Monday Blues....

I have a case of the Monday Blues..

All started good this morning, I 

got  up for a walk in the cool of the morning, then some watering to try and keep the plants alive.

Then down to feed and water all my chooks....That's when I realized there was something wrong,

There wasn't any chooks just poor Rocky the rooster, surrounded by feathers.

All of my hens are gone my sweet girls taken by a fox.

So my week has not started well, on top of that there  is

a very hot wind blowing just sapping the energy and life out of the vege garden.

These photos were all taken in the cool of the evening yesterday but already things are looking wilted.

I am saving seeds at the moment but this garden is nearly ready to come out.

If this heat keeps up I'm not sure if it's worth planting anything else.

Some days I wonder if it worth all the heartache that comes with having animals 

and trying to grow your own food.

Mandy

Spring is in the air......

 

 

 

Good morning and what a beautiful morning it is here in sunny Queensland....I can feel the warmth of the sun on my back as I sit at my dinning room table blogging.

 

 

 

The weather has been perfect this last week and I think Spring has arrived a week earlier.

All we need now is some spring rain as my tanks are getting empty, we are on the emergency supply..I have become the water police walking around in the evening mumbling 3 min showers that's it, hair washing in the laundry....My new backpackers that arrived yesterday think I'm nuts...hahaha

 

 

I would like you to meet my new cooking companion, Web. Boy is teaching me a whole new way of cooking..Throw a roast on the barby or a chicken or 2, a potato bake some fish whatever, walk away do some gardening come in wash your hands, set the table, make a salad and presto Web has cooked dinner for me....Last night we had Roast pork, potato bake and salad...Yummmmmoooo

I admit he doesn't look real pretty sitting here on my veranda, but I have decided to let him stay as he is so handy...I'm yet to try pizza on Web I'll keep you updated...Does any one else cook there meals on the barby????

 

Only 3 more sleeps to Chloe's wedding.........and 3 more sleeps until I see my big boy David and Karen. Yep I am getting excited....touched with sadness....

The sadness comes from knowing I will be walking Chloe down that aisle when really my Greg should be here to walk his first daughter down...We talked about this for so many years...There has been a lot of tears from me this week as the hole in my heart seems to have split open again with the wanting of Greg here. I know he will be here in our hearts and minds, but some times that's not enough.

 Sorry for that bit of rambling but those of you that have followed my blog will under stand......I know that Saturday will be touched with a little of that sorrow but Greg would want us to be happy and celebrate his daughters wedding the way he would, and Greg knew how to celebrate.....

 

 

Blessings to you All

Mandy

Hello All...

and a big thank you to those that replied to me about painting my kitchen cabinets.

My first being from my daughter via a text which read...(Do not I repeat do not paint the kitchen cabinets white)hmmmm looks like I will be leaving them as is. Keeping them clean was a major concern and hearing how some of you have trouble I think the wood will be staying...

sewing nook to the left of door way.

and yet here I am acquiring more wooden pieces. I have always wanted a set of small drawers in my bedroom for all of my accessories(slight obsession here I blame my Mother for it)I mean a drawer for each colored bangles, earrings, necklaces, scarves etc , I great idea for storing them all. I picked this beauty up from a shop in Gatton..I always imagined an old chippy  one but hey I could let the boys at it and that would fix the problem...

Any ways (is that a word) until I get to paint it white to go in my bedroom I thought I would bring it inside....well it is heavy and this is as far as it got, just inside the back door. I'm sorry the photo doesn't do it justice above.

Guess what.....I love this piece here, I won't be painting it at all not with 20 drawers any way. As yet I don't know what I will store in it I'm thinking as it is near my sewing nook it will be good for craft stuff.

I guess this means I'm still looking for one for my bedroom.

I am off to craft this morning at the local hall, I didn't get there at all last year and really lost touch with a lot of the ladies so I  have made a decission.. Spend more time with people whose company I enjoy. What I mean is, time for me is the last thing I do, including being with people I love and whose company I enjoy..The last few years family and friends have all taken a back seat to work, things are going to change. Yes I have to run a business and put food on the table and pay bills, but I also need a life.

 Balance.

This is what it's all about balancing out time with friends, family and work.

Enjoy your day

Mandy

Rantings.......

 How was your week end????

I have been catching up and it seems you all had a good one...

Saturday saw us up and out the door to kickboxing, when 8 of us got out of the car they thought it was rent-a-crowd.hahahha

The boys loved it, Robbie 6along and William 7 along in shorts and singlet..They got right into it. Me lets just say say I may walk every morning for an hour but I am so not fit...But I am going to be yes sirree just you wait..

