, some curtains, and cushion inserts. I find in our very hot tropical weather, many things become brittle, even the covers of cushion inserts. This one was crumbling before my eyes...

Just over a year ago we switched to all linen sheets, but I kept the old cotton ones because they are really good for backing quilts, runners, etc...but they also make excellent replacement cushion insert covers.  I cut a rectangle from the old sheet to fit, sewed French seams along the sides, and hemmed the open end, before popping the crumbling insert inside and slip stitching the opening closed. 

Now I can safely place the newly covered insert inside my pretty cushion covers without dealing with a crumbly mess whenever I want to change them. 

After this repair I took my sewing machine in for a service. Blossom reminded me that our machines had not been serviced in a very long time (6 years - ouch!) and when we got them back they worked like new. We simply hadn't noticed any issues until then, as I find over time you get used to things not being perfect. Anyhow, this enthused me to get back to sewing on my machine more often, and that decision prompted a new tutorial which I'll be sharing next week. 

Here's a little peek at what we will be making...

It's a small sewing pouch, the kind you can fill with EPP papers and fabrics, scissors, thread and needle, to take on a journey, or to work from whilst waiting for an appointment. They are very easy to make, and will post in an envelope if you do not fill it, so they make excellent gifts.

Inside is a pocket for holding the EPP bits and pieces, and the needles and pins are held in place with soft squares of doctor's flannel (which is pure wool). 

Pop back here to the blog next week for the step by step tutorial. 

Even though it's raining a lot, the weather is still hot and humid, so cool afternoon snacks and soda water infused with frozen pineapple or citrus slices are my go to. At the moment I'm relishing grape season, and have developed a partiality for apple slices dipped in peanut butter. Oh my, it's quite scrumptious!

Did you make the bookmarks from my free Books & Roses block of the month last year? When I shared the first one last January I suggested some of you may like to use them in a quilt instead of a bookmark. Well, my good friend Joanne in the Netherlands, ran with that idea! 

She's been sending me update photos every month, and here are her twelve Books & Roses embroideries displayed inside churn dash blocks...

...and the other day I received photos of the completed quilt. I think you will love it!

Isn't it wonderful!? 

And her smiling face peeking over the top was just as exciting to see. Joanne is one of the most positive women I know, and even in the midst of her own great trial last year, she made me laugh and look at life as the absolute joy it is meant to be, praise God. She's a strong woman, and as you can see, a very creative one too. 

NEWS: Instagram

I have opened a new account on Instagram. The many months since I left IG were more beneficial than I can say, because though I may not have spoken or written of it, last year was (personally and for family members) a very challenging one. 

Taking time out to examine my life, my character, my hopes and plans, my relationship with the Lord, my available time, and the very great responsibility of being a homemaker and the matriach of our family - those many months of social media absence proved beneficial, as they gave me needed space to sweep away doubt and cobwebs, and to become sure of exactly who I was and the direction God required me to pursue. 

I actually did not think there'd be any return to IG, so making this decision over the past week surprised me...but we live in a time when the voice of conservatives, of Bible believing Christians, of homemakers, wives, mothers and grandmothers, of Titus Two women, are being drowned out. So while we're still able to speak, I'd like to encourage women in my own small way, and just as I do this on my blog, so I plan to do also on my new Instagram account. 

You can follow along HERE or search for @jennyofelefantz 

Well, I'll get back to my planning now, as I have a few tutorial ideas I'd like to work on for coming months, plus a new issue of The Homemakers Heart to compile...

...and with a great recipe book find from the op-shop recently I have notes to make because it's full of great advice for menu planning in the economy of today. So much of it I heard from my Nana's lips, but had forgotten. Now the memory is being jogged awake. 

Bless you heaps, and I pray that whatever your season, you're finding ways to beautify your home environment and infuse joy into all your tasks. May the Lord bless the work of your hands today and every day...

Hugs

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August bookmark and what I've been sewing...

 

The weather is warming again, as it normally does once we pass the middle of our tropical winter, so I have put the crochet hook down for a while and been busy in the evenings with my remake of Phyllis May's Kitchen (see the original pattern here). 

This time the blocks will become a quilt, and I've changed the main block to 'Jennifer's Kitchen' - which I am sure my sweet Nana, Phyllis May, would not mind at all. 

The applique fabric is Cook Book (a Lori Holt fabric), and once all the blocks are complete I'll decide how to border them in a quilt layout. 

I'm really happy with the remake so far, a change from the original vintage florals of the memory book.

Slow stitching without a deadline is very relaxing after busy days around the home and garden. 

Do you remember early in July when I showed you my damaged pillowcase, and the first steps of mending it? 

It's completed now, though there was more mending required than originally thought. Perhaps this will give you an idea for pillowcase makeovers?

