How I Keep Up

This is how I manage to keep up with where I'm up to with sliprail and 365 - A LIST. I love lists; I use them all the time for all manner of things. For the first two weeks that Meg was gone I was able to keep track of everything in my head or on sticky notes - but then her emails started coming thick and fast; Gibbo went overseas and Drew's missives kept coming - so I started recording. Now each time an email arrives, a photo collection appears on facebook or something incredibly exciting (!?) happens in my life, I write it here first...........and then I blog and 365 it! There. Everything organised and orderly. JUST HOW I LIKE IT!!

Back Again

Hi kids, I'm back again with the rest of the Photos from Home.........I guess you know what's coming hey? I couldn't do a post about home without showing you the four leggers could I?

While Gibbo was outside with his chooks he let Peach out. She went berserk. Later in the afternoon, when MF visited, she was standing up on her back legs and trying to bunt him.

 Poor Peppie was tied to the tree so that Peach wouldn't stray too far.

 If she strayed too far she quickly came back.

 Peppie had an itch that needed scratching.

 Peachy's winter coat is very brown and thick. Someone needs to brush it!

It looks like Poofy has his nose in Chloe's butt! Unfortunate photo angle!

 Oh huwwo Mare....whatchu doin! What's dat fing you got dere?? Give me closer look hey?

 It was hard to get a pic of them all together!

 Oh heyyy, look what I found - I found a hole....I wonder what's in it?

 Maybe I'll try a little deeper...............

 Hmmm nothing.............

 Maybe if I change paws.....oh hey Poofy, how goes it? Look, I found a hole.......wanna have a go?

 Nah, nuthin' in the hole...........oh hey, what's dat up dere...............I so HUNGY I could eat a..............

Letters From My Mother

Hello Meg and Drew,

I took a walk around yesterday morning, taking photos to send you both because I know how much you like getting reminders of home. Last night we had a meal of surprisingly good packaged Peking Duck - you can afford to do this sort of thing when there's only two of you at home!

And check this out - my first two strawberries!! I had the beautifully formed one and gave Gibbo the gnarly looking one. They were both very sweet and tasty.

 So I started my walk on the verandah. Looks just the same hey?

 The weekend just gone is the last weekend of Winter! Soon the white cedar trees will begin to leaf up - and bring the grubs.

 The top left corner is still as wild as it was when you left.

 These are the two silkie pullets that were going to the big city to live - but thanks to a visit by Reynard last night, they went to the big chookhouse in the sky. I chose two more smaller pullets to send with Gibbo today to the good folk at mudpiehomer.blogspot.com. In all the drama this morning I neglected to take a photo of the two other little ones before they left on their journey.

 In the permaculture garden - not a lot has happened over the Winter. The eschallots are still there.

 The italian parsley never stops growing.

 The coriander has gone to seed.........

As have the biggest, oldest eschallots.

 The wild rocket has - well - gone wild! I cut a stem each morning for the black and the white silkies and the barnies. They love it!

 There's more strawberries out there.

The poor tomato plant that has kept itself going all Winter with minimal (none) attention is still doing its' best to deliver.

I mixed feed, a regular weekend activity - and I didn't even have any help from a certain goat!

Here's Princess Coco, giving me the evil eye because I won't feed her warmed chicken mince and milk for breakfast or waffle, honey and icecream for dessert like Grandma does....

And here's the other end of the scale, it's the happiest dog in the world again, Poofy.

Here's the barnie rooster, looking regal and in charge.

And here's the beautiful soft, fluffy bums of the black silkies. Aren't they beautiful?

And yes Meg, that's your car parked on the GRASS. It wasn't me who put it there!

I have more reminders of home for you but they will have to wait until tomorrow.

Love and Miss You Both, an Awful Lot,

Momma

Stoph's Birthday

Chris turned 24 yesterday. I put some money in Meg's bank account and the four kids went out for dinner. I haven't posted a photo of one of his presents - it's a bit risque and not for family viewing!! Happy Birthday Christoph - and remember, VIRGO'S RULE!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all,

Stoph had a very happy 24th birthday and said to say thankyou to all for your well wishes!!!

We had to make do with what we had, so his birthday presents were wrapped in maps of Rome and for sticky tape we used baggage tags from our flight from Athens.

I bought him his favourite cologne (duty free) and Mitch and Tameeka bought him a XXXX shaped bottle opener (made of wood so that he has to declare it), some rosary beads and a gladiator helmet keyring!

We had dinner at a cool restaurant and then had tiramisu overlooking the Coliseum!  Love, Meg