The other half has gone a brought a bus to convert to a motorhome :/

While i am all for this i didn't expect it to be so sudden. We'd talked about it and done some research but i said we would be better to wait 6 - 12 months and use the savings we had for a deposit on a home, the price of a bus may come down in that time or a better bus might come our way. I gave him my honest opinion and he still went off and did his own thing which has now left us homeless, in a sense, and pulling the budget strings even tighter. It'll be months if not a few years before the renovating of the bus even begins.

Ok, rant over. I'm off to play with the budget.

~x~

Gosh, 3 months has gone by without a blog post from me, how slack am i?? Don't answer that, i know the answer!

Well, to cut a long story short, all my adventureous plans always come to an abrupt end.
Most of you know we were planning to travel around the country in a caravan. We started our adventure at the begining of September, got 600kms up the road, had an accident and the caravan is now a write off. Thankfully the children and ourselves are ok, not a scratch or bruise, a little shaken and emotionally drained but alive. So our plans have taken a drastic turn. We are now back in our original hometown in South Australia living quietly but happily until we sort ourselves out.

I will not say anymore on this subject. I will continue to blog as i have been, i find blogging is soothing for the soul and have missed it immensly.
Until next time~x~

Mmmmm, i love homegrown produce. Nothing tastes better then goods picked straight from the garden. I don't get to the local markets every week so i have to bite the bullet and purchase from the supermarket. You certainly notice the difference in taste!
I also enjoy pottering out in the garden, chatting aimlessly away to the plants and animals, sometimes even having a grand conversation with the wind lol

Hubby has been busy the past couple of weeks creating portable garden beds. All the materials used were recycled. Some being sourced from local scrap bins and some from the farm. The only part that cost us was the seedlings and potting mix (we got composted cow/sheep manure from the local saleyards). We also found a concrete trough laying around the backyard too.

We've had a couple of frosty nights so i had to, as my 5 year old tells everyone, "put the plants to bed" . I only covered them with a garbage bag but will get hubby to make something that doesn't squish the plants.

So, i have planted potatoes, lettuce, peas, beans, strawberries, brocoli, cabbage, beetroot.







The hard part now is waiting for it all to grow!

Until next time
Happy Gardening
-x-

To my brother who turns 16 today :o)

I wish him all the happiness and oppertunities life has to offer. Love you mate xoxoxox

Until next time
-x-

The beauty's in the photo below are not my achievement, the green thumb who grew these is my mum. There are more still growing in the vegie patch too.

The orange coloured pumpkin is Australian Butter - a rare Australian heirloom pumpkin, fruit weighs up to 7 kg with tan-coloured skin and deep orange, dense flesh. It is excellent for baking, has a great flavour and keeps well.



The nobbly one is Marina di Chioggia - Very old, Italian heirloom with a unique thick, knobbly grey-green skin and sweet rich deep yellow-orange flesh; approx 2 kg in size. Great for baking or soup. Excellent keeper.

The seeds were purchased online from Green Harvest (Aust) and i am extremely happy with how they have grown.

Harvested just in time for Samhain too :) but no Jack-o-lantern carving for these, they will make yummy soups for the coming winter months and if they keep really well, soup for next year too! I'd say mum will be sending some of these gems home with anyone who visits aswell.

Looking forward to seeing what pumpkin breeds mum grows next season.

Until next time
Samhain Blessings
-x-

A lil orphaned lamb who just wanted to be loved and played with found himself the perfect owner, Miss Mogs now known as Lilttle Bo Peep.



We have only had Shephard the lamb for a week and already his little scrawny body is filling out nicely and he is the most pleasent little animal to have around. Leaping and bounding around the yard with the children giggling at his antics.



Until next time
-x-

As some of you know, my family and i have moved 600km's north of where we were living. We weren't sure how permanent it was going to be, we were taking each day at a time and hoping hubby would find the job he most wanted. That job has been found! Horray! No more truck driving for him and we will be a family of 5 every day instead of one day a week :o)

Now the day has come to say a proper goodbye to the place we have called home for the past 10 years. Where my husband and i fell in love. Where our 3 young children have grown into the slightly older children they are now. Where us as a family have experienced so many things, good and bad, but in the end it has all been a learning experience and one we wouldn't change.

It's not quite as sad as i've made it out to be lol, we still have this place to come back to when we have holidays (if it doesn't get sold beforehand) but we won't be able to come down every weekend as we have been. It just feels more final now as the place is near empty, most of the animals have been sold and this chapter is being closed to allow us to start afresh.

