The 'Wet' season....

So it finally rained......

I know everyone down south is hating the rain at the moment with their dank smelly clothes not drying and muddy shoes at the door but up here where it is meant to be wet. We are meant to be covered in red mud, squelching our feet when we walk outside and keeping us awake with the noise on the roof each night. We are meant to be in the middle or even the tail end of our first 'wet season' and we have had but a few trickles of rain. The other night we had real 'wet season' rain with 31 mils overnight then we waited for more ....... and waited, but still nothing. 

The problem here is that we NEED rain, not for our gardens to look beautiful or to green up the grass, but to put food on tables and for our drinking water. 

Many of the farmers on the stations and properties outside of town rely on the water and rain of the wet season to feed their stock for the rest of the year... it is this stock that in turn feeds  their families for the year, through sales and by filling their freezer. Without the rain the stock loses it's price and starts costing money through needing to purchase feed and pumping water.

We all rely on the wet season to fill our water tanks. The town water that is plumbed into the houses is undrinkable. This water comes from a bore outside the town and this town is an old mining town, the water has too much arsenic in it for safe human consumption..... not joking. It also has such high levels of other minerals in it that we can't use it for cooking, or in our irons, coffee machines or kettles. It leaves a film on most things, turning our glasses opaque and out toilets have to be cleaned with hydrochloric acid once a week to prevent a build up that looks like a huge skiddy.

 Most places in town have their own water tanks and this provides clean drinking water for the houses. Our house is particularly fancy because we have a pump and tap inside our house that comes directly from our tank. Most houses have to fill up bottles for drinking water outside at their tanks.....seriously. I will re-phase that....We have a fancy house because we have clean drinking water come from the tap.  When it doesn't rain the tanks don't fill up making the chance of running out of clean drinking water before the next wet season a very real possibility..... see we do actually NEED the rain.

There are also many houses in town that simply don't have a functioning water tank on their property, many of these people have little choice but to drink the town water... you know the water with too much arsenic and other minerals in it. These are usually the houses with lower socio-economic opportunities... and you thought access to clean drinking water was a third world issue. They are in the process of drilling and testing for a new bore, but we are yet to hear any more about this.

So next time your are wishing (as we used to) this rain would 'bugger off' ,"it's such an inconvenience, my shoes, and clothes aren't drying and everything is smelly". Spare a thought for those in the bush hopefully and wistfully checking BOM online for the slightest chance that it may rain soon... and then start thinking of ways to make an inland waterway to get some water up here soon...Maybe if we all start wishing for it (the rain) to head north or do a rain dance it will start pouring up here and give us a taste of out first wet season. We sure need some water up here soon in.....'these beautiful days'.

Playgroup Day

On Monday's we have Playgroup here in town. It's a great opportunity to get together with some on the Mums in town. Some of the Mums from the stations outside of town also bring their kids in, sometimes travelling on the dirt for an hour at least, just for playgroup.

I have always been a big fan of playgroup. When I had my first child I was quite young and met through my cousin, a lovely bunch of women. We all had kids around the same age, some were our first, some were our lasts, some were trying to have babies, and some were having their middle children. We came from different age groups and walks of life but we would meet, eat and debrief once a week. There were always lots of laughs, sometimes a few tears and always a friendly ear and some advice if needed. It was these hours that made me so relaxed about being a parent... and I'm pretty laid back now... Thanks ladies.

I still keep in contact with them even since the move and the babies that were playing in nappies are all now turning 8 and I miss them all so much even though they are all only a text or call away. These playgroup days were really informal, occasionally we would do a craft  activity for Christmas or head to the pool for a swim but much of this time was for the kids to meet, have a informal play and for the Mum's to chat.

The Playgroup here in town is a bit different. Because the kids here don't have access to childcare or pre-school we have started to do more a formal playgroup with themes each week and a structure. This week the theme was 'On the Farm', which was great. There was a duckling, a turkey and a bantam chick all there for the kids to play with. Only in the country could you have a farm theme with actual farm animals!!

They also made face masks of their favourite animals.......

The kids all sat beautifully on the mat and listened to a story then had some yummy morning tea or 'Smoko'.

It always is a lovely morning out and a great chance to catch up. We share travel stories, learn which creeks are up, where are the best places to do a grocery shop and share healthy recipes using as little of our precious fresh food as possible. Our kids get to socialise and for some of them its the only chance to play with other kids for a few weeks so they love it. We are starting a Facebook Page soon so when it's up and running I will share the link so you can follow all the exciting things we are doing.  It's so nice to know that wherever you are there are other Mums going through the same things as you. It's a fantastic part of our culture women supporting women just like the villages of old, I hope that whereever you are you are as lucky as I am to have such a wonderful network of 'Mums'. It's always great seeing the kids all growing up together.... and looking at these pictures remembering these times, so special and part of ....'these beautiful days'.

