A Quiet Week

Gibbo left on a CQ and Western run on Tuesday morning. With Meg gone to NSW, the house was quiet with just Drew and me in it. We had chicken for dinner three nights in a row (butter chicken, chicken kiev and chicken penne)! No beef passed our lips! How terrible!

Drew went riding and walking every day. I met him on the airstrip on Wednesday afternoon and sat down and waited for him. It was too hot to walk. We went to town Thursday afternoon and bought a new school backpack and new sandshoes.

I watched Come Dine With Me every night and became hooked. I also watched the reno shows on the Lifestyle channels and fell asleep on the couch with Coco.

We took Woofy back to the vet on Friday morning. He has been driven mad with itch from his castration op and his ears are still hurting too. The poor animal was beside himself; it appears he developed "clipper rash" from being shaved for the op. I now have some cream to apply to his scrotum and surrounding area 5-7 times a day along with still cleaning his ears out and dropping cream into them. If it's not one end it's the other but at least his frustration is relieved. The vet called him a SNAP - a "sensitive new age poodle" which I think is vet speak for "sook".

I took Drew to town Friday lunch time for Leadership Camp. All the captains, prefects and SRC's are spending the weekend at The Bunya's, planning the year ahead. He was excited and looking forward to it. Here we go; the year I've dreaded for so long is about to start. Every day brings me one step closer to the end. What then? Who knows?

Meg just rang from Tamworth; a busker was playing Bruce's "Dancing in the Dark". It brought tears to my eyes. She also rang ten minutes ago to tell me about the dream she had last night - that I was pregnant with twin girls. "That's not a dream Megan, that's a nightmare"!!!!

So today is a weird day, just Gibbo and me at home. This is what it will be like every day soon enough. He is going to play tennis at the regular Australia Day tournament, although the format is different this year as two of the country team can't play. Last year I rode my bike to town for it, but it's just way too hot to do that today - plus I haven't been on the bike for a few months. I think I'll just drop him off, do the shopping, bring it home and then go back in tonight and pick him up.

Wake Up Sunshine

Sometimes it's real hard to get this boy moving in the mornings. He crawled into bed with me this morning at 6.40 then didn't surface for another 2 hours. "Did you take a photo of me this morning Mum"? Sure did. And it's a beauty!!

This is my Main Man

We needed to take some photos of G for a promo in Korea so down we went to Q Row. This way, that way, up there, over here. The cattle just wanted to eat.

Setting Up for Permaculture

For a while now I've been keen to set up a small permaculture garden; I bought the book when we were on holidays at Nobby's in early December. I've read it right through and studied it, marked pages and re-read half it of several times. I've modified the plan to suit my needs - I haven't made a dome, I've used the round pen we already had. My mandala is half the size of the plan in the book but this will be much more manageable for me.

I mapped out the area a little while ago but the pink surveyors paint all washed away so I grabbed some orange and re-marked. I spent hours on the plan over the weekend. Gibbo brought me a loader bucket of feedlot manure and picked up 10 of the old lucerne bales and brought them to me. I spread the manure in the outside edges, layered it with lucerne, spread more feedlot manure then sprinkled it with litter.

I have a motley crew of scratchers - these are the kids that are supposed to turn the dry, dusty, sandy dirt into a thriving bed of writhing organisms that are just dying to grow the best vegetables ever - two barnies, two white wyandottes and a silver laced wyandotte. All really wild.

Every day they get a bucketful of this mix that has been fermenting in the compost bin for months. They love it.

This litter from the bottom of the chook pens goes over the top of the feedlot manure and lucerne layers.

This is the chook food we mix - 6 or 7 different grains and meal.

These are some of the other girls. They wonder what's going on.

Woofy is Sad Too

Meg is off on another adventure, back to NSW again. This time she's meeting friends then heading to Tamworth for the festival. What does one wear, she asked? Hats and boots I replied.

We packed her bags into the back of her car then turned around and saw this. I think he's sad to see her go too! He just suddenly appeared on her seat, looking bashful.

He's trying to lick her in this photo.

Poor Woofy has had a tough couple of days. He went to the vet on Friday to have his ears checked and cleaned and ended up spending the night and next day there. As well as having his very bad ears cleaned, he had two teeth and two testicles removed. The vet said he wouldn't know whether it was his mouth, his ears or his nether regions that hurt the most. Poor Woofy. Megan gave him very much love. That's why I think he wanted to go with her.

Fairy Cakes

Meg wanted to cook fairy cakes so she whipped up these yesterday from the Flo cookbook. We didn't have any cream to whip so she mixed up the sweetest, heaviest icing I have ever tasted. They were delicious but I had to drain the icing from mine!

Together Again

The boys are back from the city, glad to be home. Drew had an excellent time and I think it was good for him to spend some time on his own, exploring, soaking up the sights and sounds and having some independence.

Gibbo, Meg and I got in the pool and caught up on the happenings of the last three days from the endless rounds of meetings and discussions. The landscape is changing in the company we work for, hopefully for the better. Drew went for a bike ride then joined us in the warm water.

By the time we emerged it was too late to cook tea (that was the excuse anyway) so we went to town and had dinner at the RSL.

It's nice to have the four of us back together again, just how I like it.

Snapshot of Our Day

I was at the office late last night, waiting for cattle trucks to arrive. They arrived after 7 and didn't finish unloading until after 9pm. The boys are in the big smoke for a few days. Drew is loving it, catching the city cat to Southbank, wandering the mall, dallying in Borders and having dinner with the tour group that were here yesterday. They're from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong and told him about the carrot cake I made for them. Forget about the beef, they said, we'll buy your Mum's carrot cake! They invited him to visit China and work with them. He doesn't need much encouraging, this boy of mine who wants to travel the world RIGHT NOW.

