joyandnoel

With our love at Christmas

2011-12-25T00:08:00.000-08:00

... and as we move into the new year 2012.

Our thoughts go out to loved ones around the world as we celebrate our Lord’s coming as a human child into this world.

Noel and I are well, and thankful for the many aspects of life that add richness and depth to our experience, and enable us to bring support and strength to others.

We live in a rapidly changing world. Many of the experiences we encounter are not what we would choose, if we had the opportunity. Yet the principles of a good life will endure: to act with justice, to love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with our God (Micah6:8).

We love receiving greetings and news, whether by post or electronic, and look forward to opportunities to spend time face to face.In the mean time, we pray that you will know God’s blessing and strength.

This post also appears at our annual letter blog.In addition, here are a few recent pictures, bringing you up to date with our family.

Josh and Anna with Eve

James

Poppy and Paul


Bec, Joy, Mizz

thinking of families

2011-09-10T03:04:00.001-07:00

family members enjoying the great outdoors

Today is the anniversary of our parents’ wedding in 1947. The Daily Light reading for today starts with Jeremiah 40:31“I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.”This is a great verse, and a wonderful promise for any family. Our mother would have read it each year as she came to this day, while she used Daily Light. It’s a prayer for each of our younger generation in their homes and families.

Easter greetings

2011-04-19T00:00:00.001-07:00

translated as 'Happy Easter'

recipe for the Christmas pudding

2010-11-29T20:18:00.000-08:00

This time last year I posted a note about the Christmas Pudding, with pictures. Today I have made the pudding, and written out the recipe.

Traditional Christmas Pudding in a cloth
Notes:

The pudding can be made a week or a month ahead, and hung up to dry – whenever it suits.
The pudding cloth is a piece of plain cotton fabric such as unbleached calico. The size is about 60cm square. You will also need a piece of clean string to tie the cloth and hang it up.
This recipe is adapted from the one on the suet mix box. You can substitute butter for the suet, but it’s still saturated fat. The suet seems to make the pudding set in the right way, particularly when it is eaten cold on Boxing Day or thereafter.
The mixed dried fruits can be whatever you like. I make it with the traditional dried fruits (sultanas, currants, raisins, cherries) and the chopped fruit medley (apples, apricots, pears, ...). I do not add fruit peel as my children used to say they didn’t like it, but fruit peel is in most of the traditional recipes, and gives it a citrusy flavour.
Before you start mixing the ingredients, put a large pot half filled with water on the stove and bring to the boil. Into that water place your pudding cloth.
Take the cloth out of the water with tongs, wring it out when it’s cool enough to touch, then spread it on the bench. Spread plain flour (about ½ cup) liberally in the centre, making a circle of flour on which you place the mixture. This helps it to form a skin, and not to stick on the cloth.

Ingredients:

250g suet mix
½ cup plain flour
½ tsp salt
2 ½ tsp mixed spice
4 cups mixed dried fruits
1/3 cup mixed peel
½ cup chopped almonds
1 ½ cup brown sugar
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
4 eggs, lightly beaten
¼ c brandy (I use dry ginger ale or juice)
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
¼ cup boiling water

Method:

1. Combine dry ingredients, except bicarb soda, in a large bowl. I use a knife for this.
2. Add eggs and brandy/ginger ale/juice and mix
3. Add bicarb soda dissolved in boiling water. Mix thoroughly to combine well.
4. Scrape the mixture out onto prepared pudding cloth.
5. Gather up the 4 corners of the cloth into one hand, then gather the in-between folded parts. Bring the cloth together in your hand so that the mixture won’t escape. As you tie the cloth, make sure that you leave space above the mixture for it to expand.
6. With the water in the pot boiling strongly, lower the pudding into the pot. Cover with the lid. As soon as the water returns to the boil, reduce the heat to low. Do not lift the lid. Simmer for 5 hours.
7. Hang up from a hook to dry, in an airy place.
8. Return to the pot and simmer for 1 hour before cutting the string and turning out onto a serving platter. Serve with custard or cream.

