The Ironing Pile

For the first time in a considerable time, this morning my husband has the complete collection of his shirts from which to choose which shirt to wear. Today his entire collection is hanging awaiting his perusal, all laundered and ironed, summer, winter and every other season, and I feel GOOD!. This is a result of me attacking the ironing pile yesterday evening.




I don't know how it is at your house, but here clean laundry requiring ironing is folded and placed on a cupboard shelf in the laundry, awaiting my attention, which may be later rather than sooner, depending on my mood, how much time I have available and what's going on in my craft filled head. It's not that I don't like ironing, its more a case of out of sight, out of mind.

Items that I know won't be used for some time, for example special table cloths, napkins, out of season clothes, gradually move to lower position in my ironing pile while I concentrate on the important, urgent items. Thus inevitably some items may be there on that shelf for a considerable time. That's just the way it is. This results in feelings of discouragement for me because the pile is never completely abolished.





Last evening, having tackled the shirts, I was about to disconnect the ironing cord and dismantle the ironing board, when I glimpsed how it might feel if I should finish the job, by ironing all the summer PJ's; the table cloth; the apron; the pillowcases and handkerchiefs my pile would be non existent and it surely would only take me a little while longer...so that's what I did. I smiled to myself at my perception and stick-ability whilst I finished the job.

What's that? A missing button, oh dear, I'd better put that aside for attention later. Well what do you know? I have a mending pile that I operate in a similar way to my ironing pile - urgent cases first - thus certain items may go out of fashion (unlikely in my world) or no longer fit before I get to replace the button, mend the seam, take up the pants etc etc. It must be a character flaw of mine - piles everywhere awaiting attention.

I asked The Man this morning if he had noticed anything different in the wardrobe, after I mentioned my epic ironing episode, he smiled and said that's nice.

Fulfilling my housekeeping duties should be its own reward, but hey, it's nice just to gloat once in a while - isn't it?

I've just got a few spare moments-now where did I put my knitting....?

Simply Susan

Twirly Scarves

I have some catching up to do.

In my 'silent' time I have knitted a multitude of twirly scarves, primarily for my enjoyment. Colour after colour tempted me to knit another and another, until I have completed around two dozen. So what better way to raise money to give to the overseas missionaries that our church supports than to sell them. Everybody wins.

I get such joy from knitting, seeing the way that unusual yarns produce such interesting and attractive accessories, so I move from colour to colour, inspiration to inspiration, often from fellow knitting enthusiasts or from library books,my creativeness is fueled by the input of like minded people and my desire to see the next project completed. I particularly like fiddling with knitted and crocheted flowers to adorn my creations, I work on them when the opportunity comes and endeavour to use them in some way to spice up an item.

Here are some snaps of my 'twirly' scarves.








The cool weather is a great opportunity to get those needles out and get cracking
Go for it, gals
Simply Susan

Hooray for Shawls

Back in March I wrote about the beautiful Japanese sock yarn that I purchased in New South Wales, whilst on holiday, well since then I have used the yarn to make a shawl. In fact, I was so taken with the result that I sought more yarn from Spotlight and made another of similar style, but incorporating a lovely picot finish on the frill, that I think looks very feminine.

May I say here that shawls or wraps are wonderful accessories for a gal to have in her wardrobe, especially in the climates that enjoy/endure widespread air-conditioning. So often I find myself in an interior that at first feels cool, but soon chills me, a shawl is the perfect item to throw around the shoulders and eliminate that frozen feeling!

Over the years I have knitted many of these in various styles and colours and enjoy snuggling in them, particularly during visits to the cinema, when I need to feel cosy in order to focus on the plot before me. They are light and easy to scrunch up and put into a bag, ready to be produced in an instant. Voila! WARMTH!

You may think that a shawl is suggestive of an old lady, well,let me tell you that the old gals were onto a good thing when they came up with this accessory. A shawl totally feminine and decorative and may be warn in several ways. Simply around the shoulders, loose; or tied at the front or around the shoulders with the ends thrown over opposite shoulders, or even around the hips; even doubled and looped, like a scarf if its not too bulky.

