ABusy Week end

Hello All

yes I am still here.....It is a busy time coming up to the end of the year.

This week saw Emma, Bruce's youngest graduate

year 12. 

This is Robbie's last week and then Will finishes primary school the week after. 

Then Christmas Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been busy making lots of soy candle, soy melts, soap and lots of other goodies.

Boy my kitchen has been a production line but sure does smell good.

 Saturday saw me have my first market stall for many years.

Our local hall at Stockyard has started having weekly markets until Christmas.

I had a great morning and did well, sold lots of soap, candles and dishcloths.

Sunday saw us get our newest member of the family.

Her name is Zena and she has  stolen my heart. Zena thinks she is a dog

and sleeps at the back door through the day.

We also got our new chooks on Sunday, I will show you them later in the week.

Monday Mum and I went to the Bush Christmas display in Toowoomba.

I loved this window below and really want to make something similar to this.

I also loved the Christmas tree next to it.

Now I'm off to read what you all got up too on the 

week end.

Blessings

Mandy

I'm getting soft....

This is Molly,she is supposed to be my dog but the truth is she was very much Greg's dog. Loved to be on the ute with him and while he was sick she just sat with him, but I digress.Who ever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks, didn't know what he was talking about...Molly has had a few friends to play.... now I don't approve of these friends as they don't know there boundaries and continue to jump the fence....Hmmmm Molly thought I should try this and she did again and again....Now when ever we go out we have to lock her on the veranda other wise she will jump the fence and try to catch cars as they drive by....This has worked fine and she has been happy chewing the furniture out there.
But lately I have been finding dog hair on the floor and even on the couch...Now I knew the dog wasn't inside so I couldn't work it out..................that is until Wednesday morning when I woke up to what I thought was the kids running up and down the hallway. When they jumped on the bed I wasn't happy so I opened my eyes to see Molly looking back at me...O.K I'm thinking I've seen" Marley and me" and this is rather cute....but how is she getting in the house I'm not crazy enough to let her in the house....Back out to the veranda only for her to come straight back again.........Yep you got it she is fitting through the cat flap.....how she fits that butt through I don't know...But I'm thinking better in the house than chasing cars........So yep I'm getting old soft and dotery......sighhhhhhhhhh...but she is cute.

The above photo is the crossings going over, only this photo was taken 24 hrs after the first downpour....still more rain to come.....

Enjoy your week end all, we have a full week end planned that I will share latter on. until the

Blessings Mandy

It rained!!!!!!

Isn't this a pretty picture? It is the path from the courtyard to the back garden. Honestly sometimes when I look at photos on my blog I have to go and have another look as they never look as good in real life as they do in photo form.Before I weeded this path you couldn't see the steeping stones or even the end of the path for grass and he branches on the Mulberry tree. Wish I had of remembered to take a before photo! Now we can walk through there without being attacked by branches.... After I got the path all nice and cleared I went into Gatton to get the sleepers. When I got there they said I could only take 10 at a time because of the weight!!!! O.K I should have realized that. Got home with the first 10 unloaded them.uuuugggghhhhh that's me grunting as I got the railway sleepers of the back of the ute...Then back again to get another 10. Of course driving past best friends place for the 3rd time thought I had better stop for a cuppa.... By this time it is raining and storming, so the dog is sitting in the front of the ute with me...I'm telling you I looked just like a hillbilly. Gave Bronwyn a good laugh any way, just what she needed as she was in bed with a headache and needed cheering up ...glad to be of help. By the time I got back home it was well and truly raining, so I didn't unload the other sleepers till this morning.. My right arm is so sore it hurts to move the mouse.....really....It will be worth it when the retaining wall is done..

This is the sight I woke up to this morning, a purple front yard, isn't it so pretty. Last night we got 40mls of rain !!!!! We sure do need it as my tank was just about empty again and we are very water wise here..I have neighbors that have been buying water for months now. The rain was so heavy that the gutters were running over. This afternoon Robbie and I have o get on the roof to clean all the gutters out as the jacaranda flowers taint the water and we are for cast to get some more.

