Goals for 2010

Now would you believe it but it been raining all morning, a very fine rain but it's raining. The temp has dropped from 42 Yesterday to 20 today. A Bush fire has be burning North West of Sydney distroying sheds and a few homes and killing sheep in it's path. Lucky most of the homes so far were saved. It's 40km+ away from us but you can smell it. This rain has just come in time.

I strongly believe in goal setting for myself and really try to get things done accordingly. But sometime things happen and you just don't have any control over, throwing you world upside down. Then you just need to do the best you can. Here is a list of stuff I would like to do next year.



The first list is for Mulgoa Farm.



1. I decided to sell Nelson and 2 ewes, he has fathered 4 ewes this year so I can't use him to cover them when they get a little older. So a new unrelated ram is needed. Feed is a problem and I need to cut down numbers and recoop some money as well. 2 old ewes will be butchered in Febuary. That only leaves Miss Lashers who could still have a lamb next year. Our 2 baby Rams will have a nice year getting big and fat for slaughter later in the year. That leaves me with 5 ewes and 1 new ram for 2011



2. Breed more Orpingtons for selling to recoop some money, they need to start paying towards their feed. Build another chook house and run where they can free range all day, but it needs to be secure from foxes and the cats, and it needs to be further away from the house cause Harry is very noisy (crowing) Still looking for a nice Pekin rooster for Ginger.



3. Rotary hoe more paddocks and plant grasses and seeds for fodder.



4. Put guttering up on the sheep shed to catch rain (that's if it rains) It seems to rain all around but not in Mulgoa. Set up a few 45 gallon drums to hold the water in.



Now For Lavender Hill at Bellbrook. The list is very different.

1. Need to buy a Gas refridgerator, I just made an offer on one on Ebay, so I might still have one this Christmas.
DONE. George built a platform to accommodate the wheel hub of the caravan and we fitted the fridge on top of it. where it just fitted in nicely. A slap of white paint to freshen up the van inside. Job welldone.

2. Build retaining walls with besser blocks holding soil back next to the pergola and also where the polytank will be. Concrete slab for tank to sit on. Redo the paving under the pergola. connect the tank. (I bought 2 x 4500 ltr polytanks last year and some besser blocks not enough to finish the job)

3. Build more retaining walls with besser block where the chook house will be. (only 3 rows high) I might have a builder lined up for this job.

4. Remove more trees and lantana, cut for firewood and burn rubbish off in winter.

5. Move prickly pears to permanent position. (urgent)

6. Plant fruit trees Lemon, Peaches, Olives, Pecans, and Cherries. I would love a perssimom tree too.

7. Start getting council requirements and application forms in too start building.

8. Get soil test done.

9. Put plans in for a shed, cottage, dam and concrete water tank. Let's not forget the access from the road, now if the road was there in the first place, there would be no need for this one. I better start working overtime to pay for all this stuff.

10. Pour slab for shed and cottage.

11. Put in the concrete tank.

12. Get dam dug.

13. Septic Tank.

This is a long list of things that need to be done. I really don't expect to get everything done but then Rome was not built in one day. So we will just try our best.

Seasons Greeting to all and have a great New Year.

Until nexttime
Rina

Chrissy Decorations

They slowly going up one scene at a time.This year I just can't seem to get going, but I am trying to put up a few. Tanya's pool party is this weekend coming and there is a heap of work to do before that.

A litle touch of Christmas.

I made this little quilt a few Christmasses ago.

The mirror started it's life off as weatherboarding for the St Vinnie's mens home, we save a heap of the Kauri pine when they pulled it down. George made it for me with a matching tray. I sanded just enough of the old paint off to expose the milky green paint underneath.

Can you spot the cat? I love collecting arnotts tins.

I spent the morning checking out blogs while enjoying a coffee break, some wonderful white Christmas pics, I wish I could experience a white christmas just once. All the lights and real cosy atmosphere.

But alas it's normally so hot around this time, we just hanging out for a dive into the pool, after eating a roast a leg of lamb with season's veggies and a trifle. At least this year I can have a lamb roast and not be stuck with a big ham or turkey again, and then have ham for the next week, just sitting in my fridge. As you might be able to tell we not fond of ham!!!!

I did this whip around at work, asking who would like ham/turkey or rather a Westfields shopping voucher form work. Only one wanted a ham, so brave me approched the Boss and he seems happy about that. Yes go Rina.
Well today has been about getting this house in order and clean. Boxes of ornaments put up and other put away. Still got the clean the kitchen and make dinner.

So I better be off, see ya

Rina

Christmas Decoration Swap

Make something under $5 and send to a internet friend. ... I love taking part in swaps and recieving a present from someone your only "spoke" to on the internet. This happy seasons swap coordinator was Tammy from Down to Earth (sorry link won't work but click on D2E on the right under blogs I follow)and my swap partners was JakiF who sent me the above decorations and I posted Pixie her present. I made 3 little gingerbread men from felt and a red and white candy cane dishcloth. Bummer I should have taken a pic.

JakiF little button wreaths are so cute and very easy to make. A few buttons and wire from the bead shop, just thread button on the wire make a twisty thingy to close wreath, add a little gold thread for a handing loop and add a bow ... Done and to top it off I get spoilt with a little bag of choccies too. Thanks JakiF

Today I thought I might change my Background to a christmas themed one and even found a little snow, can you see it? Love this time of year when you can decorate to your heart content.

The graduation went off well, the girls looked lovely in their costumes and they had a ball. Here's a little view of their costumes from the back DD sewed them.

Love your new background Miss Chatty Crone, very pretty.

Seasons greetings to All

Until nexttime

Rina

Staff Christmas golfday and luncheon.

The Boys Teed off 7.30 ish this morning and had a great time by the sounds of it. It's good for them just to have a day where they could have a little bit of fun. Good to beat the Big Boss a little too. My mate Alby won the price for the worst player, more balls in the water than anything else. But give the man a rifle or pistols, then he's the Man. He's made of tough stuff our Alby cause he's a cowboy. Oneday I will introduce him officially.

We all meet up at the clubhouse for a nice 3 cource lunch and drinks. Nobody overdid the drinking and we all had a nice time. The comedian/magician hired did a great job Entertaning us with tricks. Craig gave the Boys some prizes and lucky persons got gift vouchers. Us girls got given vouchers to spend at Westfields.

Our CEO Mr Edd, who is 83, missed joining us for the luncheon. It is the first one he has missed out on. But Mother Betty was there making sure everyone was having a good time.

Well tomorrow is work and if I don't get going, I might not be bright eyed and bushytailed tomorrow and it promises to be a busy day collecting sand stone blocks DH bought on Ebay. And DD is having the last Graduation (for this year)for her Dancers , which promises to be a late night again. Sonday we have to move all her stuff out and clean the premises. Then the hunt starts for new premises again.

Have a great weekend
Until nexttime
Rina

Santa's helper

I just had to share this picture with you out there in blogland. This is my 13yr old cat called Rat. Weird name for a cat, but there's a good reason. She fell into the toilet when she was little cause someone never put the seat down hmmmm, don't we all known the struggle we have with the men folk. Poor thing looked like a drowned rat and it stuck.

I mentioned Tanya's party a while back and she asked me very nicely to please decorate the house. Seeing it was going to be just us 3 this year I was hoping to get away with just a nice meal. She very willingly dragged the decorations out and promptly dismissed herself from helping as she had urgent costumes to sew for the graduation night.

Well my helper looks very pleased with herself sitting amongst Santa's reindeer and trees.