Easter Break......

After many hours of unpicking and resewing the top is finished.

I didn't mind the unpicking though, it is one of those things that your fingers do

on their own and your mind wonders and you can dream.

This quilt will be Robbie's. The blocks were done many years ago and have been sitting in the cupboard waiting to be put together. When I did the class I wasn't able to get to the last one which explained how to assemble a quilt.

Now I have done those two "stack and whack" quilts I felt more capable of putting it together..

Now comes the part I love QUILTING. Later today I am going

to town to get some wadding and material to back it in and by tonight I should be quilting..

Then again judging by the grass around the place may-be I should

be mowing this afternoon instead....

The grass around the yard is green and growing, but, you can see on the hill behind

it is still looking rather dead....

With the rain we got over the week end though things

in the paddocks should start greening up as well.

We got about80mls all up.

We have a large spotlight on the veranda that Hubby only

turns on when its raining. I tried to get a photo to show you how pretty the rain looked

in the light, but this is all I could get and it not very good..you get the idea I hope...

Today is the first day of our Easter

break.

Two wonderful weeks of school holidays.

So the children are busy earning spending money.

Instead of Easter eggs the girls get tickets to the

Easter fest here in Toowoomba.

Alanah camps for the 3 days with friends

and this will be the first year I have let Cassie go on her own

with friends.Not that she will really be on here own as there are other parents there and her 2 oldest sisters, but she thinks that being able to wonder around with friends is on her own....

Alanah is cleaning the windows in the house. Boy did she get a shock when she realized that it's not just cleaning the windows but washing the curtains cleaning the fly screens and the window sill.

O! That means cleaning inside and out!!!!

She is defiantly earning her $60 as there are 23 windows in this house!!!!!

I have been out digging out weeds in the yard this morning as every thing is so wet.

I will go back out for awhile and keep digging.

I can also plant out my seedling they have grown so much..

All very exciting watching all the new growth..

Have a great day all

Mandy

Be Back In A Month........

Thank you for all the well wishes for Robbie, as you can see in this photo he

got his plaster off...........We are all very happy.

Lastnight was the last night the family will be togeather for awhile so we

celebrated Robbies B/day. His birthday is next Thursday on the 7th.

The money he has in his hot little hands are b/day presents from his 2 big sisters.

He thinks he is pretty blessed with all the money he has.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERTSON

for Thursday.

David took this photo New Years Eve of the flame tree in our front

yard. It looks like a christmas tree dosn't it?

All the red flowers are starting to drop of and the new young leaves are comming on. I don't remember it ever looking so beatuiful.

I hope every-one had a Happy New Year.

We had family and friends around for nibblies to see in the New Year.

My big boy David left to drive home at 4am today. We all got up to wave him off, then I couldn't get back to sleep. Might be because I got my self into a bit of a state with all the

crying I was doing. Silly I know. I just don't do well being parted from him. He has been in Charters Towers for 2 yrs now and I'm still not used to it.

Karen celebrated the New Year in Germany, she is having a great time over there.

So she should this is a holiday of a life time for her.

All the Christmas decorations are all down and the tree is away for another year.

The house looks quiet bare with all the decorations down.

Every thing is cleaned and dusted though and when I get back I will

go through and put every thing back up that I took down to put the decorations up.

The caravan is all cleaned out and packed. I will take some photos of our camp to post when I get back. This after noon I will give the house a last clean up before we leave.

We had a lovely visit from our good friends on Tuesday. It was so good to see

them again, as it had been awhile. There are some people in this world that I beleive God sends into our life to make it richer and fuller. Well God sent Angie and her beatuiful family into our lives. No matter how far we are from one another I know that out 2 famlies will always keep in contact. Hubby and I think of thiese 2 beatuifull children as grandchildren, and love them to bits.

Well this will be my last post for about a month.

If I find time to drag myself of the beach I will go to the Libary

and drop in to say hello.

I will come home all reasted and inspired to start a new year.......

The children have opened there money tins while I have been blogging

to count up all there pocket money they have been saving for holidays.

Cassandra $124

Robertson $140

William $35

I think they did a great job of saving and am very proud of them,

they are also very proud of themselves as well and have learnt some life lessons

on money managment.

See you then and blessings to all

Mandy

Catch up day.........

The rain has been so good for the garden, here is the last lot of tomatoes I planted a couple of weeks ago. I have now planted out 3 lots a month apart. Hopefully this will keep me in tomatoes for a few months.

This type of vege gardening is all new to me. I think I may have mentioned before that before my Father in-law passed away I never had to worry. He was a tomato farmer and always had every other type of vege growing that he gave away to his family. Now I am having to fend for my self..





The Japanese girls all went home yesterday, lots of tears all around. I find that the students love being in the country and open space. I think we may take where we live for granted until you see it through other eyes.

Yesterday afternoon was spent up at the hospital. First we saw the doctor, and than Robbie had to get another cast on his arm, as they had only put a half one on due to the swelling. Don't you love the Christmas red he choose. Then it was down stairs to get another x-ray. Back upstairs to see the doctor again.......lots of waiting in between of course. The children where good with all the waiting. We don't have to go back until the 31st December, the doctor said that 3more weeks should be enough, so lets hope so.

After the hospital we went to target so Robbie could choose a new board game. He picked scrabble, they were up at 6 am this morning to play and are still fighting I mean playing scrabble. While in town they did their Christmas shopping for one another as well.

Remember the post I did on pocket money........well there is an update.........

After all my talk about Alanah not getting a part time job and blah,blah,blah well......ummm.....she got a job................Now in my defence it is not in town. She is working 3 mins down the road in the tomato packing shed. Alanah has worked there before over the holidays. This time though she is working full time 8.30 a.m -6p.m six days a week.... I drive her the 3mins to work and one of the neighbors drops her of on the way home........This is working for every-one. I'm not running around (I am back to doing my own baking though) she is getting some money around $400 a week which I think is very good for a 16 year old. It is long hard work with lots of people so she is learning alot working there....

I am seeing my elder children growing so quickly though. Hubby and I joke that we have two families the older ones and then the younger ones, well now I just have the younger 3 at home all day with me as the older four are all working two don't live at home any more. They are growing up to fast. I am taking each day as it comes and enjoying it, as they are growing way to fast.........

Today I have alot of house work to catch up on and hopefully if it's not to hot I will get out to the garden A nice slow day of good old fashioned work, that's how I like to spend my days.......

Have a great day every-one.......

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