Sister....I admire you

 

To my sisters, I admire you so much a poem by Ashley Rice

You are powerful and brave

You are wise and energetic

You push the envelope as far as it can go and then take it even farther.

You always do your best and never make excuses

You are a great friend to those you meet along the way, an you serve as a great example for others to follow.

You care about your family, you are giving and understanding and empathetic

You always put your whole heart into whatever you are doing and never settle for second best.

You never give up even when the going is tough, and you are really there for people when they need you.

You brighten the lives of others more than you could ever know

I admire you so much

You are an amazing woman ever day in every single way

Ashley Rice

 

A bit of hodgepoge on this wet morning

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.  

What gives you energy? What takes it away?

A good night’s sleep gives me energy, doing stuff takes it away 

How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear?

I often shop for clothes but not always for me as gifts for family members. I always wear my train brooch in honour of my dad. I also like to wear earrings and a necklace. 

What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

Hugs from my family, mostly my sister Sandy and granddaughter Sam

Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food? 

It would have to be breakfast, unless we go out for lunch. My go-to comfort food would have to be chocolate.

This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges? 

In the last few years, I have taken to saying a pray on the day for all those who were affected by the event.

Insert your own random thought here. 

Try not to forget that life should be celebrated, birthdays are special and should celebrated and not thought of as just another day, the same can be said for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day these are not just another day.

Some say that we don’t need a special day to let a parent know they are loved, but there are some who are not good at showing how they feel and for them having that special day is important it is the day they make an effort to show how they feel about their parent.

The day doesn’t have to include expensive gifts or any gift at all for many a phone call or a visit is enough.

Stealing on a Sunday posting on a Wednesday

 

Here are some questions I found over here.

https://sundaystealing.blogspot.com

Welcome to Sunday Stealing, 

Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers

I stole them from Ann who stole them from someone else.

Here is Australia we are three quarters away through the school year, and we're asking you to grade yourself. This was originally posted in 2017 by Kwizgiver, who stole it from Cat.

From A to F

Give yourself a letter grade (A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, D-, F) on the following. Just the letter grade is requested, but you're free to elaborate.

• Happiness A

• Being a decent human being A   

• Being serene (calm, peaceful)A-

• Kindness A

• Anger management B 

• Creative thinking C-

• Modesty C    

• Being an original. A

• Knowing yourself  B

• Being true to yourself B 

• Getting along with others B

• Liking yourself C

• Admitting your flaws B 

• Self improvement  B

Now I ask you reading this am I thinking to highly of myself or do you agree with my rating, please be honest.

Tuesday's 4 on a wet Wednesday morning

 

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, who can be found here: https://lemonscottage.blogspot.com/

1. If you could live in the world of any movie, which one would you choose and why?

I have sat and thought and thought some more about this and I can’t think of a single movie I would want to live in.

2. If you could have coffee or tea with a woman from history or from fiction, come to life, who would that be and why?

It would be my great grandmother, the woman who raised my mum, I would like to chat with her about what mum was like a child

3. If you could create an autumn-themed festival, what unique events or foods would it feature?

Events would include things like ranking up leaves, cleaning gutters and sorting through clothes, to see who could do such things fastest and efficiently.

4, If autumn had a personality, how would you describe it, and what kind of friend would it be?

Autumn would be a moody bitch, who can’t make up her mind

 

 

This weeks's hodgepodge

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.  

1. Next Sunday is Grandparent's Day. Share a favorite memory, photo, recipe, or something you learned from a grandparent. 

My grandmother always said to take of my skin and to moisturise daily and stay out of the hot sun, if I wasn’t wearing a hat. She also told me to hand my daily troubles over to God before going to sleep.

2. What's a quote from a book \(besides The Bible) that has stayed with you? 

Can’t think of one

3. What's your number one food pet peeve?

People who tell me to just try it because they think I will like it, when I have clearly said no thank you, I’m not interested. 

4. What's one thing about you that is still the same as it was when you were young?

I couldn’t think of anything, so I asked my family and they all said my smile, so that’s what I’m going with.

5. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency plan? Do you have some sort of preparedness kit you keep on hand? If so, tell us one thing that's kept there.

Emergency plan? Nope we don’t it isn’t something we have ever considered but where we live, we don’t get floods, bushfires, cyclones or anything else like that. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So many of us live life in the fast lane rushing here and there and not taking the time to enjoy stuff, so it is important to at times to just slow down. To intentionality just stop for a bit and just sit and listen to the sound of a clock ticking, or the sound of birds outside your home.

 

Here is this weeks Tuesday 4 and guess what I am posting it on Tuesday, damn

 

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, who can be found here: https://lemonscottage.blogspot.com/

The longest living cat on record, Creme puff, lived to be 38 years old and was given coffee at breakfast all his life.  Breakfast for him was bacon, eggs, broccoli and coffee.

The previous owner of the record was Grandpa Rex Allen who\ lived to be 34 years old on the same diet.

Coffee reduces chances of Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons.  

Tea without adding milk can "tan" your bladder making for many problems Milk binds the tunic acid making it safe to drink.

Homemade food increases an animal's life span too.  Let's talk about it, okay?

1. Coffee increases a bee's memory and does the same for you. Bees love caffeinated coffee flowers.  What do you love about coffee or tea?

Nothing at all, can’t stand the taste or smell of coffee, use to drink tea but don’t like that much either.

2. If you opened a tea or coffee shop in your neighbourhood, what would it be named?  How would you decorate it? Would pastry or cake be served?

Ok if I did open a beverage shop it would be a hot chocolate one and the pastries and cake would contain chocolate.

                           

3. Beethoven required 60 beans per cup of coffee.  How particular are you about your coffee or tea?

I am very particular; it would have to smell and taste like hot chocolate.

4.Italian clergy in1600s declared coffee the devil's brew and forbid it.

Pope Clement the VIII wanted to taste it, loved it and blessed it ... today, new research shows black coffee is drunk mainly by psychopaths... 

Sweden banned coffee in 1746 as dangerous, and Islam banned it for causing free thinking!

How do you take your coffee you free thinking, radical and what's your favorite brand of devil's brew?

First people had weird thoughts about coffee, I don’t like it but I don’t think it is the devil’s brew and since I don’t like it I have no favourite brand, although hubby likes Nescafe

I stole this on Sunday and post it now on Tuesday

 

Here are some questions I found over here.

https://sundaystealing.blogspot.com

Welcome to Sunday Stealing, 

Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers

I stole them from Ann who stole them from a blogger named Idzie, who called this the F.A.B. (film, audio, book) meme.

 

F.A.B.

F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching? 

At the moment Tim and I are watching Outback Truckers an Aussie show about real life men and women who drive some pretty damn long trucks in the outback of Australia.

A. Audio: What are you listening to?

As I sit here and write this I can hear the ticking of the clocks and the sound of birds outside, with one tapping on the glass door to get my attention, they want me to feed them.

B. Book: What are you reading?

I am reading a My Story book called No Way Back by Valerie Wilding, I am really enjoying these books.

And there you have it ... another week has begun.   Japanese scientists have found that when people agree on something changes can happen. When people pray, changes occur and when they are thankful even water will purify.

Let's agree with one another that this will be a wonderful week for us all.

 

The last hodgepodge for the month of August

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.  

When someone finds out what you do or where you're from, what's a question they always ask? 

Back when I was younger people would be shocked to hear I was a stay-at-home mother.

Did you participate in 'Greek Life' when you were in college, or have children who did? If so what was your experience like? Taking another tack...have you ever been to Greece? If not, is that a destination on your bucket list? 

I don’t even know what “Greek Life” is and I have never been to Greece and have never thought of going there.

Do you like Greek food? If so what's your favorite dish?  

I have never tried Greek food

What incredibly common thing have you never done? 

Played any form of sport

What is a telltale sign that you're upset? 

My face, I can’t hide being upset, also how much I am shaking as the tremor is worse when I’m upset.

Insert your own random thought here. 

