I trained him well

Friday evening.

The most strenuous thing I had to do yesterday was remember the hairdresser appointments for Megan & I. And remember to go to afternoon assembly at the primary school.

Hubby spent the day at the mine, working extra hours as he does.

Arrives home, I duck to the shops to get some urgent groceries.

I come back to this:

Slaving away in the kitchen, finishing prepping the dinner that I started.

So what did I do?

The only thing a good wife does:

he he he......

Cheers, ladies, good health to you!

Karen xx

More Family Visitors

I have good reason for being super quiet on the blog front this week.

My Dad came to our new town & stayed with us on Tues & Wed nights.

My Mum & Stepdad are currently visiting, staying in a motel just around the corner for 2 nights.

So I have been playing the role of personal tour guide, which they tell me they have appreciated. I'm pretty sure they tell the truth. Except when I was a kid & the subject was Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy. Or that the wind would change & my face would stay in that funny face I pulled. Forever.

Took a quick couple of snaps last night at the pub where we had dinner:

horse related decor in the stockhorse capital of the country

loving the tablecloths!

that's us, except me of course. Someone had to take the photo!

Ray's artwork during the LONG wait for dinner.

Apart from eating out, I have been driving our visitors around to the same places I have already shown you. The places that are part of our new routine.

And I get to do it all again in 2 weeks, when a friend of mine comes with her hubby & kids.

Would anyone else like a personal tour? I'm loving having visitors.

Karen xx

Physiotherapy & chocolate - what the?

Went to physio today. This old bod needs to work, with lots of aches & tightness, kind of a hangover from my nightfill job.

Worked on one shoulder & arm, stretching out the muscles a bit.

Gave me an exercise band & a list of exercises to do every day until my next session.

The band smells like chocolate.

It really does! Liam (9 & home sick from school today) commented on it first. So I am not making it up. I got Megan to smell it & she agrees. Ray kind of agrees, thought it smelt odd but couldn't place it. Yep, cheap chocolate. Zac just thinks it smells like it's meant to.

Does it smell like chocolate to make it more inviting for me to use? So I get at least some enjoyment from my exercising?

Or is it giving me permission to eat chocolate after I've done my daily workout?

You decide!

Another Gorgeous Sunny Weekend

I have to love this time of year. The sun is shining more often than not. Sure the nights are still cold cool here (the last few have been only 1 or 2 degrees), but with a wood fire, we are fortunate to be snug & warm in our home.

The trees are blooming. It's just too, too nice to be inside.

Yesterday I took the younger two kids to a Farmer's Market. Now, tell me what images those words conjure up in your head.

Farmer's Market.

I imagined trestle tables with boxes of potatoes, pumpkins, onions, cauliflowers, cabbages, lettuce, oranges, strawberries, lemons, etc to be felt, smelt, bought & brought home to enjoy the fresh, full flavours.

It was advertised as having local beef & lamb available to buy.

Exactly what we have been looking for.

It wasn't what I expected. Let's just say I didn't come home with any fruit. Or veg. Or meat. But we did have really yummy sausage sandwiches. And I tasted a really yummy locally made red wine. And I brought home some direct from the local factory fudge. I guess I am used to bigger markets. This one only had a dozen stalls. However I would like to stop at the seed stall once we are back in a home of our own.

I really really really wanted to see the bag lady. And she did not disappoint! I have never been a "bag lady", but I swear she could convert me! For those of you who missed it on Facebook, here's a pic:

Driving home:

grape vines

olive trees

Today saw a bbq at the primary school to celebrate the appointment of our new Parish Priest, Father Peter. Every Vietnamese Priest I have ever met has been named Peter. Very popular name!

that's my two on the left with sunnies on their head, plus Megan in  between

father & son basketball

Liam spectating

Megan

(We had some other photos too, but they had other people's kids in them & I didn't want to put them online without their parents' permission.)

Apart from that, it's been washing, washing and more washing.

