the quiet life

Fish pond

2012-02-01T07:21:00.000+10:00

With my in-laws having a guppie population explosion in their fish pond, a few weeks ago I brought home a container full of them, and they existed happily enough (once I worked out they liked bore water instead of rainwater, and after I googled why I had so many deaths!) in a sealed terracotta pot. However, the water kept going green (as in nasty green) so it was time to find them a bigger, less algae friendly home.

Enter the Fish Pond, in somewhat of a wilderness area of the garden, as you might be able to tell by the long grass. The pot on top is where they USED to live, it is sitting on cement block. I intend to fill it full of water, install a little solar fountain and have the water trickle over in the pond.

The guppies are loving their new, clean home. Because there is more, deeper water, it stays cooler, and does not encourage the growth of algae. The lillies also help the water stay clean.

Putting everything into perspective with one smallish boy studying the fish.

Now I just have to work on taming the wilderness around it, and maybe adding some pavers and a seat for quiet contemplations of the fishes, and enjoying the splashing of the fountain. (when I install it of course, I currently have to retrieve the solar panel from the roof from its previous position!)

Sigh, I think me and the Roundup bottle are going to be on very familiar terms soon (with another 40mm of rain falling yesterday, the grass is only going to get longer.....)

Dodgy birthday cakes, the #9 edition

2012-01-31T13:03:00.001+10:00

Amazingly, my biggest girl turned nine on the weekend, how can that be, that I have a NINE year old, who is in year four at school?!

She scored two birthday cakes, one to share with family on the weekend, and one to share with her little mates at school. We are no longer a 10 student school, the population around the lunch table has swelled to seventeen. Which means a fairly sizeable cake for morning tea birthdays!

the first one, a "giant cupcake" I think looked like a giant boob. Perhaps with green icing and the handy smartie scattered over, it might look a little more cupcake like.

The second cake employed the smartie, although not with a lot of thought or artistry.

kids didn't complain, cake, icing and smarties, what else could a mob of kids want to get them a sugar fix?!

And all of a sudden she didn't look so grown up anymore.

On her actual birthday, on the Sunday, we went down to our favourite swimming hole, meeting uncles and aunties and cousins and granma's there for smoko. Granma brought a blow up boat along.

They had a ball trying to row, getting in and falling out.

Their father claimed that none of them would be getting a call to join a rowing or sculling team any time soon.

Meanwhile, Wally the Dog had his first meeting with his dad, Alfie. It was a typical father and teenage son gathering. Some growling and showing of teeth occurred, and quite a bit of wrassling and rolling about.

And despite its dogdgi-ness and boob like appearance it was still cake, and was gobbled up. One spoilt big nine year old girl.

retail therapy, the bargain way

2012-01-26T06:44:00.000+10:00

I've had two trips to the city in a very short time frame (each of them an eight hour round trip, and the road didn't get any shorter on the way home the second time) for dental appointments, and I found myself without much on The List**, and time to wander and look.

** The List: when you live far from the shops, like big w and target etc, or any other city sort of retail place that one does not see in regional areas (even truck parts shops and the like for the male shopper) , one keeps a list of things that need to be purchased next time you get there. It could be a long time between visits, so The List can get rather long.

I picked up a few little things at bargain. post Christmas, back to school, sale prices.

Like these glittery christmas decorations for under 30 cents each. I forsee a green theme around the tree this year ;-)

Like these bright tea towels which go well in my blue and cream with a splash of red, kitchen.

Like these bright and colourful (although without any red) placemats for $3, which didn't seem such a bargain when I got home and realised that the set of 8 was counting the (useless to me) coasters. Our table seats 6, but at least I have enough to set under the plates of the messy eaters in this house!

Like these supremely comfy (although NOT the real deal by any stretch of the imagination) shoes for five bucks which are JUST what I needed to wear around the house and for ducking into town to take the kids for swimming lessons. And let not my puffy post travelling feet put you off, they would probably look quite stunning on a set of legs less fence-postish than mine ;-)!

so with time to kill between appointments, and no where to rush off to, the kids and I had a lovely time poking about and looking at things (scanning items at the price checking stations being GREAT entertainment, not to mention also good for rusty mathematics skills!) The kids each found a small book each that they were allowed to purchase with their pocket money.

Oh, one more thing:

A site that is becoming all too familiar.

I do have to say, I really am in no rush to head back to the city shops any time soon, although we already have another appointment booked for three weeks time. Fun times!

the great sock search of twenty twelve

2012-01-24T21:24:00.001+10:00

also subtitled, the great jocks search for a boy who doesn't wear them as a rule at home so how could they possibly go missing?!

So, of course all this means that school has started for the year again up here in the north, after a long summer holiday that didn't actually FEEL that long.

I broke the you-don't-need-a-new-lunchbox mandate when I saw these practical bits of cleverness at Target the other day. Of course Kmart, which I visited shortly thereafter, had them in stripes and spots and other lovely patterns but I console myself with the thought that these are ever so more practical at hiding the dirt.

what I like about these, is that there is ample room for a sandwhich container, yoghurt, container of biscuits, a WHOLE piece of fruit and room to spare for icepack, poppa or small waterbottle. I have always had issues with trying to fit a whole bit of fruit in a lunchbox.

We also added these to take to school:

I'll let you work out who belongs to which.

So the first day of school they rose bright and early, to the soothing sounds of the generator running. The power had gone off with a string of wild storms around 8pm the night before, so at daylight we started the generator to keep the fridges and freezers cold. This also meant I could have my coffee and toast, as long as I used each appliance one at a time. The kids were ready for school in record time - I wonder how long that will last?

The obligatory first day photos....

Despite my telling him he was my baby and too little for school (please ignore the un-ironed shorts, I didn't feel like stressing the generator for something so trivial! and the tattoo his sister put on his neck) he was only too happy to scamper off to school with his sisters. I went along too, to fill out the 1001 forms required, and I don't think I even got a 'bye mum' let alone a kiss!

and yet another sterling shot for the album, they really were excited even if they didn't show it.

And the first day of school, on their return? Good. What did you do? Stuff.

It might be another year, but some things never change. Like just where are those bloody socks.

capturing some little memories

2012-01-19T06:47:00.000+10:00

so I don't forget, and they are at least documented SOMEWHERE!

This boy interprets things in funny ways.

We were driving home from the city, and came to where a shower of rain had just finished and the smell of the damp earth wafted into the car. He looked up from his book/toy/DS and exclaimed "I can smell muddy muddles!!"

The kids chose a movie to buy at Big W, Beverley Hills Chihuahua. (Hilarious apparently, going by the giggles that came out of them). He can't say, or chooses not to, say chihuahua. His version? Chick-a-wow-wow.

We were discussing whether we would go water skiing with friends, boy pipes up and wants to know if we would be going ski-ding. (pronounced skee ding)

We have recently been introduced to Angry Birds, the kids are entranced and want to play on my phone all of the time (they have been allowed five minutes each so far, mean aren't I). Angus keeps asking me if he can play Cranky Chickens.

These are just a few of the things I can remember off the top of my head.....

The Branding

2012-01-18T05:37:00.000+10:00

After our drenching the day before, coming home and stripping off outside (benefit of living in the sticks! no neighbours) and wandering around in the nuddie if you were under 10 or in knickers if not (neighbours do call in ;-) waiting for the water to heat...no mean feat after the fire wood was also soaked (some petroleum assistance may have been liberally applied to the fire) we settled in for the night, resting up for the adventures of the next day. We were lulled to sleep by the constant bellowing of 500 odd cows and their babies - cows in the paddock scant feet from the house, and calves locked up in the yards. One gets used to the noise, like a constant flow of cars past ones door...its when they all stop that the silence is deafening!

After breakfast, then an early first smoko (another smoko being required later on still!) with the arrival of the extra manpower (brother in law) and woman power (school principal with nothing better to do, and we never turn down free labour!) we got started. Even if there was a bit of hands on hips and waiting for the rhythm and routine to get happening.

Children were in charge of finding their own footwear as we left home. Thongs and crocs is what they packed. They spent most of their time, including in the yards, in bare feet. Normally this sort of behaviour is restrained to folk from the Peninsular as those of us residing further south are meant to be a little more civilised. (although I have an uncle famous for his lack of wearing footwear, and only double-plugger thongs to town on special occasions, so perhaps it IS genetic?!)

This lack of protective footwear meant that I was the one in closer proximity to the calves, penning up, clad in a more sturdy running shoes, mostly because they are more mud friendly. The big girl helped move the calves along the race, keeping her feet away from the sharp toes of the calves. Take it from me, I know from recent experience (ie tromping around in the mud in my own crocs the day before, chasing calves) one does not want to have ones bare foot, or close to bare, stomped on by a calf. Just a heads up, should the situation ever arise ;-)

Being away from the action stations and cranky husbands and brother in laws, meant I had a few moments that I could wield camera without getting dirty looks. Miss Mac the teacher got to work up the front, although was asked if she were patting the calves instead of moving them along at one point. Miss Mac, being a teacher, has a speciality in dirty looks of her own, and is not afraid of using them, although impact on fathers of students is not as effective.

This monkey (the boy perfecting the snarly photo look for weekend) and his little cousin kept themselves busy climbing and digging and staying away from any sort of work. Smart thinkers, these two. Occasional bouts of poly pipe sword fighting with sisters to liven up the morning.

A closer look at the action, without getting too detailed about the gory bits. The calf is restrained whilst it is branded, earmarked and castrated if necessary. All going well the whole process takes about 50 seconds.

And weather wise, I had no need to implement my grand plan of attaching a sprinkler system to the underside of the roof. There was shade, overcast skies and a slight breeze that made the slightly humid conditions quite pleasant.

We were all done by lunchtime and were able to pack up and head home before dark, leaving a few of these little orphans in the yard to collect the next day.

Meet Droopy and I think Daisy. Kids may have been involved in the naming. :-)

All over til next year....well not really, there are more calves to be born yet as well as a few babies that were too little to brand. But the bulk of them are done...now I just have to look after my five new poddy friends (Ralph the original poddy at home quite pleased to have some mates of his own species!) and keep the little dears out of my garden and the hay shed. All seems a good idea until one gets them home!

Remind me to introduce you to the whole gang - Barry, Harry, Dobby (slight HP influence) Droopy and Daisy.

Forthcoming adventures in our part of the world will include The Dentist and The First Day of School. Hopefully there will not be any other events requiring capitalisation during that time frame!

Hooroo!

The Drafting

2012-01-17T11:19:00.001+10:00

(Part one of a two part series)

On Saturday morning, after I tidied up from the big storm that hit the evening before, rounded up the kids and their hats, found some food and clothing, packed up the dogs and their food, fed every other living creature in our care, hung a load of washing and packed the kids swags, we headed down to the property for the weekend.

Not sure if you could tell, but I was tired before I got there!

I forgot my DSLR, but had my phone, which did a great job photographically, and MUCH lighter to carry around.

We walked the cows down the lane way to the yards, the kids came along on the back of the four wheeler, and then ran along behind the cows. As blue dogs go, they weren't very obedient. Voice somewhat hoarse and blood pressure up a little before they understood the whistles and hand signals.

We ended up giving this little fellow, not long born, a lift to the yards.

Dad took this photo of mum and the ringers. One of those perfectly charming shots. And you know what? I bought myself a new work hat, a felt akubra "cowboy" hat. It doesn't feel as good as this old floppy $10 number from Kmart. Although it probably would stay on my head better when belting around on the bike.

We drafted the cows from the calves, and the kids entertained themselves....

Evidently exhausting work, entertaining oneself!

In the middle of drafting, as the empty yards became full, we stopped, counted out the drafted cows and let them back into the laneway, making more room for their mates to follow. We count them so we know if all of the cows have come in from the paddock, and if we are short we know we have to go back and look at the paddock again.

After lunch (and reading Where's Wally, a much loved book received at Christmas) we went back to finish drafting, and big storm came over...thankfully I had left all electronic devices at the house AND taken off my work boots and replaced them with plastic croc like shoes, I must have known something as it poured rain. Wet to the skin...but we soldiered on, dripping around in our wet clothes and finished the job.

Kids thought it was great fun. As they do, anytime getting wet AND muddy is permitted!

Back later with Part Two, The Branding.

just what I need to do

2012-01-15T21:30:00.001+10:00

home from a weekend looking at cows bums and getting dusty, dirty, then more than a little damp and muddy down at the prickle farm, all of which I will share more of soon.

But first I just want to share THIS, which is just the idea I need.

The full details can be found HERE on Pinterest. Considering my current filing system of artwork and school work consist of one semester of Kate's prep year (she is now about to start year four) going into a binder and the rest tossed in a box, along with all and anything of Georgie's from the past two years, this could well be the perfectly simple solution.

One large plastic file box per child. School photos, reports (photocopied) artwork - that fits in the box and is flat, otherwise is photographed, etc. Easy to set up, easy to store, easy to put away.

