The Barefoot Bride

The Happiest Place on Earth!!!!

2012-01-30T13:19:00.002+10:00

And it most certainly is! I skipped, danced and sang my way around the land of the Mouse. And yes, I probably embarrassed my family to boot. But that's okay, you are allowed to act like a child sometimes. And I acted like one a fair bit - I squealed, I aahed, I bounced from foot to foot in anticipation, I even let out a few whoops every now and then. In my head I kept saying, "I'm here! I'm

Going to America.

2012-01-25T14:06:00.000+10:00

This is going to take a number of weeks to get my adventures out there - darn wet weather is playing havoc with the internet so bear with me. And I can't promise my posts will be short, either. We had a great time and met some lovely people and saw some wonderful sights. It was literally the trip of a lifetime, one that we had saved up for for over a year and went without a lot of things to be

I'm Back!

2012-01-21T01:07:00.000+10:00

Can you tell where I went? I went to Disneyland. And did a Disney cruise from L.A to Mexico. It was so cool!!!! We were away for a very long 7 and a bit weeks. But it's so good to be home. I missed my dogs so much. School goes back next week and I've got gazillions of photos on the memory cards (5 full cards) to sort through. Next week I hope to have some pictures to share and stories of my

Christmas Tree oh Christmas Tree...

2011-11-30T06:13:00.002+10:00

I love having the Christmas tree up. I usually have a couple up around the house. There is the main one, plus a couple of small ones scattered here and there. I'm the tinsel person and I don't like letting anyone else do it. I thank Prince Albert for introducing the custom to us.

On My Mind...

2011-11-25T11:58:00.000+10:00

On my mind today is Goofy. I aim to get as many photos taken with the fellow as I can on my trip. It's very important for me, you see. That was my nickname from my dad as a kid. Dad has alzheimers and is in a nursing home and doesn't remember who I am. I'm okay with that (most of the time) though, because I know it's not really 'him' there. It's another man. If that makes sense at all. Anyway,

No More Dreaming Of A White Christmas

2011-11-24T13:39:00.000+10:00

We leave for Disneyland very soon. The countdown has begun in earnest. I'm so excited that I think I'm becoming unbearable to those who know me (and probably even those who don't!) We will also go on a Disney cruise to Mexico where the weather will be not that different to what we're used to here. And we will have a white Christmas, too. Plus renew our vows in Vegas with Elvis. There are lots

Another beautiful soul lost to the world...

2011-11-22T21:25:00.000+10:00

I have seen many stories about this man. I wish there were more in our world like him.

Just for fun...

2011-11-16T13:54:00.000+10:00

I love the Muppets and I love Bohemian Rhapsody. What a great way to combine both! I watch this weekly with the kids and we never fail to get a laugh.

A lazy Sunday morning...

2011-11-13T13:00:00.000+10:00

I love Sunday mornings. A trip to the markets, a drive by the beach, a walk through the park. What a wonderful life we have here in the tropics! Looking from the museum towards the city with Castle Hill in the background. The Strand. A beautiful place for a walk, to eat, to swim (as long as you're inside the swimming enclosures during jellyfish season. Then don't forget to stop by the

On My Mind...

2011-11-11T07:38:00.000+10:00

Remembrance Day. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month. We will remember.

Readying for next year's harvest

2011-11-10T06:01:00.000+10:00

There were some things that I grew this year that didn't work out as I had hoped or I just didn't like. There are things that have done really well and I'll continue to grow - like the zucchini and eggplant. But I will give the celery a miss - it's too water-hungry and I can't manage to keep the water up to it outside of the wet. Next year I'll be planting these as well. Hopefully they will go

Are we there yet????

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000+10:00

I'm trying to get the dogs into the holiday spirit! It seems to me like a certain boy does not share my enthusiasm.

Cyclone Season

2011-11-07T17:42:00.000+10:00

Earlier this year we were graced with the presence of Cyclone Yasi. If I said I wasn't scared, I'd be a liar! That season is now almost upon us and lessons have hopefully been learnt. It is time to start getting our cyclone kit ready, readying our home and property and stocking up on supplies for inevitable floods and power outages. I do like cyclones; I think the power of Mother Nature is

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

2011-11-02T07:35:00.000+10:00

My orchids have been in flower for almost a week. Surely we are bound to get some rain soon??? It's funny, though, earlier this year we were having days of 100mm falls and I was wishing the rain away! We humans never seem to be happy with what nature gives us, are we?

It's not ALL for me!

2011-10-31T16:27:00.000+10:00

I promise! And they're not for Halloween, either. They're for family and for gifts when we go to America. That's what I told the lady at the checkout when I bought 12 multi packs today (I got a bit of a look like "gee, you must really like chocolate"). Now I've got to put them under lock and key so I don't eat them before we leave. And I can't forget to leave without saying a big THANKYOU!!!!

