Slow start

This morning hubby and I had a big sleep in 

We probably would of slept even longer but a phone call woke us up 

First week back at work and the place was rammed with vehicles. Hubby worked late every day! 

Except yesterday, he came over to spend some time with the girls 

Here they are feeding Dobby the donkey. He actually comes running now. Which is quiet funny to see 

The bucket I use to bring the feed was more fun for the two littlest 



These two are a cracker together. They get on so well. 

They’re definitely going to keep us all on our toes lol 




I asked them to pose so I could take a photo 



We let the chickens out. Now that Pendles has gone to the great chicken coop in the sky, I’m not so anxious when we go out back. 

Pendles would of seriously hurt the girls if he had decided to protect his girls 




The girls asked if they could go and pick all the red tomatoes. They’re definitely free range children foraging for their food 





Melody found a huge zucchini. Which was fed to the steer. 



Brianna said she didn’t like tomatoes but liked picking them 



And little Ana found lots of strawberries which both she and Brianna harvested. 

Not many made it into the kitchen 



By the end of the day. When all the girls went home grandma was happily exhausted 

It will be a while now before the three will be together on a Friday as the two older girls go back to school 

Ana will miss them 

A lovely day

Today I had lunch with my travel friend. She lives 20 minutes from where I do. But we met for the first time in Dublin  on the Ireland and Scotland tour. 

We still laugh about it 

In between I decided to pretty up my ban of bags. 

When going to the shopping centre, we always think. I won’t buy anything. So we leave our grocery bags in the car. 

We now know better. So, we have a bag for our bags. 

Our handbags and our reusable grocery bags

Are all in the one bag for easy access 

It also has the advantage of not having to carry your handbag on your shoulders. Not a good thing when you have neck issues 

So I took my bag bag and decided I wanted to pretty it up 

I really didn’t want to give Cole’s free advertising 

Now this looks like 

This!

It’s not going to win any awards for perfect sewing. 

But I do think it’s much better than it was 



Also I will know my bag bag instantly. When they’re all in the shopping cart, while out with the girls 

We are very organised and efficient. After all 

Just because you’re saving the planet. It doesn’t mean you can’t have some style 

No spend January. Almost

I’m trying to not buy too much from the supermarkets. 

Using up what I have.  No only saving money not spent but also not throwing 

Out food. 

I made this breakfast bar 

The 100 cookie dough recipe 



I used a quarter of the batch and frozen the three other quarters 
I now unfreeze them when needed and cook with Ana or the girls. 

Without too much mess lol 

I also have bread rising 

I’ll leave it for a couple of hours before the second rise that way 

It will be ready for dinner when hubby gets home. 



I now do not have any flour left in the house. 

So if I want bread, and who doesn’t, I’ll either have 

To buy more flour or bread. 

So of course it’s not strictly a no spend. 

It’s an, only spend it you totally have to, month 

Meat frozen in the fridges, and veggies from

The garden will keep us going for a while before we have to buy 

Anything for  dinner 

This is a good way to make up all the money spent during Christmas 

And New Years. 

I used to do it every year when I had little children and it’s 

A habit that just won’t go away. 

Not that it’s a bad thing 

Flowers and yarn

I’ve been busy keeping the water up in all the pots 

This is the south side of the house 

A wider view. Don’t often take photos from here 

The windows are my craft room. So I can see into the large paddock and keep an eye on things 




Under the front veranda. It’s west facing so gets very hot on the afternoon. 

The buddleia need cutting back again. 

I’ll leave it for a while as it blocks the sun from coming into the house. 




Once it’s too hot to be inside I craft. These are all the trauma teddies and dolls I’ve made. I’ve got my painting buddy checking some leads on who can use them 

Don’t know why it’s upside down 



I bought some limited edition yarn from Bendigo Woollen mills. I’m using some to knit another jumper for hubby. 

Getting ready for when winter arrives 



In between I’m busy doing all the things that need doing to run a household 

Life right now is in relaxation mode. Taking time to appreciate the little things. 

The workshop has started again after the holidays. 

So the year has really begun now. 

I wonder what it will bring?

Keeping on top of things

All this heat and humidity means plants are thriving. It also means the weeds are too 

Hubby and I started turning this 

To this. Ana can now go and check for strawberries 



Because we couldn’t get into the garden we have found quite a few huge zucchini’s 

Both of the zucchini and weeds were fed to the stock 

The steer was very grateful 



All animals are now in the big paddock. Dobby was happy to share the steers lunch. They were very good together. 




We had to rush as storms were predicted. 

Poor Teddy doesn’t like the thunder so he is inside 



I have an audiobook going. 

My knitting 

And two sound asleep puppy’s. 

The only thing missing is a roaring fire, but 

It’s way too hot for that. 

Done and dusted

All I have to do is put the vacuum away. Take the wreath off the front door and Christmas 24-25 is over 

I have eleven months to rest before it begins again 

The house is looking very bare now. And so big! 

R.I.P

Sadly we lost Pendles the rooster yesterday afternoon 

I googled his symptoms and he has sour crop. 

The prognosis was never a good one 

End girls now are on their own 

I won’t get another rooster 

I’ll let the girls just have a happy life without unwanted attention 

I will miss his crowing