And luckily, I just happen to be heading past an officeworks/big w later this week so I can procure at least ONE plastic file box to get me started, while the idea is in my head and enthusiasm reasonably high. You know me, I am normally an ideas woman and not so much on the follow-through-actually-DO-IT sort! ;-)

And slightly digressing, but still on a sort of similar topic, I don't know about you (it may be a conditioned thing for someone raised/living in the bush where rain or lack thereof can make or break?) but whenever we get some decent rain, and a break from the heat, I find myself refreshed and inspired again.

As now I am obviously rambling and tired from the weekends adventures, including The Branding of The Calves, I will leave you and return again, soonish, at which time I hopefully do not ramble, use poor punctuation and grammar, and make some sense! ;-)

engineering degree optional but advised

2012-01-14T06:18:00.000+10:00

the other day, after the kids finally tidied up, I promised to help build a christmas lego gift.

Help isn't really the right word. I did the work, they helped me, and ducked for cover when mum started swearing.

They weren't the only ones that were happy when it was done. How can such a small thing to take so long to put to-bloody-gether?!

and who designs the expressions on their faces?! the one in the cart looks to be very wicked!

one way to while away the hours of a stinking hot afternoon. At least I was in the airconditioning!

Now, off topic: e-readers? what are your thoughts and experiences, dear blog readers?

afternoon excitement

2012-01-13T19:10:00.001+10:00

Storm approaching around 5pm caused no little excitement in this house, with lightning, thunder, hail, wind and around 70mm of rain in a very short period of time. And I think we were on the edge of it!

(FYI, that blue colour under the storm on the right hand side, it isn't blue sky. That is rain and hail, and gosh when you see that coming you start taking the clothes off the line, battening down the hatches and getting yourself inside pretty smartly!)

the other day

2012-01-13T06:36:00.000+10:00

I made the girl clean their room (again). They can have their room go from reasonably tidy to disaster zone in a very short period, and it had gone beyond that, with all sorts of stuff kicked under beds and stuffed where it shouldn't be.

I dumped it all the middle and told them to sort, put away and purge. If they didn't do it, I would, and my purging is far more stringent than theirs.

Yep, what an awful mess. And what was bugging me was that outstanding and classy little drawer stand there on the back wall, with its lovely pine colour (don't look at the cupboard, a far bigger project than I am willing to undertake right now). While they took aggggessss to tidy that mess there on the floor, I decided to give that bit of furniture a makeover.

I regretted the impulse the second I opened the paint tin, the paint going on it worth more than the bit of furniture. But like all things it had to get worse before it got better, and thankfully paint was drying in just minutes in our awful heat.

It was the quickest job and not one that was done with 100 percent enthusiasm, but now, after a few coats on the important bits, looks much better and hopefully might wear a little better too.

It houses all sorts of (sorted and organised of course) treasure, and two wooden boxes that they mosiac'ed at school which also hold various girly treasures.(some of which you and I might call CRAP, but I digress)

So now I am reasonably pleased that I DID paint it, even though I remembered as soon as I opened the tin and painted my first stroke of paint on the thing that I don't really like painting!

The girls managed to have their room tidy by around 3pm that day. It took them the best part of the day, even though it should have only taken an hour or so. Hopefully they will remember the pain and not let it get so messy again...but I am not holding my breath!

reality bites

2012-01-11T13:41:00.001+10:00

Its just been a little bit normal crazy around here, the normal sort of crazy that means dealing with animals of all sorts, unexpected trips to the city, the realisation that yet again the school holidays have simply slipped away and school starts in just 12 short days, and with suddenly quite a bit to do between now and then.

And I haven't picked my camera up at all since my last post. In days, maybe a week or more. In fact I've had to think about where it my camera even was for a few seconds! So much for that little plan.

The past few days included a four hour trip to the city in a NON airconditioned car, to take the boy to the dentist. Apparently cleaning his teeth means look at the toothbrush, wave it around a bit, but certainly not doing anything like clean ones teeth with it. (Teeth brushing time is now strongly supervised, when it is normally a time that one might sit in the corner, thanking the lord that they will be in bed a few short minutes) Several dental visits lie in our future.

Thankfully our return from the city was in an airconditioned car. Expensively repaired, although once the initial aghast-ness subdued, very much worth its icy goodness. And my hair is thankful too, no long arriving at our destination with not so much as a windblown look, as electrified and rather scary looking.

The next twelve days will bring mustering and branding calves, during the hottest few days that I think we've had for a long time. The state of my hair will not be an issue, although any chance to enjoy the car airconditioning will be savoured. On the bright side I may sweat out a couple of the Christmas kilos that may have snuck on over the holidays. I'm blaming the rum balls myself.

In the middle of all of the bovine activity will be another dental city trip, a much scarier one for the boy (or perhaps his mother) Have not told him about the needle and whizzy tools that will be used. Pre dentist trip bribery purchase of toy helicopter/car/truck/tractor may be made as incentive to remain in the chair and be brave!

And then the school year for twenty-twelve will begin. And the start of my childfree time between 830am and 230pm. (well, on and off for a bit, our prep days build up gradually, the benefit of a small school).

Are you ready for school to start? Have you bought new lunchboxes? There has been a ban of any further tupperware-like purchases in this household (oh, I love my plastic like I love my shoes!) and even I can see there is nothing wrong with last years lunchboxes. Oh, the pain of making lunches every morning, no more lingering over that cup of coffee and toast.

So much for lazy summer days...what are your plans for the last lingering few lunchbox-free days?

I should do this

2012-01-06T10:50:00.001+10:00

in light of the new year, fresh start etc etc?

wanna join in? I know its the 6th today, but it shouldn't be too hard to catch up! would make a great little photo book when done, or scrapbook page layout, or even just to blog as you go.

perhaps I should stop trying...

2012-01-05T22:00:00.001+10:00

my girls had an exciting day in this case, cleaning out their room. And I forsee some exciting times ahead for myself when I build up the intestinal fortitude and motivation to clean out my wardrobe(s).

Would be even more exciting would be to find that some of the discoveries still fitted however given that we have been soldiering through a whole left over trifle from New Years Eve, not to mention the odd rum ball or ten, that is highly unlikely!

another year over

2012-01-03T13:33:00.001+10:00

and a new one begun...and although I have the new diary out, more out of necessity than feeling like a page has turned, it pretty much feels like just the same old same old.

Except I have realised, with despair, that we have only three short weeks left of our school holidays. I think we've been robbed, where has the time gone?!

But in an attempt to give myself a recap of the year that was and look forward with bright eyes and a refreshed mind (note to self: resolution: go to bed earlier!) here follows a no so little slideshow of 2011....warning - it goes for 9:57 - either I take too many photos or it really was a whopper of a year.

Here we go....

and if that doesn't work, you might be able to see it directly on you tube (the only way I know how to get a movie on here) HERE.

Tomorrow brings a funeral for us, sad but also a celebration of a life well lived, and something to to inspire and aspire to.

Happy New Year everyone, may 2012 be inspiring and wonderful for you all.

the house

2011-12-30T06:55:00.000+10:00

I did a little overdue cleaning and tidying up of our house before Christmas (well, the living areas at least, the bedrooms need a good overhaul) and thought I would share it while it was all clean and tidy and not attacked by messy children.

The painter is nearly finished, and the little front verandah is one spot that feels very freshened up.

The walls are aluminium cladding that was pale insipid green, which has been painted over with the standard cream to match the rest of the house. The outdoor rug I had on the old boards has started to fall apart after just twelve months (so much for UV resistant!) so I borrowed the fake cow hide from Angus's room to cover the boards. I like it, even though it catches every bit of fluff and grass.

I moved in the outdoor setting from under the tree, threw on some new cushions I had bought in anticipation of the day the painting was done, and am so happy with how welcoming the little verandah is. Its a great place to sit and have a quiet coffee.

This basically, is the rest of our small, but roomy square shaped house. In the last post you would have seen the bums on the stool at the kitchen bench, which is the right of the dining table in this photo. This is one big room, kitchen/dining/lounge, with the kids bedrooms those two blue doors to the left, and the bathroom the yellow door on the top right.

In my cleaning and tidying I obviously never looked UP and cleaned away that box on of the glass cabinet. Oh well, I'm short, can't see it most of the time ;-)

So there you have it, where we spend most of our time....

where's wally

2011-12-29T12:05:00.000+10:00

meet the newest member of the family

the son of Alfie, my mums' dog, Rugby League followers of the late 80's and 90's will 'get' the name choice.

He is extremely cute, lovable and happy. Apart from that first night away from his mum.

Its exhausting being so cute and harassing the cat, pig and big dog, playing with the kids and generally being very important and sneaking in the house whenever he can.

Fingers crossed his life expectancy is higher than the last JR pup that came to our place. His temperament is vastly calmer and not as bolshy (far more trainable and tractable) and kids are very aware of how easy it is for a little animal to be trod on or run over. Yesterday when we sorting out the horses he kept getting underneath them all (everyone holding their breath at once) so they stuck a milk crate over the top of him and sat on it!

Yes, he is fitting in just fine, like he has always been here. And the novelty of saying "where is wally?" has yet to wear off ;-)

all over til next year

2011-12-28T11:43:00.001+10:00

the paper has been collected and binned, cardboard boxes and packaging rounded up, nerf gun bullets lost and found again by the dozen. Christmas 2011 done and dusted...here is a little pictorial tale of the past few days of fun.

the kids helping dad roll rum balls. And eat them too apparently! (I use plain crushed biscuits, the standard coconut and cocoa and condensed milk, a hefty dash of rum, and this year instead of mixed fruit I used dates that I processed. Can't really taste the dates in the finished product but it DOES make them yum yum yummy. I ended up processing the whole lot in the food processor, which with the voice of experience I would recommend doing only one batch at a time, instead of a double batch)

Some of them prettied up in a glass jar from the discount store with brownies for gift giving.

the table set for Christmas morning tea with my family...

continuing down the simplistic route, I plonked some festive coloured flowers from the garden in little glass bottles and called it done. Added food...(more was added after I took this photo, slices and other yummies from the fridge)

The kids were VERY excited about the parcels under the tree...

after being sent back to bed around daylight (which is rather early in these parts) and allowed up at a more reasonable and sustainable hour given the big day ahead.

I think he was excited about what Santa brought him, a topic of much discussion and thought over the past few weeks.

This is my youngest brother. He obviously got up that morning and thought, self, lets dress like a clown today. I enquired whether there was a jacket to match and thank goodness, it isn't. He is a bit of a clown so I guess it probably was an appropriate outfit.

After we caught up with my family and ate ourselves a bit silly, we headed out to Trevor's parents property for more of the same. More gifts (thoughtful and fun) and more food. More groaning bellies. More photos.

all of the grandkids, including the newest little bundle, just 26 days old. obviously a bit squinty and glary for the monkeys in the front row....

and then, before dark, with poddies and puppies and pigglies to feed, and some tired droopy kidlets...we packed up and came home. And had toast for tea.

Christmas for another year over and done. How was yours?

spotted

2011-12-23T16:29:00.000+10:00

literally!

The other day we had to move some cows down at the prickle farm, and walked the cows up the laneway. At the end of the lane, as the cows were filing in, The Husband spotted these:

VERY HARD to see, these are plover eggs, and the only reason he noticed them as he saw where the parent bird had been sitting (this is THE nest, just a little indentation on the ground, with a bit of old cow poo scratched up) when the cows came past. The bird sat on her eggs, making a warning noise at the cows, and the cows just walked around. Not until the motorbike arrived did she move away, dragging her wings and attempting to draw us away after her.

Can you see how easy it would be to NOT ever see them? This is the first time ever I have seen their eggs, even though I have seen many plover birds doing the wounded act over the years.

Aren't they beautiful?! and a really big egg for a bird that isn't so big, they are about a large chook egg in size. The plover isn't nearly as big as a chook!

We rode away a bit and waited, and the parent bird came back to his/her eggs and settled back down. I think this is a pretty big batch of eggs, normally I've only ever seen one or two babies running about with the parents. We will have to go back again - they live near the water square so are easy to find - to see how many babies hatched out!

I'll keep you posted!

pretties

2011-12-23T06:19:00.000+10:00

these came in the mail the other day, a lovely gift from a lovely friend.

Given that I went the ~~lazy~~ simplistic route this year and simply used some branches pruned from the mulberry tree, decorated with lights and just one pack of bells, they have added a sweet touch to their branches.

The kids are a little disappointed that the green plastic monstrosity has not come out of storage, along with the tinsel and the other tree paraphernalia, but they will get over it. Santa will still find them!

Although sometimes when I do look at it, simple does look a bit on the too-modern-for-this-house style!

The kids got all excited about the presents under the tree, until they realised that a good deal of them are not for them but in fact for friends and family! I am mean like that! but they do look all pretty wrapped up.

