Did You Have A Good Christmas.

We did!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of laughter, food and family, what a better way to celebrate.

Here is our Christmas table all set and ready to go.

Look what I got for Christmas..........Marlie the mower,

isn't he handsome.

Boy is he going to be getting a workout around here and yes I have already mowed the lawn.

We had 15 for Christmas lunch. I had to bring an other table in. The family is growing
I had all my children, my parents MIL and my brother and his wife.
This was one of the best Christmases we have had as it has been awhile since my brother has been.






All the visitors left today so things will get back to a little
normal for a few days.
I am of now to do some catch up reading of my fave blogs.

Mandy

Excitement In The House.

Big Brother is home for the week end. I know two little boys that

have missed there big brother and are excited that he is home for a couple of days. This is where I found them all this morning.

It was a late night last night, picked up David from the Brisbane airport at 10:45p.m and didn't get home till 1.30 this morning. Then of course the boys were up early to see David. And then it was the usual being boys stuff you know fighting wrestling the usual thing that boys do.

Cassandra cooked tea for us last night and did such a wonderful job.

She made pasties and a bright pink cake for desert.

She is getting to be quite the cook and loves to play restaurants. We had our meal on the veranda that she had set up with a lovely table and candles......

We have such a busy week end ahead of us.

Tonight we have our local community Christmas Tree and singing.

This is always a great night as the locals really make the effort to come. This has been running for as long as I have been here which is 21 yrs..

Tomorrow we have a wedding on, that's the reason that David came home. He is M.C at the wedding. David will be flying back home on Sunday morning at 6a.m.

Sunday I am meant to be going to the north coast for a memorial service, at the moment I am in two minds as to go or not. My grand father who is 87 wants me to come........But Monday I have to pick up four Japanese students that are staying here until Wednesday.

The memorial service doesn't start until 4p.m which means that I will have to stay over night and leave very early Monday to get back for the students.............

Are you getting the picture of what the next few days are like for me.

David has gone of to help the boys get ready for the wedding tomorrow, I will take lots of photos to share with you all. I am of to town now to do the grocery shopping as we are getting low on baking stuff. Then I must be up at he hall by 3p.m to get the bread rolls buttered and all the food ready, not just me........ there is alot of ladies that turn up to help.

I hope you are all looking forward to your week end.

I am, having my big boy home is enough......

Mandy

A Simpler Christmas..........

I have finnished all Present shopping for Christmas......

I'm a happy camper....

I am very pleased with my self this year in what I have accomplished with

my shopping.

Let me explain.

I have spent $800 less then I have on previous years, and no one has gone with out a thing.

The one thing I have learnt since I started reading all of your wonderful blogs is

that leading a simpler life is............ more......

I have always hated the commercialism that surrounds Christmas, but in the last five or so years I have added to it. As i just went and shopped and got way to much for way to many people.

Not this year.

I now realize why I have spent so much money.....I was lazy....

No planning just crazed shopping. I have always been a list person, as in I had a list of things to buy for each person, but I always ended up buying more.

As I mentioned on a previous blog I have made a lot of Presents this year for the older children. I have enjoyed making these things. Each thing was made with that person in mind

and made with love.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not a super mum far from it. I have young children as well that like things like Xboxes and transformers ,,jewelery, make up........ I think you get the picture.

I have still spent a lot of money. I do have a lot to buy for,but this year I dropped all the extras.

I am only buying/ making for my 8 children, three parents and one husband.

I have made a couple of extra batches of soap and have been giving soap as gifts to teachers and any extras that will pop up.

How is all your Present shopping going..........

Are you buying less this year, I would love to read about what others are doing this year different to previous years.

Today the chidren are wanting to bake. I'm talking the little ones you know what that means, sticky floors, flour every where mess,mess and more mess.

I know! I should relax more but I hate a messy kitchen, but I love cooking........work that out.

Have a blessed day.