So i say my goodbyes as i close the door behind me, leaving our home and all the memories we made here. Onwards to a new adventure and a new home, again lol

Until next time
-x-

.... is Power Force Professional Cleaner purchased from Aldi!
I know, i know, not at all environmentally friendly but gosh it has done wonders to my kitchen! Lifts grease and grime with ease. Everything sparkles and smells delightful. I don't think any other commercial cleaning product i have used in the past has done an exceptionally good job as this.

Next is to tackle the bathroom then i can go back to using natural cleaning products and not feel giddily guilty lol.

Until next time
happy house cleaning
-x-

Mabon blessings to you all.

The plan for today was pinecone collecting and picnicing in the forests but the cold rain and wind put a stop to that. We will plan it for another day this coming week. We use the pinecones to start the wood heater aswell as for craft activities.

The nightly meal is a hearty vegetarian casserole. Unfortunately there is nothing to harvest from the gardens at the farm so we brought our produce this time. It's all fresh and farmed in Australia which is good and has made a delicious meal :o)

Hope you have all had a blessed day.

Until next time
-x-

Ok, i'm a day late! I did post a loving message on my facebook status yesterday though :)

So, without further ado.....

Happy 18th birthday to my gorgeous sister. She has grown into such a beautiful, witty, talented woman. I couldn't ask for a better sister.

And.....

Happy 50th birthday to my dear daddy. He may not have been involved in bringing me into this everchanging world but he has definately been involved in every aspect of my life for the past 27 or so years guiding me with love and wisdom.

To you both, i wish you years of love, laughter and special memories and i am proud to have you as my family :)

And one more, happy birthday to my step-son. I won't disclose his age, although he's only a few years younger then me lol.

Until next time
i hope you all grow old in healthy happiness
-x-

Do you own any quirky kitchen gadgets? You know, things like a potato peeler with a monkey for a handle or a nutcracker in the shape of a squirrel. Maybe novelty items that are a want not a need? Strawberry slicer, adjustable rolling pin, clip on spoon rest or an egg cracker.

I don't, well, i didn't until i saw these must have measuring cups! Aren't they just gorgeous!



In my defence, my measuring cups were cheap plain looking ones from a cheap shop. They did the job well but i've always been on the lookout for something more pleasing to the eye. The M-cups as they're called, come with 6 different measures, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 cup. How simple is baking now? ;)


I think i've got a kitchen gadget bug now lol I want funky unusal items to display on my benchtops. I'm considering the knife block in the shape of a person where the knives slot through the body lol

Until next time
-x-

As promised, here is the nectarine jam and the plum jam. I didn't do step by step photos this time. The cooking procedures are the same for most jams :)

It all tastes yummy. I'm now scouting the fruit shop and markets for other fruits i can turn into jams.





Until next time
-x-

Mmmm, i love the taste of homemade jam. Not only do i know what is in it, i get that feeling of satisfaction knowing i made it all by myself. I didn't have to get advice from my mum this time lol

On the weekend we went to a local market and brought 10kgs each of peaches, plums and nectarines. They were the last crops off the trees and really cheap. After gorging ourselves on yummy fresh fruit for the past 3 days, it was time to preserve the remainder for the winter months (not sure if i can keep the family away from the jam for that long though!).

So began the process of peeling, chopping, cooking and bottling. I had to buy new jars as i got rid of mine in the move but i feel because this year is a new begining for us, i can allow myself new jars that will continue to be filled with homemade goodies.

Here is my small batch of peach jam. My next blog will show the nectarine jam. It's still bubbling away on the stove :)







It was a learning experience. I've made strawberry jam and fig jam a couple of times before. I find both those fruits mush down whereas peaches hold their shape. Next time i'll chop them smaller. It set well. I did use jam setter. 1.5kgs of fruit and half the amount of sugar which i probably could have scaled down a little more. All in all it turned out well and it's delicious on a piece of fresh bread :o)

Until next time
happy preserving
-x-

You may be aware, Easter will be upon you all soon. Well for those who celebrate Easter at this time of the year that is.

I was going through my photo's and found an Easter creation you may like to make. An Easter Bonnet, but not a wearable bonnet ;) It's super simple. I purchased all the items from Spotlight but shop around and you never know what you might find.

