Candid Country Life

Onion Marmalade...

2011-12-31T18:35:00.003+10:00

Yep that time of year again. Was going to town couple of weeks ago and came across 10kg boxes for $5. So I got two boxes and ended up making 23 glass containers of onion marmalade... Started at about 10:30am and finished my last batch of water bathing at 1:30am... I was had it by the end. But so worth it. Will make great presents :)

Cheers Damaris

Climbing monkey :)

2011-12-31T18:34:00.003+10:00

Josh loves doing this... He actually is jumping on the trampoline at the same time and 'walking' up the wall of the house. He has seen Tim do this over many years. Now he loves to do it too... Freaks out others but :) hehe

Cheers Damaris

Cherry Tomatoes galore...

2011-12-31T18:33:00.002+10:00

Picked these yesterday :) Man they taste so darn good :)

Cheers Damaris

RIP Oma...

2011-12-31T18:29:00.003+10:00

Yesterday was the 7th Anniversary of my Oma passing away... Still remembered... Never forgotten... Always treasured...

Cheers Damaris

Frog in a cup :)

2011-12-31T18:14:00.002+10:00

One of the bricks outside out yard held a little treasure the other day... It was a green tree frog. Josh went his hands and made sure he has water in the cup so that he wouldn't get hurt... Then he talked to him for a while. He then returned him somewhere were the dogs or the chooks couldn't get to him... All safe and sound :)

Cheers Damaris

Josh's Ant Farm...

2011-11-23T13:37:00.003+10:00

Margaret gave him this one for his Birthday this year but at the time there were no large enough ants around. They were all going sleepy for the winter... Now that they are out and about again he has had a ball setting it all up... They are doing really well... :)

Cheers Damaris

Hello there :)

2011-11-23T13:33:00.002+10:00

Was about to water the herb garden the other day and look what I found crawling up the brick wall... Love stick insects. :) He's welcome at our place Any time :)

Cheers Damaris

No way...

2011-11-23T13:32:00.003+10:00

Josh's 'watch'...

Yep he has had the watch for that long that when it finally broke day before yesterday you would have thought that he still had it on... All that was missing was the time. lol

Cheers Damaris

Another square foot garden bed...

2011-11-23T13:28:00.002+10:00

What went in...

Before planting...

Afterwards...

We have another one done now... Great to get it done and the seedlings out. Also lovely to see the flowers doing well and helping the good bugs and bees coming into the garden :)

Cheers Damaris

Doing what they do best...

2011-11-23T13:24:00.003+10:00

Nope, we are innocent...

Bailey...

Nova...

They are soooo good at sleeping... Here they are again. :)

Cheers Damaris

Some of our harvest so far...

2011-11-23T13:20:00.002+10:00

Just a couple of photos to show you what we have harvested. Mostly from them while they have still been in the shade house... Most are out now in the garden though and will hopefully keep growing and producing more :)

Cheers Damaris

Always a first...

2011-11-23T13:14:00.002+10:00

And this time it was tasting an Asparagus straight from the ground :)

Russell had mowed over the whole area where I had planted four plants about three years ago. Never really did anything with them and they always went to seed. This time seeing he mowed there with the slasher, little plants came up and I happen to see them as we were planting trees close by... So I snapped it off and ate it there and then... Had another one just like the first the next day as well. Yummmmm I must say. So wholesome :)

Bit nutty and know that I will never have it from a tin ever again :)

Cheers Damaris

Outing with the residents...

2011-11-23T13:08:00.003+10:00

Phil snoozing after lunch :)

Quite a few residents danced along :)

Lots of bands played their lovely tunes...

Couple of weeks ago I was one of the support workers that took out a bunch of our residents to the Celtic Festival in Helidon... We all had a great time and there was heaps of entertainment as well. There were some stalls and also loads of food to be had...

Glad I went. Even got to drive the bus back up to Horton Village. :)

Cheers Damaris

Josh's School Camp...

2011-11-23T13:02:00.003+10:00

After over four years of waiting he finally had to wait no more. He finally got to go on a school camp. They were all on their best behaviour and the Principal is still bragging about them :) They got to do all sorts of things and were gone for a whole week. :)

They even went Ten Pin Bowling and to Australia Zoo... Also had swimming lessons... Was a fantastic week away from all accounts. And the best part was that because of a few determined parents there was no fee to pay either. :)

Cheers Damaris

Armish Rockmelon...

2011-11-23T13:01:00.002+10:00

That's right. I have some Heirloom seeds I was able to get and Russell got them into the ground for me... All of them grew too... There are three of them and then there are four watermelons as well. They are all doing very well :)

Cheers Damaris

Orange card for Russell :)

2011-11-23T12:59:00.003+10:00

Am so proud of him... He can now upgrade his school's computer systems... Will make him a real asset for the school... :)

Cheers Damaris

The bees are here...

2011-11-23T12:54:00.003+10:00

Bees at their entrance

Extra food for them...

The hive just delivered but not mounted on the post yet.

Finally they have arrived... We love them dearly. A couple of times we thought they had died out or gone somewhere else as they are sooooo quiet at night... Even as dusk falls... But no they are there. We even had extra food sources for them just in case...

Cheers Damaris

I'm 40!!!

