Today was our 34th wedding anniversary.

We surely have traveled a long road since then!

Don't we look so incredibly young?

I actually remembered before soon after we woke up.

Had fun teasing Tim as to what day it was.

Then he went out and told the world what day it was so all the kids knew by the time I got to the kitchen.

I was engrossed in a good book so stayed put in my bed until I had finished it and then had a long leisurely shower.

We just eating my breakfast around 11:30am when our guests arrived!

 

Jana & Harold came around to see Graham and so all three came and spent the best part of the day with us.

It was really nice to have them here.

We chatted over a cuppa first and then spent an hour or so enjoying fellowship together.

Mahalia played her harp for Jana at my persuasion - not too sure if she was that impressed with her mother's request

Harold was as cheeky as ever so we had a good bantering throughout the day

Before lunch Jana showed Ellie some exercises to strengthen her back.

Jana might be retired now but she is still a very professional physiotherapist.

 

We had quite a late lunch and then sat around talking until it was nearing 4pm.

Then H&J decided they needed to be heading home.

They might be neighbours but it takes them over an hour to get here.

 

Graham walked back home and has now moved from The Croft back into his wee house.

He is feeling quite a lot better which is great.

Still a lot of healing to happen but at least he can get out and walk and get fresh air into his lungs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim was doing a happy dance this morning.

When we woke up it was really stormy & pouring with rain.

Tim went off up the hill to move stock.

Graham called to say the wind was lifting some of the clearlite roofing.

Shoshannah, Ellie & Azzan put on wet weather gear and trotted off to help get it secured.

 

I took the opportunity while they were gone to have a quick spa.

It was rather pleasant lying in the heat with the wind whipping the rain around my head.

 

Afterwards Ellie cleaned out the big house freezer.

So good to have it back in order again.

 

I made a big pot of vegetable soup.

Then curried sausages and eggs for dinner.

Shoshannah took some around to Graham for his dinner.

Azzan got the rice on.

He is really wanting to learn more cooking skills so wants to know how everything works.

 

I got the children into some school work and their music practice.

It was a bit like pulling hen's teeth.

We got some maths and a wee bit of story writing done.

 

The rain stopped and the day cleared.

It was a beautiful afternoon.

Tim needed help after lunch with some mustering so they all went with him.

It was lovely and quiet here.

I love these photos Shoshannah took.

 

 

Tonight Azzan decided to set the table.

He is rather fascinated by the story of Hanukkah so wanted to do the candles etc.

He wanted to set the mood by keeping everything nice and peaceful.

His sisters were not being overly helpful in that area

Tim was up the hill moving stock again so arrived in late for dinner.

Azzan also knew exactly what he wanted to do for desert.

Banana & plum split.

And he had to make it all by himself!

 

 

 

Yum!

 

 

Tim & I had a long chat with Anson while the children cleaned up.

He and Marah are working near Bendigo now.

Only a few weeks and they will be back home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The days since we arrived back home have just been ticking along as per usual.

 

While we were away Tim & Ellie kept busy.

Monday

Ellie processed about 20kg of kiwifruit into the freezer for me, then went mussel working with Tim.

Tuesday

They were sorting ewes & lambs and mustered stock until dark.

Wednesday

Ellie mopped and vacuumed the floors and then they both went out to do mussel work for rest of the day.

 

Thursday

Tim went over the back of the farm to work on the new water tank.

Then he did some bulldozing at the boatramp.

Ellie & Shoshannah worked in the vege garden.

They have strung nets up to stop the chickens and birds getting into the plants

Azzan, Mahalia and Ellie went swimming after lunch.

It turned more into a splashing about on surfboards and a quick falling in because the water was too cold.

Then a fast run up to the spa to warm up!

Azzan bought up some sucker fish and cock-a-bullies he had caught.

Not many survived - he headed and gutted and fried them up!!

I went to bed after lunch for a sleep - I had been feeling really tired and had a headache so took some Panadol.

Slept for several hours.

Got up in time to get some dinner on for the troops.

 

Friday

a very blustery day with wind whipping white caps across the bay.

Ellie cleaned the Safari for me - she did a magnificent job.

Don't think I have seen it so clean in a long time!

