Time to get back to it.

The holidays are over and its back to it. I did plan to post during the break but I'm sorry I was having too much fun hanging and taking the days extra slowly with my little gang. We spent each day at our complete leisure with visits to the local billabong/zoo, parks, shops and lots of colouring in and craft before spending the second week camping at our favourite hang out spot which just so happens to be only just over an hour north of us. I have concluded from our 4 out of 6 nights of rain whilst camping that we need to invest in some serious shelter for next time! Some might call it glamping, but I tell you there is nothing worse than soggy soggy everything. It almost put me off ever camping again! Plus all my whinging could nearly have put off hubby....yes a little bit of whinging from me. I dont like being wet (unless I am swimming or showering)! The days were amazing though and I spent the best part of the last 3 mornings surfing until my arms and body could surf no more. We camped with our extended family which made it even more amazing. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful crew I can call family.

Broad beans already popping out pretty little flowers.

My beautiful Arum Lilly from my Nana and some Salvia to complement.

Okra from Bridget @ http://bridgetlarsen.blogspot.com.au/ 

Choko looks like it might fruit soon - hopefully, its had a rough trot!

Pumpkin growing on the other side of the fence, I hope no one tries to pinch it....

The garden is still producing and providing something each day. The eggplant just wont stop. Luckily my neighbour likes them as well. I have just popped into the ground most of my seedlings and also put our some new seeds direct into the ground. I am still trying to work out the best method with my seeds here as some dont seem to do too well and others just fine. Trial and error I guess and luckily not too much error. I tried to adjust the garden layout and moved some plants that were in the ground into pots and as you can see from the picture below, they are not happy. Thankfully I know this is how they sulked when I was first given them and they eventually come back to a full and vibrant life. We have had so much rain over the last couple of weeks that the ground is a bit of a soggy mess. I'm so glad the garden beds are raised and they dont seem to be suffering from water logging like the grass in the yard is. 

Not happy.

Afternoon tea for the wee ones.

A beautiful spider web catching the morning dew.

Tried to get a pic of Ruby but she just wants her belly rubbed!

Hard at work, shifting a load of mushroom compost into the garden.

The days ahead are going to be hectic I think. Our renovations will begin soon and there are a lot of phone calls to make, organising and meeting to be done, it hurts my brain already just thinking about it. The excitement of the finished job will hopefully get me through. Does anyone have any super tips that might have saved them through a reno. I dream of a smooth and quick job but I know in reality and from all the experience I've had to deal with from this house already, that will not be the case. Thank goodness my hubby is the one with the cool head and when I doubt I'll just leave it to him......maybe, hehe. Talk again soon. x

Its almost holidays

I am feeling much better this week, with only a few minor coughs and sniffles still hassling me. Nothing a strong coffee cant fix! Hubby has the day off today as it is a public holiday where he works, so a mini date day for us today. We enjoyed a nice coffee at one of the reasonably new cafe's in town who I must say make a "delicious I want more and more' coffee! We came home and he went for a surf while I buzzed around on my coffee high and tidied up the morning chaos. I really achieved so much more than I would have without the coffee I am sure of it....! Slowly and I mean very slowly I am still clearing out our excesses. The more it becomes me the more I notice how much unnecessary stuff we have and how it has absolutely no bearing on our happiness as a family. So be gone junky junk and make way for our fresh, free and simple life!

My garden storage nook (finally tidied up).

And a bit more.

Saved this baby from bunnings, was on its last legs but has come good.

Blooming Salvia.

Baby seedlings coming to life.

Okra babies.

 The garden is definitely transitioning into the cooler season growth. The lawn has stopped growing nuts and the pace has slowed to a lovely cool and inviting speed at which to work more in the garden and get those jobs that are otherwise to hot to achieve in the summer days. This cooler season I am going to set up my irrigation system as I spent way too much time hand watering and probably using more water than needed. Soon we'll have tanks too. We are about to start a bit of a renovation on our house. It is in dire need of some serious repairs. Living so close to the beach has its ups and downs and the effect on the house (and cars) is far from desirable. The exterior is having a complete face-lift and with new gutter and down pipes going in, I jumped in for a tank or two to catch the glorious rain we seem to get often enough.

Okra flowering.

Two types of kale just starting to pick up.

A few tomatoes ripening again.

Cookies baked this morning for the kidlets lunches.

Tin milk jug I scored at Op shop and repainted.

Surfboards are always ready to go.

The school holidays are almost here and I am so excited. I cant wait to just hang out with my little buddies and not have to rush them along each morning to get out of the house in time for school. The first week of the holidays will be spent chilling at home, a park visit here and there, a trip down to the local billabong (zoo thingy), visit to the library to grab so books and maybe a few catch ups with friends here and there. The second week we are going camping. A whole week. I have not been camping for that long forever. Normally only a few days, but this will be awesome. We are camping with family and extended family so there will be kids galore! I will be sure to take a book or two to widdle my days away in the hammock. I cant wait for the holidays! Take care and talk soon x.