Easter Sunday

After the girls had way too much chocolate today, we headed out for a run around mid-afternoon. We ended up going to Araluen Botanical Gardens which was just beautiful for this time of year. The girls loved exploring all the nooks and crannies, all the pathways, up and down all the steps. We all have very tired and aching legs tonight. We even saw a girl there who lives down the road from us.

On the way home we stopped off for another hour at this cool looking playground! It certainly got rid of some of the chocolate tummies.

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon ~ very enjoyable.

Hope you all had a happy and blessed Easter Sunday. x

Three Years Ago ...

We moved into our first (bought) home.

What a great feeling to no longer be paying rent after 17 years.

What a great feeling to be able to paint if we didn't fancy a particular colour.

Chop a tree down if it wasn't us.

I'm so glad we bought when we did, as we have almost doubled our money.

Getting ready to paint

I'm going to make a start this Easter break. I was waiting until Phil came home (which was supposed to be this Thurs, then changed to 27th Mar, now is 3rd Apr) but I can't wait any longer.



I've been scouring the net for rooms painted red and green.

Now just to find the right shade

Here are some I like!

(images from Flickr)

Right, I better to get to Bunnings for some paint samples!

Wish me luck!!

A working girl

Well we have some changes happening at our place this week.

After 3 years at home raising her daughter, Amie has started fulltime work (out of necessity rather than want!) And Ruby has started daycare.

Anyway, Amie is working in a nursery, in the 'rose' department. She has a few scratches to prove it! Seems to be enjoying it (it's only been two days) but will take a little while to get used to the change. The early mornings (she starts at 7am so needs to be gone from home by 6:15am) is indeed a challenge. I'm sure she'll get used to it once she has her first pay packet! She has survived for 3 years on very very little money, so it will be nice for her.

Ruby is loving daycare so far! Comes home pretty tired each night, but that's to be expected for a long time yet. She's only just three after all. She's made a few little friends already.

Now that Amie is working fulltime, it means I will have more chores around the home to do (I work part-time so it makes sense) We have ooodles of washing, and that in itself has been a challenge this week. It's easy to get it into the machine, but good organisation is needed to get it out on the line, in again AND folded and put away!

Anyway, I'm sure it will all be a positive move for our family!

Reading ...

I've been spending more time reading in the evenings lately (and therefore less computer time!)





I'm enjoying biographies at present. As much as they are heartbreaking stories which leave me wondering what really happened, I really enjoy them. Sometimes the words make me teary and I have to close the book for awhile before trying again.








I read Joanne Lee's book a few weeks back. I only vaguely remember the case at the time. Snippets on the radio in NZ where we were living when Peter Falconio vanished. By the time the trial came around we were living in Australia and saw much more in the media about the case.








I've just finished Kathy's story last night. I sat up until nearly 2am as I couldn't out it down. What an ordeal that woman went through. It follows her life from her home through institutions - reformatory school, a psychiatric hospital, a Magdalen laundry, and a prison.

Now it's back to the library for something else (hopefully another biography takes my fancy)

What are you reading at present? Any recommendations?

Fun Day Festival

We set off down the road to our local fun festival yesterday. It started at 2pm and we arrived not long after.

After joining a l-o-n-g queue, Kate and Ella finally got to have their turn on the camels!

Ruby loved her pony ride!

As did Ella!

And of course Kate!

You can't go past fairy floss now, can you?






Two butterflies enjoying a sludgy on a warm afternoon!

Operation Clean-up

We are in the middle of Operation Clean-Up around here

We've taken loads of toys, clothes and linen to St Vinnies

The gardens are half done, and looking good

Carpets have been cleaned

Walls washed

A broken cupboard finally fixed

Broken sprinklers fixed

Stand fitted to Kate's bike





It's good to have big catchup days like this when life is so busy

Can you believe we are into March already?

I'm making the most of Phil being home

this is the longest he's been home at one time on about six years

After we do some more in the garden, I'll come inside and start on my desk

Lots of papers to sort

Take Kate to jazz after lunch



Then off to a friends tonight to enjoy a quiet drink

and catch up on our week