Close to bursting...

2011-10-26T18:30:00.000+10:00

I'm going to Disneyland. I'm so excited. My whole existence lately has been focussed on Mickey and pals and I've been devouring Disney-related everything on the web. It's ridiculous! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Mickey_-_Fantasia.jpg I'm having the dream holiday of my childhood. I won't tell you when I'm going though, it's soon, but not too soon. I'll surprise you with lots and

On This Day...

2011-10-17T00:05:00.001+10:00

Ten years ago, you came into our world. You were yellow, but you were so beautiful. You still are. I love you more than you can ever know. I wish nothing but the very best for you. Even though we don't always see eye-to-eye, you will always be my Baby Boy. Happy birthday, Little Man. "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)"The Dixie Chicks Dragon tales and the "water is wide" Pirates sail and Lost Boys fly

On My Mind...

2011-10-14T13:28:00.001+10:00

I had always promised The Princess that when she was 12 we would travel to Paris together. Just her and I. It won't be happening anytime soon, but one day... source - unknown (I copied it from a Picassa album but I forgot to save the addres - my sincerest apologies to the owner of the photo)

Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth closed...

2011-10-10T21:13:00.000+10:00

I talk for a living. That's just the way it is. Sometimes I get sick of the sound of my own voice. And I'm sure my own children would say they get sick of me talking too - even when I'm not working! The Princess is going through that dreaded "tween" stage (what a ridiculous notion made up by marketing 'experts' I reckon), and sometimes it proves to be a real challenge. Especially in the age of

On My Mind...

2011-10-07T06:28:00.013+10:00

It will be nearly two years since my nana died. I miss her so much. After she died, I went through the house with some of my aunts and thought about some of the things I wanted to keep before the rest of the contents were donated to the Salvation Army. I got a little glass eye bath, her beside travel clock, my old doll that used to sit on the spare bed (that is missing one eye and has scraggly

Dinner on a budget

2011-10-06T12:27:00.000+10:00

The kids and I watched Food Inc. over the school holidays. It was a real eye-opener for us, but especially them. There were some parts in the movie that really upset them, such as the scenes of animal slaughter and the like, but I'm glad it's enabled them to question what they eat and what others eat. The interview with the family who felt 'forced' to basically live on a diet of McDonald's really

Life is good.

2011-10-05T07:37:00.001+10:00

It's coming into the Wet Season. This is the build up time of year. The days are getting hotter and more humid. Thankfully we have strong winds at this time of year so the heat isn't as unbearable. This is the time of year when the bugs start to come out and annoy you. When the cane toads start their awful sounds and make their presence WELL known. It's one of my favourite times of year - not too

Chicken Stir fry

2011-10-04T07:30:00.002+10:00

The days are getting warmer so our tummies are wanting heavy 'comfort foods' less. This is our summer 'comfort food' that is light yet very filling. I don't have a recipe for this as it's too simple and I add whatever I have available in the fridge or garden. Except for the chicken and carrots, all of this came from our garden. I like to add heaps of soy and worcestershire sauce and garlic to my

It's the little things I'll miss...

2011-10-03T11:21:00.000+10:00

School goes back tomorrow. I'll miss the sleep-ins. I'll miss the late breakfasts. The 'not having to do anything because we simply cannot be bothered' easiness of the days. Most of all I'll miss this... Little Man and The Princess working together to build cubby houses in the lounge room. This is the "Theatre Club" - a place where they've set up their portable DVD player and all of the pillows

A morning when I'm up with the sun

2011-10-02T06:31:00.001+10:00

I must confess to not being a morning person. But having no curtains in our room makes one wake up with the dawn. And so outside I go... The ladies greet me in anticipation of receiving any tid-bits. Augusta has taken to taking her throat feathers off. She must love the bare-neck look. The space behind the sweet potato cage is always guaranteed to bring up any buggy-treats. This is a hotly

When one thing leads to another...

2011-10-01T06:17:00.000+10:00

This is what happens when you get your sewing machines out to give them a clean... You remember that pair of corduroy jeans you bought ages ago that are still sitting in the bag in the wardrobe... They were a bargain at $40 down from $149.95 - they are R.M Williams and are such a great fit... except for the length. Then again, I always have a problem with length and am accustomed to shortening

On My Mind...

2011-09-30T08:11:00.001+10:00

This is the first time I've participated in Down To Earth's On My Mind and I'm quite pleased with myself. This is what is on my mind today. The Princess and I have horse-riding lessons again today, which I enjoy for two reasons. One - I love horses and riding and the connection you feel with the horse and what your body is doing in response to the horse and the horse's with yours. Two -

The joys of life...

