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!

catering for a crowd

the past week or so, I have been caught up in the logistics of catering for a crowd of up to 250 people. That's a lot of tummies to fill!  The reason for this influx of hungry tummies was the Endeavour Rally passing through town, and needing food and a place to rest their wearies heads for the night. Having travelled from Croydon (FNQ) the lead started rolling into the Racecourse just before dark yesterday (and don't imagine that these are shiny state of the art four wheel drive rally cars, I think part of the rules state the cars must be at least 25 years old!)

The logistics around feeding 250 head for dinner and breakfast meant that I ended up being the one sourcing the 100 odd kgs of corned beef, 24 dozen eggs and 30 kgs of sausages, and 18 kgs of pie apple for apple crumble. Thank goodness for wholesalers that deliver.  The corned beef was farmed out amongst local committee members of the Jockey Club and P & C to cook, as was the pie apple. Sunday morning saw my husband manning the meat slicer and spending a good two hours slicing the corned beef, and me stacking it into trays, ready to be placed in the bay-marie for serving.

Over at the Jockey Club, the grounds were being primped and prepped, and extra showers made to accommodate the crowd.  A lot of work went into preparing the grounds and feeding the crowd of rally drivers.

And in making the place look a little bit swish and classy. The old hardy bougainvillea always comes in handy!

Although a last minute shower of rain had everyone scurrying to get the tables and chairs back under cover!

Old style cooking implements were brought into play, the racecourse not having a gourmet style kitchen. Jacket potatoes were boiled in the old copper.

And fancy outback style "fire pits" were erected to counteract the chilly breeze.  Please note the attention OH&S with the fence around the fire, in the old days it would have been a bonfire on the ground! (pleas note the Bar in the background as well)/

everything looks fancier with a bit of hessian draped over it, in this case some portable yard panels around the opening to the unisex showers (thoughtfully adorned with informative signage). Also note the alfresco sink, which belongs to the mens toilets backing onto the showers.

The ladies toilets being slightly grander (again with thougthful signage), again with more hessian. And a mirror, which I didn't photograph, but was obviously hung by a very short person. Must rectify this before the races! 

I managed to catch a few of the cars before dark...

Obviously it is essential and obligatory to get as many stickers as possible over ones vehicle, to have the biggest spot lights as one can source, carry many a spare tyre, and have a good sense of humour.

It got busy, and I didn't get a chance to photograph the food, but no one went home hungry. Although it was noted these rally types weren't as big eaters as expected (I guess sitting in a car all day doesn't work up an appetite) so we had plenty of leftovers, some of which got turned into bubble and squeak for breakfast (at which I wasn't present, sent the husband out at 530 instead!) and the rest sold back to the committee...I have three apple crumbles in my freezer now!

Thank goodness its over though! they departed around 8am this morning, bound for their final destination, Yeppoon.

Now that is crossed off the calendar, onto the next event, the inaugural Rugby Sevens Comp in town next weekend. Working in catering and watering the troops for that one too, with some baking to be done this week, and working in the canteen/bar areas on the day.

Who ever said there was nothing to do in the country?!

still thinking about

inside my house.  This time the girls room.  The girls are rapidly outgrowing their current cupboards (one being a nursery style cupboard) and I have to say its driving me bonkers.  Yesterday I sat down with a pencil and paper, and with the help of the www and built in cupboard dimensions, worked out a plan.  However, instead of the rubbish (and expensive) built in cupboards that come from the likes of super-amart, whenever the builder man comes to fix my verandah up (before someone falls through the boards, which would be an adventure I wish upon no man!) I am going to get him to whip up the frame for a built in wardrobe, inside which will go those simple and reasonably inexpensive wire drawers, with a small amount of hanging space.  And then no matter how haphazardly the girls put their stuff away, one will slide a door shut over the whole mess. It will have a nice shelf at the top to hold clothes to grow into and winter stuff, and it will be all behind doors. To the ceiling if I have any choice in the matter!

Now you can see where that bonus money the government gave me the other day will be going...not towards that new camera! Practical husband raised an eyebrow and asked was there anything wrong with the old one. Umm, no (hangs head and scuffs ground).

Anyhoo, the installation of one storage facility would mean much more space in their shared bedroom, and when I came across this idea below on pinterest, a lightbulb went off.

Original idea HERE (although my version won't be nearly as flash!)  these bookcases turned on their sides come from Ikea. Lacking an Ikea store here in the sticks (and they don't freight or online order, unfortunately) similar style bookcases can be found cheaply in other stores. The installation of one big wardrobe in the girls room will leave just one dressing table and bedding in the girls room. Currently in bunk beds because of space, this idea could be carried out in the newly freed up corner of their room, or going back to standard single beds, could sit at the end of each bed. Even without the seating aspect, just as storage.

I can't tell you how happy the idea of not seeing drawers with legs of pants, and undies and other things hanging out of them makes me (or even funner, dumped on the floor in front of the drawers, messy little ratbag).

And having enough space for everything (getting bigger means bigger clothing, which doesn't fit as well in the same space that they used as babies!)

And having a storage space for each girl for all of the precious things that girlies like to keep. Although the biggest challenge, as ever, will be getting them to put it all back where it should go.

Never fear, I won't be throwing out perfectly good, albeit too small, storage. The boy will score the lovely antique wardrobe (perfectly adequate for one boy) and the nursery wardrobe/drawers will be pressed into service elsewhere, or be stored in the shed to be passed along to my new sister in law, when they might need it ;-)

Now I just to be patient, and wait, wait, wait.

Ok, enough house stuff! Hooroo.