Camping at the Bunya Mountains.......

This is the view I woke up to for the last 2 mornings... Yep I'm back from camping and YES we loved it..The tall spear shaped trees are the Bunya Nut trees....

We tried to go for a horse and cart ride but it was all booked up, may-be next time???

There were plenty of wallabies to look at, they were every where, around the tent and even around the shops....

Yes there were shops!!!!!and yes we did a little shopping...

Look at these faces would you, William wasn't to sure about the birds, and Robbie had put bird seed in the girls hair so they kept landing on there heads....Lots of screaming and laughing all around...

here is our camp site, nothing flash but we loved it and it did the job..The tent was so big but didn't take long to put up at all. Most of the people had gone home so it wasn't busy at all. There were hot showers there to Deb!!!!!Electric bar-b-ques so we cooked on them a bit....there was even a camp kitchen with sinks to do our washing up so we weren't really roughing it, all the comforts of home......I have to say though it was COLD and WINDY I'm talking icy cold but we just rugged up and went for long bush walks...

Here is a Morton Bay fig tree that is so big the path goes through it...As you can see we didn't need warm clothing while walking as it was so sheltered in among the trees...

Here are the children standing in front of a Bunya Nut Pine tree you can see how wide it is....

When we got to the top you looked out over all the grass hills and here you could see all the little chalet on the mountains. All the houses here looked like something you would expect to see on the Alpine slops minus the snow of course.

There were so many water falls on the walks we went on, only they were all dry...Our country badly needs rain even here in the rain forest areas..

This little place we saw on the way out, it is so cute isn't it, a real old Aussie house...

I hope you enjoyed the photos, tomorrow it is back to the work shop...I havn't heard any-thing yet about the people that are looking at it so please continue to up hold this in your prayers...

Blessings Mandy

A camping I will go.....

Hi all ......sorry it has been so long in between blogs..I have plenty of photos to show only they will not download from the camera.....There has been plenty of activity going on here. My fence is all completed and is now dog proof thanks to my wonderful handy man....The tomatoes are planted and looking good....I only worked 2 days this week as my Mum came for a visit, I new she was coming Wednesday....what I didn't know was she was staying until today(Friday) We have had a lovely time, we went to the Quilt show in Toowoomba,walked through some wonderful gardens and took the boys to the model train display...It is so nice to play the tourist in your hometown.....

But the biggest news of all is......

We are going camping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am taking the four youngest children to the Bunya Mtns camping for three days...I can't really explain why, it is just something I know we need to do....My 2 boys have never been camping as Greg hated it with a passion, he preferred to stay in a unit somewhere which is very nice...But I have always loved to camp I was brought up camping...So I have bought a tent and all the gear I need and on Sunday we are off camping...There are a lot of walks and sites to see at the Bunyas so we are all so excited about going....I know it will be good for the children as it will take there minds of things........

I will have lots to tell you when I get back....Enjoy your week-end and may all your dreams come true.....

Mandy

Things are looking up......

These tomatoes are well and truly finished....I need to get in and rip them out and get my cucumbers planted. With all the changes going on around here the vege garden is really suffering. I am missing my time out there and really missing being able to go out and pick my produce.... Work has begun on the new and improved vege garden, I'll fill you all in on it at a latter post.

I have had an amazing day today...My first day at work, and I have to say I loved it!!!! I bet you didn't expect that.....Greg was all around me every where I looked but it wasn't sad, it was comforting to be there, I guess last week was just to early for me to face the shop. What a difference a week makes. Some more news......I had a meeting with some-one that is really interested in buying the business....so girls things are looking up...
Sorry about the gloom and doom posts of late and thanks for being there for me and listening...I had to post this photo of Greg as I love it, that cheeky smile at me while he sneaks in a smoke at a wedding we went to in Dec last year...Look how chubby he is, so cute in that suit....I will be back later in the week, I am working every-day this week to try and learn as much as I can...Just wanted to do a quick post to let you know that things are looking up in the Storey household....