 

This is blooming under the outside stairs.

Isn't it beautiful.

 

Tim took Ellie & Mahalia over the back to get the water tank finished.

Mahalia was the only one small enough to get inside it to help Tim get the the pipes fixed in.

When they got back he took her around to see Olly and then he went mustering.

 

Shoshannah brought me her first strawberry of the season from her garden.

I was extremely privileged

It was delicious.

 

The mailboat came about 2pm.

I spent time in the study trying to get stuff up to date.

Tim is moving stock every day now to keep the feed up to them and get the paddocks grazed properly.

We haven't had any rain for a long time so it is getting very dry here.

He is getting a bit concerned.

I am concerned about him because he is putting in some very long days and he is not getting any younger.

I am really looking forward to having the boys home soon to help him out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children and I were up and out the door soon after 8:30am.

I dropped Azzan and Mahalia off at Phoebe's.

She was still asleep so they started doing a clean up for her.

They were spending the day with her to give her a hand.

Shoshannah and I had time to swing past the port and pick up an almanac for Tim, then zip into the city centre and grab a frappaccino for my breakfast.

Then I dropped her off at her appointment half an hour early with her book so I could get to my counseling appointment at 9:45am.

When I finished I had time to zip around the corner and pick up the guitar from Mr Music.

It had been badly broken but he fixed it and had just been waiting for the glue to dry.

The day was already getting very warm.

I had the windows of the Safari open to try and cool down each time I hopped in.

I picked up Shoshannah and then whizzed down to Spotlight to suss out patterns and some embellishments.

We had a few things to quickly do before my 1pm appointment at Nelson Beauty.

Just had time to run over to the Farmers Market and get a Salmon & Avocado Wrap from the Wrap Shack for lunch.

They were absolutely delicious.

I left Shoshannah munching on hers as she went off to shop.

I had finished mine by the time I walked in the door so felt a lot better - I had been running on empty for several hours.

Shoshannah's appointment there was at 2pm so when I finished I left her and went to see Leeanne.

She was altering my dress.

We talked through the dress patterns I had found and made decisions on which ones to get.

Things have changed immensely since I use to sew.

Patterns now are exorbitantly expensive and nonreturnable so you have to make sure you are going to use the ones you buy.

I zipped back to Spotlight and got what I needed and then back to Leeanne.

I was doubly blessed to get a park right outside her shop both times, and each time there was plenty of room for me to park the tank aka Safari!

Leeanne finished my dress and I left her with another one to make for me.

 

I met up with Shoshannah at Farmers.

I was rushing to get things finished so I could pick up the kids and head home.

Then I got a call from Mahalia to say that Phoebe was taking her and Azzan to the beach.

It was so incredibly hot that they needed to get to the waters edge.

However when they got there to paddle they found the water so warm the three of them just jumped straight in!

In the meantime, knowing they were at the beach, I slowed down my pace a weeny bit.

Shoshannah was looking for shorts but found merino tops on sale instead.

I am sure she will look great in them on the next scorching hot day

But they were a bargain so shorts will wait till next trip.

We whizzed over to Countdown to get groceries.

Shanni went to the library while I shopped.

Then Phoebe arrived looking all damp and refreshed from the beach,  looking for meat for dinner so we shopped together and agreed to have dinner with her before heading home.

She took Mahalia back to get it started, Azzan went to the library to find Shoshannah.

He arrived back at the supermarket and found Phoebe had gone.

I found a bereft wee urchin waiting anxiously outside the supermarket with his arms full of books, not too sure as to what he should be doing cuz he hadn't seen Shoshannah since I had text her so say he was coming back with us.

We loaded in all the groceries and drove to Phoebe's.

It was still very very warm so we were glad to be stopping a while to eat and wait for the evening to cool down.

Graham had arrived mid arvo, looking rather weary.

I think he had overdone his socialisation a wee tad

We finally left after eating a very delicious dinner.

Got to Graham's at 11pm, unloaded him and his gear then drove home.

The children were really great and unloaded all the stuff before they headed to bed.

Tim woke up so I sat and chatted with him while I had a snack.

Then I hopped into the spa for a few minutes to unwind myself before hitting the pillow.

A busy day but all rolled smoothly.