Give it some thought ladies, If you don't own one, give it a try and be amazed how useful and lovely they can be.

While I am talking about Spotlight, Australia's only Mega craft store, I received yet another email from them advising me that yarn is being discounted by thirty per cent, yep, you got it! I paid my local store a visit and discovered that the sock yarn that I bought earlier for five dollars instead of ten was now down to just two dollars and ten cents per ball! That is a BARGAIN, when you consider that it only takes one ball to make a pair of socks! Yes that is my next project. I bought two balls and then just to make sure I had enough, if I am successful in my endeavours, I popped back in and bought another two! I invested in a new set of double pointed needles and I'm ready to start, once I've completed the scarf that I am working on...

(For those who may not know sock yarn is so called because it may be dyed in a variety of colours and in such a fashion that when it's knitted into socks the changing colours appear beautifully like fair isle knitting - intricate patterns that are made by using very fine yarns of different colour, a very challenging way of knitting)

In case you are wondering why I haven't written anything on my Blog for such a long time...there are two reasons, firstly I have had two eye operations and am experiencing challenging times with my near vision. Secondly, I am the proud owner of my very first laptop and I am on the verge of going crazy, in my near sighted fog, I seem to inadvertently be touching keys that have 'secret' commands attached to them, that are taking me to places that not only do I not want to go, but that I do not know how to leave, thus halfway through this entry, in frustration, I am back on our PC trying to finish this in familiar surroundings, whilst the lap top is lucky not to have been thrown through the window!

Does anyone else experience technological challenges?

Anyway, be inspired readers with my crafty endeavours and try a shawl or two. I'll be back.
Simply Susan

Be Still

I sit to write what is on my heart, yet the words won't come. Enough to say that it was a day filled with emotion, heartbreak, frustration and stress, after dinner we headed to the Broadwater for some air and a stroll, hoping to clear our heads and gain some perspective on the events of the day.

The evening was calm, not even a breeze to disturb the surface of the water. It reflected clear, mirror images of the lights on the house boats moored nearby, as the tide came in the light reflections extended like shards of fire upon the surface of the water. We strolled then sat on a bench for a while, awed by the peace and stillness that surrounded us.

The words "Be still and know that I am God" from Psalm 46 v 10 came to mind, and I was reminded of the importance of that. Without stillness I am unable to hear God speak to me through his Word. I am one who likes to make the most of moments, doing things that I enjoy, listening to music, knitting, reading, writing (when I can see!)I have no trouble keeping busy, but that is the problem, whilst I enjoy doing all these things I deprive myself of that precious stillness that I need to pursue my relationship with God. I drown Him out. I am the loser in this situation,even as a proficient, multi-tasking woman, it's hard to listen to someone while one's hands are busy!

Other lights were evident shining in the darkness last night, red and green navigation lights, blinking there to guide 'boaties' through the safe channels, thus avoiding the hidden sandbars and other hazards below the surface of the water. This caused me to think of the guidance that God has provided for us in His Word, to guide us from danger and give us wisdom to help us as we live our lives here on the earth. Just as the 'boaties' would be foolish to ignore the navigation lights, we are foolish if we ignore God's guidance. The lights continue to blink their warnings and God's word is ever present for us.

I don't know about you, but I need all the expert help I can get in order to safely navigate through the ever present hazards and challenges in my life. The world is forever moving the goal posts, I need help that I can depend on, unchanging, dependable, reliable and true.

I returned home refreshed in my thinking and comforted by God's presence. Let me recommend this book to you - The Bible - have a read and surprise yourself with what you find inside the cover - timeless wisdom.

Happy reading

Simply Susan

The Good News Of Easter

Having been privileged to have cataract surgery and an intra ocular lens implanted into my right eye this Easter week, I am reminded, by the astonishing miracle of improvement to my vision, of the other miracle that happened to me almost thirty years ago. This was when the truth of the Easter message penetrated my understanding and my life was forever changed.
I finally understood the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, that He gave His life on the cross, was buried and was raised by the power of God, all this to offer me the opportunity for a restored relationship with God the Father, that was ruined, severed by Adam and Eve many years ago, a state inherited by each and every one of us born since then.
What a sacrifice! What a price paid!
The gospel of John states in chapter three verse sixteen, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life."
This offer is for one and all. For each of us to realize that we need forgiveness and the peace and joy that a restored relationship with God brings.

