Natural Parenting vs Incubator

Well we decided to let one of the broody hens sit and ta da! We have 1 chick. Hmmm. Not sure what went wrong but the problem is now we have all the work for very little if any return. Knowing my luck it will probably be a rooster. Mind you that might not be too bad because these eggs came from another farm so I could let this one stay and rule the roost so to speak, at least till the neighbors start giving me dirty looks :) Might end up with some fertile eggs to try again. Now I just have to decide whether or not to let the girls have another go or just take over my self and start a new flock in an incubator? Worry about that later. Hopefully my makeshift broody coop will survive the next month or two till little one is ready to join the flock.

Abseiling course

Wow! What a weekend. Have just completed the basic abseiling course through Scouts and had the best time ever. Can't wait to go again.

Something to Leave Behind

L to R. Sydney Opera House for Jessica because she was born in Sydney. Calligraphy pen and notebook for Luke because I don't think he has picked up a book in years. The next one actually has heaps of 0001101011110 all over it. This is for Sam who is glued to his computer. The Funk journal has an electric guitar for Beth who is self-taught and plays really well. Abby is the lioness in the family (really a big pussy cat) and it was a bonus that this one also had fleur de lis on it as she is a Scout and last but not least, the racing cars for Nicky who's dreams are always bigger and better than anything I've ever imagined.
I bought 6 A4 journals today. I’ve always wanted to leave behind something for my kids to read but couldn’t quite work out how I wanted to do it. When I look back through old diaries I think “they’ll probably read these and throw them out or if they decide they’re worth keeping, end up arguing over who gets them”. So I thought maybe I should write a journal for each of them. It can be personal then and there won’t be any fights over who gets it. I want to fill it up with lots of little things that might get forgotten like the time Abby was telling us about some guy who is a “nefandial” (Neanderthal). Her brother Sam laughed and said, “You’re a nefandial”. It was one of those ‘had to be there’ moments but it still brings a shy, embarrassed grin to her face when mentioned. It’s those little moments that are special but so easily forgotten as we age and life gets in the way. I want Sam to remember how proud I was the year he made a wooden aeroplane and gave it to Nicky for Christmas. I want Beth and Jessica to know how much I enjoy listening to them sing and play guitar. I want Abby, Beth and Jessica to know how much I love watching them act on the stage. I want Abby to know how much I love being a Scout leader and how much fun I had sharing the camps and bush walks with her. I want Nicky to know I really do love his stories and I’ve kept every one of them. I want them to know that even though they are nearly adults, I still go into their rooms some nights and watch them sleep for a few moments. I stand there, consumed by love and totally in awe of how precious they are. I want them to know all the little things that they are too busy to hear right now. But most of all, when I’m no longer here, I want them to be able to read these journals and hear my voice calling to them from wherever I may be and know that they always have and always will be, very special and very, very loved.

Yay! I did it

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks :)

Web Page Design

Back again! I've just spent the evening adding lots of new bits and pieces to my web page. I know it's no Rembrandt but I'm having fun and that's all that matters. Hopefully, I'll feel confident enough soon to tackle my next big project, a web page for our Scout district. It's very frustrating trying to remember what all the different settings do. I've worked out how to post a link on my web page to this blog, but to get back to my web page from here you have to go via my profile page??? Oh well, I'll get it right eventually.

The Thing About Blogs

I'm in a bit of a dilemma at the moment in regards to blogging. Part of me kind of likes it, particularly the ease of adding photos/vids etc and being able to share the info with friends and family but part of me is getting frustrated as all hell. I miss the actual 'writing' that I did when I used a diary. I'm finding it frustrating too because I share my computer with teenagers and just about every time I feel like writing the computer is in use and by the time it's free I'm too tired(night time) or too busy(day time) to be bothered and then when I finally do get on I've forgotten what I want to say or the moment has passed and it feels like old news. So I'm wondering if maybe I might pull my old faithful out for all the random, nutty stuff I need to get off my chest and just post occasionally when something news worthy crops up. I don't know, maybe I just spend too much time worrying about things that just aren't worth worrying about.

Just passing thru

Haven't got time to write. Wish I did. Hope to be back soon. I really hate being this busy!

What a week!

I can't believe I'm actually sitting down. So much has been happening lately. I don't think I've had one day or evening this week where there hasn't been something on. Lets see...
Saturday: Yankee Auction from 6 am to 9 pm. Biggest fundraiser for scouts for the year
Sunday: Trip to the vet because Tigger ripped her skin on a broken branch. $193 for 30 min
work!
Lots of gardening
Monday:Parent help at school, catch up on housework because I was laid up last week with the
flu.
Tuesday: Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. Drama classes after school for Abby,
basketball training for Nick
Wednesday: school excursion with gr 3/4 to science centre. visit uncle who is in town for 2 days.
Cubs in the evening
Thursday: Shopping, bills, emails, blah, blah, blah.
Basketball game for Nicky, tutoring for Beth
Gr 8, 9, 10 options night at the high school
Friday: Work
Scout function at footy club for World Festival
Pack for basketball tournament on Sat and JOTA on Sat night.
Ok so there were a few hours free. Shit, I'm going to bed. I'm stuffed!

