He dug a hole!

I have been waiting for a while for Wal to stop being distracted by everything and start on our weekender at Serenity Park. Finally the weekend just been, he dug four of the six holes he needed for foundations (with thanks to cousin Ben). We also cleared a track to the creek which took six hours in continuous drizzle (thanks to Jon, Jen, & friends).

We have sold a car, bought a tractor with bits, a trailer and a small car for me to run around in. Lots of cash in/cash out!

We went to the Murrumbateman Field Day and got snowed on, while pricing slashers and post hole diggers for the tractor, which is a 80's David Brown. He has decided we don't need the post hold digger as digging the holes was relatively easy considering the large amount of rain we have had recently.

With the trailer we can start taking the mountain of building material collected to begin building.

Another year has passed!

I cannot believe I last updated this a year ago.

A few things have happened, such as the purchase of Serenity Park in Jerangle, NSW. This is 950 acres of trees and trails. We have slowly been clearing the tracks, and staying in our caravan.

I have taken a break over winter as it has been very cold, and snows when the snow is down to 1000 meters. Too cold for plastic windows and a thin bit of canvas between you and the elements.



In summer there is a variety of snakes, mostly tiger but I am assuming brown as well. We also saw a funnel web spider while clearing tracks and there is alot of large huntsmen.

When Warren goes up there alone I thought a dog companion would be good for him, so Hemi arrived. He is a pure Australian Koolie and is absolutely gorgeous. He has eaten our entire backyard including terracotta pots and all of my succulents, bikes, outdoor furniture and any ball that happens to land in the yard.



He is a bit bigger now at around 5 months but still very much a puppy.

Scotia

New job, rock climbing

Work
For a few months now and until the end of the year I have been transferred to the Reader Services area of the library and I am really loving it. I enjoy the contact with people in the reading rooms and the interaction with the collection which continually amazes me. Working in the special collections reading room I have seen 500 year old books and handled them (with gloves), amazing artworks such as Norman Lindsey pieces, original texts produced by Labillardière when at Recherche Bay in 1792, (If I had known about that one earlier I could have got a better mark on my uni essay!) and everything else you could think of!

Rock Climbing
The girls have been doing rock climbing for about two months now. This is a fantastic sport! Not only is it the cheapest children's sport, it has great fitness as well. Mia has taken to this like a duck to water and has really done well. Erin is a little timid but is pushing her comfort envelope and climbing a little higher every week.



We recently attended a kids comp day and I had the best time just watching. They make it look really easy though I have yet to get the harness on and give it a go myself (soon!).

And this is me on a recent uni field trip to the Latham axe grinding grooves, part of the local Canberra Archaeology scene.

Cooking and catching up with family

I really suck at updating this blog! I will try to find time...if only for me!

I did take some time out today to do a bit of baking using golden delicious from my apple tree and eggs from the chickens. Our garden is pretty much bare at the moment, having pulled everything out except the pumpkins. The fig tree is full, but Wal suspects this is because of April keeping birds away from there. It was a poor year in the garden, with our tomatoes only making one batch of pasta sauce which was eaten that night. Last season I had over 12 kilograms of tomatoes and made sauce to keep. Even our zucchini production was down, I got 1 squash and no cucumbers. My orange tree has been plagued with a large black beetle and is devoid of fruit. But, the apple tree did really well.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On another note... earlier in the year the Clarksons from Sydney and Melbourne travelled up for Alison's Birthday. Our special guest was Katherine jetting in from overseas, we flatter ourselves to attend the gathering. It was of course, the hottest day of the year and we were outside in the beautiful park on the lake. The food was delicious and the company very enjoyable.

Katherine, Ian and Warren

Alice and Sarah

Mia on the ice box.

Until next time...

Scotia

Christmas and the New Year

As we all know, Christmas has been and gone and the New Year has started. I went back to work early and tomorrow the children go to music school for two weeks. Hopefully it will be a fantastic fortnight for them, full of singing, dancing, learning to play keyboards and drama.

Christmas was a quite day, with Wal's family coming over. For the first time that I can remember the girls got to open their presents when they woke up (not woken up to go somewhere), and did not have to get dressed until after lunch. We got to stay at home all day!

I was suffering from Wii induced shoulder pain for a few days after Christmas. Everyone is exhausted and could really do with a few more days off, but that is not to be.

I have been attempting to do a summer subject for Uni on top of everything else and it is going a bit by the wayside at the moment. I have an essay due at the end of January and can only hope for a pass.

That being said, its getting late, and I am off to bed.
Scotia

Travelling and sparrows

We have just spent a great couple of days in Echuca for Uncle Chris' 60th. The weather was beautiful and lots of relatives made the journey including the entire bunch from Perth. I got to see cousins I have not seen in over 30 years.
I believe everyone had a really good time catching up.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

After taking Monday off to drive back from Echuca, taking in a winery and olive farm on the way, I was catching a plane Wednesday morning to Sydney and staying over night for a work forum. I had to speak on the Thursday and am happy to say that while slightly rushed I did not do too bad. Possibly the first time I had to talk to 150 people from infront of a lecturn!

The sparrows?
Well a family of sparrows has made a nest in my clothes line and I could hear peeping coming from inside there this morning, so we made a trip to get a webcam to film inside my clothes line. We have been able to see mum and dad bird coming and going and 3 large beaks popping up ready to feed. I think its fantastic and the girls have been watching the screen to see the beaks appear. The joys of technology.
Scotia

School holidays

Well we just had a quick trip up to Wyong which was great, though I hate driving in the rain and it did rain both up and back. I panic alot and then yell at Warren when I feel he is driving inappropriately which can be often in the rain. Why is it that men feel they are the best drivers in the world - they don't get it - its not how other people drive, its how you drive - if someone cuts in front of you, you slow down!!

Outside is glorious, I love our garden in Spring.

Because of the chickens we get alot of birds in our yard, and I have just found the sparrows nest in my retractable clothes line.
I always see a sparrow out there on the line but it just twigged that they had a nest nearby and you can see it inside the clothes line box on the wall.

I had a field trip with Uni a fortnight ago, which was great - we went to 'Yankee Hat' in Namadgi National Park to see Aboriginal Rock Art, with an archaeologist Mim and a cultural heritage advisor so the two perfect people to see that kind of thing with. It was a 3km hike to the rock art which was just about my limit! I think 6kms in one day is the most exercise I have ever done.

Today was haircut day so the three of us girls all got a new style, well I did anyway, Erin just got a little trim. But its nice to leave the salon looking nice, hair smelling nice. I always try to get a photo done on haircut day because once its washed it never looks the same.

So attached is my haircut photo, taken by Erin with wisteria in the background and a picture of the cat coming down out of the tree head first. I had a feeling that she was a little frightened coming down as it is quite high.