TIME FOR A NAME CHANGE

Hello and Welcome... As you can see I have had a name change. As life is changing I have thought for a while to change my blog name...The url is still the same as I don't want to lose my blog and start a new one as this blog is a record of my life.AS the children started to grow and move away it was my way of keeping them updated on what was happening at home...Someday I hope my grandchildren look through the memories on these pages and learn about the grandfather they never had a chance to know. Life changes so often, more so I find with a large family as there is always something happening and changing.One thing that stays the same is home. Here in our home it is a safe place to dream and for my children and grandchildren to come home too.

I started this blog in July 2008.... 18 months later the childrens Dad was gone...There is so many memories of Greg in these pages for that I am thankfull. It was called The Old Dairy because that was my place that I sewed, dreamed and crafted and had a place to retreat to...Many years later it has been home to some of the children when they first left home and for the last 7 years my brothers home.....So The Old Dairy dosen't really reflect me any more...... My pink house does.....

HARRY and CHARLIE

What a busy month it has been!!!!!! It ended with my eldest grandson Harrison coming down for his last school week of holidays. Harry turned 12 on 18th and all he wanted was to fly down and see his favourite cousin Charlie and his grandparents of course....

We Stayed in Brisbane with Alanah and Shane picked Harry up and took him to the Pancake Monor in the city for his birthday lunch,he loved it...That evening we had a great game of Monopoly which Harry bet us all......

We then headed out to Dalby to pick up Charlie and catch up with Cassie and kids, it was so hot out there we spent a good part of the day at the pool and then a big water fight to end the day.......

We then headed back home via the game arcade which was so much fun.......I havn't been to one for a long time.....We then spent the next couple off days here on the farm and the boys had a great time together.All too soon the week was over and it was goodbyes.....Harry had one last night in Brisbane with Charlie and then flew home to his family that missed him so much. I love that Harry wanted to come down and we had so much fun making memories.....He is now back in Ayr and started his first week at high school... And here.....Time toslow down as January has been hectic but in a good way...We have been on the road on and off since boxing day catching up with kids and grandkids...Now they are all back at school.This is the reason though I stopped work so I could be there and spend time with my very large loud family........ Here a few photos from the boys weddings of us all......Enjoy

Robbie,Will, myself,David...My boys at Williams wedding.

Myself,Cassie,Alanah,Jessica and Chloe...My Girls at Robbies wedding..

All together...... GRANDCHILDREN

I did say I had a large family, we have a new baby due this May as well so that is exciting...... Enjoy your week Mandy

William.......

At the end of last year William graduated from the Police accadamy....It was a long year for him living in Brisbane and being away from his new bride but now he is all finished...

Needless to say we are all very proud of him and he is making a fine policeman here in Toowoomba.....

It was an honour for us to be able to watch Will and 150 others graduate.....What amazing young men and women we have..

Sometimes it is hard to beleive that all my children are grown up with lives of there own, something about the youngest though isn't there. I know William's Dad would be so proud of him as well as we all are....Life goes on and every one grows up.....

Have a great week all and thanks for reading a proud Mum post...... Mandy.....

TWENTY TWENTY FIVE.....2025

Well hello 2025...... We have had a wonderful time since Christmas! We had a quiet Christmas day with my Mum and Dad, Robbie and Emma and Bruce and myself...In the evening Will and Cill joined us when Will finished work... Boxing day we headed to Robbies place at Buderim where Alanah and family and Cassie and family met us....

These 3 still play up when they get together hahahaha Lots of swimming with the grandkids, trip to the beach and just spending time togeather making memories...

Such a good start to the year with some off the kids.....Then it was out to Gundy to spend time with Jessica and family..You know you have had a good time when you are busy and forget to take photos. I really am the worst at picture taking as I get caught up in the moment....

After Gundy we headed to Brisbane to spend time with Alanah and Shane in there new house....All up we did 1220 kms since boxing day.... It was a time to rest, swim, read, walk and laugh lots of laughter.....

It is always good to be home though....We are looking forward to this year aheadI hope you are too... Mandy

Slowly............

