• Thursday, July 24, 2008 - Wagging
It sure feels like winter here in New Zealand - lots & lots of rain - day in. day out. One would think our dams were over flowing with the amount of rain. Oh & thunder & lightening storms too!
Yesterday the kids & I wagged school - well kind of!
The kids did the cattery for me in the morning while I printed out pedigrees - new owners had rang to see if they could come a day early - not a problem!
Abbey & I worked on her CV - drove her to collect her reference from babysitter & then dropped it in. She did thank me for making her do all the international exams he he - she had quite a nice little CV with all the results. She loves I am her taxi - I love that I am seeing her blossom - teen years are really fun watching them grow & change - bit like a flower opening.
We then drove in the wind & rain to the big shopping centre south. I think other families decided to wag too as the mall was full! We priced new cell phones as poor James had lost his in the paddock in the weekend - we have looked & looked for it. - We bargained hard & got $40.00 off. He didn't like the big lump come out of his bank account - and commented he would hate to be in debt! Yes, yes, yes moment all the hard work of teaching the kids how to run a cashbook with their pocket money working. Brent helped him make a chain & his new phone can now be firmly held to his belt.
I got a USB stick (A pretty pink one) as one of my friends keeps hassling me - Have you backed up??? Each time she sees/speaks to me I do love her for it as I know I am shocking for backing up!!! - must do it today!. Oh and I also brought more flies for our families frogs - cracks me up buying flies! We also stopped at a warehouse good specials of tomato sauce & rice by 25kg packs. James spotted some Batman juice so we brought bottles of that to smuggle into the movies - along with homemade popcorn & Bat lollies for the kids. Yep it is soo much cheaper to take your own snacks to the movies by a long way!
We were an hour early for orthadontist (sp) so stopped at Macdonalds for a treat. it was really, really nice - the train has now gone - bit sad!! It now has a Macafe - we were most impressed and we sat watching cars drive by while we enjoyed each others company & our treat.
Mcdonalds is a treat for us - we watch our pennies by choice - we live like no one else now, so we can live like no one else in our later years too. W we were talking how we are all greatful I don't have to work. The kids said they would much rather me be home than working. I often think of NZ today so many mums working - kids in day care - the government funds daycare.
Oh no Brent was home early, we had only just walked in the door at 5pm - no tea on, no fire lit, no animals fed. All hands on deck and home was soon buzzing.
The kids got out their school work & worked on it while I cooked tea - macaroni cheese & James had baked beans, stewed apples for pudding.
Ab made phone calls to her friends & they are all happy to come in fancy dress & costume for her party - they are now planning a mass trip to second hand shops. She rang my folks & they are helping her out with 1920 style theme. Should be a fun party! - Brent is NOT into dressing up - he is a kiwi bloke! - his daughter is trying to talk him into dressing up as a butler.
It was a good choice to wag routine of home school & go out - we are recharged & very thankful for our lifestyle. |
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• 2008-Jul-23 - HS event
A fellow HSler hosted a 'playdate'. WHAT HOOT! Those ladies are a riot! Joey was a bit of a pill, but I guess he got over it. I don't know if he's missing Mat or what.
And next week (when I host), one lady is bringing me kombucha 'scobies'?? The starts!LOL I learned of a few other things as well--where I can get raw milk (to make kefir), different butchers, etc. And another lady is bringing me more goat's milk soap! She also makes and sells goat milk cheese and makes some dip that she's supposed to bring next week. The ladies who had it were raving about it!
Probably the funniest thing was that there were 2 ladies there and they both looked familiar. I'm pretty sure that one is DH's customer. I met her at one other HS event. I think we might have scared her off this time tho.........LOL I heard the other one mention horseman's name, but it wasn't clicking so I figured that I had just seen her there at one time or another. So she asks me if I am 'the one'. I said, I don't know, but you mentioned horseman's name and I live on his road so I"m going to guess yes!ROTFL! Turns out she's the lady who stopped by in the dead of winter once and Dh had the quilt nailed to the front door and I had to talk to her while I was stooped over thru the screen in my bedroom window (the porch runs along there)!ROTFL! So we had a lovely chuckle about how DH winterizes the inside of hte house......:) |
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• Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Gift from Canada
Blogging has enabled one to meet other people from around the world. Nicki from blog Rural Writings had a give away & I won - I was not meant to be in the draw!!! As knew the postage to NZ would be shocking - Nicky put me in the draw & pulled out my name. The parcel arrived yesterday - on a long journey of nearly 3 months.
