Monday, December 12, 2011

that time of the year.

I am stressed, tired and over things lately. I have been snappy and horrible and yelling and I feel like I am never going to finish and do the things all screaming at me to be done around the house, the garden and the kiddies. (Not to mention the neglected and berated other half).

Then i look up and realise that all I have is one subject to go.... 2 assignments and I am done and qualified, for this year. Imagine my surprise and amazement, normally I would have thrown it all in by now, lost interest or motivation. This time is feels different, not easy, not saying that I don't want to throw my hands in the air and so I am over this, just different. I keep chipping away. i keep practising and getting more clients and I keep going.

I also have those moments when I realise that life is good. I have a special little task completed that has been calling to me and I am so happy. My other half has been doing amazing things around the house (small but wonderful). An outside power plug, that makes my life so much easier. No cords on the steps to worry about tripping over and the vacuum actually reaches to the car. This makes me smile and remember that life is not so hard after all and someone is thinking of you. My petal is doing Occupational therapy after 11 months on the waiting list and well we are making good progress there too. My red headed hurricane is starting school next year and so very excited and ready.

So I am dashing off to do the study for the last exam tonight. I just have to find that last bit of effort and motivation and we are done!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

back to it.

Yesterday was full on. The children were back at school and kinder. I had a repeat exam first thing in the morning and then the afternoon to try not to worry. I decided whilst it was still reasonable weather outside to spend some of the nervous energy doing a job that I have put for for a while now. The poor old plum tree desperately needed a good cut and opening up. So I did it yesterday. I thought about the last time that I had cut the tree, whilst dad was still alive and directing the procedure from the lounge room window. He kept telling me to keep going and I think I felt him saying the same thing yesterday. Well the rain came and I didn't get it all done but goodness it has made a difference already with what I did. Then to the inside and I had the same thing, vacuuming the entire house which was good. So needed it, everything has been put on hold whilst studying especially for the exam. Then off to pick up and swimming for my red headed hurricane. I remember a time not so long again that he would scream at every lesson and wondered with the change of venue and teacher that this might reoccur? He was anxious but happy and decided that he was going to enjoy it. He had a ball, a new friend, a lovely teacher who is able to keep him in check and a big pool that was only daunting for a moment.

Yesterday in spite of what might be looming turned out to be a good day for lots of progress, not just sweating it out waiting for the results. I do hate it when they tell you that you will get them that day and you watch the phone like a hawk and then it doesn't happen. So now today the wait starts all over again. I really need to keep busy again today and surprisingly enough after the school holidays and everything put on hold I have lots to do that.

I started culling yesterday which made me surprisingly happy so i might try that again today. Ok, enough fun on the computer off to it!

Friday, October 7, 2011

if I was me.....

My boy was discussing serious items with us late last night in the car. He started with "If I was me, which I am" I couldn't stop laughing and missed the rest of it, but thought that this was quite entertaining.

My petal is struggling with the changes in her diet. So many chemicals so many things to consider especially during the school holidays. Not easy to find and deal with these things.

I am super stressed and I have this funny theory that people will understand and stop making demands or doing nasty things to me. Of course this theory is ALWAYS disproved at this time however I would like for it to stand just once.

We visited the coast, I normally find some peace or something that helps me within, not this time! No peaceful inner harmony or inner strength found, nothing except this overwhelming stress that is happening and is not being lifted. I understood totally why one of my friends at school said he was going to withdraw and not complete the course. We talked him around of course however I felt like saying ME TOO, lets go and get a drink and celebrate! So that night at class we were given 3 more things that are so big we didn't even want to consider. The first being the 8 hours of clinic. We massage for 3 hours and do all the note taking and setting up etc for the other hour. Then we have another 4 hour of administration to do. What a shame it is the weekend that we were going away for our wedding anniversary! Another assignment which is due in January! too big to even contemplate and an exam. I have one to repeat on Monday and well the pressure is just about at breaking point.

Sometimes it would be nice to say when!