Not quite a seamstress........yet!

On Saturday I spent the day sewing. It was blissful, a bit like vacuuming where there is lots of noise so you can't hear the kids, I looked really busy so I wasn't interrupted and I listened to music in the air conditioning as I merrily sewed away.... for about 7 hours, like in a trance at times. I had gathered supplies weeks ago from our last trip into town and I had been waiting for the perfect moment to sit down and get started. I realised Saturday morning that there was no perfect time, the planets weren't going to miraculously align and send me a sign that today would be the perfect day to start sewing...... so I got on with it.

This is a bit like the way I started sewing in the first place. I have always been surrounded by sewers. My Mum growing up made most of our clothes even matching outfits for my sister and I. She sewed all our ballet costumes (and everyone elses) and most of her own clothes. She tried to teach me occassionally but neither of us had the patience or the time then to really work it out. My mother in law is also a great sewer. The 'Granny skirts' she has made for our girls are amazing and last for years with endless compliments. My sister in law makes beautiful quilted blankets and the cutest singlets and t-shirts. The the boys shorts my Mum made for 'Master 2' 18 months ago are still his favourites. So you would think that I would have picked up some sewing.... but no. I always planned to learn but I thought that there would be a better time. When I have space, when the kids grow up, when we have time to sit and learn, I'll take some lessons one day were all excuses I have used to put off learning to sew in the past.



My sewing machine



I received some money for Christmas and as coincidence would have it I also stumbled upon a Spotlight catalogue. (I am a little obsessed with junk mail, this addiction is only fed through the deprivation of living in the bush and NEVER receiving any). ELNA sewing machine on sale with  $7.95 shipping, I was sold and just like that over the phone I bought a sewing machine. All those years of excuses gone... just like that. I gathered a list of basic supplies from my expert relatives and bought them when I was last in town. I was on my way now.

 I had shopped so I had to follow through with the actual sewing part. A few weeks ago I had a sneaky go and made a top for myself off a tutorial online that I found on Pinterest, I have even worn it a few times and it's so cool and comfortable. I only managed to do this after my patient husband followed impossible instructions to thread the bobbin and the machine for me after I gave up for the 3rd time!!This top was easy to cut and sew because the fabric has fine lines on it so it wasn't difficult to keep things straight  (a good tip for anyone starting to sew.... use fabric with lines). The link to the tutorial I used is here: http://sweet-verbena.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/simple-bow-tie-top-tutorial.html?m=1

Simple Bow tie top

My trip to Spotlight was better then ever too I think this may be because I was making things for the girls so they were excited. I was finally out of the yarn section that they find so boring so my girls loved being in Spotlight with me and enjoyed choosing their own fabrics. Before I started on last Saturday I got them to have a look at pictures online and they gave me an idea of what they wanted their dresses too look like.

The girls fabric choices Miss 5 is the Green, Miss 7 has the pink.

So I got to it, and I managed to make them a dress each. Now they are far from perfect, just so basic and from our imaginations, no patterns used, but I made them and the girls designed them and we love them!!

So my aim now is to start using patterns and make 'Master 2' something and maybe a few pairs of pants for the baby. I would love any advice on easy, basic, simple quick patterns and the bast fabrics to use for things as I am still so clueless. I wish I hadn't put learning off for so long now seriously if there is any craft you want to try, give it a go. The Internet especially You Tube has so much support when you are stuck with things, it's easier than you think! I have discovered that I love making things, clothes knitting, baking (it's all a bit 1950's really) but I find it rewarding sitting down and creating something usable.... in 'these beautiful days'.

Troppo Style....

We had a quiet weekend this weekend..... I mean really quiet as in didn't leave our fenced yard for the WHOLE weekend. This was great we all got some catch up on rest. I became a crazy craft lady ....knitting and sewing like a woman possessed (I think it's called nesting) and the kids fended for themselves. I had dinner all weekend sorted, the rest they organised themselves (and by they I mean the kids). Just wait till you have a 7 year old they are like mini adults,  they can pour cereal and milk, they can make toast and negotiate spreads with a fussy 2 year old and an indecisive 5 year old, they can pack it all up afterwards and still think it's fun.

I tell you slack parents create very capable 7 year olds!!

All this was going on while I was 'busy' sewing in the air conditioning listening to Ed Sheeran, drinking coffee....bliss!! (More about the sewing later in the week).