And so the countdown continues....just two more sleeps!

the horses are in

2011-12-22T13:10:00.001+10:00

part of the summer holidays is bringing in to our place the kids horses for them to ride; after the first storms we have grass in our small paddocks. The kids were excited, and all had to have a ride. Given that mum didn't feel like saddling horses at the time, and only one horse has a physique suitable for bare back riding, they had to take turns.

We wish we could clone this champion fellow, we all love Ben.

Although not so sue that Ben loves Georgie with this kicking style being applied! Perhaps a career in bareback buckjump riding might be pursued with a style like that!

This girl is far more sedate and happy to go at a slower pace, with the other pony joining the little walk around the paddock.

and this one had to put up with poddies joining the procession too. Tis a good thing Ben is indeed quiet, as before I could blink at one point Ralph walked straight under Ben's belly. Better men than this boy have been dumped from calves going under horses, but then again, Ben is pretty special.

and doesn't blink an eyelid at kids catching half dead tadpoles at his feet....

or little boys trying out a new style of planking, vertical style ;-) All in a days work for Ben!

He is also a believer in rewarding himself for his efforts, breaking in the feed shed and giving himself a nice treat, leaving a nice mess in return. Gates and sheds have to be well and properly shut and secured with Ben and his mate on the premises. But its a small price to pay.

to be jolly

2011-12-20T19:09:00.001+10:00

clowns they are.

Holidays seem to be slipping away at a rapid rate, its nearly christmas and our fourth week? and we seem to have done nothing much at all! Well, I guess the kids have swum and sleep overed and swum and played...but me, I've achieved nuffin'.

Oh well, what's new.

Not many more sleeps now!

the season

2011-12-15T06:26:00.000+10:00

I am not up to date with anything musical these days, its just one of those things that isn't a priority. That said I do love music (whilst not being able to sing in tune, I can play the piano, and am rhythmical, which is not a talent my husband, or it seems my oldest daughter, posses.) Amy put me onto some lovely music from Eva Cassidy and I am hooked. And with Silent Night being one of my favourite carols ever, I just had to share.

Enjoy.

summer days

2011-12-14T10:35:00.001+10:00

with glammed up cowgirls (sequinned hairband used as a hatband, she thinks she is a genius! She is such a girly girl!)

swimming in the felt hats, which probably isn't a great idea, but I just couldn't stand seeing them in the burny hot sun without a hat on their heads...

even though they were in the water (notice the new bash on her hat, she did it herself with specific instructions of how it was to be when she needed some help)

And seeing as they spent as much time OUT of the water, exploring and looking for aquatic critters, I felt justified in making them keeping their hats on.

Its a good thing that there isn't a lot of traffic in this part of the world!

For some reason I am feeling rather mentally refreshed today ;-)

Ah, a an hour or so with the kids by the creek, before dropping them off at granma's for a sleepover; breakfast this morning in peace...hmm, that might have something to do with it! Anyhow best get cracking and make the most of this child free time, which may or may not include some christmas present wrapping!

found on the fridge

2011-12-13T05:14:00.000+10:00

after one too many things was stuck under a magnet and the whole lot came flapping down.

I knew this was there, I look at it often, wistfully, looking at our much younger selves...my how things have changed in nearly nine years. And how much older do we feel and look :-(

as you can see the photo has been very well loved, and I thought it was about time it got scanned, as of course this was in the days before I owned a digital camera.

We were at an aunt's birthday party in the Port Douglas hinterland. Kate was only about 6 weeks old and this was our first big trip away as new parents (I believe we went to her six week check up on the way home) I also remember she slept through the night for the very first time when we stayed at my grandmother's house. Perhaps that is why I am looking so fresh!

I wish I knew where that dress was. Probably long gone, passed along to someone else. I wish I still FIT into that dress.

And I can't wear a short hair cut like I used to either.

Now, should I put this back on the fridge? Or drag out some other old and equally depressing photo?! :-)

new additions

2011-12-12T07:33:00.000+10:00

many many new additions to the menagerie:

MIL, faced with a population explosion and a need to reduce numbers, scooped into her pond and sent these home with me recently.

After a night in cramped quarters in the goldfish bowl, and a morning waiting for their new home to be prepared, they made themselves comfy. These are Guppies. Not sure what else they are called, but they are little fish, that come in all sorts of colours - pretty orange and blue ones as you can see here.

I did a little recycling, and made use of a pool pump that had recently expired, taking the business bits of it out and using it to hold a water plant, and provide some shelter for the little fishes.

Its quite additive, sitting and peering into the water, watching them swim around.

I am hoping that I haven't however provided a new menu option for birds and kitties around the garden!

pretty

2011-12-11T10:18:00.001+10:00

its fairly obvious I am pretty bad at remembering plant names (it could be my memory in general actually, sigh...) I think this could be a cassia? whatever, its pretty. Most unattractive tree when its NOT flowering, but stunning when it is (and this photo? completely unedited, apart from sharpening for web)

Very much in summer holiday mode here, with very little being accomplished. I really need to get out of that mode, but its a struggle. Also struggling to find Christmas Cheer - so far we have only one dodgy stick/branch Christmas tree up, adorned with fairy lights and one packet of bells, and fairy lights on the front fence. That is the extent of our Christmas decorating thus far. (my poor children! i guess my slackness is taking some of the excitement out of christmas for them...sigh)

best go and put on some Bing Crosby and try to find the spirit of the season.

please do excuse us

2011-12-09T13:38:00.001+10:00

we are otherwise occupied

with summer school holidays....

and a bonus for us is that the wet season has started a little early, so there are plenty of summer time water based activities to enjoy....

even though mum does insist on taking charming shots like these instead of letting them run amok, running in the horses on foot (not :-) the horses were fooling about just as much as the kids)

or attempting to break ones legs crossing grids (I am actually liking the sun flare a lot, underlines the summer feel does it not?!)

So you will know why you might not see me around here much, we'll be out and about enjoying the water and the lazy summer days.

school breakup

2011-12-07T18:31:00.000+10:00

Up here in northwest Queensland, we broke up for the school year on the 2nd December. We celebrated on the second last day of school with a visit from Santa and the kids school play.

Santa obviously had left his good black boots at home, and had to come in his elastic sided blundstone work boots. Quite scandalous. This did not stop the kids from taking their gifts from him of course.

Santa in previous years had arrived in a slight intoxicated state, however this year he learnt the error of his ways and took the role very seriously. Only one child bailed and bellowed in terror!

The kids did a play based on Roald Dahl's poem Cinderella. With a high portion of boys in the school, some cross dressing was required. Can you pick the boys?!

And just to mix things up, girls become Kings, and a twist in the plot saw little prep boys become Farmer Frank.

One critic (and it must be made clear she was not paid, nor was a parent!) reviewed the play thus: was so very impressed by the theatre presentation the kids put on at the school break up last night - it was "world class"... they should be selling tickets! the handsome (albeit somewhat bogan) Prince cut off the heads of the ugly step sisters when they betrayed him with a phony slipper. Cinderella was so unimpressed by his behaviour that she ran off with Farmer Frank instead...

Next stop Broadway?!

breathtaking

2011-12-06T06:12:00.000+10:00

there are two trees that are on the top of my list as breathtaking in flower. One is the Jackaranda, and the other is this:

They are probably related, this is the Poinsettia

And its at this time of year that I wonder where in my yard I could possibly fit a tree of this size (don't worry, I have eyes on the back paddock and vision of a row of them)

But until then, I have to enjoy them in other peoples back yards!

I'll be popping down to grab some seeds off the tree in due course ;-)

random observations

2011-12-05T06:05:00.000+10:00

I no longer require a chat with the bank manager in order to purchase these beauties. And boy were they nice, sliced into a bowl of cornflakes with a sprinkling of raw sugar and icy cold milk.

When you unpack a quite expensive grocery order, and its all sitting on the bench, it does not look at expansive and value filled as it did in the two full trolleys. In fact it looks quite puny and you wonder where the hundreds of dollars went. Chopper Reid has left the building, and thank you to Gillette Razors for making short work of it. The novelty of it had worn off, although the reaction from friends who hadn't seen The Husband during the growing of the mo was still highly entertaining.

Unexpected and gorgeous gifts are well received and very much treasured especially when they are as lovely as this (made from a vintage kimono)

Colour is appearing on the cheeks of these beauties and we are watching them with just as much anxiousness as are the birds. Round one to me, I've picked the first few with enough colour to ripen off the tree. Kids are worse than the birds waiting for them to be edible....

And finally....

who wouldn't want to be a kid in the wet season?!

the green cow

2011-12-04T05:52:00.000+10:00

With Ralph coming along nicely in the feeding stakes, and the novelty of feeding a calf by hand up to four times a day rapidly wearing thin, the green cow came out of storage and was introduced to Ralph.

They are getting along just fine.

It hangs on the fence nice and firmly, I pour the milk in the top, and Ralph drinks it from the teat at the bottom. Win win situation, calf is fed and I am not stomped on, butted or slobbered on during the process!

Now that Ralph is settling in, I've cut his feeds back to three times a day, but increased his intake to 3L per feed. That is a whopping 9L per day but this calf seems extra hungry, he has a big frame to fill out that belies his tender age.

And he is awfully cute!

what happens after it rains

2011-12-03T17:44:00.001+10:00

I will let the pictures tell the tale...what started as an afternoon walk (why, yes, we walk in our swimmers quite often!) ended up being something else entirely.

Paddling in the ~~pot~~ sink hole at the back gate quickly morphed into something else...

that just got messier

and messier

good clean country style fun!

we still went our walk, a little grubbier than we started.

and apparently not quite having enough of mud

and then it was time to run home for a strip off and hose down on the lawn, and a shower and hair wash for all.

And oh, yes that pesky spare kid was at our house again ;-)

found

2011-11-30T09:41:00.001+10:00

I know you are all waiting with bated breath to see more of Ralph, and of course what my feral children get up to after the first good storm of the season (and let me tell you, it aint pretty) but first I wanted to share something I found.

I was cleaning out what can only be called an assorted pile of crap, that had been thrown into a plastic tub and then shoved under a desk where it languished for a good while before I remembered its existence. Quite some treasures have been unearthed in going through the layers of the box, but I am relieved to report that the majority of it ended in the burn drum.

I did discover these couple of things, tucked into a manilla folding from pre-Pinterest days.

torn from Country Style Magazine (april 2006!) I still like - not so much the chairs but the big table. And the big space in which to have the table.

this deck/kitchen with lots of open-ness. Although I love the idea and how brilliant in Cairns, out here it might just be another great opening to let in dust and flies. Though there are those big windows on tracks which presumably shut across the bench.

We are not building a house nor moving anywhere in the foreseeable future, however I still like gathering ideas that might suit if we ever do any more work on this old house or another one down the track. I notice this about what I like: open, lots of window and light, natural material ie timber, clean lines, combination of modern and old, white, greenery.

And the last thing that I found, torn again from the back page of country style, and it gave me a giggle to re-read. Rob Ingram is a clever man with words, with a dry, Australian sense of humour.

I do hope you are able to read it.

Amazing what you find when you clean things out!

down the flat

2011-11-28T12:17:00.000+10:00

the afternoon before it rained, the kids took themself off to the far corner of our two acre block to what they call the Big Hill, which is a pile of sand.

I went to investigate and they were having a lovely old time, with the help of one of their little school friends.
they built a very wobbly looking hutchie, with a bit of cardboard and two steel pickets.
this is their toilet. She posed like this for me (mum, I will just pull my pants down a bit so it looks real!) before assuring me that they only did #1's and had some lovely leaves picked from the mulberry tree that are perfect for toileting requirements. I refrained from comment.
Showing me that mulberry leaves are indeed sufficient for #2 should the need arise. I refrained again from comment with barely a twitching eyebrow.
Kate was in charge of catering, and whipped up some sand stuffed paddymelons. On a plate that looks suspiciously like one from the plastics draw of my kitchen. Comment was made.
Not sure what the boy was in charge of - standing guard perhaps? Bashing things with a stick?
Water supply was also taken care of, with the old kettle filled from a nearby water trough (I was given a demonstration of how one gets a drink) The other eyebrow twitched on inspection of the trough that that had a lovely green moss growing around the outer edges and in which the dog was swimming. (Oh well what doesn't kill 'em will make 'em stronger, and no gastrointestinal complaints were made following water consumption!)
I wandered home thinking that this is probably one place I shouldn't visit often; what a great, mum free time they were having, just playing in the dirt.They each had their little thing they were doing, and were happy. No TV, no electronics, lots of fresh air. Good times.
Next up, what country kids do AFTER it rains ;-)

it did in fact rain

2011-11-27T10:35:00.001+10:00

after my post the other day, and after two very long and hard nights and mornings of work by the men back burning on our friends place - not an easy task at all given the rough terrain and a big river to traverse - it rained.

