Technology, argh!

I have been trying to  post all week!  Its either my computer or the internet connection, I keep getting cut off, very frustrating, so if I haven't commented on your blog I apologize.  Sometimes when I try to leave a comment a box comes up saying that Firebox would not allow me to do the comment. but when I go to another blog there is no problem?!  Perhaps I should switch to Chrome?  What platform do you use?  I realized last night what the problem with my internet could be, the last two weeks have been school holidays and we have continual rain, so think of all those video games..... I got up at 3 am this morning and tried  the internet then and no problem....overload. They are back to school next week I will see how it is then, fingers crossed.

Any hows, all of this has made me think how reliant we are on  technology and in particular the internet - our banking, shopping, appointments are made online.  We use to have a choice, post  or telephone or physical visits, but that is changing and made more rapid with covid-19. For a lot of utilities you get a surcharge if the bill is posted out to you and another if you pay in person or by cheque. Soon you wont be able to that as local banks are phasing out cheques. Is this process being carried out in other countries besides NZ and Australia?

It is kind of scary in a way, as we can be held hostage in all manners of ways.  There was a story this week where a real estate rental company that operates both in NZ and Australia had data hijacked, they tended to use drivers licenses as ID and copies were stored online and this hacker was able to access them so thousands were vulnerable to identity theft.  Then there was the cyber attack by a certain country on Australian governmental agencies because they didn't like the Australian government challenging them.  Then there's the thought what if the internet fails completely all that stuff saved in the cloud!  I know people who have all their precious baby photos stored in the cloud and when I mention that they should have some hard copies they look at me as if I come from the ark, lol! I am just as bad, as I have all of my crochet patterns and recipes stored  either on my computer or online.  So I am going to make hard copies, am I crazy? I don't think so, its better to be save than sorry.

Its hard to believe that the internet has only been around about 30 years or so, while there are many advantages that are awesome, there is a dark side and I think we should be mindful of that.  Sometimes I long for time when we didn't have it, life was simpler then.  BUT it has intertwined with our psyche so much we would have severe withdrawal symptoms!  Its a bit like being between a rock and a hard place.

 I might not be able to crochet or knit very comfortably but I can sort my cottons and wool out.  I have bought some large plastic bins and will store them in these instead of being stuffed behind an armchair!  Lucy wont be happy as she likes to make a nest amongst the bags.

Lucy will have to revert to napping in any box that comes her way.

 That is Peggy Sue getting interested in the box too, No room for her! I had bought some baby houseplants and the nursery put them in the box and as you can see she was in it before my back was turned.  Also you can  see that I have a paint tester and colour cards, I guess I am going to paint my lounge and bedroom, probably in the spring.  They look yellow there but actually are more of a lime green.  This photo was taken in February so you can see it a long term project.LOL!

It is raining again today, so its a stay indoors day, think I will do some baking and make a casserole for dinner.

 
 

Counting my Blessings

last autumn

Hello all, back again!  I have had a trying few months since I posted last, it started with an accident where I tripped over a dog, luckily I didn't hurt her (a gorgeous pure white German Shepherd), but unfortunately or fortunately (?) the dogs owner tried to save me hitting the ground and grabbed hold of my arm, I dislocated my shoulder and my elbow was twisted thereby damaging the ulnar nerve which put my whole arm out of action. The silver lining or blessing is I didn't land on my dud shoulder which is being threatened with replacement (which I am resisting).  So with two dud shoulders  I have been held to hostage to laziness.  The good news is that there is healing and I can now almost use my arm normally.  The blessing here is that the weather has been so foul that there is no desire to get into my poor overgrown garden so I am safe from overdoing it and undoing all the physio I have had. Oh, and I have had home help to do my housework! That finished last week so now I have to do it, sigh....... ( the girl was lovely and I didn't feel too awkward, so that was a blessing!)

However, I have been down and have had to give myself a many a good talking to!  But what got me out of my pity party was reading a blog post by Jane of Hope and Thrift.  Jane had posted on the story of her home and showed wonderful photos, but what inspired me the most was the fact she did it in 10 years from scratch.  It made me think, and I realized that I have done the same here, more or less!  I have been here 11 years and had no trees, or flower beds, let alone a vegetable patch, now I have all three! So Jane you are a blessing.

I was brought to mind of Ecc 3:1 - 8 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal;  A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep. A time to throw away; And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.  Now doesn't that say it all for the crazy world we are in!

Edit Just found this version of Turn Turn Turn which is based on above by Judy Collins recorded in 1966, she sings like an angel, totally awesome.

It made me remember that it is July and in August we start to sow our garden!  I will have to get cracking to order any seeds I might need, but I am well stocked up I think, so that needs checking.  I was looking through my files to see what photos I could put in this post as light relief from my reflections and I came across this photo of a small part of my vegetable plot from the summer, just what I need to inspire me and not dwell on the straggly kale and swiss chard that is adorning my veg patch! Another blessing!

Last Christmas I treated myself to a new camera, a fancy SLR, I had to join the local camera club to learn how to use it, lol, it is still hit and miss, but when I get it right the photos are lovely even  if I say so myself, lol. This is a photo I took couple of weeks ago before the rain, it was the last rose (the rose is Sally Holmes and she is so abundant, flowers all summer and grows so big.  This reminds me we prune roses in July!

I have also been practicing taking photos of sunsets and sunrises.  The sunsets are more successful, mainly because they are taken from the back garden and there are no obstructions, the front garden has power lines and posts to navigate!

These two are from the back garden a month or so. Isn't that sky something!

This photo was last night, the sun came out at 4 and this was taken about 5.30, I think.  I was hopeful that it would be fine today, but, no its pouring down and I am flooding  out the back again. But the short spell of blue sky was a blessing because it reminded me that the sun is behind all those clouds.  This has reminded me of what my mum used to say to kids when  it was raining, "Oh God is watering his garden" and when there was thunder she would say, " God is moving his furniture around!" and lightening "God has got his torch and is looking for something he has lost!" I don't ever remember if she had a saying for the sun or clouds.

So I think I have more blessings than I thought and no doubt I could find many more.  So despite the dull grey,  cold  and wet day, the state of the world, my injuries I realized I am blessed and all is right in my world.