2011-11-23T12:45:00.003+10:00

Lunch at Weis Restaurant, Toowoomba

Lunch with Mum at K&K Austrian Cafe

My Birthday Cake, lovingly made for me by Russell

Lisa and Adam with a mega load of seafood... Yep we managed to eat it all :)

Birthday Afternoon tea last Sunday...

I have finally reached that 40's club :) I am rather happy about it too. I had my birthday yesterday but have actually been celebrating for the last 10 days... One has to with such a milestone I believe. lol

I was lucky enough to be taken out to lunch by my wonderful hubby yesterday and had a wonderful feast on seafood... Two of my besties came up the weekend before last and brought a whole heap of seafood with them also... Last weekend my Dad and I celebrated November birthdays yet again. Lots of cakes, six in fact... Way too much food... But what a wonderful time we had. Got a visit in with Margaret and had a lovely lunch with my mum also. Even got cards and a couple of parcels in the mail... One lucky girl :) Older girl I should say. lol

Cheers Damaris

Plants getting out into the garden...

2011-11-23T12:40:00.002+10:00

Now that we had bought so many of the darn things, off course they can't just stay in the shade house the whole time. They have to be planted out... So we ended up with 200l drums and had cut them into three or four surrounds so that we could build up the soil. Our ground is hard as concrete at the moment but with all the healthy manures, blood and bone, mushroom compost we are putting into the soil this should break up the soil underneath and eventually let the roots of the trees grow downwards... This is what we are praying for anyway... We will see I guess. Next door has had no luck with allot of his trees but then he did none of what we have done. He just plonked them in... So here is hoping that what we have done will make a difference. :)

Cheers Damaris

Tim at the Dental Van...

2011-11-23T12:38:00.002+10:00

Yes, he had to have a filling fixed... He loves the girls... Don't get me wrong but just can't stand the smell... They know him and know what he is like. They are truly treasures... Am so lucky that we have them here in Warwick...

Cheers Damaris

Succulents...

2011-11-23T12:32:00.004+10:00

One of the residents that I look after has the most wonderful collection of succulents... She also shared her only two strawberries with me the other day... What a darling... She reminds me allot of my Oma actually... I do have a really soft spot for her... She even laughs like my Oma used to...

Cheers Damaris

Just like in the shops...

2011-11-23T12:28:00.002+10:00

Russell is getting really great with raising seedlings... He has a hard time thinning out as it is so hard to say 'good-bye' to your hard work but he is getting there. He knows that in order to have strong ones survive one must sacrifice the ones that are not as strong. Still hard to do... They are looking really professional :) He is doing a great job... Very proud :)

Cheers Damaris

One Dermal is out... :(

2011-11-23T12:27:00.003+10:00

Yes it kept giving me grief so it is gone now... One left though... Hope to have this one alot longer :)

Cheers Damaris

Frogs living here...

2011-11-23T12:24:00.002+10:00

Heard this loud froggy sounds not long ago and went down the back of the paddock to investigate... Even though the dry times we have had water sitting at the very back making a lovely home for some lovely frogs... Was very, very happy to find them. :)

Cheers Damaris

Herb Garden...

2011-11-23T12:20:00.002+10:00

Russell has always had this dream of having a HUGE herb garden... He has had that dream since I have know him. 20 years is a long time for that dream to simmer there in the back ground. Well now it is coming true and I could not be happier for him... :)

Cheers Damaris

Comfy???

2011-11-23T12:19:00.001+10:00

Bailey and Nova rather comfy :)

Yes, Mum we are thanks for asking. Haha

Cheers Damaris

Josh's Girl...

2011-11-23T12:16:00.002+10:00

Oh he just loves Nova to bits... I can't bear the thought of when she passes on... It is going to wreck him... For now we enjoy taking as many photos of her as possible... But we can see that she is getting more and more fragile... Her legs are playing up more and her sight is really going. We try hard not to change furniture as she only has sight in half of the right eye left... Oh we love her so...

Cheers Damaris

What the???

2011-11-23T12:15:00.003+10:00

Oh NOOOOOOO... My boots are getting dirty... lol At least that means they are being used and getting worn it. hehe

Cheers Damaris

Love flowers...

2011-11-23T12:11:00.004+10:00

Had to share some more... Some are from work, some are from home... Enjoy :)

Cheers Damaris

How much will fit???

2011-11-23T12:08:00.002+10:00

I have worked it all out... I can get two dozen muffins in there and then another two cakes as well. I have the tiered trays so can get allot in there... Love to maximise my available space and time for that matter. :)

Cheers Damaris

Hard worker...

2011-11-23T12:07:00.002+10:00

Yep here is Russell hard at it... Looks nearly like a real farmer... hehe

Cheers Damaris

Piggy back...

2011-11-23T12:06:00.003+10:00

How cute is this chick standing on her mum's back??? Yeah, I know... very cute. lol

Cheers Damaris

Hail's coming...

2011-11-23T12:03:00.003+10:00

Our weather station's comment while it was hailing... lol

Take cover...

Yep, it came alright... Would go away. Had it two days in a row and the second time it lasted well over 15 mins... They were only tiny thank goodness... But hail all the same...

Cheers Damaris

Margaret's visit...

2011-11-23T11:59:00.004+10:00

Chilling with the candles on...

Having a little bonfire outside while watching the stars

Sun going down...