This was all great until morning tea ('smoko' as it's called out here) Sunday when we were officially out of food, well fruit and snack foods anyway so out came the CWA cook book I love this cook book it's amazing. 'Miss 7' and 'Miss 5' were in charge of the biscuits and they made 'Whatever Biscuts' which they created using cornflakes as the 'Whatever'. Now I let them do the whole recipe themselves and they did it (messy doesn't even explain the kitchen after it)... but they loved it and they taste great. I am not much of a biscuit maker, too hard, too soft, too crumbly would usually describe my biscuits but these are great and easy!!

Watch out the kids are cooking

WHATEVER BISCUITS

 INGREDIENTS:
110g butter
1/2cup sugar
1 egg
1cup SR flour
1cup "whatever

Cream butter and sugar, mix in egg, then sifted flour and "whatever". For this one, you bake them at 180oC for 10-15 mins.

Round 2

'Master 2' fancies himself as a bit of a chef, he loves cooking so he and I made the Hawaiian Tea cake recipe into muffins. This used up the rest of the tin of pineapple used on our Saturday night pizza. I find muffins so much easier for lunch boxes during the week. I made it a bit healthier by using a little less sugar and pineapple, coconut and cinnamon on top, wholemeal flour and less butter and extra milk. They taste great and were so easy!!

HAWAIIAN TEA CAKE

CWA lady: Lindy Ceeland, Orielton Branch, Tas.

Ingredients: 
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 cup self-raising flour
Pinch of salt
2 tbsps milk
1/2 cup well-drained pineapple

For the topping:
2 tsps butter, melted
2 tsps ground cinnamon
2 tsps sugar
Method: 
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 20cm cake tin. Cream butter and sugar, then gradually add the egg. Sift flour and salt and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Spread mixture in prepared tin and arrange pineapple on top. Bake for approximately 10 minutes. When cooked, brush with melted butter and sprinkle the combined cinnamon and sugar.

So that was our day in the kitchen tropical style, creating yummy easy treats for the week ahead, they are delicious, especially with a coffee in the air conditioning enjoying..... 'These beautiful days'.

Corn Flake Whatever Biscuits and Pineapple Tea Muffins

I'm a runner....

Okay so I am a runner, I have to admit it and I NEVER thought that I would enjoy running.... EVER, but I do and I miss it.

I was the kid at school who avoided running, I despised sport days and I was never very good. I still remember the feeling of lining up in school races and running as hard as I could but feeling like my legs weren't going nearly as fast as they should as most of the other kids passed me. That was the problem with running at school it was always part of a competition.

It started my affair with running when I was struggling to get pregnant with our 3rd child 'Master 2'. I was mad and frustrated and I ran it out  and it felt good... everything felt better. I eventually bought a gym membership so I could run whenever I liked.... a month later I got pregnant and I walked on a treadmill for about 12 months....

But I was hooked. As soon as my body had repaired itself I started again. Run/walking on the treadmill until I had done 5km....it took a while and eventually I could run the whole 5km. Then I entered into the 10km Bridge to Brisbane, I trained and made it.... a whole 10km.

When we moved to the bush running took on a whole new meaning. Gone were the gym's and treadmills. The airconditioning, music and televisions disappeared and were replaced with heat, wallabies, birds, trees, the soundtrack of the bush and endless bush trails.

The limestone rocks

I started running around the town... all 10 streets, then after a few months I got game and found the trails. I loved it ....trail running in the bush up and down paths and hills, all the different surfaces, grass, gravel, dirt sand, the colours, the solitude, the birds. I have seen countless wallabies, kangaroos, lizards, and amazing birds. I love watching a flock of black cockatoos take off  as you approach or the wallabies scatter with ease through the shrubs.I love not knowing what you will encounter that run with the ever changing backdrop, it's so very different from the predictability of the gym. It really is spectacular!

View from the top, it's worth the climb

Now I haven't been for a decent run in months, something to do with a baby belly and the heat and realistically it will probably be another 10 - 12 months before I am really running again. So I have taken to doing workouts and yoga in town with some lovely girls who make me laugh and laugh at me trying to waddle my way through a exercise session. We have fun... and work hard, but I do miss my running.

Off we go

So this morning I did the next best thing I got the girls off to school, packed up 'Master 2' in the pram and we walked. It was great having someone to share the birds, caterpillars and lizards with. We did 5km at a very slow pace, but what workout it was pushing the pram through the bush, dirt and sand. I loved it, we loved it. I don't think it will replace running but it is a lovely replacement for the next few months. My advice is get outside with those you love on the weekend it really is the best place to enjoy.... 'these beautiful days'.



