The First 600

As I sat reading through my blog reader just now, the information bar at the top of the page reminded me that I had posted 599 posts at "Mumma's Place" !  Wow!  Almost four years of scribbles here on my little part of the web!  So, this is number 600 and I wasn't actually planning a post so I don't have a lot to say.

Perhaps a lot of my posts have been like that?  Just the random mumblings of a stay-at-home mum.  I know my earlier posts came a lot more regularly and I enjoyed blogging to a loose schedule.  Theological, family, school, memories.  Now, I post only about once a week and often just to remind myself that we actually did do stuff that week.  It is a diary of sorts.

One of the things I love most about blogging is all the wonderful characters I have met out there.  Some with very similar ideas and lives and others with very different ones.  In a stage of life where I am often unable to get out and about for social things, this has been a real delight and blessing.

I saw this little plaque recently and thought it humorous:

Every visitor brings joy to this house ~
Some when they arrive
And others when they leave!







I hope there are lots of good people bringing joy into your home!  Have a great weekend everyone.  The brilliant sunshine here is Central Queensland invites us to get outside and soak it up.

Grrrr........... Computers!

It seems we can't live without them but neither can we live amiciably with them!  Yes, our computer is old so we often have glitches which, over time, become major problems.  We are blessed with a couple of friends who actually know a bit about the inner workings of the beast, unlike us. 

Today I sit at the very conveniently installed booths at our local super market.  When I sat down about half an hour ago to check all the important stuff :-)  (emails, scrabble games, face book) I was the only user of the five booths but now all but one are in use.  I am totally accustomed to a racket going on as I write a post but this is ridiculous!

At home we are debating the direction to take as far as this can't-live-without technology.  Our old one should be up and running over the weekend.  But with five users and high demand the majority of us are plugging for a) an upgrade and b) another beast to join the family.  I am checking out lap tops and other fancy portable devises.  The kids are very keen on this option!  They pointed out that I can use it while watching TV (apparently  men/ boys are beginning to multi-task too!) but the few TV shows I watch are my veg out times.  Plus, I need conserntration to read blog posts etc!  It is convenient for school.  Hey, we have to walk, oh at least three metres from the school room to the computer desk!  I can even pull it out at Maccas or a long wait at the doctors.  

Hubby is not keen for it.  He has the valid point that we have always had our computer in any open place where we can supervise what's being read etc.  I think he secretly fears I, and everyone else, may spend tooooo much time on it, which is also a valid point.  Two divided by five could jack up the usage.

I don't like to admit it, but I think I will/ would be tempted to doodle away on it at the learning area, which is something I have always tried to avoid.  Would I get to the stage of needing it near while I cook, wash, iron?  Do any of you do this?  Oooops, giggles, I don't iron :-)

So what do you prefer?  Your computer with it's nice big screen and keyboard ? your laptop? tablet? ipad? or some other doovy?? I admit I am hopeless at typing on touch screens so I am more of a key board person.  I'd value your opinions as I wade through catalogues trying to understand the terminology and decide what I actually need.  Need?  Hmm...what I want.

A lot of stuff have happened here over our Semester Break.  We've had a good holiday and a few special occasions.  I hope to catch you all up soon.  Not enough time for me to blog read at your places just now.  I hope all my regular blog friends are going well.  God bless!

(I hope there aren't too many typos.  Spell check doesn't seem to be doing its job.

You've got a friend...

One of the ironies of blogging is that when you have a lot going on and plenty of  fodder for blogging, you just don't have the time to sit and write it all down.  Then when things quieten down your head is devoid of anything interesting to say. Such is life!

We started back to school today.  I felt ready but I think my boys still have some sleep deprivation after their week long holiday.  They were not so enthusiastic!  My hubby and the boys had the second week in Brisbane visiting family and friends.  It made the house a little quieter, less cooking, less washing, but we still had a busy time here.

