LIVE, LIVE, LIVE

l knew l had a 10 o"clock appointment to-day at the Shepparton Hospital.

It was my 6 monthly visit with the oncology doctors that come from Melbourne. 

l knew from experience that it would be a 1 to 2 hour wait and l am now very organized with my take away cappuccino and my puzzle books (I'm always trying to win something). 

lts a sad place to wait. l met a lovely lady who looked so well but had found out only 3 weeks ago that she had a large malignant tumor on her liver plus small ones around it. All I could do was offer her words of encouragement.

l was called in and the elderly doctor had a big smile on his face. "Rhonda, l have good news for you. All your tests have come back clear and you have reached the 5 year safe period. From having secondary aggressive cancer which was at extreme high risk, 5 years later you now only have a 15% chance of it coming back again. You are a miracle! Go and celebrate girl!" 

After giving him a big hug l went out to my car where l wept for a few minutes and then l went to the Art Gallery for a much needed coffee.

l told my husband the good news (l could not have got through it without him) and rang my 4 children and my mother.

My hubby took me to a lovely eating place in Tatura called The Gallery for afternoon tea. We treated ourselves with my favorite delicious sticky date pudding with cream and ice-cream and great hot cappuccino's of course. 

So how do I feel about the news?

I still don't know what to think or how to express myself about it.

After I let it sink in and take about 100 big breathes I'll get back to you.

MOOOVING ART-GOULBURN VALLEY COWS

 l have just taken some more photos of some Arty Cows. l love these happy full size cows. 

They are called "Moooving  Art" as they are based in Shepparton but these moo cows are "moooved" around to other areas.

So whenever l have to go to Shepparton, my camera is always ready just in case there is a new one.

There's over 60 cows in  my photo album now.

 My son Jody and my grandson Kye

 My grandsons Kye and Isaac

 l hope you enjoy these photos, although its not the same as standing beside the real thing with your arms around their neck. 

My grandchildren especially love to sit on their backs. 

My love of cows might be because as a child I was always a milk drinker as this carried through to adult hood.

TRIVIA TIME

I have three things to tell you.

Did you know a group of crows is called a murder? 

The act of snapping your fingers has a name it's called a fillip.

And that loud fast music makes termites chew faster! (l'd better tell my husband to turn the music down!)

 

AN ANTIQUE FIND

To-day is Sunday.

l think l might visit our little antique shop to-day. 

l haven't been for quite a while, sometimes l just have to drive past them as l love old treasures and beautiful things and it's just too tempting.(l'll never get to ltaly )

But to-day is different, l need to have some fun and l love the thrill of the hunt.

This is my 1st find, a gorgeous small blue decanter with 6 glasses, in perfect condition.

lt's not very often you find a full set as there is usually a glass missing.

My little decanter set is 60 years old so of course it's an heirloom.

My second find was just a bit of fun but i had to have it.

l couldn't believe it, as it was my name framed in a vintage pine frame. On closer inspection I saw that was made from small pieces of blue Easter egg paper.

THE CHURCH PEW UPDATE

Two weeks ago l told you that l had purchased a beautiful old church pew. 

lt has finally been delivered so l have taken some photo's to show you.

l am so happy with it, hubby and l have just sat on it for the first time and had a cup of coffee. Maybe we should have said a prayer first!

TRUCK ART

l recently called in to see my friend Carol and as we walked around her property she showed me the plans and dreams that she and her husband Paul had for it.

As we came to his very large shed (every man must have a shed) he had this wonderful, very original art piece on the outside wall.

He explained how he had leaned it against the wall and it looked like half a car already, so he lifted it higher, adhered it to the wall and painted around it. Doesn't it look great!

"MY GRANDMOTHER" - PAINTING AND POEM

My grandmother was a very special person. 

Before she married my grandfather her maiden name was Neville. 

She told me that her mother and her grandmother were direct descendants of  "Sir  Richard  Neville of Warwick"-also called "The  Kingmaker".

Sir Richard Neville 16th Earl Of Warwick & Warwick Castle

l wrote her this poem and used my pastels to make the roses surrounding my poem. 

She loved roses as much as l did.

MY  GRANDMOTHER

You introduced me to so many things,

Bright colored buttons l threaded on cottons and strings.

Enid Blyton, daffodils, walks, wool and birds on wing,

gooseberries, raspberries, and the jam it will bring.

When sent home from school that l sought,

so many migraines and the peace that you brought.

Your knowledge and sense of humour so great,

although punctual at mealtimes you don't like to eat late.

Politics, people, marriage and some problems it brings,

broadminded and able to talk of all things.

You wrote to me after we had our fourth baby,

with a pamphlet on vasectomy, you my grand lady.

l hope there's a little of you in me,

walks, talks and flowers and the love of a tree.

l've inherited your ankles that's easy to see.

Three months of the year to spend between us
We, mum and dad to spoil you without to much fuss.

With each person you meet you leave a lasting impression.
You say what you feel, a lady with expression.
l said a book l would write of the interesting life you have led,
From England to Australia and all the years that ave sped.
But, not being the intellectual type this verse will have to do instead.
So to my granny and other granny's there is a special need.
To love and to teach, like a flower from a seed.
Rhonda

Later on l did write my Granny's story. 

Her life was so interesting and we talked for hours as l was gathering information. 

Not long after she died l received all the information from England, that we were in fact direct descendants of  the "Earl of Warwick"  Traced back to the 15th Century.

SOME BEACHY SEA TRIVIA!

Did you know?

