R&R

Before I could get into holiday mode I Friday ana day

watching YouTube. I think this was blippi. It’s hard to keep up. They had a little robot on dancing and playing.

getting this generation very comfortable with all the new technologies

after breakfast we had to do a shop run

Annie repeatedly told me that it was Halloween. She even brought her pumpkin bucket. So what’s a grandma to do. We purchased some lollies

this is the picture I sent her mummy.

after this was taken she also asked, ever so nicely, if she could have that rainbow bag of lollies. It was a bag of skittles lol. They had lots of individual packets. I told her she needed to share with her parents.

“ grandma I always share with them”

good to know

she wanted fruit for lunch. Perfect. She nearly ate all this. What was left I picked for her to take home. It wouldn’t last four days. I had purchased extra which I packed for us to eat while away

we then went outside to paint that last canvas. She had more fun getting the paint out and choosing her brush

grandma showed her some different techniques, to make it look different to just colour blocks

she then tried them too

A quick game of memory. And then daddy came and took her home

grandma and grandpa finished packing the caravan and headed off

on the road

When we arrived at the farm we were greeted by a couple of emus. This was the best I could do because they took off when they saw us

the camp site has been set up. Much easier than when we had tents!

I’ve had something to eat and taken my meds and I’m not do

Trixie watching hubby starting a fire. It’s not camping until we lite one

how’s the serenity

Blessed be

To all my brothers and sisters. Where ever you are. Have a blessed day. Weather gathering or newly planting. May your harvests be plentiful

blessed be )0(

Getting organised

Today was do a shop for the trip to the farm.

I had quite a bit in the house. I had four frozen bags of marinated chicken wings. Always a hit.

we have beef and lamb off the paddock that hubby got from the big freezer at the shed.

i purchased some packets of meatballs. A variety of flavours I’ve cooked them today in the air fryer.

once the cooled in the plate they were packed into that container and are now in the caravan refrigerator. Perfect for snacking and even as a light meal with salad.

I got two different packets of mixed salad. Much easier and less room for packing. I keep getting “reminded “ by hubby. I noticed he’s beer was already in the fridge. Always room for that.

I bought lots of fresh fruit and berries

Ana will have some for morning tea and the rest will be coming with me

I bought lots of berries for all the girls last week there was still some left over

I have been snacking on them

by now they were looking tired. They weren’t fresh for Ana’s snack, but they were still too good to just throw away

I could of given them to the chickens but they really still good enough to eat I was just sick of them by now

so what’s a grandma to do

MAKE JAM

I cooked it all down with a little sugar and some pectin

and here is a jar of fresh mixed berry jam.

hubby has packed that into the caravan. Perfect for on toast

after doing all that I was pooped

i pretty much had just sat down to have a wee rest when the girls came in to say hello.

they had come with their parents to pick up their caravan

I had the last batch of meatballs cooling and the girls could smell them. So they both got some to eat lol

Ive packed lots of snacks and even a couple of boxes of chocolate covered ice cream on sticks.

I bet I’m going to be the best loved camper. Even though we no longer have kids. We adults love us some ice cream and junk to eat

Besides. The girls will pop in on their way to lakes and there are two other couples who are coming with us. It’s going to be a very social and enjoyable time away

Moving along

I finally finished my jumper

it fits. It’s just a tad tight across the chest. I’m hoping it stretches a little after wearing it a few times

for those who have been here a while, I wonder if you remember this. I made this during Covid. I cut up all my scraps into two and a half inch strips

I then just started sewing from the two ends until I got to the end. I cut it in half and started again until it was a size I liked

I got rid of bags of scraps

now I again have lots of scraps so I’ve decided to make a hexi quilt using the English paper piecing.

i purchased a packet of the cardboard hexies months ago from timu

I’ve spent about half an hour going through the scrap box cutting out three inch squares

as you can see. I’ve got lots of different fabrics from many projects

I’ve got these plastic bags they’re zip locked every time I order online I get one or two of these They’re perfect for carrying bits and bobs and for sending washing home with grandchildren

I’m going to cut out more squares tomorrow so I have plenty of them to take with me it’s a perfect project to take camping. Very portable

it would be disappointing if I run out of them and have nothing to do

the rest of the week will be spent slowly packing the van

In the kitchen

Today I felt better than I have in a couple of weeks. I had sinus and ear pain which is the reason I’ve not been sleeping.