Everyone needs to remember life if for living and not just for work to pay bills, we all should have some kind of hobby or outlet to help us have down time, or me time. Time to do something unrelated to one’s pay the bills job. This is something that helps us humans cope with the stress of work by stepping away from work physically and mentally.

 

Stealing Sunday nope today is Thursday sorry about that

 

Here are some questions I found over here.

https://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/ 

1) What do you typically have for breakfast?

Breakfast is either porridge or toast or sometimes a crumpet but I start each day with a chocolate egg flip (milkshake)

2) What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

Porridge or toast

3) Orange juice, tomato juice or cranberry juice?

I would have to say either orange juice or tropical juice

4) What time is your alarm clock set for?

5am, I like to get up early.

5) Do you have any tips for preventing stress and making the morning go more smoothly?

Simply give yourself time to do all you want to do, I don’t see the point in rushing around like a headless chook when if you allow yourself the time to do what you need to do it should be ok.

Hodgepodge on a cold, wet day

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.

What's worth standing in line for? 

Food especially when you’re hungry

Tell us about a favorite food related memory. 

I remember when I was a child my mum was in hospital and dad made savory mince for tea, it was horrible and all of us except my sister Sue who liked it.

What are some things you find particularly peaceful or calming? 

Mediation and reading

Is there something you do now that gets you just as excited as it did when you were a child? 

Many things like getting ready for a road trip or holiday

To what degree are you in touch with friends from grade school? high school? college if you attended college? 

I am not I do have one friend on Facebook

Insert your own random thought here. 

Remember that we all need to nourish our soul, to feed it with mindfulness, positive thinking, and intentional self-care. By doing so means to know yourself deeply and to give ourselves unconditional love. This love and joy help us grow, maintain spiritual health, and give love more freely to others.”

 

A Woman's Daybook

 

Found this over here: https://lemonscottage.blogspot.com/2025/08/friday-daybook.html

Liked it so here is my answers hope you like them.

Journaling or keeping a Daybook used to be something both men and women did for centuries.    I think blogging is the modern-day equivalent in some ways.

 Simple Woman's Daybook:

Outside my window... Are birds eating the bird seed I put out for them each day

I am thinking...  That I need to mop the kitchen and bathroom floors

I am thankful..My amazing family who love and support me and tell me I am not a burden

I am wearing... Pink track pants, long sleeve singlet, sleeveless singlet shirt, pink cardigan and pink socks.

I am creating.. This post and other posts.

 I am going... to do nothing much today.

I am reading...I am reading My Story No Way Back    

I am hoping... to have a productive day

I am learning... New stuff each day 

I am pondering: Nothing

Around the house... I need to hang some photos

In the kitchen...   I have cup cakes made by my sister

One of my favorite things... Shopping for gifts for the family

A few plans for this week… I have physio tomorrow and I see the podiatrist on Wednesday

 

 

 

Friday's Fave Five on Sunday Night

 

I am taking part in Fridays Fave Five and yes, I know it is Sunday but that’s how it is, this is run by Susanne who can be found here:

https://susannesspace.blogspot.com/2025/08/fridays-fave-five-851.html

Friday's Fave Five where we make it a practice to pause and look for the blessings God has gifted us with over the last week.  If we can make it a habit not matter what kind of a week we have, it will be easier to default to a grateful attitude and life. 

I am thankful for my supportive family and friends in blogland they help make my daily struggles easier to handle.

I am lucky to have grandchildren who want to see me and talk to me, not every grandparent has that.

Thankfully even though I have had a few falls I have not broken anything, my mum seemed to break something every time she fell over.

I am lucky that my grandmother told me as a child that before I go to sleep to hand all my daily troubles and worries over to God in order to have a good night’s sleep.

The older I get the closer to God I feel.

 

Another Hodgepodge

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.

1. August is National Golf month...do you play? Do you enjoy following golf? Have you ever been to a professional tournament? 

Hel no, never even tried, I do remember my dad playing it when I was a child. I have never watched it being played either.