2011-09-25T07:23:00.001+10:00

This is how I spend many of my nights. Curled up on the couch. Watching tv, knitting and chatting with the children. Or sometimes we read to each other (they think it's funny when I read to them because I always tend to put on funny voices that never quite remain consistent...) I'm knitting a scarf for when we go skiing. This is wool that I bought for $2 a ball and so far I've only had to use 2

A day in the garden

2011-09-24T14:12:00.001+10:00

Whatever is in there must be really interesting! Sshh, mum's coming. Look natural...

Proud Princess

2011-09-18T15:15:00.000+10:00

an early photo from riding lessons The Princess and I have been having riding lessons together for a couple of months now. A couple of weeks ago we started learning jumps. Today, The Princess competed in her first dressage event. She is very proud to boast that she got a 2nd in dressage (walk/trot event) and an overall 3rd (dressage/chicken jump). I didn't compete. I went along as proud mummy and

Who loves tomatoes more?

2011-08-31T18:32:00.002+10:00

My tomatoes are going very well right now. I have about 3 beds of tomatoes (rouge de marmande, currant, mini romas, tommy toes) and one bed with a Black Russian in it, plus odd-plantings here and there. I'm swimming in tomatoes. Or, rather, I should be. You see, between the possums, bower birds and the dogs, there's not much that seems to be left over for me. I've netted the 'roof' of the

Just have to share!

2011-08-21T19:05:00.000+10:00

I finally got to use my citrus cleanser! It smells so purdy! I added about 1/2 a litre of vinegar extra to it and then topped up the rest of the 2 litre container with water. I don't know if the extra vinegar will do anything different, but so far so good. I have to remember to charge my camera so I can upload a picture of the finished product. I've been flat out with working and sick children -

Bargain shopping

2011-08-12T07:00:00.000+10:00

I bought some lovely wool on sale for $2 a ball yesterday. It is a lovely blue/grey wool blend. I bought five 50g balls and have already started on a new scarf (even though I am already working on another scarf). And I will make a lovely knitted hot water bottle cover. I saw one at a shop for $20! I nearly fell over when I saw the price. I'm not that good at knitting - plain and purl squares and

Orange roast chicken

2011-08-11T08:33:00.001+10:00

I found this recipe for a yummy roast chicken years ago. I can't remember where it came from, or the exact ingredients but it goes something like this... Juice two oranges and put the juice into a small saucepan with a heaped teaspoon of seeded mustard and a big heaped teaspoon of marmalade. Stir over a low heat until the marmalade has melted. It smells lovely! And don't forget to add your orange

Tomato and Olive Lamb Casserole

2011-08-10T07:22:00.000+10:00

This came from Super Food Ideas magazine, June 2011. I've made it twice now and it has become a firm favourite in our house. Serves 4, Ready in 1 hour 25 minutes 2 tblspns plain flour8 (1kg) lamb neck chops1 tblspn olive oil1 medium brown oinion, halved, thinly sliced1 large carrot, peeled, chopped2 celery stalks, chopped2 garlic cloves, crushed1 cup chicken stock2 x 400g tins diced tomatoes(

Ta-Da! My citrus cleaner is brewing!

2011-08-09T16:09:00.000+10:00

Isn't it lovely! There are the rinds of about 4 or 5 oranges in there, with a small mandarin peel - just because. I'm tempted to get the step ladder and raid what is left at the top of the Bush Lemon out the front! I can't stop opening the lid and smelling it, or turning it this way and that in the sunlight to look at the color of the vinegar. I can't wait to use it. Oh the uses - fabric

Orange peel citrus cleaner

2011-08-06T13:33:00.001+10:00

I just have to make this I think. I love the smell of oranges; I just wish I didn't throw out a heap of them last week that had gone funny in the fruit bowl. I bought them the week before and before I knew it they'd all shrivelled up and went brown in patches. I don't know why. I still have a kilo or two left in the bowl so I think I might make orange roast chicken tomorrow to have an excuse

What to do with dreadfully tough steak???

2011-08-03T15:02:00.002+10:00

I really hate it when you buy a whole rump and then find it's not that good because it's tough and lacking fat. So, instead of giving it to the dogs, I turned some of it into a 'stew'. I cooked two roughly sliced onions until they were opaque, then browned the beef that I cut into strips, and with a very good shake of Cumin (I love Cumin and the way it smells)and a couple of tablespoons of gravy

Fare-thee-well

2011-07-27T17:41:00.000+10:00

My dear friend, Deb, from A Clothesline Out The Back, lost her darling father recently to cancer. I did send her a message via her blog but I noticed today it disappeared into the Web-i-verse somewhere. This is my public message to Deb. You and your dad, and your lovely family, are in my thoughts and prayers. I can only imagine how you are feeling right now. Take care.

