I’m so grateful to have such an exquisite group of readers. I do not say this usually however your feedback actually do preserve me running a blog. After they drop off, I do too.  So thanks for being right here with me and thanks for the ideas and prayers you ship me. It is such a beautiful factor to be considered by folks close to aand far.  I consider you too. Each time you remark, I construct up an image in my thoughts of what you are like – the way you speak and put on your hair, the way you make a cup of tea and harvest flowers or tomatoes. I carry these image with me and generally once I sit on the entrance verandah, somebody from right here sits in my mind for some time and makes me smile.  So thanks all for that and for giving me the time it takes to go to and remark.  

 💛 ~ 💜 ~ 🧡

Firstly of the week there was a foul odor in the home. At first I puzzled if Gracie had discovered a mouse and killed it however mice in the home in summer season could be very uncommon so I searched for an additional trigger. My nostril lead me to the toilet, the toilet I do not use. It was once the principle rest room however after we added one other bed room with en suite, that turned our important rest room. The previous rest room is utilized by guests and in the event that they use the bathroom, that’s the place they wash their arms.  The room additionally comprises an previous freezer, a cleansing cabinet and a bathe. As quickly as I walked in I knew I would hit pay filth – the odor was very robust and I may see the freezer gentle was off.   🫢  Then I remembered, I would used my robo mop on the finish of final week. That one electrical change within the room has a twin goal. It prices the battery on the mop and it runs the freezer and has finished for over 20 years. I should have forgotten to show the change on once more once I eliminated the mop wire. 😑    

Once I opened the door on the freezer my head almost lifted from my shoulders. 😵‍💫 I put it down once more however I may see rotting steaks, mince, two roasts, homegrown chard, a big bag of recent ginger and chillies picked from the yard. There was additionally two litres of lemon juice able to be made into cordial for the second half of summer season and about 5 kilos of bread flour I would been storing in there.  Funnily sufficient, the lack of the meals was a distant second place to worrying concerning the odor. 

This freezer was purchased the primary 12 months we lived right here. It was a medium sized freezer that served us properly all that point and by no means induced any issues. It had began to rust in a couple of locations and enamel paint chips on the skin wall fell off generally within the final 12 months, so I knew it was on the best way out. I did not need to substitute it however I knew I needed to begin fascinated with eliminating it. I do not stay a freezer life-style anymore – no live-in household, no bulk meat purchases, no bread making and no backyard to reap from anymore.

Once I tried to maneuver it, it would not budge an inch. So I rang my son Shane. He advised me to not fear and he’d be right here the next day to eliminate it. And that is precisely what he did. He moved the freezer out of the home and onto the trailer hooked as much as his automotive and took it to the dump. It was like shedding an previous pal. However once I considered it, it was one other decluttering train. Sure it occurred out of the blue, sure, I could not rescue any of the meals it contained, sure, it made a multitude but when it hadn’t occurred like that I’d have needed to slowly use the meals within the freezer, flip it off for the ultimate time, cleaned it out and ask Shane to take it to the dump for me.  On this occasion, I feel the quicker possibility was higher.

When Shane eliminated the freezer it was clear by some stains on the ground that it had been leaking for some time. I cleaned the nook of the toilet with bleach, then with disinfectant and washing up liquid in virtually boiling water, completed it off with dry rags and arrange a drying rack within the area.  I’ve to confess, I miss that previous freezer. It was such an necessary a part of our first 12 months dwelling in our residence and one of many first home equipment I purchased with visions of residence productiveness in thoughts. After I purchased it, I arrange a stockpile cabinet and a pantry and people three issues – the freezer, stockpile cabinet and pantry helped me suppose in artistic methods about residence cooking, baking, fermenting, making a meals finances, meals storage and chopping again on meals waste.

I am going to miss the previous lady however sooner or later she’ll assist me bear in mind what life was like for the Hetzels after we picked her up from the store and introduced her residence. I did not absolutely realise her potential at first however she helped me reply lots of the meals questions I would began fascinated with. She allowed me to purchase bulk meat from a neighborhood farmer for a fraction of the grocery store value and he or she supplied area to put newly bought dry items – flour, oats, rice and so on. – in order that in the event that they contained any insect larvae, it will be killed within the freezer.

I suppose it is unusual feeling sentimental a few freezer but it surely actually did kick begin how I modified my ideas about meals manufacturing. And I am happy the tip got here quick and that Shane was there for me once I wanted assist. It is a pity concerning the odor although. 😵‍💫

Kerry, Sunny and Jamie gave me a Cuckoo rice cooker for Christmas.  I used it for the primary time immediately as a result of I made hen curry for my important meal. It is a stress cooker so it makes rice in 6.5 minutes. All I needed to do was wash the rice till the water was not milky, add the rice and water to the cooker and switch it on. It labored out its personal cooking time in line with the burden of the pan and it stored the rice heat till I used it. Made in South Korea, I count on artistic know-how and I can see myself making extra rice dishes as a result of the rice it makes is significantly better than the rice I used to make. 😁

Lots of you already know my good pal Grandma Donna who blogs at Generations Earlier than Us. Her weblog is stuffed with sensible concepts about dwelling merely in addition to splendidly nostalgic photographs of her residence. Not too long ago Donna began a discussion board and I advised her I would inform you about it. This 12 months she and her husband are conducting a examine into Nineteen Thirties dwelling – you possibly can examine that on her weblog. The discussion board is a method for the folks doing the examine along with her to swap concepts and get assist. There’s additionally a common chat space so you possibly can socialise with like-minded folks, everyone seems to be welcome. Should you click on the hyperlink to Donna’s weblog, take a look at the highest of the web page and click on on  Discussion board to go there.  It’s a must to be a part of however there is not any hidden agenda.  Donna’s not properly for the time being so it could take a short while to be welcomed into the discussion board, but it surely will not take too lengthy. I will be there to greet you. 🥰