Potato Patch

Today the children and I took our new seed potatoes (thanks Wendy!), and made a no-dig potato patch up in the orchard.

I've never tried growing potatoes before, and I know this method isn't conventional...... but it was easy and I'm told it works!

Basically, choose a patch of lawn, lay a pile of 6 sheets of newspaper per seed potato, overlap the newspaper a bit to prevent grass coming through, cover with manure (I used cow), put potato on top, mulch thickly and water in well. Apparently you just keep mulching and mulching as the plants grow up towards the sun...... and finally you harvest very clean potatoes! I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Sweet, Slumbering Sunday....

It's been one of those super-restful Sundays today. We woke early, but lay in bed for ages. 3 little ones and 2 kittens joined us too of course. :D

I have read a good many chapters from Liz Curtis Higgs' new novel, Here Burns My Candle, which is in the exciting stage! It's a bit hard to put down. It's cold, so we've been snuggling with blankets. I admit I've been in my pyjama pants all day. I was planning on doing some gardening, but then I'd have to get fully dressed! So the gardening will wait until tomorrow.

The kittens have been cuddled and cuddled and have been alternating their sleep times and play times, just like any babies. :) They are using their kitty litter and were quiet all night last night for which I'm thankful! I think having two means they won't feel lonely. They slept all cuddled up together last night, limbs draping limbs.... very cute.

Stuart has made a scratching post for them from some bits of wood he had in the shed, and an old rug which he cut up. We've just given it to them, and they seem to like it. He's also been working on school stuff today, and a bit of mowing. And now he's taken all 3 children to netball practice....... they love to play around on the spare courts; sometimes other kids go along, and it gives me an hour or so all to myself! Which is very welcome right before we resume another working week.

As I said, I've been reading. :) I've also been praying, and listening. And I've planned our week ahead. Just need to add a craft project or two for some fun for the children. I also baked with Saraya this morning. We worked side by side, on our own projects. She made chocolate brownies and washed all the dishes, and I made muffins and dried the dishes. As she says herself, "I'm so into cooking at the moment!". Yep, she is. She's been helping me chop veggies at dinner time, kneading bread dough, just whatever I'm working on she's by my side. At this rate she'll be a highly skilled cook by the age of 10!!

Mess has been getting to me lately. You know those piles of stuff that just accumulate around the house? My kitchen needed cleaning / sorting this morning. I spent an hour or so doing that and I feel so much better. I can see my bench tops again, every bit of them! I've moved some things around as I always find change refreshing. I spend so much time in the kitchen, I want it clean and tidy so I'm going to try to keep on top of the clutter.

And that's been our Sunday. Slumbering...... well, resting anyhow. :) And definitely sweet. These days of just being home together, getting a little done but having time to sit and be and plan and rest..... they are my favourites, hands down. :)

New Babies

We have new babies on the farm today, two beautiful little kittens!

Adopted from the Refuge Centre, cuddly, adorable, with such sweet personalities, they are very very welcome additions to our family!

Saraya chose and named 'Molly', the tabby, and Elijah chose and named 'Slinky Malinki', the soft little black one. They are sisters, 8 weeks old.

I know what having these little girls means to the children, and Stuart and I are pretty chuffed as well. :D

Welcome, Molly and Slinky, we love you already!!!

Beach Escape

We spent a few hours at the beautiful beach this afternoon. How blessed we are to have this so close to our home!

a picnic lunch by the sea

collecting

having a closer look

Will filled his bucket with beautiful coral!

and the big kids paddled in the cool water

Saraya in the vines by a beach cafe

and Will on the swing - his favourite place to be!

Our little beach escape was just what we all needed today. And now, the weekend is upon us.

And I have a big surprise to share tomorrow.........

Happy me! :D

Piano and Knitting

Here is a video of my little man playing his current favourite piece, Frere Jacques. This he worked out pretty much by ear, with a little help from me. I love to hear him play!

Saraya had a treat this morning. She got to be a special guest at Stuart's Prep, teaching the children there to finger knit! They had expressed interest in learning after Stuart mentioned the craft to them, and after they all asked "Please teach us Mr Fern" (he doesn't know how!!), I suggested Saraya go along to help out. She had the best time.

It's been a long day. Tomorrow will be another one. We are getting the septic pumped in the morning (can't say I'm looking forward to that...), then I'm thinking about taking our books and heading up to the beach for a few hours. Tomorrow night Saraya is having a friend sleep over.

And right now I'm off to put my feet up and do some reading. :) Chamomile tea and bed are calling......

A Glimpse of My Morning

Just a few photos to share of our morning at home today. The autumn sky is glorious! The weather is so divine. Chilly nights and warm days. The garden is thriving after yet more rain last night. Winter woollies have been washed today for William. :) So nice to pull out all Elijah's old size 2 winter clothes and handle them again. I baked bread rolls for lunch and Saraya made her own little loaf. The children put on a spontaneous play for me this morning - the story of Peter Rabbit! Complete with audience seating, dressed-up bunnies for Peter and Benjamin, a cat, Mr Macgregor and Mrs Macgregor (dolls), Old Mrs Rabbit, and a stick scarecrow on which to hang Peter's blue jacket! Saraya made a fine ticket-maker and usher, and she and Elijah shared the narration / acting of the story with the toys. So cute!!

We've been for a walk and I've managed to wash bed sheets and clean the bathrooms. We've finished schooling for the day. Now to tackle the dishes and the vacuuming!! And the mountain of folding...

Nice to sit here first though. And nice to be popping in to my blog mid-week. :)

Cutting Back

I have been reading much lately about women deciding to quit blogging, for various reasons. For most, it is the sheer distraction of the computer, luring us away from our real-life duties and into the virtual world. On a hard day, the virtual world can be a comfort, filled with ideas and inspiring pictures to help us on our way.