The twins are walking!! clapping, and generally into everything!  My youngest little grandson is crawling as well.  All three babies cut their first teeth last week. Oh!  they are just so clever!  The littlest man is quite sick at the moment and had an emergency run to the hospital yesterday with a seriously high temp.  He gave my daughter quiet a scare as his breathing suddenly became so shallow and he was going blue.  He is still miserable and hot, but it seems to be under control.  That daughter, his mother, gave us a few big frights when she was little.  She would spike a high temp from nowhere and then start convulsing.  They were very scary days!

Precious cargo!
It's not often the three of them travel together.
Aren't they the cutest??!!


Yesterday, Monday, we took a Student Free Day :-)  to get a little more organised before starting the term.  I mentioned to a friend that we were going to do this and she very kindly offered to come and help.  I've mentioned before how I really don't see a lot of my real life friends at the moment.  Most of them are either in the same position as me, homeschooling and with grandchildren or they still have little ones of their own at home.  It is special to have a coffee date or lunch with one of them or one of my sisters..  Anyhow Petunia is of Dutch decent and if you know any Dutch ladies you know that they are not only know to be stubborn but they are meticulous house keepers!  This I am not.  So we had a delightful morning, Petunia tackling a few of the bigger jobs that I find hard these days, and me puttering around with bits and pieces that needed doing.   It was a lovely morning.  Now, Tuesday night, you can hardly tell where we have been but I know that at least part of the house was tidy ~  for just a little while :-)

Everyone should have a terrific friend like mine!

Have a wonderful week, bloggy friends, especially those starting a new term of school.

To blog or not to blog?

This seems to be the question.

This week on several blogs the author has wondered whether to continue to blog.  It seems this happens regularly with women who are juggling a lot of things and wonder whether this little pleasure should take a back seat.  Trisha, is just feeling perhaps now is not the time to be blogging, Jeanne at A Peaceful Day, feeling that her followers had dwindled and the effort was not worth it.



In my three plus years of blogging I have  tossed this very question over....often!  In the early days it was the fear of becoming all consumed by blogging, reading other blogs, commenting, gaining followers.  Then when I got that under control, it would be the business of life, the realities of coping with a family, home schooling  etc.  Just when life was hectic and full of exciting potential posts I would find I had not a moment to write them down!  Sometimes I even wonder whether my cyberspace friends in actual fact get more of my time and energy than my real life friends!?

My health and family situations have helped me to get a better focus and balance , I think.  I have built up some good and special relationships over the net and I really want to keep them.  But I no longer blog to get comments but for my own pleasure and record and I suppose, speaking to those friends out there who are interested.  I still love comments.  I would love to have an intelligent, radical blog which stimulated lots of feedback and discussion.....but Mumma's Place is and always was, just a homely little eclectic blog where friends are welcome and every once in a while something earth shaking is written!

I had not been monitoring traffic on my blog for ages when the new Blogger came in.  Now it is much easier to see the numbers and I have to say that on most posts the number of visits is at least double and often more than the number of comments.  I am always surprised but not upset that people have read but not commented. 

Recently,  Susan and Jeanne were discussing blog interaction and Susan made this comment (in part)

"I like forums bcz there are lots of people there... which means lots of opinions. Whereas on my blog, I'll ask a question and usually receive limited responses because the people who pop in and comment do so because they follow my blog - which means they are usually of a similar mind or approach. But with forums I get all different kinds of opinions, based around home education.

I hate that FB has pretty much killed the life of forums because no matter the pro's of fb, it cannot replace the beauty of forums. Ever. It just isn't set up the same way, to handle in depth discussions, etc. KWIM?"

This rang very true to me.  We tend to frequent the blogs which we find hold similar  views and interests eg.  Christianity, homeschooling, a hobby perhaps.  We very often comment in agreement or encouragement, perhaps sharing tips and advice.  We rarely comment if our opinions differ.  I remember making a negative comment about a book once and feeling howled down.  I was sorry to cause that sort of emotion and regretted voicing that opinion.  A persons blog is not the place for that. Now, I don't comment if I do not agree on personal blogs.

As Susan pointed out above, Forums are a different realm.  The person you wish to disagree/ debate/ or advise does not usually own the site.  It is not a personal attack on someones private space.  It is an open arena to test thoughts and ideas and usually moderated so that every one plays nice.

