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