Shop Open

Welcome to 2015

This year I have to decided to follow my dream of opening a shop.

Today is my first day.
A while ago I read a Quote that said
"If you are not doing what you LOVE
then you are wasting your life"

Now I love my life and all that I do. I enjoy craft, soap making, candle making, shopping at op shops and all these fun things.
So why not continue to do this on a wider scale.

I have really enjoyed getting back and doing the markets so opening a shop is a extention of this.
It's a hobby really, that I have so much fun doing that I can fill a shop, so I have!!!!

I won't be open every day just Thursday - Saturday 9:30 -4:30.
We will see what the new year brings and I am going to enjoy my little shop.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

Mandy

My First Week Home.

What a week, I've stopped and been smelling the roses. hahaa

 

 

I have been working though. Now I did think about tidying up my new office before I showed it to you but the truth is...

it was just to hard! There is paper work every where and I'm still trying to unpack files so here it is in all it's messy glory.

 

I am loving having this as my own space.

My view from my desk. How I love being able to work at home, down the steps and I'm here in my little office.

 

I have been getting the last of July's statements out in between gardening. I do get a little side tracked and go out to do some weeding, then back in for more book work.

 

 

Behind the hedge is my office, a nice walk to work every day,lol.

 

 

The nasturtium's are taking over this garden so I've been out there this morning pulling them all out. I found a rose in there not looking very good. Hopefully now it can see the sun it will come back.

 

 

Looking forward to getting back to blog land I've missed it.

 

Have a blessed week end

Mandy

Time for a Break....

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words for my last post...I am feeling a bit better now, not as sore. As if kick boxing isn't enough I got an email yesterday saying that they are starting Yoga at the Hall on Monday night..Hhahahaha I'm thinking

Saturday get all your aggression out then on Monday go along and learn to relax. hmmm not sure about the yoga, last time I tried it I loved the exercise part but the chanting bit no way. Do any off you ladies do Yoga and what do you think???

 Above is my workshop, somewhere I spend way to much time. I was there a lot through the school holidays.

SOOOOOOO tomorrow we are going to the Gold Coast. We have never had a holiday there, ever. On Friday we are going to Dreamworld..... last time I went was 25 years ago when David was a toddler.We are all looking forward to it. 

We'll catch up at the beach....

Mandy

Dreaming........

Hello all........ how is Thursday finding you?

It is actually raining here in my part of the world, and cold. I am all rugged up as the workshop is cold....really cold...

Yes I'm at work...dreaming about my garden at home and how lovely it is all looking at the moment...Well yesterday really when the sun was shinning and I took theses photos.

The very first photo is of my hippeastrums which I have had for years, I actually got them from my Mum's garden. They are looking stunning at this time of year when they flower..I almost forget they are there and then there they are in all there glory.

I love it when I have every thing in flower and I can pick vases of fresh flowers in the house.

Still waiting for my beautiful girl Jess to have here baby...Between you and me I am sure I was never pregnant this long it seems like years....

Well I had better get back to work

after a quick catch up of some blogs that is...

Blessings to all

Mandy

A Quick Hello........

Life is just way to busy at the moment. Who's isn't?????

See that bus in the back ground well I have been doing way to much driving in it this year. School bus runs aghhhhhhh, I do enjoy it though it's just always a rush to get from work down home to do the run.

Work has been so busy......which is good news, no buyers around though, but that is fine. I have finally accepted that I am meant to run an Auto Elect shop..OK so it took a while to sink in lol. By the way any Auto Elects out there looking for a job???????????My managers wife had a stroke 3 weeks ago and he is having to finish work to help look after her. Ian has been such a blessing to me since Greg got sick and I am going to miss him very much....Not to mention his knowledge about the shop that's something I will never get back..

I will try to get back to blogging soon though.

My thoughts and prayers are with all my dear friends in N.Z we are thinking of you here in the Storey house hold....

Blessings to all

Mandy

Time at home.........

Alanah sent me this photo of herself and I had to share it with you all. Doesn't she look so happy? I must say I like the little hat you are wearing Lana. Now we can all see how well you are doing.I have had a lovely week catching up on house work, cooking and gardening, not to mention mowing. Tomorrow I will get in and make some soap as I ran out awhile ago and miss it so much. The next four weeks will be busy as Alex my right hand man at work will be on holidays, so I was meant to have this quiet week at home. In fact I told them I won't be in tomorrow and I came home at lunch time today after doing the wages....
What have I done this afternoon...just pottering around in the garden....
As you can see it is still wet and great weeding weather. Until next time,
Blessings
Mandy

The House of Horrors.....

From this..................To this.............

Yep the whole room has been ripped out, every day when I get home there is more bad news and mess..The good news though is the white ants have not touched the original part of the house only this back extension...So when it is all finished there will be no damage to the house at all it will be like new again....I just have to keep telling my self this as the cost goes up...As the builder said this is as bad as it will get, from now on it will start to get rebuilt...

At times though I have felt like packing up and moving....sell the lot and start again, it is very tempting , so any-one want to by a farm with a renovators delight...

O.K enough of that lets talk about food.....
We have decided to take a world trip....in food that is..

Miso soup
We started in India with Lamb Korma ymmmmm. Last night was Japanese, we didn't do the sushi thing as we eat that often. Instead we started with Miso soup followed by Chicken Yakatori (below)now on the plate you can see some white blobs...I forget what they are called as the packet is all in Japanese. Our last lot of students brought them over with them, you boil them for about 7mins and have them with soy sauce and sugar. They went well with the chicken. Tonight we are heading over to Germany for Spinach Strudel..This travelling was the children's idea and we are having fun looking for food to make from different countries...