WHEN!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

My Petal



My petal has been diagnosed with A.D.H.D. (Organic) on top of other things. We are doing occupational therapy and had her neuropsyche come to school to evaluate and educate us and the teachers on what works best with her learning. We are now working on part 3 food and diet. Trying to eliminate additives from her diet and keeping a food and mood diary. Who knew that bicarb works on a cellular level and can reduce the effect of nasties in their diet. A teaspoon of bi-carb, in water and then add orange juice or something like that to taste.

So today instead of just taking food away from her and there is a lot of additives in things. (I am so sick of reading about petroleum products in the food aimed at children.) We would make ice cream for tonight. We threw out the supermarket bought ice cream and a lovely friend lent us an ice cream maker to try. (Thank you Pam). so first we popped in some whipped cream, yes with my lactose intolerance this is great for me lol! Then condensed milk and then some lovely vanilla. (Next time we will use the vanilla bean forgot this time). Our children tested everything at every stage and are completely sugared up and happily planting plants in the garden now on a lovely sugar high.

We thought with organic and farmers market food that we were doing alright. There are somethings that we hadn't considered like our lovely Margaret River yoghurt and ice cream that have some NASTIES in them. We have now been forced to make a lot more things. There are so many fillers and bulkers and chemicals added to things, to get the colour right, to get the alternatives to sugar and to just make them additive.

The good thing about making this is that all that the children think is that they are having something homemade (which at this stage in their lives is EXTREMELY appealing) and yum. Not that we are testing things to find out the effects and reduce or eliminate them from all of our diets. I believe that if one of us cannot eat it then none of us should. That way my petal does not feel excluded or different a cry I hear all to often lately.

Oh the sugary goodness of licking condensed milk straight from the can or tube yum. I hope you have a lovely sugary weekend!





Sunday, July 31, 2011

a lovely day

This week the weather has been getting quite lovely during the day and we have made a small amount of progress back in the garden. So many weeds and things to deal however the plants that we have planted last year have really taken off. I am so happy about the grevilliea's especially. They are all starting to flower and have really grown up quite a bit. The garden is starting to look more like the design that I want.

I am still very time poor to do everything that I want. The renovations and painting has just been left neglected. I realise that I cannot possibly worry about this at the moment with everything else especially the exams. So as much as I would love to desperately complete one or two or 30 of the tasks they are on hold. I have a couple of little shrubs to plant today to fill in a space with, some lovely natives so that I won't have to weed those spaces as much. Thats the plan. I am still searching for the beautiful native daisies that I have seen recently in magazines and gardening shows. I will have to make a trip to my favourite australian native nursery and get them there.

I cannot believe that I am more than 1/2 way through my course now. I have just had another exam and I am sweating waiting for the results. I can hardly sleep worrying about whether or not I did enough to pass. I did work hard, I did study quite a bit but I think I always feel that I can do more.

Another exam on Friday and that will be 2 more subjects completed and hopefully passed. Then on to oriental massage which sounds quite interesting. I have to confess that I have enjoyed the sports massage much more than I thought I would. The teacher is very dynamic and inspiring. I have made a few more new friends and the children are enjoying the experience of meeting others and their families.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

when you cannot do anything....

Not many times have we come up against the fact that my Beautiful Little Petal does not have her twin here. Today we did. An excursion tomorrow and my Petal does not have a special little friend to sit with. It is breaking my heart hearing that she is not "normal" that she is a twin and they don't understand her, that she doesn't have her twin here and she would have someone lovely to sit with and that she shouldn't be in heaven. That she is needed here with her. That her other friends all have someone..... she doesn't!

I listened and listened and dried her tears and cuddled her and apologised whilst feeling that it was all my fault. What more can I do to fail my daughter, I have placed her in a world without her identical twin and she is miserable.

Instead of a happy time planning the excursion she is miserable and I am so sad for her. We have planned her meals, snackies and clothes and I fixed a flower onto her hat to help cheer her up but small or nothing in the scheme of things.