Bon appetit!

family update

2009-12-28T17:11:00.001-08:00

Christmas greetings

2009-12-15T20:31:00.000-08:00

With our loving greetings this Christmas,
and with a prayer for God’s blessing on you
in the coming year.

Joy and Noel

[Photo: This year we revisited the Windsor Presbyterian Church, Queensland, where we were married in 1973.]

The God of eternity
entered our time and space.
Put aside infinity
to join a frail race.
Glorious mystery:
babe in a lowly place,
at mother’s breast
content.
Joy Johnston 2009

the pudding

2009-11-28T19:51:00.001-08:00

The Christmas pudding in a cloth is something I have made each year. I remember my Grandmother having puddings hanging up in the pantry in the old house at Redland Bay. The puddings had threepences and sixpences in them back then.

People have asked me if I'm afraid the pudding will go bad. I haven't had them go bad, even though I usually make them weeks in advance. Some people say alcohol preserves a pudding, but as a tea totaller I substitute juice for brandy or whatever the recipe says. My grandma would not have had alcohol in the house either.

The fruit can be any dried fruit. This year I have used sultanas, currants, raisins, dates and dried cranberries. Sometimes I use dried apples, figs, apricots &c. Traditionally lard is used as the shortening, but I have also made puddings with butter.

To prepare the cloth put it in a pot of boiling water. Then lift it out with two pairs of tongs and wring the excess water out. Place the cloth on the bench, and put plenty of plain flour on it (to give the pudding a crust). Then spoon the mixture out.

The picture shows the texture of the mixture when I put it out on the cloth. Tie the cloth, leaving space above the mixture so that it doesn't burst out. Leave some length on the string so that it can be looped onto a hook. Have the pot of water boiling strongly when you put the pudding in. Then put the lid on and put a message on it "Do not lift the lid" until it's finished its cooking. You need enough water to last the time, and the heat to be sufficient to keep it boiling but not too hot.

I hang the pudding up in the window, with air flowing freely around it. It dries out quickly. On Christmas day the pudding goes back into the pot of boiling water and needs to boil for a couple of hours. Then you cut the string and take the cloth off, putting the pudding upside down on a plate. Custard and icecream are very nice accompaniments. Even on a hot summer day we enjoy Christmas pudding. Leftovers are good cold.

living in the shelter of the Most High

2009-10-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

My meditation today, this Lord's Day morning, is from Psalm 91.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare of the Lord:
He alone is my refuge; my place of safety;
he is my God, and I am trusting him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from the fatal plague.
He will shield you with his wings.
He will shelter you with his feathers.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor fear the dangers of the day'
nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday. ...
If you make teh Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you,
no plague will come near your dwelling.
For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. ...
The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me I will answer,
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.
I will satisfy them with a long life
and give them my salvation."

I claim this divine protection, and each of these promises today. The Most High is our God, our refuge and strength, in this time of trouble.

The dreadful plague that stalked the psalmist may be different from the plagues that confront us today - cancers, auto-immune diseases, infections - yet the experience of terror is the same. The need for a place of safety, and for rescue is as real today as it would have been to the writer of this Psalm.

The picture evoked by this Psalm is one of a present experience. Look at the verbs, and the statements attached to them:
living - in the shelter of the most high
finding - rest
trusting

the promises, that the Almighty will:
rescue
protect
shield
order protection
hold you
keep you
protect (again)
answer
be with
rescue (again)
satisfy
AND give salvation.

When I read God's word and apply it to life events as I experience them, I am aware that my professional knowledge is a filter that influences my understanding. Midwifery is not just about the birth of babies: it is about knowing and understanding life as God created it, and recognising the points at which that normal physiological process faces danger, threat, "trap", "terror", "plague", "pestilence", or "the disaster that strikes at midday".

The hope that the psalmist knew, and that has been known in every generation of God's precious people, is a living and active hope. The place of shelter; the surety of rest; the promise of salvation is ongoing in each situation that we face.

Springtime in Melbourne

2009-09-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

A posy of flowers that Poppy and I gathered from the garden thismorning.

once we were young

2009-09-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

photos from 1973

2009-09-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a blast from the past!
Noel purchased a gadget that scans slides and photo negatives, and we have started looking through boxes of slides.