What a lovely way to start ones day - We did school by candle light yesterday - winter here & we need a light on - ooh the bees wick candles smell wonderful!!! The kids want to make their own candles. I soo need to look into this for them. I have a slight fear of candles as when I was young about 12 I think .I burnt my bedroom down playing with a candle. Well actually I was playing the Ouija Board - called out of my bedroom & I blew out the candle - next thing I am in BIG trouble & my bedroom is on fire. Luckily it was only my bed & not the house. My mum fell down the steps & twisted her ankle needing an after hours appointment. We lived in the back of a dairy & we had customers running through the house to help put out the fire. I was not popular & was sent away for the night, That was a very hard night as I always got very homesick being away from home - probably the best punishment I could of got. - Hence I'm a bit dubious of candles. Oh and yes Ouija boards too - hard to say to your kids I don't want you to do this or that when you have done it!.
I was very popular at playtime at school showing the kids how to play the Ouija board - just as well we didn't burn down the school. I remember doing one chant where a girl lied on two chairs & there was about 7 or 8 girls standing around the chairs. We did a chant along the lines - of there's been an accident ....we had to put both our pointer fingers under her & chant she is dead - or something to that nature (I actually remember it word for word but won't share here) & she actually rose off the chair up in the air on our fingers. We were all soo scared - screamed, we let go & the poor girl fell. Fair dinkum! Sometimes one doesn't believe unless your have witnessed something. Just like when James was a wee toddler. I was always ever so good at safety & wee kids. But this day I remember I had left my coffee up on side board. Had that awful dread feeling & walked into the lounge to see him with it. It should of been spilling towards him - law of gravity would say the same. But something or someone had like his arm and it was tossing the contents out in jerking motions away from his body. I stopped & couldn't understand what I was witnessing. James sure had someone watching out for him.
I firmly believe there is more to life than we think - I've even experienced the white light - I nearly died after James was born - I even felt myself rise above my body & saw myself lying on the table Dr's & nursers working on me. I was floating to the most pure, gentlest, brightest white light in a tunnel. I wasn't scared or frightened - it was the most peaceful thing ever. Then I heard it is not your time & fell back into my body. Wacko you may think but it happened. I asked my Dr about it & she has a very scientific reason - of your body shutting down. Me I believe otherwise. Wasn't I spoilt rottten!!! - Oh excuse the vase - but kids wanted to use the candle then & there GRIN.
And I loved looking at the flyer of Canada food specials that was rapt around the candles.
Thank you Nicki!
NIcki's daughter, Jennifer has started a blog oh how nice it would be to have a blog from when first married. I've enjoyed reading it - it brings back lovely memories of when we were first married & setting up our first home. I think first homes are special! |
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• 2008-Jul-22 - headaches.......
Well I wound up just not feeling well today. I know this is all weather related, but it seems to be getting worse the older I get?!?!?! Plus I think I'm getting SICK!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!! At any rate, I made the chicken salad--just mixed up some chicken, mayo, celery, pecans adn honey. I also have the stock done.
I think the only thing left is to get Mat's history/geography on the computer for when he gets back.
But that was put on hold cuz I tried to nap. Not very well since the phone kept ringing. Mat was in the basement playing quietly, which was nice. |
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• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Gingerbread
After school Abbey made one of my favourites - Ginger Bread.
2 Cups Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons ginger
pinch salt.
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup warm milk
2 eggs
1 cup golden syrup
Mix well add 225 grams melted butter
Beat until very well mixed.
This is a very sloppy, wet mixture.
Bake in a square cake tin at 180 deg C for a bout 45 mins - 1 hour. Test that it is cooked.
Butter & enjoy - oh men folk like it hot with custard. |
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• 2008-Jul-22 - sore
Yesterday was squats and lunges and OUCH OUCH OUCH! Naturally, today was MORE squats and lunges. At least I won't be as sore tomorrow.
I have mopped, vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the bathrooms, have laundry caught up, chicken stock is boiling and Joey's school is done. I was pretty impressed. I sent Joey to the garden to get me an onion and he did! I truly wasn't sure WHAT he'd bring back!ROTFL!
I was going to make chicken enchiladas for tonight's supper, but I don't have any flour tortillas! I know I could make them, but I gave the noodle maker back to my mom and that's how I flattened them. So I'm going to ask DH to pick some up adn we'll have that tomorrow night. We'll have chicken salad tonight and I'll make that this afternoon. |
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• 2008-Jul-21 - Monday
| Joey and I didn't do much today. I did some laundry and we went to the summer reading program and then to the 4H fair. I have a chicken in the CP. I had to let it thaw and cram it in there!LOL These things are HUGE! But I'm making stock tomorrow and chicken salad at some point since Mat doesn't like it. He's not here to complain about it!LOL And I'll make chicken spinach alfredo for lunch one day. OH YUM! |
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• Monday, July 21, 2008 - We have sun
Yes, yes, yes... there was sun yesterday - so after school we got some vitamin D into us.
I pruned some rose bushes & herbs back.
Molly enjoying the trimmings.
