Latest Power Bill Adventures...

I can't believe it but I totally forgot to write about my goings on with our latest Electricity bill... Well here it is...

We had our new digital meter put in two weeks before we had our reading done and I knew our bill should be around $175 for the last quarter. I got my bill and nearly had a heart attack. It was $212.15. What the????

So I went over my meter readings, which I do every day at 7am and found that the meter reading they had for my old meter was out by 200kWh. I read my meter as the technician was just about to take it out and replace it with the digital one so I knew that my reading was correct. With this information I called Ergon to see why I was out that amount of hours...

The lady was every so helpful I must say. She was soooo lovely. She rang the Depot in Warwick and yes they had put down the correct reading on the paper but when it was transferred into the computer system, human error made it 200kWh more. Problem solved. The bill was cancelled and a new one was issued. This time it was $174.50. Woohoo. That is much more like it.

It did get me thinking though. There are allot of meters being replaced in Australia at the moment with the surge of solar panels going on roofs. How many of these people read their meters? Not many I would suspect... So how many are potentially being overcharged due to human error. I am glad that I saved my family this money and that I was on the ball.

Needless to say I will continue to read my meter every day at 7am. :)

Cheers Damaris

Don't do this at home...

Two big whoppers...

Russell went out and watered the veggies while I was making dinner on Sunday night and look at the piccy. That is what he came in with...

Way too overgrown. The zucchini cut up fine and would have been fine to cut smaller but this lot the chooks enjoyed. And the ducks actually. They love veggies... There would have been no taste to it and probably not even good to use as a filler. So the animals had them. Took two ice cream containers and a huge mixing bowl to fill and they had a feast all right. The boys loved watching them devour it. :)

Next time must check under the huge leaves a bit more so that we can pick them when they are still eatable...

Cheers Damaris

Veggies...

This is half the lettuce. It was huge...

At High school Timothy has been growing his own veggies since the beginning of the the school year. He has to tend to it, water it, weed around it and make sure there are no bugs etc...

Well he brought home his first lettuce last week and that night we ate half of it straight away. Yummy. He loved it that he could help with providing for the meal and loved telling us how he had looked after it. He also brought home some spinach. That one he had to share with others as there was not enough to go around the class otherwise, something that he did rather reluctantly.

Like it was his baby he tended to its needs. :) He has now asked for a small patch at home that he can look after starting in spring. What a great idea for high school to do that. We have always had veggies and fruit growing but not until they did it in school has he taken soooo much more of an interest. He wants to give growing Watermelon another go as he loves them and then also wants to sell surplus. Here is hoping. :)

Cheers Damaris

Happy Anniversary...

Today my husband Russell and I celebrated 17 years of Marriage... Has been a great day too. In the morning I was greeted with a wonderful poem that he wrote me. It was two A4 pages long... Was wonderful how he went over our years together... We have certainly had our ups and downs but I know that I would not want to be anywhere else. That is for sure. :)

I was also allowed a sleep in and didn't surface again till nearly midday. How wonderful is that. Thanks boys for being quiet. :) Mum needed that sleep. Have not been sleeping well at all for the last two weeks so was very welcome.

We then went to go out for lunch at Glengallan House but we locked ourselves out and didn't get back into our house for two hours... Luckily we have good friends that helped out and we ended up going into town to get keys cut for spares... We also got some lunch at Mussel's which was yummy as always. Then some quick fruit shopping and back to pick up the boys.

They are going out to a circus tonight, it has come to town. Parked at the back of our local pub. How cool is that. Lisa and Russell are taking the boys and we will watch a movie while they are gone. Then all kids, our boys and their two friends will come and have a sleepover tonight. :)

Won't hear them much as last Thursday a new version of Pokemon came out so their heads will be in their DS lite anyway. Awwww to be a kid again.

Now don't forget that tonight is Earth Hour from 8:30pm. All our power will be going off. Nothing new for us but doing it all the same. :)

Cheers Damaris

Painting...

