Visiting time...

My Margaret doing washing after their camping trip...
James and his marblerun, a gift made by Russell. :)

Last Friday I packed my two boys into the car, along with Christmas Presents and we set off to visit a very close friend of mine and her two boys. Margaret only lives just over an hour away from me but we don't see each other anywhere near as much as we used to. Funny how we met...

I was waiting at the school gate for my boys to come out of school and was talking to someone. They left and then I saw Margaret there and said 'Hello'. That was the end of that and the start of a beautiful friendship. This included visits to each other's homes each week helping with cleaning, decluttering and keeping each other company. We have certainly been through a whole lot and am sure a whole lot more to come.

Margaret has two boys, Dylan who is two days younger than Joshua and James who is in Grade 4 this year at a local Special School. He is non verbal Autistic and finds it very hard to communicate. There is a little sign language there but not allot. He is also very gentle and loves to gives hugs and kisses if he knows you well. When we were still living in Brisbane I got to know him very well and I know that he knows that I love him very much. He is hard to understand but I try really hard to make the time to try and see his world through his eyes. It is very difficult for the family I am sure to not be able to properly communicate with him.

It makes me very appreciative of what I have with Timothy. I know we have our difficult times each day but nothing in comparison to what Margaret goes through all the time. And with very little help. She has a lovely border that stays with her and helps out allot and I know she would be lost without that person but she has noone from her family, no services that help. I do wish that I was closer for that reason alone. I do miss her and her boys very much I must say...

We had a lovely long visit on Friday and I didn't want to leave. I ended up leaving when I knew she would have to end up getting dinner on for the boys but just really wanted to stay just a little longer.

The boys are with their father for the next couple of weeks so I have invited her and she has accepted to come out to our place for me to pamper her for a few days. I am so happy that she took me up on that offer. I can't wait for her to get here... Mud masks here we come. :)

Cheers Damaris

Oh how they grow so quickly...

Keets and chicks as of today...

I was gone for one week at Straddie, all eleven chicks hatched while I was gone. No sorry, one did wait for me... hehe

The chicks and keets are all in together at the moment but will need separating soon enough. The container is not large enough to hold them all. There are five keets and eleven chicks in total. I have the light off during the day as they don't need the extra heat. At night Timothy is the first at night to turn the light back on.

They are certainly growing quickly... They go through allot of feed as well. The water is changed twice sometimes three times a day as they like to scratch up the woodshavings. So cute to watch them 'at work'.

I hope there are move chooks than roosters though. Next week I have to take another three bantam roosters. One of my Belgian's is getting a little of a beating from all the boys. Her feathers are sooo sad looking. Need that rectified for her.

I tried also unsuccessfully to get Chuck another Daisy last week but not one goose was for sale. Hope there is one there for him next week instead. Or maybe two???? Have another chook sitting on more eggs as well so will see in a couple of weeks how many that will bring us again...

Cheers Damaris

My Holiday...

Straddie, what a view...
Resident dolphins visiting...

Food, glorious food...

Tina with one of her three catches...

Amity Point on sunset, glorious...

What a view...

Our latest addition...

Last Monday, my two sisters Tina and Lis went with me on a holiday that we do regularly... We go camping together, just the three of us, on North Stradbroke Island. The ferry takes just under an hour to get us there and then we usually go straight to the camp site, set up and go eat.

Yes these holidays are all about eating, talking, relaxing, sleeping, reading and more eating... hehe

We got to have our usual site again right on the beach front which we didn't think we would seeing it is in the middle of Summer holidays. We were very lucky. Someone had cleared out half an hour before us and no one else had spotted the gem yet. Then we arrived and claimed it as ours. The tent went up quickly and then we unloaded the car.

Usually we only stay two nights and have been doing this every year or so for the last seven years but this time we stayed five nights and how wonderful that was. We had time to relax and really enjoy it. Previously we would just unwind and then have to get going again. Not fun. We have decided that from now on it is a five night or longer stay. Sounds excellent to me... I must say that is has been wonderful to also have such supportive husbands at home who look after our kids while we are away on respite.