Leek, potato and bacon soup

2011-07-22T07:13:00.001+10:00

I'm a big fan of soup. Not all soup, though. But I love this soup. It's leek, potato and bacon soup. I served this to visitors on the weekend. First, I made my stock. (I don't always make my own stock, sometimes I use the 1 litre containers of prepared stuff) I keep scraps of vegies in the freezer in a zip-lock bag - things like celery leaves and the skinny stems, root vegetable peelings and ends

An inside day (but I'd rather be out)

2011-07-20T08:57:00.002+10:00

Isn't this such a pretty spot? An ideal place for curling up with a good book and sitting in the warm sun. I wish my kitchen looked as neat and tidy as this. I've always got things on bench tops or the kitchen table is covered in books and bags and stuff. Today is the second day at home on my own since the middle of April. Yesterday I wasted the day. Today I must clean and tidy. And cook. But

Giving thanks

2011-07-18T17:14:00.000+10:00

Things are coming along nicely in the garden now. We had home-grown zucchini and squash with our dinner last night and it was wonderful. I can't wait until the tomatoes are ready to be picked. I'm grateful for the ability to produce at least some of the food I feed my family with. And a big thank you to Deb from A Clothesline Out the Back for their wonderful visit on the weekend - and the

In my garden...

2011-07-09T14:06:00.001+10:00

this is such a beautiful time of year for gardening here in the tropics. you don't get eaten alive by the mosquitoes. everything isn't mouldy or slimy to touch. it isn't raining for days or weeks on end. things actually grow and flourish with little help. i love it! the princess wandered about in the garden with the camera the other day and these are her photos. i hope you like them. she

Christmas in July Markets and home life

2011-06-29T11:24:00.001+10:00

I love the Christmas in July craft market we have here each year. Some of the stall holders are here every year and are often seen at other markets around town. One of the ladies even remembered The Princess buying her last purchase for Mother's Day when we saw her at the Cotters Markets! So, here is my plug: Sunday 31st July8.30am-2pmHoly Spirit SchoolJunior Assembly ShedVia Church entrance,

A Sunday at home

2011-06-27T13:15:00.000+10:00

In light of everything that has happened over the past few weeks, it has really brought home to me that more than anything, home is where I want to be. The Princess and Little Man baked me a cake. Another of their Frankencakes. This was an orange cake with a small dash of vanilla essence. It was covered in vanilla icing with coconut and topped off with chocolate chips. They couldn't wait long

Thank you.

2011-06-26T16:42:00.001+10:00

I've been a bit down recently over a spate of bad news. Firstly, I had two deaths in the family in quick succession. One was on The Groom's side, the other on mine. My great-uncle's death really saddened me more, obviously. Uncle Peter was my model of what a farmer ought to be. I have fond memories of my great-uncle and great-aunty's house and farm and visiting as a child. Milking the cows,

Down to Earth and Lurkers

2011-06-25T14:45:00.000+10:00

Rhonda-Jean at the wonderful Down to Earth blog wrote recently about lurkers. I confessed that I often popped in and read without leaving a comment. I think we all do it, and perhaps I need to rethink my 'lurking'. I sometimes have a peep at other's blogs that people have as their followers or who they follow. Sometimes, those blogs don't interest me. Sometimes, they do. I vow to

Another of life's little lessons

2011-06-25T01:45:00.001+10:00

Will I never learn about dogs and chooks? Last weekend we lost Maude to one of the dogs. The gate to the chicken yard mustn't have been closed properly and when the chickens have woken up in the morning Maude went for a wander. I think she's walked past where the dogs sleep in the aviary shortly before they've been let out for the day. They got her behind the golden cane palm in the

Of dusty boots and sore derrieres

2011-06-19T15:46:00.000+10:00

Today was the day I finally got back in the saddle. It has been a very long time coming. My bottom and thighs are now screaming in protest after not having had contact with a saddle in well over 20 years! I used to ride a fair bit back when I was a kid and young teen. But as one knows, boys and make-up kinda get in the way of the good things in life. The Princess has been expressing her desire to

Holidays are almost here

2011-06-18T15:15:00.002+10:00

Only one more week to go until it is school holidays! I am looking forward to time spent at home, doing very little other than pottering around at home. I have been so busy at work this term that the poor house has been neglected. The cobwebs have developed cobwebs! Luckily the vegetable garden is relatively self-reliant at the moment. There is very little watering to do as the sprinklers have

Just breathe...

2011-06-05T19:30:00.003+10:00

Well, I've managed to survive my first week of full-time teaching in such a long time. It has only reaffirmed my decision to do supply/relief teaching for years to come as being the right one. I still don't envy teachers. The house is a disaster. My puppies miss me and have been busily destroying anything left outside. Like my spare sunglasses. I spent all day today doing the washing. About

Oh so busy

2011-05-25T17:00:00.000+10:00

I have been so grateful for the amount of work I've been given this term. It is week five and I've had one day of no work! I'm booked for the rest of the week, too, and was booked for all of next week teaching two different classes. Well, I was. I got asked to take on an 8 week contract and I said yes. The Groom just asked why I don't work full-time and be done with it all, but it's not what I

Contentment

2011-05-10T16:54:00.000+10:00

Elastic waisted pants when you've eaten too much soup on Mother's Day. Feeling so comfortable in your own skin that you wonder why it took you so long to feel that way. Handmade cards from your children. Corny presents chosen from the school Mother's Day stall but because they were bought with love and you in mind they are the best presents you have ever received in your life. Laying in bed at

I have such a blessed life...