Wednesday evening it rained and rained, The Husband arrived home from the fire front around 4:30am that morning, have gone from fire-fighting to close to being bogged in a short space of time. Most gloriously the next morning I splashed out to measure 75mm of good stuff, with another 30mm falling during Thursday.

I think we can call this a lovely start to the wet season.

In other news, the piggies are settling in very well, guzzling their twice daily milk ration at alarming rate and getting very round very quickly. They are also getting quiet and very conversational around feed time; they are smart little critters and have worked out where the tucker comes from!

they are not, however, getting any easier to photograph. I will request that the boys (the neighbours) give me some coloured babies next time!

Ralph too is coming along, although a strange poddy in that he only wants to talk to me when he is hungry. Normally they are all over the milk supplier very quickly but I guess this one has a strong herd instinct and he hasn't worked out that we are now his herd. We'll get him in the end and I am sure he'll be coming walking with us before too long!

I'll be back one day soon to share what the kids get up to after the first good drop of rain. My washing machine is not impressed.

it never rains

2011-11-22T15:50:00.001+10:00

but it pours. Unfortunately I mean figuratively rather than literally, as the wet stuff is in short supply. Firstly fires are still plaguing us - not on our place thankfully - but the national park fire that has been bouncing off boundaries for the past 8 weeks has come into properties to the north of where we live, (not far away at all, we are covered in smoke today) and of course, guess where Trevor is.

But in more exciting news on the home front, we have also been inundated with babies, the four legged kind (no two legged ones, but my sister in law is due any day so watch this space).

Meet Ralph:

Who apparently took quite some catching (tough little bugger!) and was not overly pleased with being rescued (luckily a charge from a baby calf can not do much damage, unless of course you are wearing thongs and his sharp little toes connect with yours)

However once he worked out that food was supplied, he settled down, not without taking himself off on a little adventure to visit the weaners over at the trucking yards (hello children, how many times do you have to be told to SHUT THE GATE!). This resulted in quite some action for the kids, as Ralph still wasn't keen on returning to our place, and there was much running helter skelter until I got him into a corner and he just gave in, walking up to suck my fingers. Little stinker. He is tethered again today and kids have been most anxiously checking gates are shut, just in case!

Within hours of Ralph's arrival, came Polly and Percy:

who are small, black and exceedingly hard to photograph. And not all that friendly at this point in time, however that is not stopping kid #2 from trying to give them some love.

I am pleased to report all new babies are now feeding well, the bovine baby has gotten over his grumps and now looks hopefully for a bottle full of milk each time someone walks past, and the porcine variety small enough to stand in (and wallow) in their feed dish as they slurp up their milk.

The Husband is disappointed that they will be a tad small for Christmas dinner.

Kids are not.

given leave pass

2011-11-20T22:32:00.001+10:00

to leave the kids at home with their father (SHOCK HORROR) and help my good mate Melissa photograph the Year 12 Formal portraits in town Friday evening. My role was that of gofer and holder of things and arranger of people and making sure that dresses weren't tucked into knickers and that sort of thing. Mel's husband gives the role a special name: prop b*tch. Isn't he nice.

I had very big shoes to fill as the previous prop b*tch had taken it upon herself to move to Dalby of all places, and she was apparently the teller of some pretty good knock knock jokes. I am not sure that I lived up the standard set, but I had fun anyhow!

Mel was using my camera as well as her own so she could utilise two different lenses. But never fear, I took along my old, and getting rather decrepit, point and shoot to capture some of the action.

this gorgeous girl in yellow brought along some props; and below is the professional result....my favourite of the day.

Taken at our local railway station, which you would hardly think the perfect place for formal photos!

Again, my snaps from the sidelines....

Melissa doing her thing with two of the seniors down the way a bit...and don't you just love the girls all wearing bright colours. They decided to all wear brights as it was their theme. Looked gorgeous.

Now, check out the building itself...I wish we had had enough time to get some of the seniors standing in front of cool backdrops like this...

But we didn't haven't time, and no matter, she got plenty of lovely shots, like this...

and this one, so very cool boys.

I am quite sure Mel could have done without me, although I did walk around with the reflector (and had to walk WITH the reflector held up high level with the girls as they walked towards Mel, which was an interesting task, but at least it had 'em giggling)

They had me feeling verrry old when I realised that I remembered a good number of them from when they were fresh faces and cute little preschoolers, from my days in admin at the state school. How did I go from being just 25 to positively ancient in so quickly?!

off to cancel any further birthdays and instruct my children that they are not allowed to get any older either.

feeling reflective

2011-11-19T17:51:00.001+10:00

While at first it was the font use that I liked about this, the words too are meaningful.

Its been one of those weeks; nothing dramatic or overly exciting has happened, but still enough of everything, including some slight ill health, to take its toll mentally and physically.

I've been told I must share the adventure of upgrading my truck license from an MR (medium rigid, ie small body truck) to HR (Heavy Rigid, ie large, "bogie drive" - I've always wanted to use that term in a blog post, but now I am bothered by the fact that I may not have used it correctly! - body truck) as the two trucks we own are classed as such. Well, now I am licensed to drive them, but only thanks to the kind nature of our friendly local policeman (also friends of ours) who excused my god-awful gear changing (well, shazza, its not ideal, but it'll do!) knowing full well that I will not be entertaining the thoughts of city or even bigger-than-our-small-town driving and that I am more than capable to getting from rural location A to rural location B without running someone over. (he did mention some concern over the gearbox however in my defence the last time I drove the truck I tested in was over two years ago, for a duration of five minutes, helping Trevor back onto a trailer!)

Of course, the thought did not even enter my mind that upgrading my license would require a new even awfuller license photo to be taken (the girl in charge of that quite cheerful about it all) so of course my hairdo was perfectly coiffed in a sweaty post hat non-airconditioned truck style, and my makeup (none) flawless. I guess the photo matched the level of gear changing! ;-)

I have, on reflection, had one other small adventure that you photography types will enjoy, and I will share that another day, involving an outing with the most professional Melissa and a new, albeit temporary, job title for yours truly. ;-)

Til next time!

using my "talents"

2011-11-14T06:37:00.000+10:00

a friend is getting married next year, and wanted to send out some save the date cards. We came up with this:

although not without some help from a more photoshop experienced person than me as I couldn't remember how to do something. We'll print them as a simple 4x6 photo, stick a little magnet on the back and she will post out to friend and family. Simple, cheap and effective.

mexican

2011-11-13T12:19:00.001+10:00

The Husband decided to join in the Movember fun, but without the fundraising part. We have a good friend who is growing a mo of similar shape, however his makes him look like what I would imagine a rather bad 80's porn star might look like. My husbands? A bad Mexican dude. I need to find him a sombrero and some bandolier across the chest bullet holder things to complete the look. The kids are finding the whole mo thing on dad and friends highly entertaining. Its sending the wives into hysterics as well!

not a lot to say...

2011-11-12T08:09:00.001+10:00

all dressed up

2011-11-08T12:42:00.001+10:00

as requested, photos IN the actual outfits! (dorky photos and all...love #2's hat, wish now that I had bought the same in black for #1...I may yet do so if they are still in the shops - Big W - when next I am there)

and the boy, who ended up taking out the Boys Fashions for the second year, and received his prize from Farmer Frank (yep, that Farmer Frank ;-) this photo is when he was all clean and tidy, which lasted a nano second.

and this, very obviously, after a couple of hours of galloping around and consuming all sort of ~~crap~~ sugary goodness.

His winnings were a $20 voucher at the local toy shop. Perfect kids prize! (and btw, that is indeed Frank's girl standing close by, and she has either lost a bit of weight since the show aired, OR television really does add on pounds.

Just because we are out in the sticks, doesn't mean we don't know how to dress up. Fashion was as good as anywhere in the country.

with the middle one (our school principal) taking out top honours in the Trendsetter Section. Her fascintor was great. Even if her eyes are shut in this shot!

And again, just because its a dirt track and the grounds are a little rustic, doesn't mean we bush girls can't have gorgeous shoes:

My dear mate Mel, wearer of the killer heels above, was feeling gorgeously green for the races:

and her husband is doing Movember, growing a mustache which just looks WRONG. I don't know how she faces him in the mornings with that thing on his face (not that I have a problem with mustaches, but his? gosh its awful and very much like a very bad 80's porn star!)

And I really don't know what to say about this one...I hope she had her knees together? (and I wish I could sit like this with as much ease and grace....or sit like this fullstop!)

Anyways its all over for another year, the next local gathering being the school break up in three and a bit weeks time...school breaking up for the year? where HAS the year gone....

clothesline companions

2011-11-06T05:56:00.000+10:00

A self timer shot from the clothesline. It struck me as funny, that while I pegged out a load of washing before dark, that I had the dog, the lamb, and a cat (who refused to pose for the camera) AND the other dog (off with the cat) hanging about with me.

Not sure it would happen anywhere else but in the country. Like in recent conversations with some friends....

Friend one, laughing: this is what you call real life - on the phone to you, and you are busy telling the kids to not squash the lamb poop, sweep it up!

Friend two: mid conversation, she breaks off to speak to her sons , NO you CANNOT take the gun! (teenagers wanting to go pig shooting). It made me laugh, when I realised how normal it seemed to me!

Sometimes the reality of living west of the great divide is somewhat removed from other parts!

I hope its over soon

2011-11-05T06:50:00.000+10:00

The sanding of this one little bit made a huge, (lead-based-paint) dusted mess. Some time with the hose and a broom on the concrete was required, after just the first afternoon. I suspect it will be a daily job while the sanding part is taking place.....

I hope its over soon!

we interrupt regular scheduling....

2011-11-04T20:25:00.001+10:00

to bring you this sneak peek at the fashions that might appear on this family tomorrow on the annual race day...

About the fourth delve into What Will I Wear, and this one getting the top score from the in house fashion critics (ie the kids), it is hanging ready to be ironed. The bag has touches of grey in amongst its mess of colour, and I think (or hope) it adds a pop of colour. The plunging neckline is causing some concern, and I have to find that black cami I washed the other day to wear underneath, from one of the mountains of washing to be folded.

The dress has this little flap frill thing which is surprisingly flattering and hiding of any extra baggage that might be around that part of the body!

Am still not convinced that this choice of outfit is ideal for being in hot tin food shed selling sandwiches' and soft drinks.

Seeing as I cannot find the other half of my pair of black wedges (how does a shoe go missing from one's bedroom?!) I remembered these little flatties tucked away in their box. Not sure how they will go in the comfort and durability stakes just quietly.

Of course, should I get hot and bothered and rushed out the door after a morning making sandwiches' and setting up eskies, I will most likely be wearing this instead:

which is exactly what it appears to be in this pile waiting for the iron - a checked blouse and black capri pants. And a little glimpse of the husbands shirt, which apparently he Does Not Like. Too Bad. I do like. Although am not sure about the tie, I did put it out in a little stirring-the-pot sort of action, just cause I can ;-) Husband Does Not Like ties either. (I really need to find a nice, subdued navy tie and then we would all be happy)

And some more, the girls have been excitedly deciding on what accessories and outfits they will be wearing.

A little tiny taste of two dresses....

and two bits of headwear...

and as for the boy, well I will keep something a surprise! All this for just a couple of hours at the local dusty race track. Oh yes, there might a horse or two running by as well.

Anyhow enough idle chit chat about fashion or lack thereof, I must haste away and boil three dozen eggs, ice twelve chocolate patty cakes and one four-x carton sized slab of sponge cake. This sponge cake icing is one of great responsibility, and I have spoken to a long time sponge cake icer of yore, to ascertain the full details of just what sort of icing is the best.

Wish me luck!

handmade

2011-11-04T06:47:00.000+10:00

In my girls collection of dolls clothes, is this dress which was from my own childhood. I happened to pick it up the other day, and marvelled at its tiny perfection. It belonged with a hand made rag doll, given to me by our next door neighbour, a place called Barragunda. (one of those property names that are nice to say!)

Her name was Lennie. She wasn't a young woman back then when I was a child (her kids all being young adults) and I am not sure, the doll may have been a birthday gift. I think the doll is long gone, loved to death and tossed out by my mum (it had long brown woollen yarn plaits) and she had two dresses, one in a multicoloured print, and this one.

It's not very big, but look at the tiny pintucks on the bodice! and the tiny bound arms and neckline. How very precise and fiddly to make.

Lennie (short for Lenore) moved away many years ago, and is now rather elderly, and lives in the Far North of the state. She is now a published author, having written quite a few books about living in Cape York and raising a young family in somewhat exciting conditions.

I normally write to her each Christmas, sending the family news (written in a slightly self deprecating and tongue in cheek style) and photos in a typed letter (she tells me she loves to get it, especially the tales of animal and child escapades!) and a short handwritten note. This year, I think I will include a picture of this dress, and ask if she remembers it.

Melbourne Cup

2011-11-02T18:30:00.000+10:00

The race that truly does stop the nation, even in north western Queensland!