I have joined a couple of Christian Forums over the years and still read regularly on the Puritan Board.  I have come to a point where I almost entirely comment only in the Ladies Tea Parlor there.  Some of the big boys play rough!  But I do read and learn a great deal from the discussions on PB. This can be time consuming as well so I have to watch my self.  I find I keep going over to see the follow up comments . I have also made some really lovely and special friends there with whom I correspond and pray and even play on line Wordscraper with!  Hi Carol, Heidi, who actually also read my blog and  Nancy, Mindy!

Although I have been a member at the Aussie Homeschool Forum for about three years I have only just started to read and comment there regularly.  This in part because of Susan's arm twisting,  persuasion, encouragement.  I think for me this might be a nice balance for use of Internet time.  I blog maybe, once or twice a week, and keep up with my buddies here.  I can meet new people, and have interaction more specifically in the home schooing area on the Forum.

BTW I had written most of this post earlier in the week, even asking Susan permission to quote her.  I added the first paragraph in tonight after reading these ladies thoughts this week.

Overjoyed!

I am over the moon with joy!


Well, it is nowhere near as exciting as the arrival
of our new grandson!
He is gorgeous isn't he?
And so is my beautiful girl!

It is not as enjoyable as watching "the twins" grow! 

But hey, it gave me a buzz.

It seems I am once again able to comment using my Blogger

profile!

After successfully commenting using the name/ url option for some weeks, I then lost that as well and was feeling a little frustrated by the whole thing.  I couldn't even comment on my own blog when I was signed in :-(

I'm happy to be back!

To all the friends who I have not been able to comment, I hope to get there soon.

It doesn't take much to make me happy! 

Homeschool Meme

Thank you to Jen at Jen's Busy Days for tagging me in this meme.  Unfortunately, I am still unable to comment at your place, Jen but I have popped over to read from time to time.  I have actually been reading these on other blogs over the last week so it will be interesting to take part.

1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed

The Christian Homeschool by Gregg Harris.  Like most HSs I have read many books over the years.  Some I have accepted, some I have rejected but most I have taken something from.  This was actually the first book I read about teaching at home and was passed on to me by my then Pastor.  We had a four year old and a two year old at the time and had made the decision to home school pre marriage, if the Lord blessed us with children.  I don't remember a lot about it now but I do remember that his emphasis on delight directed learning fitted well with my own ideas.

2. One resource you wouldn’t be without

These days the computer :-)  In the early days Sam Blumenfeld's "Alphaphonics"

3. One resource you wish you had never bought

I have recently tossed out many workbooks and bits and pieces which I have accumulated over the years and never used.  I have never spent lots of money on something that I did not use/ want any more, for which I am thankful!

4. One resource you enjoyed last year

After many years doing my own thing I really enjoyed the workshops conducted by the Groves Christian College support teachers.  (This year, because of health limitations even more so.)

5. One resource you will be using next year

We have begun using and hope to continue using next year, the Drive Through History DVDs.  Again, this is a concession to my health but for my non-readers, it has been a wonderful stimulation.

6. One resource you would like to buy

A coffee making machine.  I am happy with instant but that would really make my day!

7. One resource you wish existed

A full time house keeper. (She could also make my coffee)

8. One homeschool catalogue you enjoy reading

Reformer's Bookshop

Surprise, surprise!  For many years I read all the catalogues I could get my hands on and had long wish lists which I rarely bought books from.  Since enrolling with a DE school we confer with them on curriculum, much of which they supply through their learning support unit.

9. One homeschooling website you use regularly

Regularly - none!  I infrequently check at Aussie Homeschoolers and I love to read the blogs of other homeschoolers.  Call me crusty :-) I think some of the novelty has worn off after nineteen years and I spend most of my day just trying to get the job done.

10.  Tag other Home schoolers.

Since many of you who homeschool have already been tagged, I will throw this open to any one who would love to participate and pass it along to your friends.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Ah, the many aspects to loosing internet access!

Blogging has been been few and far between for me this year.

But loosing our internet all together has revealed some heart attitudes!