Meet the newest member of the family, Mindy. This is Williams kitten she is only 6 weeks old and so tiny and playful.

This morning I am going to craft. I haven't been since Greg has been gone. I have decided it's time to stop hiding at home and the workshop and to get out...I don't know why I am finding it so hard as I love people and my friends...So this week is new beginnings for me. On Sunday I was invited to a ladies group on Wednesday afternoon so I am going to that as well...I know Greg wouldn't want me sitting around feeling sorry for myself... So I'll have a quick cuppa and chat with the girls and get to the workshop in time for lunch...The boys lunch that is not mine as I won't need any after craft...

First I have to pull the carpet up in the office here...Look at the stains on it. This is the last room left to do, all right I won't do it Know but guess what I'm doing on Saturday????

Blessings to all...

Mandy

Garden Update

Every thing around here is growing so well after the rain'

Hubby says that if we are quiet we can here the grass growing........

The hedge is just about level with the pool and is really starting to look like a hedge now' there is still a couple of gaps where it got frosted in winter but they are starting to catch up.

We had a wonderful week end, Saturday was so hot and humid that after

getting home from town, we all stayed in the cool of the house and

just enjoyed being together. It was a nice relaxing day.

On Sunday we started the day of by going to Weis for breakfast,

all 7 off us.

I don't think the place new what hit them.....It was a fantastic

smorgasbord breakfast. This was the first time

that we have ever taken the younger children to a fancy restaurant we were very proud of

them as they were really well behaved.

I believe that is is important for younger children to experience eating out.

Yes they use there manners at home, but lets face it there is nothing like getting dressed up

and eating in a fine restaurant when you are only 10.

Memory making moments

we call them.

O I didn't mention that the whole meal only cost us $46 as Hubby was given a gift

voucher for $120 for his b/day last November and we hadn't used it yet.

And yes I forgot the camera......

Look at all the different colours of green in the rain forest garden. There is just so much new growth happening there at the moment.

The snow peas and cucumbers are doing so well. This area is shaded in the after noon so doesn't get that hot afternoon sun on it.

I think that is why they are doing so well here.

I finally got around to putting up my tomato bushes, they were climbing all over the

ground and I wanted to put them up so they didn't get any fungal growth on them after the rain.

I also found some "Ox heart" tomatoes and got them planted out. I remember reading somewhere that you should have 3 tomato bushes planted

per person to have enough tomatoes. I f that is the case I have15 bushes planted so

far and I will need another 6 to make 21 as there is seven living at home. I think though that I will plant a few more, with Christmas coming up we will need extra.

Put in some more "Mignonette lettuce" a well, I can't keep the Lettuce up to us. I have only been planting a punnet a week and have now decided to plant 2 a week.

We'll see how that goes. I am getting into

a rhythm of succession planting.....yes it takes some planing but it is worth it, to always have what you need with out the gaps.

We only have two puppies left, the one on the ground getting her ear chewed is "pirate" we are keeping her. This is Hubbys dog, he chose her and named her.

The other little girl is going soon as well.

We have been so lucky getting homes for the pups, when people heard we had them

they were gone. Not one person saw them first, just said they would take one

as they all

know Molly and what a good dog she is, so I hope the live up to expectations......

The back fence is coming along nicely it should be finished this week.

Pirate hasn't ventured down to this part of the yard yet but I'm sure it won't be long....

Well being Monday there is plenty to do around the house so I had better get

back to it.

All have a great Monday.....

Mandy

A Lazy Kinda Day

I did say lazy....

This morning I was up and out (with make-up on & hair done) of the house

by 6:30.... not good for a Saturday morning.

I had a local Ladies Breakfast at one of the little churches in the valley.

Going to these community events is all part of living in a small community.

Meeting new people opening new doors and of course learning new things............

This is what a come home to.

Daddy, baby boy and spoilt cat all watching the cricket.