This Easter time please consider this question - What will you do with Jesus?
Life is uncertain, death is inevitable. This question needs to be considered before it's too late.

Make this Easter a memorable one for the right reason. This time is more than a welcome clutch of public holidays, just for our pleasure, to eat fish on Good Friday and consume hot cross buns and Easter Eggs. We have time away from our routines to think.

The cross on the buns reminds us of the cross on which Jesus died, the hollow in the chocolate egg reminds us that the tomb in which Jesus was placed is empty.

He is risen!

Happy Easter
Simply Susan

Saturday Morning At Bunnings

It's Saturday,that wonderful day of the week when,if you are fortunate enough to work Monday to Friday, you can choose your activities for the day instead of heading off to your place of employment.

This morning, after an early start. Having completed the weekly laundry, we headed off to our local Bunnings (hardware) store to pick up a couple of items. That is funny, because its like saying one is going to Spotlight, the ladies equivalent (haberdashery) store for a couple of things, one rarely exits the place without a few extra things that catch ones eye while prowling the aisles.

My mind was in a good place and I enjoyed our visit. We easily found the three items that we wanted and then tried to find the quickest checkout line, as you do.

During the visit I noted with humour, our fellow shoppers and their selections.
The store sells an amazing assortment of things from hardware to gardening, outdoor furniture, paint, power tools, light fittings bathroom and laundry accessories, indeed, just about anything and everything one could wish for.
Buff chaps wandered around heaving bags of cement, long lengths of PVC pipe; lawn food and a collapsible washing line, happily displaying their biceps. Other fellows wandered around the tool section with joy; some wearing angst expressions on their faces; some keen to get stuck into a project; others less enthusiastic; some trying to look knowledgeable; others totally at sea! I might add that there was a fair representation of ladies this morning pushing trollies offering encouraging words, keeping an eye on the kids. I was also impressed by a number of guys with little ones in toe, showing them the Bunnings ropes, so to speak!

The fun starts when eager shoppers endeavour to load their purchases into their vehicles, what looks doable in the huge warehouse can often become a major challenge when faced with the confines of the vehicle in the car park, doors, pipes, lengths of timber and tall plants sometimes just won't fit and that presents major logistical problems. It happens to the best of us, I'm sure, a bit like putting more on one's plate than one can comfortable eat, a case of eyes being bigger than the tummy!

No doubt my fellow shoppers made it home this morning and have got stuck into the projects on their to do lists, or maybe they got discouraged or distracted and decided to crack a beer and watch the footy instead, good intentions can become derailed so easily.

In any event, I was amused by the visit and am grateful that humour can be found in all sorts of situations if our mind is in the right place.

Keep looking for opportunities to smile, and have a great weekend!
Simply Susan

A Taste Of Things To Come

What a wonderful, unexpected experiences happened to me today - having been driven to Wolombi in N.S.W. for a reckkie around this quaint old township/dwelling, I had the good fortune of stumbling into an old shop, that previously housed antiques, to find it is now a wool shop selling wonderful wools and yarns from all over the place, including Japan and locally spun fleece in magical colours.

Oh I was in my seventh heaven.. I purchased a multicoloured hank of sock yarn from Japan for $26, (420 metres,good value} and I look forward to the opportunity of knitting it into a shawl or scarf VERY SOON. The interior of the shop had whitewashed walls and an open fire place, which, I imagine would prove very handy in cooler months.

Heading across the road for a spot of lunch, I found myself being invited to join a group of three local women, indulging in their three weekly knitting circle...More joy for me, this would be a dream, to have the time to regularly meet with like minded creative people and indulge in creating something together. They were very welcoming, sharing their library books and stories, and the projects that they were working on.To my amazement, one was happily using commercial yarn from Spotlight, while the other two were working with their own spun yarns. In the brief minutes that I spent in their company, I experienced...a taste of things to come! Just Wonderful!

Bring it on!
Simply Susan