My Bargain Bag, or rampant consumerism!

Whilst visiting our local Salvos store ten days ago, I espied a blue overnight bag, that really took my fancy, as I hadn't a use for it at the time, plus we had entered the store to look for a hat for my husband, I didn't buy it, nor did I buy a very pretty large brimmed black hat, due to the fact that my husband said it looked like I was attending a funeral! The bag stayed in my thoughts for a few days and I found myself wondering why I didn't buy it and what I would have done with it had I bought it. Can you tell that I am a procrastinator?
Anyway, this morning, a beautiful Spring morning, we ventured to the store for browse, as you do, and what do you know? We were greeted by an old acquaintance that we had made at another local op, holding the door open for us, whilst proclaiming "Everything is half price!" Music to an op shoppers ears! Many potential customers were in attendance, and we plunged in to check out the available items.

Yes, the blue bag was still there, at half price, even though I hadn't come up with a reason for owning it, beside the fact I liked it, I knew that I was going to be taking it home with me! Three dollars fifty was a bargain that I was not going to resist. After all a cup of coffee costs more than that here on the Gold Coast! This was value! A pretty footed Christmas plate and a sun hat joined my spoils and I left the store with a smile on my face having only parted with eleven dollars and and fifty cents!
I was tickled pink with my bag, suddenly not concerned as to what use I would put it to, just happy to own it!

Funny, you know, just this week, the topic our Bible study group discussed was possessions. If I am not careful, the joy that I initially experienced from owning my bag can turn into guilt for giving way to the lust of the eyes, buying something just because I liked it and could afford it, not really having any need or designated use for it.
Hmmmm... It would make a great knitting bag, but I've recently made myself one of those; definitely an overnight bag, but I don't do that very often. Maybe that was why the appealing blue, overnight bag was in the op shop to start with, the owner was no longer enjoying overnight stays; maybe I was meant to write this blog and smile, knowing that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" I love my blue, overnight bag for what it is and if I find a good use for it - great, if I don't, then I will have had my three dollars fifty value from it and when I no longer receive joy form owning it (hopefully using it as well!), I will send it to another op shop for them to make a few more dollars from.

Any thoughts?
Simply Susan

Signs of Spring

Spring is on its way!
The breeze has felt balmy these last few days, carrying fragrances of wattle and pansies and promise of warmer days. Laundry has dried quickly on the line in the garden, resulting in that lovely sunny smell once dry and, during a morning Ooh and Aah session, walking around my garden, I was delighted to discover this first Jasmine flower.

It has been warm enough to sit outside under an old poinciana tree to enjoy morning tea and lunch during my working day, a real treat and a great opportunity to gain perspective on the day.

Living in coastal Queensland means that spring bulbs are not really a viable garden option. I have fond memories of growing hooped petticoats, jonquil and freesias in our New Zealand garden, but now I content myself with jasmine, azaleas and the amazing sight and fragrance of golden, powdery wattle blossoms. There is a wisteria on our front fence, but alas, another year has seen no sign of dangling perfumed purple blossoms. I wait patiently and hope...

I have memories from primary school days in London, when we had the opportunity of buying a daffodil bulb, in the winter, to take home with instructions how to plant and care for it, to be brought back to school on a designated day in spring for judging. There was keen interest in this competition and hopes were high that our bulbs would be in flower come the big day. Winners, who were those with bulbs in flower received a glossy certificate, they were highly prized.

Another daffodil memory is of buying my mum bunches of daffodils in bud, from a stall in the local market on Saturday morning shopping trips. Twelve pencil shaped stems comprised a bunch, held together by two or three tiny rubber bands. I loved buying these because they would open in the vase on the dining room table and last over a week, a true investment. I think I paid two shillings for those golden treasures, Mum loved them.

Our winter has been very mild, only a few chilly days that I recall, but some low pressure areas off the coast, producing strong winds, high tides and big swells have caused significant damage to local beaches. The dunes are fast disappearing, making access to the beach quite dangerous. Not an easy image to capture, but I tried.

I ventured out on the ocean on my annual whale watching adventure recently, alas, nothing like the spectacle that I enjoyed last year, but a refreshing trip off shore, again bringing perspective to where we live, on a narrow coastal strip, wedged between ocean and mountains. Sadly the swell was significant an many unfortunate passengers spent their trip in less than optimum condition!

Our garden has undergone significant changes in recent months, we have reduced the width of the main flower bed, replacing shrubs and replanting, so to relieve the bareness of the fence while we wait for them to grow and to add colour, I introduced some art, inspired by our visit to Warwick's Jumpers and Jazz festival, last month. Simple but effective.
The CDs in the frangipani tree double as wind-chimes and light show, as the sun catches them, the reflections dance lazily or madly around the garden, depending on the breeze.

The promise of Spring has inspired me,I'm off to the local plant shop in the morning to buy plants to put into pots on the back patio, maybe my luck will change in that area, its worth a try.

Happy Spring!
Simply Susan

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