So now we are sitting down quietly together having dinner and I am wondering how I fix this.....

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Another exam done!

I am finding that this year is screaming by... that the course is taking up all my time or the study and exams are. We did go to my first gardening group for ages. All the people there were surprised at how much the children have grown so we know that we haven't been for a while. Lovely wondering around someone else's garden and see what can be created. To take away ideas and plant cuttings. To talk about people that have honour systems still and to be reminded of how simple and wonderful things can be in this world. That we have a common interest but when oh when do i find the time and energy that is needed to devote to the garden. I do a little bit of weeding for bin day and do a bit of planting when the plants are there and going to do if I don't plant them but that is it. I have wonderful plans, an orchard, a chicken pen, a design in my head but nothing on paper and no plans for future planting or drawing.

I am neglecting my family and my friends, I find that I type a quick email and then that is it.... I feel the guilt when I stop but whilst I am busy learning anatomy and all the new words that my tongue refuses to accept that I don't even think about anything else. My weekends are now being consumed with study days, that make me tired and over things when I get home. i love this amazing journey however venting is sometimes necessary.

I hate the guilt that goes with not spending enough quality time with the children. I find myself wondering how I could do things better all the time. My good friend talks to me about getting the whip out and self flagellating.

So instead of getting down about it, I have to make a plan. I need to go and buy some wicks for the candle making process that will start very soon. I need to get a bit more organised and have the machine out with the embroidery and make a couple of pillowcases and bags for both of them and with their favourite characters and then we will get busy! I have a lot of catching up to do with both of them and lots and lots of cuddles will be given and received!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

nearly testing time.

When I first started this course they said to us that it would have to be a priority in our lives. I wondered how that would work as I had a few other priorities that I considered much more important. My family, housework, renovating, and now I have this as well. It takes up a lot more time that I realised and it takes up a lot of my thoughts. I wake up to massage techniques and body organisation, golgi complex, ribosomes, bones and muscles.

Time that I would normal spending planning my day, my week or even my weekends seems to have gone. I now plan my next massage and stress when I haven't done enough. I like to plan my next renovating task as there are so many ufo's at the moment and instead i find I am planning my online work and revision.

I find that some tasks in life are too difficult for silly reasons. I have a lovely plum tree that is just outside the main window in the lounge, it is begging to be properly cut back again. The last time I did it, was when my dad was alive watching from his chair with his oxygen on telling me that I needed to cut a bit more and stop the cross over of branches to free up a few areas and to keep going I was doing a great job. I miss that..... so the plum tree is very neglected.

So i am going to do some sewing or knitting or something when I get a free moment..... not sure when as I have a nasty test coming up next week. I have moved past mothers day. The children (and my dearest other half) surprised me with lovely presents, treasures that I will keep and look at and use. The lovely florist made up a beautiful pink butterfly and gave (ALL the children) lady bugs which was so caring and thoughtful and our Angel in heaven even has one on her grave. Some moments others will reach out and give you exactly what you need, so on Mothers day by a total stranger my 3 children were acknowledged and not just 2.

x

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter nearly over

How quickly is this year going. It was dragging at first when I started my first class and now that the tests, exams etc are coming up it is going so fast. Am I ready? No way! Am I up to date? No Way!!!! i have been practicing lots of massages and I get very nervous each time I do a new person or even a new technique and we learn these every week. I am wondering when I will feel comfortable and confident. I am getting to know different massages, the legs, lower back and glut's, upper back, neck and head (supine) arms and feet. i have my favourites and luckily with my first test I was able to do one of my favourites. I struggled to just go to the test, I hate no loathe being tested and normally that would be my cue to leave, this time it was quite different and gave me a chance to get lots of feedback, some positive and quite unexpected too. My favourite being that "I looked like I know what I am doing."