Our days didn't consist of allot of hard work, allot of shopping for kids and sisterly things. We all got a plaque that has a lovely verse on it. We also all got toe rings and we got a tattoo. Every time that we get together, our extended family now know that we do something to our bodies. Previously it was a tattoo on our lower back, ear piercing, belly button piercing, etc. This time it was a tattoo again. It is on the inside of our left wrists and is a set of three pink and yellow frangipani. We love them as we designed the tattoo ourselves as well. They are currently healing and will look fantastic in about a week once all the healing is done. Mine is also a little swollen but not much.

All in all we had a fantastic time. There was allot of sharing, more so than ever before. We spoke openly and I know that I learned allot about my two younger sisters. I must say that I am extremely proud of them both. They are both going through allot at the moment but the are so positive and know that this storm is only for a little while in the grand scheme of things.

I am very thankful to Russell and the boys that I was able to go with a total peace of mind. The boys had a ball together, seeing a movie as well as going to the Pottery club last Saturday. Can't wait to see their creations. :) When walking in the door I noticed straight away that the house was tidy and looked so inviting. I also noticed that Russell made the bed just for me. Love you Darling. :)

Speaking honestly, I can say that today I am totally relaxed and am so thankful for the wonderfully relaxing time that I had. Can't wait for the next time. Wonder what we are getting done then... Any ideas Tina??? Lis??? :)

Cheers Damaris

Our latest Babies... Keets

Our five keets...

OK one more quick post as they will be so big in a week by the time I get back and wanted to show you our new babies... They are keets. Baby Guinea fowl.

When I bought Guineafus our male his three ladies, they laid five eggs within the first three days of being here. I knew that there were males at their previous home so turned them for two days and then set them in the incubator. Did the same as chook eggs, turning twice a day, sometimes even forgetting.

We put five eggs in there and guess what??? We got five keets out of it. Woohoo. 100% hatching. Never had that before, ever... We left them in the incubator till they were dry and moved the first four to their new home with the light, food and water. They are soooo skittish that we could not even catch them to show them how to feed and drink... They taught themselves thank goodness. The last one, the light coloured one was out two days later and a little wobbly when we first put it in with the others as they had found their feet already. But now they are all happy together and there is no picking on anyone at all.

They are lovely to watch. So cute. Don't look like their grown up Mums at all... That will come with time.

Cheers Damaris

Square Foot Gardening update...

Zucchini plants taking over...
Corn not tall but already forming small cobs...

It has been a while since I have mentioned the garden bed so thought I would take that opportunity today... Went out there yesterday and took a couple of photos as we have had constant on and off rain here for the last three weeks.

I have not had to do any watering at all during that time... The rain has been doing that for me. It was not growing too crash hot at first off course as we were rather late in the season to be starting and the heat was right on us. There is off course also no shade at all as we have not bushes or trees as yet. So they were suffering a little.

Now, the zucchini has taken off, all three plants are huge and the veggies are coming on as well... The cherry tomatoes are starting to form after a huge load of flowers came and went. The corn has bolted and the plant is tiny but is already producing corn. I will not be planting this again. Too much water is needed for corn and the early heat in its life cycle stunted its growth. The carrots didn't survive as I mentioned before. The flowers I put in didn't fair well either. The rosemary was moved as it was in way too much shade from the zucchini plants. The rockmelon is still there and tentacles are coming so hopefully it will keep growing up and over the edge and spill over that way.

Lessons learnt: Well I will not be putting in three zucchini again... One maybe two and only one in each four squares. They need allot of room and being in that beautiful growing medium means that they are even bigger growers... I am in the process of emptying my freezers at the moment as I will be making allot of zucchini slice, meatballs with zucchini etc in a very short period of time. I was tempted to get the first one yesterday but left it as it could do with another day or two on the plant. In future I will plant a rosemary but not in the garden bed but rather near it so it has a chance to grow and attract the bees that are so needed for pollination. Corn will also not be grown. I am thinking about maze though as it freezes really well also for future use.