Family farewelling us at Melbourne Airport.

Sydney harbour and the Opera House from the air.

Joy in Hawaii, August 1973. A stopover on our journey from Melbourne to Michigan.

Our home at 1454 Biscayne Way, Haslett, Michigan

Our Church - East Lansing Trinity

knitted woollen rug

2009-07-03T16:02:00.001-07:00

Here's my winter knitting project.
It's made of pure wool - using up scraps and re-knitting an old unfinished project.
I used standard 8-ply wool and 4mm knitting needles. It probably wouldn't matter if you varied that, as long as it was consistent throughout.
To knit each square:
Cast on 51 stitches
1st and alt rows - knit
2nd and alt rows - decrease at the middle 3 stitches of the row, by slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over.
Continue until 3 stitches remain.
Knit 3 together, and tie off.
To join squares:
I used 42 squares for this little rug, and stitched them together using a herrigbone stitch on both the reverse side, then again in the contrasting brown wool on the top side.

I like this little rug, and have started another.
Joy

Dad's MBE

2009-06-17T04:11:00.001-07:00

[Please click on article to enlarge it]

Marion has told more of the story at ABC New England Radio.

Poppy's day at the farm

2009-04-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

A story in pictures

Backyard jam

2009-03-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

Today Noel has made a very nice batch of jam. [Photo: with a couple of jars of jam]

It's backyard jam because the fruit grew in the backyard.
The recipe is based on the fig jam recipe from the 1976 Queensland WMU cookery book (they didn't include the 'P', which stands for Presbyterian, and the 'WMU' stands for Women's Missionary Union). Fig is the main fruit. Other fruit added are cumquats and peaches, so it has a citrus tang from the cumquats.

Here's the recipe:
Weigh the fruit. The ratio of fruit to sugar is 4:3
1.6 Kg fruit
1.2 Kg sugar

Cut stalks off the figs and halve or quarter them; cut any unripe ones into smaller pieces. Cut the other fruit to suitable sizes.
Put cut fruit into a large pot with about half the sugar sprinkled over the layers. Let them stand for about 12 hours, which will bring out juice.
Next day bring the fruit to the boil, then add the remainder of the sugar.
Boil until it jells.
Fill clean dry glass jars.
If you have metal lids for the jars, put the lids on while the jam is very hot, and invert them. This heat sterilises the lid and airspace. After a couple of hours stand the jars upright.
If you don't have lids for the jars, allow to cool without cover, then cover with suitable material (I use a piece of baking paper and rubber band).

Marion's new blog

2009-02-14T23:12:00.000-08:00

[photo: Marion and Joy]

I would like to introduce any blog visitors to my sister Marion, and her new blog http://mychinamystery.blogspot.com/

The story Marion tells is also, to a certain extent, mine. Marion's memories go back a little further than mine do, and she had assumed the role of the oldest sister as far back as I can remember.

Thankyou Marion for recording your story, and our family's story.
Joy

Mount Tamborine

2009-01-21T17:55:00.001-08:00

It's exhilarating to take in the magnificent views from this mountain.
Yes, we went through some craft shops, and had coffee in the village, but the moments captured in this picture are what made the visit memorable for me. (you can enlarge the picture with a left click)

Wilston and Windsor

2009-01-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

Noel's father was minister at Wilston Presbyterian Church when he was born. We visited that church on Sunday.

The neighbouring church is Windsor, where we were married, so we went there as the next step in our walk down memory lane.

Family reunion

2009-01-21T17:27:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday Noel, Mizz and I attended the White family reunion at Petrie. A reflection on Angelina White, who was mother to 11 children, can be found at http://villagemidwife.blogspot.com/.

In these photos above, you see
1. the 'Frank White' section of the family - ie those who are descendants of Frank, who is the son of James and Angelina White.
2. Aunty Ruth, Chris, Jess, Mizz

After the family reunion we stopped at Bald Hills, where my family and I lived for several years. Our father was minister at the church (pictured). Anna and I revisited our old school, Bald Hills Primary.

