On My Mind - Theatre and Scissors

I'm taking part in a weekly  photo feature with Rhonda at Down to Earth.  Post a photo and explain what is on your mind.

Like everyone, I have been madly running around trying to get organised for Christmas!  MY SCISSORS ARE MISSING!!!  I haven't been able to find them for about three weeks now.  Why now?!  Not in December pleeeease!  I have asked everyone in the family, but nobody took them.  Please Mr Nobody, give me back my scissors!  I have been making Christmas cards with a pair of child's spring loaded scissors.

And a second 'on my mind' but I am so excited.  This weekend we are going to see Love Never Dies!  I used to go to a lot of shows but now only see travelling performances that come to our area.  Hubby has never been to one of the big productions and I can't wait to see his reaction.  The big shows are so spectacular, I'm sure he is going to be amazed!

Have a lovely weekend!

On My Mind - Farewell My Love

Today, my girl flies out and travels to the other side of the world!  It was a big week.  This is a photo of her putting up her P plates.  She only got her licence on Wednesday!  I'm not going to the airport at her request.   She thinks I'll cry too much (and maybe I would).  I hope she doesn't regret this decision at the last minute.  I hope she has a ball but I hope she's not gone too long.  I will miss her terribly!

I'm joining in with Rhonda at Down to Earth for her regular Friday feature of posting a photo and linking it back to your blog so that we can have a nice wander around visiting each other.

On My Mind - Famous Five

Today I'm joining in with Rhonda at Down to Earth for her regular Friday feature - On my mind.  Just pop up a new photo of something that is on your mind and write a short explanation.  Then in the comments over at Rhonda's you can add a link back to your post.  Then enjoy wandering around visiting everyone's blogs and getting to know new people.

It's not often I buy something new but yesterday Miss Eight came home from school to find a wrapped present on the table.  She has been reading some Famous Five books by Enid Blyton that I found second hand.  The trouble is she fell in love with them and read like there was no tomorrow!  I searched around for more but it was hard to find them.  I ended up caving in and buying the complete set.  I decided not to keep them aside for Christmas because I want to encourage this reading frenzy. I've been trying to encourage reading for fun but until she discovered the Famous Five she wasn't that keen and saw reading as boring.  How amazing that the only books that could capture her imagination were the exact same books that I loved at her age!  Nice to see some things don't change!

On My Mind - Geese Can Fly!

I am joining in with Rhonda in her weekly feature where bloggers post a photo of what is on their minds.  Quite firmly on my mind, is the fact that geese can fly!  Last Sunday I was very excited to pick up these two geese.  I asked my friend how high they fly and she held up her hand 'so high'.   Because our pen has fences three times the height of the demonstrated 'worst case scenario' I let them wander in the pen.   I hate animals being caged!

Well, that night at lock up time, they were gone!  They now reside at our dam and I don't know how I will get them back!  They will come for food but they don't get close to me and I am scared if I try to catch them they will run away for good.   If I just leave them there, a fox could get them!  If only I had researched geese better before I got them!!!

On My Mind - Birthday Manure

Today I am joining in with Rhonda at Down to Earth for her regular Friday feature On My Mind.  This is a lovely way of getting to know other bloggers because they post a photo of something they are currently thinking about.

Today my mind is on my Mother-in-law's birthday (today) and the gift we will be giving her.   My latest idea for a sustainable present is a trailer load of manure.  I have recently found someone locally who sells chook manure at a reasonable price.  What better gift for a gardener!  As my Nana would have said, "It's good enough to make your mouth water!"  I totally agree!!!

On My Mind - Gardening

I am joining in with Rhonda  at Down to Earth for her regular Friday On My Mind feature.

Last week I was able to get out in the orchard for a full couple of hours!  I loved it!  I put fresh manure and pea straw under all my trees and gave them a good water.  Normally, I just do one or two jobs as I find a minute but it is so satisfying to spend a good amount of time acheiving heaps of jobs!  I'm really looking forward to this weekend because on Saturday we will be going to my parents to watch the Grand Final and on Sunday I plan to spend the entire day outside in the garden.  Yay for school holidays!!!  I can have a weekend of fun, instead of a weekend trying to get organised for the next week.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend too!

On My Mind - Solar

Today I am joining in with On My Mind which is a Friday feature that anyone can join over at Down to Earth.  It's a lovely way to visit other blogs and get to know them better.