MANDY

Pocket Money part 2

I have really enjoyed making Christmas Presents this year. I have got

a real enjoyment from it. I think as the children get older they are easier to

buy/make things for.

Above is my secret Santa for craft. This year I suggested we make our pressie

as we are a craft group. I made a cup cake pincushion and a stocking

bag to match.

Pocket Money

Each summer holidays we go to the beach for the last 3 weeks.

We take the caravan up and just chill.

But being on holidays and in a town where there

are shops the children like to buy things as children do.

So I have what I call holiday jobs.

These are bigger jobs that they can do to earn spending money for the coast.

Here is yesterdays examples of what they did.

Alanah.......she is doing the baking each day for morning and afternoon teas, above is the yesterdays biscuits.

Cassie.........Vacuum the house and clean the family room.

Robbie.......worked in the garden and helped me move some mulch.

William.......also hindered, I mean helped me in the garden.

Doing these jobs are optional for them, but they understand no work no holiday money. I find by the end of the holidays I am running out of jobs for them to do.

For the extra jobs I pay them as soon as the jobs are finished, as they see that there work has been rewarded. I keep $1, $2, $5 coins and notes on hand and pay according to the job.

So yesterday

Robbie received $5 as he worked hard most of the day.

Cassie received $2 as her job was easier

William received $1 for helping mum.

Alanah will get an extra $20 a week.

It may seem alot to pay Alanah $40 -$50 a week, let me explain.

Alanah is 16 and wanting part time work for the holidays, this will mean ME MUM

having to go up the range to drop her at job and then go back to pick her up.

By giving her a good allowance I am saving money. ex petrol and wear and tear on car.

In May Alanah will be 17 and can then drive herself to a job, until then she is happy with this arrangement.

I find by giving pocket money I save as when the children WANT something they can buy it themselves. They are learning to budget and the value of money.

These are life lessons that all children should be taught.

It is not all work around here.....

Look there is still water in the creek. The children enjoyed a fun

time relaxing and playing, they have made a cubby house at the creek and are loving having the water to swim in.

Well time to go and have another cuppa. It is 7am and the children

are still in bed....yep love school holidays, no rushing around just nice peace full mornings.

Blessings to all

MANDY

Pocket Money....

This is my yard from the veranda.

At the moment with all the rain we have had I think that my yard is looking

quite Park like.

O.K. Humor me it has been along time since this part of the yard was green. It is usually dirt, grass makes such a difference doesn't it.

We have spent the week-end mowing. Boy o boy there is plenty to do that's for sure but it is something i enjoy doing.

This is a Christmas wall hanging I made for my eldest daughter for Christmas.

Jess doesn't use the computer so I am safe to show you this. As Jessica has her own place now I thought it would be nice to make her a wall hanging decoration. Jessica is the one that lives in Roma.

Pocket Money....

What do you do for spending money for your children?

I am one of those mean Mums that make my children work for there PM.

Alanah 16......Washes the breakfast and tea dishes each day.

Cassie12.......Wipes up at night and takes the rubbish out daily

Robbie 10........Feeds the dogs and chooks and sets& clears the table at meal times.

William 5.......Cleans his toys up........
They all have to make there beds and keep there rooms tidy.

On Saturday they also have jobs

Alanah.....cleans bathroom and toilets

Cassie..........dusting

Robbie and William help Dad on the farm.

For these jobs they get

Alanah $20....Cassie & Robbie $5 and William $1

This money they spend on things they want

ex- movies,lollies,make up etc

I think it is important for children to learn to work for there money and not get things handed to them for nothing. When they finish school and are working they still help around the house as I believe as a family you work togeather.

Tomorrow I will tell you about what we do for holiday money.

The Christmas Tree is up and decorated,

it is starting to look a bit sad as I think it is time for a new one.

I say this every year and then see the price of them and think it will do another year.....

Well I'm off to the sewing room to get a few bits and pieces finished, then when the day cools again I will do some more gardening....