Wilderness Programs

Ok I'm a little excited. I was recently invited to participate in the development of a Wilderness based program for kids/families down the West Coast. This website gives a bit of an overview.
www.wildernessprogram.tas.gov.au
I'm going to die from embarrassment if anyone involved in this actually reads this post, but what the hey. Have to get this off my chest. I know I don't have all the uni qualifications that a lot of the facilitators already involved have, but I do have heaps of enthusiasm and that's got to count for something right? If I had my way I'd have been doing this work years ago, hence the reason for joining Scouts, but things just didn't work out that way. So anyway I thought maybe I can boost my confidence a bit by listing all the positives I could bring to the program.
1. Mother for 24 years
2. Solo bushwalker for 15 years
3. SES trained for 12 months including some abseiling, remote search and rescue, RAR
4. Cub scout leader for 5 years, currently about to start training at Scout level. Training has included, public speaking, bushwalking, knots, ropes and shelter construction, outdoor cooking, abseiling, first aid and Certificate of Adult Leadership.
5. Over 10 years involvement on various levels with Ulverstone Community House.
6. 20 years worth of parent help, assisting with reading programs, arts/craft and excursions.
7. Computer literate, learning to develop websites.
8. Current licence
9. Love learning
10. Not afraid to admit when I'm wrong

Downside to all of this...
Underestimates ones worth

Looking forward to climbing a few more mountains, literally and figuratively

Love and Light

Annie

My brothers birthday

Hey everyone, it's my baby brothers birthday on the 14th so I thought I'd give him a plug. Here's his new website.
http://www.gcinteriorsolutions.com.au/index.html

Loneliness

Dear J
Why is it that we can be surrounded by so many people and yet still feel so overwhelmingly lonely? Is it the lack of that one special person with whom we can bare our souls and truly be ourselves? Is it just the need to be able to talk to someone and share our worries without feeling like we are burdening ourselves onto them? Or is it a deeper need, borne from a lack of satifaction within ourselves?
Some days I feel truly at peace with the universe. I don't need anyone else and I know that no matter what happens I will always be able to find my way. Then there are the days like today, where I find myself crying for that one special person to hold me and tell me that I am loved and wanted and that my place in the universe is secure because they believe it, even when I don't. I know I am not alone in this need, but I am alone in my need and I wish I could find you.
Love and Light
Annie

One Step Closer

Well I'm nearly on top of the dead tree cleanup. It would have happened sooner but I came down with the flu again and was bedridden for nearly a week. A friend turned up weekend before last and chainsawed the worst of it for me. Now I just have to trim up all the branches and make faggots out of the twigs and she's all over. I'm thinking I should have just got it all removed but what's done is done and I'm sure I'll appreciate it next year when the mercury drops again. I just wish I could get a bit more motivated. I'm sitting here typing this and thinking "I really would like to get out and garden" but the depression has a firm grip at the moment and I just can't seem to give it the shove. Well anyway, it's not that great a day outside. Think I'll tackle that new book I bought.

Absolutely f#@$*&

5 hours to do this piddly patch of garden and a third of the lawns! I mean why do we even bother? Why not just let it all grow naturally and be done with it. The forests survive quite well! But no, we have to go and make life hard by "taming" the land. HA! Bloody Mother Nature is ROTFLHAO!!! I tell you what, my veges better grow better than they did last year or I'M GIVING UP.


Hmmmph, well, that feels better.

Feeling slightly stressed

Love and Light
Annie

Vege Garden Blues

Yay, the sun is finally out! We've had 2 whole days without rain and I'm in full garden mode again. Spring cleaning has taken a backseat for the moment because my gardens (jungle) have grown so much I can't see the chickens when their free ranging. I started tackling the vege garden this morning.Sadly neglected over winter the weeds have had a field day, literally. Once I get the lawns mowed it won't look so bad but I want to tackle the garden first so I can dump the clippings on the garden bed.We've had some ferocious winds the last few months, hence the poor tree. I was going to get someone in to remove it but then I had the bright idea of chopping it up myself for next years firewood. AAAAAARGGHHH! Didn't think about how labour intensive that would be. On top of that, the wind keeps blowing my piles of branches around the yard. Oh well, I'm sure I'll appreciate it next year. Hope the rain holds off for a few more days so I can get on top of the worst of it.
Looking forward to fresh veges again.
Love and Light
Annie

Foooozball Sucks

What a waste of an afternoon. Should have gone bushwalking.

Spring Cleaning - Day 2

Well it's raining again so it's back to cleaning. We had a beautiful day yesterday so I took full advantage and weeded, mowed and spread mulch on the new garden bed. I want to plant some silver birches in a gap near the fence created by the loss of a tree next door. I was planning to tackle the boys room today but housework, phonecalls and Facebook keep getting in the way. Might end up being a 2 day job. Wish I had a camera so I could upload some before and after shots. This is not the boys room but it could be! Minus the guitars, they're in Beths room.
I have a double bed bunk on order but it won't arrive till November so I have to do something in the meantime. My boys, 17 and 10 have just outgrown themselves over the last few years, Sam has hit 6'3" and can't fit into a single bed anymore and it's time to get rid of HEAPS of old toys, junk, clothes and god knows what else they have hiding in there. Now, how to do this without invading their privacy and HEAVEN FORBID throwing out something that might be VALUABLE!
Oh well, I finished my lunch 5 min ago so better get a move on. Wish me luck!