Very much on my mind today is solar power!  We had it installed yesterday and I just love looking at the house.  It looks gorgeous!!!  We still need to go through the rigmarole of connecting to the grid, so it will be up and running soon.  I will do a post about it in more detail over the school holiday for those that are interested.   I'm so excited!

On My Mind - Country Kids

I'm joining in with Rhonda at Down to Earth for her regular Friday feature.

After our  scare with the brown snakes this week, I have been reflecting on country life with kids.  I can't imagine them living in a town or city!   We live in a world of bonfires, caring for animals, gardening, playing outside and just generally getting grubby!

I know there are pros and cons for country and city life but this photo makes me feel good about our choice.  They are four, five and eight and played happily for over an hour climbing and rolling off this bale of hay in winter!  (no snake fears on this day)  Soooooooo............ I will still be scared this summer and I'm contemplating whether my lavender hedge will survive when I cut off all of the bottom branches (and I will probably resemble a clucking mother hen when the children go outside in the warm weather), but life here is GOOD!

Thanks to my lovely blogging friends for your good snake advice!

On My Mind - Away with the Girls

                                        
I am joining in with Rhonda at Down to Earth for her regular Friday feature.  On my mind today is the weekend.  I am going away with some girlfriends.   I have two annual weekends away - one with my new friends (we moved here more than seven years ago) and one with my old friends.  Sounds indulgent doesn't it?!  To justify myself, our day to day lives are pretty frantic, so I don't do much catching up with people.

We are going to a lovely town in country Victoria and as you can see I plan to knit, read and enjoy female company!  I'm really looking forward to our dinner out.  We will be eating at a restaurant that has had several write ups.  The chef grows many of the vegies used and sources local food!  Right up my alley!  I hope you all have a lovely weekend too.

On my mind - National Disability Insurance Scheme

To join in On My Mind just visit here.

Change is on my mind today.  Earlier this week I attended a morning Disabili-tea held by a wonderful woman I know.  These were held across Australia to raise awareness of the proposed NDIS.

I really hope the average Aussie supports it because we need it badly.  Earlier this week the productivity commission handed it's report to the government, so here's hoping we will see some change!

I fancy myself a bit of an expert on the current disorganised system because personally, I will be travelling over 200 kilometres today will two preschoolers in tow to access early education services for one of my children.  We do this twice a week.  And no, we don't live back of Bourke!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

On My Mind - We're out of coffee and the house is a mess!

I'd love to tell you about the dress I wish I was making, or the trellis I wish I was putting up in the garden in preparation for spring etc.  But no, if I am truly honest, what is on my mind this morning is the fact that we are out of coffee, the kids will be up soon, I have lunches to make, pony tails to do, breakfast to serve.......

In this photo you can see the washing drying.  It doesn't even all fit on the clothes horse but I am determined not to use the dryer.  A load beside them waiting to be folded, another load in the machine needs to be hung up and another dirty load waiting to be washed.  Bring on the longer days so that I can use my clothes line!  Oh, and don't let me run out of coffee ever, EVER again!!!

I hope everyone else is having a lovely day!  ; )

On my mind - On grid or off grid?

Last night we had a salesman come to discuss converting to "on grid" solar power.  My husband and I have discussed doing this for a long time now.  Strangely, although everything he told us equalled no more power bills and putting extra back into the grid, we feel uncomfortable.

The whole set up seems so complicated with government rebates, guarantees on the buy back price of electricity into the grid, electricity companies charging higher tarrifs for people on solar and so on.  We were left with the feeling that everything was very uncertain........  Will electricity become so expensive that putting back into the grid won't mean much, will the government honour their guarantee?!  There are so many questions.

Then there is the fact that we have a massive pole so close to our home.  The photo shows our children's cubby in the play area.  You can see the pole is just on the other side.  It's got us wondering how much more it would cost to go "off grid".  The water pump, fridge and freezer are crucial for us.  Could solar run them?  If not, how much would new appliances cost?  I can see why I have been procastinating about making a decision, but the time has come.  Today I will have to try to organise a quote for "off grid" so that we can make an informed decision.  I would love any advice or information because, as you can see, I don't understand much about the process.  Oh, and of course, the salesman tells us that we need to sign up right now, or risk the government withdrawing the pay back guarantee!!!