I love her coming and visiting me... Doesn't happen very often due to how far apart we live but when we do it is always a great time... She is one of my true treasures in my life :) I love her dearly...

Cheers Damaris

In the paper...

2011-11-23T11:56:00.003+10:00

Mental Health Week was on last month and Tim ended up in the paper. He is the one on the left holding up his big sand balloon. Stress Ball is another word for it. Needless to say it made it home and then busted eventually in his room. And while trying to clean it up he spread the sand all and yes I mean All over the house... Took up ages to get all the little bits of sand from everywhere... Not having that in my house again. Caused more stress than I wanted. lol

Cheers Damaris

Hippies...

2011-11-23T11:54:00.002+10:00

Love the deep redness :)

Yep, they have finally flowered... Been waiting for a long time as they came to me as seeds from my mum... Many years ago. Had them in an envelope for a long time but they are now out and showing off their beauty. :) So happy with the end result. :)

Cheers Damaris

Tired boy...

2011-11-23T11:51:00.002+10:00

My baby sleeping...

Josh came to work with me a couple times now... Each time he goes up there one of the other workers also has her grandson come... They always have such a great time together but at the end of the day all he wants to do is sleep on the way home... One hour nap - how good is that. Wish I could join him but alas I must drive :)

Cheers Damaris

Ants...

2011-11-23T11:45:00.003+10:00

Get outta here... and the did :)

Due to the dry we have had problems with a tiny ant colony that had made their home in our oven right behind the fan... Needless to say it blew up the heating coil which we have not been in a rush to replace mind you. We have our convection oven as well as the solar oven so have gotten by just fine... The new element will be coming shortly though... eBay wins again. Just too dear in the shops. :(

Cheers Damaris

More plants have arrived...

2011-11-23T11:40:00.002+10:00

Russell can't help himself. He is going all out... And they have all been producing fruit too :) Even the fig has a couple of figs on the branches. The berries have given us some as well. Lovely to see the fruit of our hard labour... The ground is rock hard at the moment as we have not had any rain for over a month. All we have are deep cracks in the ground. We are supposed to get storms over the next week... And loads of rain. Here is hoping :)

Cheers Damaris

Lizard Alert...

2011-11-23T11:36:00.003+10:00

This beauty was hiding amongst the leaves at work near the main stairs. How lovely is he/she??? Loving seeing the wildlife at work :) And sharing it with the residents as they would not go near them otherwise... I help them be a little less scared. I like that :) Good to experience something new :)

Cheers Damaris

Day at the Beach...

2011-11-23T11:17:00.003+10:00

Love the beach...

The boys love it when we go there... They can't get enough... We try to get there every holidays as much as possible. Usually making a whole day of it... I am happy to have a magazine with me or a book while they enjoy the water... :)

Cheers Damaris

Dud Duck Eggs...

2011-11-23T11:06:00.002+10:00

The nest before it was moved from near the generator...

This gander that we have was having his first go at fertilising eggs... Boy was that a dud experience. Poor Snow White kept pumping out those eggs till she had 16 of them to look after. We put her in one of the snake protected cages and there she sat and sat and sat and sat... She is always great with incubating the eggs. She has hatched out three litters before so knew she would be doing a good job...

Yesterday was D-Day... Over a week over due those eggs where. She stank as bad as the last five eggs that were left... Nothing in any of them... She gladly had a bath and was able to enjoy the outside without the constraints of the cage and having to sit on those eggs. Though she is missing them all the same... Will take her a couple of days to get used to being outside again but she'll come around.

Great effort Snow White... Shame on you Curly for not producing... Next lot goes in the incubator if anything I reckon. :)

Cheers Damaris

Our new weather station...

2011-10-28T12:58:00.003+10:00

Base concreted into the ground for stability :)

It came through the mail off course as allot of our stuff does... Russell has set it all up and it is all installed ready to go. It feeds information and readings every two minutes back to a website which means that anytime that I am away from home I can still find out what the readings are at home. Pretty neat :) It is very accurate with the rain readings as well and wind and humidity. What I love most about it is that all this information that it is sending to the computer is not via electricity. It is doing it via solar energy :) :) :) There is a battery backup for night time but that's it other than that. Very cool... Am loving our new weather station...

Cheers Damaris

Margaret's Garden...

2011-10-28T12:57:00.003+10:00

The gardening bug has also bitten Margaret :) She has come so far in the last few months it is just wonderful to be apart of that journey :) Enjoy the piccies :)

Cheers Damaris

Being pampered...

2011-10-28T12:55:00.004+10:00

Being spoilt...

Went to spend the night at Margaret's the other week and loved spending the time with her. It is sooo easy being around her. She is so dear to my heart... So while I was there she took to my hands and have them a buff and a bit of nail polish. She even put some glitter on them :) Such a lovely girl. Am so lucky to have her in my life :)

Cheers Damaris

Gloves just for Josh...

2011-10-28T12:53:00.004+10:00

They are getting a good workout :)

Seeing he has his own garden now, he also scored his own watering can, pink off course as that is his favourite colour :) And he scored his own gloves. He chose them... He loves the bright flowers on them :) Yes, they are ladies gloves but the men sizes were never going to fit him as he is only 12. lol

Cheers Damaris

5m of soil...