Easter holidays are nearly over, not sure about the holiday part as they have gone so quickly and as normal we have been very busy. I am trying to learn to say NO to people but not getting there yet. We have dashed around the countryside and the children are quite over it all. After our 3 meltdown for the day from both of them, they were popped into bed for some quiet down time. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Some things have been achieved and some not so sucessful. However mostly the good outweighs the not so good so it is all balanced.

My red headed hurricanes birthday next week and he has decided (thank goodness) not for a party but a weekend at the coast instead. I love this. It makes me so happy that we can influence and guide their decisions still. The other night whilst traveling back from a visit to a good friend we decided to opt for take away. I suggested Maccers and was greeted with a chorus of No, YUCKO, then I suggested a common chicken takeway and again the same response. I asked if Japanese Udon noodles would be good and was greeted with an overwhelming yes, yum thank you. So to add to this treat we decided to sit in the restaurant and have a lovely meal. i like that at the moment we win over all the marketing for food. I am wondering when peer pressure added to this will change things?

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

what order?

I have just bought some chairs off ebay for the verendah when it is built, I keep thinking that there is 2 ways of doing this; 1. To wait until it is finished and then if there is any money left to go and source things or use whatever you have to sit on. 2. To slowly acquire these things when they come up, for a good price and then wonder where the hell you are going to store 7 chairs now as I had already bought one previously. So I have 7 chairs here and they are lovely. The work perfectly with the French Provincial theme that I am attempting and I am on the look out for a table that works with both theme and budget. I think that I have managed to not use too much of the savings and when we find the time and the energy we will continue with the verandah until then we are busy with lots of other things. We have to cull the cars and my other half desperately would like to get a new one (well second hand new one!) He has worked hard and we have found what we would like to get and have the money put away however we have to now fix up and sell 2 cars to buy this one. This would leave us with 2 cars after that. One that I can drive with the kiddies and one for him. At the moment we have his car, that sits out the front and does nothing much. A toyota hilux that NEEDS to be sold, the work car that was my dads and he left to us that he drives on a daily basis, that also needs to be sold and my car that is used on a daily basis as well. He would like to get a mini, we have had all sorts of comments including "are you gay?" to the kiddies pointing out every single mini that they see and trying to decide on the right colour which involves not on the body of the car but the roof as well. For now it is just a matter of cleaning up, doing minor fixes, getting a road worthy or 2 and selling. Recently I had a little birthday, the birthday boy was turning 2. SO LOVELY. I wasn't able to visit my friend and her boy however I decided to send things and I am trying desperately to have presents that are made or local or something. The kiddies decided to help me and Red Headed Hurricane thought that a little boy needed a "grill'd" box to put the things in, like he does for his thomas trains and cars so that was the first thing. We went to our favourite burger place and when getting the burgers got an extra tin. So then we needed to include Easter as well, so Thomas was also chosen and I was thinking this was exactly what I was wanting to do however well the next idea, was my Petal to include a little present for his Mummy of an apron that was made so this was good. Then we found some little pencils as well so that was agreed on as well. the last item we had to make, he loves "the Cars" movie and characters so it was agreed that Lightening McQueen would go on the front of the library bag that we were making for him. My dearest other half stepped up with his Engineering back ground and cut out the material, working out the dimensions and how it would go together. I then sewed on the embroidery (using the machine) with the character and then the name, was decided to be done in RED to match the character and contract on the lovely Slate grey colour of the bag itself. Lastly I sewed up the bag and threaded through the cord and it was done. We also included a Made in Australia and local top from Moppit. So all the things along with a card were popped in and sent to Daylesford. It was so much fun that the family has decided to do one for another little soul, a little girl this time. All we have to do is agree on the design.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Why we have hearts.

