School work????

Nathan's schoolwork today was all about shopping...cool fun! I didn't ever realize you needed to learn how to do that! Lol Seriously, it was way more important than that....putting what he's learning into practical application. Nathan priced all of his grocery items (now he knows all about the $ sign), setting up his store, putting money in the cash register, counting out money, giving change, chatting with customers (beware a shop attendant that tells you "your skin nice and soft"), stacking shelves, making a sign...he called it "Nathan's IGA". Given a chance, Nathan would have shopped the afternoon away. He also wrote out a grocery list. Whenever we do go grocery shopping he loves to weigh the fruit and vegies I buy and then exclaim "1 kg!" as though it's a huge amount and for all the shop to hear!

Here's Nathan's shop, set up and ready for customers:


First customer:


Changing roles:



During the on-air lesson, the kids finished an art project commenced last week. Here's Nathan's finished picture. I showed him how to curl the petals to give them a little more dimension.

Scrapping

Amongst other things, I have found time to do some scrapping lately.

My second son Craig and his gorgeous girlfriend Kathryn, have bought their first house and can hardly wait to move in early next month.


This one is from Millie's Mystery Challenge at the April Cybercrop at Scrap with V. I know it was awhile ago, but I really wanted to do it...although for me it wasn't a mystery as I'd seen everyone elses layouts!

As the title says this strelitzia is not in my garden, but in the garden of the house Craig and Kathryn are currently renting. It's gorgeous and I would love to be apple to grow them.

Late yesterday afternoon, I went down to the yard where we kept the weaners and started raking up all the left over straw and manure for the garden. The bale (I'd shovelled it into a woolpack) was too heavy for me to drag home so I used the 4wheeler!! With the addition of that mulch (the gardens were already well mulched but more never goes astray), the plants should grow like weeds...hopefully not with weeds.

Busy Times

Our biggest morning tea last Sunday went well. We had beautiful weather which was ideal for being out in the garden. However it clashed with the Heartland Festival in the district and many people were unable to come because they were doing classes for watercolour, bridge, framing etc. BUT we had a lovely day and raised useful funds. Our first guests arrived at 9.30am and the last left at 4.00pm....a long morning tea....but that's fine by us. It was so nice to sit and relax and enjoy others company. There were also heaps of kids for Nathan to play with.

My ratbag 3rd son was a hair model on Sunday. Apparently it was an international competition and the girl who did his hair won Best Cut and Best Colour.....now he's sporting a red and black striped mowhawk.....I would loved to have seen the look on his boss's face yesterday! Hopefully Adam will send me some pics!

We start crutching next Monday so mustering has already started....another busy week!

Prep

In Nathan's current unit of work, he has been learning about people in the community and the jobs they do ie shopkeepers, fire fighters, paramedics, bankers etc He has to talk with a person in town about their job, what they do, safety issues, equipment etc.

He has also had to make a model of where we live....not an easy feat as there are a few buildings here! We completed this activity over several days.

Here is the front view of the model:


And then the overhead view:


This has been fun, but we've also been very busy!

A Night Out!

Last night, we went to The Rhythms of Ireland in town and it was absolutely brilliant. We both loved every part of the show...the music from traditional Irish instruments (uillean pipes, bodhran, pennywhistle, Irish flute), the singing and of course the dancing. What seemingly boundless energy these young people have! My only regret...the show had to end. The auditorium was packed, not another person could have been accommodated for. The dancers were even kind enough to sign auotgraphs afterwards. If The Rhythms of Ireland is coming to a town near you....GO! You won't regret it.

Nathan was looked after by a teenage friend. They had a lovely evening together. I organized for her to look after him a fortnight ago - and every day since then he's asked "Are you leaving today?" Makes you wonder what goes through a child's head! On arriving home after the show, I took him to the loo and he said to me "You're home already?" Don't know how long he thought we were going for! Priceless.

My beautiful niece Megan, celebrates her 9th birthday today. Have a very special day Sweetheart. I hope you liked your present.

More....

Let a man go to a cattle sale and what does he do???? Yep, buys more weaners! There was a special weaner sale in town today with about 4 000 head. Prices were down for lighter weight cattle, which is what we want, so was of benefit to us. Martin bought 43 head - a mix of heifers and steers. Nathan has gone to help truck them home.

My gorgeous neighbour Pauline dropped in with a bunch of roses this afternoon...they are so beautiful. Most of them (all but the white Iceberg and purple Blue Moon) are from the rosebushes I gave her. I knew they'd be happier in the ground and they enjoyed the rains over Easter too!




I discovered a yummy sounding recipe on the ABC yesterday afternoon. It's sounds almost too easy so I shall be forced ;-) to give it a go!

