Carla's Project

While I was in Brisbane, Carla decided to start giving her furniture a bit of a facelift. It was looking dark and heavy and tired, and she's young and pretty and vibrant, so it just made sense. We decided to start with a big piece - her dining table. Here's Kai helping out with the sanding - he did a great job!

She has a gorgeous new dinner set which is where we chose her colours from, and look how fantastic it turned out!

We gave it two coats of the turquoise/green colour, and then two coats of antique white and distressed it along the edges. It's just so fresh and pretty.

I can't wait to see what she does next!

Sanding Sanding Sanding

So the last couple of days have been floor sanding, broken up with a bit of veggie gardening and a bit of pool filter installation. Thanks to my very uneven floor, I think I'm going to be doing a lot on my hands and knees, as the Beast is not getting it all. Here we are so far.

Yes, still a long way to go. The veggie garden is looking like a garden now. Look!

This trough has been very handy - we first dragged it into the garden for our wedding - we filled it with ice and it was our giant esky/bar. Did a pearler of a job, too. And we've never quite gotten around to removing it, so I decided it was time to put it to good use.

I'm most proud of this effort - look, she's all plumbed in!

I had to completely redo the pipes between the pump and filter, the salt-thingie and filter, and the waste pipe, plus I spun the salt-thing around to make the back more accessible for cleaning the cell. It has to sit for 24 hours for the glue to dry (yes, I was quite liberal with it, also messy), and then I can give it a test run. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan and I don't end up with leaks or explosions. I'm pretty happy with that!

 

Meanwhile, while I was playing plumber, Vicki was asleep and Harry was playing inside. Or so I thought. When I went to check on him I found this.

My first thought was that he'd fallen off the loo, but no, he'd settled down for a snooze. The loo paper? Can't explain that!

I really realised today that Vicki is now not a baby. She's a little girl. Look at her... isn't she gorgeous??!

Our final adventure of the day was once again rescuing a bogged lamb. This time I managed to get bogged myself, too, so we shared a moment, the lamb and I. I'm pleased I took my phone out of my pocket first - I've only just had the last one replaced after it fell into the toilet. Don't ask...

The small puddle to the right of the board is mine. I think the lamb must have made his way in, spun around and tried to come back out. Luckily we got to him before the crows plucked his eyes out, the nasty creatures.

 

So that's quite enough adventure for one day. Think it's time for a glass of wine!

 

 

 

 

And a bit of catching up!

Hubby was away mustering in South Australia a couple of weeks ago, so I took the opportunity to head off to Brisbane for my beloved catchup with friends and family, and for a refreshing bustling city boost. It really is lovely out here with the peace and quiet (said as Vicki stands at my knee, bawling), but I do need to experience that city vibe every couple of months. We had a lovely time, came home exhausted (as usual), left those back in the city exhausted (as usual), but it was well worth it.

Harry helped me pack..

 

We witnessed a crash along the way - talk about frightening! It came around the bend rather fast and next thing we knew it was somersaulting into the air, hit a stand of trees, rolled in the air, hit a star picket, and ended up like this in the paddock.

We were first on the scene, followed by a tourist couple. We found the driver further out in the paddock and eventually he was able to talk and other than a sore arm and some cuts and grazes he seemed fine. Very lucky young man. I do hope he was ok and didn't have internal bleeding or anything. By the time I left the ambulance was on the way and there were lots of people there, including the bloke's best mate, which was great. Tell you what, I was very leisurely for the rest of the drive!

 

Harry got the chop... doesn't he look older!

Vicki got her first hair cut too.

Adorable. She loved her first Sushi roll, as well. Harry used to eat them like they were lollies.

 

I had a pamper day - so good. I had a facial, followed by a hair cut - and I'm back to brunette, and loving it so far. The salon was lovely, peaceful and quiet rather than one of those loud busy nightclub-like ones - they're anything but relaxing! I highly recommend Suzina Melina in Paddington - they were great. The pampering didn't end there, I met my sister at Chermside where we each had a mani/pedi, which was lovely, although we were bounced from technician to technician for some reason. Then off to the movies - a winner of a day. We forgot to take a selfie!!

Friday was "my" day/night. My birthday gift this year from hubby was a night to myself at a hotel - the kids stayed with Mum and Carla, and I caught the train down to Southbank and had a night where I didn't have to take care of anyone except me. It was bliss! I did a little shopping in the city, caught up with a dear friend I hadn't seen in years, and we went out for Turkish. As you do. It was brilliant, one of those friendships where it feels like we only talked last week. Best type of friend, I reckon. We didn't eat much, too busy talking! Here we are...

