home and away

I was going to NOT postpone dentist appointments come hell or highwater (and with or without husbands) so late Sunday afternoon, after a birthday party and feeding the poddies, we headed to the city. On reflection the birthday party with lollies and cordial wasn't a good choice given the hi-jinks in the back seat, but a bit of bawling when Dad hit the roof never did anyone any harm before ;-)

We drove through the fire area, smoke billowing here and there (but all under control). We did the dentist thing (feeling poorer for the privilege) and visited a sweet little newborn baby girl. All of the kids got to have a cuddle of Isabelle Grace, who belongs to my lovely friend Mel. Mel, despites some misgivings about lack of maternal instincts, seems to be coping just fine (the fact that her husband is a nappy changing machine may be of some help!) Ah, the adventure of ones first child! And you know what? I loved holding her, and snuggling her little body close to me, but certainly no clucky or pangs to have some more. They've plumb worn me out ;-)

We managed to squeeze a visit to the Rockpool for an early morning swim. I decided to spectate..oh the thought of wrassling into my togs in the sticky morning (oh the humidity!), and then sticky and salty and damp in the car back to the unit...The kids and dad loved it though. I enjoyed the very slight breeze and the view.

Going to town means one gets to wear ones pretties, and I brought a few of them out to play. And of course, one cannot do so without sharing on Instagram!

I'm really really loving wooden beads at the moment, and I had some time at Spotlight (and a whole lot of fun!) to gather some supplies to have a play making a necklace or two myself, and get some fabric to recover the cushions my cane tub chair on the front verandah (I bought some other stuff earlier but have repurposed it for another job). Although after wandering around looking for something that I really didn't know the name of (still don't) it sometimes really IS easier to shop online at home!

Speaking of cushions...holy moley. Priced new cushions for our 9 year old, sturdy metal outdoor setting....nearly the price of a whole new setting!!! More research is required.

AND HOT OFF THE PRESSES: in most exciting news, as I type....rain on the roof. Now I won't get too excited and say the wet season has set in, but hopefully even a few showers might offer some relief against the fires in the National Park that have been bothering the men over the past few days...and if its offer, we'll take at least an inch or two of the wet stuff to freshen things up til the Big Wet arrives. And purely selfishly, just the drizzle we've had this evening will do my garden no end of good!

With that, and the sweet sound of heavy raindrops (albeit slow drizzle) on the tin roof, I bid you adieu and head for bed. Is there ever a more relaxing sound (and accompanied by thunder is nice too, the lightening tonight seems to be all sheet which is nice to look at and far less likely to lead to more fire fighting escapades!)

and OH! hello Megan! ran into a lovely old friend in the shops this morning...haven't seen her for a couple of years, but she tells me she feels like she kept right up, reading the blog. Love my mates who read and comment verbally ;-) And mates that don't ever seem to age (slightly depressing that part). xo

Rainfall report tomorrow. Having to resort to old fashioned rain gauge instead of new fangled weather station which apparently has gone into shock at the thought of rain and refuses to register any precipitation. Do hope the kids haven't filled the old style one with the hose! ;-)

I'll be buying a ham this Christmas

  as opposed to scoring and glazing and baking my own home-grown, hand-fed and hand-raised leg of ham. She is still very much alive and kicking and at this point in time the kids and I are just about ready to do the deed ourselves. Poor piggy. No sense of attachment to our walking oinking Christmas dinners in this house ;-)

We've slid very nicely into the Christmas Holidays here, and guess what? I haven't picked up my big camera once. I know. Shame on me. But thank goodness (or perhaps blame?) instagram for documenting these days.

We did a quick trip to the city to address some dental issues. Which really didn't get addressed, we have to go back early next year. Joy. Did some shopping. Kids had fun, Mum not so much trying to get a few little bits and pieces whilst solo shopping with the kids, one of whom is a great sticky beak and may just find out being a sticky beak means you miss out. #biggest kid

We loved these decorations we found in one shopping centre, but overall, the place wasn't dripping with gorgeous decorations like we've seen before. Disappointing. It was late when we left the city, which DID mean we got to see some great christmas lights as we came back through the Towers. (and the other pic is a cute necklace I bought myself, lovely chunky wooden beads. LOVE it)

Since getting home, we've been underataking some Summer Cleaning as opposed to Spring Cleaning. The much longed for installation of the Built Ins in the girls room has happened, which has led to a great reshuffling of beds and furniture and a great cull of Stuff.

There's also been some pavlova making, some party attending, some poor spelling (and great dismay from one sad little boy who did not appreciate that sentiment AT ALL) and some wearing of cute new plastic shoes for girly #2.