What have you been up to this weekend?

Tell me what your favourite stall is at your local markets.

Karen xx

My Dream Home

The List of Wants is forever changing.

And they are wants, not needs.

I am not so self-absorbed that I don't know the difference.

Here's what on it at the moment:

* Huge linen closet. To the point that I can label the shelves so that anyone else who opens the cupboard (yeah, right) will know that this pile is the kids' bed linen, queen sheets, hand towels, bathmats, etc. We had a small linen cupboard at our own house, the rental we are in now has a good sized one, but I want bigger.

* The kid's wardrobes need to be double door ones. It just means things can be put away.

* The kitchen window must overlook the backyard, not the side of the house. It is my favourite room of the house & I would like to be looking at our own space rather than my neighbour's window or wall. Or kids.

 * A covered deck or veranda at the back of the house. A servery from the kitchen would be handy too. Have to have the option of sitting outside to enjoy the view. A place the kids can paint & be messy & we can just hose it down. And hose the kids down too.

* Speaking of views, a really good one would be nice. Like open spaces, or mountains, or horses. There are some beautiful views here, giving a real appreciation of nature's work.

* A bathroom I could swing a cat in. Not that I would, but if you're an Aussie you will know what I mean. And it needs two towel rails. Seriously folks, if you build a 5 bedroom house (with bathroom + ensuite), you have more than 2 kids. Only 2 towels fit on a standard towel rail. Wake up to yourselves.

* The ensuite needs to be big enough for both of us to stand in there at the same time.

* Skylights. I love natural light. I hate having to turn lights on during the day. The house we are renting has a dark bathroom & it shits annoys me. One of my favourite things in the world is to open the curtains & windows on a warm spring or summer day.

* High ceilings. I have been spoilt in our rental. The high ceilings really give a sense of spaciousness.

One thing I can't decide is if I want an old style house or sleek, modern one. However it is not just up to me. We are a whole family here. And I'm sure others (hubby) would like a say in it!

One thing I do know - my list will change again tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the next. But that's life. And I haven't even started on the kitchen, loungeroom or bedrooms yet.

What's on the list for your dream home?

Karen xx

images from weheartit.com

How Much Are We Really Saving?

I did some grocery shopping the other day. Nothing out of the ordinary for me, most days I have some groceries to buy.

My supermarket loyalty card offered me 10% off my shopping total, so I went there instead of the opposition who I prefer since we moved because they are closer & not too badly priced.

Here's a snippet from my docket:

My first thought was "Fabulous! I've ripped them off saved nearly 25 bucks on that shop".

But something was lurking in my mind & it wouldn't go away.

How much are the prices jacked up in the first place, that they can offer discounts on their instore orange tickets, or email 10% discounts to me & goodness knows how many other people?

I have a sneaking suspicion they are ripping me off!

(I can write posts like this now without putting my job in jeopardy, because I no longer work for them).

Do you think loyalty cards save you money? What's your opinion on supermarket pricing?

Karen xx

More exploring

Oma came for a visit last weekend. That would be my mother in law. I am one of the lucky ones who has a great mother in law. So Oma you are welcome to come for sleepovers again.

We did some more touristy stuff, which was in our plans anyway.

Zac had a Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Service to participate in as an army cadet. His picture ended up in the local paper, but here's some Oma took:

taken at Quirindi

that's him on the left, with the gun

We went here:

And saw this:

And this:

And of course, will younger kids in tow, park stops were aplenty over the weekend. This one particular is a great park in Musswellbrook, which is about half an hour away. In a huge enclosure there are 3 or 4 lots of climbing equipment, the ropes, swings, a bike & scooter track for the kids to ride plus picnic tables & an electric bbq. And. clean. toilets. Fabulous for birthday parties or a family day out.

never too old. that's not a road in the background, it's the bike & scooter track

Oma,looking like she's freezing

tiring stuff!

What did you get up to recently?