 I just want to say this is NOT a mid life crises just a good old fashioned mental break down. Body break down more like it, my back is aching and I do have muscles in my tummy after all.so sore I am sooooooo sore. May be 46 is to old to try kickboxing.

I have been thinking about this....getting old thing...My sore aching body and my wardrobe got me thinking.

Now your wandering how my wardrobe got into this..Let me try to explain...While looking for something to wear to church I realized some thing about my clothes.....They're boring....and I don't know when this happened..I used to wear bright happy clothes....

I have a theory...

With every thing that has gone on in the last few years I have become a bit of a worrier....I never used to worry about what people thought about me, but since Greg died and I have been working I worry about  what so and so thinks. I know I'm probably rambling a bit here sorry.....but I have changed and not for the better....

What to do?

I am going to stop worrying, I will have bright red hair if I want it.

I will wear bright loud clothes if I choose.

And I will dam well do kick boxing at 46 and be proud of the fact that I have the guts to have a go.

I am going to live MY life the way I choose to and not how others think I should...

No more playing it safe and NO MORE BLACK...

OK that's it ranting over...

Thanks for listening

Mandy

Lifes Pathway....Where are you taking me?

The photo at the top of my blog is a picture of how my life has been.....I am crossing a bridge in life and I don't know where it will go...

Life is a journey and I feel that my journey is about to turn another corner...

As most of you know since I lost Greg last year I have been running our Auto Elec business in Toowoomba.

Going from a stay at home Mum to a working Mum has had it's challenges never mind also being a single Mum, as one lady bluntly pointed out to me....The most challenging is not having enough time with the children.

Well it looks like the business is going to be sold..

We put it on the market 2 years ago when Greg first got sick. Now though I am getting cold feet, it will be like losing another part of Greg all over again when it is gone.....I have always joked that just when I've learnt every thing about the business and start enjoying being there it will sell.....How true those words were.

I am thankful that I am a Christian and I know that life doesn't throw any thing at me I can't handle...most days that's all you have to hang on to...I also know I have a God that loves and cares for me......So why am I worried? because I am a woman and that's what I do..I do look forward to the days when I can spend more time with my younger children as Will is growing up way to fast. Robbie is in high school next year and Cassie in grade 10....

So........I am going to believe that what ever happens Sell or Not sell it will be the best path for the children and I......Hmmmmmm I think they call that faith....

Thanks for listening to my rambling

Blessings

Mandy

A Bridge to cross.....

This last week I have been busy with life...
Sometimes the real world world comes knocking on your door and you can't keep it out any more. You know work, home, children, family commitments and the list goes on..........The picture above sums up my life at the moment. I know I am crossing a bridge into the unknown, scary hey. Well it could be but I have decided not be scared. Instead I am going to cross over and face head on what is on the other side...Who knows it could be exciting and we all need a bit of excitement in our lives..
I'll be back later in the week....

Blessings
Mandy

A pity party......

I am missing my life. Now I know that seems a strange statement to make so let me explain.. Each morning I wake up and rush and get ready to go to the workshop, then it is all a blur until it's time to get the children from school. Then there is some shopping to do for tea, rush home help with homework and get tea ready... Today I have stopped...........

I don't even recognize myself any-more. I have run out of hand made soap and I love making soap......Baking ha, these days I don't have time. Gardening double ha and as for sewing, what's that??? Now you see why I called this post "Pity party" cause boy am I feeling awfully sorry for myself. I suppose I am missing my old life, my life as Greg's wife or as he used to joke Mrs Happy Homemaker.. I know that life never stays the same, because life is a journey. It's just that I feel that I am being forced along this path and I can't go back.

So things have to change...I know there are so many working Mums out there and you all manage to juggle every-thing, well give me some tips....

I do know that as a Christian God is in control of my life, and I also am a firm believer in that good will come from every situation, I just can't seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and when I do see it, it happens to be an oncoming train.......

I need to get myself into a healthier routine...I'm thinking......I will try going into work later in the day so a get a couple of hours in at home first..I know that as I'm learning more I am getting work done faster at the shop, and I need to be there over lunch time. I will see how the next week goes as I try this... I am feeling better already after having a rant.....Thanks for listening not that you had a choice....lol

Above is the 20 sleepers I got on Monday, soon they will be a lovely retainer wall around the septic pit. See how green the grass is after the wonderful rain we have had...This week-end I will get out and pull some weeds while the ground is still damp. I also have to learn how to use the wiper sniper, now I don't have any luck with this piece of machinery as I can never get it started and if I do the string breaks against the sandstone edging....I think may-be I should invest in a smaller one instead of trying to use Greg's big one...I'll give it another shot , but don't be surprised to see me in the Bunnings on Saturday afternoon.....

