nicbeltane .com

Have you read The life changing Magic of Tidying up?

I read the book a couple of years ago, I still haven’t finished sorting things but I did learn a few things from it.

Just read on a friends post on Facebook a dilemma of getting rid of sentimental items.

I suggested a couple of these ideas (I have expanded on it more in this post)

If not Sentimental is always the last of the tasks to work through as it is the hardest and holds so much emotion. It’s difficult to work through items that belonged to other people. I have all mine in groups. The Ikea Expedite (now Kallax) has been my godsend, all of my family history stuff, and the plastic bins go in it, it’s all in one spot and I can locate something at a moment’s notice.

LIKE WITH LIKE

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

Photos / memorabilia: I use the black expander files from Kmart/woollies ours are labelled by decade, Angel’s by year until next year & then I have one for either side of my parents families.

SLIDES / NEGATIVES

These are currently in little suitcases. Jack and I have started scanning them, but things have been a bit busy. I have started to put the already scanned copies in a photo album with a label next to what they are. We started a group for the family and they can access the scanned copies from there.

BOOKS

PHOTO ALBUMS / SCRAPBOOKS

I store all of these together. Most of my photos are either in albums, scrapbooks of Memorabilia files. (see other sections). Mine are all sorted by Family (This has taken many hours / months / years) to sort through so it’s not a quick process. So I suggest doing things in batches or time limits (15 minutes or sort 50 photos). This is where the expander files have come in handy. They are labelled and I can easily find where I need to put a photo. Photos of people that you are unsure of? These are part of my Unidentified Project. They all go in a white file.

FAMILY HISTORY BOOKS

I think I already posted about all of the books I bought from Booktopia in Feb / March / April. When I have time I pick a book and add a few pages of memories / journaling into it. These also are kept on the Ikea Expedite.

MEMORY BOOKS

Books I have made, been given etc. Are kept in the Expedite or in the trunk.

DIARYS

Yes I have many years of planners / diaries that hold so many memories (again in a plastic box), I have toyed with throwing them out but they hold birth / death etc dates in them and until I can go through each one and take notes down into one book they stay. An address book for notes / dates is a great idea too. I have been searching for a good birthday book and can’t find one.

MEMROBILLIA

A few years ago I bought a large trunk from the reject shop, that has photo boxes, books and other larger pieces of memorabilia, it can fit behind the couch and is out of the way..

23 / 5 / 18

Day #51: What’s your Favorite restaurant?

These are more Café based…

My all-time favourites were Bruce’s (before new management), Café Umami, Another Mother. We used to go to Bruce’s at least two to three times a week, sometimes more. Loved the atmosphere at all three of the above, The Runcible Ensemble nights, the music nights, Quirky Furniture, Yarn Bombing and so much more.

We haven’t really found one we absolutely love in Melbourne. Have been to Sadies (Has a similar feel to Bruce’s), Been to De Grill, quite liked it.

Day #50: Who are your friends?

I am very much a lone wolf. I tend to spend a majority of my time on my own.

My very best friend is Jack (I met him in 2000, via a Yahoo Group).

I have old Friends who I have known for over 20 years (my three best girls all live in WA and I live in Victoria). I was stoked on mother’s day when all three commented on a status I made.

• N (who I met in year 10 in 1990)
• P (who I met via a Cooking school 1993 or 4)

have met but neither have met

• M (who I met via a Yahoo Group / forum, I met her in 1998).

I have “Facebook” friends, and old school friends who I regularly talk to online, many of them I have known since Angel was a baby or before that, they are my “Sisters”, they have been “With” me through many of my life journeys and stood by me when I needed them to be there.

I can’t even recall when I last wrote one of these, it’s been a while.

Dear Readers, Sorry about the influx of posts. Once I decided to do the 100 days project I just wanted to get as many done as I could. I am now caught up with those and also the 52 Ancestors ones. Next I will be adding photos and updating posts and tags.

Dear Life, Stop throwing so many grenades at me I can’t deal with all of them at once.

Dear Body, I know you are aging, You can’t run up the stairs and not expect something to happen. On Saturday I ran up the stairs to get Angel’s phone and my leg crumbled beneath me, It’s now Tuesday and it’s only just starting to feel better. I have been unable to put any pressure on it since it happened.

Dear future house, I am wishing for you big time. P.s Come on Universe I need this …

Dear Asher, What is your problem, stop meowing at me.

Dear Harry & Meghan, Congratulations on your wedding, It was wonderful. Meagan you looked stunning.

Love Nic….

Week 21: Military
The Week 21 theme is "Military." Memorial Day is coming up in the US, so this makes a perfect time to write about someone in the family tree who served in the military. Another way to approach this would be to write about someone who didn’t serve (but should have) or how a war affected an ancestor’s life.

On April 25th it’s ANZAC Day in Australia, A couple of years ago Jack and I were looking up our families Military History on Ancestry and discovered that My Grandfather Robert had served in World War II. He Passed away when I was Ten. None of this was spoken of as we were growing up. So it was a huge shock to me when I found out. I sent off for his Service Records and a few months later received them in the mail. It was interesting to see his signature, and details of his Hair & Eye Colour, Weight, Height. He didn’t go overseas, I am not sure why (I know he had a heart condition so that could have excluded him). He worked at the Local Harvester Factory, where his Father Aubrey also worked. The Factory is now Part of the Train Station and Local Shopping Centre.

Steak & Walnut Salad With Pesto

PREP TIME: 5 Minutes

COOKING TIME: 20 Minutes

TOTAL TIME: 25 Minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• Steaks
• 3 cup(s) baby rocket or other salad green
• 3 tablespoon(s) walnuts (or nuts/seeds of your choice)
• 6 tablespoon(s) Pesto (was almost empty so added the dressing).
• Salad Dressing (no idea what I used, one was a Paul Newman Citrus dressing).
• 3 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil to drizzle
• salt to season / cracked pepper to season
• 1 1/2 tablespoon(s) coconut oil for frying

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat fry-pan over high heat and melt the remaining oil.
2. Sear the steak 2 to 3 minutes on all sides, being mindful to get a good char on the outside but not over cooking. (I like mine cooked)
3. Remove from the pan and cover with foil to continue cooking whilst it rests.
4. Once you have cooked your steak and let it rest, slice ready for serving.
5. In a bowl dress the baby rocket with the extra-virgin olive oil and toss in the walnuts, Season with salt and pepper.
6. To serve, smear the pesto on the plate, top with the steak, place baby rocket salad on top, season with salt and pepper and enjoy.