2. Astronaut Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame passed away this past Thursday. Are you interested in outer space and what's happening today in terms of space exploration? If space travel became common in your lifetime, would you go? How do you personally relate to the idea of exploring something vast and mysterious...does the idea excite you, intimidate you, or something else? 

I have a tad interest in space but not a lot, would I travel there if I could nope, I don’t think I would.

3. Describe your communication style in three words. 

Long Text Messages

4. Do you have a favorite cookbook? A favorite celebrity chef? Do you watch any cooking shows on TV? 

No favourite celebrity chef, I like to watch the great bake-off shows.

5. As a child did you have any back-to-school traditions? If so, did you carry on those same traditions with your own children? Do you have any back-to-school traditions you've started on your own? 

I can’t remember any back-to-school traditions

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Lately I am trying to be grateful for my life and my family I am trying to find beauty in small everyday run of the mill moments, making them special, and seeing my world with awe & wonder changes everything.

 

 

Tuesday 4

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, who can be found here: https://lemonscottage.blogspot.com/

 
1. What are some essential classic books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime?

I can’t think of a classic book and the only one came to mind was Little Women, maybe that’s because I really liked this book.

2. Monday September 22 is the first day of Autumn.

Would you make up a list for us of books that you think would make great Autumn reading?

At the moment I am still enjoying the My Story Books and at the moment that’s all I am interested in reading.

3 What genres will we find most in your library? Sci Fi, Romance, adventure, biography, non-fiction, mystery?  What do you like most about the genre?

I am mostly into historical fiction, mysteries, and some biographies.

4 What books would you like to see made into a movie? Any idea on who should be cast in the rolls?

Nothing comes to mind.

 

Summer Hodgepodge in winter

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.

1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

A perfect summer’s day is one that is cooled by air conditioning if there is no cool breeze. It is a day that I don’t have to go out due to the heat.

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

That it was a place I had to attend day after day for the next four years, I hated high school, but I went pretty much every damn day.

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

I remember when I was younger and went shopping on my own leaving Tim at home with the girls, he would do a load of washing and hung it out to dry and the way he hung it really annoyed me, I wanted to go and “fix” it but told myself he wouldn’t do it if I did that. So, I left it.

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

After giving this some thought I can’t think of anything except maybe tripe that sounds disgusting. As for something not overrated that’s easy chocolate.

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? Personal Chef

Dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening?

Dance of course

Unlimited tacos or free pizza? Pizza

Bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? Both

 
Ten minutes late or ten minutes early? Early always early

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

No matter how long or short one’s life isn’t the point of life but how we chose to live it, go through it, or experience it say it how you will. We have a choice whether we see the glass half full or half empty, seeing the negative in life’s experiences over and over leads to sadness and maybe depression. Yes, life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs like a roller-coaster but as long as we stay on the tracks, we should be ok. Remember, yesterday is done and dusted, tomorrow is unknown and today is what is.

 

 

Tuesday's 4

 

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, who can be found here: https://lemonscottage.blogspot.com/ Let's talk about food this week shall we?

The art of living can be tricky, and you need to know how it's done.  Life gives you lessons if you are paying attention.  Part of the art is knowing how to see things as they really are.... 

What gives your life meaning or purpose?

At the moment it is seeing Sam off to school in the morning and meeting her in the arvo.

Why does it do that for you?

It makes me feel there is a reason to get up each morning.

How do you define success and happiness for yourself?  

By how happy I am and how stress I am feeling as well as how often I feel sad.

What lessons have your biggest challenges taught you?  

To let things go ant not dwell on the mistakes I have made. 

How do you want to impact the world or those around you?

Positively and I want to be remembered as a non-judgemental person

 

August Questions

 

Are you fascinated by the ways in which people communicate?

Yes, I am as we all communicate in similar ways but different ways at the same time.

Do you have a flower garden? And if so, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, how does your garden grow? Do you have butterflies and bees?

Nope no flowers growing around hereAre you aware of anyone in your life who is neurodivergent?

Let me think, of course I do a nephew, grandchild, sibling a daughter.