It was at this sight that I knew!

The day was a right off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hubby has had to work the last 5 Saturdays, and the jobs are building up around the place.

But you know that sometimes you just have to stop.

Today is that day.

Spending time with the children,
playing with the new puppies,
these are things that will quickly be gone.

I can guarantee that next week the jobs will still be there.
But this day will be gone not to get back again.
Today we choose to live in the moment.

Ladies.....This is for you.

Imagine trying to walk away to do things

and all six babies are still hanging

of your *****.

There's some thing to be thank full right there.lol.

Have a great week end and live the moment.

Mandy

Pottering Around

I have just been doing a bit of this and that today......

I moved all my cutting to under this tree from under the veranda. This tree is near my potting shed so they should do really well as they are in dappled shade all day.




The children have been running around playing all day, and the geese have had enough. They turned there nose up in the air told us what they thought of the noise and went to find a much quieter place......

I got the last garden mulched today. This is my little garden up at The Old Dairy. This garden is made up of cuttings in from my garden. Except the roses they where Mothers Day presents.

This is a close up of the rose flowering , I have a row of 4 roses along this fence.

I am off to plant some more agapanthus along the front fence. Then to pick some lettuce for tea.

I have had a lovely day having the children home and pottering around the house and garden. I feel a real renewal today, because I have taken the time to rest and play with the children.

Mandy

My Week-End

This is a photo of my darling little Cindy., who lead a very charmed life until Saturday. While we were at soccer on Saturday we came home to find that some dog had ripped her throat out. We have an idea whose dog it was, and hubby went to see them but they assured us there dog was with them all day. Except it was at our place in the morning and sitting in our shed when we got home!!!!!!!!! I'm sorry that I sound angry but I am still hurting. What a terrible way for such a beautiful animal to die. Even though Cindy was a goat she thought that she was a dog ........really.........she would jump up like the dog. Today I am so glad that I have a blog as I am able to express how I feel before I go up and see the people whose dog it is. I don't want to go up there in anger as I don't think I'm not really the nicest person when I'm angry and hurting.

Thank you for allowing me this out- burst I feel much better after venting.

I took the camera to soccer on Saturday to get these photo of No 2 & No 3 sons playing. No 3 just is so darn cute in his uniform every thing is so big on him still.

No2 son is a great soccer player he is 10 and about a foot shorter then every-one else on his team No2 got a great goal this game as he was a striker this match so he was quite pleased with himself.

Before soccer I had to get the spare room cleaned as my Mother in-law is coming to stay. How do you tell the cat he now has to share his room ?
I really am thankful for being able to ramble on like this today I promise tomorrow I won't..

Until then


Mandy

The Week-end

Look what we got this week-end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









Her name is Lily and she was only born on Friday. We have had to keep her in the house at night because it is to cold out side. The above picture is Lily in her bed in front of the fire.

Through the day she is out side and being well looked after.She has not been feeding really well,as she was one of twins and her mum rejected her so she hasn't had that first feed from her mum. This morning she is not feeding at all. I have a great neighbor that has sheep and Karen was down this morning helping me to get some sugar water into her. This is a real learning curve for miss c and I. So I'm to keep her on sugar water then tonight try and get some milk into her. So if any-one else has some tips for me I sure would appreciate it.

I didn't spend all week-end feeding Lily (just felt like it) I got yard work done, this is my new garden it is steeply sloping and so we are using logs to retain it. A slow work in progress. I got the yard mowed which is a 5 hour job with the rider and push mower but lots of clippings for the compost bin. To learn about compost go to Rhondas Blog @ down to earth I have it in my side bar. There is a tutorial on composting.

Of course with boys the week-end consists of soccer. I love to watch them play. I see a improvement in No 3 son who is 5 every week.

I hope every-one had a great week-end and looking for ward to the week ahead. I am hoping my sewing machine will be ready this week as I am starting to have with drawls it's been 4 weeks since I have sewn and so many ideas running around in my head.