Groups of sea otters tie themselves together with kelp so they do not drift apart while they are sleeping.

lf a starfish is cut into pieces, each piece will become another starfish.

My brother-in -law could go into business, especially with that big blue starfish he has. (Only joking Trev! )

PRESSED PANSY'S (VIOLA'S )

To-day l went in search of an answer in my World Book Encyclopedia. 

My books are 30 years old but l still use them. 

I remember when l first bought them l paid them off for 2 years but my children were only small at the time so l knew they would be well used in the future.

Anyway today l picked one of the heavy books up and dropped it.

As l bent to pick it up, l noticed little flowers all over the floor. They were little viola flowers beautifully pressed.

l thought back over the years and remember when my daughter and l picked them.

Pansy's are one of my favourite flowers and they taste good too!

This reminds me, my daughter also loves pansy's and wrote a wonderful story about them on her blog.
You can read her blog here. It is called http://amore-linguine-and-me.blogspot.com/

CHEF TRIVIA!

My grandson is a chef.

My daughter is so, so lucky with a live in chef who still loves to cook the evening meal after a busy day.

We love to visit them sampling different menu's, so artistically arranged l don't like to mess it up.

l always said if  l won the lottery l would hire a cook. With house keeping and gardening you can see where you have been, but cooking, what a mess l make.----------- but back to the chef trivia. 

Did you ever wonder why their hats were so tall and balloony? 

Their unique shape is to counteract the intense heat in the kitchen, and allows air to circulate around the scalp, keeping the head cool. 

So next time you see a chef with his tall hat on, lets hope he has a nice cool head.

JULES UNDERWATER LODGE

An underwater motel sounds like science fiction but its a fact. 

Situated in Key Largo, Florida 21 feet under the sea you will find the "Jules Underwater Lodge".

Just to enter the Lodge you have to scuba dive the 21 ft. down through the the tropical mangrove habitat of the Emerald Lagoon.

Approaching the worlds only underwater motel is quite an experience.

Even from the outside the big 42 inch round windows cast a warm invitation.

The cottage sized building has all the comforts of home, hot showers, a well stocked kitchen, books, music. movies and cosy beds.

The guests can watch the fish and sea creatures from their large round windows.

The underwater where Jules Lodge is located is a natural nursery for many fish. 

Tropical angel fish, barracuda and snappers peek in the windows from the habitat, while anemones, sponges, oysters and duster earth worms are in view.

What a dream, what an experience!

l'll have to learn how to swim as l don't think my dog paddling will do any good!

MY WEEKLY TRIVIA -- FLY'S !

Did you know a fly hums in the middle octive in the key of F?

Also a  fly always jumps backwards for a quick getaway when you try to hit it, and then it flies off.

l've never really thought about a fly, only that they are germy pesky pests.

They seem to always appear from out of no-where, when you are having a B.B.Q. and you always have to have the fly spray, or aeroguard on hand!

BROKEN PLATES TO SIT ON

Over the years l have saved broken pieces of my favourite plates, cups etc.(mainly old English plates). 

So lovely l just could not part with them. 

l have also collected special plates from garage sales (boot sales), thrift shops and friends. 

lt's now time to mosaic the top of a favourite shabby chic look stool l have.

Finished at last, l had great fun even though it was quite time consuming

Time to have a cup of tea sitting on my old English Plates!

FRUITCAKE (PINEAPPLE)

So many people have asked me for my pineapple fruitcake recipe.

l think it's because there's a 450g tin of pineapple in it.

The pineapple makes it so moist, especially if you leave it for a week or so wrapped in cling wrap after cooking.

 l always make 2 at a time. You can freeze one plus it is cheaper to make if you buy a l kilo pack of mixed fruit compared to a 500 ml. pack. You can then cook them together and save 1 hour of electricity.

 At Christmas time l cook 4 at once and give them as gifts. Men all seem to like fruitcake.

If you would like to make one yourself, then here is my Pineapple Fruit Cake recipe.

 Pineapple Fruit Cake

500 grams of mixed fruit
1 cup of sugar
250 ounces of butter
450 grams of crushed pineapple (or cubed),
1 teaspoon bi-carb soda
1 tea spoon of mixed spice

Place above ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar and butter dissolves. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

When cool add-

2 eggs
1 cup of S. R. Flour
1 cup of Plain Flour,
Place in a cake tin greased with butter and lined with paper on the base.

Cook for 60 minutes to 75 minutes @ 160 degrees (or longer if necessary).
To add that extra festive flavour add 1/4 cup of brandy or sherry or marsala or whatever you fancy.

A JOURNEY TO THE ORCHARD

My husband took me to a friends orchard to pick some delicious Pink Lady apples.

Late autumn pruning had just been completed, this entails removing the leaves from the top of a bunch of apples as they need the light to ripen.

The rows of apple trees were a glorious sight as the leaves had started to turn into their autumn colour with many leaves already showing their display on the ground below. 

Of course my camera goes everywhere!

Walking along the rows with my precious apples in my hands, l spotted an abandoned birds nest and then another.

l bought them home and placed them in the branch forks of my trees and I know my my grandchilden will love them. l was surprised to find bits of plastic and nylon string in them.

lt will soon be winter and the trees will be bare so we have to enjoy the moment now.

ANDRE RIEU CONCERT IN MELBOURNE

Andre in concert, l still can't believe we were actually there (thank you Mary).

The Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne was packed to capacity. 

Whenever we feel tired or unwell at home, we just put on one of his many d.v.d.'s we have and we seem to come to life.

His music is just so brilliant and it makes us feel so happy!

Here are some of the photos I managed to take. Enjoy!