2011-05-02T15:05:00.001+10:00

This is the beautiful sight that welcomed me on Easter Sunday. The river where we camp was covered in fog. I am amazed that the Easter Bunny found us in all of that fog. Did you watch the Royal Wedding? It was lovely and the dress was stunning. Now that it's over, we can all get on with the business of watching for the slightest hint of a baby bump! I bought myself new pyjamas to watch

A special visitor

2011-04-19T08:18:00.000+10:00

I am having 3 special visitors today. I have prepared leek, potato and bacon soup. The bread has been taken out of the bread maker. There will be orange patty cakes and a butter cake to share. A new tablecloth has been put out on the outdoor table (but it's a shame the seat cushions are dusty and covered with dog hair - oh well). Today, I'm getting a visit from Deb, from A Clothesline Out The

Ash Grunwald's view of North Queensland

2011-04-14T22:00:00.001+10:00

I love Ash Grunwald and have seen him play a few times. I came across some of his footage from a recent tour he did up my way and was very intrigued as to what I'd see. I'm impressed. I hope you enjoy my neck of the woods.

Down to Earth Dishcloth Swap

2011-04-14T11:51:00.002+10:00

I'm doing the dish cloth swap. I wonder who I will get and who will get me? It is a timely swap, with the children being on school holidays. I have made heaps of my own cloths and I use them every day. I've given away some as presents and I hope the recipients are happy to use them. If you are interested in joining in on the swap, click here and sign up (or click on today's title as it's linked).

Another milestone...

2011-04-06T11:11:00.000+10:00

Little Man left today on his first school camp. He is away for two whole nights! I don't know how I'll be in the morning when I don't have him hop into bed for a quick hug. He actually came over to hug me when they were waiting for the bus this morning! I thought he'd play it cool like he did when he went on the bus last year for an away football game. I got told, "Leave me at the bus stop and

Orange cake - thank you CWA

2011-03-31T12:35:00.002+10:00

I love recipes from the CWA. They are basic and delicious. Today I made orange patty cakes again. It's from a recipe I found in a library copy of a CWA book. It's from the 60's or 70's I think, but when I looked online I found a different one that had milk in it. This time I doubled the recipe as the recipe only makes about 12 patty cakes. I took them, warm and fresh from the oven, next

They say it's your birthday...

2011-03-30T10:08:00.002+10:00

The world did not end after all! I turned 40 this week. It was nowhere near as harrowing as I imagined it would be. I worked on my birthday. I got sung to and given a cupcake. I even got a Happy Birthday sticker to wear on my shirt. I imagined I would have a big birthday and I wrote about my plans earlier. It didn't happen after all. We went to Nitro Circus instead. You know what? I was fine

How sweet - an award :)

2011-02-24T20:33:00.013+10:00

I have been nominated by Sharon at Roses Among the Veg for a Stylish Blogger Award! Thank you so much, I'm so humbled and speechless! I also tried to hotlink her blog but for some reason blogger won't let me. Go and visit her site - the link is in my side bar. Not now, wait until you've finished reading this first :) So, before I reveal 7 things about me, I wanted to update you all on Yasi.

Yasi has left the building, thank you and good-night.

2011-02-06T17:33:00.000+10:00

Oh, what a night! We lost our first tree, around 6pm, a ti-tree which broke in half. That didn't bode well for the night to come when they said the cyclone would cross about 100klms or so north of us around midnight! We were really thanking our lucky stars by then that we'd made the painful decision to cut down the rain trees! Around 8.30pm, The Princess and I heard a massive bang outside

Yasi in on her way...

2011-02-02T10:41:00.000+10:00

Well, we're as ready as we can possibly be in Townsville. Here's hoping she doesn't move any further south as we've been told to expect Category 2 conditions where we are. We've cut down the massive rain trees that overhang the back of the house. I'm already missing the Barking Owl family. And the back of the house looks somehow - naked. But it does make the inside of the house brighter. And I

Have you got your cyclone kit ready?

2011-01-27T19:31:00.002+10:00

Here's hoping that modelling is incorrect, and that you have your cyclone kit ready... just in case... This is for Townsville area Sunday evening. Right-click and open the images in a larger screen view if you want to look at the data closely. This is for Friday just south of Rockhampton. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope it all just goes away. At the very least, you should have in your

Isn't she (he) lovely?

