Come meet Rhonda

Let me introduce you to Rhonda Jean from Down to Earth. I know Rhonda for a few years now and she is one of the nicest ladies you will ever meet. So pop over to her blog for a visit, well worth the time. Then join our forum on Living Simply



Rhonda Jean asked What is your story?
I am pretty sure just about everyone knows my story but I'm interested in yours. Why did you decide to simplify? How far are you along in your journey? How did you start and what do you do everyday that affirms for you that this is the life for you?



Daisysmum ... My Grandmother was my teacher and role model, I spent holidays with her and we gardened, baked, crafted and even dressed chooks and made beef jerky together. She taught me to make butter, dry fruit on wire racks in the sun, She lived on a sheep farm her whole life and knew it all. That stayed with me and as I got older I practised what she taught me. Always gardened and crafted, cooked from scratch mostly. When we moved to OZ and finally bought a property and now renting a small holding as well, I have got chooks and sheep. I am glad to have this time to learn more and be able to help others, find their feet.Some friends/workmates/family do think we are a little excentric, and really I am not about to change for anybody. A few are slowly coming to think our lifestyle is a good choice. I sometimes wish my DH was a little more greener, but he has come along way already. My daughter has without realising it, "cause that how thing are done" been semi green for a long time.Even if I won lotto tomorrow, I still would live the way I am today. It is a sense of achivement to be able to do something for family and yourself.



Rhonda Jean asked What is complicating your life right now?
Are you trying to live more simply but something is stopping you? Is your work taking up too much time and energy? Are you living in the wrong area? Is your family dead against living simply? Are you still caught up with spending? Whatever it is, tell us what you're struggling with and how you intend to work through



Daisysmum ... In our case it would be not having enough super to cover us for a few years, and it does not help when you down an $20 000 with this economy thing. I know we don't need as much as they say cause we not planning on being extravigant. We still need to build a small home and put up a shed ... finally found myself a builder who does not mind reusing a few bits of recycled materials. Our land needs to be paid off and we can't do that without working.But all that does not stop me from living as best I can atm, keeping the chooks and sheep, it all a learning curve. I see it as a trail period.



Rhonda Jean how do you view your house work?
I wrote about slowing down and living life to the full on my blog today. There were many great comments but Amanda's struck me as a very practical way of looking at this way of living. She wrote:"thanks for the post, it was just what i needed on my fri morning. i agree that it is the mindfulness and purpose that makes a difference. i don't like doing dishes and can easily become resentful if i feel like i'm doing it more than my partner. but this morning i just reminded myself that i'm excited about my friend coming to stay for the long weekend and i want things to be neat for her."It's amazing how just looking at something in a different way can help re-adjust how we view what is happening in our lives. Have you changed the way you look at your work since you started to simplify?



Daisysmum ... Well now this is an interesting question, I mean the housework. I am not the best housewife and never will be. I blame my mother walking with the vacuum behind everyone, not giving you a chance to finish what you doing, without her starting the cleaning process again. I said I never want to be like that!We have had a much more relaxed way of living but atm it's far to relaxed. I would rather be outside digging holes amd mowing the lawns, feeding animals. Cleaning as required and it can't wait any longer.Flat out just doing the basic with very little help from 28yr old Dear Daughter and husband does his bit by feeding the dogs at night. The real problem is lack of time, we leave at 4.30 am and only get back after 6pm then it's feeding animals and dinner, checking clothes for tomorrow and dishes, no time for other stuff.



