Speedcleaning.

Speed - cleaning is what happened here early this week when friends we were looking forward to having come and stay us by circumstance needed to come a day early ! Yikes :)

Was utterly worth it, look how how adorable this little Molliella is. Very happy baby daughter of Richard and Annita.

Laundry's nearly done !

Heres a sneak preview .. the new washing machine is in, and cleans beautifully despite our only having untreated lake water to wash with, is lovely to send the girls to school with white school socks and white sports t-shirts, and white collars on their dresses !

The dryer is being put underneath the bench and is now in , but we need to finish the cabinet doors next to it, touch up a few wee paint spots - & convince Brad that new tapware over the laundry sink (why are they soo expensive ! ) will be the finishing touch.

the shower is done and the toilet. These are the area's where our visitors visit when they 'need to go' : ) So it's nice to have it looking a bit more mickey mouse !

Give us this day ..

.. " our daily bread" is what my four most favourite people have been saying.

And because I love them, I do.

Since the beautiful Kitchen Aid came to live on my bench I have been making bread nearly every day - I enjoy it - and it's surprisingly easy !

I would like to try some new bread recipes tho. I have been cutting back the amount of sugar as suggested in my recipe a little more each time. Not sure if I can drop it alltogether ? Does the yeast need the sugar ?

I bake it in the oven and it smells wonderful . like really awesome !

frightning

in exciting developments, we are finally starting to paint ! Prompted by the final death of the dryer and the dying sounds of it's counterpart the washing machine.

So what's behind your dryer ?? I had no idea that behind ours (been up on the wall for 7 years) was this ever increasing build up of lint ! How did our house not burn down ? no idea - I shall just be content with counting my lucky stars.

The washing machine has found a new home in the guest cottage - so now when ya'll come to stay you can do your own washing!

Replacements are ordered and waiting for pick-up from the Good Guys. The dryer is a 'condenser' dryer. Especially excited about that - should mean no more mould in my laundry - all the steam is condensed in a tray which you just empty at the end of the cycle.

The washing machine is going to challenge me into new modes of organisation. It's a front loader which I have never had before and I know it will take lots longer to wash. No more throwing school socks in the wash early in the morning hoping they will be ready to wear at 8 !

arty.

This is Marilla's artwork from monday. The art class was held in an exhibition space currently featuring the works (lino prints) of Torres Strait Islander Billy Missi. (google his name for beautiful images). His prints are stunning. Tomorrow the girls will be doing another class building on this theme - I think they will actually be doing some lino print work themselves.

Today they had a workshop at the library where they partnered up with another buddy. They then dressed up and then had to draw portraits of their buddy dressed in their costume. The art work is to big to fit in my scanner.

A New Year

2010. twenty ten. two thousand and ten. What we have seen of it so far looks pretty good !

For me I always feel like my personal new year begins with ( or ends ? ) with our Christian convention in late November. Never mind about new year resolutions on the 1st of Jan, it's the lessons learnt, encouragement received, faith increased, & vows to be fulfilled that have the greatest importance. And so 'my' year is well underway already before the calender year gets started. It's kinda good.

Janurary 2010

No pics so far - oops.

We have been BBQ ing with friends, swimming, water skiing, shopping (new year bargains ! ), afternoon napping, berry picking, renovating, gardening. had a day in Bright with Rach & Anthea and children while the boys took of from there for some dirt biking. The kids have intensive swimming lessons this week - it wears them out just beautifully !

Next week I have them booked into holiday art classes for 2 hours each morning Mon - Thurs. Maybe we might score some quirky originals for the walls !

Keep cool - todays forecast is 43 degrees - again. (and Code Red Catastrophic fire conditions for much of the state .. )

Xmas 2009

Christmas. it wasn't that long ago was it , no more than 20 days so why does it seem so long ago ?

Because time flys when you are having fun I guess.

And we have have been having fun !

We went to my Mum & Dads the weekend before xmas and had a lovely weekend with them (swimming in their pool) and enjoyed a 'xmas' lunch with Philip & Michelle. Mum has done some renovations to the grand old house and it looks fabulous- very elegant.

The xmas pics are of her table settings.

We spent Christmas day at Brad's parents with his family and finished the day of with a swim in the lake.

Santa brought more prezzies than he ought, and we were all duly spoiled !