My table all set up, ready to go... :)

This week one of my jobs that I had on my 'list' of things to do was my painting table. I had arranged it ages ago just how I wanted it but with time it had things put on top of other things and ended up looking worse than a dog's breakfast. It was time for action...

Not only did I dust it all and wipe it all down but I decluttered while I was at it. I gave three recycle bags worth of things this morning to Lifeline. They saw me coming and smiled... Yes I had been there a lot these last few weeks. :)

So now I have all my brushes set up properly. I really need to get back into painting. I have not done any really for the last 2.5yrs. Since we moved out here. Always something else to do...

Now that things are settling down, I am going to make time for it. And I have started. Took things things and did one base coat. Out of three that is not bad and a start... :)

Cheers Damaris

More Plums...

Newly added jam, now in the pantry. :)

Was going through the freezer the other day and realised that I still had some frozen, cut up plums that were just in a container and that needed sorting out. Could use the container too. Ended up making some Plum jam. Was good to do that again. Been a while since I have made jam and then water bathed it. Can't wait till the glut of fruit comes again. Especially grapes from the Stanthorpe area. :)

Cheers Damaris

What to do, how to do it...

My pantry as it is now...

My pantry is large by any means. I needed it that way as I get more and more into preserving as well as cooking everything from scratch. Russell and I are going through the motions at the moment of preparing our little family for the elimination Diet that we want to start after Easter holidays. That should be different... We tried it years ago and did not succeed but want to give it another really good go to see what difference it makes. I have been too cranky lately and Joshua is not going well in that area either. Would be fantastic to settle down Timothy as well. Who knows what difference it could make. The "Fed Up" book by Sue Dengate is what we are going by and hope to do allot more reading before giving it a go.

So this means also that we have allot of 'stuff' to get rid of. Over the weekend the boys took care of the last of the 2 minute noodles and Easy Mac Cheese packets... All the biscuits have to go as well. So because we are doing this I am also in a dilemma that I don't like the layout of the pantry and where things are. I don't like the stuff that is on the floor and don't want to share it with the ironing board anymore either. These things just have to go. So where to put it... I don't know. I need a cupboard that has room for the vacuum, steam mop (that is coming in the post) and ironing board plus iron. Then I have to find a place of where to put that cupboard, laundry I think. Nope don't have room for it there either... Oh the pain of it all...

I can't wait as over the holidays we get rid of more food to ensure that we are ready for this new challenge. It will be a huge one. Not so much that we won't be able to eat out as we don't generally anyway but more the premade groceries we will not be buying. As I get more of an understanding of it all I will write more, don't worry...

I just know that I want to change my pantry around. Some things have to go and some things just have to be moved around. Where to start...

Cheers Damaris

Finding old friends...

For a while I had been trying to find a childhood best friend. Our parents were very close friends and we all went to the same church. All our extended families know each other as well. I went to her wedding back in 1992 and again saw her and her little family when I went over to Austria again in 1998. I knew they were moving to New Zealand and had their address but lost it...

For a while now I have had an account on Facebook. Well I had been trying to find her on there as well. No success though unfortunately... Three nights ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and had this strong urge to try and search for her brother instead. That worked. I found him and then found a couple of cousins and then in turn found my long lost friend.

I couldn't believe it. I straight away sent a request for her to add me as a friend. Within an hour I was chatting to her on the Internet... Then yesterday morning I called her in New Zealand and we ended up chatting for a hour. How amazing is that... With Callback though it only cost me 16 cents which is an added bonus. :)

So there you have it. I have her number now and will keep in contact. Thank you FB I couldn't have done it without you. Technology hey???

Cheers Damaris

More Dishcloths...

Just a couple of Dishcloths...

I must admit I am all dishclothed out. :) I have made so many in the last little while that now I will take a break I think. I have enough for quite a few Christmas presents which is what I wanted so will now change and do some painting instead.