Have a safe and blessed week-end

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

Shopping and driving.....and then more driving.

Shopping day again today... I have made a decision to go back to fortnightly shopping...

So today was a big shop and then when home I had to rotate tins in the pantry.

I have my menu planned for the next 2 weeks so i am pretty organized there. By shopping fortnightly I know I am going to save alot more money, and I won't feel like I'm always in town and that darn car.

Here is an example of my week....

Mon- home.....

Tues- home.....

Wed- Take Alanah to TAFE...

do shopping come home, back to town at 5pm to pick up from TAFE
Thurs-Town for soccer practice....

Fri- Town to pick Robbie from Community Kids.

Sat town for soccer.

Sun-town for church....

SEE........I'm always going to town........so some changes are going to happen..soccer will be finished in 3 weeks so that will cut out 2 days....shopping fortnightly will help but the rest I have to do...

O.K so I am SOOOOOO over shopping and driving as you can tell....I can here my son saying"put a teaspoon of cement in your coffee Mum and harden up"....I hear you David.....

Plus I don't seem to have enough time to blog so something has to give doesn't it as one must get her priorities right......

Thanks for listening to the ranting of a

Slowly being DRIVEN insane MUM..

One of those days!!!!!!!!!

You know the ones..........they start bad the night before. When I got the children from school yesterday Robbie came limping to the car, he'd hurt his ankle in football. Well we went to soccer practice and at 6p.m when it was finished and it was time to go home...........flat battery in the car, no problem I'm married to a auto elect I'll ring hubby.......great left the phone at home, and hey! what can Greg do any way as he can't drive. Plan 2...... brother in-law is also a auto electrician, rescued at last.....

Today.....

Started out with coffee in my favorite cup...Yep today is going to be a good day!!!!!!

Wrong.........

Poor Robbie can't even walk on his foot....Get other 3 of to school, make sure Greg is O.K for a few hours then of to the doctor.....We got in by 9a.m then of to x-ray then back to doctors only 11a.m by this time........good news his foot is not broken just torn tendons and badly bruised..... You have to imagine this as they won't let me take a photo to share....Greg and Robbie getting around with walking sticks!!!!!!!

Time for another cuppa.....

Then out to bring in a load of wood........feed the chickens and collect 12 eggs as they are laying well at the moment........Off to MIL for afternoon tea......Alanah and William have both come home sick......Will with his asma and Alanah with a head cold....Half way through my cuppa Greg rings to tell me I must have left a gate open as there are cows in the yard....Right every-one in the car...... race home. Chase cows out of yard....By this time I am pretty cranky do you know why? cause I left the gate open.... I may look strange yelling at my-self for leaving it open(but I do any-way) As I walk around to inspect the damage I want to cry.....the beef steaks have eaten ALL my cabbages, lettuce and broccoli........again I yell at my self for being so stupid..

Now.......

I am going to make a cup of coffee in my favorite cup, take it to bed and read my book...Tomorrow when I wake up the world will be a happy place because it is Saturday....I should be taking the boys to soccer, but as one is sick and one has a sore foot instead I can stay home and paint some out door furniture and be thank full for a full Saturday at home.....

So.........how was your day?????????

Running on empty.......

At least that's how I'm feeling...

Maybe it's that it is nearly mid year and I know that

I usually feel ready for a break at this time of year.

I am tired and am not getting any where most days.

These photos are of the boys room and no only two are in there not six.

I have not seen that floor for 2 weeks I kid you not, and the rest of the house isn't much better.

I have taken the sheets of the bed to wash, at lest I'm on top of the laundry.

So there you have it the real me mess and all, I have been working on the lounge room and family room this morning and they are

looking better..I don't cope real well when there is mess all around,which

probably explains why I am feeling so over whelmed..

What with assignments, exams,homework and not getting home real

early when we have been to the hospital it is all getting a bit.....well much...

Exams finish this week so that will be a bit of breathing space, and

then next week is the last week of school.

When Greg gets out of hospital you won't get me in that car again

for a long time as I'm sick of driving. It is a 40 min trip from here to the hospital each day

and so some days I am spending 2 hours in the car if I get the children

from school and take them back to visit dad.

Sorry that this post is a bit of a rant, but hey, please tell me others

have bad times to, I suppose that's life isn't it the

ups and downs. When I can see the boys floor then I'm

sure I'll also see that light at the end of the tunnel....

Blessings to all.......

Mandy