Family Pic

2008-12-25T14:13:00.001-08:00

Here we are, all together on Christmas day.

Loving greetings at Christmas time

2008-12-19T21:34:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas letter 2008 has been saved at http://joyandnoelannual.blogspot.com/

another blog

2008-12-08T01:24:00.000-08:00

I have begun work on a new blog, putting together the story of our life since we met in 1972. I hope to find family photos and annual letters, and save them at this site.
Joy

James White 1843-1895 FAMILY REUNION 17th January 2009

2008-11-04T01:21:00.000-08:00

Photo: Frank and Jane White of Redland Bay, with their children Halley, Frances, Frank, Joyce, Lavinia, Hilary, Lucinda, and Ruth
[For more family pix go to http://www.aitex.com.au/family/]

JAMES WHITE, 1843-1895 PETRIE QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA REUNION
This message has come from my brother Frank White
"Would anyone with connections to James White [our father's Grandfather] please note that there is to be a reunion at Old Petrie Town on Saturday 17th January 2009."

His children were (according to my list) Sam, Joe, Harry, William, Charles, Lilly, Frank (father of FWF White - pictured above with his family), Fred, Walter, Jack, Ben – of his first wife, Elizabeth Angelina (Smith) who died age 35 in childbirth with Ben. He married again (Catherine) and had more children including George, Jim, Albert and Norman (I think there were a couple of sisters too). Fred and Albert died in France in World War 1. It is likely to be a big gathering.

This reunion is to coincide with a special display
at Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, from November 08 to 1 February 2009. "This is the fifth in a series of exhibitions exploring the lives of significant European families in the district. Each exhibition has highlighted the contributions made by members of the families in various aspects of life. Pioneering the Pine V continues the story of our earliest settlers, with the Dohle, Cruice, Fogg and White families sharing their part of that story."

Barb and Allen at Somerset Dam

2008-10-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

A weekend at Phillip Island

2008-10-16T23:54:00.000-07:00

Noel and I were delighted to spend a brief weekend with Mizz, Bec, and Alistair, at our friend's holiday home at Phillip Island.

Knitted slippers

2008-07-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

This is a very easy and quick pattern for knitted slippers. They will fit any adult size foot. Use smaller needles for smaller feet. Here it is:

2 balls of 8-ply wool

4.5mm knitting needles

Cast on 5 sts (if you do this twice on the same needle, it’s easy to keep the pattern equal)

Knit 6 rows [the strap]

Next row: Increase in the 2^nd stitch of each row until you have 22 sts on the needle

Next row: Inc each stitch across row (44 sts)

K2 P2 across every row for 15cm (6”) [This is the rib section]

K2 together across row (22sts)

Decrease in 2^nd st at the beginning of every row until there are 5 sts left on the needle

K 6 rows [the strap]

Cast off.

Fold in half and sew the rib sides together. Sew the 5 sts on top together to form the strap.

2008-06-14T02:29:00.000-07:00

Members of our family at Marion's birthday party in Tamworth.
1. Marion and Stuart
2. L-R Rab, Kate, Stu, Marion, Stuart, Laura, Ben, Duncan, Miriam
3. L-R: Mizz, Bec, Alistair, Anna, Josh, Joy, Noel

2008-02-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

Joy has a birthday!

Another one.

How soon they come

from just last year.

What rhymes with fifty eight?

Fifty – drifty, sifty, thrifty …

Nifty sounds just great.

Eight – great, straight, pate …

How’s mate?

Nifty mate sounds good to me.

The synonyms for nifty say ingenious, clever,

effective, natty, neat – yes they are all correct.

For mate read friend, pal, buddy, chum, companion,

comrade, helper, assistant – yes, they’ll do too.

Dear nifty mate,

you mean so much to me.

All these synonyms and many more

make you very special to me.

I love you.

Thank you dear Joy.

Happy Birthday

Christmas 2007 greetings from Joy and Noel

2007-12-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

As we join each year in the celebration of Christ’s birth, the annual letter has become a moment in which we reflect on the year that has passed, and look forward to the coming year. We remember our first family Christmas letter, sent from Michigan USA in 1973, complete with a picture of Noel and me proudly holding our baby Miriam. Over the years that picture has developed, as you know, and this year we are delighted to include our new son-in-law, Alistair Gray, who married our lovely Rebecca earlier this month.