Blessing to you all
Mandy

My poor garden.....

As I sit here remembering how lovely my back garden was with the fruit trees and the green grass...I sigh with satisfaction how lovely every-thing looks, because really being spring the garden is just about at it's peak here. Then I look up towards the dairy

AND REMEMBER YESTERDAY!!!!!!!

That's right take a look at my back yard now!!!!What a mess they left it in. Remember me mentioning that the septic was getting redone...well they did it alright....Let me just say it looks a lot worse than the pictures are showing.....a lot worse!!!!!!

My poor handy man walked out muttering to himself yesterday about the mess the #@!*& had left us to deal with....and he hasn't come back!!!!! Now I'm not panicking Oh! No! I am way past that now!!!!!Mind you may-be I should just go shopping again.....no, no must be strong.... I'm going to look at it like this, in Greg's shed he has a tractor and all the thingies that go on it, well I just have to learn to drive( or is it ride) a tractor put that long whatsie on the back and level it out....( I hope my son is not seeing this post or I'll be getting a phone call) now how hard can that be, easier than book work I reckon!!!!!

Now I am going out to take more photos so you can see just how bad it is, as the camera went flat before and the batteries should be charged now...

So I'll drop back later today

Mandy

I went shopping instead........

Let me tell you about my first day at the workshop. Imagine being sent into a bull ring and told to catch the bull, you have no idea what to do....That's a bit how I felt yesterday........O.K....O.K I could turn the computer on and pretend I was busy, looked through the bookwork, even though it meant nothing to me.

After about hmmmmmm lets see 80 mins I left.......

And went shopping yep you read right Shopping. Thought I needed a new hand bag and then of course shoes to go with the hand bag.....O! stopped in and got a pedicure as well,theeeeeennnnn Katies had a sale so I got a pair of linen pants and denim jacket........ I just want you all to know that if you ask YES I can justify buying all these things, just give me another day to come up with something......

Apple Tree...

All in all a nice day because even though I was in town I was alone and it was good to be alone. I know that things will be O.K at the workshop, once I get someone in to talk me through things and show me what to do there, their will be no stopping me.....

Blueberries.

After my breakdown,( I prefer to call it retail therapy) I managed to go for a nice look around my garden....Spring is here and I feel sad that it is passing me by. Every thing keeps growing though and flowering and shows me that life does go on.. The apple trees I planted are all in flower and leaves are growing...

Lemons.

Look what I found on the lemon tree, truly it seems like every-thing has grown over night. All the citrus trees are in flower, there are mulberries on the Mulberry tree and there are even blueberries that are still green at the moment....The passion fruit vine is in flower and the grapes are starting to shoot....Every where I look there is life, I can see my productive garden starting to take shape....

Orange.

Today I am having a new septic pit put in so it is busy around here today...I have tomatoes to plant and lots to do in the garden....

Enjoy your day today....

Blessings

Mandy..

Getting Back To Normal....

Things are starting to get back to normal around here........but a different type of normal..Yesterday after church I took the children to the park for a picnic, it was a lovely relaxing after-noon and best of all I didn't see any-one we knew. I know that sounds awful so let me explain..Since the Sunday Greg went into hospital 2 weeks ago I have had people here all the time.....now I know it's because they love me and worry about me but I need to be alone at some stage...Even today Chloe is of work and Alanah is home as she has no exams on today....Well at least I can tell them to rack off....lol. Any-way Alanah hasn't even gotten out of bed so I don't have to worry about her.

