Monopoly by candle light...

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We had lights out at 8.30pm last night for Earth Hour. We set up our new Monopoly game and played for 3.5 hours in the darkness. No interuptions.
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Brianna won by eventually placing hotels on Mayfair and Parklane and with a rental of $14 million,

Gus ended up going bust! Good fun!
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Katrina at The Organised Housewife has some great tips and motivational posts to get you in the mood for cleaning, laundering and ironing. She also menu plans as well. Check out her site.
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One of her "to-do's" was to wash your washing machine. As soon as I read her post I knew I had to clean mine! I had a good build up of mould, soap powder and fabric softner in there. A good hot wash with a big cup full of vinegar had it all refreshed. I sloshed the vinegar water around the top and wiped all the mould and residues away. Took me about 10 minutes, tops!
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Here's the finished product - a gleaming machine, ready to tackle anything!
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This is another tip that I got from a friend on facebook - fill your laundry sink with a strong solution of Napisan and hot water. Soak your oven racks and trays to remove baked on fat and food spills.
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This was taken after only a few minutes and a bit of scrubbing (a bit more still needed). The fatty build-up just disappears. Sugar soap was another product mentioned to do the same trick. Will try that next time.
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Obviously, there is probably a 'green' recipe for Napisan so give it a go!
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Cheers - Joolz

WWF Earth Hour:Moths

Feeling better, thank you ...

We enjoyed our weekend in Adelaide for the Clipsal 500 V8 Super Cars - it was so nice to catch up with our Kirby!
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My neck pain is nearly better apart from a bit of numbness which I hope can be sorted out by some more physio next week. While I was laying low, I made some nice pumkin and vegetable soup - very easy - chop vegetables roughly, add water to cover, a good tablespoon of chicken stock powder, salt and pepper to taste, then boil until veggies are tender. I whiz mine smooth with my Bamix. Ladle into a bowl and add a dollop of sour cream and cracked pepper. Yum!
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I fiddled around with some loaves of bread - I think I am perfecting it.
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Mmmm... who doesn't like Shepherd's Pie on a cold night? This was my version - I use a flavour sachet (Continental) and added carrots, peas and zucchini & celery.
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Top with mashed potato and bake until golden.
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Saturday night, dinner for two... glass of wine, veal steaks with olives and pear, crunchy potatoes and salad (all cooked by my dear hubby) ... watching Iron Chef then Rockwiz!
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Next up is Margaret Fulton's Sage & Ham Stuffed Chicken Breast - I got it from a free recipe card at Woolworths.
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So you need chicken breasts, tenderised and flattened...
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... some good prosciutto ham ...
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... chopped fresh sage leaves, parsey and garlic...
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... some good Dijon mustard...
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Spread mustard then herb mix over the breast, top with slice of prosciutto...
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... roll up and tie with string, place in baking dish (or you could pan fry)...
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While it was cooking I prepared frozen vegetables and mashed potatoes ...
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... and tah dah! A very tasty meal. After making it, I would try pan frying next time as it did dry out a bit, but well worth the effort.
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A quiet weekend coming up. I have lost my cleaning lady (she has developed dermatitis so has given cleaning away) so until I can locate another, I must keep on top of things. I have a large expanse of tiled floor and I hate mopping so that's my priority to keep maintained. All other areas are good to go!
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I will be back tomorrow with some other bits and pieces that I have been doing - home mainenance wise.
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Cheers for now, Joolz

Pain in the neck...

I'm baaaack! I am still having trouble with my neck - not sure what to do next? I have been to the physio therapist who worked on my neck muscles, gave me acupuncture (5 needles) then strapped by back with tape to hold the neck muscles in place - that was fun, not! It really limited the way I could turn my head and after 3 days I had it ripped off to free me up again.
Then I went back to him on Tuesday for further work. He can twist my neck every which way without re-creating the pain I have so he says there is no nerve damage (even though to me, my neck feels numb to touch). I have another appointment on April 6th so I guess I will put up with the burning, stabbing pain until then.
I definitely get the pain when I sit at the computer, at home or at work, so will have to keep to a minimum with rest in between. So annoying!

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Some sunset pictures that I took on March 13th. Not an overly hot day, just some lovely cloud formation that was lit up by the setting sun. Taken at 7.44pm through to 7.46pm.
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Not sure what that white spot is above our house - a UFO maybe??
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I'll be back after the weekend with some more pics that are on my camera. I made a nice chicken dish by Margaret Fulton so will do a step by step of that one. I've been making bread (which Bri loves), Shepherds Pie and San Choy Bow so lots of yummy things here.
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Have a nice weekend,
Cheers - Joolz

Short blogging break...