not sleeping means no energy. So I’ve only done the minimum, except when I had the girls. I don’t mind. Playing and interacting with them isn’t a chore

while watching reels on Facebook I came across a couple of recipes

I knew I had all the ingredients and decided well I’ll make that

first one was called apple surprise

cut up apples and place in oven proof pan cover with condensed milk

then you make a cake like batter and pour on top

I put brown paper in first, which the lady in the reel didn’t do my bottom was soggy instead of nicely browned

next time I’ll just grease the pan well and see how I go

it still tastes good and is a perfect dessert and morning tea for the boys

dinner. Hubby had already taken some out. Sausage is home grown, it looks greasy in the picture but it really wasn’t

lastly I made herb and cheese bread I actually started making this first. Obviously it had to rise and then a second rise. Because of all that it was the last thing to cook in the oven

it’s still cooling so we haven’t tasted any yet. It smells good so I’m hoping it tastes just as good as the smell

and lastly, we have a long weekend coming at the end of the week.

we will be going to the farm. We also have some friends coming to spend the weekend with us.

hubby has parked the van out front so I can pack it as I think of something that I need to take.

even so. I bet I forget something. In this case it doesn’t really matter as the town is only ten minutes away.

not like the old days of us camping out in the middle of nowhere. Us oldies need to be near doctors and hospitals these days

Mixed bag

No not a mixed bag of lollies, sweets.

as usual our lovely city, Melbourne, has lived up to its reputation of having four seasons in one day

woke to strong winds. Seriously strong it literally howling

not sure if you can see just how strong it was. But this poor buddleja was really moving

it’s was very cold so the fire was filled with logs and got it burning hard to heat up the house.

I had to drive to the post office and pharmacy to pick up. I couldn’t put off the pharmacy as I only had two tablets left.

i was fighting the anxiety the whole time I was on the road.

after getting back home, the weather changed. Although still windy we had sunshine. With that sun coming in through the windows it was actually getting very warm in here.

I let the fire go out. Unfortunately it changed again. The sun left it got dark and the wind picked up again.

there was nothing else to do. I re lit the fire. It’s just slowly taking hold.

honestly. The weather doesn’t know if it’s Arthur or Martha today

Done done done

If your involved with children and pre teens you will know that’s part of a song from K-pop demon hunters it’s not as scary as it sounds

we have watch that movie four times since Friday morning

those songs are now stuck in my head

Saturday the girls waited for the arrival of Ana. They were very excited

Ana was dropped off by mummy, daddy, and little Georgia

having all four girls here for the first time, we had to get a photo

all my girls. The oldest holding the youngest

after a short visit, and lots of grandma cuddles with Georgia, the family left for home. Minus one

I got a heap of photos printed from my phone, via an app.

they arrived this week and they’re all in here. The girls had fun looking at them all. While they were looking at all of them Ana exclaimed “ that’s my sister Georgia “

then they were remembering when those photos were taken. Like last Christmas

I think actually seeing physical photos they can hold and study was a new and exciting experience for them. It’s not something that happens much these days

I had promised them some painting time I purchased some canvases for them to use I loved not only watching them create art, but also listening to their conversations

chatting away about what they were painting what colours they wanted to use, and nicely sharing all the paints

this is melody’s masterpiece

Breanna painted a rainbow unicorn she wanted to draw it first, then painted it

Ana kept at it the longest

she was mixing colours and painting blocks of colours

like a true artist, she kept wanting to just add one more thing or “ fix” that bit

eventually we had to say “ I think it’s done now”

I had to scrub paint off her and put her and Brianna’s clothes to soak

after soaking overnight I washed them with a load of my clothes and pretty much it all washed out. Just a few little bits on Brianna’s top

All three girls were in bed and fast asleep by eight thirty

this morning we had our choice of cereal. All three had different ones

toast and hot chocolate

by mid morning they were hungry again. So a huge fruit platter was devoured

then they wanted pop corn.

they watched some television and played until Ana’s daddy came to take her home. Around 2.30. I think Ana was ready to go home and rest

we then got the girls in the car and took them home

we are now sitting, watching adult television, landline. And resting

it sounds so quiet now.

it was a great first time having all sleep over and overall it was drama free

I think we will have a group sleep over again some weekend soon

before they grow up and would rather go to their friends.