James & Abbey went into paddock where there is a small pond from the rain, and tried out James' new boat - it was actually a plane he got for his Christmas but it hit something it shouldn't & broke the wing. Nothing like a bit of duct tape to turn it into a boat.
  
How can one ever be lonely at our place with all the mates watching ??
And some of my favourite birds are visiting - yellow hammers |
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• Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Sunday 21st July
Posted By The Good Life
man it rained and it rained this weekend. I soo need to get some outside time - being cooped up inside doesn't make me a happy chappy. It's meant to be fine today so will get the beds stripped & washed & I hope to begin pruning roses if I can sneak some time. - School holidays have finished so back to the books - I could do with another week since really we had not fun holidays with all of us being sick - but........
It was a wonderful sight on way to cattery - with all the rain we have our very own pond. Goosie was having a lovely time floating in it. I wish I had my camera - but I have to be fast to snap animals - as soon as they see you they come running. We are feeding them out as not much grass - these lamb chops will be expensive with having to buy in their food. We didn't get some in the pot before the ram came & then well it was too late - so we have more sheep than we would normally keep over winter. Lambing begins early August - my best time of the year is seeing new lambs in the paddock.
I was a good girl & cleaned up all my mess I had made from moving bookshelves - Annette popped in & saved me so had a nice cuppa with her. Karen & Brent later after they had been 4 wheel driving - so not me - I'm the only girl out of the crowd that doesn't find getting mud thrown at you while driving fun. Just as well Brent has James who loves that sort of thing. But our cruiser won't do the tracks the others do so - I have a feeling a new one is on the plans.
James got confirmation all can come to his birthday party - long story but he wasn't mean to have anything flash for his party as he got an amp - but he is taking 5 friends to see the new Batman movie plus Abbey, James, Brent & I. PLUS 3 homeschool friends, plus possibly James who will be over here from OZ. That's 13 to see Batman. But only 5 for tea plus our family - that's all we can fit in the two cars. So will meet the rest at the movies & they will just sit with us.
Abbey is busy planning her party - she is thinking of having a Host a Murder party. - 1920's style one - yep July & August are birthday months here - quite fun as breaks up winter a bit - especially how we also have in June mid winters feast. Something each month to look forward to.
Have a good week. |
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• 2008-Jul-19 - It's Getting HOT in Kansas!!!!
Posted By The Farmer's Daughter
It's afternoon here on the farm. We woke up to the sound of a hard rain but luckily it didn't last more than half an hour. Now the sun it out and you talk about warm!!!! The central air is running non-stop and with more hot weather predicted these next few days, I doubt if it shuts off anytime soon. A good time to sit indoors and enjoy it!
This evening the college kids will be home and when taking "orders" for supper I wasn't surprised when "Fried Chicken" was requested! (I swear, that's ALL my kids favorite meal!) So, I now have the chicken breast thawing out. I also made a Peanut Butter Pie and popped it in the freezer. I'm trying a new bread recipe (Zwieback Rolls, has anyone ever done them???) and "grandma's corn" and mashed potatoes and cream gravy will finish off the meal. I love these kind of meals...In an hours time I can have everything on the table and the dishwasher running!!!!
It doesn't seem as if I've done anything "fun" craft wise since Keith came home (Ok, I KNOW I haven't!!) so yesterday I got around and started a little Halloween NP project from a Notforgotten Farm booklet. Halloween/Fall is my absolute favorite time of year and this little project is just so darn sweet. I'm praying I can get the background colors to "blend" (Yes, I know you've all heard me complain about my lack of color sense!) and then it will be made into a little pillow for our Bus Stop. I love decorating that little building for the changing Seasons. It's so neat to sit down there with the kids and look at what's on the walls and discuss what that particular Season means to us. Would you believe the children are just like me and like Halloween even better than Christmas????
School starts back up in less than a month now and for once I'm ready.....It's been a long summer with all this rain we've had and the children have been cooped up most of the time in this house. They're starting to getting antsy and talk more and more of being with their friends again. And of course Keith and I enjoy these "alone days" together too! I can't believe how many plans we have for the different places we want to visit and the nice restaurants (No more having to eat at McDonald's when the kids aren't along!! HA) we want to eat at!!!! Gee, I feel like I'm talking about a second honeymoon or something! HA
Thoughts of Fall also makes me take another long look at the house. As I said, we've been cooped up so much that the time has came to do some serious re-decorating around here. Maybe it won't be anything more than changing the sofa covers or putting up different curtains but it's time for some changes. I can't wait to see what ideas I can come up with and still keep to my shoe-string budget. Hmmm, maybe a trip to my shop and bring some of those things in would be in order??????
With all these thoughts running through my head, it's time to get off here and get something done. I hope your all enjoying your summer and you too are thinking of the cool days of Fall and all the fun things they bring. Until next time...Blessings, Sher |
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