This week one of my jobs is to rearrange and declutter the painting table. It has way too much stuff on and in it so time for some of it to go to charity. They will appreciate it and I will be glad for being rid of it. :)

Cheers Damaris

Changes in the air...

The boys with Adam...

After Brekkie, there had to be one more game of Uno...

Adam's car packed to the rafters...

This morning we had one last visit from Adam as he made his way to Melbourne with Pippa the Prius. It was an emotionally charged breakfast to say the least. Adam had his usual Tea and homemade bread toasted with Jam and Peanut butter.

Timothy and Joshua were all over him off course. Lots of hugs and kisses. Even from Timothy, was quite wonderful to watch. :) Timothy even said at one stage: "Come back any time you are always welcome here." That comment coming from him alone made my heart ache...

At the end when Adam left the house, Timothy couldn't face that and hid in his room but the rest of us went out with him. That car of his is totally full. Amazing how many of his possessions he was able to fit into Pippa. lol

Well he is on his way now and will have a long drive ahead, stopping for the night in Parkes and then onto Melbourne tomorrow. He got the unit that he was after which is even more of a bonus and moves into that just before Easter...

He is very much apart of our little family and we will miss him terribly. It was so easy to see him up here at home or for me to go and visit him but that has all changed now. At least there are such things as computers and phones. The lines will be burnt that's for sure. :)

Needless to say we are very proud of Adam and his promotion. It would have taken allot for him to move his whole life from one state to another with only 12 days to do it all in... Amazing feat really. But then he is that sort of man. He is very dear to me and I miss him already...

Cheers Damaris

Dishwasher back from the dead...

Loving my dishwasher, at the moment anyway...

I have had my dishwasher for 2.5 years now and only really been using it for about six months. Other than that it has been either getting fixed or just sitting there. By getting fixed I mean that it needed a new motor. Anyway, even when we got it back it still didn't wash the dishes properly on the top shelf. I ended up giving up.

So two weekends ago I begged Russell to please either get it fixed once and for all or get me another one. I had had enough. It was sitting there doing nothing. I still have 2 1/4 years left on my warranty too which is good at least.

Russell thought that he would just load it up and see what happens. Well wouldn't you know it, it worked just fine. :) It has been working really well ever since. At the end of each week I do make sure that I totally clean out all the filters in the bottom of the dishwasher but other than that all is well. I just hope it keeps working like this. It only uses 13.5 litres of water and very economical. A saver for me after meals. Another battle I don't need or want. Helps keep my sink even more shiny now. :)

Cheers Damaris

Tuckshop Volunteering...

Reloading happening after first break...

Burgers and the like ready for second break...

When Timothy started High School this year I knew that I wanted to help out there in some capacity. I knew that I would not be able to attend Parent and Citizens Association (P&C) meetings as they were on a Wednesday at 7pm. BAD time for this household that runs on a timeline...

Anyway so I thought, what about the tuckshop, surely they can use me there... Well last Monday I spent the morning there and learnt lots in a very small space of time. :)

I washed up allot, made burgers, wraps and even stocked the freezer. I got lunch in exchange and left at 12:30pm and must say I had a good time. It was good to see Timothy come up and order from me. He was rather proud of his mum I reckon... When the kids were ordering I was smart and stuck to the Grade 8's. Half the time they don't even know what they want so easy to keep up with them. Much easier than the Grade 12's. hehe

I have decided to do this once a month and see how I go. I reckon it will take me that long just to get over it. :) Also must mention that Sally, Kerry and Denise were most helpful with teaching me the ropes. Thanks Ladies :)

Cheers Damaris

Timothy's Room is done...

Displaying a small amount of his gems, rocks and minerals...

Must have lots of pillows... lol

Wow, how clean is that???