Late afternoon cool run



Our BIG day out....

When you live in such a small community sometimes you just need to get out..... go somewhere new where you don't know everyone, have a bit of an explore, see some new things. We are incredibly lucky up here because neither of us had spent any time in the area before we moved here, so when these days pop up we have so many options of new places to visit. So after a big few weeks and and an ever empty fridge and pantry we decided that Saturday was going to be a BIG day out!

We woke the kids early and set off, we drove a few hours and drove to a tiny village called Yungaburra. Now this place was too pretty to stop at, it is a full day trip in itself another time when the markets are on. It is simply too pretty for words with most of the shops retaining their original facade and quirky gift shops and cafes, even the chemist looks like it is out of a movie set. It is 72 km from Cairns up the Gillies (though I'd advise you to drive the extra 30 or so km through Mareeba and Kuranda to avoid the Gillies I am never travelling that way again, it makes the Kuranda range look tame). If you ever spend any time in Cairns you need to spend a day in Yungaburra, it's beautiful.

Our official first stop for the day was at Lake Barrine. We spotted this butterfly as we emerged from the car, it was breathtaking as was the view of the lake from the tea house as we ate our scones with jam and cream and drank our coffees.

 Lake Barrine has two 1000 year old Kauri pine trees which are amazing, just magical. 'Miss 5' pondered "I wonder what they would say if they could talk?", I wonder indeed! 

We then decided to do a small bush walk in our non-bush walking clothes. The density of the rainforest was enveloping and the kids were enjoying it until we discovered what leeches were.

 They were everywhere, and it was hilarious watching the different reactions as we pulled and flicked and squished these 'little buggers' off us. We also spotted beautiful birds and a quoll in the rainforest, much to the kids excitement. We had the full leech inspection as we jumped in the car...off to the next stop.

The next stop was just down the road at Lake Eacham. It is beautiful crystal clear jade water with excellent facilities and turtles. We stopped to look at the turtles (not thinking we would see any) and we saw heaps. Admittedly they were being fed Marsh Fly's by the hundreds by us. Up here at the moment its 'Marshie' season. These huge flies are everywhere on dusk but at Lake Eacham they were also out during the day. They bite and sting and are huge.... and slow. So we swattered them and threw them in the water, the turtles had a feast and we had fun revenging the 'Marshies' that had been attacking us for weeks.

Our next stop for lunch was Malanda Dairy Centre at Malanda. Malanda is the dairy capital of this area and we are big supporters of the dairy industry with our ridiculous milk consumption so we thought we would check it out. The kids loved the displays about the history of dairy in the area and 'the olden days' when milk was delivered in glass bottles each day. 'Miss 7' was very happy about being born in this time after reading about the average day of a dairy farmers child. It was interesting to read that the original cows the the area were bullocked north over 16 months from Lismore in northern NSW where both my husband and I grew up, through Brisbane where we moved from last year. We treated ourselves to a beautiful lunch here, with salad and fresh juices...the works (and all the things we haven't eaten in about a week here). They really looked after the kids with colouring while we waited... I love places that do that!!

Finally it was grocery shopping time. I left the boys to start the groceries while the girls went to the Target baby section. Our girls were crazy, everything was "cute" and "adorable", after many "can we buy this for the baby Mum?" we settled on some socks, singlets and wondersuits in very gender neutral colours, just to get started. All I can say is I am thankful these girls can't shop easily because if they could this baby would be too spoilt with clothes already.

We headed back home, with 3 tired kids and 2 refreshed adults and a boot full of food. There is something cleansing and revitalising about experiencing new places. Far North Queensland has such a diversity of natural beauty, from the rainforests, to green dairy country, water filled volcanic craters, 1000 year old trees and the bush at home, we saw it all in a day and it was amazing.... just another one of 'these beautiful days'.

Fruity Week...

This week has been a busy week, we are all back in the swing of school, homework, playgroup and the general day to day running of the house. I have started teaching at the school one day a week.... eeek which is a little nerve racking and a bit overwhelming. I am a trained secondary teacher and primary teaching is sooo different. It's amazing how patient primary teachers are they do such an amazing job with teaching these young minds. Out here the classes are small but they are multi-age which adds a whole new dimension to teaching. I have 'Miss 7' for some of her lessons, and I am so worried about embarrassing her,(she's not worried at all) but it's lovely to get to be creative and use my brain a little too.

It's lovely to watch kids of all ages play together and interact in the classrooms and at play time. The big ones look after and include the little ones and everyone plays games together. It is magical to see kids of all ages getting along and this school has created a supportive and empathetic environment for kids to be growing up in.... I really am so thankful, the kids out here are so well behaved and special ....it's amazing.