2011-01-26T12:06:00.000+10:00

The Princess found this little fellow on the driveway this morning. Isn't she (he?) so cute? We're not sure, but we think it is a Frilled Neck Lizard. We have an adult one that lives down in the creek paddock and it's stance is the same as this little one's. We couldn't see any frills on this one, but if you look at the last photo you'll see something that looks like the beginnings of the frill.

Orange Cake

2011-01-22T15:03:00.002+10:00

We found this egg in the nesting box this morning. It's the largest one we've had so far. Normally the ladies lay eggs around 60-66g, so we celebrated by making a cake. An orange cake from the CWA cookbook I borrowed from the library last week. Cream 1/4 cup butter with 1 cup of sugar (I use Logicane, it gives it a grainier texture, so if you don't like it, use regular white sugar). Add 2 eggs,

Shopping pleasures

2011-01-21T17:31:00.001+10:00

My name is --- and I'm a Shopaholic. There. I said it. It's sad but true. Once a shopaholic always a shopaholic I say. But times are a-changing. I remember the days of my long-gone, misspent youth (and late teens, very early 20's), when I was carefree and had no regard for money. It was not uncommon for me to blow $200 a week on clothes once I started my first job. But somehow I never

Days of rain and breezes

2011-01-19T15:57:00.000+10:00

Today is a day of gentle breezes. You can tell there's a storm coming again tonight, though. The air has THAT feel to it. It's a day for being outside and for cooking quiches for a cold dinner. That's if they last long enough until dinner time! Tonight's dinner is quiche with a mixed salad. But don't tell Little Man it's quiche. Tell him it's bacon and egg pie. He doesn't like vegetables. Or

I have a confession to make

2011-01-15T15:42:00.000+10:00

I still have not put away the Christmas tree or decorations. Maybe I can later pass them off as Easter decorations? But I'd have to take down the Christmas cards that are hanging around on tinsel and fairy lights in the windows. That'd give me away I think. Even the solar lights in the tree out the front and over the old tractor are still blinking merrily away. And you know what, I don't give a

Rain rain go away...

2011-01-14T13:40:00.000+10:00

I'm sure that by now anyone reading this would have heard about the flooding that is happening in Queensland, New South Wales and now Victoria. And the bush fires in Western Australia. I've got family in the south east of Queensland, Western Australia as well as Victoria. Fortunately, they are all well and safe and relatively unaffected, which I am thankful for. I look at a lot of the images

From their own two hands

2011-01-11T15:49:00.004+10:00

Ta Daaaaaa! Yesterday Little Man and The Princess wanted to make a cake. Not just any old ordinary vanilla cake. No sir-eee. This had to be the Franken-cake of all cakes. I was booted out of the kitchen and they did everything. Measuring, mixing, adding, pouring, turning on of oven etc. And this is what they presented me with... FRANKEN-CAKE It has green, blue and yellow food coloring in

From little things...

2011-01-10T13:05:00.004+10:00

Big things grow.I love that song.Saturday night's dinner consisted of an odd-assortment of treasures found in the freezer.I'm trying to do the $21 Challenge at the moment. I'm not perfect at it (I keep forgetting to cross items off my inventory as I go, or adding to them when I buy new items), but I'm doing okay. Let's just say my last grocery bill was a little bit less than previous ones.In my

It's a procrastinating kind of day

2011-01-07T11:02:00.003+10:00

I think it's the heat and humidity.I don't really feel like doing much at all.I'm waiting for the online shopping van to arrive with my groceries - what's there of them anyway. Supermarket stocks are running low because of flooding down south cutting highways, therefore supplies of almost everything. And because of the inability to get stock Woolies has cancelled all delivery charges for their

2011-01-06T07:54:00.003+10:00

Yesterday was a lovely, sunny day.A perfect day to get out and mow the last 2.5 acres.And get the ride-on mower bogged in the spot where the grey water pipe ends.And watch the two sea eagles fly around hoping for tasty morsels the mower unearthed.(and make sure they don't spend too long flying over the chicken yard!)I can't wait until the wet season is over and the ground dries up enough to get

A lovely start to the new year

2011-01-03T13:57:00.003+10:00

How spoilt are we - two long weekends in a row!Which means that The Groom has been home with us and we've had some breaks in the weather to get some things done around the house and yard.And I've had a chance to get out and do some photography. I'm keeping a pictorial record of changes we're making/made, as well as where water sits and flows.The picture below is of some fungi I found at the back

The stillness of after Christmas

2010-12-29T11:46:00.008+10:00

I love the stillness that washes over the world (well, my world anyway) once the hustle and bustle of Christmas day is over.In keeping with my new outlook on life I have foregone the Boxing Day sales. It's not easy, I confess. I really wanted to go and get more solar Christmas lights for next year, but we won't be needing to put any up so it's kind of a waste of time.I normally buy wrapping