Isn't she gorgeous? *sigh*... but she's that way inside, as well, and I didn't realise how much I'd missed her until I saw her again. We went for a bit of a drive to the Valley for dessert, it's how we roll. Freestylers. I chopped her head only to squeeze in dessert...lol... (forgive me Ky!)

When I got back to the hotel room, I found this - a perfect end to the evening along with a bit of reading.

Next morning was brekky with another dear friend at Southbank - and of course we had to indulge in a little NitroGenie icecream. Sooo good. Did I mention I carried a little extra baggage in the butt/thigh department on the way home? Oh dear...

Actually, it's all about food really. Look...

Looks pretty pleased, yes? We were at our favourite Paddington cafe, garnering up energy to raid our favourite antique store. And raid we did.

Not all these were MY treasures though...this time...

Fun with the kids at Southbank, painting Carla's furniture, shopping, coffee coffee and more coffee (I actually spent most of one night staring at the ceiling - oops!) - it was a fantastic week.

Aaand... here's a bit more food.

Ciaou!

 

A list...

Oh hello blog. I remember you. We haven't talked in a while, have we. No good! I thought I might snatch a few moments in between ticking off the epic list of tasks I've set for myself this week. Of course, one cup of tea will lead to two, and before I know it it'll be lunch time, but I'll try to control myself.

Speaking of epic tasks, I thought I'd make a little list. The man of the house is away mustering for the next 11 days or so, and boy do I have plans! Here we go...

 

Install the new sand filter for the pool. Ok, I don't have any experience whatsoever with pipes and whatnot, but I reckon I can figure it out.

Speaking of the pool, I need to transforming it from a swampy cesspool of horror to a blue sparkly thing of beauty. Once again, not really in my skillset, but I guess it soon will be, right?

Continue sanding the office floor and get that room set up once and for all. Then I might be a little more organised with the little things, like paying bills. And filing.

Plant a little vegie garden. Just a nice small manageable one within the garden fence, until we have our proper one set up with fencing to keep the pesky sheep out.

Get over and paint the huts - not a big job, but just awkward with Vicki as there's nowhere really suitable for her to play.

Set up the second sitting room.

 

Ok so I'm exhausted reading my list, and I think I'll go back to bed.

 

Just kidding!

 

 

Knee Deep and Neck High

It had to happen. In all those weeks of checking ground tanks, I was fortunate enough not to have a single sheep bogged. It always happened to be when hubby was doing the rounds. But finally it was my turn. Here she is, the poor old gal, up to her neck in it.

Luckily I had my right hand man, Harry, to help out. He was great at giving orders. "Now we get this rope, and you pull that end, and I'll pull this end. Don't go close Mum, don't get bogged!" Not too shabby for a 3 year old. I patted her head and told her what we were going to do, then we wrapped the strap around her neck, the only bit of her available for leverage. I didn't like doing that, what if I strangled her? But we got her front half out, then I tunnelled the strap in through the mud behind her front legs and yanked the rest of her out. She had a little rest then wandered away. I'm glad the first one is done now. I always approached each tank with crossed fingers and a "please god let none be bogged" - now I'm not so worried.

I can't wait till he can open the gates (lazy ol me)... getting closer!!

 

Vicki is just starting to stand up! I've not managed to capture it on camera yet, she's a bit quick for me, but it's very exciting. She's doing so well at night, too, I am monitor free! What a feeling, after 3 years of being glued to one. Lovely.

Here's the litte monkey, munching on a Tim Tam.

It's all very quiet around here, what with colds and sniffles and such - not much news at all. Or am I just putting off my date with my nemesis... the floor sander... sitting there waiting to be used, and a room emptied to use it in - but I'm scared!!! Ahh how lame... but I just keep on finding other things to do.

Terror on Wheels. Maybe this afternoon. Or maybe I could iron my undies.