I drew a basic flower design, and used needle-turn applique to cover a hole which had marred the pillowcase.

Then I saw that the edge was fraying, and a side seam had come away, so once the side was repaired with a simple French seam, I covered the end with some treasured Cabbages & Roses fabric and a bit of cotton lace. 

I think I'll make pillowcases for all my granddaughters next, using brighter colours and more flowers. They will love that!

The August bookmark was a rush job this time, as I had forgotten all about it until yesterday. I'm still very fatigued and forgetful from Covid, as are other members of the family who caught the B5 variant. 

((It really knocked us hard, but not as bad as the children. Blossom's three children here, and Anita's three children down in Sydney (2000 kilometres away from each other) had Covid too, and now all six grandchildren have lost their fingernails, and little Charlie has also lost his toenails as well. ))

So when I realised how close August 1st was, I drew up a design, stitched it last night, and made the bookmark today. I chose two lovely Tilda fabrics for my thread colour inspiration, and was happy to find ribbon in my stash which also blended perfectly. 

Use the link below to download the free pattern.

DOWNLOAD August Bookmark Stitchery

If you've missed any of the previous month's patterns they are HERE

Look after yourselves, okay, and look out for those around you. I ask God at times like this "what is my gift, that I can help others?" and usually the answer is cooking and baking...so that's what I did over the weekend and early this morning. 

You see, Blossom's really struggled since she had Covid, especially with the children having been so sick with it too, so today I took over enough meals and treats to last a few days...it's a simple thing, but it meant a lot to her. 

Is there a simple thing you can do to help out someone who is feeling poorly, or is in need of a blessing?

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'  Acts 20:35

Big hugs and many blessings,

Domestic days, an epiphany and tiny redwork...

Been an odd week. Hubby went  back to work on Tuesday, then Thursday was Anzac Day so he was home again, then today back off to work he went, in my car because the Jeep is broken (again). It all felt a bit stop-start after his initial two-week school holiday break, which kind of trips me up with regards to the gentle rhythms of housekeeping, meals and running a home business. I've been telling myself (a lot) that routines will fall back in place soon. 

Honest, have to laugh at how much I need routine to feel balanced mentally. Hubby says, "You're a funny old girl" with a twinkle in his eye. But there are some things about each of our personalities, yours and mine, which are as natural as breathing and when someone says to let it go and chill out you know deep inside that's not going to happen. 

If I have ever told you to chill out because you're unsettled by changes in your daily routines please forgive me and accept a gentle ((((hug)))) from my heart. I'd offer you a piece of raspberry slice and a cup of nice tea if you were visiting for real. 

I think that's been a good epiphany for me this year, to know that my individual quirks are okay, that they're me and always have been. They don't harm anyone else and they certainly don't stop the world from turning...and in some odd little way they are comforting because each one is a part of my day to day rhythm. Maybe I've come to a place of peace with who I am, the me who doesn't quite fit the mould others might prefer? 

Well, whatever, there's a niceness about that epiphany and I'm really grateful for my husband and Blossom who love me just as I am, and sparkly Cully May who brings out the kooky side of Nana-hood, and Rafaella who melts into my arms and buries her head in my neck for the longest cuddles.

People who love us. That's got to be one of the greatest gifts you can't buy.

GARDEN

Surprises are nice too. Especially the ones that pop up in the garden after it's been covered in compost and sugar cane mulch. 

One tomato plant made an appearance and I got so excited that it shouldn't be alone I went and bought two more to keep it company. They're all doing well and this weekend I'll add some herbs between them.

My old basil plant self seeded a thousand babies (okay, slight exaggeration...massive exaggeration?) and I've re-potted a few and have more to put straight in the garden. Between the tomatoes. 

The garlic chives have gone a bit crazy too after the army hair cut I gave them in March...

Bob-the-dog went to stay with Blossom for eight days because he is, after all, her dog.

He had a ball with her, Ross and the girls but after more than a week of being chased and loved on by Cully May and Rafaella the old boy needed some time out so he came back to us. I think we're his retirement home and Blossom's is his holiday lodge. Or maybe his occupational therapy lodge cause he sure has to run around a lot when he's there. LOL!

Since Bob's been away we've been visited every morning by two Ibis and I don't mind them being here because they aerate the gardens and the lawn with their long skinny beaks, though Mr E warns them "don't eat our worms!"...

Normally they try to visit every day but as soon as they land Bob-the-dog chases them away so it's been nice watching them strut here and there unhindered lately. Of course this morning when they arrived Bob was out the back door and letting them know of his return before I had a chance to stop him. Sigh. 

Did you notice my apron up there at the beginning of this post?