The other highlights for us in the year past include visiting family members in Queensland and New South Wales, as well as being able to welcome loved ones into our home. We enjoyed our month of relaxation and refreshment in January, driving long distances across this vast sunburnt country.

This year Noel’s mother Lily, who is 95, has moved from her own home into residential aged care. Although frail, she is looking well, and enjoys outings to special events and family meals.

Noel continues his work in our company Aitex, as well as being Session Clerk in the Church. I have been privileged to continue in midwifery, attending two or three births a month; most in the home. This year I have increased my role in facilitating peer support groups for new mothers.

This sort of letter would be incomplete without a brief mention of our young ones – each precious to us. Miriam lives in Sydney; and works as Project Officer in a government health service. Rebecca and Alistair are setting up home in Bendigo, and Bec has transferred her employment to Bendigo. Paul, Leanne, and Poppy (who is a dear 3 ½ year old) live in Boronia, at the foot of Mount Dandenong. Josh and Anna have returned after a wonderful short-term mission experience in Cambodia, and are settling into new jobs.

Last month we celebrated Noel’s sixtieth birthday, and are thankful to God for his health. Our prayer is for wisdom as we go about our daily tasks, and the unexpected challenges that come from time to time, and for strength sufficient for each day.

With our love and prayers for God’s continued blessing on you,

Noel and Joy

a family day out to visit Bec and Alistair in Bendigo

2007-12-22T02:18:00.001-08:00

littlies

2007-12-13T01:43:00.001-08:00

Cath, Jess, Jo

2007-12-10T22:30:00.001-08:00

Sam

2007-12-10T22:29:00.001-08:00

Tom

2007-12-10T22:27:00.001-08:00

Lucy, Harry and their Ahma Marion

2007-12-10T22:23:00.001-08:00

Our table at the wedding reception

2007-12-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

1. Marion, Jane, Annette, Joy (four of the six otherwise known as 'the sisterhood'.)
2. Joy and Noel, Rebecca and Alistair, Margaret, Merv and Ken

Flower girl Poppy

2007-12-10T02:28:00.001-08:00

Bec, Poppy and Mizz before the wedding

2007-12-10T01:54:00.001-08:00

Josh and Anna escort Joy to the Church

2007-12-10T01:44:00.001-08:00

wedding

2007-12-10T01:40:00.001-08:00

wedding

2007-12-10T01:37:00.000-08:00

November 2007

2007-12-01T21:37:00.001-08:00

Noel's birthday picture

2007-12-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Grandma is getting better after her hip surgery

2007-07-27T00:48:00.000-07:00

Bec and Al are engaged

2007-07-27T00:45:00.001-07:00

Chris, Eric, and Mizz in Sydney

2007-06-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

Marion and me

2007-06-22T00:22:00.001-07:00

Paul, Leanne and Poppy

2007-06-22T00:20:00.000-07:00

landscapes

2007-06-17T23:47:00.001-07:00

In January we drove from Melbourne to Roma (Qld), then on to Longreach, back to Roma, to Brisbane, and down the East Coast to Sydney before returning home. Took lots of photos like these from the car as we went.

Mizz

2007-06-17T23:43:00.001-07:00

We visited our Mizz in Sydney in January this year.

Grandma Johnston

2007-06-17T23:27:00.001-07:00

Our family with Grandma and Grandpa Johnston in 1980

Noel and his sister Margaret Collier and their mother, who is now 95.

Bubbles

2007-06-17T23:24:00.001-07:00

Hello from Bubbles.

introducing us

2007-06-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

These photos have had their order mixed up since I entered them, and I don't have the technical skill to resort them, but they show:

some of us having lunch outside in the sunshine
Noel and me
Josh, Anna and Bec
Bec cutting the cake
Mizz and Poppy
Bec and Poppy in the wrap made by Leanne
Mizz and Poppy getting into the cake
boogy board rider Poppy

taken in May 2007.