I wasn't going to go up to the pub where they have a little luncheon, run a sweepe and generally have a good old fashioned country style time. But then I decided to go, after the publican, juggling a baby and catering for the crowd, asked nicely if I would sell the sweepe tickets for her. Not as easy as it might sound with $2, $5 and $10 tickets being sold!

I ratted through my wardrobe and put this ensemble together, with the criteria that I be able to use my cream bag and new (to me, thanks ebay) shoes.

The boy took this shot before we left...

...managing NOT to get a pic of my lovely shoes, but including the sheep and the overgrown garden. And let me say this, those wretched sleeves drove me batty. I hate floppy sleeves, and I tend to, without fail, roll things up to my elbow (except for work shirts, but they are a different matter). ANYHOW, I had to share the shoe joy:

A somewhat dodgy photo of my yummy new shoes (ignore the freaky looking feet!), that have quite a high heel but I was able to walk around easily and comfortably in them. The slightly granny Naturaliser brand really is comfortable!

The boy didn't miss out, he had to wear his newly purchased fedora style hat (which will feature again this weekend at the local race meeting)

A bit of a sharp dresser, is he not?!

We had a lovely couple of hours out, and I drew 3rd place in the $2 Sweepe, winning a total of $9.80.

What did you do for Melbourne Cup?

pre-occupied with everyday life

2011-10-30T11:45:00.001+10:00

stuff like this....oh how I wish it came off the line folded and magically found its way to where it belonged.

Tomorrow's activity will include a fair bit of time on #63, going past this sign....

On Tuesday, most excitingly, a painter is coming to paint the gutters, and eaves, and any other bit of bare or peeling outside bits of our old house. Won't be seeing any more bits of peeling Mission Brown! Mind you, before then and now, we have to relocate three heavy chest freezers and other bits of outside storage so he can access the back wall of the house to paint it. That will involve some marital bonding and team work no doubt! ;-)

See you after some order is restored!

gate crashed

2011-10-23T06:45:00.000+10:00

obviously, he thought he was missing out! We had a little impromptu photo shoot one afternoon.... the above taken by Kate...and the below one taken by Angus! pretty good shots from the kids!

And this one too, from me:

Little stinkers.

my dad

2011-10-22T06:36:00.000+10:00

A quick digi page made for SAG challenge yesterday. See more HERE , including the original inspiration.

walking with animals

2011-10-21T11:32:00.001+10:00

Yep, she walks with us too. Only needed a pig (and you know we've walked with the Pig before) and the zoo would have been complete. With those three up in front being the monkeys ;-)
She runs with the dogs....
and the kids. No wonder she is one confused fat tailed sheep.
Just a fairly typical afternoon at our place. (the day before we had 40mm of glorious rain, the back road looking a little muddier now!)

a quick page

2011-10-20T07:09:00.000+10:00

from my post at Simple Aussie Girls yesterday.

About my maternal grandmother. Just a quick few lines of remembering her and where she lived (the two go hand in hand). To read more, pop over to SAGS .

animal sitting

2011-10-19T05:45:00.000+10:00

As opposed to baby sitting. The lady across the way from us has gone to the city to await the arrival of her second child, and we are looking after her dog, and her lamb.

Meet Penny.

I believe she has separation anxiety issues, not to mention a personality disorder of some sort. And as you can see, she is not a wool sheep, but a fat tailed meat sheep. The difference in their coats/wool is remarkable.

She is also very vocal about feeding times.

Georgie, ever the animal lover, is very taken with her. I am not sure the feeling is mutual, given that she seems to have attached her affections to me, which is a bit of pain when she follows me upstairs, I have to say. I do have a policy about NO SHEEP in the house!

Still, she is very sweet and entertaining, and is nicely pruning plants here there and everywhere as she nibbles her way around the garden. Saving me some pruning at the least!

I am also thankful for the difference between poddy calf poop and lamb poop. Vastly different and the latter is both far less smelly, and far easier to clean up off the cement area.

Thank heaven for small mercies!

one I had to own

2011-10-18T10:13:00.001+10:00

Not one of the batch of books I recently bought, but one I borrowed from a friend (thanks Mel) and then just had to have a copy for myself, so that I could revisit and savour it over again. It is that good. I thought I would share it here, just in case you haven't come across it yet.

"January 1946 - London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends - and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is.' The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' - born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island - boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever" Review from HERE

Utterly charming, and one that I couldn't put down. I was devastated to find the author had died before the book was published, I was so looking forward to more of her writing.

If you haven't read this book yet, do! And if you have read it, did you love it as much as I did?!

the new girl on the block

2011-10-17T05:50:00.000+10:00

My husband, in the past few weeks, has been preoccupied with just a few things: fires, working at our business in town in between fires, and procuring a grader. We have already both a bulldozer and loader, the former not being fast enough for fire fighting uses, and the latter having an unfortunate habit of blowing hydraulic hoses at the most inopportune times.

I am most pleased that he can now focus on any other topic other than finding a grader, as one is now parked up in our back yard, ready to get to work. She's a plain old thing, no fuss and frills, nice clean lines, and terribly vintage. (I told you that we like our machinery old in these parts!)

This was quite an unexpected chunk out of the budget (HAH what budget? a fictional piece of nonsense that is at the whim and will of a fickle season and an unpredictable husband!), but a deal has been struck. The bulldozer, bless her clanking tracks, has to go. Wanna buy a second hand Cat D6 (I think...hmm, best check on that detail) anyone?

Right now, this old dear is a very expensive and greasy (you do not want to see my washing basket) climbing frame for the kids, as it gets serviced and waits to move to the property. And the Husband, as one might expect, is like a boy with a new toy.

Two other things I am pondering on, as I look at these photos:

1. There are now six more wheels on the ground, which means that there are six more tyres that have the potential to need replacing at some stage or other. Great.

2. She needs a name. Suggestions anyone?

lashing out

2011-10-16T13:18:00.000+10:00

Am not sure what I was thinking, when the QBD sale email came into my inbox. I made my selection carefully: light and not too deep and thought provoking. I have a pile of those here unread that proves that I am just NOT in that sort of mood.

Perhaps I am getting ready for those ~~warm~~ stinking hot summer days, wishfully thinking to myself that things will slow down and lazy afternoons of reading are just around the corner.

Yep, chick lit basically, but hopefully well written chick lit. I don't normally buy books - Harry Potter and titles by my favourite authors the exception, these were ridiculously cheap AND free postage. Hard to resist.

Roll on summer I say!

little bit big

2011-10-15T13:12:00.001+10:00

He has prep induction at our little school two mornings a week, and one of those days includes swimming lessons in town in the afternoon. He loves it. Can't understand why he can't stay. Mind you, after school and swimming on Thursday, come Friday he was one cantankerous little boy.

With his goofy bigger sisters, wearing his uniform and school hat, he has been waiting so long to wear that shirt.

Wonder how long the enthusiasm lasts, when the real work starts to happen...? ;-)

in case you missed it

2011-10-10T17:05:00.001+10:00

or you don't, in fact, purchase a copy of the North Queensland Register every week, I went and scrummaged through the newspaper pile and tore out this clipping to share with you.

Its the closest to paparazzi and fame as one gets in the north ;-) well, ones five seconds of fame as the paper is flicked through I guess.

One wouldn't think it now, but it was cold that morning out there (hence the jumper) with strong gustily southerlies, which fanned the fire that we (using the term loosely of course) fought in the days after returning from Cloncurry.

I leave you now, as I ponder on ways one might pose more flatteringly to have ones photograph taken whilst perched on the edge of a grid. Perhaps next time I might hide myself inside a trough and pose most winsomely with head and arms along the edge (and thus keeping problem areas well and truly out of sight).

I shall consider.

random matters

2011-10-05T15:51:00.001+10:00

The boy started his first morning of prep orientation this morning. he did not want to leave.

We have a "severe thunderstorm warning" for parts of our district and further west this afternoon. I was a bit sceptical, but already, right now (and very quickly too) the skies are getting darker and there is quite some grumbling up high, getting louder and louder. Fingers crossed for some moisture to accompany it, and no fires.

Just after I posted about the glass drink dispensing beauty yesterday, a parcel arrived via the courier drop off point at the pub. She is indeed a beauty. Husband not convinced.

Post up today at Simple Aussie Girls about using divided page protectors. I know, I may already be preaching to the converted but I have to tell you all again how much I love 'em. Pop over and have a look.

And tomorrow, and for the next few days, most YEGAD-ingly, I have been pressed into service, for the the first time in our nine plus years of owning our concreting business, to HELP. As in hands on, getting dirty, with the concrete, manual labour, helping out. NOT in the office, paying bills and sending invoices. Getting hot and dirty and using equipment I've only ever ordered parts for before and have never actually laid eyes on before.

Can you tell I am so looking forward to this, so excited? snort.

The short of it is, the day after the fires that raged through 20 000 acres plus of our property, our man that runs the concrete side of things fell off his motorbike and broke his arm (pretty badly as well). We just had to laugh, slightly hysterically. Finding experienced, or at least useful staff to fill the gap isn't easy, so my husband has been trying to catch up by himself , bringing me in to hopefully speed up the process and get us back on track after the delays caused by injury and bushfires.

And waddaya know, its started to rain. And the washing has gotten wet, I have just realised that too late take it off the line.....

So, a truly random post.....

slightly distracted

2011-10-04T13:16:00.001+10:00

you know, by getting back into some sort of day to day normalcy, that is not disrupted by phones ringing non stop and fires and school camp sleepovers and packing bags for short holidays and trying to keep on top of everything else.

School started back today, but before that the kids had a last hurrah at Granny's place whilst I went and helped The Grumpy One muster and draft the weaners off the cows, and move them to a fresh paddock. This was not without grumpiness from either party and dirty looks and mumbling under ones breath.(I only know of one married couple that manages to work together in hot and trying conditions without some sort of misunderstanding or difference of opinion! We call them Barbie and Ken - Toy Story 3 anyone? which they take with good grace.)

I took my camera but didn't even get it out of the bag, it was so dusty, which is a pity as there were many a cute little wobbly legged calf to photograph, or the starkness of the blue clear skies against the burnt to a crisp, right to the tree tops, burnt country (although it wasn't dusty there, I was on the motorbike and cannot vouch for the safety of the camera on said vehicle, I am flat out maintaining safety of self whilst also watching cows, let alone the camera bouncing around as well!)

So, the other day, before I went out chasing cows and when I was procrastinating and pretending that there was nothing to do around the place, I came across this little number, which I shared a link to with some other bloggy friends wondering why I felt the need to own it...well they did too. Sales of this little beauty went up as at least three were purchased from that one email! (even though the postage is a killer if you live west of the great divide!)

I can see it at Christmas filled with a fruit punch or Sangria, or even with some orange crush cordial and ice for the kids on a hot day.

And, of course as it always happens, I found this other BIGGER glass dispensing beauty, which is bigger in capacity but on the other hand doesn't have a very wide opening at the top for putting in the good stuff. And it doesn't have the cute little stand base. But they would both look as equally as cute when full! (although what do a bunny and presents have to do with a glass drink dispenser?!)

So of course I look forward to the mailman bringing me a nice not so little parcel in the near future, which I hope he doesn't drop, or throw the mailbag into the back of his vehicle with gay abondon only to hear the tinkling of glass....

Fingers crossed!

in stark contrast

2011-09-27T04:05:00.000+10:00

to our very short time at the beach, we were barely home and the whip was cracking, and our assistance was required in laying down some poly pipe. Having our saved paddocks of grass burnt to a crisp last week threw quite a spanner in the works, but thanks to the generosity of a neighbour (one who worked with my husband, flat out on his grader, for the duration of the fires) we are able to use one of his own saved paddocks, right next door to us.

However, we needed to add in another watering point for our cattle to use, so the kids and I went off to give our expert assistance.

And don't they look excited (and yes, green shirts are the only fashion choice really, pink is really going against the grain! but she was insistent that the pink matched her boots)

Now, to lay poly pipe easily, one needs a spinner which unwinds the pipe as one drives along. (cranky, stressed out husbands are an optional extra. As are hot, bickering kids). We started at the Bore Dam.

Dragging the first little bit out by hand, to where it will connect to the tank.

And then slowly driving down the track, trailing the pipe behind, until that roll finished and we put another one on the spinner (no photos, grumpy husband required the use of me to lift on the pipe!) joined it to the pipe on the ground, and the continued. Repeat. Continue. You get the idea.

Normally one would bury the pipe under the ground (a far more complicated contract!) to keep the water cool and the pipe safe from fire etc, but this is a temporary pipeline and will be rolled up in a few months time.

We ran out of pipe, and had to go fetch some more from a stockpile across the property. I got to drive the tractor there, but had to drive this old dear home.