Rain

2010-12-16T07:34:00.005+10:00

wunderground.comIt's raining here at the moment.It's been raining every day for the past couple of weeks at some stage.Sometimes it's heavy, constant rain. Other times it's just light steady rain. Sometimes there's lightning, thunder, sun showers with rainbows. At times it's so quiet I can smell it before I can hear it. There are times when it's raining so heavily I can't hear the television

Slow cooked lamb shanks on creamy mash

2010-12-14T08:13:00.007+10:00

I love slow cooked lamb shanks.Here's a recipe I found in a newspaper.I cooked it in the slow cooker and it was beautiful.It's really a 'winter' recipe, but who cares when you eat it!Ingredients:6 lamb shanks - frenched1/3 cup plain flour1/2 tspn ground coriander1 tspn ground cumin1/4 cup olive oil1 large onion, chopped1 clove garlic, chopped1 large carrot, chopped1 large parsnip, finely chopped1

Christmas Gifts

2010-12-09T10:28:00.004+10:00

This is the season for giving.Giving doesn't have to necessarily be about 'stuff' that can be wrapped or unwrapped.Giving can also include those gifts that money cannot buy; consideration, time, love, hugs, laughter.As a family, we have always donated something at Christmas time, be it under the Mayor's Christmas tree, the K-Mart or Target tree or the like, The Smith Family. I try

A few of my favourite things...

2010-12-08T16:39:00.005+10:00

My handsome 5 month old boy.This is our second boy dog; we were given a 5 year old Wolfhound cross earlier this year. He was a big, hairy, dopey fellow, but sadly he died after being bitten by a snake. This new little fellow loves nothing more than wrestling with the girls and carrying around shoes and anything else he can get his mouth on to!He is already as big as our 'middle' girl, who is 1

Loving this time of year...

2010-12-07T15:23:00.011+10:00

image: fanpop.com I love Christmas.I love the kitch-y-ness of it all; the tinsel, the lights, the corny Christmas carols wherever you go. I love bursting out into song at the drop of a hat even if I don't know all of the lyrics and sing the same verse or chorus over again. I love embarassing the Princess and Little Man by breaking out into an impromptu rendition of Frosty the Snowman in the

An insight into our lives...

2010-10-21T08:00:00.005+10:00

I thought that as I got older I'd get wiser. I think I'm just growing more sceptical as years pass, though.I read the paper online most days because our local paper is not worthy of my $1.10 outlay for it - even on a Saturday, and because I don't want to contribute to the cutting down unnecessarily cutting down of trees to produce such nonsense. I came across an article about Kanye West and his

What a week!

2010-10-10T18:11:00.003+10:00

I worked three days this week, which is great because we've decided to save up and splurge on a big holiday next year.Right now, I'm very grateful for work as it's a means to an end - our holiday. We thought we'd go to Disneyland as we'd seen a package advertised for around $3,500 for a family of four for 5 nights including airfare, accommodation and park admission. We passed on the package so

Banana Bread

2010-09-29T16:04:00.003+10:00

Today I have been making banana bread.One of the mums at school gave me some while we were waiting for ballet class to finish; I wasn't overly fussed on hers, I thought it rather bland, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway.The recipe is from the latest 4 Ingredients book on page 37. It doesn't have any eggs in it, just bananas, flour, sugar and whole egg mayonnaise. Different.Due to copyright

Thoughts for today

2010-09-27T21:26:00.002+10:00

Outside my window... there is darkness. It is after 9pm. I am thinking... will I make a banana cake tomorrow afternoon? Should I let Little Man sleep in my bed with me tonight. Why is the clock always ticking so loudly? I am thankful for...money to buy medicine for The Princess’s nose infection. From the kitchen... For tomorrow's Breakfast: scrambled eggs with cream

Thoughts on turning 40

2010-09-18T11:02:00.007+10:00

Next year I turn 40. It's not something I ever imagined doing, I always pictured myself as being young.I don't make a fuss of my birthday, in fact, I can't recall having a birthday party. Ever. Not even for my 16th, 18th or 21st. We had a family dinner at a restaurant and that's about it. Nothing flash. Nothing fancy. I've decided that since there is no way around turning 40 then I may

A silly little beetle

2010-09-11T12:27:00.007+10:00

Some days I feel like this turtle; lots of work for unseen rewards.I have been teaching year 1 and 2 one day a week in a particular subject this term. I have some classes that are a pleasure to teach and make you realise your efforts are worthwhile and appreciated - not only by the students but their regular teachers. On the other hand, I have some classes that I simply dread taking. I must

Quiet on the home front

2010-09-03T19:19:00.006+10:00

I have been grateful for the almost non-stop work over the past three weeks. I had two days at home a couple of weeks ago with sinus, and then I wasn't booked to work yesterday. I'm looking forward to the school holidays!We're having renovations done on the ensuite. It's slowly coming all together and looking wonderful. It's mostly white with a light blue tile on the floor and a thin strip