I have been doing his room for a while now. Little by little... Only problem is that there was so much dust in there that I kept giving up. Russell was kind enough last weekend to get all the stuff out of his room and off the floor so that I could slowly keep going. But with a more steady 'have a go' attitude. Well it worked and the end result has been fantastic.

I love his room and Timothy does as well. He keeps commenting on how beautiful it is. I am glad as an Asperger's boy it was very, very hard for him to let me in there in the first place. He wanted everything the way it was for the last six months but that just was not happening anymore. On the other hand I am glad that I did take my time in the end as he saw the little progress that I would make each day and get used to it that way, in his own way.

The last two days have had the most dramatic changes and I am glad that he has responded to the changes as well as he did. He is growing up, my boy...

I am also very proud of him for listening to me about where things go and what he needs to do in order for the room to stay in the condition that he now loves. He also loves to spend time in there now which is nice to see. :)

I am sooooo determined not to let it get the other way again. I think also that he is as well as he could see the huge difference it made. It was also great to go through the whole room, from top to bottom and redo it as though he had just moved in. Was very refreshing to do. Charity is also very happy with me. :)

Cheers Damaris

Celebration Time...

This is what my family looked like when we left Austria...

Today my immediate family and I celebrate our Arrival in Australia, 27 years ago... How the time has flown. My mum still remembers the rainy day we arrived. Had to circle for 20 minutes in the plane before we could land. Then once landed we had to wait for our 17 pieces of luggage... Oh boy... Then later the two huge crates arrived that my parents had shipped over via sea. Was like Christmas opening them up. Amazingly from what I remember only one thing got broken out of all our stuff in there... Was amazing. My dad did a fantastic job in building those crates and a great packing job was done. :)

Things have changed so much during that time... All five kids are now all grown up and are married. Amazing how fast it all changes. But wouldn't want to have grown up anywhere else... I know my heritage is from Austria and am very proud to be born there but am now an Aussie through and through. That is except Vegemite, don't get that stuff anywhere near me. Oh and jelly...

Cheers Damaris

New Freezer...

My new freezer... Loving it. :)

As you know from an earlier post a very good friend of mine, Adam, is moving to Melbourne this week. Well he had to get rid of a freezer that he had so I offered to buy it off him...

It will fit Sausage in perfectly when he goes to the butcher in early July. hehe

Cheers Damaris

Gettin Crafty...

Have had an itching going on at my place. I can't wait to finish going through the whole of Timothy's room and decluttering it madly as we 'speak' so that I can get on with my painting table. I can't wait to get it in order so that I can do more stuff like in my piccies... I love having these around the house to show me that I can do it but really, really need to get back into it all. I have not really done anything since leaving Brisbane so it is time...

Hopefully that will happen within the next couple of weeks. Only have a little left to go on Timothy's room and getting more ruthless with his stuff as I go along. Hope he likes the end results...

Cheers Damaris

Archery update...

Joshua doing his stuff, before the real target was completed...

Both the boys and Russell have really taken to the sport. They are off again this morning to go for more practice and lessons. They are enjoying it and finding it very rewarding. Timothy is turning out to be a little less interested then the other two though. Don't know what to do about that one. He was soooooo anxious to get his gear and now that he has it he is only interested for a little while and then just comes back inside. Annoying really.

Russell threatened to sell his gear this morning as he had asked if he HAD to go to Warwick with them to do Archery. He is wanting to be on the computer. I realise this is his safety zone but I need him outta there as well as I am redoing his room at the moment and don't need him under my feet. So what to do... Russell and Joshua are enjoying it immensely but Timothy is very 'whatever' about it. I know another trait of AS but is annoying all the same. We will see in time I guess and worst comes to worst we can just sell his stuff... So fickle. If only I could get into that head of his and find out what he is really thinking. So hard to get him to explain why he reacts certain ways. But is getting better all the same too which is good to see...

Cheers Damaris

Too many males...

This boy is going...

Coco has to stay, Timothy's orders...