Let me tell you what I am up to these days...My life has changed in more ways than one.To start I think I am going to have to change my blog description to ....Single Mother of seven wonderful children...Farmer and cattle handler...Owns own business and working there.....Loves to garden and craft but has no time to do this.....Getting the picture ladies......Last Friday was my first day back in the workshop...If you didn't already know Greg run the finest Auto-Elec business in Toowoomba..Well now I do! only problem with that is I haven't worked there in 11 years. O did I mention that my Secretary Quit that is also why I have to go into the office...Probably sounds worse than it is, I have a Brother in-law that works there also and he is trying his best to help me....I have so much to learn as I haven't done book work on a computer before, but hey I love a challenge!!!!! The business is for sale so I hope and pray that it will sell quickly....As for the cows well how hard can they be let them roam around the farm and eat grass....We have had 2 new little calves in the past 2 weeks with about 10 more ready to calf...

So there is some of the exciting events in my world at this time...Now I,m going to drop by a few blogs and have a read then back to the Monday housework.....

Blessing

Mandy

Thank you!!!!

Hi all....

What an amazing lot of wonderful women you all are. It has taken me a little while to come back to blog land and thank you all for your wonderful comments, thoughts and prayers. I will be by at some time to visit you all again..I want you to meet two young men that have been such a blessing to me in our sadness..First though you already know my eldest son David.

David

Amidst the sadness of the last week we have rejoiced in all being together...We have always been a close family but we have made bonds and memories this last week that nothing can take away. My David has been a tower of strength for myself and his brothers and sisters..He has sorted out the shed and organized all his Dads tools, something he new I couldn't do. That is only one of the things he did, he did so much more as well. David was there for a cuddle whenever I needed it, as I think he needed them as much as I did.....
Damian.
Then there is this young man, Damian. Damian is Chloe's boyfriend and they have only been going out six months. From the moment Greg went into hospital this man has stood at Chloe's side and been there for her. He has also been there for the whole family. To me this speaks of character in a person...I have to admit ladies I wasn't to sure about this fellow when Chloe bought him home as he came with some baggage.....Well as Chloe would say this ones a keeper.

Lachlan

Lachlan is Jess's boyfriend has been in the family for about six years..This young man took it upon himself to go to the workshop and get all Greg's tools together and bring them home for us. We have not always agreed with things Lachlan has done, but I do know one thing and that is, he has been there for us this week, ready and willing to do what ever needed doing, thanks Lachlan...
So what I am trying to say is meet the men in my family...Yes some live away but I know that they will be there to help us....Thank you boys you have made this past week a little easier for all of us.....

Mandy

Good-bye Greg...

This is the hardest post I will ever write....

Early Thursday morning Greg went to be with Jesus..

My darling went to sleep Tuesday night and never woke up. All the children were home and they all had their chance to say good-bye...Hugs and kisses were given and the room was filled with love.

Tomorrow being Fathers Day here in Australia we are all going fishing...Greg loved his fishing , so this will be our way of being with him..

We are all doing O.k. I suppose cause we had our good-byes..I know it hasn't quite sunk in with the little boys as Robbie said that it is like Dad is still in hospital....It will hit home at the funeral I think, all I can do is be there when it hits.

His funeral will be on Tuesday in Toowoomba.

I don't know when I will blog again, as the house is full of children and friends and family. When they go then we will see what happens.....

I want to thank you all for your prayers and love to me this year it has meant so much to me....

Blessings to you all

Mandy

Hey Guys!
It's Mandy's daughter Alanah. Mum has asked me to fill you all in as she will be very busy for a while.
Dad was taken into emergency on Sunday while Mum was away in Stanthorpe for my youngest brothers soccer carnival. It was only Dad, myself and my two youngest brother and sister at home. My Mum and Dads closest friends came over to visit my Dad and he told them that he needed to go to hospital because several parts of his body was becoming numb. Mum rushed home, poor Mum she never likes to leave Dad alone and the one day she does, this happens!
Dad was taken to in emergeny and was very dehydrated.
He isnt doing well at all, so Mum has been having to stay at the hospital during the night as well as day time. My brother came down from Charters Towers and my sister came down from Roma, we are all together as a family which is very nice.
Your continual support is very much appreciated. I ask that you pray along with our family that God will provide Peace and strength in my Fathers life.
Thank you. Alanah! :)