Why wasn't I told?

I have discovered audio books for the first time.

Why wasn't I told about how fabulous audio books are?

I was once a voracious reader, but somewhere along the way, about eight or so years ago,  my brain was triggered to fall asleep after 3-5 pages of reading, so I conceded defeat and gave up. 

A few days ago while I was searching online for an updated copy of a book that I already own, I noticed that there was an audio version of it, so I downloaded the 'audible' app and by doing that, I received the audio book that I wanted for free.

It took three days for me to listen to the seven hours of audio by the actual author and I LOVED it!

Today, while enjoying a very lazy morning in bed, on my third day off work, I was browsing through pages of audio book titles and selected some of them to purchase.

The first one I selected is titled "You are the PLACEBO making your mind matter" by Dr Joe Dispenza. I was hooked after seven minutes and that is why I'm writing this blog post early ... so that I can spend the evening listening to the book while watching Super Saturday football!

Adoring Husband was tied up with the First Aid training at the SES shed today, so I had to pedal to the shops to get my own morning coffee. I listened to my new book on the way there and then of course I had to visit The Happy Abode and check out some of the new stock.

The Motivator already had about five items set aside for a customer who was returning later to pick them up, so I was lucky to see them before they went to their 'forever home'.

Lots of lovely glass figurines, mostly fish and shells, but a really cute little pig too. 

It was difficult to leave, but even though I was wearing my daggy yoga pants and singlet top, I helped serve a couple of customers and then made my merry way down to the beach, where I sat in the shade on a bench seat enjoying this ...   

while I listened to my book.

I was also lucky enough to spot this ...

... which proves that I need to get out more with my camera because I NEED the practice!

It was almost 2.30pm when I arrived home and while still listening to my book, I decided to make a chicken curry with the chicken that had been sitting in the fridge for three days.

All in all, it's been a very pleasant day for me. All that fresh air has tired me out, but at least AH got a nice curry for dinner and I didn't have to lift a finger.

I'm feeling a bit creative but I'm not sure what to do with the feeling. So many options.

Anyway, I'm off to read/listen to my book. Have an amazing Sunday!

Nite all.

I Took Control

Yes, I did visit The Motivator at The Happy Abode, but I didn't stay long.

I need to take 'time out' so, taking The Motivator's advice, I left the shop and rode along the river taking a few photos, sitting for a while enjoying the sunshine and admiring the crystal clear waters of the river.

There are a LOT of pelicans about at the moment and even though it was the wrong time of day and the light was way too bright, I decided to photograph some of them anyway ...

It was 1pm when I arrived home and it was almost a 'tag team' situation when Adoring Husband received an emergency call and had to leave the house. He returned a while later, only to leave again to greet the First Aid trainers at the SES shed.

Next, it was my turn to leave and attend my usual Friday night at the club.

Lots of new stock arrived at the shop after I left, so there will be plenty to play with next week!

Right now, I'm off to bed.

Nite all.

Can't Help Myself

I didn't get out of bed until about 9.30am.

I needed coffee and I needed to talk to The Motivator, so I pedalled to where I needed to be, got my coffee and then rode to The Happy Abode.

Ivy's stock and Cinnamon stock had arrived before me so it was my idea of Christmas as I walked through the door!

The Motivator and I hugged hello, discussed some stuff and then I began helping unpack the stock while she was serving customers.

Four hours later ...

A couple of times The Motivator said to me "Rozzy, it's your day off. You don't have to do this."

But I DO have to do this! I LOVE doing this!

I forced myself to leave a little after 2.30pm.

I'll be back tomorrow.

There may be MORE stock arriving!

Honestly, I really can't help myself.

Our planter pots and bamboo sheets arrived today - the first step in the progress of the famous pool!

For an early dinner (because Adoring Husband had SES training tonight) I cooked some snapper fillets in lemon butter and served them with sweet potato mash, snow peas and char grilled zucchini. It was good.

Now I'm watching The Bachelor and then I'm off to bed.

I know it's self inflicted, but I'm worn out and will have an early night.

Nite all.

Full Of It

It's been a 'full on' Wednesday.

It all started with a great hour of meditation and conversation where everyone got involved and had lots to share.

Then there was a flurry of sales before everyone left, as well as some fond farewells for some ladies who are leaving for home this Saturday after about six weeks holiday.

Even though I wanted to buy my morning coffee and check the mail, I had to wait for quite a while as customers came in one after the other after the other!

My 'to do' list was ridiculously long today but my biggest priority was getting our ad written up and sent out to the three area newsletters. I knew that because I was on a deadline, that the universe was going to test me today with this one ... and I was right! So many interruptions!

But I did it.

I still had to finish with yesterday's stock arrival, pay some suppliers, pay a bill, help a young male customer choose a gift for his new girlfriend, transfer some funds, speak to some suppliers over the phone, speak to a possible supplier who cold called in the shop, a new delivery arrived just after lunch so I had to unpack, check and figure out where it was going to go in the shop (I didn't quite finish that one).

Adoring Husband arrived at 2pm to take care of our customers while I enjoyed a one hour treatment from The Gypsy.

After that, it took me three hours to tidy up some loose ends and make everything presentable for The Motivator and write a three page story detailing everything that she needed to know for tomorrow when she arrived at the shop.

I left the shop at 6pm.

What a day.

My treatment was almost wasted. The order was to go home and rest and drink lots of water. Instead I frantically ran around the shop for three hours trying to remember all the little details that I needed to tidy up while finding lots of extra little things along the way. I actually believe that the treatment gave me the energy to get it all done.