I'll show you the photo then i'll give you a detailed list of what you'll need. It's fairly self explanatory though :)


Tall round papiermache/carboard box with lid
Round cake board
Coloured shredded paper
Plastic fillable eggs
Fluffy chicks
Easter felt shapes
Paint and paint brush
Craft Glue or hot glue gun
Any other Easter inspired decorations you wish to use.

Paint box, lid and board. When dry, glue box to board. Glue shredded paper around base of hat and any other decorations. Glue felt designs around side of box. Fill box with shredded paper and place eggs and other decprations in and on top.
I haven't attached the lid, it's just sitting on the rabbit lollypop. The top of the lid has been decorated with an egg and more shredded paper. I definately got heavy handed with the paper lol.

Good to give as a gift too. Fill the plastic eggs with little choc eggs.

Until next time
Happy creating
-x-

Unbeknown to me, my blog decided it wasn't accepting comments from everyone, it seemed to have a select group only lol.
When i changed my background and layout i didn't check the comments box to make sure it was available to all.
I think i have corrected the problem so you may all get comment happy now :)

-x-

....do you sleep on and why?

Hubby and i were having this discussion late one night after yet again he refused to move to his side of the bed.

In the 10 years we have been together i have nearly always slept on the right hand side of the bed (if you're standing at the foot of the bed looking at it). The only time i haven't is in certain motels of cabins. Why would this be so? The one and only logical reason we could come up with, is it's the side closest to the door and being a mother i am the one who keeps an ear open while sleeping so i can hear if the kids wake in the night.

We tried fooling this theory. We visulised the sides our parents, siblings, any relation and friend slept on. There was only one exception, hubby's sister, but we then realized she does sleep on the right hand side, it's the door that is on the wrong side lol.

We even mentally rearranged the bedrooms, placing the beds against a different wall but it was always the same, female on right side of the bed.

We thought maybe if you were a left-handed person it might change but no, not the case. Admittidly, we couldn't think of more then 5 lefty's lol

So, i ask, could there be another answer as to why a majority of females slep on the right side of the bed? Let me know if there is, it's an ongoing topic in this home.

Until next time
sleep comfortably
-x-

Miss Floss and Miss Mogs had their 1st bucking bull ride on the weekend. Fortunately it was one of those mechanical bulls and when you get thrown off you fall onto a soft air filled cushion.

Miss Mogs was on 1st. Her 'bull' was docile, some slow spins and easy bucks. Lucky for her as she is such a petite girl. She fell off twice but was grinning from ear to ear each time lol.



Miss Floss was up next. Being taller and more robust, her 'bull' became more fiesty as the ride went on. Started off slow and tame to get her used to it then when 'he' realized she wasn't going anywhere too soon he got bucking and swaying. She was wizzed left, then sharply right, thrown back then lurched forwards (not as forceful as it sounds lol) After 5 minutes the 'bull' was rightly annoyed and when Miss Floss wasn't paying close attention he threw her sideways and off she slid!



Until next time
try your skill at bull riding, it's fun
-x-

When you hear the phrase Alternative Farming, what springs to mind? For me, certainly not the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo!

I won a family pass, yay me :), to go to the expo on Saturday so we packed a picnic lunch and took the 2 hour drive across to Seymour. We didn't have high expectations, well, i didn't think we did, but we hoping we would come away with some ideas that were different from the usual farming practices.

Now, for me, normal farming is dairy/beef, sheep, grain cropping, chickens, hay making lol Where were the Snail farmers, Bees, rabbits, flowers, fish farmers, cheese and wine makers?? I could go on ;)

There was the odd stall selling lavendar products, emu oil products, eco friendly building materials (does polystyrene fall into that catagory?), solar power and water, clothing made from alpaca fleece. Most of the other exhibits were tractors, water tanks, fencing equipment and all those 'must have' items you see on TVSN lol. All these are sights you would expect to see at a normal farming field day. There were animals in amongst everything else, but nothing different and exciting.





I will admit the 'normal' farmers did have ideas on how to improve on what you have and get the most out of your products, and some of these ideas were good for the dry. arid country we live in. I did like the Smart Fodder Solutions. It's something we already knew about and having researched it we were able to create our own take on it and it worked marvelously! This is their set up.




So overall, i don't think the expo did the term 'alternative' justice but it was a nice day out and hubby came away with a few quotes on items on his wishlist ;)

Until next time
-x-

The 1st harvest celebration of the year aswell as the marking of the end of summer (i don't think summer is going anywhere in a hurry around here lol)

It wasn't much of a celebration here this time. I was preoccupied with the girls 1st day of school and to be honest, it crept up on me too quick.

