It’s a ”Happy Birthday” to Tyra-Leigh, our grand daughter turning 12 to day. Tyra’ is Kerry’ (our eldest daughter) and James’ (our one son-in-law’s) daughter, and they all live (Kent being Tyra’s big brother) in Dar es Salaam in Africa. It is on special days like this that I miss them even more than normal. “Have a very special day Tyra’ and may you be spoilt rotten girl!”

To day I have been a busy little bee getting our home neat and squeaky clean. So I have spent most of to day once again hovering on my broomstick and zooting around the shed, sweeping up clouds of dust!

Ken did his normal checking on the bovines and feeding the bulls, but was thwarted not having his beloved quad bike in use, so could not get to all the areas on the farm. The spare part arrives to morrow for the quad bike and then my man will be one happy little camper.

I went to our Bible Study Group in the early afternoon. We had it to day as some of the ladies could not make the normal Wednesday meeting this week, but wanted to get together before I went away. Jill kindly brought a bag of Bible story books for little ones after she had had a clean out in her home. I will leave them in the church for the little ones to look at during the Sunday services to keep them occupied and quiet. Plus it cuts out boredom for them.

As I am really running out of time here I have given you another e-mail article that was sent to me and hope you will enjoy. Forgive me my very short blog for to day!

Before I whip off, Andy “Everything of the best for your knee op’ to morrow. We hope it all goes well and that you will be up on those pins of yours soon, dancing the light fantastic. Maybe you should think about entering the “Dancing With The Stars” competition! Now there’s a thought!

The e-mail article I received …enjoy!

Happiness reigns supreme! It is official! To day is the first day of spring and boy do I feel sprung! The spring cleaning bug has hit me real bad and if Ken stood still for a bit I would have him ironed, folded and set on a shelf, hence the mad activity on his part! Poor man, but I must admit that from living with me for over forty five years, his reactions are mighty quick. No wonder the poor man’s nerves are frayed to the edges.

At 6am this morning I began to attack the pile of ironing winking at me from across the room, and tried not to snarl as I set up the ironing board and fetched the iron. It took me an hour and a half to get through it all, but it is always a good feeling once it is done.

Ken did his normal farm chores in the early morning, and after his breakfast went into town to try to sort out the problem with the quad bike. He was really chuffed as what he thought could cost a small fortune, did not. So that made his day. He now has to wait for another part to arrive before he can finish fixing the quad bike.

I spent most of to day tidying. I began in the hanging section of my cupboard and re-hung all my clothes so that they were hanging straight on the hangers, and I put a pile of clothes that I have not worn for a while ready to be given away. From there I started on my costume jewellery – I don’t own anything else – I go for effect only! Then I altered a shirt of mine that I want to take down with me when I go to visit the children and grandchildren at the end of this week. I also did some washing and some hand washing too, plus the normal hovering on my broomstick as I cleaned out little home. All just little odd jobs around the house, but things that are worth doing, even if only to stop the irritation each time you walk passed them.

In the late afternoon/early evening Andy and Virginia popped out to finish the burned they had started the other day. It almost looked as if the dewiness had set in as I am not sure that they got the burn that they had wanted? Ken will see them maybe this weekend, or check when he goes to see our weaners.

Again I lit no fire for the evening as it was not cold enough for one, so spring is definitely nudging her way in. Yahee!

My saying for to day is not a saying but rather an e-mail article sent to me, which I am sure you will enjoy!

The Hormone Guide

Women will understand this!

Men should memorize it!

Every woman knows that there are days when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his hands!

This is a handy guide that should be carried like a driver’s licence in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, do-worker or significant other!

Whoo! Hoo! Time for jubilation for this, officially, is the last day of winter! I am happy with that.

I got up early this morning and lit a fire, but as the mornings are warming up quickly, soon there will be no need for one. I must admit that I have just loved having a fire this winter, as it certainly has eased the pain of having to live cheek and jowl with the cold.

As soon as he could after doing his farm chores this morning, Ken was into the bottom shed and fiddling with the quad bike – putting the part he picked up in town yesterday. Just one almighty grin on four wheels arrived at the top shed several hours later. My! But how he loves that quad bike!

Unfortunately while Ken was out at the back of the farm the quad bike started to make banging and not-so-good noises. Ken then walked all the way home to fetch the ute’ and drove back out there and loaded the quad bike onto it. He did not want to cause any more problems to the quad bike. He then contacted a quad bike mechanic and chatted to him over the phone. The guy then e-mailed some charts to Ken and Ken could then see to order a part, which he will hopefully receive soon. The man feels like he has no legs without his quad bike!

I have had a glorious day of tidying. I have pulled things out of my cupboards, sorted, folded, hung or chucked out in order to create some law and order in them. I just love the feeling I get once it is all tidy again. I still have a day or two to get to that stage though! I have decided to be pretty ruthless with myself and give away the things I have not used in yonks, (no matter how good they are) to others who may love to own them. I feel selfish keeping things that I may not use or if I do, it is seldom. Someone out there may just long to have what I have. So, here begins the big clearout…

I also made us a nice supper of roast leg of lamb, roast potatoes, roasted onions, roasted pumpkin with peas and snow peas mixture plus gravy and a fresh mint sauce. I had also made us a passion fruit semi freddo for dessert which was delicious. The semi freddo was a recipe I got from one of the ladies in our Craft group – so thank you Iris for that. It certainly is a keeper. As it was a huge meal I will be able to portion out a few dinners for Ken from it for whilst I am away.