 

 

PS: I don't know why, but all the comments from my last post went to my junk folder for some reason - wonder if that's a blogger thing or an email thing? So I do apologise for my non-response, I promise I'm not really that rude! I've just discovered them now :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pausing To Catch A Breath

I'd say that we've been busy, but I don't think that would even come close. If I threw the words "whirlwind", "exhausted", "mayhem" and "hectic" around, you'd start to get the idea. We've been away for a week for study. We've mustered. We've lambmarked. We've nursed injured lambs. We've cooked meals for up to 12 - and done the associated cleanup. We've weaned and sleep-trained Vicki. We've painted and decorated the sleepout. I could go on! The "we" includes Mum, who's been absolutely amazing (as usual). If she thought she might have a little holiday while visiting us, she was sorely mistaken - she had to go home for that! Poor Mum, I didn't even get the chance to take her into town for a coffee.

We went to Bingara for our course, and were lucky enough to find a farm close to town with little cottages available for hire. The price was reasonable, the cottages very comfortable, and it was the perfect arrangement - I dread to imagine Mum and the kids cooped up in a motel room for 7 days! Bingara is such a beautiful town, I love the ring of hills and mountains surrounding it.

It was a little frosty though, till I discovered the benefits of electric blankets - something I'd never had before. Cue my newfound addiction. All this time I've been getting up multiple times a night to kids, only to come back to a cold bed which would take an age to get warm - all to have to get up to a kid again. Not any longer. Electric blankets are the bomb.

We missed our kids like crazy while we were at school and thanked our lucky stars for Mum. If she hadn't looked after the kids, we wouldn't have been able to go. The days were long and intensive (for her too!), but oh boy was it worth it. Even if you'd been farming/grazing for decades, you would still come away with a whole new perspective, and I heartily recommend that anyone on the land do the course. Grazing for Profit. Challenging but very worthwhile.

Back home and it was straight into mustering.

We had a houseful, with every bed taken, plus extras during the day. While the kids are young I do the cooking, as it's not really possible to take them with me (not to mention I have no skills!) and I was lucky enough to have Mum's help this time - absolutely invaluable when you're looking after kids plus cooking to a schedule, which is not exactly my strong suit. We managed though, with up to 12 in for lunch and half that many for breakfast and dinner. The last day we took lunch over to the yards and kept it simple, which worked a treat. Harry loved it. He insisted on eating lunch with "the fellas" - lucky there was a spare pie!

We had lots of little lambs - so much cuter than their mothers! Unfortunately we lost some to wild dogs - we found some actually skinned, but still alive. So sad, and I tell you what, it makes you angry. They just "play" with the poor little things. Sickening. The one below is happy and healthy though!

The wethers were loaded onto a truck this morning - Harry was strutting up and down the side of the race, clapping his hands and pushing them up. Little champion!

It was lucky that Mum crammed all that bedding into her little car, and guess what else she managed to fit in? These!

They're birthday presents, and I adore them. They're perfect. I am such a lucky gal! The milking stool is perfect in the nearly-finished bathroom, and the bedside cabinet is just so beautiful - I can't wait to get it into place. Just got to put the hard word on hubby to help with some heavy lifting first.

Mum and I spent any spare time fixing up the sleepout, which was fantastic. I love how it's turned out. It was dingy and dusty and had become a bit of a storage/dumping ground. We cleared it out, painted, put up curtains and put 3 single stretchers in there, which will be perfect for when Harry's cousins visit, or for if we need an extra bed. I've also claimed it as a nanna nap or reading area for those lazy Sunday afternoons.

Here it is the day we moved in...

I think it was even worse than how it looks in this photo, especially with the assorted crap that had collected.

Here it is now.

I even found a place for this picture I drew a few years ago, which suits the space well.

There are still a few bits and pieces to do for it, mainly more pictures for the walls and I have a little table to paint, but other than that, it's ready to go. I love it!

 

I absolutely loved having Mum to stay, and I miss her lots now that she's headed back home. One of these days she'll come to visit and we'll do nothing but relax, rather than working her to the bone!!

The other significant event was weaning Vicki, and she was a little trooper. We combined that with a bit of sleep training - no more monitor, no more getting up unless it's really necessary, no more night feeds... yay! She did so well, it's like she just knew.

Such a big girl!

 

And I think that's about it! I'm exhausted just thinking about it...time to retire to the sleepout for a nanna nap, I think!

A Fledgling Collection - Vintage Quilts

Look at these vintage beauties I picked up on Etsy and eBay. Talk about bargains, too! They range from single bed size to a king-size topper.

 

And here's the cabinet I will put them in (I will paint it though):

Trying to recreate this (which I posted not long ago).

 

Nothing compares to the quilts my mum makes though. I love them to bits.