Quick update on the Cubbyhouse...

The Two Russells working hard...

On Saturday, in between shifts with the Rural Fire Brigade, our good friend Russ helped my Russell do some work on the Boys' Cubbyhouse. The two Russells ended up finishing the floor and put on three legs before Russ had to go back to fighting the fire across the Highway.

Here is a photo of them working on it. :)

There is progress. I love it. Hopefully by Christmas it will be done. The Family Collective that funded this project is meeting again in January after having a break over Christmas and the School Holidays so I want to ensure that I have pictures of the finished product for our first meeting. We are on target I think...

Cheers Damaris

Fire that's just a bit too close to Home...

Start of the real fire, at Gladfield...
Yesterday, coming a little too close for comfort...

Taken 1/2hr ago...

Last week and for the beginning of this week, every time that Joshua and I would go outside at night to shut the chooks and ducks in, we saw off in the not too far in the distance that someone was burning off piles of cleared trees. These spot fires where only four or five of them a night but they showed up nicely up against the range in the background. Looked great actually...

That was until this last Tuesday, when during the midday heat it got totally out of control. The local paper reported it as having started with a lightening strike, yeah right!!! As if.

The poor farmer has had many fire fighters around since. It has also taken out allot of land. All of it in the hills which most of the farmers are very happy about as it is getting rid of lantenna ( a horrible weed in these and many other parts of this great country of ours) and allot of debris that would not be back burned normally.

One of our close friends here is in the local Rural Fire Brigade and he has been called out again this afternoon to help. At the moment he is helping Russell with our cubby. What a treasure. He has just spent the morning helping with diggers digging a new road up the mountain as to contain the fire. Now he is going back to help with many others to light it from that end and force the fire into itself. Will be spectacular to watch. But as least we know that it is intended that way.

Lets just hope and pray that the wind doesn't change. On that front we have been very fortunate over the last week. Even though the fire is close and just across the Cunningham Highway we have had just about all of our breeze coming in from the east and not the north west which is just as well or we would not be doing anywhere as well.

I know it will be very hot up there for them and just hope that the job gets done quickly and safely.

Cheers Damaris

What to do first...

One of the many frogs that regularly visits us at night...

Over the last week the house has been getting away from me. I admit it. It is a mess. I like my house to be neat and tidy so this is really driving me nuts. I can't see out of the mess. It is not that bad really but bad for me. lol. My bedroom is fine, so is the bathroom and toilets. Laundry and Pantry are fine as well. But for the rest of the house... HELP is all I can say...

The weather has been so hot here lately that nothing can get me to get going on it. It just ends up sitting there. The washing up gets done and that is about it. My hand hurts after that so then I take a break and don't want to get back into it.

I joined the FlyLady a while ago as I liked how she motivated people into doing things around the place, 15 minutes as a time. I have now also joined The-Organizer-Lady. She does it allot the same way as the FlyLady but a little different as well. Both have been at this for a very long time and it shows...

Not even these two sites have helped. I have ordered a calender from the FlyLady that I hope comes soon in the post. I would like to have my itinerary on the wall for everyone not just in my mobile phone so that I don't have to look at it every time someone wants to know when something is happening. That will make me very happy to have that up and running. This heat seems to be never ending. At night there is not much relief as we are not having storms to cool everything down. Animals are needing water just about twice a day at the moment also which doesn't help me keep cool either as I have to get out there and do it for them.

Don't get me wrong, I love it that it is warm enough for little baby animals to be born and for grass to be growing as well as our little veggie garden. I am very fortunate also as most of the time I have a lovely breeze here coming through the house.

Allot of the last week I have had to leave it all shut up though as there are fires rather close to here. Just over the Highway and that is not good. I hate to know the toll it is taking the animals up in the mountainous area. The local Rural Fire Brigade is helping out off course and for that I am very thankful. Were would we be without them. They are keeping out homes safe.

So that brings me back to my dilemma. Where do I start? The kitchen table I think. Then the coffee table, that the kids were supposed to have done when they got home from school today. One step at a time... Then ... I will see then...

Cheers Damaris

Square Foot Garden update...

Square Foot Garden bed...
Water Chestnuts in their barrel...

For the last couple of days we have had terribly hot weather. The breeze that we always get here, as we are on a hill, was not too bad but still fairly warm all the same.

This morning I went out to have a look at how the garden bed was faring as I had not been out there for... oops about a week. I had not even thought about them. Not having had a veggie garden for so long I am still getting used to actually looking after it.

Went out and had a look at the plants and was soooo surprised that all of them were fine and growing. The soil was a little cool and not dried out at all. When I did water them the water soaked right in. Obviously really good stuff we have in there... Love the stuff.

The corn has not shot up as fast as I would have liked but it is allot later in the season then when we last put it in. At least they have not died. Tomato bushes have a couple of flowers on even. That I liked to see. :) They are cherry tomato so doubt they will make it into the kitchen from when I pick them. I love them so much...