My red headed hurricane told me this morning as we went home sick from kinder. "Mummy do you know why we have hearts?" I said "No" he went on to tell me that "we have hearts so that is where we store all mummy's love" I really wish my anatomy teacher would accept this wonderful explanation for Body Organisation course. I think that I am going alright slowly starting to get things and then something tricky happens. A new movement that my body refuses to do, a new topic that just doesn't seem to click or a password that doesn't work and cannot be fixed for a couple of days. Challenges are proving to bug me at the moment. I am not going to let them win, I am practicing, waiting and revising. My petal has just been for her neuropsyche assesment and as always the results mean a new challenge for us. We have been told that we need to start her on medication soon and as always I am very sad, something else for her to deal with. In so many ways we have been lucky to get this far before we needed it, in other ways I would love to be in the "Normal" world. Imagine that! As she gets older we are noticing more and more differences, more hurdles and her becoming more aware of others and how they function. Questions are more and more forthcoming. On the other side of the coin, we have a very very intelligent child. Poor, poor mummy hard having a girl smarter than her! I hope I can bluff her for a few more years yet.

Monday, March 14, 2011

A long weekend.

We are all starting to get into a familiar routine. My red headed hurricane has settled into kinder and is starting to get quite happy about going. He plans what he would like to do and mostly the teacher is very happy to accommodate. It is quite lovely to see his world expanding and he had his first party. We were thrilled that the little girl was called the same name as our little angel. Also that on the party bags she stamped her name with a butterfly. Our symbol for our angel. It was like a sign. Our Red Headed hurricane was so happy when he came home telling us of his adventures.

Our Petal is flying along and has been moved into the top literacy group, we are all thrilled at her wonderful progress. I have to be careful, no spelling words, no leaving my email open and no leaving notes that I don't want read, she reads everything and Anything. So we are guiding her to use her powers for good, We bought her a lovely E-Magazine for children and installed it on her little computer. We are on a mission to make bees wax candles and lip balm.

I have completed one unit in my study and I now have a massage table and have given both children a full back and leg massage well full being what I have learnt. We had the children's music on and it was quite lovely. My other half was amazed at how much I have learnt.... it must look alright as he spent the whole time watching me, tell me that is not pressure. I bought the table off a lovely friend of mine, it is the nicest table that I have seen and I am so happy. I must remember to send her a little thank you note. Where oh where am I going to set it up. I was hoping to keep the spare room as a sewing room however I am thinking that this is not going to be the case. I have been very busy with the study and learning. I have to say that I am enjoying it and I have a list of people that are wanting me to practice on them. Thank goodness as I have to do a log book of 50 hours as part of the course.

We went to the park today, a lovely walk in the sun, just watched the children play and run around in the warm weather. The walk back was one of discovery, some lavender collected, a lizard observed, some rainbow parrots eating our apples, stairs to no where, lots of lovely flowers and different houses being built.

It was quite a nice weekend, we met up with a dear friend in the city for lunch and let the children enjoy catching fairies and walking in the rain.

Back to it now.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

3 boxes

I have a strong feeling when it comes to boxes, I don't see something for children to play with, I don't see something to pack things in, I see 3 boxes that sit on my shelf at home. They make me sad, they make me angry, they make me reflect. These boxes all contains ashes. I picked up another one yesterday of Stanley. The other 2 are my parents. I see them everyday. I read the inscriptions and realise how much more I want, another day, another hour, another moment.....

I look at the boxes and realise that my thoughts have been conveyed to my youngest child. When we were in Mitre10 he asked why they kept peoples ashes on a shelf in the garden section and his older sister explained to him that this box was not for ashes but for goods they were selling.

Sometimes I wish our life was a little different and the children did not know what death and all the implications of losing their sister, their grandparents, their uncle and their dog meant.

I wish that I didn't have to hear from my children late at night when they come and see me; "I am a little sad about....."

Thursday, February 3, 2011

temperaments....

Our red headed hurricane has started kinder and we are realising that the only person that can deal with his very strong will in the family is me.....Sometimes I would like to ask for help and I realised that I could with our amazing chiropractor.

He suggested that I look into the four temperaments amongst other things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Temperaments#Choleric

So i can instantly see where our Red Headed hurricane comes however my little Petal is a bit more of a blend of 2.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

do all veggies have an english accent!