2011-10-28T12:49:00.004+10:00

Lovely soil from Warwick Sand and Gravel :)

This soil pile is decreasing rather quickly... It has a long way to go yet. We mix it: 20l bucket of soil, 20l bucket of coir and 20l bucket of sheep, cow and chook manure with blood & bone and other bits. Stinks really good :)

This mixture that we use here is working really well. It lets the roots grow really well and doesn't compact too hard so that the plants are not stunted. Vermiculite is also used sometimes when we have it. :)

Cheers Damaris

What more???

2011-10-28T12:45:00.004+10:00

As if we don't have enough plants, some 150 that have been ordered and received in the last month, now he is putting in a whole heap of seeds as well... Russell that is :) Oh I let him be as he is in heaven right now...

After nearly four years of being away from us every week, now he is home and able to do what he wants. He is loving it. He is thriving in it... We are the happiest as a couple and family that we have been in a long time and that is so good to see. It is so refreshing to see him excited about new seeds sprouting and about rain coming... All so beautiful to see... Have fallen in love with my hubby all over again :) Love seeing his smile :)

Cheers Damaris

Too many plants...

2011-10-28T12:42:00.003+10:00

I have heard it already... The green house is too small... Need a bigger one. The shed is too small... Need a bigger one... When is this going to end??? Never :)

Yes, there are many plants that we now have and even more seeds... Goodness, there are thousands of them... But it is getting done little by little and all in good time before it gets too hot... Not much time left for that... Another reason I don't blog daily anymore. I just don't have the time to do it as I share my computer with Tim and frankly don't like being on the computer... Now if only I could post from my iPhone lol...

Cheers Damaris

Potatoes...

2011-10-28T12:41:00.003+10:00

Josh is also growing some of those in tyres... They are doing well :)

Cheers Damaris

Josh's Gardenbed...

2011-10-28T12:40:00.004+10:00

Growing slowly but surely... Will be faster growth once it warms up :)

Here is an updated photo a couple of days later from the last ones...

Cheers Damaris

Russell's Support for lugging wood...

2011-10-28T12:38:00.002+10:00

Russell's invention... Don't ask me how it works, it just does :)

We are in allot of need of wood these days. We are busy building allot of things around here now that Russell is home and the boys are after some ramps as well for their jumps for the skateboards and scooters... It never ends another words... So he has made himself a support for that he can carry more in the trailer...

Clever little munchkin :)

Cheers Damaris

First of the Silky Oaks...

2011-10-28T12:36:00.003+10:00

One is in the ground, few more to go :) Love it how things are taking shape slowly but surely :) As always, everything must be protected from the hares or wallabies... They would eat everything otherwise...

Cheers Damaris

Horseradish Trees...

2011-10-28T12:34:00.002+10:00

Stump now, 8 metre tree soon... I hope :)

Yep, we now have two of these... Got them sent through the mail. Apparently they will reach about 8 metres. Should be able to give a bit of shade :) Can't wait but must :(

Cheers Damaris

Flowers...

2011-10-28T12:33:00.003+10:00

My first yellow Iris :)

My Oma's favourite colour...

Love Spring for the flowers... Here are a couple just for you to enjoy :)

Cheers Damaris

Agapanthus galore...

2011-10-28T12:30:00.002+10:00

Will look good when they're in their new home :)

Was given a whole heap... Have given some away and still have them sitting in the bucket as have nowhere to put them... I am in the process of organising a new garden bed for my overflow in the backyard but Russell's herb garden is more important right now as he has too many plants that already need badly planting out so they will sit there just a little longer I'm afraid...

Cheers Damaris

Washing my car...

2011-10-28T12:28:00.003+10:00

Brad getting a wash :)

One of the chores that gets done on a Sunday afternoon is washing the work cars and buses. Any worker cars can get done too if there is time. On this lovely Sunday afternoon I had one of the residents take my hat from the back of my car and proceed to wash my car. :) Doesn't he look great??? So did Brad one he was finished with :) And only one bucket of water was used too :)

Cheers Damaris

What a cutie :)

2011-10-28T12:25:00.003+10:00

Thought of it all by himself :)

Josh has been learning how to cook. It is one of the things that they have to do as part of their chores. They must help out with dinner twice a week. So Josh had gotten it into his head that seeing he was rather good at doing anything to do with eggs he would make breakfast for us all...

As you can see from the Menu that he thought of all himself that he was after some time with either Tim or Russell and I. This was easily and lovingly done :) Was a great morning to wake up to this lovely menu... I truly hope he never looses that loveliness about him. xo

Cheers Damaris

Floppy comes to visit :)

2011-10-28T12:24:00.003+10:00

Floppy, the chook :)

She is always doing this. Whether we are playing pool or just to check that we are still home :) Love her to bits :)

Cheers Damaris

Snow Flake Galore :)

2011-10-28T12:21:00.003+10:00

My plant from my hubby :)

The one I bought from Aldi :)

Russell bought me home on of these... just because :) I then also found another one in Aldi and it was just as beautiful so bought it :)

They are both still giving us lots of lovely dainty flowers. Once the stop flowering I will but the bulbs out in the garden somewhere sheltered. :) Can't wait for the next lot but from the garden.