Rhonda at Down to Earth had an apron sew along this month and I decided to join in as who has enough aprons?? My supply dwindled after the January floods so this is the first of a few which shall be made over coming weeks.

When I hung the apron outside to take a photo it occurred to me that it could almost pass as a pretty scarecrow, but I want to wear it so that idea was scrapped rather quickly. 

CLEANING 

Now that the sting of our tropical summer has eased and the days have become bearably very warm we don't need the air conditioners on very often, just the ceiling fans, which makes working around the house far more pleasant. Fresh air flowing through one door and out the other is my favourite thing this time of year, something I miss dearly during the long humid wet season.

These days also inspire me to 'spring clean in autumn' and make lots of good healthy fare for easy dinners outside at the end of the day.

We don't have carpet here anymore but there are three rugs and two cotton couches so I make up a mix of bi-carb soda and eucalyptus oil to sprinkle over them and after rubbing in I leave it for a few hours before vacuuming away.

It's amazing how lovely the house smells afterwards!

I also do this to Bob-the-dog's bed cause one of my quirks is that I don't like dog odour around me, but I make sure every bit is removed before he gets his bed back. By his reaction Bob loves the smell of eucalyptus too.

KITCHEN STUFF 

We love fresh juice but to be honest I've been really remiss in making it since we moved here so it was time to get back in the habit again.

The other day I bought a 5kg bag of huge juicing carrots and made up six litres of carrot, apple, ginger and lemon juice. 

I popped four litres in the freezer so we could pull out one at a time over the coming week and we drank the other two that day because we could! 

Plenty of vegetables found their way into the oven for quick and healthy salad lunches and I bought a bag of eight avocados for $7 so we're living the high life right now!

I love making coleslaw but my way is a bit different than what I grew up with. Nana just did cabbage and carrot, but I add in spring onions, finely chopped cherry tomatoes and cucumber, red capsicum and herbs before dousing in whole egg mayo, pepper and lemon juice. Oh my it's delicious, and we usually have it generously piled atop oven baked potatoes and guacamole. Mr E loves to have this once a week!

I also made a big pot of spicy dahl this week which was so yummy poured over a mix of brown rice and quinoa. I always have it the next day for lunch as well because I can't stop thinking about it after the night before. 

Do you have recipes like that, the kind you just want to keep going back for more?

For lunch yesterday, because hubby was home, I made chicken, avocado and vegetable rice paper rolls with a simple dipping sauce of tamari, lime juice. chilli sauce, chopped spring onions and fresh coriander. Extras are always made for hubby's work lunch the next day...

SEWING 

Yes, I've been sewing, putting together Phyllis May's Kitchen *at last*!

There's 16 blocks to bring together in a secret project (not a quilt) and I've completed four so far. I'm piecing and quilting two a day and writing the patterns when they're done because I do not enjoy pattern writing so to sit and write sixteen patterns for the blocks and piecing and then the 'secret' pattern as well - oh no, I'll go two at a time and save myself the stress. 

Here's a wee peak...

The plan is that these should be ready as a Block of the Month in mid May.

It has to be May because Nana was Phyllis May and June just doesn't seem right.

MENDING

Some other sewing I did this week was to mend my torn living room curtain. The hole was about six inches across and as we're rather budget minded these days the only sensible thing to do was take needle and thread to close the rip.

But what's the fun in that??

Why not use one of these for a touch of prettiness...

After I stitched the hole closed I pinned a large crochet doily over the top...

...and carefully stitched it in place.

I'd often seen similar things on Pinterest and loved them so once the idea came to mind there was no stopping me. Blossom said I should sew a few more on the curtain which is exactly what I had thought too...

...although Mr E just rolled his eyes.

I quietly reminded him he could decorate his huge shed any way he liked.

He laughed and went on his way.

WOULD YOU LIKE....

to stitch those little redwork motifs I used on my new apron?

They're only small and stitch up quite fast so you could embellish a pocket, a cardigan, a bookmark or an apron of your own. In fact if you have other ideas please share them!

These are a simple free gift, me to you, so enjoy them, okay?

DOWNLOAD HERE

The weekend is only hours away, there's roast chicken with an abundance of vegetables in the oven for Friday dinner and I have a book to finish tonight, a real favourite.

I bought The Turquoise Table as an audio book over a year ago and have listened to it ten time, I kid you not! Now I have the hardcover book so I can underline and share snippets here.

Highly recommended reading. Inspiring, happy, thoughtful and makes you feel good.

Also makes me want a turquoise table and an accessible front yard. There are downsides to electric gates after all.

May our wonderful, loving, gracious, kind, forgiving and LOVING God be your all-in-all today and bring you hope, healing, peace and joy in overflowing abundance.

hugs