Does anyone have fun plans for August? Just because I dislike the month doesn’t mean I expect

Nope no fun plans just the ordinary run of the mill days

 

Describing Me

 

                                                                Me, Sandy & Sue

Ok seen on a few blogs this question.

How would I describe myself, so here is my answer.

I try hard to be a non-judgemental person, I am, however, a short-tempered person who gets over things pretty fast.

I love to learn about other countries, places, animals and events in history.

I don’t have friends, I have family.

Last Hodgepoge for July

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.

1. On July 29th, 1957, The Tonite Show premiered with Jack Parr as it's host. This marked the beginning of the modern day talk show. Do you watch any daytime or late-night talk shows today? Do you have any thoughts on the hubbub surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or are you more in the camp of 'who is Stephen Colbert? 

Here in Australia, we don’t have either talk shows and at the moment I don’t watch any of those types of shows.

2. What's the best part of your day? 

First thing of a morning, as in 5am when I get up

3. What's something your generation does that you actually dislike? 

I can’t think of a damn thing

4. When you cook do you clean as you go, or clean it all up once you're finished cooking? What's the last thing you cooked/baked in your own kitchen? 

I liked to clean as I went, Tim cleans up after he is finished

5. Sum up your July in ten words or less.

Shopping, falling over, hospitals and the love of my family 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

When measuring one’s self worth the things we should count first are how often we laugh till we cry, how often a book or blog post has moved us to tears, be them happy tears or sad tears. How many people say they are glad they know you and how often you are told you are loved. Your worth isn’t determined by how much money you have or how new your car is, but what type of person you are.

 

Tuesday's 4 a day early

 

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, who can be found here: https://lemonscottage.blogspot.com/ Let's talk about food this week shall we?

Most people enjoy eating good food after all.

1.What is/are your favorite foods to eat?

Roast potatoes or chocolate

2.How often do you cook at home and what kind of meals do you make? 

Now days I cook nothing, Tim does all the cooking he likes to do a baked meal with roast potatoes, sweet potato and pumpkin  

3. When you go out to eat what foods do you find yourself ordering most?

Chicken schnitzel and chips, if I have a dessert, it would be pavlova or cheesecake.

4. Can you recommend a restaurant in your area?  Why do you like it?

Tim likes the Eastern Tiger all you can eat restaurant me I prefer Warners at the Bay

 

You're my sister poem

 

I always feel so comfortable and at home when I am with you. Our connection goes to the deepest level; with you I don’t need to explain where I coming from because you already know.

I can let go of any worries because I  know you will always understand. I just love you so much.

You’re my sister, and to me, that’s the best thing in the world.

Skylar Adams.

Time for hodgepodge

 

Here I am doing another hodgepodge which is brought to you by Joyce over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

Here are this week’s questions.

When does time pass slowly for you? When does time pass quickly for you? 

Time rarely passes slowly for me, quickly well that’s easy at night some nights it feels like I just get into bed and the alarm is going to get up.

Do you have a favourite beach? What's your favourite 'beach' activity? Tell us what we'd find in your beach bag.

I haven’t been to a beach in decades. As a child it would have been Blacksmith’s beach, and I liked to splash about in the water or sit on a towel and watch the ocean.

Your favourite book or movie with a beach setting?

I can’t think of any book or movie that I have read or seen with a beach in it, I am sure I would have seen or read something, but I am drawing a blank.

What's a food you love, but find it's a pain to eat? Is it worth it? 

That would be oranges, love them but I always end up with juice running down my chin and neck and they are difficult now days for me to peel but as I said I love them.

Do you like roller coasters? What's the best (or worst) roller coaster you've been on? 

I do not like roller coasters and have never been on one I am afraid of opened heights and would have a panic attack if I tried to get on one.

Insert your own random thought here.

We should all make ourselves a priority in our life, learn to enjoying our own company, smile at ourselves in the mirror. Play music and dance around the house. Look at pictures of ourselves and see beauty in them, instead of staring at them to pick ourselves apart. Laugh at ourselves and with ourselves when we screw up. Enjoy life and enjoy being us.