THE GOOD side has been, weaning myself from a growing addiction, spending more time doing the things I should be doing.  ie. housework, schoolie type stuff and concentrating on my precious people in the household.  For other members of the family, enforced limitation of time using technology and spending more time in real life interaction.  For Hubby, earlier bed time ☺ He drew the short straw for last block of time on the computer at night. I have noticed that everyone has been more responsive to requests for help, less cranky when asked to assist with something and generally more willing to play/ work together.

THE BAD side being, we are all unimformed!  My boys almost missed a very special mates birthday without Facebook to remind them. I am out of touch with my Bloggy friends :-(  Don't give up on me girls.
Mum-me, if you are reading, I am very sorry we have not met up today.  I only have email for you and have had no way to contact you before my eye appointment.  (This is being posted as I fill in time here before boarding the plane home.  Maybe next visit.)

THE UGLY side, I suppose, is the bad attitudes we have unearthed.  Will we be less selfish and more inclined to prefer one another when our connection is restored and we remember this time with out? Perhaps.

Do not mistake the absence of post here as me disappearing from the Aussie Home School Bloggers or this Cyber world in general.  You would not believe how busy life has been at our place!! Today I am in Brisbane having my recent cataract operation checked.  I am pleased to say all has gone brilliantly well.  Unfortunately, I have a few other health issues to deal with which has manifested in some severe head aches.  My little family are thriving.  My expectant daughters are blooming. My own sons are growing, progressing, ( supervising teacher visiting them tomorrow) and near eating us out of house and home!  My grandsons are such a pleasure to enjoy as they grow and progress both in knowledge and stature as well as in vocabulary.

I wish I had some words of depth and wisdom to share, but alas, time and energy are in short supply. 

God is indeed our refuge and our strength.

Until I am reconnected and able to respond at your place, good bye. Signing off from Brisbane Airport!

A to Z

Melanie at Out of the Miry Clay posted this fun little meme and I thought I might participate since I am just not getting time to post these days.  I do try to read occasionally at your places.  When life settles down a little I hope to be back to my regular program!


A. Age: 48
B. Bed size: queen
C. Chore you dislike: House work!
D. Dogs: Haven't had a doggy for over a year :- ( currently dog sitting my daughter's two large canines and it looks fairly long term.
E. Essential start to your day: coffee
F. Favorite color: blues / greens
G. Gold or silver:  gold
H. Height: 5' 3" and yes I am old and can never remember what that is in Cm's
I. Instruments you play(ed):  tone deaf :- (  played the recorder, sort of, in high school. Try not to play the fool.
J. Job title: Mum
K. Kids: 5 (2 girls, 3 boys, one with the Lord) and three grandsons
L. Live:  Rockhampton,  Queensland, Australia
M. Mom’s name: Theresa (but I have only ever called her Mum)
N. Nicknames: Mum! (and Ruby of course!)
O. Overnight hospital stays:  Are you kidding?  I have three thick files at the local hospital.  Having my family alone would amount to about six months in hospital.  \
P. Pet peeves: laziness
Q. Quote from a movie:  "Go ahead, make my day!"  Not a movie I love or anything but a line that comes to mind fairly often. 
R. Righty or lefty: Right.
S. Siblings: 4 sisters, 3 brothers, I am number 6.
T. Time you wake up: 7am....not counting all the times I get up during the night.
U. Underwear: ? this is a doozy!  Melanie suggested *uniform* instead.  Denim skirts, t-shirt, flappy shoes.
V. Vegetables you don’t like: choko.
W.What makes you run late:  My husband!
X. X-rays you’ve had:  heart/ chest, teeth,
Y. Yummy food you make:  Dinner every night! Dessert...occasionally.
Z. Zoo animal favorites:  Recently visited the Melbourne Zoo and Aquarium.  Loved them all especially the penguins and the platypus.


How about you?

