weekends are for

making soup

installing water tanks

trying new recipes and finding an absolute winner. Thankyou Jett!!

washing, brushing and just being with BJ

lazing in the sun together

working on his garden

racing down grassy hills, catching the light in those golden tresses

reaching up high to pick the best fruit

finding beauty outside in the small and below in the large

weekends are for being together, soaking in the warmth of the sun and eachother.

in the garden ~ plants and books

One of the joys for me about moving here is inheriting some lovely plants and the exciting journey of making the garden our own. There have been many plans talked about and lots of garden dreaming going on. Inspiration and information was found in a book store having a closing down sale. Yippee for me!
Gardening is a slow creative work which takes lots of tweaking, mistakes get made and corrected and all the while the spirit is fed, the mind calmed the heart sings. This is what gardening is for me. Hope you all find some time to be in the garden this weekend!
Warm Love,
Skye

a lesson in cow care

With our local friendly farmer along side us, we had a lesson on rounding up the cattle to tag and band. I stayed long enough to get a few shots and when it became a little bloody I decided inside was calling. It was an experience and confirmed my thoughts on the type of farming future for me- one that does not involve blood. Give me dirt and green, horses- oh yes, calves that need milking I can do but herding stubborn cows and banding away their ability to produce offspring ah no.
These Herefords are doing a brilliant job tackling the grass that was growing well above the children's head and keeping us all away for fear of running into snakes. the first few nights the calves ( though they  looked too big to be calves to my untrained eye) cried all night for their mothers but they soon adjusted and now they happily graze and graze. Certainly not as cute looking as Norman and Grace who are no longer with us they were causing a lot of trouble escaping and in Isabella's words 'they've gone to grow up' .
I think after this exciting day Matthew got a taste for farming and we are certainly taking as many opportunities we can to experience all we can of and on the land.

What could be better after this hot, smelly work than to head 2 minutes down to our local waterhole-such a treasure and delight.

enjoying our days

I have so enjoyed some slow days lately (as slow as you can be with four children).

Kids in the kitchen, kids in the garden, reading together, me cleaning up kitchen after kids, me in the garden...well it has been delightful!

 

a good end

To end 2010 it felt good to climb this mountain and shed the stuff that I don't need or want to carry into the next year.  To think over the year past and the year ahead during five hours of putting one foot in front of the other. To be awed by the creative beauty and just breathe.
This was a good end to a year full of change and upheavals of all sorts. And a reminder to myself that despite difficulties and darkness, despite brokenness and betrayal there is hope and light, and if I can keep on believing one step at a time I will soon come to *see* and gain some perspective.
This mammoth walk was a way to reset my mind and heart on the things that are good and leave behind yesterdays sorrow and disappointment and embrace the now.

Goodbye 2010 and thank you for all you taught me and where you lead me.

November, where did you go?

rooms to set up * frogs to catch * little sisters to make into forest princesses * animals to tend to * machinery to purchase or else be lost in the long grass *  golden hair to brush * marigolds, snow peas, asian greens to tend and eat * friends to share this new space with over tea and grace (what could be better!!) * tears to shed * children's lunches to make and be checked before entering the school bag * replacing and moving bits and pieces of furniture, frames, rugs etc until it is just right * baths to have now that we have one, oh such bliss and so much more...

Now onto December, to prepare my heart, to slow down, to breath deep and exhale with thankfulness.