Today whilst driving home from a farmers market my Red Headed Hurricane raised the issue of "bad butchers" with us. These are the people that don't treat animals well when being slaughtered or afterwards by pumping water into the meat. He decided that we should not kill any animals at all. So I said that this is possible and that we could be vegetarians and not eat any meat like my cousin from England. "Doesn't he eat chicken?" No chicken is meat he eats veggies and get his protein from beans and legumes. He doesn't want to eat animals.

We often have a Curry in a Hurry with him and his partner Lovely L. We then enjoy all the veggie delights together. We also explained to my Red Headed Hurricane that he would not be able to have butter chicken. That chicken is meat. He listened carefully and then said to us. "So I would also talk funny too!"

We found a small farmers market at Mulgrave today. It is on every Sunday and I think in times of need we will be going there. It was great fun although a little hot for my liking today. We got caught out yesterday thinking it was the fourth Saturday and we dashing off to find that it was actually the fifth Saturday of the month and no markets, plus we had NO veggies and things needed to go back to school and kinder tomorrow. We now have a stock of Zucchini's and some other lovely things.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Almost back to school.....

It has been a lovely holiday and quite a bit has been done. We went away, we worked hard on the house and garden, we painted and mowed and mowed again and dreamed about all the lovely things yet to do and what we might make work better in the future for us. I love that the garden is actually starting to take shape and recover from all the years of NO rain. Our favourite apple tree is covered in fruit for the first time in 10 years. The children are watching them grow and grow. I love that our home is evolving and becoming nicer than I ever dreamed it would. (with a long way to go yet but lovely progress is being made).


We went for a holiday with the van..... we had the lovely new curtains which were WONDERFUL. They kept the very early morning light out. They made the van look like what it used to. My mother had changed some of the curtains from the purple material to a soft pink with backing. We decided to stay with the backing however return to the purple and a very similar material too. So they all matched with a few minor changes. We decided that the curtains near the bed needed to be a bit longer. The curtains in front of the bed area were made the same length as each other as the one closest to the stove was shorter we kept them without backing another good decision. The rest of the curtains didn't get time to have backing put on all of them however we all found that with the annex set up that was not a problem either and now we are back we can get them finished in our own good time. We needed a whisk (for pancakes as double ingredients is too hard to mix with a fork) and a bigger fry pan which we have (but didn't take with us) and it would be absolutely perfect. We need to make a few minor repairs and touch ups and the van should go well for us for at least another few years.


The kids loved going on holiday in the van and sleeping in the annexe on their new bunk bed. A space saver and bought at a camping shop so nice and low to the ground. The novelty didn't wear off the whole time. They loved going for walks all the days, walking to see the movies, walking in the morning to the bakery and to the coffee shop to get Daddy a fresh coffee. The car hardly got used. They loved being at the beach and playing in the sand and surf and using the boogie board for the first time. My petal loved having her first pair of thongs. With her problems we were able to find a pair of thongs with a strap on the back that meant she could actually wear them and walk in them and the best part of all they were PINK and SPARKLY! What more could a pink girl ask for. She was so happy she told everyone that she meet about her new thongs. We knew what they meant for her to finally be able to wear a pair.

The kids thought that the toilet blocks were a meeting place to make friends and chat to everyone. I was amazed at home many people waved and spoke to them on our walks up the street and around the area. Even the lovely cleaning lady came and gave them a smarties biscuit each when they were leaving and said she would miss them. They had been talking to her and entertaining her everyday whilst she was working hard.

They especially loved going on our good friends boat.... "Secret Men's Business" and going very fast. I managed to catch a fish with my girl on her lovely new "pink" fishing rod. We caught a Pinky seemed very apt! One night my other half caught some lovely fish and we had fish and chips which was very grand. We found a farmers market on a Friday not too far away from where we were and managed to get some lovely fruit and veggies and had the best feasts ever. I think the food always tastes so much better on holiday.