Bantam rooster is going...

Proudy is going...

This one is a menace, going...

Bruce, our first and stayer...

Lion is staying for the bantams...

Spot, Timothy's favourite is a stayer...

So here are some of my boys. Many will go, only two large and two small will stay. They can do all the work and then I will have allot less agro. They are fighting allot and being rough on the girls I have noticed in the last week or two. Unfortunately I can only go to the Pig n Calf during the school holidays so the boys and I will be offloading quite a few this time. :) Can't wait for another three weeks and they will be gone. :) Come to think of it, the noise first thing in the morning will be better and allot less too. Another winner...

I have one last lot of four babies in the bathroom at the moment and then that is it till spring. Gets too cold otherwise from having them inside to going outside. Don't want them to have a shock.

The reduction of males should see the girls wanting to lay a bit more too. I have in total about 40 chooks at the moment and have some purebred pullets coming as well. Six of them I think. Don't know might get more yet... (Don't tell Russell, hehe) At the moment I am only getting about 8 eggs a day though. Not good... Doesn't leave me allot for bartering but getting there. :)

Cheers Damaris

200kWh Target has been reached...

My lovely solar meter. :)

Well there we have it. We have had 200kWh from the solar system that we had installed on 20 January 2010. And it only took 599 hours to get to that. How fantastic is that??? Really fantastic, that's what...

I am very happy that this week our meter would have been read. Yesterday in fact. Which means our bill should be about $175 which will be down from $208.75 last quarter. I am extremely happy with that. We have only had the system for six weeks and only just only two weeks with the new meter. And down $40 in our bill. And that is with most of that time we have had allot of rain and cloudy weather too. Woohoo...

Sorry to brag but very happy about it all.

With my aim to put as much solar into the grid during the day, I am getting used to washing only at night and making bread as the sun sets. All is working out well so far. Your whole thinking has to change and you have to remember that you can't just put on what you want when you want. But the way I look at it is that I am putting more into the grid and therefore getting more money for the power I do put into the grid. Gotta be happy with that.

I can't wait to get my electricity bill. :) Have also been advised that from 1 July 2010, electricity in Queensland will be going up by 13%. Only has to go through Parliament. Am very happy that I have my panels, that's for sure. Just hope that the solar kWh also goes up from 44c/kWh seeing power is going up... Doubt it but would be nice. :)

Cheers Damaris

Mud mask time...

Myself all masked up...

For a while now I have wanted to do a mud mask. My friend Adam got me all the ingredients for it ages ago and we were supposed to do it on my Birthday last year but that didn't happen. One thing or another always got in our way. Well this visit Adam was not taking No for an answer. hehe

We just did our masks and our skin now feels just beautiful...

Cheers Damaris

Joshua's Surgery update...

Pictures of his nose before the operation. Diagram below shows bone that they cut away...

As you know from my previous post, Joshua had his nose operation last week. You can see for the pictures above that his nose was VERY congested... Well yesterday we went back for his first post operation appointment to see how things were progressing up there... He really wanted to get the all clear so he could go back to school... So did I for that matter. hehe

They looked up in there and were very pleased with the progress I must say. They even sprayed the inside of his nose with numbing spray so that they could suction out any leftovers. There were none to be taken out. woohoo...

He can also go back to school from Monday which we are both pleased about. He must take it easy and not do any sports for at least another week or so but other than that he is fine to participate.

The Surgeon wants to see him one last time in four months to do the final check up and then we don't believe that we have to go back again. Amazing, after nearly 11 years of nothing but a congested nose to be finally be free of specialists and hospitals and medication... How awesome is that.

Cheers Damaris

Change afoot...

All short and easy to manage...