Learning about Them

Hello to anyone who is still popping in to read at "Mumma's Place".  In the two years of my blogging career I have fretted that I may be addicted to my blog and the reading of other blogs.  Well, this last month or so has shown me that I am not .  Truly life has been so jam packed that though I may have lots of good bloggy bits to share I do not have either the time or the energy to write any posts.  And as before mentioned,  computer turns have been rationed with me often being at night.  This is not my most productive time of day........and so, very little coming to the edit stage here.

Last week I mused about what I have been gleaning about myself through our recent  flood disaster  and more personal calamities.  This week I am pondering what I am learning about others.
I have long know that teenagers often tend to be selfish.  I am gratified to see the young adults of my family have moved through this stage and are taking on the responsibilities of grown up life.  It doesn't always happen you know.  I see many examples of people into their twenties and thirties and beyond never moving beyond the totally self centred, self promoting life style.  I am encouraged that the younger members around me, though still thinking primarily of themselves can and often do eventually choose the road which is of greater benefit to the household  (in simple things like TV viewing) and to their own greater good as well (in more intimate decisions such as church attendance and moral choices).

As a parent and particularly a home schooling parent, I have long embraced the principles of discipline and routine in the ordering of life and in the raising of children.  I have not always been good at this because I am by nature fairly relaxed.  I am however, seeing it so much more clearly in my grand children, whom though I love to assist with in every way possible, I do not have the responsibility for training.  Six weeks ago they arrived here in a very stressful and dramatic situation.  They have not returned to their flooded home since...... But the constant crying and fretfulness has disappeared, the restless nights of disturbed sleep and panic at being separated from mummy are things of the past.  Patience, routine and lots of love and reassurance has seen the return of my two sweet, good natured and mischievous little men. It has been a wonderful first hand opportunity to see good parenting take effect and earn results.

I am also learning, or perhaps re-learning, that people are not always what they seem.  Sometimes you meet really genuine folk.  Brothers and sisters in the Lord who love him and love his Word, who delight to fellowship and assist the saints and the community at large.  Who never expect anything in return but make you want to act in like manner and share that wonderful bond of Christian love. 
But sadly there are those, who like the Pharisees, make long, loud prayers and declarations on pious sounding subjects but whose hearts and actions reflect a judgemental and self righteous attitude ~ ah, rather like the selfish teenagers I mentioned above.

Life throws us many opportunities and many experiences.  We live and hopefully learn, to use more wisdom and discretion as we mature.  As I observe and process all that transpires around me I realise that I have so much further to go.  "Get wisdom! Get understanding!"

Melbourne and Points Beyond

Our wonderful trip to Victoria is over :-(

So many months in the planning and every bit as exciting as we had dreamed.

Too much packed into those nine days to write about so I will do the album thing.

I have selected these from 450 photographs we took.

Enjoy!

Leaving Rockhampton airport.

To the Top of the World!

88 floors in 37 seconds to see the spectacular view from the Sky walk at the Eureka Towers

Then on the the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Site of the hanging of Ned Kelly.

WANTED

and other disreputable characters!

The Melbourne Zoo

showcases the wonders of Gods animal creation!

We were delighted to watch a platypus swimming, diving and frolicking.

Jemimah's favourites ~ the butterflies.

Elephant wallowing.

The Aquarium.

Absolutely awe inspiring creatures of the deep!

We could have spent a long while just watching the antics of the nesting and playful penguins.

Up close to some very spectacular creatures!

More than a mouthful!

The Museum held many wonders including

a 3D presentation from the Hubble Telescope.

"The Heavens declare the glory of God"!

The absolute highlight!

Two days at Sovereign Hill Historical site.  Ballarat.

WOW!

This place is so well done in every detail.

The children enjoyed panning for gold, and finding a few specks.

The huge treat was dinner in one of the old pubs, the spectacular light show and re-enactment of the events leading up to and including the Eureka Rebellion, and staying the night in the on site accommodation!

The Red Coats fired some pretty impressive guns!

Every building is done up in minute detail, right down to folks in 1850s clothing doing needlework and shop assistants passing the time of day with quaint conversations.

Site of the Eureka Stockade

Bendigo

The Chinese Museum

Winging home.

Exhausted and exhilarated!

Bloggers three!