I have to admit, by the time I arrived home in the dark, on my little red trike with it's rear flashing red light, I was feeling well and truly worn out and even a little bit fragile. Thank goodness I get to sleep late in the morning, but I will go to the shop to have a chat with The Motivator about the three pages of notes that I left on her desk.

I had a very interesting hour long chat with Vegan Chickie tonight. The last time we spoke was at the airport in Brisbane when Chicklet left our care. That's more than three months ago! So much has happened since then. One hour really wasn't long enough to share all of our news, but it was great to catch up on some of it. The most interesting bits!

Right now I need to package up all the bone broth in the slow cooker before I collapse into bed.

Nite all.  

Birthday Absentees

Happy Birthday Tweedle Dee (new name yet to be announced lol)

I arrived at the shop early this morning so that I could blow up some balloons, cut some cakes and slices into bite sized pieces, put a candle in a chocolate muffin and create a little birthday nook for Tweedle Dee before everyone arrived for morning tea.

Just before everyone arrived, I received a text from poor Tweedle Dee telling me that she had hurt her back and was unable to make it for our regular coffee date.

So everybody ate the deliciousness on the plate, played with the balloons, blew out the candle and we sang Happy Birthday on a little video to send to her.

But we were sad that she had damaged herself and disappointed that she wasn't with us for the morning.

We expect a better effort next year!

It was a slow day at the shop so I created the new flyer for the next photography workshop, designed the new ad for next month's newsletter (which is now a week late because the first of the month was a Wednesday so I should have had the ad in last Wednesday!), covered a cheese board with clear cellophane and unpacked, checked off, priced and displayed two boxes of stock that arrived this afternoon.

Just as I was about to leave, I realised that meditation is on first thing in the morning, which meant that I had to clean up all the debris from unpacking the stock - and it was messy! Then I remembered that I had eight pairs of pre-loved shoes sitting in the meditation room waiting to be priced for our 'Pre-loved' area of the shop, but they needed to be removed from that room.

By the time I'd finished, it was well after 5pm.

At home, I headed straight for the kitchen to prepare dinner and at the same time, I filled the slow cooker with all the ingredients for my bone broth.

I made cauliflower puree, butter mushrooms and duck breast for dinner. It was pretty good.

I edited some photos that I took of the stock that arrived today.

Now I'm off to bed for an early night because I have an early start tomorrow for meditation.

The other birthday absentee was my Dad. He would have been 78 today and this year he has been gone twenty one years. Such a long time but it doesn't feel that long at all. Happy Birthday Dad.

Nite all.

Hello Monday!

I struggled getting ready for work this morning and only arrived at work ten minutes before opening time.

I chatted with The Gypsy for twelve minutes before realising that it was after nine and I still needed to open the shop!

It was a busy day with lots of customers all spending very small amounts of money.

I squirrelled (aka 'started many projects without finishing them') all day long.

I began covering the timber cheese boards and bread boards with clear plastic and yellow raffia.

I began making a new sign for the next photography workshop.

I began changing our ad for the next newsletter.

I began making a 'pre-loved' sign for my shoes that I took to the shop today.

I began pricing some jewellery and displaying it.

I began replacing the buttons that were sold from the display stands.

I finished making an order of leather glasses cases and business card holders.

I finished making a 'to do' list so that I can finish all the things that I started today!

Adoring Husband began pulling our back yard apart in preparation for the pool. He has a schedule and already, he is ahead of schedule, but feeling it in his body tonight.

I took some 'before' photos of the back yard this morning and will take progress shots over the coming weeks. I'll share them here, but the today's shots are still in camera, so they will have to wait til tomorrow.

The day, for me, went very quickly and I got very little done.

Tomorrow will be a better organised and more productive day. Hopefully I will actually complete most of the tasks that I began today.

Now I need some sleep.

Nite all.

Day of Rest

I've got three days off at the end of this week and I plan on spending one entire day in bed.

It's been a very busy four days and I haven't had a chance to plant my butt on the chair or remain in bed for my usual day of regeneration/slobberdogging.

Right here, right now, I'm booking next Sunday as my regeneration day.

I AM excited to get back to the shop tomorrow. I even have a new top especially for the occasion of my return! Haha.

We left the house this morning at about 10.15am and drove to Gundiah with the lovely chookies tucked snug in a box.

When we arrived at the farm, Adoring Husband and Marco Polo drove them out to their new home, which is a caravan with a special electronic door that locks them in for the night and they are guarded by Maremma dogs by day as they wander freely on the farm foraging for their yummy worms, grubs and greenery.

They will be happy with their new friends and their freedom.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch of pork chops cooked on the barbecue, sweet potato chips cooked in the pizza oven and a delicious fruity salad with a variety of fresh greens from the garden, blood orange, apple, shallots and cranberries awash with a tangy poppy seed dressing. Absolutely delicious. Not to mention the gluten free home made crackers dipped in home made cashew cheese.

It was a really pleasant four hours spent on the farm. The weather was glorious, the drinks were cold, the food was good, the conversation flowed and the time passed quickly.

We had to leave so that AH could see our 'pool guy' and pass on some requested information, so a quick twenty minutes in Best Cousin in the World's garden harvesting lots of green stuff and some sweet potatoes was how we said our goodbyes.

We stopped at Oliver's on the way home for a coffee that tasted like it had about 5 shots in it. Ugh.

When AH returned from the pool guy's house, we stepped outside to measure up our pool area, so that I can start planning the landscaping and figure out exactly where we want the pool to go.

Hopefully I will find the mental energy to do just that, during the week.

At this very moment I am watching the movie "Jaws" and it is reinforcing our brilliant plan of having a pool in the back yard, even though we live 400 metres from the beach/river!

I'm off to bed. Thanks to The Blonde Bombshell for sharing this lovely quote on FB today...

Nite all.