For a while now I have been trying to save money on getting haircuts all the time so I would just do my own fringe and get Russell to cut the bottom of my hair. I couldn't see the point in spending all that money on myself just for hair... I was able to cut my boys' hair so why not do my own as well... It was getting rather long and also rather heavy for me. I was starting to feel down about it around last Christmas and my youngest sister Lis convinced me that all I needed was some layers in my hair. Plus allot of it chopped off. So I went to three hairdressers in town just after Christmas. All were closed or too expensive... My resolve to get the haircut was running out and I was starting to chicken out...

Anyway I talked to another hairdresser that could fit me in and she was also the daughter of one of the ladies that lives out here in the village. Small world. :)

I got allot cut off but not nearly as much as I needed to...

Every five weeks Christina comes out to the Hall here in the village and cuts hair for anyone wanting it done. I decided I would be brave and get more cut off. Well here is the end result. I have hardly had it up in a ponytail since. That is something that is taking the locals a while to get used to as I always had it up. :)

Cheers Damaris

Visiting the Hansen's

Hi Everyone,

My name is Adam and I count Damaris as one of my best friends. We have only known each other a short period, but in this time I have become one of the extended family! I work in Brisbane and love coming out to the country to spend time with Damaris and her wonderful family.

It's funny you know, city life is fun and exciting but at times can be very impersonal and busy. I think about my morning ritual of donning my iPod earphones and riding in the cramped train to the City and then walking to work, doing the same in reverse coming home. Not very social.

Things in the country are so much more personal. I love being part of Damaris' family - game nights are especially fun as there is no TV reception out this way. When was the last time you played a game with your family? It reminds me of my childhood - everyone laughing and having a good time around the kitchen table. Coming here reminds me of what is important in life.

Damaris is my "greenie" friend in the country - she comes up with so many usefull tips to save time and money -and I love reading her blog each week to keep in touch with what's going on. This is going to be more important to us both now as I have accepted a promotion and a move to Melbourne. I think in a funny way, she inspired my decision to trade in my gas guzzler X Trail and replace it with a more eco-friendly Prius. Gosh I love that car!

I have embraced No Technology Day and I am working on No Electricity Day (this will certainly be challenging in Victoria - but I will try!) and I think these things help bring families together. Simple sometimes is good.

Sorry, just got cuddled to death my the pillow monster (aka Joshua). He is a good cuddler too - just like his Mum. Joshua calls me his big brother - our relationship is built on being a pain in the bum to each other - a job I love to do all the time! Mabybe this says something about my personality - but I like to think my inner child gets a good workout. We enjoy just "hanging" with each other - he loves to beat my pants in Uno (I will win one day!). According to Josh, I am funny (I think in a comedy sort of way, not the strange way) and he loves to randomly tickle me in my belly button - which results in me screaming like a girl. Good times!

Timbo has taught me all about Halo ( this is a computer game where you get to shoot lots of weird things at weird people - it looks way too complicated for me) and rocks and stuff. His completely random comments make me giggle at times, but he has an amazing ability to recall things. Building a friendship with Timbo has taken time, but we understand each other now, and I think he enjoys having me around when I visit (this is a good sign for someone with Asperger's and makes me feel special too!)

I will certainly miss my time with the Hansen family, this weekend is my last chance to spend time with my dear friends in Maryvale. Sure, I will definitely visit in the future, but a 20 hour drive from Melbourne poses more challenges than the 90 minute drive I do at the moment.

So I am now counting my blessings that I have become a part of the Hansen family and all the goodness that comes with this privilege. And yes, I will miss them as much as my own family when I go.

Good bye and God Bless.

Adam :)

My new meter...

Our new digital meter...

Last Friday a lovely man from Ergon came and took away our old meter and installed a new digital meter...

We had been trying to figure out what all the numbers meant and on the net Ergon has allot of explanations as to what reach means bar one. The number 7. I was hoping that that was for the solar we had put back into the grid and a visit to their office yesterday confirmed that...