Have a blessed day all..........

MANDY

I've been busy still......

What a busy couple of days.............

Yesterday was our last craft day, next fortnight we are having our Christmas breakup.

So it was a busy day of mad sewing all day,

and last night I got the hand sewing all done..........My first quilt is all finished and I

am so happy with it..

Sorry I can't show any photos until after Christmas as it is DIL Christmas pressie.

Today I have been in town all day doing the Christmas present shopping.

My feet are sore and my wallet is empty.........

I have only a few bits and pieces to get now.

The children finish school Friday and things will slow down then.

I hope every ones week is going to plan. We are getting more rain at the moment which is a blessing.

Have a great day.....

Mandy

A Busy Week Ahead.......

What a busy week end we had.

No more rain though. The creek is going down, there is still one crossing over,

so it wouldn't take much to bring them back up.

But the wind, it has been howling here for three days now.

Any one else getting it?

We haven't had any damage from it, others down in the valley have lost shed roofs.

On Saturday night we had a lovely time at our friends who renewed there wedding vows. There were two couples that did them. One couple had been married 22 years on the 22-11-08.

It was very romantic. The photo above is of them. Hubby lead them through their vows,

he was having trouble reading what they wrote as he left his glasses at home and had to borrow some.

Sunday we braved the wind to go to church. Boy were we glad to get down off the mountain and back to our valley.

Cleaned up some fallen branches and then it was of to another party.

We have something on every weekend between now and Christmas. I love this time of year with all the Christmas parties. Not so much for the

parties as for the people and the catching up with one another.

This after noon I am going to start putting up the Christmas decorations.

I love Christmas and every-thing about it. That is why today's post is a quick one.

Lots to do. I'll show you some photos later in the week.

I won't be posting everyday this week as it the children's last week of school and there is so much on. But I will make time of an evening to drop by and say hello.......

MANDY

A Day In My Life........

I blogged this morning before I realized it was the 14th, never mind ........

As I said earlier I woke up nice and early this morning and got one basket of laundry folded

lunches and breakfast made.

Sat down for a nice cuppa when I realized I hadn't put the washing on. Jumped up and proceeded

to trip down the stairs...

Time to take children to the bus asked 19 yr old to drive them as my foot was throbbing.

Sat down for awhile and rested my foot then thought that I'd do my blog. (1st one)

Finely got the load of washing on.

Then I hobbled out and hung it up.

Foot still sore so again hobbled up to my sewing room and rested there for awhile watching the geese annoy the cows,

My foot started to feel a bit better so I was able to sit at my sewing machine

and sew.

I got so much sewing done, this apron is for my eldest daughter who doesn't live at home.

It turned out quite retro I think. I love aprons and collect all old ones from second hand shops. I also love making them.

I also got all of DIL quilt top done all to do now is put the border on and quilt it.

I also started this little (below) cushion for my youngest daughter.

Once the quilt and this cushion is done I have finished my Christmas Present sewing..

Chloe came home from town and we spent some time to geather as she was getting ready.

Chloe is off to her sisters for the week end in Roma. There is a group going out there this weekend for the Roma Races. So she was able to get a lift out as it is a four hour drive.

Before I knew it, it was 3.30 pm and time to go and get the children from the bus stop.

We all said Bye to Chloe and then in for

After noon tea and they were in the pool.......

I managed to get a bit more sewing done.

Then it was tea time sausages and fresh asparagus for hubby and I the children
had sausages in bread as a hot dog, there favorite Friday night tea.

6:45p.m and we were in the car to take the girls to youth group in Toowoomba.
Back home and did the washing up.
Watched T.V with the little boys. We watched Honey I Shrank The Kids.
The boys loved it (so did I )
9p.m Boys to bed. In the car back to Toowoomba pick up girls.
Youngest is covered in cake as tonight is the last youth for the year and they ended with a cake fight.
HOME................
9.45pm and phone rings.... Chloe has got to Roma safely.Thank you Lord.....