Gillie asked I have a question I've been pondering for some time- it's kind of related to the technology question above but I was really interested in whether people think television hinders simple living? I am in my 20's and grew up watching television as part of everyday life. Me and my OH have been moving towards a simpler and more frugal life for the past two years and I've recently realised that whatever i do, i seem to have the television on, whether I'm watching it or it's just on in the background. If I'm knitting, I'm watching television, Sewing- television, craft projects. However, my OH's Auntie and Gran do not have a television in their house at all and i LOVE going over there. I love sitting round chatting with a cup of tea or knitting together. I love the atmosphere of their houses and i always say i want our flat to be more like theirs in terms of atmosphere as it's always so relaxing and peaceful

Daisysmum ... Dear husband lovesssss his TV, rugby, wrestling, cowboy movies and more sport ... drives me nuts so I just spend my time in front of the computer, feeding animals, gardening or washing dishes. He knows my dislike but keeps watching, so be it.But when we at the farm, we have dinner outside under the pergola by citronella torches, with a chandlelier of stars lighting up the sky. Then the radio get turned on to rugbyTo much TV depends if your alone or have company, then it's off otherwise it's just plain rude leaving it on.

Gemmerbier en Oumas

Kyk wie kon nou better Gemmerbier make as my Ouma, niks was fout met haar hande nie. Now die storie is oor Gemmer bier wat ons daar by Pelgrimsrus gekoop het in sukke mooi pottery bottels. Die kinder was nog baie klein toe, so dit is baie lank terug. Maar ek onthou dit was in die somer en ons het so lekker daar rondgeloop en alles bekyk. Gemmerbier gekoop en in die kar se boot gesit, hmmm die bier het warm geword en die proppe het begin skit ... watter gemors hoor.

Dit was wonderlik om so baie tyd saam met my Ouma en Oom Dan te kom spandeer, sommer maande op 'n slag. Oom Dan het aan bom skok gely en Ouma het vir haar broer gesorg. Saam het hulle meer as 'n akker groente en vrugte bome versorg, rye wit mielies jy kom wegkruipertjie speel. Sy was 'n regte boeretannie, so sterk soos 'n os met 'n hart van goud. Ouma het geglo 'n vrou se handed moet besig bly. Oupa hulle het vir jare met skape geboer daar anderkant Vryburg maar nadat hy oorlede is het Ouma koshuis moeder geword.



Later koop sy 'n huis met die groot erf in Paris. Dis nou Paris in die Vrystaat. Dis waar ons gebak en brou het , regte botter in die glas bottel gemaak het, hoenders gevoer en eiers gaan soek, gehelp verre pluk as sy hoenders slag. Skaap slag was geen problem en as alles verby is dan maak sy lekker kerrie afval. Sondag na kerk was daar skaap boud met vars aartapples van die tuin. In die kerk mos jy stil sit anders kry jy nie 'n pepermintjie wat sy in haar handsak gebere het nie. Ouma het self biltong gemaak strepsakke vol, dan bere sy dit daar onder in die kombuis kas langs die droe vrugte. Ouma het my geleer hekel, skeef en krom, maar vandag kan ek vir my kleinseuns hulle eie bersies maak. Daar in my kis is nog ouma se knie kombersie +- 50 jaar oud en 'n resepte book wat ek by my ma vasgele het (nadat sy begin resepte inplak)

Maar die memories is nog by my en ek weet Ouma glimlag van daarbo. Ek het altyd daar op haar bed gesit en my verkyk hou sy daardie lang swart/grys hare uitkam en dan vleg totdat dit dun raak. More word die hare in 'n bollatjie gemaak en sy trek een van baie voorskote aan, reg vir nog 'n dag. Ek was 13 jaar oud en haar enigste kleinkind toe Ouma rustig in haar slaap oorlede is.

Ek het soveel mooi memories van my Ouma Mimmie, dinge wat sy gedoen het, my geleer het en gewys het wat tot vandag toe by my is. Ek hoop om eendag die selfde vir my Kleinseuns te kan betekken wat Ouma vir my was. Miskien was daar iemand anders in julle lewe met die selfde invloed op jou. Kom vertel 'n bietjie.

Until Nexttime
Rina

We heading up to "our slice of heaven" or more formally known as Lavender Hill for a few days. Could both do with a little break but there's a mountain of mowing, slashing and clearing to do. Might need a holiday after the "Holiday" lol.