They also loved their freedom to be able to roam and adventure with us saying don't go far, stay near, don't go near the road and all the other things that overprotective parents say to their children all day. They were allowed to cross the road in the park without holding an adults hand, they were able to go out of site for a little while and come back and tell us about all their adventures. They had a wonderful friend and his younger sister to play with everyday and always new people to talk to and places to explore. They had 2 op shops and the children always wondered and speculated on what fabulous finds they would get from their visits to one or the other. I didn't do too badly either. A lovely large embroidery hoop, 2 bowls that I had been searching for a while were found, a book or 2 a lovely japanese square of material in dark indigio, a few placemats and all sorts of wonders for the children including a lovely purple chair for my hurricane with our other daughters name on it. They were thrilled especially with this lovely find.

So now our new adventure begins. My huricane is off to Kinder this year actually on Monday. My Petal is back to school and I am off to do some study if I can get my act together. I will keep you posted. Have to dash so many things still to label and sort out and unpack from the van.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Learning

We are learning all about the caravan. Firstly we have learnt that old things break! We have found that some things are easy to replace with like for like. Other things are proving a bit tricky.

Secondly if the van is not level the fridge does not work and caravan fridges are VERY expensive to replace. I was quite shocked to find the price of a new one was over $1200.00 yes you are reading that correctly. Luckily ours is now working once we leveled the van. Nice and clean too.

We have found some material very similar to the original to replace the curtains and later we will replace the seat covers, the second can wait a bit. The first we are making a few changes to in length and adding block out. I like light but full on at 5am is a bit much for me every morning when enjoying a holiday. i have a wonderful friend making them for us. YEAH to wonderful friends who help out, If I was doing them we would still be making then for a year or so. She is extremely patient and working hard for us. It will not go unrewarded. Always value good friends!

Whilst cleaning out I found that my mum had collected over the years quite a few vintage tablecloths. They are lovely and i am loath to just shove them in the van. They are mostly staying home now. I have popped 2 in the van to use and they look so lovely on the table. I cannot wait until things start to come together. At least it is clean now inside and out.

We are finding out how to paint the outside as there are some panels that need some more white paint. We are also going to paint the strips back on with the kiddies. I think they will enjoy that. I wish I could find out the exact colour and return that to the van however I am not sure how to go about it. I have found a vintage caravan club however we don't really qualify as our van is too new. I am sure that they would have amazing information to pass on. I might try to see if they will accept us all the same.

I am also learning that when good friends are quiet that it can be that they are not well. I wish more than anything that I could do something. Sometimes things can be so hard for others and we are almost powerless to help. I will think carefully about this and see what i come up with. I am sure that there will be something.

Queensland is also in my thoughts, to see what is happening and realise how lucky we are is heartbreaking. I am praying that more people are not killed in this awful flooding. For all those having a tough time at the moment you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Happy Birthday

Today is my dearest Husbands birthday!

Happy Birthday to you......we are having a lovely time making cards and wrapping a couple of presents. Nothing big but nice all the same. The kiddies enjoyed chosing something for their Daddy plus decorating it. They had a lovely time of thinking of things that Daddy would like and were careful with their choice. It was fun to see what they wanted.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Molly

Molly is a fairly recent addition to my Hurricanes collection of pretend friends. This one is extra special. He came to me a couple of weeks ago and explained that he was really starting to fall in love with Molly. We believe that Molly might be the yellow train from Thomas the Tank. Sometimes she is human and other times she is not and doesn't have legs. Most of the time he is the same age as Molly and sometimes she has children.

Then last week when we were driving to visit someone. My Hurricane announced to me that he was not going to live with Molly anymore. That he was going to turn his life around. Molly was moving to Japan and he would like to visit, everyday! (A sutble hint that he would REALLY like to go back to Japan again soon). I normally reply with "fair enough."