I have also heard many people shunning the 'beautiful' blogs out there...... blogs where the mother is content, the children happy, the family strong. This I will not do. I know (as we all should) that blogs are a snippet of real life. No-one has a perfect life. We are all human, all sinners, all flawed. All striving to do our best with what we have been given. For me, I gain so much from reading the inspirational, the beautiful, learning of the peaceful lives other families are striving to create. Homeschooling advice from seasoned homeschool mothers. Recipes. Craft ideas. I can then apply these things to my own life. Should this not be our goal as women? Always learning, always growing? And striving for peace and beauty and love in our homes?

Lately, I have felt the pull of the computer. It ebbs and flows, as does life, but right now it is luring me in. Blogging is a bit of a passion. :) And one I'm not going to give up. Blogging has taught me to seek the beauty in the every day. And reading those blogs which encourage and teach me and fill my cup - well, I'd be foolish to give that up!

So. I'm telling you all this to simply share that I'm going to be cutting back. I will not be posting frequently, at least for awhile. I want to concentrate on some other things........ working in the garden daily, playing more with the children, baking bread more regularly again, and making some birthday gifts for the boys (birthdays coming up soon!). I'm thinking I'll just do weekly posts on the weekends. I will catch up on blog reading at that time also. If I post during the week, it will just be little posts. One photo of something significant, a quote from a book I'm reading, that sort of thing.

I love you all, and wish you a very happy Mother's day!! Hope you all feel special today, as you should - you are shaping little ones who will change the world. xoxo

A Garage Sale Find

This morning we headed to town to check out a local state school garage sale. We knew there would be some furniture for sale, but I never expected to find one of these, for only $20 delivered!

I have been looking for one of these for years!!!

The children spent some time cleaning it up for me (and playing in the storage cupboard in the back), then we moved it inside and stocked it up.

And now we have our very own library display shelves!

Oh, and we also stopped into Bunnings and I brought a few babies home with me. :) Strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower, lavender, and several packets of seeds. I've since potted up most of them - the verandah's looking greener!

A bit more gardening, some cooking this afternoon, and a movie night tonight with Saraya - she's chosen Annie again - but it's precious Saturday night time with her!

Photos of our Friday

Today was better! Praise God!!

My faith in homeschooling is restored, my faith in my family and myself and our way of life is filling my heart once again. A good day, a happy day, a productive day!

I went through today snapping pictures for me to remember, moments to share with those of you who would like to share them.........

While I was working through housework early this morning, the children were 'cooking' with dry pasta and utensils (actually, Elijah was being a superhero, cape and all, and helping me to clean..) Dress-ups were enjoyed!

Doing maths, still in chef costume ..... :)

Making a little paper dog - Elijah and I looked at the letter "d" today - he is loving learning his letters and letter sounds!

Playing with all the trucks in the dirt kept both boys busy while Saraya and I read her science lesson.

I had set aside some time for a few gardening jobs before lunch time.

It was a really happy time. These autumn days are glorious!

A friend gifted me with a Gooseberry bush for my birthday, so today we planted it into the orchard.

Digging a hole for our new plant.

A bucket full of good broken-down cow manure.

My willing mulching helper :)

All the fruit trees got fertilized with cow manure, and fresh mulch.

A wonderful surprise....... our first peach blossom! I know the tree is too little to bear fruit, but just seeing those lovely pink blossoms is promising!

This morning Saraya and I learnt about the interesting nature and habits of the lacewing.

Until today I knew little of this fascinating insect - but now I know lots! Oh the joys of homeschooling! So this afternoon Saraya was determined to find an adult lacewing, and some of their funny bead-like eggs extended on small 'threads', in our garden. I was doubtful........

............. but soon came the cry of "Mama, here they are!!!" Yep, and there they were.

We spent an hour in garden this afternoon......... swinging,

practicing our throwing and catching,

and climbing.

Hehe, this is Elijah cutting the grass hair of his "funny Mr Hair man" he made!

He was enjoying a creative game of being a Hairdresser while Saraya and I were inside preparing dinner. :)

Also, Saraya told me today that she wanted to bake a chocolate cake, completely by herself.

And she did it. She looked up the recipe, found all the ingredients, measured everything, mixed, greased the pan, set the oven timer.... everything.

I must admit I was amazed at how capable she was.

It turned out beautifully and made a welcome dessert!

And delicious icing............ mmmmm. :)

"He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." J.W. von Goethe.

Lots of peace here today, for which I am so thankful.

The 4 Best Bits

By 9am this morning, I was thinking "Okay. So it's just one of those days."

We'd had tears. Squabbles. Grumps. Not just from one but from all three of the children. And, I admit, from me too. Sometimes it just happens. Not often, but sometimes. And I really really dislike it when it does.

I have a tendency to get filled with doubt on a day like today. I have to really fight to regain the joy, to see the light, to remember that not every day is like this!!! I tend to beat myself up too, emotionally. I point the finger at myself, blame myself, etc. Then I stop and tell myself it's okay, tomorrow will be better, our family is fine, I am doing fine. Everyone has doubts and bad days sometimes. Tell me I'm right, friends?

I want to be real on my blog so I do share when I've had a rough day. But. I also like to share the joys! So........ here are the 4 Best Bits of my morning. There are always good bits on any day, right?!

A stack of brand new books on my kitchen counter, ready to be read!

Fresh produce from the markets this morning

A bowl full of citrus on the dining table...... the smell is divine!

My girl with a smile on her face, bike riding after lunch. So much happier than this morning.....

"Love comforteth like sunshine after rain." William Shakespeare.

My little ones are safe, we have each other, we are off to the park to play tennis with friends this afternoon...... lots of blessings, life is good!