Mums Rock!

What would we do without our Mums? While we're off being edumacated on how to run a profitable farm (valuable information, I'm sure), Mum will be looking after the coots at a little farmstay-type cottage we've rented for the duration. If you're picturing her cruising along, stopping off for Devonshire tea here and there along the way, think again. She will be wedged firmly into place and likely won't be game to get out until she arrives, on account of the ridiculous amount of shopping she's done on my behalf. Beware, potential visitors - we will take advantage of your access to shops and the boot space in your car.

Her shopping list included:

6 single doonas

6 doona covers

6 single sheet sets

6 microfibre blankets

6 single electric blankets

12 pillows

2 double electric blankets

2 queen electric blankets

1 king electric blanket

3 towels

13 pairs of curtains

4 vintage quilts (purchased from USA)

See what I mean? After she squeezes in a few knickers and socks, where's she going to sit?

 

Hubby had half hoped she could bring a new set of rotors for the gyro with her too - I reckon Mum would have heard me laugh in Brisbane. I think he has buckleys.

 

And in case you're wondering, all the single bedding is on account of the fact that we're fixing up 3 of the rooms in the shearer's huts with a splash of paint, a single bed, curtains and a few creature comforts. We may not have "wool sheep" and may not need shearers, but we do seem to have people use the huts, so it will be nice to have somewhere half pleasant to put them. They're generally men, people who've come to do some shooting or work, so we've gone with a rustic brown and white blokey vibe.

The other three sets of bedding and most of the curtains are for our back (or is it front? I still haven't figured it out) veranda I've dubbed the sleepout. Can't wait to get that "dead area" made into a useful spot. Can't wait for Harry's little cousins to visit again, they'll all be able to sleep in the sleepout! This is my inspiration pic for it...

I will paint the stretcher bed frames white, the bedding is white and I'm collecting quilts. They're not all blue and white yet, but it doesn't matter. I have a cabinet to pile more quilts into, which I will paint a distressed green.

 

I have a couple of ebay bits and bobs too, one is already the perfect colour - the table below - and the other will likely be painted.

The curtains are a large blue gingham check. It's going to look great!

 

Gallery Wall :)

Well now, this post is really just an excuse to post some neat pics of the kids. I can't wait to get some Instagram albums printed up of him and of Vicki - I seem to have so many more of Harry which is a little frustrating, but I guess it's because he's older and poses. Kind of. Where as most of my attempts to snap Vicki end up little more than a blurred ear.

 

 

 

I do have this toothy grin though!

And these cuties :)

 

 

Totally self indulgent post!

Catching up...and then some!

Well gee whiz, it's been a while. I've been very neglectful of you, little blog. Why? Back-to-back migraines for about 6 weeks, general busy-ness made more so with hubby being away quite a bit, day to day life, unfinished projects to complete, you know the drill! No doubt I will post about 5 blogs to cover all I could blather on about, be warned!

With Sean being away, I've been quite the farmer's wife, piling the kids into the old ute with a mud map to find our way to the ground tanks (those that haven't dried up completely) to check for bogged sheep. You'd think I'd know every inch of the property but I don't. I wouldn't say that navigating, especially in the scrub, is my thing. I'm proud to say we didn't get lost! And relieved to say we didn't need to drag out any bogged sheep, dead or alive. I had my right hand man on the job - if only he was big enough to open and close gates!

We had a grader out to lengthen and flatten our airstrip, which was the ultimate in excitement for Harry. He kept a close eye on proceedings, and was happy with the end result.

We have lambs running about everywhere, seems like mainly twins, at least two sets of triplets - it's great to see... but it's so dry - we need rain so we can feed them! We have a bit of green pick about, but it's still so dry. We thank our lucky stars every day that we invested so much into the cap and pipe bore scheme - it's such a relief to know that even though half our ground tanks are dry, we still have watering points in every paddock. If only we could irrigate the paddocks for tucker!

 

These two have been the best of friends. Ahh it gladdens my heart to see them play together. I hope they're always good mates.

 

We've worked on the playroom, making a little play kitchen, an arts and crafts table and hanging up bunting. We still have more to do - bits of painting, more bunting to hang, the floor to sand (yes I know. You normally do that before you put in the furniture!)

Vicki likes playing on the numbers and alphabet mat, so that's her little corner, over under the bunting. Normally there are toys and beanbags there too, I really could have gotten a better picture!

The bathroom is nearly finished! Another day's work and it should be done. It's taken months more than what I had planned, but better late than never, right? I'm nearly ready to do my first "before and after"!