This old Gertie, The Dodge, purrs like a kitten when you start her and growls like a tiger when you put your foot down (and has a Chrysler V8 engine, for those who like to know that stuff!) and gives off the delightful odour of petrol fumes as you burble along. She was quite a delight to drive, with no brakes and no rear view mirrors, and a seat akin to one of those dodgy fold up camper chairs that sort of fold you in half when you sit down.

We believe in keeping our antiques working til they drop. Works for both machinery and humans ;-)

Oh, I forgot to mention, the drivers side door closes with a special custom made latch, which doesn't work all of the time and give the driver a little excitement by flinging open going around corners. Which isn't really an issue as the seat has one in a firm grip that takes quite some determination to remove ones backside from. One becomes immune to such shocks, and continues driving with a carefree air, changing gears and giving the old girl a boot full (to hear the engine growl and ensure no bogging in the sand) and steering with one hand (not sure they had invented power steering back when Gertie was born) and slamming the door shut with the other.

(the custom made door latch - a bit of 63mm poly pipe jammed into the combing rail and supposedly holding the door shut once driver is installed).

The three amigos did a bit of wandering along the pipe line, keeping themselves entertained. And out of the way of hot, crotchety parents who didn't have any suitable non-maiming child friendly jobs for them to do (they did try, bless them, but the injury toll and tears were too much to bear!)

Booting the top of ant hills was also popular entertainment.

Climbing tree branches....

and clambering over the remaining coils of unused pipe.

Which resulted in some grubby, dusty faces (don't you just love the special faces this child gives me?! the same kid that told me, very gently, that my bum was a "little bit big". Nice little man).

Nope, we are certainly not at the beach anymore!

sun kissed

2011-09-26T12:18:00.000+10:00

some time at the beach in the sun and salt water brings out the freckles too...just a little sun kissed, despite slip slop slapping...and when did she get so grown up?!

Sporting a new hair cut, over which there were tears. Mum still not impressed, because LOOK ! its in her face! grr.

short and sweet

2011-09-25T22:10:00.001+10:00

It was a short stay, and a long drive, but it was lovely. The units were HUGE and spacious and cool and air-conditioned, and we had TWO bathrooms. And the kids had a tv in their room. They were excited, let me tell you. I hid the remote at bed time. :-)

And even though SOMEHOW, SOMEONE (we will not mention his name) managed to not put my DSLR in the car, I managed to get a few pics from my old, well loved point and shoot. It held up pretty well under pressure, apart from that funny spot that has appeared on a few shots...

This jetty wasn't as long as it appears, although the kids did get a little toey when I made them sit down near the edge for a photo....but got over it to play in a little fresh water creek that ran onto the beach.

Tide OUT, in the mornings, was the best time for swimming, for western bush living kids. Look at that gorgeous, flat beach.

Uncle helped build sandcastles. Although the attention span of both uncle and kids did not last long.

In the afternoon, when it was too cool and windy for swimming and the tide was coming in, it was a good time for running and racing the waves and just expending some energy. (built up during the enforced movie/rest time after lunch, during which parents attempted to regroup their own respective energies.)

And just one more, to prove that I was indeed there - although this is the closest I got to swimming - by the time I was wound down enough, and warm enough to consider it, the kids had had enough. Oh well. This body isn't really built for public exposure in a swimsuit!

Meet my daughter, Cousin It! (and please do excuse the awful top I have on! what can I say? It was cool, comfy and didn't require ironing!)

So there you have it, our two days on the tropical north Queensland coast!

a challenge page

2011-09-23T08:43:00.001+10:00

I am home and back in the trenches after a few days away on the tropical north Queensland coast. Bit of a stark contrast to the week that preceded it, I have to say.

Anyhow, I will pop back later to share some of what we got up to - you will be envious, the weather was GLORIOUS - but in the mean time, here is a page I whipped up in response to a challenge Emma set over at Simple Aussie Girls. Simple sketch, and I love how it turned out.

VERY simple, the photos, the scallops and the text is printed on photo paper/card, and then I added the title stickers and the brad. Hybrid at its very simplest, and I really love how it turned out. (even though I crowded my title up, story of my life, did not think enough before I started stickin'!)

I've just realised that I have not put a date on this page! I will have to go and add it at the bottom by hand, I can't stand a story that hasn't a date to it, especially when one looks back on older pages a date is really important (well to me anyhow).

Do pop over to the SAG blog today and see what everyone else did with the same sketch from Emma.

finding the funny side

2011-09-18T05:07:00.000+10:00

I've just remembered a little story from the past few days, that I wanted to record. Amongst the seriousness and stress of it all, there is always room for a little laughter and levity. We had a good number of locals arrive to help us out, that dropped what they were doing and came. One of those was a gentleman called Jeff, who brought his vehicle, himself, his jackaroo and any bit of equipment and gear he could fit and thought might be useful.

Jeff was at our place from start to finish (although did go home for a rest, as he lived not far down the road). On the second? or third? day, when I arrived to feed the masses, I noticed Jeff getting around in most interesting attire. He was wearing stubbies shorts over the top of his jeans, topped off with standard work shirt and floppy felt hat. Jeff is a most cheerful fellow and I greeted him and commented on him wearing his extra layers. Tis not often you see a man wearing his shorts over his jeans, especially in this part of the world, and in the middle of some serious work.

He laughed, and explained. He was running out of clean clothes, and dressed that morning in a pair of jeans that were a bit on the worn out side, particularly around the backside. Gave the jackaroo quite a shock when bending over to load something on the ute, so decided that he best change into more respectable pants. Puts on his shorts, and discovers when going back to the ute to finish loading, that they were a bit holey in the crotch area, and instead of his bum hanging out, some other bits were, and the jackaroo was most vocal in his opinion that was a sight even worse.

What to do, what to do?! no clean clothes, the dirty ones not fit to be worn again. So Jeff had a light bulb moment. Put back on the jeans, and with the shorts over the top, all modesty was kept and off he went on his merry way and the jackaroo - and any other fire fighters - were spared any little surprises.

He explained all of this whilst the neighbour and I were rolling around in fits of laughter (perhaps not enough sleep) and with the jackaroo standing behind Jeff nodding in vigorous agreement to this tale, sent us around the bend even further. Even now, picturing Jeff in my mind in his shorts and jeans has me giggling into my keyboard.

And we've decided that we might need to shout Jeff some new pants for his troubles! ;-)

Or maybe you just had to be there.

the week that was

2011-09-17T12:01:00.001+10:00

This past week hasn't been one of the better ones. Its been one of high stress, many phone calls, many miles driven. Not much sleep. Focusing on one thing, and one thing only, and the rest just had to wait.

You may recall we that last week we managed to block a fire in our neighbours place, and all was well with the world. That fire wandered its way through the hills in the days following, and with some nice, gale force breezes, sent it scooting to the north, until a wind change saw it coming back around to threaten our other boundary.

Monday night was a turning point. We (using the term loosely, of course!!) probably could have saved a lot of country and man hours and sleep by putting in a break that night. Conditions were perfect. This, however, did not happen.

Tuesday morning things were not looking so great. The wind had changed again, and there was a lot of hurrying around getting breaks and trying to formulate a plan. By Tuesday afternoon, the fire had come across our northern boundary. Extra hands were brought in, and a fire break was burnt from one of our paddocks in an attempt to preserve the rest. Tuesday was one of many many phone calls received and made, passing along messages, finding more men and directing them to the right place.

2am Wednesday morning, after getting home and to bed around 1am from taking food to the troops, I received a call from our neighbour, who had been reporting back to me throughout the day as she assisted in putting in the breaks. The fire had raced away (causing quite some pandemonium at the time, and coming close to taking out men and machinery) and she reported with despair, that they had little chance of stopping it. For a few panicked moments, she thought that both of our husbands had been caught in the blaze as they had been working together further along.

5am Wednesday morning, after the fire had gone the best way through our property, I rallied fresh troops to the scene. By midday, with the establishment of fresh fire breaks and more than enough man power to establish and control the breaks - and a drop in the wind to allow for perfect conditions for burning back - it was under control, finally.

We've lost about 2/3 of our grazing land. The newspaper reports that a fire had destroyed "forest and grasslands" but no property was threatened. The newspaper doesn't realise that IS our property, cows can't eat burned grass. However, with the help of many great people and wonderful neighbours, the fire has been stopped in its tracks and we have been offered a paddock (one that was saved) next door that we can use, which will take the grazing pressure off the remaining pastures on our property.

Anyhow, back to reality and focusing on the wider world again!

other adventures

2011-09-14T04:48:00.000+10:00

Headed west for a couple of days, to Cloncurry, for a little field day, to promote our business. The sunset was a glorious colour, no doubt in part due to the amount of smoke in the atmosphere from all of the fires in the north (ours being under control on our side at this stage).

photo taken from the window of the moving truck - I wrapped the strap around my wrist and poke the camera out the window and pressed the button. It worked!

it continues: part two

2011-09-13T03:20:00.000+10:00

You may recall, that I left the end of the last post, waiting for help to arrive so we could begin back burning. It was 9:30 PM before we reached the newly graded track, from which we would start back burning. The purpose of the back burn is this: the controlled, man made fire burns a break off the track we'd graded, and this should, in theory, stop the main part of the fire from getting away any further.

My role as Support Crew was to drive the ute with the fire fighting unit on the back, should the fire jump over our track, we would put it straight out. Thankfully, this was not required, and as a back burning exercise, it went perfectly.

Although I made myself Safety Officer and kept my eye on the two fearless lads (the fencers of that afternoon). We finished burning our main break around 1:30am (against the prevailing wind), and the First Officer In Charge (ie my husband) declared himself satisfied that the break was sound, and then we lit up the northern side...which had a nice northerly wind behind it. We knew this would be the result:

The rest of the group were allowed to go home. To bed. For the little time that remained of the night, or morning as it were. But, I was terribly dismayed to discover, I was NOT allowed that luxury, I was to remain as Offsider and bloody Support Crew. As we drove up and down the graded fire break a few times, keeping an eye on things, I may or may not have nodded off, huddled under the yellow RFB jacket I pinched off one of the boys (he was going to bed, so he didn't need it (although I did feel a bit bad that he went home coatless) and wearing the coat of the wounded neighbour I found at the house - it was FREEZING. At around 3:30am my husband declared it time for a little stationary shut eye and he generously let me have the front of the ute. Until around 4am when he told me to move over, it was too cold outside in the cabin of the grader!

Let me point this out: four wheeled drive utilities are not best made for the slumber of one person, let alone two. My husband graciously let me rest my head on his knee whilst I perform origami with my legs and body in my allocated space, while he draped his 6ft plus frame in the drivers seat corner.

At daylight, feeling SO refreshed, rested and chipper, we went and studied the lay of the land again. All was good, so Support Crew and Grader headed back to the homestead. I was allowed to go on ahead, whilst he came home with the blade down, to put in some more "insurance" tracks. Just in case, you know.

On the way home, I sat and watched these little fellows for at least five minutes. Feeling so refreshed as I was. Delightful to watch they were.

this little bloke, after having a lovely skip and jump around with his mates, realised that his mum was nowhere to be seen. A little reminiscent of a kid that had wandered away from mum in the shopping centre!

At this point in time I was starting to feel a little weary, but made it back to the homestead and made myself breakfast - but no coffee, as the gas stove at the neighbours place hates me. I had a nice vegemite sandwich and cold glass of milk instead. And then laid down under a nice blanket for a rest. And when the graded turned up, I was dismissed and allowed to go home.

The End. For Now.

and so it continues

2011-09-12T13:41:00.001+10:00

we've had a busy and varied week since I last posted, and the photos I am about to share feel like very old news, considering that the men have just gone back out to the fire front - yes, its STILL not out, a week ago we thought it was under control but its turned around to bite us again.

Anyhow, last Tuesday the husband requested I step away from my roles as IT, HR, Dispatch and Catering, and move into the Field as Gate Opener and Offsider. I would not in any way or form term this as a promotion. My role was not to involve anything more taxing or stressful than opening the odd gate or ten, and marvel at how far away from everything their fire fighting efforts were, and what a good job they had done.

Just in case, we filled the mop up unit with water on the way to inspect the fire break (from the water trough)

photographing from the front of the moving ute along the barely there track was interesting. But you can see the burn on one side and the non burnt on the other.

We came across the most gorgeous flowers, these little shrubs were covered and stood out amongst both the burnt and non burnt landscape. The husband was really impressed with my desire to stop and take multiple photos. He obliged once or twice.

and we remarked on the nice clean fire break...until we found burnt country on the WRONG SIDE of the track! Ye gads, my goodness, oh no!

A quick reconnaissance of the area, and we raced (well, raced being not applicable to the terrain, lets say "sped as fast as we could") back to the homestead and picked up the grader.

Its not exactly a racing machine either, but we made good time, and of course, my title now included that of Support Crew.

