Carbon Tax Woes? Joyce to the rescue!

Have you heard the news Australia?  The Carbon Tax comes into effect from July 1, 2012.  There are all sorts of worries and concerns about our groceries going up, our school fees going up, our holiday accommodation going up, our local sports clubs registrations going up, our balls of wool going up.  It's all just going up, and up, and sometimes it goes up and up, up!  

We know Dr Seuss' book claims It's a good day for Up!  but not this kind of up.  

So let me help you bring some of the up, back down a little bit to a slightly and hopefully more comfortable level of up, if that is possible at all.

On a more mature and grown up note, please check here for some very good ways to beat the carbon tax (other than with a very big stick).

And the following are some of my, how to keep warm without needing heaters, tips I thought I would share with you. . . . . 

You cannot beat the snuggle better than a scarf around the neck.  When not in use, place in your draw with a sachet of dried lavender, so that when you snuggle it around your neck, the gentle calming scent keeps you relaxed through your day.  Or use any number of favourite dried and scented flowers that make your day wonderful.

They say that heat rises, well keep a lid on it will you, don't waste that precious energy your body has been working so hard to make to keep you warm and have it all escape out the top of your head, or in some cases the ears!  

Stuck in front of a computer most of your day?  Then love your wrists by putting on a bit of warmness to stop the ache and the cold.  

Save money in the kitchen by having a bake up day.  Turning on your oven just for one item is such a waste of heat, so make the most of it, crank it up and set up a production line.  Not only are you filling your kitchen with yummy treats, you are keeping warm at the same time.

You could even have more fun with this by inviting some friends over and sharing the spoils of the bake up, hmmmm some lovely cocktails would certainly assist in the warming of the inside too.  What a fun afternoon!

Here are the spoils of my morning, double batch of anzac biscuits, one banana cake for the freezer, a double batch of choc/coconut slice, and a batch of rocky road.  Let's not talk about the wash up huh!  

                                          

Lastly, of course, the good old cuppa, (with or without a dash of something) no matter where you are, or who you are with, nothing says warm like a cuppa.  Wrap your hands around a lovely cuppa in your favourite mug and *ahhhhhh*.

There are some other ideas for keeping warm, and I am about to do one of them very soon.  Snuggle under a blanket with my two little monkeys and continue our reading of The Enchanted Wood.  

Of course, there are some cheeky ways to keep warm, but you all know what they are, lol, yes, yes you do, I can see that you do, because you are grinning right now.  So keep those carbon tax saving ways to yourself will you, well ok, then share them with a friend if you must.  lol.  Go on, off you go, and wipe that grin off your face!

What are your carbon tax saving secrets for this winter?  

Thanks so much for stopping by my place, keep warm and dry at your place.

xx

b r e a t h e

Today you are you, that is truer than true.  

There is no one alive who is youer than you.

- Dr. Seuss -

Thank you Dr. Seuss, I need this today.  

Funky Friday to you.

xx

b r e a t h e

Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson - 

It's Friday and the very first day of winter.

xx

b r e a t h e

Earth laughs in flowers.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson - 

My Friday moment is back!  

Happy Friday to you and yours.

xx

A Day In The Life Of Joyce

I did my third ever markets yesterday.  It was so much fun.  I met some lovely people and very talented stall holders.  I got to hug customers and fellow stall holders in person who I had only chatted to via the computer in the past.  I got to hug return customers and friends who come out to visit me.  

There were many, many conversations had throughout the day, lots of giggles and sharing of craft.

One of the repeated comments to me from customers was 'how on earth do you find the time to make all this stuff?'

'ummmm, I don't know, I just make it - I don't watch much tv and so I guess I make stuff, - it's just part of me, I can't not do it'.

So today, I thought I would share a Joyce day.  

This is what I did today, on my 'day off'.  

I lost my voice this morning, (but thankfully it it found its way back again), and despite feeling very tired, I got lots done, just by putting one foot in front of the other, taking the camera with me, there was no one to talk to, so my voice was well rested, and I managed to appreciate the day and tend to the gentle rhythm of home duties.  

Starting with sorting breakfast and lunches for my family and getting them out the door, taking my knitting to the bus stop.

There were 6 x loads of washing.

There were 2 x bathrooms to clean.

Floors were vacuumed.  The vacuum cleaner photo was just too boring, so I thought I would share instead 2 of my constant companions today, my slippers and my washing basket.  

Beautiful bright colours draining in the dish drainer.

A spot of knitting while waiting the last 2 minutes of another wash cycle.

Joyce being a little bit naughty, but sometimes, it's ok to be a little bit naughty.

Then there was waiting on hold on the phone, where I got my knitting out yet again and got a few rows done whilst waiting.  Sorting through remaining stock, I then took my knitting to the bus stop, walking and knitting, of course.  Sorry, forgot to get photos of this task, you will just have to believe me, or ask my neighbours who I met at the bus stop.

Afternoon tea, supplied by one of the lovely stall holders at the markets yesterday, (thank you Zoe - soooooo delish!) and time out to hear about my boys school day.

Watching my little Min drawing.  He is so intense and I just sit back with my knitting and he doesn't realise I am watching him draw.  Such a precious moment for me.

Listening to my big boy read.

Homework duties.

Vegies on the stove, and muffin mix about to be spooned into pattie cases.

hmmmmmmm, lunchbox love - muffins.  (recipe to share coming)

With washing folded, children snuggled into bed, kitchen cleaned and packed away, it's time for Joyce. Onto the computer, updating my orders, and new order enquiries, catching up with my big boy and best mate who is now home from work.

Out comes the order book and cast on the yarn for another set of wristies, complimented by a well earned drop of wine.

So there you have my day off.  

As mentioned in a previous post, I had some wonderful news to share, and share it I shall.

I have work for the rest of this term as a teacher aide at a primary school.  

It seems so unreal to say out loud, but there you go, I said it.  

Excited much!  I still cannot believe they asked me.

I am having the most wonderful time.  

Thank you for stopping by my place,

have a most wonderful week at your place.

Bless.  

xx

ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne, ne ne ne ne ne ne ne BATMAN!

It's finished, it's posted, it should get there today.

Hurry Mr Postie, I wanna know if my little mate likes his early birthday present.

There are many adventures to be had, so hurry Mr Postie, please!

1 x batman cape completed.  

The symbol is in yellow and black felt.  I have hand sewn the symbol to the cape, so that if Batman

is no longer 'the thing to do', then our little hero can ask his Mummy with his best manners to take it off and all she has to do is snip the knot and gently unpick the thread.  Much easier when done by hand than by machine, and less pull and stress on the cotton poplin too.  The same goes for the little badge at the neck, which can be sewn onto a pillow or library bag or attached with a piece of black satin ribbon, makes the perfect bookmark.  

Thanks for stopping by my place today.

Have a wonderful week wherever you may be.  

xx

Little Stitches = Big Pleasure

A custom project for a very special little friend.  

I do hope he likes it.

I do hope his adventures are many and his dreams are big.

ne ne ne ne ne ne ne ne BATMAN!

I shall reveal more soon - I promise!

Thanks for stopping by Joycie's place.

It's so lovely to be back, it's so lovely to *make* time to hang out with my camera for a few minutes today.  I miss my camera, I miss blogging.  

It's been busy, but is the most wonderful kind of busy this Joyce could ever dream of.  

I do promise to share soon.  

Thank you for sticking it out.  

Thank you for hanging around.  

Bless.  xx