Jeanne, from  A Peaceful Day, Ruby, That's me! and Jeana, from Jeana Marie Blackert

As with all things, people are the best part of my holiday memories.

Jeanne is the same wonderful, warm person in real life as she is on her blog. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated the hospitality and generosity which she and  her family showed us nor the time and energy they spent ensuring that we had the holiday of a lifetime. Well, for me at least, perhaps my boys will go on to great adventures.  Life long friends have been made and many precious memories as well.

It was an added bonus to meet and spend some time with Jeana and her family.

On the Lords Day we were blessed to worship with the people of God at Jeanne's home church.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!"

Vote Now!

Voting has opened over at the Home School Post.

There are twenty categories and

some great blogs are entered.

Hey, I even see a couple of you people there!

(In fact I nominated a couple of my faves!)

Head on over.

Check out the great blog links

and go ahead,

VOTE.

Home School Blog Carnival

I joined in the Home School Blog Carnival hosted at

Dewey's Treehouse.

 They have some great posts listed there, so all you homeschoolers, pop on over and check it out.

7 Questions

Ganeida has tagged me in this little game of 7 Questions.

1.What is the one moment in your life you would love to live over again & why?

The birth of my second child (and the subsequent three!) SUPERLATIVE.


2. Which historical figure would you like to meet & what is the one thing you'd really like to ask them? [yes, I know I'm sorta cheating. lol]

Other than Jesus, perhaps his mother Mary. I think she might be the ultimate Titus 2 woman.

3. What is your Heart's Desire?

At last, an easy one. My hearts desire is to see all of my children walking with the Lord.


4. What is your most irrational fear ~ & are you game to share it here?

My fear of snakes is not irrational, it is genuine.


5.Cat person or Dog lover?

Like both. Probably dogs best.

6. If you could be a tree what would you be and why?

A palm tree, planted by the rivers of water, flourishing in old age.


7. When you meet Jesus what is the one thing you really, really want to say to Him?

 "My Lord and my God."


So friends :-) would you like to come and play? I am choosing some blogger friends who I haven't seen tagged in this game yet but join in if you are reading and want to play along, too.

1. Mum-me at My Aussie Half-Dozen
2. Heidi at Just the Words
3. Becky at Petticoat Junction
4. Stephanie at Stephanie's Pleasant Places
5. Rebecca at Goo and Titch
6. Ron at The Old Geezer Blog
7. NewKiddontheBlogg at Plant City Lady

Now, apparently I have to make up my own seven questions when I pass this game on. That means using my brain...it is late....can I do it?

1.  Where were you born?
2.  What is your favourite guilty treat food?
3.  Do you have a phobia?
4.  What is your earliest childhood memory?
5.  If you were PM or President for a day, what change would you make?
6.  You can have any pampering treatment at a classy salon. What do you choose?
7.  In retirement, where would you like to travel if money was no object?

HOME SCHOOLERS

Check it out!

The Homeschool Blog Awards begin taking nominations Friday (US time)

This Week, Tonight.

Blogger looks good!
I like the new look of the dash board, although some of the pictures are HUGE but I seem to have my own pictures back to work with.
Now all I need is some fresh inspiration....sigh. I have had a very busy week back to school and all, and have really limited my computer time. This is always necessary when I have pressing things which need attending to. Also, we have four bodies who claim time on our computer and sometimes it can be difficult to get a moment without others looking over one's shoulder. The same goes for the telephone, which I do not use a lot. Sure enough, if I want to call someone, usually one of my sisters, the whole family will end up crowded around the telephone which really puts a dampener on any meaningful conversation. One thing for sure, it prevents me blogging or gossiping about my loved one!

School has started back smoothly and in a low key fashion. I am sad to loose our dear helper Rae but I am very impressed with both of my boys in attitude and application! I even had an early starter trying to get through book work in order to get outside one morning. And who wouldn't? The Spring sunshine is calling and when you live in this part of the country it is really important to make the most of these days before the intense heat and humidity set in. And they will.....any day now :-(



Babies, babies, babies. The birth rate may be down to 1.6 or some such but it is not going out of fashion around here! Two new great nephews (24 great grand children for my dear Mum and Dad) and Rae gave birth to an 8lb 1oz baby girl on Monday morning!!! We give praise and thanks to God for these safe arrivals and as both my nieces had two little girls already they were super excited to add boys to their families.