But I must say I am a little sad right now... When we still had the old meter and the solar was producing electricity it was coming off our consumption which was wonderful. What I didn't realise was that this is how it worked in Queensland. In many other states around the country, houses are installed with a gross reader. We get a net meter. Apparently the Queensland Government decided that you would use your solar first and then any left over would go into the grid with the payment of $0.44 per KwH payable to you only at that time. In other states they get paid for all power produced and get paid a heck of allot more I might add...

So since Friday's installation, we have only put 2KwH into the grid. Idea now is to do all work and electricity usage after dark. That is easy with washing and lights but not so easy with cooking, baking and the fridge etc. We will be trying as much as possible to not use power during the day now so that the most goes into the grid and we get paid more than twice as much as we use.

Though I am sad about the turn of events... I must say that it is good to realise that we are using the power that our own panels are making. We are not just putting it back into the grid and only getting the money for it. I do like that very much...

Also found out yesterday that power is about to go up by 13.5% as at 1 July 2010. Bet green power won't get paid more...

Cheers Damaris

Sewing...

Making new hand towels from an old towel...

The finished product...

I must admit it has been quite a while since I last had my sewing machine out and making full use of it. Today, with all the rain that we are having at the moment (200ml in 48hrs) I thought that it would be a good opportunity to get rid of my mending pile...

I did really well. I got rid of it. Not by doing it all though. hmmm, I actually got rid of things that I knew would not last anymore even if I did stitch them up, again... So they are off to the pile of things that can't be rescued and will be used as filling for the boys' Target. Photos of that one will come later when it is done. :)

A while ago I had cut up an old towel. It had allot of wear in it still but some of it was rather worn. I couldn't bring myself to throwing it out so cut it into four pieces. One could not be saved and it went to the shed. The other three just needed two sides finished off with the sewing machine and hey presto, three 'new' hand towels. They look great too... Will wash them before using them so that the ends come lose a little and the little fiddly bits don't flake everywhere. Other than that they are done. I was able to give new life to a dress from a friend as well and that was satisfying. :)

I have that to do with a tablecloth as well. It was square so I cut it in half and then half of the other half I was able to use also. The other half had candle wax on it and could not be saved... But they make a new nice doily and small tablecloth. I just have to round off the edges properly and then finish them off with the machine.

That is what I love about being at home. When you have something that is no longer useful in it originated state you can always turn it into something else that is useful. Items in one's home don't have to be use a few times and throw away. I hate to throw away and make sure that there is absolutely nothing else I can do with it before I do. I like it that way. It saves Russell and I allot of money. Things can always be given a new life such as a spade, etc. But one has to also look after things as well. Allot of things are made these days with the mindset that we can always just throw it out and get another. That is not how we work in our home. We buy the best we possibly can and then look after it as best as we can also.

I like being stingy with my money. Why should I give it to a company that is only out to make profits. Why bring something into my home that will only clutter it up anyway. When I am out shopping, which I do as little as humanly possible, I always ask myself... Do I REALLY need it? Even if I hesitate, I leave it.

Used to feel that if I walked into a shop I had to buy something... Not anymore. I want proof first that they deserve my money. That is the way I look at it and that is helping us get ahead. :)

Cheers Damaris

Newest arrivals...

Our newest little cuties...

Last week we enjoyed seeing another broody hen finish off hatching out her little brood. We ended up with four chicks, just like last time. Those older ones have now gone out to the 'in-between' cage and are protected there from all other animals. They can be seen but not touched.

That part has been hard for me as it has been raining the last couple of days and the area around the cage is looking rather muddy. But inside they are all fine and loving the extra space compared to inside the house in the bathroom. One of them started crowing so out the all went... lol

Out of that lot we got two hens and two roosters so the roosters will be off to the Pig n Calf once older and more rooster looking.

These little new ones are so cute. I tell you every time you get new babies you remember how little they all are to begin with and then they grow so quickly. Amazing how God made them so wonderful and able to grow so fast...

Cheers Damaris