Support Crew meant I got to follow along behind the grader, in the ute, as he put the blade down and put in a new track from which we could block the escaped fire from, to prevent it from burning further. Bear in mind, we were still working on our immediate neighbours place, the one that was in hospital. He ended up with a broken jaw, did I tell you that?

I had time to study the flora.

(can anyone tell me what this pretty little flower belongs to? I do already know, but I am testing out you bushie readers)

I also had time for dodgy self portraits, and wonder woman poses.

And then we came through the trees and it was like we had reached the end of the world. It wasn't really, but we did reach the gorge country. And let me say, I have NOT brightened or colour popped the photo below in any way or form.

And then, over the ridge, we saw this, which made my Support Crew heart go pitter pat just a little (and not in a good way).

We finished grading our track, and then went back around to the previous fire break (and therefore safe, as it had already been burnt) to investigate further. Found a bit of this.

The Support Crew (ie ME) was then dispatched back to the homestead, after retrieving the two lads that were patching up the fence down the track aways, to round up and wait for further manpower, for that nights burning back endeavours.

I was really wishing I was back in IT, HR and Dispatch....

The Story will continue tomorrow....

Never a dull moment

2011-09-05T15:46:00.001+10:00

to coin a phrase from the clever Fiona over at cattle-kids-chaos. She has such a way of summing up a situation with just a few words.

In the past 48 hours, I've:

beaten a webby path to sites like these: sentinel and fire north, tracking and reporting the satellite imagery of "hotspots" on and near our neighbours properties, as the men assembly fire fighting units, machinery and manpower to put a halt to the fire's path;

Received a phone call from the neighbour, wondering if I might track down my husband to give him a hand again at his end of the fire, as he was feeling a little bit crook, after a little bingle between his loader and a tree stump rendered him unconscious for four (FOUR OMG!) hours;

Spoken in calm and measured tones, with the skill of years of filtering the important bits from blokey conversations, enquired on the state of limbs, vision, mental state and feeling, and if there were much blood (ascertaining, yes there appeared to be quite a bit of blood, yes, head and neck feel a bit sore, legs still work, can you find that husband of yours, think fire is getting away!)

Spoken again in calm and measured tones, instructed the neighbour to perhaps have a shower or wash to further ascertain injuries, please DO NOT GO ANYWHERE, I'll ring back in just a moment, why don't you have a little sit down for awhile.

Made a rather quick and hasty phone call to a luckily-at-home nurse friend up the road closer to the neighbour, dispatched her (and her husband to aid in fire blocking efforts) to the neighbours place

Instructed the nurse's (chopper pilot) husband to go fetch my non-phone-answering completely oblivious husband from whatever far flung corner of the property he was, via helicopter. With no need to make the journey a pleasant one.

Rung 000 and instructed the Queen Street residing ambulance phone person on how to get to the neighbours property (this took five minutes, before any first aid advice was given!) and assured him that, yes I believed the patient was still breathing as he was TALKING.

Made and received countless number of phone calls liaising with the nurse (who reported that the ambulance man, a very nice fellow, decided to fetch the rescue helicopter to take neighbour straight to the Townsville General for treatment) finding other man power and getting neighbours wife to come home from the camp draft two hours drive away, without causing heart failure on her part.

Heard that the neighbour was found to be sound in mind (if not body, with some facial contusions and fractured jaw, and quite annoyed that he is sitting around in the city in nothing but his jocks and a hospital gown, after they cut off his jeans, much to his disgust!) and fire - after a few anxious moments and busy bodies on machines and burning fire breaks - was more or less under control. At the moment anyhow.

Wondered why I felt the need for numerous cups of coffee.

I think I would prefer a much duller life.

almost famous!

2011-09-04T03:35:00.000+10:00

In national newspapers, these two papers don't rate very highly, but for anyone who does anything in the rural industry in our part of Queensland, these two papers are pretty much the only newsprint that come into our house on a weekly basis. The Bush Bible, they have been called once or twice :-)

Do you recall, last weekend we had a little ol' campdraft? Part of which involves walking the cattle in to town from a nearby property, something that has occurred for the past 5 or 6 years. This year, thanks to the great photography skills of my mate Mel, we made the front page of BOTH papers! (and a nice spread on the inside of each as well!)

Very proud of Mel, that she got TWO front page photos!

my baby girl is seven

2011-09-03T06:05:00.000+10:00

and celebrated with a half cast on her foot and the requested seven shaped cake.

Dodgily iced (not to mention MESSY! lordy, icing and I just don't get on) and decorated, but it wouldn't be a birthday in our house without it being so.

But with a few cheap decorations (cheap being the word, they did not hold up well in the stiff breeze!) the scene was set

and the cake was demolished

after the candles were blown out, and I took the fewest amount of photos ever in the history of birthdays in our family.

Another entry in the annuls of the Dogdy Birthday Cakes, and another year older...

hello gorgeous

2011-09-02T05:58:00.000+10:00

look what found its way home with me after my recent trip to the city.

Oh I know. I am so shallow and materialistic.

Isn't she purty? Not overly expensive, certainly not leather, but certainly bright and cheerful and ready to brighten up an outfit and my day.

And fortunately, I already have shoes to match!

last weekend

2011-09-01T17:50:00.001+10:00

(of course, it always takes me the best part of the week to tell you about the weekend past!)

I saw more than a bit of this:

(very bad campdraft photo of the spare kid on her pony)

Let me show you a more of an action shot (NOT taken by me, but by Mel)

That is more like it. Our friend and neighbour across the way, in action. Anyhow, this is where I was, helping out the new girls on the block (aka Secretary and Treasurer) at their first ever organised-by-them campdraft. I have to say, it felt so much better to be assisting than organising, but then again those girls were all over it and had everything very much under control.

So, I was nicely recovering from my weekend, and feeling very much like a proud mama duck, and ready to book my weekend in Sydney for the time around next years draft. And then, look what turned up - not an easy feat and involving a two hour bus ride from the nearest florist:

awww, those girls...they sent flowers to Mel as well, so we are both feeling very loved and appreciated.

Here is the team that made it all happen, the girls also managed to round everyone up for a group photo, for the first time in our twentieth year of running. (and that would be me at the front, with eyes shut and no hat).

I'll be feeling their appreciation for DAYS to come, as the lillies are only just opening. I love lillies.

Thanks girls.

off to the city

2011-08-30T16:44:00.001+10:00

with the hoppy legged one, but in the meantime, here is a teaser of a layout posted over at Simple Aussie Girls tomorrow.

And in the spirit of procrastination, I best go and pack our bag, fuel the car, remove all grody things from the back seat, take the washing off the line, tidy the kitchen, bathe and dress the hoppy legged one, and perhaps the other two ~~feral~~ darling children as well (but maybe, seeing as I am leaving them in the charge of their father for the night - a rare, rare occurrence, I should give 'em both a strong drink of red cordial, just 'cause I am evil like that) not to mention myself, and be ready to hit the road, all before 6pm today. As that is when The Grumpy One assures me he Shall Return from the prickle farm and take up the parenting reins.

Hmm...red cordial...should I, or should I not....

sending happy mail

2011-08-25T09:34:00.000+10:00

as much as its fun to get happy mail (you know, things other than window faced envelopes - like things you might have bought on ebay, or little surprises from friends) its just as nice to put together a little parcel and post it off.

I did that the other day, for my friend who lives even further in the back of beyond than me, and who had a chubby little bundle of baby girl not long ago (after three boys!)

I wanted to revisit the nappy wallet after the last fail (which turned into a very useful DS and MP3 player travel holder) and this time it was much more successful, fitting either a travel wipes container or a full packet of wipes, and a couple of nappies, quite comfortably. I wish I'd seen this when my kids were little, it would have saved much rummaging around in the nappy bag (and this would be so great to toss under the pram or in a handbag - a large handbag mind you!) I used this fabric just in case it didn't work out, and although its not my favourite, it turned out really well, and was really great to sew with.

I also included in the parcel:

burp cloths...back with chenille, which my sewing machine does not like.

and a shabby little bib, which after a few more washes, should be nice and fluffy around the edges, and interesting to touch for little fingers. with luck, the busy fabric should hide any stains that might appear with use!

Hopefully she has the parcel by now and this post has not ruined the little surprise!

my creative space...

2011-08-24T06:08:00.000+10:00

is not clean, white, or slick. Or minimalistic. Its pretty messy actually. More than a bit disorganised. Made up of second hand bit and bobs. It needs a good overhaul really.

But I do have a space, and don't have to clean up in the middle of a project, and that is what matters most I guess!

Although I reckon a little more minimalism might be a good thing!

See more of my space, and the rest of the girls, over at Simple Aussie Girls .

a break in transmission

2011-08-23T11:47:00.001+10:00

not as bad as it looks, just a precautionary back slab (or half cast). Not sure what is happening next, of course living in the bush means medical advice can be a slow process, so right now we are waiting for the orthopaedic people in Townsville to review the x-rays and decide if there is a fracture somewhere in her foot. After two trips to town so far (160km tally so far) and a bit of waiting around and hospital politics, my tolerance levels are getting low...however with the back slab on we have bought some time and I will bide my time and see if the system works before donning my cranky pants!

of course, this all happens in the lead up to our annual campdraft this weekend, of which I am former secretary, not that I am let off the hook, I have to oversee the new girls on the block and fill any gaps.

Oh, and that kid up there with the new foot accessory...its her birthday this weekend too.

God has a pretty dry sense of humour.

quick and easy - again

2011-08-22T06:12:00.000+10:00

Look Nicole! a straight photo!

And again let me say how much I love using divided page protectors! hardest bit is having your printer print straight on the 4x6 card!

an idea I had....

2011-08-20T13:06:00.001+10:00

that sort of worked...

My lovely friend Mel gave me a gorgeous tea towel as a gift - she knows me well and just what I would like - and I just loved it. Too much to simply put it in the tea towel drawer, even though being linen it would in fact be an excellent dish dryer.

Instead, I remembered seeing somewhere in a magazine how someone framed a lovely printed tea towel, making a cheap and colour bit of artwork.

Our walls are pretty bare (apart from cobwebs and dust, but that is another story titled Living In The Country) so I decided to give it a go. And fortuitously, when I went to Charters Towers the other day, I found the EXACT sized large (50 x 70 cm, so very large!) frame I needed, for only $12! I bought three.

Which is a good thing, as I have broken the glass on my first attempt to get this project underway. (stupidity on my part, as usual)

Firstly, I unpicked the hem all around the tea towel, and gave it a press with a hot iron. Of course, this would be easier if I chose a pattern without so many straight lines, an all over print would be smarter!

I laid the glass over the tea towel, trying to get things as straight as possible. Drew around the glass and then cut off the excess fabric, just inside the line I drew.

The frame.

I then placed the trimmed towel on the backing board (I flipped the bit of paper over so I had a white background to lay my white towel onto) keeping everything lined up as best as I could. Placed the glass directly over the top (try not to drag it over the area, it will disrupt the placement of your towel). Clipped the little silver things back into place, and done.

And its crooked. But cute.

Now, begs the question: my seamstress/perfectionist MIL reckons she can get the whole thing straight by trimming off and leaving a narrow white border and sewing a navy or black border around this, and then stretching around the frame.

Do we add the border? Or leave it as is, in its kitschy, crooked, loveliness?

I ask, as I have two others to do - same pattern, different colours (CZ each your heart out, symmetry and repetition!)

What do you reckon?

its gone into shock

2011-08-17T14:30:00.001+10:00

my poor sewing machine!

Not actually what I really planned to make, but turned out handily non-the-less. Another failure - or two - that at least are still useful! (like most of my projects, the intended purpose has to be adjusted due to lack of cleverness or sewing skill on my part!)

The spotty phone pouch was actually the pink and brown one on the right, until I turned it inside out...I do love the paler fabric, but my phone fits so much better into the inside out version!

And I love the lining of the one that ended up being the perfect size for my little handbag camera. Tis a pity that some of the seams don't line up, but my camera doesn't care, and its a bit 'o pretty for my bag.

I've got a couple of other things to share - I told you my sewing machine has gone into shock! but I have to wait for my lovely friend Juliane to let me know when she gets them in the mail - I don't want to spoil the surprise...(the same one that said - no pressure - but I have your blog as my home page!)

Over at Simple Aussie Girls we are sharing our Week In The Live albums, so do pop over and check them out. Love each variation, and seeing a bit of everyone's different everyday-ness. Very cool.

Sunday afternoon

2011-08-15T11:59:00.001+10:00

The kids were outside, playing for the best part of the day yesterday - it really was a lovely sunny, not overly hot, day. They came and went for food, watched a movie, and then ran out again. Late in the afternoon they came to me: "MUM! come and look at what we did!"

I have to say, they had me in fits of laughter:

And yes, that would be the boy, with his "whip".....

urging his steeds to greater speed. Can't see quite what they are doing? Hang on a sec...

