Head in the Clouds – Feet in the Dirt

Well… yesterdays weather was appalling – so along with boring housework there was nothing to share that was interesting.

Today, I still had a long list of tasks so I figured the best thing to do was to go for a walk! (Which is why I am still up at 1am)

I got Shirley to go with me, as she loves walks. Shirley is a friend of Ruby’s and although nearly 80, is so sprightly and keen! She makes a great walking partner!

We decided to walk around the river track to see how far we could get and what flood damage there was.

This was quite stern:

We ignored it and continued. I told Shirley if anyone went crook at us I was telling them it was her idea!

We walked quite a way before starting to find where the track got tricky

It was at this point it just got too boggy and mucky to continue on – plus I wanted to bring Shirley home in one piece!!

So, having seen what we wanted to, plan B was to double back and go down to Fossil Bluff and enjoy a walk on the beach for a while.

I finally coerced Shirley into getting a selfie with me!

So – apart from trying to channel my inner housekeeping skills (poorly) I started a new facebook page for beginner gardeners.  I have been part of a page for “Family on a Budget” which is mostly recipes, but I post up garden photos to tell people if they are serious about saving money – grow food!

Well… a lady asked for some beginner gardening advice… which I messaged her about. Then someone else said “Me too” so I messaged that someone else…. then it spiralled a bit out of control and I had several messages on the go at once, and thought maybe I should just do a page!! Since it is spring here and most people are just getting going in their gardens, it seemed a logical move.

The page got about 70 members within two days – but I am not scared! haha.

THEN… A Japanese friend of ours, Yusuke, sent me a message to ask if we were interested in taking paid Japanese homestay guests via a company his friend is associated with.

Oh yes.. yes I am! So I wrote two word docs, complete with photos (of course) to try to explain how fabulous we think this area is!  Its actually quite difficult to choose images – you know – thinning it down to less than 1000!! haha. I tried to be not over the top.

I am now waiting to see if they like us or not! 🙂

Today I may have also rashly promised to photograph a wedding in Texas next year too. So my savings goals are rather significant as I have also promised to take my parents to Japan next year – also meeting my Canadian in-laws in Japan as well so we will do a double tour!!

All I can say is I hope my vegetable garden grows well and I sell enough to finance my jet-setting lifestyle!!!!!

OK – time for me to abandon this blog and do some dishes, bake some bread and be ready to wake early to greet the parents – Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed at about 7am. (yeah – that’ll be me!)(not)(OK I will be up, but I am a sorry sight early on)

Cheers!

Hello!

Friday is done and dusted – dusted being operative word as I was submerged in house work while Jeff mowed lawns here and next door.

I think I might need to write a list of things left to do before Monday morning!!  Mum said they will get off the boat and traditionally go straight to Ruby’s for a morning cuppa because in Ruby’s words “They won’t be awake yet!!!”

Huh!! I am SURE I would make the effort to get up early to welcome my parents in!!! 😀

But – lets be honest… I can’t deny Ruby the fun of early morning guests and a teeny bit more of a sleep in for me isn’t a bad thing.

Dad has simply requested a fresh baked loaf of bread and some plum jam when they arrive!  So easy to please!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone… I will try to do something more interesting than housework to blog about, but I am making no rash promises!

Cheers!

Today I was lured away from my crochet and a comfy spot with Pip by the fire with promises of rock hunting!

We just drove down one of the local roads (Calder Rd… Calder River & am am dreaming of Calder River Agate)

We even saw blue sky once!!

Actually, Jeff’s main ambition was to get into one of the pine forests and hack away at tree stumps looking for ‘fat wood’, which, if you are like me and hadn’t heard of that, is the resin soaked wood that isn’t good for any structural purposes, but it burns like a demon! (awesome fire starting material)

With Jeff in his manly element, I looked for photo opportunities and the river so I could look for rocks

I got to a sub river that was running over the ground before the real river – definitely no rock hunting here!!!

Still – I found some cool things – like this land jellyfish.

I found a few of these – totally no clue what they are. But the husband/wife conversation goes like this

Husband: Don’t touch it! (Still suffering from the ‘not ambergris incident’)

Wife: Ooookaay

Husband: You touched it didn’t you!!??

Wife: I couldn’t help it

Husband: Don’t come complaining to me if you break out in a rash….

🙂 He is so sweet!

I also found the weirdest fungi yet… a ball that emerges from a petal-like arrangement!

I was keen to walk down to the bridge, so Jeff chucked all his fat wood into the car and we wandered down

Luckily this bridge held up to the flooding… one not so far away ended up in a farmers paddock…. the sheer force of the water and whole trees smashing into it did the trick!

Clearly we are not the only creatures using the under-the-bridge-not-quite-a-path way…

We ended up fossicking by the roadside… I suspect a lot of the gravel has come in from the local quarries. I found a couple of really nice pieces of agate that I have high-tumbling hopes for!! (Photos at later date)

Oh – just to give you an idea of the height of the flood waters… have a look and see where the grassy debris is caught in the trees above Jeff’s head!!! Insane!!

By this time we were pretty soggy and getting slightly cold, so it was time to bail out, go to Ruby’s for a cuppa, then get home and get the fire roaring!

We did make one final stop on the way home as I had spotted this old shed that was surrounded by the beginnings of spring!

Hope your weekends are brilliant!

Cheers!

So… life at Norwich House these days is all about dead rats and maggots. Really really stinky rats. Really gross maggots.

Best I spare you the details! (and photos) (only got 10 people coming to stay in around two weeks… brilliant!!!!) erk

I just need decomposition to hurry up a little! (The joys of a 100 plus year old house huh??)

On a brighter note:

Remember yesterdays unexpected potato haul?

Well… we wrapped the two biggest ones in foil and put them in the fire to bake – they turned out pretty perfect!! Def. going to do that again!

I also made chocolate chip biscuits (cookies) which really helped make the house smell a LOT better. No photos yet… 🙂

And I finally went back and put that black edge around the multi-coloured shawl which I think finishes it off rather nicely!

Hope your day is less stinky than mine!

Cheers!