I  had two extra children for the night during the week and these boys were so polite and well mannered, it was lovely to have a full table at dinner and a house full of little people, 'Master 2' loved having two 'big brothers' for the night. They played cricket and Nerf guns and read books it was great for him to spend some time with some 'big boys'. Having all these kids around gave us a taste for the future and I think we are all going to love it when our baby arrives, it will be fun adding to our family all the chaos and laughter.

I stumbled upon a new biscuit recipe in the midst of this week, these weren't as popular with the kids as the chocolate cake I served up at the same time but I love them and my husband loves them too. It's nice to have something put aside that’s healthy and sweet that the kids aren't going to gobble up in a day.

Fruit Clusters

1/2 cup dried apricots

1 1/2 cups of Muslie or Corn Flakes

1/2 cup sultanas (I used dates, Goji berries and linseed instead)

1/2  cup coconut

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 Plain Flour

2 Eggs lightly beaten

125 g butter melted

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line two oven trays.

2. Mix all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Pour in eggs and butter and mix well.

3. Make rough tablespoon size balls and place them on the oven trays (2cm apart). bake for 10 - 15 mins until brown on the bottom.

Enjoy xx

This is adapted from the 'Saving Mum' book by Amy Pleydon and Tiana Johannis. This book has lots of clever ideas about saving money, cleaning tips that work and heaps of easy, quick recipes. I love these Fruit Clusters because they don't need a lot of milk (hooray!!) which we are low on at the moment and they can be adapted to the tastes of your family members.

 So I am off to put my feet up with some knitting and a Fruit Cluster and enjoy a little bit of peace a quiet,  an important part of .....'these beautiful days'.

Lily Potter is back!!!

We have a pet frog and (I have to confess) we stole her!!...... But it will all make sense when I explain it.

Not long after we moved here 'Miss 5' became obsessed with frogs. Her favourite colour has always been green and a few weeks after we moved here she became really interested in frogs. She was looking up books with the librarian at the town library, looking for frogs in our garden and asking endless 'froggy' questions, "lets google it" became my standard response.

Why the sudden interest in all things frog, I'm not sure. Retrospectively it may have been something to occupy her time and inquisitive brain. A possible response to moving and being taken out of pre-school and stuck with Mum for almost another whole year, her thing as she watched her sister make new friends and start a new school. I'm not sure what was behind her all consuming obsession, but we ran with it!!

One afternoon it was late in the wet season and about 3 weeks in to this 'froggy' time that we were doing the usual thrice weekly mail pick up and ...... we hear "riddup riddup" coming from the post office. We investigate and discover a little slimy green bundle of joy on the windowsill, a little water on the hands and she was ours...."Lily Potter!!!" the kids exclaimed not only was she instantly claimed, she had also been named.

We did what any parents would do and bought her home and played with her... very responsibly. She was photographed on the kitchen table, she investigated the bathroom and found the bath, she climbed the shower screen and she sat on the window. For a few hours she was inside the house, a part of the family. The time came to place Lily back outside so we placed her up on the water tank where she could be safe from the dogs and viewed by 3 (or 5) pairs of keen eyes.

Lily's visit to our house

Lily didn't stay there long but has never been far from home. We have found her in the dog's water bowls more than once, on all sets of stairs, under the stairs, beside the dog's bed, back on the water tank, buried in the dirt, in the dryer and stuck to the wall  over the last year.  Master 2 is especially fond of Lily and on several occasions he has been discovered carrying Lily around randomly through the back yard and house. We suspect Lily is responsible for our only hospital visit (so far) after one such find when Master 2 had located Lily, carried her around too tight and may have subsequently rubbed frog wee in his eye causing an allergic reaction.... seriously. Lily's lack of finding safe hiding places has led to being called 'Silly Potter' on more than one occasion.

Lily hadn't been spotted in a long time and recently had prompted many Lily search expeditions. This is where 3 eager kids set off in search of the illusive green frog, checking all her usual haunts to no avail. ....until last Friday afternoon..... Lily was found on top on the strange water container in the front corner of our house. "Lily is back" was the sound I heard from 3 excited kids...."come and see Lily" was repeated until I put down the knitting to roll off the lounge and out of the air conditioning to find Lily is indeed back.

Lily is back

Since then Lily has been checked a few times a day.... just to make sure she is still there.... I dread what will happen when she moves, however in the last day she has been joined by another frog so she may hang around for a while... I hope she does she is a special part of our lives and ....'these beautiful days'.