In the afternoon I sat down and sorted out recipes from magazines that I had been keeping for just that purpose. So another project was completed. I tell you this halo of mine is blinding to the eyeballs. Best you wear your sunglasses when you visit us next!

As it was still fairly warm this evening I did not bother to light a fire. It did get a bit chilly later on in the evening, but by that time we were heading for bed so it did not matter too much.

My saying for to day is …

Every man dies; not every man really lives.      (Braveheart)

Yikes! I woke up this morning feeling like I had been practising swallowing swords all night, and had not done a good job at that! My throat was so sore it felt like I had broken glass in it every time I swallowed. Hopefully this does not develop into a full blown cold. I hate having the sniffles. I seldom get a cold or flu’ so do not wish to blot my reputation!

This morning Ken went out in the ute’ to feed the bulls, move the tape and then fetch me so that I could get my car and go to Craft. I went across to Erica’s where she and Kris were waiting for me and the three of us went to Coral’s, where Craft was held to day. There were only six of us ladies there to day, but it was a lovely morning. I love our craft days as I get some work done and at the same time spend a morning with women of like mind. There is always laughter and chatter, something I so enjoy. They say a change is as good as a holiday blah-blah-blah, and it is true. A change in the frenetic pace of our lives is good so long live our Craft Days ladies!

When I got home from Craft, Ken got ready to go to town to fetch the spare part for the quad bike. He feels lost without the quad bike and cannot wait to get it road worthy again.

I hope you who read my blog have noticed that I have put up the last five days worth of blogs? If you did notice, please take note that I had to screw up all my courage in order to type them as my computer is in the part of the shed that we have this “foreign” body. I still do not know whether it is a snake or not as Ken has been too busy to help me check! So maybe I do have the odd cell or two in my body that have a little courage in them after all!

This morning the weather was picture perfect. We have had blue skies, bright and warm sunshine, no wind or breeze to speak of – just a beautiful spring morning. This afternoon the weather changed somewhat. The clouds scudded across the sky in large banked up masses, making it look almost storm like, though nothing came of it.

In the later afternoon the wind came up and I was a little concerned as I could see smoke filling the valley across towards Andy and Virginia’s, so I ‘phoned Ken and he told me not to panic as Andy and Virginia’s neighbour, Ross Taylor, was burning on his farm. I had visions of me rushing across (indeed I was ready to do so) to Andy and Virginia’s farm, armed with a branch to put out the fire all on my own. Yikes! Can you imagine how curled my eyelashes would have been, not to mention my nerves! Please note Andy and Virginia for you I would curl my eyelashes!

Ken got home armed with the spare part for the quad bike but by the time he got back the day was already beginning to dim. It was too dark for him to start work on the quad bike. That will have to wait for to morrow.

Thank goodness Ken had brought in another load of firewood in the morning when I was at Craft, so I had the choice of the best pieces of wood to start our evening fire to night. It was all very exciting being able to pick the best bits of wood for our fire. You see, I am so easily pleased!

I am not sure whether it is age, the wind or whatever, but in the evenings I suddenly feel as if the plug that holds my energy in is removed, and I quickly deflate then have to shuffle along to bed. I think I will blame the wind. What say you?

My saying for to day is ….

‘All power corrupts, but we need the electricity.’

(Unknown)

What a lovely sleep I had. You know those mornings when you wake up feeling like singing at the top of your voice? Well I don’t, out of respect for Ken. I have a terrible singing voice and so I take pity on my man. I do not sing. Ever if I can help it! I drive him crazy enough and I think my singing would send the poor man over the edge.

Because Ken has been working with Andy and Virginia, and I have not been brave enough to check to see if it is a snake under the table in the corner of the shed, whatever was there is possibly still there. So I do not venture into that section of the shed whilst Ken is not here. Even when he has been here in the evenings, I shoot in there, grab what I need and then leg it out to get back to a place of ‘safety’. Yeah! Go on! Call me a sook, I am happy with that. I have not one jot of bravery in any little cell in my body, nor do I wish to prove that to you. Just believe it, okay?

Ken worked at Andy and Virginia’s again to day, so I stayed in ‘our section’ of the shed once again and did not dare wander further a field! When Ken gets a moment or feels so inclined, I will get him to help me be brave and check the shed thoroughly for any foreign visitors that go “Hiss!” or have a forked tongue that darts in and out.

To day I cut out some place mats and began to sew them and also to tack them for the over sewing later. I also cut out a baby blanket for which I need to buy some blanket edging ribbon for. I did some knitting too.

I also started on my pile of ironing. That is one thing about going away there is always heaps and heaps of washing and ironing to be done in one hit. Never mind. It is well worth the trouble I reckon.

Ken has had to use the ute’ to get around the farm these last few days. He has had to wait for a part before he can put the quad bike back together again. Apparently it will only arrive late on Monday afternoon. It is such a nuisance for him without the quad bike, as it is far more difficult to get around the farm to check our bovines in the ute’, and more difficult to move the electric tape for the strip grazing and so on.

Ken was tired when he got home after checking the cattle and working with Andy and Virginia, but I was in bed before him to night. As I settled down with my book, Ken decided to go out and have a look at the fire that Andy and Virginia had put in earlier, in case they needed help. But all was well and the fire died a natural death.

Aha! The Land of Nod beckoned and I responded quickly!

My saying for to day is …

“Character is made by what you stand for; reputation, by what you fall for.”           (Robert Quillen)