Easter Holiday mini adventure

thThe Easter Holidays weren’t terribly exciting, with work to be done and all parties relishing in the lack of school and no lunches to be made (mum in particular enjoying that one). But when the cattle work was finally done and the weaners finally delivered to Yaraka, we made time for a day off.

We thought, that, with some of the storms about, that the Secret Special Fishin’ Hole might have a decent amount of water. So armed with smoko and lunch delicacies, and fishing lines (I always pack food as my faith in fisher persons is not high) and accompanied by friends, we set off.

The kids were excited to be heading in the wild yonder.

We did find water, far less than we had hoped for. Obviously rains upstream was short and sweet and it was no longer running, other than the tiniest of trickles through the sand. Casualty of the drought that does continue.

Lines were thrown in with great enthusiasm.

But the water was murky looking and whilst we could see the little tiny fish swimming around the edges, there was no big fish sighted no any nibbles received.

Rachel and I decided that fishing was not for us, and retired for smoko. Could have been far worser ways to be spending the day. We wore off the excesses of smoko with a stroll down river exploring….

Kids may have tried to catch little tiny fish with their hands in the rockpools, but those fish were too fast for them

The biggest fishing expedition of the day happened when we discovered that Pete’s shoe,knocked off a rock by one of the kids (or a bird) had to be found….fortunately shoes float, and aided by a northerly breeze was found nestled into the bank some 200 metres downstream .

The lack of fish did not deter us; we found some shade and greeness, the kids explored and we may have lazed away a few good hours talking and eating and righting the wrongs of the world…

(The Husband was wishing the chair had one of those foot rest thingys so he could have a quiet 40 winks)

Despite the lack of fish,the day was still declared a success by the kids and they weren’t the only ones who was a wee bit weary from doing very little that evening.

Nothing like a bit of fresh air and zero electronic entertainment for the day!

The Ringers

Yesterday we went and visited some friends, and took our horses too. For a long time we've talked about the kids having a ride together, so yesterday we did. It was quite some effort really, for a play date, loading horses and saddles and kids, and heading off in the truck. The Husband unloaded us all, had a cup of tea and continued on his way to the prickle farm with the remaining load of supplements in the back.

The kids were all ready to go.

And don't they look excited about it as well. Little stinkers. (the cat stayed at home)

The effort involved in saddling the four horses for my family, at the same time as trying to get them to stop climbing rails and loading ramps and actually do something to assist, made me wonder just how great an idea this was in the first place!

However, finally all horses were saddled, and the girls mounted themselves.  Not sure how, I told them to go away and figure it out for themselves.  I was hot under the collar at the time, wrassling with a horse that was old enough to know better, otherwise I would have sneakily taken a photo of the girls getting on. I am sure it was inventive and amusing!

And then, "all the cracks gathered to the fray", we were all mounted and ready to go. Photo taken by Rachel, the mother of the two extra kids. Note my appropriate and stunning riding attire. I was too lazy to find any jeans, my work boots were still wet and muddy (remember Sunday's adventures?!) and I was quite comfortable as I was, thank you very much.

I think I've reached that point in my life where you just don't care any more! Dear Lord, when did that happen? next thing I'll be out in public wearing a lilac embroidered tracksuit with matching quilted bag. Because I quite like lilac of course...  ;-)

  We enjoyed a lovely hour or so ride amongst the long green grass and gum trees, getting peeks down into the deep creek that we rode beside.  The gum trees prompted an impromptu rendition of "home amongst the gum tree" by my little mate; he makes a rather cheerful riding companion. He declared that he was now a really good rider (apart from not being able to get on alone, he conceded) and got cross when I wouldn't let go of the lead rope.

My two girls and Jack in the red shirt with matching saddle cloth, quickly went to the lead and trotted and walked and giggled and had all sorts of interesting fun. The rest of us were feeling far more sedate and walked along comfortably, despite Angus declaring he "liked bouncing" - although I fear too much speed might result in bouncing to the ground!

We finished off the afternoon's fun with a sausage sizzle down by the creek. And with some wet kids.

Honestly, my children can't help themselves. If there was a teaspoon of water and mud to get into, they would be there.

Is there anything as tasty as a fire cooked sausage? Bit of bread, grated cheese and tomato sauce, out in the fresh air (with remarkably few mosquitoes) Just lovely.

And sitting by the fire gazing adoringly at one of the few little boy friends we know (isn't the look on Angus' face just priceless?!)

It was bed time by the time we got home, after loading horses in the dark, but thanks to the tail end of the Super Full Moon, I was able to unload and re-paddock the horses with great clarity. And the kids went to bed exhausted.

And that is what you call a full, great afternoon adventure!

the last hurrah for the school holidays

So you know the drill, kids running feral, nothing to do...blah blah blah.  So after the failed fishing trip I knew there was plenty of water in the creek, so packed some smoko (AKA morning tea!) and drove the 25km down to the creek crossing on the road to my parents place.

It was a lovely morning. Slapped on plenty of sunscreen.  The water was muddy coloured, but not dirty, if you know what I mean.

There was plenty of this sort of action: 

We even caught a yabby with our bare hands (or Georgie's hat, in this case).  It happened to be heading upstream and she found it moving across the causeway.  We carefully put it in an icecream container that happened to be in the car (vomit dish!) and after an escape attempt, put some glad wrap over the top, and brought it home. Put it in the trough to eat the algae there, and we haven't seen it since.  I think it got out and a bird ate it. ;-(

Now the water was a wee bit on the fresh side of cool for me, so I retreated to the shade on the bank (with a wet bottom, thanks to being pushed over by one of the kids. THEY thought it hilarious!)

The kids had a ball, running and jumping and splashing and searching for critters (caught and lost a couple of little crabs) and having some smoko and then running back down for some more water fun.  It was most relaxing for me too, sitting on the bank watching them (I could have taken a magazine, but like The Husband said, I wouldn't have been paying full attention to them).  

I think we'll be spending more time here during the next school holidays (only if its rained of course - although the water holes will be still full from this spring rain, it has already stopped running). Might round up a few more kids next time!

(photos all sooc, cause I am lazy)