So Meg and I are home alone with our two and four legged friends. We went to town this afternoon and she bought a cutlery set that was less than half price. She was very pleased with her purchase (can you tell). She's building a very nice collection of kitchen and house requirements for when she has that very chic and cosmopolitan apartment somewhere.

We did our regular afternoon walk around outside, checking that everyone has water on these hot days. This little one was lying in wait...

then was off like a shot, being busy busy...

I laid down on the grass and looked up and this is what popped into the viewfinder -

These two are never far away (can you see them both?)

Is she dreaming of cities far far away?

The view from the ground up...

Empty sky too..

Friends Forever...

Fluffy Friends...

and Slimey Friends...

Hanging Geraniums...

and then there's me.

The End.

My Beautiful Necklace

My beautiful new necklace arrived from Lisa Leonard and it's just what I wanted; the four of us recorded in a jumble of charms.

Megan and Friend

Megan has a lot of furry friends. This little one is on her way to Toowoomba.

But if Megan has her way, she'll be staying right here.

And, of course, a self portrait....

Sushi made Easy

Mum gave me a Sushezi for Christmas and we tried it out on the weekend. What a fantastic little machine - perfect sushi every time.

Andrew was here so he had a go as well. Easy.

Previously, while my sushi tasted pretty good, it was always very lopsided and a little untidy. Now, with the help of this little beauty, it will be just right every time.

Lazy Sundays

I woke and, as always, listened to the ABC news. Very comforting and very much part of my morning ritual, either at 5am or 6 (and sometimes 4).

Now that the steady stream of people through my house has stopped I was faced with a day in which there was nothing more to do than feed my chooks. Absolute bliss. I grabbed my book and snuck into Megan's bed and read until I fell back to sleep.

After breakfast, I read some more until I finally finished my camel book. I totally loved reading it and became immersed in it but was constantly annoyed/frustrated at the actions of the author (smugly deduced, I know, from the comfort of my lounge room or bed, wherever I happened to be reading).

Meg is making her way back from NSW, the trip only interrupted by a quick detour to DFO. She then holed up in an undercover carpark and sat out a fierce storm before continuing on. She should be here soon:)

I've done nothing more today than read, drink tea and feed the silkies. When I went out, I nearly melted. Today would have to be the hottest, muggiest day I've felt this summer. I don't usually perspire but after 20 minutes I was dripping. It showered heavily for a few minutes this morning and will surely bucket down again this afternoon. The atmosphere is thick and heavy; the clouds are dark grey and the sun is fierce.

I'm off for another cup of tea and to browse the New Zealand tramping book and dream of my own travels. Then I might have a little rest; when I wake up, Meg should nearly be here.

Resolutions??

aren't really something I do. This year I want to keep in better touch with Sylvia in Sydney. I found an article in the paper last week and liked what I read; I want to share it with the kids when we get a quiet moment. It's from the Courier-Mail but originates from author and public speaker, Andrew Griffiths.

1. Let go of the old stuff holding you back (let go)
2. Develop the habit of looking at situations from other peoples' point of view (empathy)
3. Don't be afraid to get uncomfortable (get out of your comfort zone)
4. Learn not to judge a book by its cover (be open minded)
5. Step up and take responsibility for your life (if you have an issue, deal with it)
6. Remember to stop and celebrate along the way (don't be too hard on yourself)
7. Stop comparing yourself to others (forget the possessions)
8. If you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas (look at the people in your life)
9. Do more of the things that rock your boat (make a list of the things you love to do)
10. Self Improvement (invest in yourself emotionally, physically and financially)

That's not a bad list of goals to aim for. If everyone achieved even half of the things on the list we'd be a happier world.

What else do I want to do? This year I want to see Meg settled somewhere and I want to guide Drew through to the end of Grade 12. In a few weeks he'll be back at school and when I turn around next, he'll be finished. I can't really see myself beyond November 2010 - most of the last 20 years has been devoted, totally, to M&D; I'm going to have to re-invent/rediscover myself at some stage.

What else do I want to do?
1. Get back on my bike
2. Keep swimming
3. Get the permaculture thing happening
4. Finish the photo book from NZ 07 (has been finished since 07, just needs words)
5. Go walking, even if it's just around here, before building to a bigger challenge
6. Keep blogging
7. Develop a stream of income independent of our current employer, something I can take with me no matter where we go
8. Buy a laptop (apple) and get mobile wireless broadband so I can blog and surf and run an internet business anywhere, anytime

That will do for now. Goodnight. Camel trekking across the Sahara is beckoning - so is that cup of tea and patty cake!

A New Year Dawns

Hello 2010. What do you have in store for me over the next 363 days?

The last of our visitors have left; after 8 days of hosting, I am on my own. The boys have gone to the movies; I had stuffed eggs and chicken for tea and I'm about to make a cup of tea and have one of these little beauties.

The DJ's came to stay yesterday, arriving just in time for lunch. It was really nice to have them here, to laugh and reminisce and catch up. I spent the afternoon cooking and talking to Rachel over our big wooden kitchen bench. I made stuffed eggs, mars bar slice (Andrew's favourite) and these little patty cakes, topped with farmyard animals. This little chick is the only one left. We had prawns and wagyu for tea, along with wombok salad and home-made rissoles. We also had some honey sticks, something that I think will become a staple part of our entertaining menu.

The kids (young and not so young) swam and swam. Today we chilled, watched a movie, talked lots more about our kids, finances and the future. They left about 5pm. Then a carload of people came to drop someone off after the local races. We talked outside for ages. Now, all is quiet - sshhh - hear the silence...

Andrew's Wrens

Andrew took these brilliant photos of wrens at Longreach with his Canon 50D, 100-400 lens with the extension tube on. Brilliant I say.