Today I'm heading to work as the spare parts man is away and I have been manning that as well this week. Learning lots any way, now know the difference between an regulator and starter motor....impressive ay!

Blessings
Mandy

Alanah is there......

Bye Alanah....

Look at that smile would you, here's a girl that knows want she wants...

Alanah rang at 2:50p.m today which is 11:50 am her time as she is 15 hours behind us. All is well and she is safe at Will and Sarah's in Canada. All went well and she had a good trip over there, I'll ring her in a few days to see how she is going...O! and Alanah we all agree you should start a blog so we can keep up with all you are doing....Meanwhile back in the real world......white ants....that's right those silent destroyers....My family room has had a little trouble with them and there are walls and window trims being replaced. The whole house is in a mess but for a good reason, as it is something that has to be done..
The window and door trims had been done in pine and the white ants seemed to enjoy it. Thankfully none of the original house has been touched just the family room we added on about 10 years ago.Look at the bright side this room did need a face lift as is was looking tired and worn.. I have decided to close in the far window as that is the spare room and will give alot more privacy. I do love the colour of this room though so will probably paint it a similar colour to what it is now. I have had new curtain material sitting in the sewing room for ages so I'll get in and make them up.

Work is going well I have had a couple of keen lookers so keep those prayers going for the workshop to sell. Sales are picking up and last month was the best month we have had in the last 12 months. I am still finding doing the wages a challenge though, there has to be a simpler way to do them...I will ask my I.T. lady when she comes next week to do the tax.

So life is moving on slowly here and we just take one day at a time, changes left right and centre, but life is good isn't it...

Blessings

Mandy

Meet my visitors......

First meet the girls...Yamane, Sarsuki & Orie

Now Meet the boys..... Naoya, Kazuhei & Yoshihiro..The girls went home Sunday at 8am and the boys got here at 11am...Yes it is crazy busy around here, but a good busy.We have a break for a few days then we get the next visitors' William spying on the boys in there room to see what they are up to. Never know what you can learn....

I thought I would show you my workshop and where I spend alot of my time these days. Now if you were thinking of a nice clean shop I am about to disappoint you.

Just a massive shed with my desk in a corner for the office. O and the fan is my air conditioning not real good for our hot weather we have. Work has been very busy which is good, and I am learning more every day..

Tomorrow we will be busy covering school books and getting them all organized...It won't be long and all the children will be back at school..Thank you for the wonderful comments and well wishes for Alanah...

Blessings

Mandy

Back to work..

Back to work yesterday, and what a big day. I suppose i have been gone for 3 weeks and there's lots of catching up to do.

These two photos are of a Hibiscus plant a got yesterday for the new deck. They are called "disco belle" The flowers are so big and beautiful, that I couldn't leave them there.The plant itself is a dwarf hibiscus so will do really well in pots.
I got this sweet table and chair setting from my local hardware man, but the plants and pots are from Bunnings. I don't want to put to much on the deck as it is really for the clothesline and we don't want sheets and plants fighting...

In the evening this is where you'll find me sitting. The old clothesline goes next week, and I will soon be planting in the garden around the cubby house. I do love to have different sitting areas for different times of the day and yes even different seasons.

Work again today, I am still enjoying work and the challenges it brings in running a workshop. There is still some small changes to be made to run it more efficiently but I'm getting there.

Have a great day all...

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

A late start on the Spring cleaning...

Every morning when I wake up this is what I see out my bed room window. I make a cup of coffee and sit here at this window to have my quiet time and think about the day ahead.

This last week-end there has been much to think about... After the dust storms of the last 10 days the out side of the house needed a good wash down...So Friday saw us with the high pressure cleaner, brooms and to work we went, we scrubbed and washed windows and cleaned the outdoor furniture.

Now as you have probably realized I am the kind of person that when I clean I also rearrange the furniture..yes even outside...All my outdoor plants where looking very tired so I planted them in the garden and got a heap of new ones..Brought this little table and chairs up from the courtyard added some cushions and we now have lunch out here.....

Saturday was a hard day for me as it was the 3rd which means Greg has been gone for a month,I woke at 1a.m and just couldn't get back to sleep, I finished a book I had been reading and at 5 a.m went and sat on my nice clean rearranged veranda..Thinking of how much I have been loved by Greg and how very much I miss him, in fact it is getting harder each day. Silly me I thought it would get easier.. Saturday night was my nephews engagement party, Chloe took the children and I stayed home as I am just not yet ready to be going out yet....

Sunday was spent with Jessica as she came home for the party...A nice lazy day..I did go to the Sunday markets in the morning and got some more plants for the courtyard..I moved the direction of the table and planted some citrus trees in pots. I have lots of young geranium plants out here as well so when they grow it will have a real Mediterranean feel to the area...

This rose is Crepascle, it looks stunning against the purple wall, this is what I look out to from the lounge room.

What did you get up to on the week end????

Tomorrow I am of to the work shop...I have worked out how to juggle things...Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursdays will be spent at the workshop...Friday, Saturday,Sunday and Monday will be at home...This seems to be the way I will go. The people that was looking at buying the business has decided not to...That is fine, I am not worried as I know that it is all in Gods hands, he can see the big picture I can't...

Blessings to all

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