I can't beleive this is the fourth week I have finished up work!!!!!!! It has been so good to slow down and get things done. With the hot weather it is good to have lots of kombucha in the fridge, I like mine just plain so I just bottle it and pop it in the fridge. I have had the same mother for about 20 years now and honestly it just keeps going no matter how much it gets neglected....

I have also been making cheese again,just a basic cheese but I will start making chedder again soon as I can not stand the taste of bought cheese any more.I have always made bread but I need to make a starter and make sour dough again.

The kitchen isn't the only place I have been,I have been having fun in the garden as well.

My side kick Mac is never far away from me which is good as we have seen a couple of brown snakes already this season....

I have edged all the gardens as they look so neat and tidy when done. If their is a tool I love it is my edger. I have had it over 10 years now and use it so much as it makes light work of the edges for me.

In my front garden this happy sunflower has come up....What joy it brings me looking at it...

I have also been busy cleaning out cupboards in the 2 spare bedrooms....So much STUFF sheets, blankets, cards, clothes and shoes not mine but of the kids and grandchildren..I am slowly going through the house one room at a time...All bedrooms and bathrooms have been done.....

Yesterday I sorted out a room in our shed that has become a junk/drop it all room. This room will become my studio for my soap and candle making, this then will free up the kitchen...Hopefully I took before photos! Still a long way to go as I filled both wheelie bins.....magazines my goodnes so many magazines I think I was boarder line hoarding hahahahaha I can not wait to get this room done, it will be a slow project and I will show you when I have finished it.... Today is the pantry well more the bottles again boarder line hoarding haha. I am going to tidy and sort all the bottles and take most of them down to the larder and then bring them up as I need...Thats the plan anyway. Enjoy your day...... Mandy

CHRISTMAS SOAP MAKING

Hello and welcome.... The last week has found me elbow deep in Christmas, yes I know it early but I have had lots to for the markets and soap orders as well....

For last Sundays market in Toowoomba I made Christmas hand towels and dishclothes which were a real hit. Also Christmas candles and soaps.

With the soap I have made the grandchildren {all 14 of them} there names, I am sure they will enjoy those....So many A and Es to make though,all done now.

As I only had 4 moulds it took a little while to get all the letters but all part of the fun. I have made a few Christmas orders for soap as well..

The above one is activated charcoal to get the black colour with peppermint and eucalyptus it smells amazing...I decorated it with gum nuts and leaves from the garden....

This was a order to use egg yolks in the soap with no colour or scent, I must say I wasn't to sure but it turned out OK...It came totrace very quickly so was hard to work with...It also took longer to cure. But the customer is happy so that is good...

This order was for Christmas soap and the customer has children so I had some fun....The block soap I tried to makelook like candy canes but it looks more like peppermint fudge hahahaha....Also made soap with christmas trees..

All orders are done now and we have 3 more markets befor Christmas then we will have a break untill February..... As I write this it has been raining all night and day which is such a blessing, the garden is loving it.... Untill next time.... Mandy

WELL HELLO

It has been a long time since I visited this old blog of mine! So much has happened in the last year but I am not going to bore you with it all, so lets start here and today. The most exciting thing is I have decided to give up work.For the last 6 years I have worked at our little local Post Office and truly enjoyed it.Things change and now it's time to move on.

I will spend more time with my children and grandchildren and a lot more time with my Mum and Dad...Bruce and I have lots of ideas and things we want to do and see. We have been busy doing the markets this year selling candles and soap, Bruce has been making wooden items as well, we both enjoy doing the markets and getting out and meeting new people and saying hello to our regular customers.

My days are filled with the rhythm of slowing down while working in the garden growing our food to eat, making soaps and candles for our marketstand and just taking the time to stop and enjoy the beautiful place we have created and live. Life has many seasons in it and I amgoing to enjoy this season in my life. I am going to make the time to blog again even though on this old computer its so hard. I can't even connect my phone to it to download photosbut I have found a way to get around that by sending them to myself and then downloading them.... For now I am going to make a cuppa and finnish making the candles for next weeks market.... Mandy.....