Cheers Damaris

Peace Lilly flowering :)

2011-10-28T12:19:00.003+10:00

My lovely big plant

The large flower :)

Kate and James were convinced it was fake as they had never seen a real one they said... It's real alright and am very proud of it. :) It is still flowering after about four weeks :) :) :)

Flower on baby I say!!!

Cheers Damaris

Bees anyone???

2011-10-28T12:13:00.004+10:00

Can you see them??? There are heaps :)

Couple of weeks ago we noticed all of the sudden that we had allot more bees coming and visiting our block... We had no idea where they were coming from but knew that they were thirsty as they attacked any bit of water we had lying around for our poultry...

We then found a wallaby carcass and wanted to give it to a neighbour as he uses them in his traps. It was there that I discovered that he was the one with the hive. Must have brought one over from his other block from across the highway. Anyway we were happy to know where they belonged and happy to have them around :) Half the hive left the other day though in a big swarm. I had heard about swarms but never experienced them. Boy were they loud with their buzzing. Shame there was not tree on our land for them to go to... I wonder where they ended up. They were on their way to another neighbour but who knows where they eventually landed...

Cheers Damaris

Josh's Garden...

2011-10-28T12:10:00.003+10:00

Finished product of his labours...

Josh putting down the mulch, soil on top and mulch again :)

Since Russell has been home we have been getting stuck into the garden big time... This bug seems to have caught our youngest as well. Lovely to see in my opinion... So now he has his own garden bed with his own little statue that I bought for him as a gift. It's a worm and he rather likes it :)

He is growing Sunflowers, chives, parsley, Jerusalem Artichokes, carrots, lettuce just to name a few :)

Cheers Damaris

Centipede alert!!!

2011-10-28T12:06:00.003+10:00

Was a biggy...

Yep, had one of these beauties in our house... Couldn't believe it was so long... Glad that it was out of the house and out of the chooks way so that they didn't eat it by accident and maybe die... Yuk!

Cheers Damaris

First Solar Stew...

2011-10-28T12:03:00.005+10:00

It was delish :)

I really wanted to try the Solar Oven out not only for baking muffins and cakes and the like but also for a dinner so I just did what I normally do... Bit of this and a bit of that...

The end result was amazing. The meat just melted in your mouth and the stew was cooked by the sun to perfection :) I was so happy with the end result that it has been done quite a few times since off course :)

Cheers Damaris

Water... You say Water???

2011-10-28T12:00:00.002+10:00

It is here :)

Yep, even though we are on tank water only, Russell likes to have it filtered just in case one of our many green and brown frogs poop into the water and he has to then drink that. What a wuss...

So anyway he order one with twin filters on eBay which came really quickly. Order two lots of more cartridges as well so that we had plenty of spares. So now we have our new under the sink water filter and all is hunky dory in this house lol

Cheers Damaris

Let's play :)

2011-10-28T11:55:00.002+10:00

Kate and UNO = Love it :)

Kate taking the shot with Josh and James looking on :)

The day we had James and Kate over we also got a chance to play some pool... Girls against the boys. Yep, we won one and they won one as well so that was nice to have it even :)

Kate also really wanted to play UNO and you don't need to convince me to play that with kids :) So we played till Lisa got back... Fun times. Love those memories :)

Cheers Damaris

Warwick Art Gallery Visit :)

2011-10-28T11:47:00.002+10:00

My favourate :)

I had a couple of hours to kill during the holidays with Lisa's kids and Josh after they went to the movies so I ended up taking them to the Warwick Art Gallery... It was amazing what they had on display...

There was woodworking that had been done by people from the Woodworking Club in Warwick as well as Paintings that had been done by the Warwick Painting Group. That's what I call the groups anyway. If they are different then I am sorry for misnaming them. Was wonderful to see so much local talent...

Naomi Potter who did the teaching on drawing was in there allot as well :)

Cheers Damaris

Solar Oven...

2011-10-28T11:43:00.002+10:00

Yummm :)

So with the weather finally warming up and the sun being out just a little more than in Winter, I have finally been able to give it a good workout. Now whenever we have a sunny day, the Solar Oven ends up outside and get used :)

One thing you do have to get used to is that it doesn't make a crust on the top of the cake as in the oven when fan forced as this is only sun and no movement of air at all. Am loving the change :)

The boys love whatever comes out of it and so does anyone else that tries out what I bake :)

Love baking and not having it cost me a cent :) :) :)

Cheers Damaris

Dermal dilemma...

2011-10-28T11:38:00.002+10:00

Here is one coming out. Was gross but loved it :)

The one I have left :) Pretty :)

So about six months ago I had two put in my right forearm... I love them as had them symbolising my two sisters... Better and cheaper than another tattoo lol

Anyway, one has been giving me nothing but grief for about two months so I finally bit the bullet and went to my GP. She took it out and good that she did too as it was only hanging on by one end and that was easily cut off... So now I only have one left. That is for both my lovely sisters instead... They now have to share lol

Cheers Damaris

YUK!!!

2011-10-28T11:29:00.003+10:00

Some of the gunk that was in our fuel filter... Not happy as all our fuel only comes from one company...

