Do you ever feel like some weeks are just a complete whirl? In the first week of our school holidays we had multiple appointments and commitments, important forms to sign off on, projects to finalise, irritating technical glitches, jobs in town and people to see. It was all necessary but at the same time rather exhausting. So, I was determined to make the final week of our holidays more low key.
Apart from one trip to a neighbouring property I haven’t been off our patch in six days and it has been wonderful. Tomorrow I will re-engage with the school routine and the outside world but for now I am enjoying the slow pace of home and all of the small moments.
There has been time for some gymkhana practice.
I have spent some time throwing sticks and obstacles off George’s motorbike track while he gets plenty of ‘air’ and assures me that it is all completely safe.
Smoky the baby goat is enjoying a life of naps in the sun, bottles of milk and sometimes fun expeditions to the paddock.
Tiny shoots of grass are growing before our eyes after 32mm of much needed rain. This rain won’t solve all of our drought related issues but it is certainly a good start and a much needed boost to the spirits.
My garden and my enthusiasm for gardening both responded almost immediately to the rain. There is just no substitute for rain is there? Even weeding and raking is more rewarding with damp soil under my boots.
I have been walking around our creek, collecting as I go. This big clump of emu feathers caught my eye and I thought about weaving them into little wreaths or shapes. Is that a bit weird I wonder? They hold together easily and look earthy and natural, surely I can turn them into something crafty.
Of course it hasn’t all been uninterrupted bliss. There have been arguments about the overall unfairness of life, constant requests for food and clothes and Lego strewn all through the house. Just to keep it real.
I have listened to some things including this interview with the Waifs. They play their version of the classic song Oh No Not You Again by Australian Crawl and their voices are hauntingly beautiful.
I couldn’t help but get swept up in the royal wedding excitement and I thought Princess Eugenie made a truly elegant royal bride.
I have been thinking about baking fruit cakes, particularly small fruit cakes which led me to Bake and Brew which led me to buying some 5” cake tins. Stay tuned for some small cake experiments.
How about you?
Did you whirl through the week or have you had some quieter time?
What would you do with emu feathers?
Happy Sunday, friends x
Alison
Looking forward to your fruit cake recipe. My 82 year old mother, champion of fruit cakes, decided to “ … try a new recipe” OMG it is awful!
Jane S
Sometimes it pays to stick with the old favourites doesn’t it? Thank you!
Gerrie Mackey
Glad you’ve had a bit of rain.. we have too..& yes what a difference it makes!
Jane S
Thank you Gerrie.
Kate B
Those emu feathers… I wonder where they will end up!?
It has been a busy school break here with much coming and going but refreshing all the same. Good luck with the back-to-school adventures this week xx
Jane S
It was so lovely to catch up for a coffee last week Kate! Good luck for the term ahead. x
Anne Bartholomaeus
Glad you got some rain, hope the follow up is not far away! Looking forward to seeing your emu creation….they are rather stylish feathers. Maybe a hat decoration for the races Jane??
Lovely to have school holidays to have some time with the grandies down south and take in a birthday too. Oh I too remember the film crew for Mission Impossible 2 in 1999…was a real eye opener for us too and a great distraction! Must revisit my photos. x
Jane S
Thanks Annie, yes a perfect races hat decoration, I might need to contain them a little! x
The Napoli Alert
“Constant requests for food” – I hear you! During school holidays it feels like I’m a short order cook!
Jane S
It is never ending!
kate
I’ve been thinking of you and others through the two weeks of rain we’ve had on the coast, wishing the clouds to move elsewhere and correcting people when they grumble over their spoiled plans.
Those emu feathers will look beautiful in a wreath or other arrangement and I look forward to seeing how the cake experiments go. My maternal grandmother would make dozens of full-size Christmas cakes each year to give away to people who she saw as part of her wide community: including the people who would pop away a few punnets of choice strawberries for her at Woolies and the other grocers and butchers who made up her days and weeks. She hasn’t got the same inclination or facilities to cook anymore, but she’s knitting up a storm of coathanger covers and hand towel trims for Christmas. We can all make and give in our own ways, right?
Jane S
Absolutely Kate. I can almost small those generous Christmas cakes that your grandmother made. What a wonderful memory.
Meg
Thank you for the link to The Waifs! Sounds soooo good! Glad to read you’ve had some rain and a little bit of green is coming through. Hopefully, there will be some follow up falls soon. Meg:)
Jane S
Thank you Meg!
Sue Carrigan
So glad you have had much needed rainfall, fingers crossed you get more…..how gorgeous is your little goat..I love that photo…….your days at home do look like bliss 🙂
Jane S
He is a cute…but naughty goat! Thank you.
Anne
Pleased you have some rain and hope you get more soon. It’s amazing how quickly plants respond to rain and you’re right, there’s nothing as good as a good rain. Those emu feathers would look wonderful in a wreath – but you knew I’d say that!
I love having days with absolutely nothing in the diary and just going with the flow, making the most of opportunities rather than detailed planning or fitting in with someone else’s timetable. That was always the best part of school holidays.
Jane S
I wish I could send you some feathers Anne, for your lovely wreaths and arrangements. But, I think there would be some sort of customs laws regarding feathers picked up from the paddock!