His other friends include Astro Boy, James, Thomas and "M". Only one is real and gives him cuddles everyday that she sees him. Sometimes this collection grows and sometimes they are not talking to him and he is fighting with them all and then it is all out war. Normally these are days that he goes for a nap. It is quite complex and I have to fill in my other half on the days proceedings so that he doesn't get told off, for asking questions that he should know the answers to. My Hurricane does not hold back telling anyone and everyone off when he feels the need.

oil of cloves, bi carb and vinegar.

These lovely ingredients are my friends. i have been using them constantly whilst cleaning the caravan and all the things from it. SO many things, it took me nearly a day to empty. I am finding some lovely things that I had totally forgotten we had. Plus a bit of a cull is occurring however I am finding that a lot of Australian made products are staying and the made in china newer things are out! Lovely to see all the things we used to make in Australia and took it for granted such a shame that we don't anymore.

So firstly the bi carb has been cleaning all the stains from inside the lovely old dinner set and all other things. Then I have used it to take the smell out of the fridge a bit of vanilla as well. (Fingers crossed that when we test the power that this works otherwise off to Good Guys.) The oil of cloves has been used on all the mould inside and out and makes the van smell lovely. The kiddies love it, the smell was very old prior to this. The vinegar and lemon has been used to remove the rust on the van and on some of the utensils. This also smells like fish and chips night and again the kiddies love it.

Hot soapy water is great too and has been used in abundance. I have really had to be very careful cleaning things as they are old and some things cannot take the rigours of normal cleaning. Shannon Lush has been wonderful and so too have helpful hints from the computer (thank you google).

I found this lovely website today in a down time moment and thought that it might be interesting for a few.
http://shewearsmanyhats.com/2011/01/handy-dandy-photography-tip/

Not related at all to what I am doing but good all the same.

Have a lovely day. Back to it.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year

Well that year went very quickly or so it feels and I am trying to get on top of things still. I am mowing and painting and weeding and ironing like a women possessed.

My next main goal is to get the caravan ready. We have found a temporary home for it and moved it from my parents house, (which is now mine) and I am about to clean it out. First I have to empty it out. We have done this before. A few years ago, when mum was still alive, me and my other half emptied it out and cleaned it out and got it ready for going away. Unbeknown to us my mum managed to in spite of a broken hip and broken back fill it up again. So when we collected it from it home and looked inside we found all sort of things in there. I know she would be sitting up in heaven laughing about it wondering why we took so long to find her little surprise. So now I am getting busy on the inside, the outside can wait, although we have had it serviced so some of the outside was first. This little trip will be a great time to work out exactly what we need to take with us and what we need to update inside. It a vintage about 1973 one so things are very cute inside. It is only 3 berth so that will make things interesting hopefully we can get the annexe up and then the kiddies will happily sleep in there. We have to buy a couple of blow up mattresses although in the future I would prefer to have a bunk bed for them. Takes up less room and it is quite fun for both of them. Camping has to be fun after all not just something that you do. We are not going to our favourite spot this year, but a new place with another family too.

The mulch pile which has been haunting me for so long is finally gone, one barrel load to spread out and then it is done for the time being. The garden has come along and it looking quite nice to a point that I am mostly happy with. Although the area that Stanley lived in will have to be tackled next, i am not sure what to do there. Maybe a few more fruit trees would be good. Stanley loved to eat all the plums and apples and often had a big sleep afterwards.

We had a quiet new year, just the way we like it. A friend came over and a few drinks were had by all. We watched our amazing friends fireworks that he does in the city and finally they were properly broadcasted on tv this year. Absolutely amazing nothing less than I would expect.

I think i will have to think of a wish list for this year.

1. Get the deck done and have a sit down on the deck (which involves me finding a table and chairs for out there)
2. Painting inside and out
3 Especially doing the Hurricanes room installing cupboards etc
4. Go to Japan again
5. Get a puppy (we are all so sad not having our big black monster anymore)
6. DO SEWING
7. Do Knitting (see Kate and learn how to knit using those dreaded needles)
8. Enjoy what life has to offer.
9. Spend more time walking and playing with the kiddlies.
10. Visit Daylesford a bit more and have visits too.