I saw this at
Sunny Corner Farm, who joined in from
Little Jenny Wren. Today was pretty typical so I've joined in too. I woke early about 6 said to myself what day is it? Oh Thurs,
PJ is sick still, don't have to go to
Playcentre, I'll lie in. Got up at 7 am when
PJ told me her bed was wet. Bother not again why is she bed wetting after several years of being dry? Is she missing her Dad? At work three hours away or her Granny visiting a new baby cousin in Adelaide? Don't know, changed the bed for the third day in a row, just as well the weather is good. Made breakfast for the two little ones, checked the big one had packed his lunch and organised him to light the fire when he gets home from school. Showered while they ate breakfast. Neighbour came over to borrow a lemon. Got kids in car by 10 to 9 to have
skatey boy at dental nurse by 9.15 for his filling. There was an argument about who was
going to sit in the front and
PJ told me she was still dizzy and might be sick. Great, pack a wet flannel and a change of clothes. 9.15 dental nurse, 9.20 post office. Left small kids in car while I posted parcel, quick flick of a magazine. Hospice shop-nothing cheap enough for me.
Txt from
skatey boy, waiting at the library for me. 9.45 "Mum I saw your car at the intersection it looks really
hippy". Dropped off overdue books. Sally Army and Red Cross, more of nothing for me today. Give the kids a chocolate milk for behaving in the car. Home by 10.30 all hungry, make
sandwiches and cut up fruit for morning tea. Tell
PJ since she's still sick she needs a nap. Try and convince the red head to come out and feed the
chooks with me, nah he'd rather annoy his sister by bouncing on the bed. Got him outside by about 11.30 and he helped me plant peas by the neighbours fence. She poked her nose over offered me some old magazines and we arranged a garden visit to a local
permaculture garden for next week. Inside for lunch and an hour knitting a scarf I've been promising
PJ while watching Dr Phil of course. Drank about the
third coffee for the day, got the rat bag into bed and cooked some macaroni for tea. Got some wood in for the fire , did the dishes again and went through the hair plaiting technique which
PJ is trying to learn. 3.10
Skatey boy bowled in, "I don't want to go to
soccor" and I'll argue the fact for a minute. Wake and cuddle the red head, get wood for the fire then into the car for tap dancing. (PJ's feeling better) Library again, a few books out this time, my card's lost can only get three.
Skatey boy to
soccor, back to collect
PJ from tap then everybody can have a run around in the cool evening air until practice is finished. I
crochet the tassels onto PJ's scarf while standing at the field.
Txt from L he's got 24hrs off and is off for a social life in W
estport tonight. Lucky for some. I picked up a bottle of wine in anticipation of the hyped up foursome when we arrived home. Fire's going. ( He's a great kid.) Turned macaroni on to bake, cooked a few sausages, picked some spinach , rocket and lettuce for a salad by cell phone light from the garden. Small kids have just gone to bed, bathed and having talked to Granny in Adelaide, happy. Teen is on the lap top,
skatey boy is watching TV and eating cereal after eating more tea than me and a bowl full of
ice cream!. Me checking e-mails, writing blog post. Plan to put washing by fire to air and maybe finish sewing a bag I cut out yesterday, while watching survivor out the corner of my eye.
That was Thursday! Another day in the life 15
th next month.
Think I have got "french knots" sussed now with this wee consignment of brooches for a local craft co-operative shop.
I really must learn to use my camera properly so I might be able to capture how beautiful the light is. These photos don't do our midwinter sunrise justice but I wanted to post some. We got up early and drove to Ruby bay for sunrise, it occured to me that most of the sunrises I've witnessed have been here on this beach. We camped here alot when I was a child so it's a very special spot for me. I've sat here desperate in tears, round a fire with friends and sometimes just to contemplate life. My older children have seen sunrise here before but it was very exciting for the littlies. We looked for the seven sisters. I'm certain I found them but all the stars looked bright to me. We talked about why I'd dragged them out of bed so early and we made an offering. For awhile we snuggled in our blankets and drank hot milo then listened to the birds waking up while looking for toggles at the high tide mark. As a youngster I walked alone alot following the river through the bush, saying hello to fantails, moreporks, lizards and water rats. I use to stop and talk to a giant totara and ran screaming at my Dad when he started chainsawing down a Kahikatia for firewood. Thismorning reminded me I miss it.
Well it seems I've been ruffling feathers again at work. Apparently my friends have known for years that I thrive on conflict but it's only really dawned on me in the last six months or so. I'm sure I'm not trying to make waves but maybe I'm a bit addicted to it. "Hi I'm Gilly and I'm a **** stirrer" I like to think that I stand up for a just cause, equality,integrity, honesty and what I believe in, does it matter if I enjoy debate/always think I'm right?
I shall spend a few days meditating on it while in the garden. I'm not all that great at self reflection but I don't really want to make people prickly.
(From Special Knits by Debbie Bliss.) 
And a rather dull but snuggly, warm, quick jersey, for the red head. 
but I have planted nowhere near enough winter veges! I might have saved enough pumpkins to see us through but the canelenni and berlotti beans only yielded enough for seed for next season. I'm giving broad beans ( fava) another chance after being totally put off them as a kid.
About about a months worth of corn is frozen with about the same of tomatoes, a row of salad veges are in and drying apples is on the agenda but I only see them lasting a month as well. The frozen berries should see me through for jam and smoothies and there are a good crop of cabbages, spring onions and celery but I forgot to plant more beetroot for winter.
The brassicas are getting eaten,
we'll be all right, we'll just dim the lights for dinner! ( so the kids don't spot the caterpillars) and there is rhubarb for puddings after all.
When the situation dawned on me I got motivated to clean out the glasshouse. I gave it a good scrub ( to improve light) and pulled all the old tomatoes out. I will put some pea seed in when the moon is right and hope they are ready for spring. We'd survive on calaendula and chickweed if worst camre to worst, from under the roses.
I looked for my garden diary to compare the seasons and couldn't find it so I'm keeping my garden notes here on my blog from now on. ( see below)
Four today, couldn't believe my luck. One large sale was to fund Herceptin treatment for a local, defiantly no haggling on my behalf, I hope they made heaps. NZ Health system sucks!!!!! Fancy having to have a garage sale to fund cancer treatment.