Trying times

2010-08-18T20:34:00.005+10:00

Some days you feel like life is just out to getcha! The Princess and Little Man have been at each other's throats more than they seem to be. They seem to have developed an amazing sense of entitlement that I can't recall instilling in them. Ever. The Princess is not a morning person at all, neither am I, but I dread to see how she will be when she is a teenager if her performance from this

Oh, unhappy day

2010-07-27T10:26:00.003+10:00

Yesterday afternoon, sometime between 3.30pm and 5.30pm we lost all our lovely Ladies to what we assume was an eagle or hawk.It was pretty gruesome to come home and find bodies and feathers as well as the remains of some bodies around the yard spread over a couple of acres. The Princess noticed the feathers and one of the bodies first, so both she and Little Man were extremely upset at the

A day at home

2010-07-21T10:37:00.003+10:00

Oh, what a joy it is!I got up early, having found a small, softly snoring boy sleeping beside me. It's always the way when The Groom is away. Little Man crept in during the night, complaining I didn't come and wake him up so he could sleep with me. I had tried, he just sleeps too soundly to be woken up anyway.I let the dogs out of their aviary just as the sun was beginning to peek over the

My fledgling garden

2010-07-19T18:34:00.005+10:00

I love my garden right now.I don't have a lot of vegies and fruit growing yet, but I'm enjoying what I do have.I've been picking the first batch of tomatoes - grosse lisse - for over a week now. That is, the ones I get to before the bugs/grubs/possums get to. I don't use sprays so the children can help themselves as they please. The yucky ones (tomatoes, not children) just get chucked over

Not happy, Jan!

2010-07-19T11:16:00.006+10:00

I'm a bit cranky at the moment.It is hard to fathom that in such a country as Australia, it is hard to get a decent, reliable, speedy internet connection.Queensland's Premier, Anna Bligh, wants to turn Townsville, where I live, into the state's "Second Capital". That's all fine and good, but how about they get the basics right first? Then again, our part of the country has pretty poor

New Additions

2010-07-06T14:32:00.002+10:00

We have finished the chook house and yard. Well done to The Groom!We have two chickens at the moment. Two Rhode Island Reds who are about point-of-lay (although their first morning here today resulted in no eggs). They have some real character.Coco, Little Man's chicken, is rather friendly and doesn't mind being picked up and patted. The Princess named hers Pamela, and Pamela is the quieter

Starting to think about Christmas presents...

2010-07-02T16:44:00.002+10:00

It's not that far away when you really think about it.It's closer than you think if you are planning to make things yourself to give as gifts.It's all so scary.The Princess and I were wading through multiple pages on the internet today (actually, it was originally the one site that we looked at but you know how these things happen), and came across many ideas we could use. My Princess is very '

School holidays are here.

2010-06-30T12:41:00.004+10:00

It's half way through the first week of two weeks of school holidays.So far so good.I deliberately didn't organise to do much this time, then again, we don't normally do heaps of things on the holidays anyway. I try to find as many free/low cost activities as we can on holidays. And here, there isn't that much to choose from, or places to go where we have been heaps of times anyway.I figure

Darn those little sick 5 year olds!

2010-06-18T17:02:00.003+10:00

I am convinced they are the ones responsible for my being sick this week. I get to the year 1's on Tuesday with the beginnings of a throat that feels like an unopened pack of razor blades and a headache that is about to explode. So, I soldiered on with a classroom full of noisy 6 and 7 year olds all week and now I'm ready to fall down in a heap. Thank heaven for anti-histamines and paracetamol

TIred but happy

2010-06-10T16:40:00.002+10:00

It's been a big week.I worked on Monday, then I thought I was meant to be working on Tuesday but when I got to school I was told, no, you're not booked for today. Someone made a muck up somewhere, but it gave me a day to myself. I did the groceries and bought new flannel sheets for the children's beds. Somehow they've ended up with one set each. Don't know how that happened, but anyway.On

My favourite cleaning item

2010-06-01T16:58:00.006+10:00

I use Sunlight soap for a lot of things around the house (now this is starting to sound a bit like an ad!) and I remember seeing my grandmother's using it too. Sometimes I really do yearn for a life where we weren't bombarded by so many choices in everything. I think it was just easier that way.I remember my nanas using a soap holder that was shaped like a small square cage on a long handle.

What a beautiful day!

2010-05-30T15:07:00.007+10:00

Some days it's just too good to be true!I love this time of year. It is not too hot and unbearable, but it's still cool enough without being freezing and having to layer up in mountains of jumpers. That's if you live in the tropics. I grew up in Melbourne and would not go back to living there. This morning I woke up and it was a bit overcast and still dark (at 6am). It was cool enough to