Spring Cleaning - Day 1

Well it's that time of year again. I can't believe I'm actually getting excited about cleaning out cupboards! I really need to get a life. I started on the main living areas today. Abby sorted through all the dvds/videos and discarded everything that was broken or just not worth watching. It took her nearly 2 1/2 hours. She's her daddy's girl alright. Once she gets going nothing stops her.
I had my heart set on mowing the lawns and working outside but Mother Nature wasn't interested in what I wanted so I spent the day cursing the rain and updating my facebook apps. Pathetic, I know. I did get a heap of washing and general cleaning done, but my enthusiasm for spreading the contents of my cupboards all over the floor while kids wandered in and out of the room lasted all of about 5 min. The problem is I really want to be outside. I hate being stuck in the house and the minute the sun starts to pop it's head out, I'm thinking YAY lets garden! I do go out in the rain but I have heaps of trees to plant and it's so muddy/clay ridden that it's almost impossible to do any serious gardening while it's so wet. Oh well, the rain can't last too much longer. Can it? Meanwhile, where are those packing boxes...

The 30 Second Rule

If it takes 30 seconds or less to do a job, do it immediately

This applies to putting away packages when you come in, putting the scissors (or whatever) back where they belong, hanging up clothes straight away instead of dumping them on the chair/bed etc and other things like that. When you get something out, put it back AS SOON AS YOU ARE FINISHED.


Next...The Mt Vernon Method of dealing with mess

One Misty Moisty Morning...

It's cold and wet and everything and everyone is fed up!

Don't get me wrong, it's great to be finally getting rain after such a long drought but this is getting ridiculous. My girlfriend walked up to her back fence yesterday and sank ankle deep in water. I love rain and I love the cold winter months but this is one year I will be more than happy to see the sun again.

I can't wait to sink my hands in the soil again and not come up with frostbite. The plum and fig trees are in flower and new shoots are sprouting every day so I'm hoping spring is here for good. Now I just have to convince myself to leave the warmth of the house and get out in the vege garden. It's looking very sad at the moment. Between the cold, the rain and the flu I've had plenty of opportunity to procrastinate. Having said that, I'm going to stop now and get some work done. Or I might just go curl up with a book :)

Cold and Tired!

Have decided that it is time to stop burning trees as

1. I can't be bothered splitting any wood and

2. I can't talk the kids into doing it either.

Will try putting 300 solar panels on the roof. Maybe we'll pick up a bit of heat from somewhere up north.

A Morning Invocation

This is a beautiful invocation that I recently found.

A Morning Invocation © 1996 Susan Reed

I greet you, Powers of Air!

Clarify my thoughts; hold me to the Truth;

Awaken the Powers of Air within me that I, with my thoughts, honor the Gods.

I greet you, Powers of Fire!

Energize my work; empower me to meet my challenges;

Awaken the Powers of Fire within me that I, with my deeds, honor the Gods.

I greet you, Powers of Water!

Nourish me with Universal Love; wash away my failings;

Awaken the Powers of Water within me that I, with my feelings, honor the Gods.

I greet you, Powers of Earth!

Stabilize my life; strengthen me with the wisdom of the ages;

Awaken the Powers of Earth within me that I, with my senses, honor the Gods.

I greet you, Powers of Spirit!

Integrate my abilities; consecrate my service;

Awaken the Powers of Spirit within me that I, with my life, honor the Gods.

Susan has put together a brilliant essay titled 'An Introduction to Modern Druid Groups' http://www.nachtanz.org/SReed/mod_druids1.html This is quite a lengthy read but well worth it if you are thinking about signing up with any of the popular druid organisations. She has taken a lot of the leg work out by comparing all the main questions that newcomers tend to have. Well that will do for now. I have a horrible cold at the moment and it's way past my bedtime.

Love and Light Annie

To write or not to write...

I am currently driving myself crazy over a stupid assignment on Body Language. I just can't motivate myself to do it (it was due last week). I lost heart a few weeks ago when I was advised not to take on full-time study next year. My doctor believes it will compromise my mental health. Buggar my mental health, I was really looking forward to doing this course, which by the way is Conservation and Land Management. She feels that I'll either 1. Suffer from huge guilt complex because I won't have time to devote to my kids. (single mum, 5 kids, 4 at home) or 2. I'll somehow keep up with the parenting duties and either A. Burn out or B. Fail the course.

Aaaaaarghhhhh!!!!!!!! Hmmph.

Ok. I've had my rant; back to working out how to turn the finger into a 1000 word essay.

Hello World

Dia Dhuit

Everyone keeps saying to me that blogging is food for the soul, so I'm going to give it a go. Not sure what to write today. :)

Love and Light

Aine