Tuesday, April 9, 2013

It's in!



When we were contemplating moving up to Thora, the big question was, how will you earn a living? Dan is a printer and has been since he went to work for his Dad at 15 years old. Dan will be 50 this year, and it was time for a change. Before we had children we thought about growing Garlic in Ballarat, but with children on their way, and a printing business to run, there was never enough time.

The little farm we bought is Certified Organic, and our wish is to deepen that and go Bio-dynamic. And do you know the best crop grown around here? Yes, yes, Garlic, the big Russian Garlic.

It's been a family affair, every afternoon, separating the garlic bulbs for planting. The children would come and go, come and tell their Dad about their day at school. They came, sometimes all, sometimes one, sing a song or verse they have learnt, Often the violin or recorder made an appearance.


Stacked and ready to plant. 450 kilo's of garlic. Whoa!!



The weather was kind to us, lovely sunny days, and so peaceful in the paddocks, tucked away.


Lot's of surprise's too!, We found a Muma Red-belly black snake and her little one under the straw.


The old adage is true, Make hay when the sun shines, it was an exhausting two weeks for Dan, every night, he would collapse into bed. But he loved working with the soil, learning about Garlic, and the land up here.

So now we can call him Farmer Dan....



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Jim's birthday



This year I crazily decided I could do both birthdays on the same day. I love parties on their day, but it is a bit tricky when they share that day!

Jim is 12, the last year as a child...... Luckily he still very much behaves like one. I'm not at all informed about teenagers, I'm in denial.

So, Alice's was over lunch time and the children left around 3pm, Jim's friends started to arrive around 3.30.  Afternoon tea, followed by a game of footy.



I made Chicken schnitzel burgers for tea, as requested by the boy's. This is Jim's running cake.  Then upstairs for movie night. They watched Airforce 1.


The next morning for breakfast, a little worse for wear.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Happy Birthday Alice



Alice turned five,  this will be her last birthday party in Schreenans rd, this thought makes me a little teary, I look at the garden in it's glory, and wonder why we decided to sell. It was a wonderful house for parties.

Alice wanted a unicorn dress-up, not to sure about the two head thingy going on, but she does love it.



Playing "what's the time Mr Wolf"









Alice's birthday walk.

 I knitted the red dress, from wool wound up from a skirt Mum had knitted me. I knitted the skirt part in a round on the knitting machine, and the sleeves. I moss stitched the bodice by hand(knitting machine are not that clever:), and knitted some lace sideways for the hem, neckline and waist. I adore red dresses.





Hip hip Hooray!

The second slice went to the other birthday boy:)

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Ashland dress


I was needing a new dress, and came upon the ashland dress pattern, by Meg McElwee


It was fun to sew, funner choosing the fabrics (as always), and I very happy wearing it. If you would like to buy this pattern, I have them for sale(just not on my website yet) you can leave a comment:)