Boundaries was the title of my post on Monday and I have been thinking on this and many scriptures since then. I hope to get my thoughts together enough to post more on that on Monday or soon at least. On Wednesday, I also posted pics of the gorgeous cat and dog I owned in my spinster days! They were puppy and kitten and came to me within days of one another in 1984. I was single and living alone and my family thought I was becoming eccentric! They grew up together, slept in one basket while they still fitted and particularly Jep, my dog, went everywhere with me. Romance, a large dog lover and one very large dog changed our family arrangements. Ah, but that was twenty five years ago....


Jeopardy & Couch
1984

Enjoy your weekend!

Dealing with Addiction

Ron, at The Old Geezer Blog, had an interesting post recently answering a question on how he had accumulated so many Followers. It got me thinking about my own motivations and goals in having a blog, visiting blogs and my commenting behaviour.

Right back when I began my blog I posted this entitled Thoughts on Life, Goals and Blogging. Interestingly, though I think I have been through periods where my thoughts have become diverted, I think that I am fairly much still in agreement with this post. Since I started out just wanting a blog identity to comment elsewhere I never dreamed about having a blog which a lot of other people would read. A strange thing happened along the way! As I began to write posts myself, comment on many more blogs and receive comments ~ I got hooked. Addicted to blogging and to commenting. (Confessions of a closet blogger!)

In this post, eight months into blogging, Time Management and the Blog, I mention some of the changes in my attitude and routines. The post is fairly bland, but I remember that I was really struggling at that time to get a balance. I was noticing that checking for comments and dreaming up post ideas was dominating my thoughts way too much. I was posting at this time about five times a week but often just twaddly pieces or links to things I found interesting in other places.

In January, to mark one year of blogging I posted Mumma's Journal. In it I recorded some of my blog stats for the year. I recall at the time that I was both thrilled to have reached these milestones and shocked at the number of posts (equating to many hours) which I had published. It was over that long holiday break from school that I had a good hard look at my "routine". I prayed about it and was very convicted by the way my daily schedule had changed since I began blogging. Because of my not-so-good health and my very poor eye sight at the time I was finding it hard to do many of the activities I might have done in the past. I never put the computer over family activities and time with friends, church, parents etc but I did use it where I once might have read or caught up on chores.  Was blog reading as edifying as a good, solid christian biography? Was my bible reading and quiet prayer time suffering? What about school? What about ironing?

This year, with I hope new perspectives, I have tried to blog only about three times a week. I have tried to eliminate drivel. Okay, you may not have noticed that so much :-)  I have concentrated on being careful with my deeper spiritual posts, being acutely conscious of  responsibility of handling the Word of God and being a good and faithful witness to my Lord. I have continued to share about my family, homeschool trials and triumphs, but have tried to eliminate the day to day waffle that can sometimes make a blog become stale and uninteresting.

So....how am I doing so far :-)

Ron's post which I mentioned at the beginning of this one, was mainly about building up a following. Now, as mentioned, this was not one of my early goals in blogging but became more important to me as my "addiction" worsened about twelve months ago. I am pleased to say  that now I am really excited to have a new follower, especially one who likes to leave comments, but it no longer bothers me how many I have. It is always nice to know that some are reading your posts regularly. I have mainly found that the blogs which I enjoy and comment on are the more like minded folk and more likely to respond in kind. I talk about the joys of comments and commenting in the Blogger's Love Language.

