Back into the swing of things....

We all survived my week at Artsfest. I had a fantastic time and loved going out everyday to do my own thing- its only been 10 years or so since I did that type of thing-
My wonderful friend Rhondella held the fort and looked after the boys- Thanks Rhondella! The boys enjoyed their week as well and I think Rhondella even had a bit of a break from her own hectic life while she was out here or out "bush" as she calls it.

Mr10 has been spending lots of time with Emi and trying to teach her all sorts of new tricks, sometimes she wolf whistles and sometimes she laughs like Mr5 and sometimes she makes noises like Minxy our pussy cat, she is learning so much, He has also been taking Emerald outside to browse in the callistemons and grevilleas-


She is a brave little bird and quite enjoys it, she gets so excited hopping around from flower to flower and calling out to all the other parrots flying around.


It is cooling off here, now the rain has finally stopped, the beds are made up with nice snuggly flannelet sheets and the quilts are back. The days have been spectacular though.

We are getting back into our homeschool routine this week and the boys started back at swimming today and when we came home Daddy had hung an interesting load out on our clothesline-


We have been making Easels

It is our local Agricultural show next week and the boys are madly finishing off things to go into the show so this week is shaping up to be busy-

Artsfest

I am off to Artsfest this week!

I have a wonderful friend coming to stay and look after my boys for the week
and I have packed my kit and gathered my supplies.

I am excited.

I will be doing Mignon Parkers Workshop

I will be very busy over the next week so will post a blog update after Artsfest.

Garden Ramble

The boys and I have been wandering in our sorry soggy garden


and found some treasures hiding in amongst the mud and weeds

There are some amazing fungi growing at the moment
~these ones are growing out of palm tree logs we are using as garden edges.

A few lovely ripe capsicums Mr10 has grown

Mr5s Sage

My Favourite- the Italian Parsley

Some Lemon Basil

Some 'volunteer' cherry tomatoes

Our fig tree is bravely fruiting like mad in all of the rain


The Paw Paw is loving all the wet and growing lots of delicious fruits

And Mr5 harvested the tomatoes for
'a tomato sandwich'


I think he might get a few!

A Break in the Weather

Last weekend, the weather was wet and rainy but the boys all had cabin fever and needed to get out, I stayed home to do some art work and they headed up to Lismore to do some jobs and visit The House with No Steps waterpark.

The day was cold and rainy but they got lucky with a break in the weather and had a ball anyway.

Underwater Art

This is what the boys did this morning.


Mr5's view from the bottom of the sea.


Mr10's ancient ruins

C is for ... CREATIVITY

Things have been very busy around here lately.
We have been doing school work, especially focussing on getting Mr10s maths up to date and teaching Mr5 his letters and starting phonics/ reading with him.

For history we have been learing about nomad and early civilisation
so Mr5 was inspired to create a hut~

Both boys and a cheeky parrot worked together to create new toys for Emerald



and we have now hung them all down in front of a full legth glass window so she has lots of light and fresh air and a clear view of the outside. I have hung a sheet in front so they photograph more clearly.



We are recovering from a wild fortnight of flooding rains, strong winds, terrific storms and a leaking roof, so the boys have been getting rather creative with the mud, and creating me a mountain of very dirty washing.