Russell and I are sitting down together so see which seeds of ours are still viable and what we need to order from Green Harvest to ensure that we have a great rate of germination in the new greenhouse too. Will be interesting how that all goes.

OK, so this is my last post until next Sunday. I am off to Straddie and will not have access to the Internet at all. I am going on respite with my two sisters which has been planned for over a year now so am really looking forward to it. So off I go and pack Brad (my car)... :)

Cheers Damaris

Reflection time and 2010...

It is amazing that the year is now already 2010. Where has the last year gone? What have I achieved? Have I done what I wanted to? These are the questions that I ask myself today...

We have done allot in the last twelve months. Everything from milking our own heifer for the first time to watching another birth. Numerous chicks hatching and some not... Boys grades going up and up and Russell working four days a week only to be home more. I also worked more regularly and my bosses ended up with Carer's Queensland Employer of the Year 2009. That was certainly a highlight.

We also increased our chook numbers somewhat and got rid of roosters that we didn't need. We also had a heap of ducks join our family. Two of the drakes will go soon to the Pig and Calf to be re homed. Few more roosters have to go as well yet. All in good time.

This year also saw Timothy finish Primary School and integrate into High School and the Special Education Unit. It saw Joshua finish off with counselling at one place and he is about to start with another.

Towards the end of the year, Russell ended up going back to full time work but working that one day a week from home. So nice to have him home but not. If you know what I mean. :)

Me, I have settled more here... At the begging I wanted to do everything within the community but soon realised that you just can't do it all. I have stepped back from QCPCA (governing body of P&C at School) but still helped out with Carer's Queensland and the Family Collective. The ASD Group in Warwick is still very much apart of my life and I have become firm friends with many there.

I must say that as this year starts I feel at peace. I am busy but not too busy. If I need a nanna nap then I take it. I am there to be as good a person as I can be and be there for when someone needs me but am able to take time out for me as well at the same time. The balance is good right now and I hope it stays that way.

Yes this year will be interesting. Joshua at Primary School all by himself, Timothy in High School, Russell still working from home. But it will all be good. I am very happy about last year, allot of growing was done. This year will be just as great I think. This I can only hope and pray for. We hope to grow alot more of our own food as well. Trees in the orchard have not done well in the recent heat waves that we have had, even with the rain we have had for the last three weeks. But our tanks are full to the rim and the grass can be heard growing and stretching at the moment. :)

Cheers Damaris

Peaceful days...

Oh the tranquility...
Joshua with the thumbs up. He was having a ball...

Can you spot Joshua??? View down from the blanket...

When Timothy was in respite with Bluecare just before Christmas, Joshua and I took the opportunity to go to our local National Park and check it out. We went via Gladfield and took the windy road seeing lots of cows and sights that we only ever see from the other side of the hill. Was great to check it all out. We have been here now for just over two years and had still not been...

It took us about an hour of driving as most of the end journey was rather slow. The cattle was all over the road and you basically had to wait for them to move out of your way to keep going... There are lovely places to camp at the end and there are also lovely picnic areas and trail walking that could be done. 4WD's are catered for also...

Joshua and I didn't go and have our picnic lunch in the usual places though. There were two creeks that we had to cross to get to the end so we chose the second one that we came across. I ensured that I parked off the road and we took our picnic blanket and food with us and had our lunch. Joshua had a go at trying to find some yabbies but had no luck. Never mind maybe next time. :)

I ended up lying down on the blanket and it was so peaceful next to the road there with the sound of the water hitting the rocks and the breeze going through the trees and making old leaves drop on you that I nearly fell asleep. In total there were three cars that drove by in the time that we were there.

Then on our return home we stopped at the first creek that we came across. It was too much fun with the water running across the road to not stop. So Joshua skipped rocks and I nearly fell over on the slippery road. Then the rain came and we ended up going home.

All in all a fantastic day and a place where we are going to again once I get back from my week's holiday in North Stradbroke Island. I can't wait. I leave with my two sisters on Monday and don't get back till the Saturday night, very late...

Cheers Damaris