wild things

Father's Day weekend found us feeling really happy.  We are the A team. I feel very proud that we have made this working sojourn a success so far.  All the planning and scheduling aside.  We have been having fun.

Driving out west on Father's Day we were greeted by Brumbies and Camels.  Dada,  of course cannot help himself.  He has a way with horses.  We had some carrots to share with them.  Although I started to feel a bit twitchy when they surrounded the car.  Somehow Dada thinks camels are cute!  I just seem to remember them from a camel trek in the Rajastan Desert as snotty, foul mouthed farting ass licking creatures that are impossible to ride for 3 days straight without getting huge grazes on your bum.

 
We found a great camping ground. Penrose Park.  I have not seen these type of old swings for ages.

I am feeling good about work because I feel that I am working where I belong, I guess.  Not necessarily Broken Hill, but in an enthusiastic team really commited to improving the health of our countrymen and women and children.  It is a challenge to operate on many levels and have different projects all going on at once.  I am honoured to be here and appreciated.

But there is always some grief when I  leave in the morning.  We all had such a great weekend.  As we were pulling up to my workplace on Monday morning, our little man was very quiet.  He knew I was about to leave.  It really got to me.  No screeching or thrashing around or loud protests of not getting what he wants.  His eyes just welled up in tears and he looked away.   A long kiss on his soft sweet cheek.  I said my goodbye and a cheery "Have a good day with Daddy.  Love you".

I called half an hour later.  They were all running around Sturt Park having fun.

                          I think of you all day, my sweet handsome boy.

our creative space

Being surrounded by Desert, we have had to think a bit more where we can play and walk the dogs.  Driving about 10km out of town to the dry river beds has been a favourite spot.  The Galahs in the Red River gum trees squawking at the dogs and all the red dirt to dig and run around safely in makes it winner for a morning or afternoon trip.

On this trip we decided to make a humpy.  It is really Dada's and little man's creation.

Thinking that we might take a picnic basket out one early evening and watch the sunset.  Maybe boil some billy tea too on our own campfire.  Or maybe wait for that one until someone is a bit older?

For me I borrowed my boss' Janome and made up this little book bag.  I  am very chuffed with my beginner's effort.  I have not had much time for crotchet yet. I fall asleep on the couch watching The Renovator's every evening.  Don't you think the rapid eliminations have been too brutal?

I love linking in to see other's creative space here.

grateful for his father

With all the changes and challenges grateful that he is still so hands on.  Grateful for those early morning cups of tea in bed and the eagerness to get the day going.  Grateful for the constant chatter about new adventures to be had.  Grateful for asking directions when it is something that I seem to dread.  Grateful that he has endured all my negativity as he is often in the firing line.  Grategul for his love for his son and their special bond.

Thanks Maxabella

Once again, thanks Dada, we love you.  Xxxx.

hand planed and kneaded

Very proud of Dada's hand made bread board.  Made from rough pieces of timber all hand planed and beautifully finished.  Now his onto his next project hand made mallet.  Hmmm, not sure if that will come to be handy for awhile but apparently it is quite a challenge.  No glue, everything has to be hand turned and fit exactly.

Ventured into making home made damper yesterday.  Devoured by moi straight from the oven.  Also spent the time with baby asleep making home made vegie, white bean and rice soup.  Little tanties now at the dinner table turning his nose up to Mama's cooking.  Gave up and decided to give it to Chester and Dan as an extra treat.  Then it all went quiet out the back whilst stacking the dishwasher.  Walked out, and there was the little chap eating that very soup from the dog's bowl.

28 days of gratitude - day 3 - team effort

Today I am so grateful for Marty's perseverence and my friend Maren's constant helping hand.  We have been putting up this silly fiddly shed from that well known hardware mutlinational for what seems like days now.   We needed something temporary but still sturdy.  It certainly would not survive a category 1 cyclone.  Here I was the negative one.  Prancing around saying "its not going to work".  "We should organise to dismantle what we have done and take it back".  "Maybe we should not have even put up a shed?".  Man can I be a pain in the butt.

We have needed to buy extra screws and braces to make it stay firm.  We are only renting so could not put down concrete slab.  Grrrrrr.  Nothing is ever easy is it?

Remarkably through the above ignoring my whining, they just got on with the job.  In this continued heat wave.  I decided to come inside with my tail between my legs and make every one a great supper.  Saganaki and mixed green salad with asparagus and snake beans and baby spinach.  Also baked pumpkin and quinoa salad. For a treat gin and tonic with lots of lime.  Bubba loved the salads.

This morning he slept till 8.30 am,  Bit out of the blue.

Thank you for putting up with me.

good morning

Phew that was a big nite.  Gosh our little man is a vigourous one.  Oh well today is a new cheery day.   Yesterday there were a few little steps,maybe 5 or 6 and then plonking back down onto bum.

Morning routine:

morning booby and cuddle
nappy change and tidy up nursery
quick shower
prepare breakfast
empty dishwasher
put load of washing on
eat breakfast with bub, set up bibs, placemat, chair with booster and encourage some sort of civil way of eating our porridge/cheerios/mini wheats or maybe french toast or scrambled eggs
then sigh, yes clean up while bub roams and explores
start planning dinner for tonight, maybe organise recipe for slow cooker, thaw meat, check fridge for needy purchases
organise emergency snack pak and left overs and stuff for lunch for bubba
sweep floor
make our bed
change bub into going out clothes
walk dogs (Marty usually does this for me if home) with bub in stroller
hang out washing on line
put away clean clothes/linen from yesterdays wash
think about making myself a bit respectable to walk our front door
usually lucky to be out by 10am.

Does it get easier??


This week have decided to start meal planning.  My very good friend Maren arrives from Darwin this week.  We are going to be setting up a stall at Dirty Janes Emporium for BIMA wear.  Its going to be fun to have her here.  Today I made greek style roast lamb and potatoes to put in the slow cooker.  Hopefully ready by 6pm dinner tonight.  Think may have with baby spinach and asparagus salad.  Babcia is coming over as well.

Need to brown in frypan and then onto the browned dutch cream potatoes some stock and cook slowly for 8 hours.  Hopefully delicious.

PS. I won  a meat tray at the Burrawang Pub.  I am usually am not a winner in this way.  Hence such an extravagant sexy leg to decorate.

to continue or not?

Often in the middle of the night I'm struck with the anxiety "why am I doing this?". Feeling a bit silly and exposed.  I listen to people talk about the dangers of Facebook and how pedophiles will be able to source my child, marketers can watch my every move and plant dangerous temptations to purchase.  The line between public and private life is held onto so tightly.  And here I am on this blog.  What does it all mean?

Also I question my motives. Do I want to be liked more and have more approvals/comment?s.  A lovely blog I follow, the writer has a bad day with her baby and she gets 67 comments of support.  But that is not why I started this blog.  Its ok if no one reads it or comments really. 

How will my son feel when he is older? That is a biggy?

Writing here has helped me feel less down and negative, of which I am prone to at times.  The blogging community is all so upbeat and positive.  Nevertheless it can be a bit nauseating.  Do people really have such perfect lives?

Writing here has helped keep me on track on our goals and opens up some headspace for where and how we want to live.

Reading other peoples inspiring blogs, less of the perfect ones and more of the simple, crafty and sustaninable eggs me on and I feel yeh keep going.


Going to take some time over this break to ponder.

 Keep your cool over the festive season and have fun.

xx J

memories of our jardin

this time last year more than half way pregnant and busy painting and wondering.   was just starting to feel I could stand upright without having waves of  nausea and lightheadness.  very much enjoying aternoons and early mornings on front verandah catching a little winter sun.

rough and tumble