I also checked out how the water chestnuts were doing. Last season I put in 6 corms I think. I never ended up digging them out as the pot dried out and it was like concrete. Anyway beginning of this season it rained a couple of times, not much just enough to cover the soil... And Hey Presto... Stalky leaves started coming up. So now I have more than ever which I am very happy about. I make sure the water is kept up to them and when they are ready to harvest this time I will make sure that there is still water in there as it should be allot easier to get them out. Can't wait to have them. Yummy!!!!

Cheers Damaris

Dad's Birthday Get Together...

Dad and his birthday cake...
My darling husband, Russell...

Most of the family in the pool...

Some of my nephews, and both my boys...

Dad, my sister Martina, my brother Markus and my hubby Russell

In my immediate family, I have the honour of being the eldest of five children. We were born girl, boy, girl, boy, girl. All within 10 years. I used to love going to the same school as all of them. When I was in Year 11 and 12 I had them all with me... Lis, the youngest being in Year 1 and 2. Those times hold very special memories for me. She used to tell kids off and warn them that her BIG sister was coming to beat them up if they weren't nice. hehe Yes I did visit her every morning tea for those two years but not to bash up fellow little kids... lol

Yesterday, most of my brothers and sisters and our extended families got together at my Dad and Stepmum's place for a lovely afternoon tea and swim. It is my Dad's 61st Birthday on Wednesday and so wanted to get together to celebrate not just his but also the ones that we had missed during the year and all the ones in November. There is Ethan's, Marianna's, Christian's, Jordan's and mine. :) The first four are from my youngest brother's family: Mum, Dad and two of their three boys.

Dad loves us all getting together and it was sad not to have my youngest sister Lis and her hubby Phil there too but we will see them for Christmas. She is still up at Boigu Island (few kilometres of PNG) teaching Preps, Year 1 and Year 2. She sure has her work cut out for her. This is her first year there and she only has one more to go and then she may teach somewhere else.

It was so lovely to catch up with everyone and I am so glad that though I was still feeling ill that I made the effort to go. On the way home my headaches came back again and the stomach aches were there too by the time I went to bed. Hope it goes soon. Five days of this is enough already. Today is quite warm but nowhere near as muggy as it was in Brisbane yesterday, thank goodness. Housework needs doing and is calling. Better get going. :)

I hope you enjoy the photos of my family...

Cheers Damaris

Nanna nap and Dinner time...

Yummy dinner....

When Russell came home last Wednesday night he also brought home his mum with him. I love having her stay over as she gets to be apart of our everyday life. She also gets to see us and the kids and we love having her in our lives. Doesn't happen often enough but when it does it is wonderful.

During this last stay she crochet allot, watched Russell and I starting on the cubbyhouse just to name a couple of things. I also enjoyed many cups of coffee with her as well. She got an insight to how things are as last time she was here was Easter this year. I think she was amazed at the change with the added testosterone in the house. I just hope she was not too traumatised by the whole visit. lol

When she comes to stay we make full use of the futon as we don't have a spare room in this house. This means that off course the dogs are going to take full use of that as well. Mum loves having the dogs with her as they keep her company as well as warm. Both are winners in the end as they love her company as well.

Dinner that particular night was Fleischleiberl. That is German for Meat Paddies but I do things like my Grandmother taught me on her many visits from Austria. I add all sorts of things into it and it ends up being moist and delish. Don't ask for the receipe as it is a bit of this and a bit of that. Mostly go by feel and that is just the way I like to cook. I can then substitute as well which is great and I don't feel so restricted in what I add.

Dinner was a yummy affair and Mum loved to watch me over the weekend as she likes to see how I cook and bake in comparison as she used to. Think that was an eye opener as well.

We have kidnapped her for Christmas this year already so will be looking forward to see her again in a short period of time.

Cheers Damaris

Melbourne Cup Luncheon...

Some of the patrons before lunch
Carly taking a photo, Lisa checking her horses in the sweeps...

Last week I had the pleasure of going to the Maryvale Crown Hotel. Yep, another word for the local pub. hehe

I was going to go to the ASD Parent Support Group Cup Lunch but the pub called as I wanted the prawns. lol

So at 11:30am I went down there, picked up a friend and her beautiful little girl and off we went. Met lots of other friend while there and had a wonderful time. Not with all the flies though...

We had a glass of bubbly upon entry and lunch with dessert only cost $15.00 which I think is fantastic. The food was great and so was dessert.

I went in the sweeps. I only ever do that. I don't spend any money at the TAB. There could be too much money to lose plus don't like the crowds anyway. And not doing it online or over the phone. Too easy an access me thinks...

I went into two $2.00 and one $5.00 sweep costing me a grand total of $9.00. I walked away with second prize for one of the $2.00 sweeps and pocketed $14.00. Thought that was pretty good. Was going to spend that at the bar but ended up going home with it and putting it in my piggy bank. Like that idea...

Anyway, a great day was had by all. Thanks Dennis, Josephine and Carla for a great time. :)

Cheers Damaris