Saturday …

My day began at the usual time, 4 o’clock in the morning, and with my dear feline greeting me with loud caterwauls demanding her nourishment. I did that then made my coffee before going up to my studio to have my Quiet Time.

Later I did two loads of washing, hung them out to dry, then worked on the Scripture lessons I will be giving on Monday at the school. That took me hours and hours as I searched high and low to find just the right games I wanted. I like to use object lessons or games to emphasize the lesson I am giving. Plus, I use three different games/object lessons as I teach three different classes. A while ago the one class would try and find out what I had done in the previous class, which often spoilt the surprise. So, being the sneaky ole dame I am, now no one knows what I am going to do, but me!

I had some extra time to do all this as Ken and I had been asked out TONIGHT to the “Pig and the Fig” restaurant in Long Flat to celebrate Andy’s (our neighbour) birthday, which meant I did not have to prepare a meal. Hallelujah!

No, do not get me wrong here please, I love cooking but there are times when it is such a luxury not to even have to think of food. All I have to do is eat and enjoy it.

Mick the chef, especially prepared a dish for Andy’s celebration and it was simply delicious. He made a Rolled Panchetta Pork Belly stuffed with baby spinach leaves, sundried tomatoes, olives and feta cheese, rubbed with Fennel and Schwann, with a bourbon reduction sauce. It was beautifully presented too. The dessert was an enormous chocolate cake with huge shards of white chocolate and milk chocolate marbled and sticking out at every which angle from the top of the cake. Not being a huge fan of cake myself, I left the tasting, devouring and enjoyment of that to Ken and the others, Judging by the much eye rolling and snorts of delight, it was good!

Ken and I got back home just before eleven o’clock and I was soon fast asleep as I was really tired.

Sunday …Again, my day began at four o’clock in the morning and my ritual was the same. Feed feline, drink coffee and then enjoy my Quiet Time.

Last night I did not take my mobile with me when wedines out, (as I do not need it with me 24/7, plus the battery was low), so I missed a message from Rodney, one of the teachers from the school where I teach Scripture, requesting to come and fish here on the farm for the day. I quickly sent him a message telling him that he was welcome any  time, but that we would be at church in the morning.

Rodney and his father-in-law Billy arrived as we were about to leave, for church so there were hasty “Hellos’” and "Good byes" said as we waved and banged and bounced our way over the river and off to Ellenborough. Nah-nah, that is not accurate. We did not have to bang and bounce so hard today as we lcrossed the river in the uteand not the quad bike! What a blessing!

We went into church with Noel and Sandra, who always kindly offer us a lift with them. It was good as we have not been able to take their kind offer up for age,s due to many reasons, like we were running late because one of our cows was on the highway et cetera, or had to meet someone after church in Port Macquarie and so on!

Both the leading and the sermon in church today were excellent, and today I had no duties whatsoever, which allowed me to relax and just listen. What a pleasure.

After church we had to whip around to the Country Club as Noel and Sandra had some shelving to pick up from there. Then it was a quick stop at the top IGA as both Sandra and I had a few things to get  for our grocery cupboards. Then it was home again, home again jiggety-jog!

Once home we had a quick bite to eat for lunch, then Koda and Ken slipped off for their siesta and I read my Kindle and tried to watch a bit of the DVD series that Karen has lent me, but I was too sleepy and was losing the plot. So, I nodded off for a few minutes as I sat in the armchair. Whew! Next I will be dribbling!  Scary!

No rain again today. Nearly everything is parched and cracking. The once upon a time mud has turned to dust and the grasses are wrinkled, brown and very dry. ‘Desiccated’ is a good word to describe the farm at present.

As the sun slid down the pale blue sky, the shadows lengthened, and night approached.

I watched my TV programme and then soon scuttled off to bed with Koda glued to me. Ken followed a little later as he was watching some sport on TV.

What lesson did I learn today? To simply enjoy each moment of every day, and to be grateful for the rain we have received and not be envious of those who had ten times as much as we got.

What am I grateful for today? The rain we have had no matter how much or how little.

My saying for today is …