Chocolate Cake in a mug in 5 minutes (serves 2)

4 tablespoons self raising flour
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
1 small egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
A few drops vanilla essence
1 large coffee mug

Method:

Place the flour, sugar and cocoa into the coffee mug and mix well.

Add the egg, milk, vanilla and oil and stir with a teaspoon until all combined and smooth.

Place the mug into the centre of the microwave and cook at 1200 watts (high) for 2 and a 1/2 minutes.

The cake will rise up in the mug to cook. Allow to cool a little then tip out and eat while warm

New Kaisercraft Papers

Have you checked out the new ranges of Kaisercraft patterned papers yet?? They are absolutely stunning...look for yourself here. I can hardly wait till they're released on July 1.

Time Flies

Where is this week going??? I can't believe it's almost midweek (and mail day tomorrow too)!

I sincerely hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I spent the morning doing bookwork and the afternoon vaccuming and getting rid of spiders and then gardening. I heard from all of my sons and that was very special and all I wanted.

On Monday morning we discovered one of our 'girls' (actually he was a ring-in) had a broken leg. Not wanting to waste anything he was slaughtered and quarteredwith the help of our neighbour...mind you I do think it was a case of the blind leading the blind! Now the meat is hanging in our neighbour's coldroom.

Then straight after Nathan's telephone lesson, we went to Barcaldine to pick up our car. It was wonderful not only to have it back but also minus the dents and it was sporting a new bullbar. Nathan seemed to think we had a new car. We did a couple of jobs in town before coming home.

This afternoon, I started baking for the Biggest Morning Tea we are hosting is less than a fortnight. A fruit cake and mini quiches are now stored safely in the freezer.

Nathan has to make a model of here as part of his school work this week....actually it was supposed to have been completed today, but as it's a big project and the cooler weather is not conducive to drying paint quickly, we are doing it over several days. It would be easy if we had only one or two buildings here, but we have 2 houses, a butcher shop, shed, and our old schoolhouse (now known as The Quarters) as well as 2 rainwater tanks and a high tank and roads and tracks. Not sure if we'll have room to add the chookyard...poor Chicken!

Some showery weather last night has cooled our day but it's still very pleasant.

Busy Day

Our girls (the heifers) are less than impressed with us today. This morning we took them down to the cattleyards to crossbrand and put new eartags in. Most were very well behaved and we got the job done in no time at all.




They were then trucked back to the house paddock. It no time at all they were settled again and happily grazing.

This arvo after tidying the house and the schoolroom (it looked like a bomb had hit there!) I managed to get the sketch challenge done for the SWV Cybercrop. It's a great sketch and here's my layout.

Then we collected some manure for the garden. At this stage it's too hard to dig through, so I have a sprinkler on the beds to help soften. I don't mind if I don't have plants in the beds by the biggest morning tea but at least the beds will look more finished....hopefully. There's nothing like the prospect of visitors to make things happen.

Nathan's Layout

Nathan completed the Kid's Challenge at the SWV Cybercrop. The theme was Best Mates and here's his layout:


Simple and with pizzazzill cardstock, he wasn't inclined to use any patterned paper.

Scrap with V Cybercrop

Yesterday I completed 2 of the challenges at the Scrap with V cybercrop!

Wendy's challenge: I would like you to use this picture and some inspiration for your layout. There are so many possibilities. Also, you must use at least 3 different coloured patterned papers or cardstock, and I want to see bling!

Here is my layout:


Kim's Mystery Challenge:

It's a recipe challenge. Here is a list of ingredients to put together your layout. Nothing extra ingredients can be added to it or the recipe won't work. You can't use any bought embellishments, they are to be made from your patterned paper.

The ingredients:
1 5 x 7 Photo
small title using stickers
4 journaling strips
rhinestones
5 different types of ribbon, braids, lace etc
1 patterned border strip
2 different patterned papers suitable for making embellishments


Thanks ladies for great challenges. Hopefully I'll get some more completed today.

Part mountain goat??

Late yesterday we put out a bale of hay for our heifers. In no time at all, one of them had prime position!


She was still "King of the Castle" when we left them.

Successful 2009 Show

Our local show was once again very successful! For me, it was so nice, to get out of the office and see what was happening and take photos. The new secretary, Lorelei, handled everything very well and did a brilliant job. For me, it was so nice to go to the show and not be 'working' there...that hasn't happened in many years.

This is the first year Nathan has put anything into the show and loved doing so. He won 4 First Prizes, a Third Prize and the Juvenile Aggregate Trophy in the Arts & Crafts pavilion and also a First and Third Prize in the Schools Competition. He went on a giant slide, a truck merry-go-round and a ferris wheel...all of which he loved! We were able to see the show with him, which was wonderful.

I won the Aggregate Trophy for Scrapbooking with 5 Firsts, 3 Seconds and 2 Thirds.