July will be another busy month, what with a Grazing for Profit course we're doing, Mum's visit, mustering, more renovating - who ever said life was quiet in the country?

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Vicki Leigh xox

Today is our beautiful baby girl's first birthday. It's hard to believe that it's already been a year, and yet it seems like she's always been with us. She's an absolute delight, a social butterfly, a larrikin, a little angel. She completes our family perfectly. We love you, Vicki xxx

 

Body Fat What?

I'm doing what I'll call an "eating plan". Anything to not say out loud the "D" word. 1200 calories/low carb/low fat/exercise yada yada yada. You know the drill. Anyway, that's the boring stuff, but in the interests of measuring results I ordered one of those instruments of torture aka body fat calipers. Well we all know the scales aren't the best measure. I "lost" 1.2kg between yesterday morning and last night. Which does not compute. Anyway, I pulled out said calipers this morning, and do you think I can make sense of the instructions? Can you? And what exactly is a half-bow arm anyway? And do I have to stand fully exposed? Really?

 

If you know what the hell they're talking about, please feel free to let me know!

 

I came across this picture on Pinterest last night. Love it. I have just the cabinet waiting to be filled (lol... mum? haha...)

But seriously, lovely colours and patterns. Wish I had the patience/time/motivation/passion to do it myself. Maybe one day... but in the meantime I can admire and sigh. The trouble is, I don't have the below squared away, so what hope have I got?

Anyway, I'm off to powder my nose. Etc.

 

 

 

 

Progress

Do you ever think about all the projects you want to do, but there are so many that you don't start at all? This is a big 'un for me - either being overwhelmed, or having my time taken up by the usual household/child rearing/daily life palaver. The latter results in me just wanting to put my feet up during those rare quiet times, instead of getting on with it. I've probably whinged about this before. Anyway, to cheer myself up and spur myself on, I think I might take some shots of parts of the house I'm really happy with, along with some before shots, just to remind myself of what's been achieved. And really, we've achieved a lot in the last 18 months, especially as in that time we've had a baby, a wedding, been flooded in, and been learning how best to run a grazing enterprise. No room is complete, all need the floors done (the sander is sitting there, we're just waiting for parts to turn up), and we need a sparky for some lighting, but we're getting there. Something I need to remember.

 

More importantly (apparently...lol) we are having some watering points put in over in the "additional" paddock. Harry's dream came true today when he got to sit in the grader for a bit. He loves graders. He was pretty proud of himself.

We've had dribs and drabs of rain lately, but not enough to put water in the dried up ground tanks, so we're grateful we decided to expand considerably on the prior owner's plans for the cap and pipe bore scheme. Definitely a worthwhile investment. It's clouding over nicely right now, fingers crossed for rain this week!

Meanwhile, I've found my dream living room. Unless I find a new dream living room down the track. So the kind of khaki green wall we painted only 6 months ago will have to go, but that's ok. It's only paint. Another "one day" project!

I do love that couch and the big round ottoman. And the aged leather arm chairs. And the soft grey paint. Perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember me?

Blog! Hello my long lost friend! Ahh dear me, it's funny how easy it can be to lose momentum, forget how much you enjoyed something, and stop. Actually for me, blogging started to feel like an enormous task after being away - so many blogs to catch up on, so many posts to write myself - well it's all a bit silly, isn't it? Just got to get on with it, really. So here it is.

Our trip to Brisbane was the usual whirlwind of activity, with two main highlights. Harry's birthday treat from Gran was to go to see Play School - well - didn't he just love it! His face just lit up from go to woah, and he danced his little butt off.

We took him shopping for his birthday present after the show - I think he had a great day. He does love the shops (just like his mother).

And here are a few other things we got up to...

Cool cafes...

Eating...

Lots of coffee...

Antique shops. We left the heads on the wall!

But came home with this nightstand for Vicki's room.

Upholstery fabric shopping for the eBay settee - but no decision reached.

Pretty lights...

Ahh shops and buildings and shops!

Vicki got to play with other kids, something she rarely experiences.

We left Gran absolutely exhausted, as usual, I think she loves to see us come, but loves to see us go, too...lol. On the way home we picked up this little chap.

Isn't he a darling? He seems to be happy here, and the kids love him, so he's working out well, so far. It's so neat to see Harry telling the pup to sit (he obeys), then Harry tells him he's a good boy and gives a belly scratch. Very cool. Tonka is our guard dog...lol. We had no idea we had so many bird carcasses under the house, thanks to the cat - but Tonka has dragged them out. Lovely.

And that was our trip. Now (well two weeks ago) back to reality. Laundry. Domestic Haggery. And counting calories. But that's another story.