Two bikes, connected with lead ropes pilfered from the shed, and tied to the little old red wagon. Now, of course I could comment on the reasoning and thought process behind this activity, and how well they worked together to make it all come together, and how the girls must work as a team to pull the wagon and share the load...but mostly it just cracks me up. Especially with the boy yelling "yah yah" and waving his stick, as they peddle off around the paddock and down the back road (a whole other ,concerning topic is his role!)

I do fear for the longevity of the little red wagon, it does seem to be buckling in the back legs. It hasn't had an overly easy life, and its owner/s aren't as light as they used to be!

I was reading a friends blog and commented on her dream for more/better things, and added my own dream of a slight change in lifestyle and circumstances...but this is a great reminder to be happy with what you've got, where you are right now.

I think the kids had a great day yesterday, and so did I.

following through

2011-08-12T03:36:00.000+10:00

Remember this post just a few days ago? well I got my act together and actually MADE it. Instead of just finding the tutorial and pinning it! ;-)

Meet Owlee (I just know that will be the original name it will be given, and she is clearly a girl) who is waiting, hiding, for a little girls' birthday in about 15 more sleeps. Not that she is counting or anything.

I think she might need a touch more stuffing, and needs her bottom sewing shut, but she is essentially done. I had to race to get her finished before school finished, as I didn't want any curious girlie looking over my shoulder (just goes to show, I should have gotten off the computer earlier!) Not perfect by ANY means, but still cute. Well I think. ( I decided to go with out the feet at the bottom)

Hope she likes her!

Link HERE if you want to make your own!

a page (finally)

2011-08-10T09:20:00.000+10:00

More on this over at Simple Aussie Girls. I don't like to repeat myself, so pop over there and see why this page annoys the by-jingoes (this is a G rated blog, after all!) out of me.

decisions, decisions

2011-08-09T13:11:00.001+10:00

and wasting valuable child free time in doing so....

which one?

hmm, leaning towards the first one....more cuteness factor.

boy I have a hard life.

why did I wait so long?

2011-08-08T17:13:00.001+10:00

Our house is full of old furniture, some of it antique, some of just plain old. Old, but sturdy and useful. A bit like the house, and dare I say it, the owner (apart from the old part, of course!)

I've had this cupboard/sideboard thing for many years. Originally it lived in the saddle room at my parents property, painted a funny light green colour that was tinted with years of dust and saddle grease. It had a hutch bit on the top, which was very, very dilapidated.

So when I was in need of some storage space, my mum decided to give this cupboard a new lease on life. She removed the paint, found an old pine bookcase and attached it to the top, and it lived as a true "hutch" for a few years, until I decided that the bookcase was required elsewhere. Then the doors on the base wouldn't shut properly, so I took them off. One thing that bugged me, though, was the handles on the drawers.

Pretty boring, yes? And even though this is a functional, working bit of furniture (it houses the weekly newspaper - The Queensland Country Life - my magazine subscription and some other odds and ends ), it can still be a bit pretty!

Honestly, I don't know how I ever got on without e-bay before. Ta daah!

A four dollar ceramic handle (or two), and what a transformation. (less than the cost of a good coffee!)

And as you can tell, no styling was done for these photographs. I was SO excited about those handles. I may or may not have purchased a few more, to revamp a set of drawers that have been handless and bugging me for quite awhile.

I decided to go for an eclectic, mix and match look. Not sure about the orange ones now that I have them, but if I put them on the bottom, they won't be as noticeable.

Ah, sometimes small materialistic things do make one happy!

for those who've been waiting

2011-08-07T12:29:00.001+10:00

and specifically, I think Juliane, who has wanted to see more...

As I've been editing, I realise how difficult it was to get a decent shot of the groom (the bride is a natural!) but this one is I think my favourite. You know what a fan of candid shots I am!

And this one, of my friend (the grooms sister) and her husband (who is notoriously hard to take a photo of!)

And if you are waiting for more, don't....I've been looking at these for awhile and they are all looking very alike.....one final one of the bridal party on the bright and glary beach. I might have shared this before, can't remember.

Hoping to have some discs of finished photos in the mail tomorrow to the happy couple and their family. Hope they like them - not perfect shots, but lots of personality!

they sneak up so quickly

2011-08-06T14:12:00.001+10:00

birthdays. And I'm not even talking about my own, which has become a number-less birthday. Its a pity the kids haven't read that memo.

Anyhow, due to my idiocy and non-planning when it came to the birth dates of my children, my two youngest have birthdays two weeks (and two years) apart. Which makes birthday gift shopping somewhat interesting, although as the middle is a girl and the little is a boy, this makes the gift choosing a bit easier.

The soon to be 7 year old girl has requested a "DS please mum, like Kate" and as I actually foresaw this happening, bought two of 'em back when I found a great sale on them.

And while that is a big ticket gift, when you are seven, just one small present is a bit....sad. Of course I have a couple of other little standard gift things (you know, the usual kiddy make-up, and a book) I have been at a loss.

Then I saw these:

Geisha Girl babushka's. I reckon she will love them.

Well, her mother does. And that is what counts isn't it?!

a start

2011-08-03T13:19:00.001+10:00

Hoping to actually get this one finished and printed this week. Think I will print at home on my fancy smancy new printer. We'll see how that goes.

I wrote down a fair bit using the PDF supplied by Ali E, but I don't know that I need a blow by blow description of my day. Trying to keep it as simple as possible and let the photographs tell the story, with a little note about each one.

How are you fairing with your Week In The Life, if you participated?

some snippets of the past few days...

2011-07-31T11:30:00.001+10:00

Some vegemite on toast and red cordial (apparently great for sick tummies? and also well liked by little boys) for morning tea, when the big girl was sick. PJ's and bed head included! Sitting in the sun, on the little front verandah.

Feeding and harassing the show horses down the road, which we are currently in charge of while their owners are away. Show horses are not so sure about the small noisy creatures but putting up with them for the sake of feed.

Hanging washing. Boy laughing at the stuffed Tiger hanging by its tail on the line. Grass at clothes line in dire need of haircut, but its so nice for rustic photographic uses! Indeed, note the rustic, certainly NOT shiny and modern, back of house.

Husband cooking eggs. Cluttered, as usual, kitchen bench. Old stove, that won't bloody die.

The boys room during, and nearly done, clean up and re-shuffle of furniture. It was much much much worse than this, believe me. Reshuffle necessary to make room for the wood heater/stove thing, which whilst "in place" is not installed and probably won't be for another two cold winters. That is how things roll around here (and don't believe that I sound happy about it!)

Driving back into town after feeding the horses down the road again (its an every-afternoon job) I sat the camera on the dash board in front of me and just pressed the button. Must take advantage of that light this afternoon.

Unwilling participant in dog washing exercise (and check out the audience!) more evidence of grass needing mowing!

And how about this for REAL: grubby floor (about to vacuum it actually!) and messy kitchen, kids unpacking the dishwasher (and one using egg rings as a bracelet as well!) . Someone said something about taking the photos of how it really is? Well, this is it. And man, doesn't a photo make you realise how dodgy the floor is on your old house. Its on the list, getting the floors polished and done properly. But there a few other things in front of it....like the splash back...

On the home run with this Week In The Life Project. I've not taken nearly as many photos as it appears other people have, but again, my intention was to keep the whole thing simple. My plan is just two facing pages per day, and perhaps once that floor is clean and kitchen a little less arrrrggggh-inducing ;-) I might have a play.

So there you have it, a tiny taste of the past few days.

Some more Week In the Life

2011-07-28T15:24:00.001+10:00

(and I really should have wiped the crap off the table before taking that shot! oh well, its all about realness isn't it!)

That's my second daughter in the middle of doing her wicked wicked laugh, after being allowed to ride the four wheeler with her sister.

Cutting up capsicum for a pasta bake for dinner, and really, really really, needing a haircut. And to tidy that bench.

And one more, from this morning (lets just say, the middle of the night fun involving a big girl and regurgitation of her dinner, were NOT recorded)

yes, it does appear to be spreading through the kids - its working its way through the school population...fingers crossed the third child here (and her mother) might be spared. Off to spray some more Dettol about.

what makes me smile

2011-07-28T04:50:00.000+10:00

This, while not WITL (from last week, and its gone in the mail) makes me smile. I should have scanned it. But didn't. Was feeling lazy.

And that little story is in her own words. Especially the "he likes to swing and swing and swing every day". :-)

And here is a picture of Cheeky Charlie. Complete with TAIL in case you thought it was some other bit of anatomy! And her handwriting? her own little embellishments with curly bits and hearts. All in year one. Got to give her points for creativity I guess! (lets not talk about spelling, I just let her go and get her story told)

Plugging along with WITL...

allright, so I am doing it too

2011-07-27T05:45:00.000+10:00

A Week In The Life.

Or attempting it in any case. Trying to keep the process as simple and streamlined as possible. So we'll see how the week pans out!

A taste of my day/s so far. Fun hey. :-)

Post from me over at Simple Aussie Girls today as well.

the roses

2011-07-26T04:26:00.000+10:00

that I cut are keeping well, and I am so pleased I was able to cut so many unopened buds. Because look what has happened:

opening in all their blousy, sweet smelling glory (truth be told, the scent is pretty mild, these are a fairly standard Iceberg, which are more known for prolific flowering than scent)

And suddenly, the vase doesn't look so empty, and my bad arrangement so awful!

I probably should fertilise my rose bush a little more often!

she's wounded

2011-07-25T06:29:00.001+10:00

don't ask me how, some sort of mucking about that ended in her forehead connecting with the latch of her wardrobe. She cried that cry when you know they are hurt, one you don't hear from a big girl like this too often.

It looks far better here, the next day, than the evening before when it happened. The egg was large, the bruise prominent. But obviously that fancy, horrendously expensive cream that I have really DOES work on bruises. Like magic.

Not one to miss out on milking a good wound however, even if she is a Big Girl (or nearly ;-) she laid on the couch and clutched at her head with an ice pack, and laid there all quivery and sad, until Home and Away came on and she managed to forget her woes. Father did not even notice the wound, and Mother, after initial first aid and assessment complete, continued to read the paper and watch Home and Away, all at the same time.

Sympathy only comes in small doses in these parts! ;-)

le toure

2011-07-24T16:14:00.001+10:00

except, not of France. Just by co-incidence, on Friday we held our own le Toure, out to a nearby property and return. Some 14 kms. Not so far if you are support crew and driven by diesel power, perhaps a fair way if you are self propelled! ;-)

And, yes, there was a dress up theme, why do you ask?! There were ladybirds, Hermione's, Explorers, Cheerleaders and Equestrienne's, and many others. Participation by kids and adults alike was enthusiastic. Support crew however, got a FAIL on the dress-ups. We've consulted, and plan on dressing as playboy bunnies next year, seeing as we all have the right physique ;-) Or at the very least, get some matching fluro orange vests and have flashing lights on the roof of our vehicles!

My boy bailed on riding himself when he realised that he could hitch a ride. Looks smug, doesn't he!

Not sure his steed was quite as excited about his passenger by the end of the first stage!

Minnie Mouse (the fitness mad and slightly crazy teacher aide) had a passenger too. Spoilt mutt.

And I guess we will do it all again next year. Adult participation is increasing each year, to such a point as I think we had the same number of adults as kids.

And who said there was nothing to do out in the sticks?!

afternoon light

2011-07-21T12:57:00.001+10:00

I have to confess that, so far, I've done diddly squat in editing wedding photos. And about the same in preparing for the BAS due next week. And about paying this month's bills. This week I am in denial, or perhaps recovery from the adventures of two weekends in a row. Next week, my butt will be in this darned office chair and I will be looking for excuses to do laundry or, heaven forbid, bake a cake or something.

In the spirit of procrastination, yesterday I decided to cut some flowers, after my much neglected Iceberg rose came back to good health after getting a hefty feed of cow poop from the cattle yards. Multi vitamins for roses, would could say. I dragged grandma's crystal vase out of the cupboard in which to house them, and then, they looked so pretty, and the light outside was so good, I had to pick up my camera.

I made sure to cut only stems that had buds and not fully opened flowers on them. I am the worlds worst flower arranger, but really, any fresh flower bunged in a vase looks nice doesn't it?!

Then I got all excited about the light refraction of the setting sun through the crystal vase.

The sunset in winter up here is so much milder and gives such great light. Summer? Its just burny and harsh, and the sunset colours are different. Its only at this time of year that we get these colours....

taken from my favourite spot, near the clothes line (of course!) I should show you how dodgy this old fence is one day...we do "rustic" well. Its a pity "rustic" feels more like "falling down and needs fixing" when it belongs to you!

another weekend away

2011-07-19T09:28:00.001+10:00

and here is a little taste of what I was up to:

I swear I will never do another wedding again! And funny how these few shots, my favourites, are about the details and the colours! and one cute kid.

More later. Washing to attend to. And much, much sorting and editing.

a forgotten page

2011-07-16T03:56:00.000+10:00

For more, head over to the SAG blog.