Anyway, i made a loaf of bread but i cheated and did it in the breadmaker. It was just too hot to have the oven on.

I didn't get to make a corn dolly, as i didn't plant any corn at the farm last season. I am looking forard to when i can make one, i've not made one before but they look grand.

We had a simple meal of vegies, not home grown unfortunately but from the local fruit and veg shop which in my opinion is just as good.
As you have read, it was a very quiet day but still enjoyable for me :)

Until next time
Blessings
-x-

I know of a few people who are decluttering their homes. Ridding themselves of items they haven't used for a year or more. I did a bit of decluttering myself when i was packing boxes for our move to a new home. Not only does it make the home more spacious and neater, it gives you a sense of satisfaction knowing someone else will benefit from your clutter, well hopefully ;)

I wonder if anyone's decluttering was as big as what my hubby got rid of? I don't think anyone will benefit from this lot, although i was told the door on the Dodge will be going to a collector, the rest, well, it's giong to wherever scrap metal goes. I probably don't want to know, it'll be adding to landfill somewhere along the line :(



By the end of February he'll have decluttered more car bodies, machinery and large bits and bobs, not just our clutter but those who have lived here before us. If this keeps up i'll want to move back to our farm, it's looking like a new home lol

Until next time
-x-

This is the 1st time i've had to pay an astronomical amount for the girls school uniforms and i'm not impressed! Why? Because the school, which is a public school, has a non-generic uniform policy. All shirts, jumpers and hats must be logo'ed and girls must wear skorts, no dresses, skirts or basketball style shorts. What i paid for 2 polo shirts, 2 hats and 4 pairs of skorts (couldn't get green ones from any of the stores in 3 different towns so had to buy them from the school)i could have brought a years worth of uniforms for both girls from Target plus extras! I still need to buy jumpers for winter and by then DD9 will have had a growth spurt and will be needing bigger sizes *insert rolling eyes*. I don't care what the school says, my girls will be wearing generic shirts and jumpers. They will each have 1 shirt with logo that they can wear for the 1st couple of days of the new term aswell as special ocassions, every other day it will be non-logo'ed shirt. Same with the winter jumper. Will be interesting to see what winter style pants their allowed, all i know is they have to be green.

Ok, rant over.

Until next time
-x-

Well, not until February for my girls but atleast they are enrolled in their new school :)

We had a meet and greet with the principle yesterday (Monday) and a tour of the school. The student population is under 250 with about 12 classes of combined grades. The girls had the choice of being in the same class but both flatly refused lol The building and outside area is HUGE compared to the last school the girls attended, i hope they don't get lost going to and from classes!

Now i have to buy uniforms and half the stationary, the school supplies the other half, different to the last school where they supplied everything we just had to hand the money over lol

The girls are quite looking forward to school starting, they've already made 2 friends who won't be in their class but they can still hang out at playtime.

Now i need to enrol Master Smiley in kinder and prepare myself for days alone :( lol

Until next time
-x-

We have moved! From Western Victoria to Northern Victoria, close to 500kms from home, might not sound a lot to some but for me it’s a looong way. . The house we are residing in is hopefully temporary; more on that at a later date just keep your fingers crossed for us 

Setting up home in a new town is fun but I will admit I am homesick. I miss the farm. I miss my veggie patch – water restrictions here mean I can’t have a garden or even a back lawn for the kids to run around. No animals – the rental is a no pet zone. I can’t holler at the kiddies lol, we are in town with neighbours all around, Most of all I miss having looong conversations with my mum. I can still chat to her from here but I have to be mindful of the costs. I’ve emailed her each day since we’ve been here lol. So yep, it’s bad homesickness for now and no amount of chocolate will compensate for it lol

The town we are in is very touristy. The caravan park is overfull with holidaying families. The river is always a hive of activity with boats and skiers. We’ve sat on the bank and watched, dangling our feets in the water.
Playing at the play park has been a regular morning activity for us. The kiddies enjoy the swings, slides, monkey bars etc while I pound the pavement for a morning walk.
Lucky for me there are no interesting shops hehe, even the newsagent is a little on the dull side.

Next week we will be enrolling the girls in school, and then we will sort out their uniforms and book lists. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a red uniformed school lol so I’ll be purchasing entire new uniforms. My little man will be enrolled in kinder too! How scary!

Until next time
Happy 2010, may it be a goal-achieving year for you all
-x-