Keep safe

until nexttime

Rina

Judging a book by it cover?

What truly lies behind that book you judge so easily, same goes for anyone of us, why judge us before you even know who we are, what we want or for what reason we pass into "your space" Maybe we don't want anything from you. Block us out if you like but you might be the poorer for that.

I have been judged my whole life, just as you were, every time somebody serves us in a shop, everytime you meet another person, the only thing that does not judge us is man's best friend. No matter how shit you treat the dog, it comes back wagging it's tail looking with big eyes at you.

I made that mistake years ago, working in a pharmacy there in Sunnyside, Pretoria. This young girlie came in pushing a pram, asked for help buying cosmetics, I judged her ... yeh right as if you could afford that! She payed with a gold Amex card. Right maybe I was wrong?

There's that time when we stayed in Durban, my mom loved visiting this clothing store owned by some Jewish ladies, they fell over backward to help her as soon as they heard she's going overseas, then they were on first name bases? If I went in there alone they wouldn't even bother giving you a glass of water if I collasped in their doorway. It's not as if I never went there without my mom. Should I go on .......

Oh I forgot to tell you about this wonderful conversation I had a while back with the man from the sewing machine shop. He mentioned their new pastor was South African, just resently come over, so I get his Ph no and give them a call, Welcoming them to Kempsey and wanting to invite them around the next time they headed up the mountain where we got a small farm. Well That went well... Not. He was so rude and abrunt even considering his profession. Did not even invite me to go to his church. I put down the phone thinking did that just happen ... why bother.

Have you been treated like that before yeh I bet you have ... If you don't think so, well then you must be lying to yourself. You dress to inpress ... who? You put yourself in blogland ... but you don't want your space invaded ... then go private!

All I can say is Life is short. I do apologize for this rant, it's not like me at all.
Until nexttime
Rina

Sometimes I wonder........

Family gene's are sometimes so strong, you watch those sad programs on TV where people try trace their biological mom or dad, or siblings. For years these people have tried and sometimes the parents are the one's who can't get over the sadness or regret, and go looking. They're left in limbo, to scared of the rejection and the hurt, wondering!

I am so greatful my story is nothing like that. I had two wonderful parents who most of the time loved me. Like most kids I had my moments of mischief, like the time Dad caught me smoking, gave me a whollipping I never forget. Then Mom found the packet of cigerettes, told dad and I got another whollipping. How dumb could you get!!Anyway most of the time I was good, never really got into any mischieve.

I remember people asking Mom "Is that your child? she looks nothing like you" well Mom said she got sick of the questioning, so told them what they wanted to hear "No she's adopted" that normally shut them up. Well a seed was planted in my small head, and until today I sometimes wonder ... I do look like my fatherside of the family, so just maybe there is a grain of truth there somewhere. Jokingly I mentioned this to my mother on the last visit to South Africa, when once again her neighbour uttered the same words, and she gave the same reply jokingly ... I asked are you sure my aunt is not really my mother.

Always had a special place in my heart for my aunt, a secret wonder if she is not my real mother. We had a little family gathering to catch up with my Dad's brother and sister, I hadn't seen them in 18 yrs, wow that's along time. Dad passed away in Sept 1999. We had a great time reminising. My Aunt dropped me off and while we were driving, we chatted away happily. I realised how very much alike we were, even looking alike. How strange is that! But When it came to saying goodbye, it felt like a little piece of my was torn apart, leaving a hole in my heart. Gave her such a big hug, poor woman proably had no idea why.

Oh how I wish I was brave enough to have asked that question, would I just have made a fool of myself. I am 50 something what does it matter anyway.

Until nexttime
Rina

Tea anyone?

Your invited to check out what we doing this Easter long weekend, so hop on over to the other blog. It's going to be a 3 part session to please come back again.

Have a lovely peaceful Easter weekend.

Rina