The same day that we went to bowling in Toowoomba, Russell's car started playing up... Shouldn't as had only just had a service and was not even two years old... There was just no way the car would go over 3000rpm... Very strange. Always cut out then... On every gear... So we went to the experts and they looked at it for us straight away... What a way to spend the rest of the day :(

In the end we found out that the fuel filter was completely blocked... Nothing was getting into the engine so the filter was really doing its work but that is what made the car play up as there was not enough fuel in the line... Needless to say after allot of money and a three hour wait we were happy to leave Toowoomba... At least we got to see Spy Kids 4 :)

Cheers Damaris

Bowling time :)

2011-10-28T11:25:00.004+10:00

Going for the Strike :)

Josh having allot of fun :)

One trip we took during the holidays with Josh was to Toowoomba... We went bowling. We booked in early and when we got there we were the only ones there. Was lovely to have the place to ourselves for the first half of the game. :)

This was also the day that for the first time ever Josh scored a Strike and a Spare :) He was so proud and so am I :) Russell off course won both games but no matter :) He used to be in a bowling league so imagine if he didn't lol

Cheers Damaris

On the computer

2011-10-28T11:21:00.002+10:00

Josh doing this thing...

Bailey doing his thing also lol

Josh loves the laptop... Love it that it is movable :) This way he can come into my room if I am reading or relaxing and the dogs usually follow. This day he was cruising YouTube with dogs snoring next to him :) Had to take a photo... This day happened while Tim was at Bluecare. Was so nice to have a break and for Tim to have a break too. :)

Cheers Damaris

Out in Warwick...

2011-10-28T11:16:00.003+10:00

Josh Fishing :)

Some trees on the other side of the river...

Leftover debris from the floods in the top of the picture...

We went for a walk along the river the other week while Tim was at Bluecare and I noticed that there was still all the debris from when we had the floods back last December and January... Was amazing to see just how high it really did go and that the bits and pieces are all still there... You soon forget... But not with this image...

In the same visit to the river Josh tried to fish but it was in the middle of the day so didn't catch anything. He still has fun trying though...

Cheers Damaris

Josh and his rooster...

2011-10-28T11:09:00.003+10:00

Bruce the Rooster :)

Bruce and Josh :)

Kiss for Bruce :)

What do I do here??? I am in bed trying to get some last minute shut-eye and here is Josh coming into my room with Bruce the rooster!!! Apparently he wanted to come and visit me... I don't think so. He is such a gentle little fellow and we all love him dearly... So glad that the kids are also gentle with all our animals or it would not make for a happy home that's for sure.

And yes he was returned to his girls shortly after these photos where taken. hehe

Cheers Damaris

So this is me...

2011-10-28T11:07:00.003+10:00

Here I am :)

Ok... I am finally putting up a photo up of me... Was fairly happy with the outcome... Still allot of weight needs to shift but am getting there... :)

Cheers Damaris

Fighting for Dad's attention...

2011-10-28T11:05:00.002+10:00

Our fur babies... :)

Yep, they do it to all of us but this day it was Russell's turn :) Love how they lie on top of one another to get the upper edge. lol

Cheers Damaris

Where has this year gone???

2011-10-28T11:00:00.002+10:00

Took this one morning on one of my walks...

That is a question I have asked myself allot in the last few weeks... Russell is now settled into his job at Maryvale SS and doing really well... I have truly settled in my job up in Toowoomba at Horton Village... I am off probation and now permanent :) I also now have my bus licence which means my shifts are a little longer as I pick up and drop off residents at their centres and work... I must say I love it. I never in a million years thought I would enjoy it as much as what I do... I am very fortunate in deed...

So now that even the last of the late frost has gone and the temperature has risen rather rapidly, I find myself with not enough hours in the day :) The property needs mowing badly. There are bits that the tractor can't get to as too steep. Our neighbour wants to burn it off course. lol Will as for a permit first though. I like to do all things above board...

Well coming up is a bit of what has happened in the last month...

Cheers Damaris

Melting moments...

2011-09-14T13:04:00.003+10:00

Yum :)

So who do you think makes the best ones??? My hubby off course... Russell is soooo good at them. They involve allot of labour so not many get done at any one time. Oh we enjoy them though when he makes them. Just love them... Homemade is really best, every single time :)

Cheers Damaris

Josh's favorite flower at school atm...

2011-09-14T12:59:00.003+10:00

This is it... He didn't know the name of it but was so excited about it I had to adjust my walk that morning so that I could take a photo of it... Lol... Irises... They always remind me of my Oma... RIP... They are everywhere at school at the moment. This flower he loved the most apparently... Told him that we had them at home... Doh, he had no idea. lol

Cheers Damaris

Bud is learning...

2011-09-14T12:56:00.002+10:00

Josh with Bud on his shoulder...

Tim's budgie has been doing really well sitting on one's finger... Last week we thought we would give it a go and see how he would go coming out of the cage. Yep, he flew all over the place and did really well. He ended up on everyone's shoulders as well which was very cute to see... He is getting there... One of these days he will be able to be out all the time, as long as the dogs are away in the laundry that is or they would eat him that's for sure and so don't want that...

Cheers Damaris

Good Morning...

2011-09-14T12:55:00.003+10:00

Sunrise last Sunday morning... Had to share... Was through some clouds but so beautiful :)

Cheers Damaris

Comfy???

2011-09-14T12:52:00.003+10:00

Aren't I cute Mum?

Am comfy on your pillow Mum :)

Yep, the couch is OURS...

You think they are??? I do... lol

Cheers Damaris

Going to the dam...