The room round up continued, with excess furniture from the girls room, moving to the boy's room, turfing out a set of drawers bound for the office (which in turn, turfs out a cupboard bound for the bathroom, and in full circle, the too small bathroom cupboard goes into the spare room! Those two rooms remain on my attack list at this stage). Fairy lights were hung along the front fence with gay abandon, and newly purchased solar lights for the front steps were hung without the complaining assistance of The Husband. (the shuffling of furniture has overjoyed him as well!)

And that brings us nearly up to date, with some wrapping by the kids done yesterday, and some, FINALLY, mango picking and rescuing from the wretched birds.

So, two rooms down and two rooms to go (can I get them done before christmas?!) some rum balls to be made and some arty crafty cutting and folding of cardboard to be done with some little friends who had a sleepover last night. The kids have a planned "craft day" at grannies tomorrow and then we are off grocery shopping to the Towers (getting that HAM) on Friday, as well as fitting in a movie at the theatre (Return of the Guardians) and dropping off the Jack Russell to have a little operation of a delicate nature whilst we are in town.

And at some stage, some present wrapping?! The chances of getting those other two rooms organised are fairly slim.(and please note the lack of rainfall reports. Its hot, and it hasn't rained. Here anyhow. Much pumping of water for cattle. Much ordering of supplementary feed happening. Much angst by CFO (ie me) over the once reasonably healthy bank account balance dwindling at rapid rate.) Ho Ho Ho indeed.

Merry Christmas all!

some maintenance

For those that are interested, the instagram page link at the top of the page hasn't been working apparently. However I think I have it fixed now, so please can you check it out (no need to sign in or anything if you aren't an instagram user, this is just a web view of my own shots) and let me know if its working.

Even better than the last one, if you click on the photo you can see the comments. Fun :-)

the magic of new technology

I've been instagramming again. Well, since I discovered it, I have been all of the time, but if you don't have it on your phone, and don't look at my page above often, you wouldn't know that.  Anyhow, yesterday afternoon, when the light was at that short, golden, warm phase (and the temperature wasn't freezing) i walked around and snapped some shots, with my phone, as I was feeling too lazy to go and find my camera.

My point is this: one - amazing that my phone takes photos of this quality and two - that it is SO easy to quickly give them a little something something if need be, and upload to instagram. Literally seconds.

Here's yesterday afternoons offerings.

Crying boy because he broke the bottle tree. Given that 1. it doesn't have the sturdiest of branches and 2. he has been climbing to the top on a daily basis, it was only a matter of time that it before it happened. This little boy with quite a conscious was more than a bit tearful when he manfully came and told me the news.

That golden afternoon light. And the seed head on my precious ornamental grass, which is recovering from the attack of the Killer Poddies.

My favourite white bougainvillea, which can throw a delicate pink tinge through its flowers sometimes. Not this one though, pure clean and bright white.

And in the same garden bed, thriving on neglect and the water from the laundry which runs out nearby, my paperbark trees.

And now for the fun stuff. Grabbed the kids and got them to pose, more or less with co-operation, against the rustic laundry wall. I must do this again, with the PROPER camera!

The biggest girl, who loves posing and having her photograph taken..it may have been mentioned on her recent report card that she has a propensity towards drama-queen and princess like behaviour given the opportunity. Her father and I read that and laughed. Miss Mac knows the kid well (and how much attention drama-queen and princess like behaviour get given at home :) heh heh) Dramatics aside, she is a sweet,kind girl with a typical oldest child touch of bossiness.

 

You might be able to tell by the expression on her face, but the short girl there was in one of those moods yesterday. She is one of those kids that have a brain fart and do things that makes you wonder what on earth goes through their strange little minds at that given moment (and whose genetics are responsible). Directing those impulsions towards good rather than evil is the problem...

And to finish off, the reluctant subject...

And I think, even though taken with a cheapo supposedly smart phone, that it actually captures what a sweet natured little boy he is.

And as much as I love my boy and how easy he has been (and wondered what the dynamics of having two of each would have been like) after meeting a family of five pre-teen to late teenage boys the other day, with a sweet, gentle mum, and a happy, energetic, loud dad, I am rather pleased with my lot. How loud and rambunctious that household must be!

And how thankful for this bit of modern technology I am..my phone and instagram, I love it!

it looks like a painting, doesn't it?

when it is in fact a photo taken on my camera one evening recently - I think the zoom in function pixelated it a bit but when a little instragram action was applied, look what happened! I LOVE IT!

Can you see the little birdy sitting on the fence post. I just wish it was a little clearer.

addictive

Recently I found instagram for android (not having a phone as fancy as an iphone) and now I am addicted. These gems were on my phone and would have been all but forgotten otherwise, unless of course I ever got around to working out how to download them onto my computer. Don't need to worry about it any more!

I'll be a crazy phone snapping fool from now on :) Lacking a blog button to share with you I have instead included my instagram page at the top of the blog here. Don't ask me how you comment or follow, that bit is more than I can tell you!