Not all of the blogs I read are of homeschoolers or even of mothers but these common interests and the Christian walk are two of the main reasons why I might follow on a blog myself. I usually like to check out the posts over a week or two (follow anonymously) rather than click on as a follower right away. Being in total agreement is not a criteria for readership but I do find that some bloggers do not like, perhaps even delete, comments if they disagree with them. My readership is so small that this has not been a real problem for me, although I have been deleted at other sites. I say in my comment box that it is okay to disagree but do it graciously. I am just not a debater so I am not interested in heated and wordy discussions. I do however, appreciate having an error pointed out to me or an idea mooted, in a gentle and thoughtful way. I usually link the blogs I really like or have become "friends" with on my blog also. I don't know whether people use that much but I like to check these out on my favourite blogs when I have time for a good look around.



Well, if you have bothered to read to the end of this, you are a loyal follower indeed!!!

What is your blogging criteria? what are your goals? Do you follow on any old site or are you selective? or perhaps only those which follow you?

And how much time do you devote to your blog each week?
Do you schedule time for this or just visit blogs randomly?

Man, my life is so busy at present I really haven't got the time for blogging. But a busy life makes for a more interesting blog ~ right???

Being the Country Cousin

Do you ever say or blog something really goofy?

Could it only be me?

Ruby meets Jeanne

I'm just a quiet country girl, minding my own business and trying to act intelligent.

I don't think it is working??!!

Most of you will find this post mysterious ~ but some will get it!

Have a wonderful trip my (synonyms for intelligent)  very smart , able, acute, alert, alive, all there, apt, astute, brainy, bright, brilliant, calculating, capable, clever, comprehending, creative, deep*, discerning, enlightened, exceptional, highbrow, imaginative, ingenious, instructed, inventive, keen, knowing, knowledgeable, original, penetrating, perceptive, perspicacious, profound, quick, quick-witted, rational, ready, reasonable, resourceful, responsible, sage, sharp, smart, thinking, together*, understanding, well-informed, whiz*, wise, witty  friend!

It's a Pleasure to Meet You!

WORDLESS  WEDNESDAY

Tuesday, however, was full of words!

Mumma's New "Place"

Some of you may recognize the photograph below as one of my old headers. It was the childhood home of my paternal Grandmother and was a another great example of the good old Queenslander.

About every six months I usually change my header. I have been using the family homesteads from my family history albums which should keep me going for a little while. This time round I thought I would use this beautiful example of a classic "Queenslander".

I bought this wall hanging from a second hand store about ten or eleven years ago. I just love the style of this house. The Queenslander has a central section consisting of 3 bedrooms, hallway and lounge room. Across  the rear, bathroom, dining and kitchen. The front and both sides are verandas. Typically, especially in places like Rockhampton, the house stands on high stumps. This increases air flow and gives some safety from flooding. You see many Queenslanders in Rocky, and many along the Fitzroy River, where low blocks such as the one in the wall hanging are rare. The old family picture is from a location far from any rivers so is also on low stumps.

Many of these grand homes no longer look as the above. Most, such as the 1920's built model we live in, have had the verandas enclosed. This gives us a really big home but of course much of the character is lost and they have become box like. They also loose the ability to capture the breeze. Up here, we call the enclosed veranda used as a bed room a "sleep out". In ours, we used the sleep out as such when all the children were at home. Now it is Annie's room.....Anything can be found in here!! Computer, spare bed and cot, babies things, stored clothe ~ you get the idea,  Our other side is our "school room" (complete with old school desks with ink wells!). The front is just an entry area with phone and  several book cases.

The above house is very grand looking. It hangs in our lounge and reminds me of the glory days of this old house. Ooooh.... I feel another song coming on!

"Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer

Ain't a-gonna need this house no more

Ain't got time to fix the shingles

Ain't got time to fix the floor

Ain't got time to oil the hinges

Nor to mend the windowpane

Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer

He's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
"
From this Ole House by Shakin' Stevens

Back view at Mumma's Place

What's Happening at Homeschool Blogger?

Hi friends who blog at Homeschoolblogger.com.
I tried to comment at a couple of my regular reading places yesterday and couldn't work out how to get into your sites. Also, it is weird but the two blogs I was trying to access, Blogamy Lake and Restore the Ancient Paths, both had the same background. I was logged into Wordpress, which they appear to be, but cannot see how to access Homeschool Blogger. If you are reading, can you help me out? Or perhaps you are not with them but know how to get on to those sites?