2011-09-14T12:46:00.003+10:00

My lovely new plants...

Wivenhoe Dam :)

Last Sunday was such a wonderfully beautiful day... It was home weekend for the residents and out of 26 we only had 13 left at Horton Village... So the three support workers took the ones left at home out for the day...

First we went to the Fernvale Markets... I was lucky enough to have a little fix and bought a whole heap of plants... They are going in the ground this weekend. :) We then made our way to Wivenhoe Dam. There we had a lovely BBQ lunch and then desert as well as Birthday Cake as one of the residents had their Birthday that day as well... On the way home we had an ice cream and Maccas.

All in all it was a beautiful day out. Loved it... Can't wait to do it again...

Cheers Damaris

Sing-a-long 2011

2011-09-14T12:40:00.002+10:00

Our little school... 8/12 performed...

Josh had the last opportunity, along with his school to enter this year. He is in his last year at Primary School so was looking forward to performing one last time... This is a get together where there are about 9 schools. They all perform two songs each and then the whole 350 odd kids get together on stage and perform a few songs as one...

This is the third time that Warwick has done this and I must say that this is the best performance yet... It was awesome... Josh had a great time too... Was a rehearsal day that took all day and then the performance was on that night... Maryvale State School did join in with another school and then some other extras joined in too so that they had better sound... Don't think they needed it but I am biased. lol

Was a great night out :)

Cheers Damaris

Met someone...

2011-09-14T12:37:00.003+10:00

Kim and I...

The other day I was in Big W getting stuff and happened to run into one of the authors for 4 Ingredients books. I have them all and love them. I love to use them with the residents at work too... Kim McCosker is just lovely in person as well as on Facebook... Love her energy... She was there with her mum promoting the latest book for babies... And no I didn't end up getting it as I don't have any babies around me and don't intend to have anymore either. lol

Cheers Damaris

Decluttering...

2011-09-14T12:33:00.002+10:00

Yep it was on the cards again... The toy box just had to go. The boys were not using it. It was only getting a work out whenever I had someone with kids over... That was fine but I didn't want a box around anymore just for those few occasions...

So I went to Crazy Clarks and look what I found... It is one of those plastic containers you put under your bed but these ones had different compartments. You can even take some of the slots out to make them bigger, which I did on one occasion...

Love it. Fits perfectly where I have it too. Got rid of the box which Russell can use in the shed and I have a nice and neat area. Now it is still used by kids but even easier to clean up afterwards. LOVE IT :)

Cheers Damaris

What the???

2011-09-14T12:31:00.002+10:00

This is what greeted me when I was walking around at work one morning... Yep, the biggest worm I had ever seen... Wish I could have taken him home to put in my garden. lol

Cheers Damaris

Horton Village Open Day... Mad Hatter's Tea Party

2011-09-14T12:21:00.005+10:00

A visitor and the lovely Sherrie :)

Morning tea time :)

Kylie playing Alice in Wonderland :)

Julie the pussy cat :)

Peter the rabbit, late for an important date, Dean and Sandra :)

Things some of our residents do at work.

Lots of games were played...

As I have mentioned before I work as a Disability Support Worker for The Salvation Army in Toowoomba. I am up there on the top of the Range at Horton Village... There are three cottages, two with ladies in them and one with the men...

Well earlier this month we had our first ever Open Day... We had about 300-350 people turn up... It was just fantastic to see the place so alive with so many people. There were many games played. It ended up in the paper as well. Rotary came and did the BBQ for us as well... What a great job they did. It truly was a fantastic day :)

I can't wait for the next one. :)

Cheers Damaris

Goats...

2011-09-14T12:18:00.002+10:00

Tim holding one of the twin boys...

Fiona's two girls had their babies couple of weeks ago. One had twin males and the other had a little female... Josh actually saw the twins while the cord was still attached... Had just been born... He was so excited. So off course Tim had to go down when he got home from school and have a look and a hold... This one is our favourite :)

Cheers Damaris

What a magical shot...

2011-09-14T12:16:00.002+10:00

Was walking the other morning and look what picture I took. Off course doesn't do the real thing justice but oh what a shot. Had to share :)

Cheers Damaris

New bits...

2011-09-14T12:10:00.002+10:00

Nova enjoys the new Futon. lol

Very comfy :)

Well after five years the futon is no more... It has gone to another home where someone else can use it. Had plenty of life still in it but not for us anymore... I was over it... Well and truly... The dining table also had a crack in the table top from when we moved into the house which was now getting bigger... It also had to go. So the chairs went to a new home but the table is living in the shed now and Russell uses it down there :)

So we still needed to get a sofa bed of some sort as we don't have a spare room for guests... We found a lovely futon that also acts as a lounge. The lounge was a sale item... $700 off and all leather with all the warranty attached. Couldn't say no...

Very happy to have things rearranged and all the furniture fits in really nicely... Loving it :)

Cheers Damaris

On with it...

2011-09-14T12:04:00.002+10:00

Somewhere to hang the hose as well as wash veggies :)

New chairs for the new dining table :)

Russell has left his Brisbane job now about five weeks ago... This has meant that he has spent allot more time at home. All of it in fact. This has taken some time to get used to but seeing I am gone two nights a week it is not too much of a drama. He is there when I am not and he works at Maryvale State School in the office 1.5 days a week... Totally sweet... Am loving the change and am very happy and content...