I will Finnish my blog and have a bath and off to bed.
My foot is much better and I am walking O.K.
thanks for the well wishes girls.

All have a great blessed weekend.


MANDY

A Back To Basics Kind Of Day.......

Hi everyone.......

I didn't get to blog yesterday as I was busy, busy,busy

sewing,sewing,sewing.........

Yes it was our local craft day yesterday.

I have learnt how to put a quilt together properly, sashing and boarder.

I have put a quilt together before, just not very well.

I really learnt alot yesterday and can't wait to get some more done.

I love our community craft days, the companionship and learning from one another.

I will post some photos latter today of the quilt.

This morning I have been making some more soap.

This will be my Christmas batch, I put cinnamon and nutmeg into

this batch as they are Christmas spices. The scent is not as strong as I would have liked though so I am going to have to find some oils I think to try. Any ideas???

I am going to package them similar to the soaps above, maybe more festive though..

Over at Rhondas blog http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

she is talking about electricity and water saving and of monitoring these . Well worth a look and I encourage you to take part.

I will be doing the electricity but not the water. We only have tank water here and I am already very frugal with that.

The snow peas cucumbers and tomatoes are all doing well. I have been picking alot of tomatoes

green and let them ripen on the bench. There is

no difference in taste at all. I always thought that you should let them ripen on the vine

for better taste. Picking them green also stops them getting attacked by bugs.......

For the last 10 years when I make my bread I have used the bread maker.

Today though I am going to make it by hand again.

WHY! I have lost touch with the bread. The kneading and the rising even the putting yeast into water and letting it ferment. All I do now is plop it all in the bread maker and turn it on and BREAD.

Nothing wrong with this though I just want to get back to basics. I will still use the bread maker when I am in a hurry (which is most of the time)

Well I am off to make that bread then to sash and boarder D.I.L quilt and finish the table clothes for Saturdays 21st.

Have a great day.

Mandy

Jacaranda Junction

Now I know that spring is here and summer is right behind. My jacaranda tree is out in bloom.

I have a high house at the front and this photo is taken on the veranda looking up into it.....











The front yard is covered in blossoms and it looks so pretty. I must walk out to veranda 5 times a day just to look at there beauty. They just don't flower long enough......



I don't have a name for my house, and I have often thought of calling our place Jacaranda Junction. It makes sense you see we have a jacaranda and we live on a junction. May-be one day I'll do something about it.

I had a lovely after-noon of sewing yesterday, Chloe needed some summer p.j pants so I made them for her and got two more Christmas presents made. I can't show them as they are for my daughter in-law and she sometimes reads my blog to catch up on things.......Hello Karen.........

The material I made the p.js out of is left over from when the two oldest girls were 2 & 3 years old.I had made them little play suits in this print. It is lovely and soft and cool so Chloe will love them..They are to big though, so I'll have to take them in.........

Yesterday when catching up on a few blogs Our Red House had a recipe for chocolate brownies. Well this recipe had no chocolate in it which mine does.Cheak out Kates blog it is in the side bar. I made it up into muffins for the children's afternoon tea. Well..they loved them said they were the nicest brownies I had ever made.
Thanks Kate you did get the credit..........





Since I have been blogging I am amazed every-day by the wonderful people out there....I know that I feel like I am making friendships, I know others feel this way as well so I'm not crazy!!!!!
Yesterday I left a comment on a blog about my disasters at knitting, and when I checked my comments this morning wonderful daisymum said she would knit me one.........I only know daisymum through blogging yet we are friends, thanks by the way I can't wait.......As I read more blogs I am finding that this is not an unusual thing, friendships are happening all across the globe. I am learning about other countries, even about bears from Suzann at Scrub Oak..So today I would like to honour those that have dropped by and said hello...It has been a real pleasure in meeting you and getting to know you...................

Blessings to all..........

Mandy