My neck and shoulder pain is made worse by sitting at a computer so apart from reading blogs on my ipod while home resting, I won't post for a few days. Off to the physio tomorrow, the Bowen Therapy did nothing to ease the spasms, which are worse today. I have never had this problem before (Angus has had 'rye neck' before so I can now sympathise!) and it is quite scary and debilitating. I just want to feel better. Anyhoo, I am here, trying to take it easy, reading your blogs, just not posting. Catch you all soon when hopefully I am pain free! :)
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Cheers - Joolz

For today, Wednesday 9th March, 2011
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Outside my window...it is 8.30am and the sky is overcast and looks like rain. We are in autumn now but summer is just hanging on. We had drizzly rain yesterday but there was humidity in the air.
I am thinking... I must look for some warmer clothes. I hate clothes shopping (nothing fits right) but I threw out most of last winter's clothes so I'd better start hunting. Ugh!
I am thankful for... the cooler, more comfortable weather. I really dislike our summer heat and humidity.
From the kitchen ... this week I have made banana bread, scones, chicken chow mein pasties (to share with Kirby). I will make some biscuits this afternoon for one of Brianna's school friends, it's his birthday! Thumb print freckle cookies.
I am wearing... black 3/4 track pants and a white polo top and thongs.
I am creating... nothing today apart from a pain in my neck by sitting here.
I am going... to work then back for more Bowen Therapy for my neck today. If we can't stop the spasms happening then I am off to the doctors tomorrow.
I am reading... nothing at the moment. I fall asleep reading at night and there's no time during the days.
I am hoping... I get my neck pain under control and my sore lips continue to heal (Betadine ointment seems to be helping).
I am hearing... a wattle bird and corellas squarking outside, magpies too.
Around the house... quite tidy this morning. Need to straighten the kitchen, wipe over the main bathroom, put on a load of washing and fold one load.
Plans for the rest of the week... just work and hoping to feel better with my neck pain. It really is a pain in the neck, folks!
A picture I am sharing...
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I have some plump tomatoes to pick from our few vines that we have in pots. There are still lots of fruit but the vines are shrivelling, I'm afraid I have neglected them a bit. And I didn't even see that pesky snail until I loaded this photo!
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Have a lovely day, won't you,
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Cheers - Joolz

Oh, puleeez!!!

I feel like chopping my head off this morning. My lips have flared up again this morning. Will consult with the chemist this morning as to if I should take second lot of Famvir tablets. I have also got a muscle spasming in my neck which is killing me - at least I have a Bowen Therapy appointment this afternoon to sort it out). I am at my wits end with these sore lips! I look horrible, feel horrible and its been going on for a week now! Aaaaaaaaarrrgh!!!!!!
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Not happy, Jan!

Home entertainment containment...

We've been living with this arrangement for quite a while (since Kirby took the bigger TV back to Adelaide). We have her small TV and it sits on a bedside chest of drawers. Brianna's Wii plus all the games and controllers and Wii Fit board, portable DVD player and Ninendo64 litter the floor and we also had a Hi-Fi hooked up there (for my Ipod).
I have an extrememly busy Hubby so getting away from work to shop for a new TV and entertainment unit doesn't happen often. We finally found time to get the TV and a surround sound system but couldn't find a cabinet to house it all.
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However, the next time I went to Mt.G I went to another furniture store and found just what we were looking for $320! It is just the perfect colour cream and has a lovely solid timber top that matches our other furniture. Now everything is neat and tidy and we love the big screen! Yay!
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My cold sores are starting to subside but are still stingy and sore. I have also developed a spasm in a neck muscle so I think I have a date with the couch and a Valium for the afternoon. I have a Bowen Therapy appointment tomorrow so I hope that alleviates the neck problem. I think I need a holiday!
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Cheers - Joolz

Banana Bread...

I had some 'old' brown bananas in my fruit bowl (the one above was past using) so I decided to make this delicious Banana Bread from Hannah's blog Honey & Jam. This young lady (she's 20 years old now but her blog started when she was 18) has an amazing photography and baking blog.
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Mix the wet ingredients in with the dry...
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I used 2 loaf tins but the mixture would fit in one if you want one large loaf.
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The two finished loaves...
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The aroma as they were cooking nearly drove me mad. Lucky for me, my girls aren't banana lovers!
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And here, I will apologize for the 'up the nose' shot, but just thought I'd show you my lovely cold sore inflamed lips. This is the second bout I have had since mid February and this last lot manifested on Sunday. I have never had cold sores in my life before this. The constant pain can be likened to kissing your clothes iron while it is turned on!!! Hot, stingy, itchy and weeping (and yes I have been too). I have a new found admiration for anyone who suffers a skin condition.
I finally went to the doctors yesterday when I realised they just weren't getting better after 5 days. I have taken a course of Famvir (just 3 tablets taken all at once) and Phenergan 25mg tablets (an antihistimine) in the evening, to relieve the itching and it also knocks you out pretty well.
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I can feel that they are tightening up today, with less weeping, so I guess the healing has begun, but they are still so sore and I feel miserable and I do not want to venture outside the house as I look like The Joker in Batman!
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I think a day on the couch is in order.
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Cheers - Joolz

All grown up...

1994
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Where do the years go? Our girls are 20 and 17 years old now and we are so proud of them! Bri has headed off on her Year 12 Retreat with all her school mates and Kirby is entering her 3rd year at Uni and starts a new job today too. Both girls, I can happily say, are lovely young women with clear sights set on their futures.
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I love you - Mum (XXX Mwah XXX)