With Russell being home it is amazing how much has gotten done around the place lately. All those little jobs that need doing have finally started getting done. :) Woohoo... Now to keep that momentum going. lol

Cheers Damaris

What was he thinking...

2011-09-14T11:57:00.002+10:00

My precious boy...

This photo was taken at my Mum's Birthday Party... I really love this shot... There Tim is lying in the grass looking at something... Wonder what he is thinking? I often wonder that... He is so stressed at the moment with school that he has even had six warts come out on his legs. They are just little at the moment but I know that if he doesn't have down time soon they will get bigger. Warts are the last tell tale sign that he is getting beyond being able to cope...

This weekend he is on holidays then for two whole weeks. He can't wait... He is going to Blue Care for six nights which he has never done before. It was supposed to be for four only but someone cancelled so we were offered another two nights... He is going to have a fantastic time. On the agenda are going to the movies, a car rally, the gym and swimming, fishing, seeing the Toowoomba Carnival of flowers, picnics... you name it he is doing it. And I am glad... He needs to get away from focusing on school.

He needs a break so badly and I am glad that he will get it... Oh how I worry about him that he is coping OK on the inside... If only I could help more... Wanted him to go to Disability Action Week Dance on Friday night in Warwick but he won't be in it. Shame I would have loved to have gone with him but he is not interested being around more people that are disabled. I can understand when he is so easily frustrated by them at school... Am very thankful that the break is coming up. :)

Cheers Damaris

Community Input...

2011-09-14T11:52:00.002+10:00

The lovely Pam Burley came out on Seniors day with her friend Bette Bonney and after the celebrations a group of about 25 of us went back to the local Maryvale School of Arts Community Hall to see what sort of things we could brainstorm...

What did we want to see in our little community by 2030... It was a very interesting process and we were put into two groups. I was also amazed just how many times both groups overlapped in what we wanted to see in our community. So many like minded people. It was lovely to see... So glad I went and had given my two cents worth.

So glad that we have people like Pam around that do care for outer lying communities such as Maryvale. We are only 20 odd minutes from Warwick but still very much on the outer... Thanks Pam for coming and seeing us :) Really appreciate it :)

Cheers Damaris

Seniors Day, 2011

2011-09-14T11:45:00.003+10:00

So many came to enjoy their Seniors Day out...

Games galore...

Plenty of food was had :)

This year it was held at Maryvale State School. There was so much food it was not possible to eat it all. There was such a great turn out... People even came from Allora and Warwick. Woohoo... It was so worth it.

All the kids had to make up their own games for the Seniors to do. They made up the games, made up the rules and had to print out the instructions on the computer even. There were 11 games in all that the oldies had a chance to play. And didn't they love it... They all had a ball. Was a little windy on the day but no one cared. It was so wonderful seeing the two generations interaction. I was so blessed to have been able to be there on that day. :)

In the end all the Seniors had to choose which game they loved the best and the one that one by a mile was Josh and Carson's... They were so happy to win... Everyone in the end was a winner though as they all tried their best and they all had a great time...

Well done kids for a wonderful day out for the oldies. :)

Cheers Damaris

Bailey's been very sick...

2011-09-14T11:40:00.003+10:00

Some of his drugs...

He did lots of sleeping... No energy for anything else...

He went in to get his teeth cleaned... During the procedure he stopped breathing... They had to put a tube down his throat and do all sorts of things to get him to breathe again... I am truly grateful for that as I don't even want to imagine what it would be like without my little boy...

But he ended up with a really sore throat, he couldn't and wouldn't eat. He hurt his lungs as well as seen on the X-rays. He lost so much weight and was on four different drugs in the end. There were times when I really thought that we would lose him...

But he has come good. He is all better now and putting on weight little by little... He is back to the old cheeky boy I know and love. Thank God :)

Cheers Damaris

Making some noise...

2011-09-14T11:38:00.002+10:00

Every Monday, Fiona comes up to my house with a bunch of kids... Her daughter Bec, Carson and Josh joins in too. They have their own little band going and are sounding really great... They are even performing at the end of year concert for school. Can't wait to hear them in front of a heap of people :)

Cheers Damaris

My lastest find...

2011-09-14T11:34:00.002+10:00

Three cups in one... Woohoo!!!

I wanted a new cup for work. One that wasn't small. All the ones they had at work were too small and I wanted to get one that was bigger so that it would last longer and didn't need constant refilling... I had my mind set on a creamy colour one but all the ones that I saw had flaws in their paint work...

So the next best thing was to get one that had Margaret's favourite colour... Yep it's green... I love this shade of green and as soon as I picked it up it made me think of her. This is the reason that I got it. I don't take it to work. I took another one from home. This one I keep at home and whenever I have a coffee I think of my Margaret... Love it. :)

Cheers Damaris

A spaceship has landed...

2011-09-14T11:32:00.002+10:00

In my kitchen that is... lol... Nah... It is our new convection oven... Russell has wanted one of these for a while and we also ended up getting the spacer for it so that we can put more in it... Works so well and does roasts really nicely... It is also really easy to clean...

Love it... And on top of that it uses half the power the oven uses. Win, Win I reckon. :)

Cheers Damaris