It’s that time of year again! Simple Savings have a SPECIAL now on! This month you can buy a Vault membership for just $33 compared to the usual $47. $33 isn’t much money and you will get much, much more than $33 back. Check out their Save-O-Meter, which shows that members have already saved over SEVEN MILLION dollars - and that’s just the savings they know about! You can join the Vault here.

This is the only paid site I’m a member of, and I never hesitate to pay my $17 renewal fee each year.  It’s a no-frills site packed with information. The Vault and Forums are an excellent source of ideas, hints, tips and answers to just about any financial question I can think of.  It saves me so much time on researching my own options for phone and internet deals, insurance prices, recipes, organisational tips and more.  It takes no time at all to ’save’ your initial investment or renewal fee, so every saving after that is a bonus.

Simple Savings also has a free monthly newsletter - if you haven’t subscribed, check it out!

Offer closes midnight 31st July, 2010.

AT HOME: At last we have finished painting the lounge area - re-wired, new lights and switches, gaps filled and a fresh coat of some lovely warm toned paint.  And I have my sewing area back!  We also painted some second-hand wardrobes a gorgeous shade of red to match a number of the doors at our place.  New storage for the boys and the fabric stash…  It’s great to have a spare bed again, for visitors, and everyone is glad to have things back in place for now.

That’s five rooms done, and ten to go!  Phew.

We’ve just about arrived on the other side of birthday season - six of our family have their birthdays within a two-month period, so it’s really busy!  Imogen went horse-riding for her 14th and Gary had a party with 100+ people for his 40th!  The rest of us spent lovely days and evenings with family and friends and cake…

AT WORK: I’m still contributing to  Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op.  I have a couple of articles coming up in pakmag as well.  Other than those commitments I’ve hardly blogged or written anything in months.

LETS is going from strength to strength with so many new members and events that I can’t keep up!  It really is my favourite of my volunteer roles but can consume a lot of my time.

Spiral Garden has just had a busy stocktake sale and we’ll begin uploading some New Products this week.

Abby and I are doing a spot of farm-sitting at the moment.  We are caring for cats, birds, a fish, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, chickens and goats!  As well as the menagerie there are extensive vegie gardens on the permaculture property we’re visiting twice each day.  We have learned so much in a very short time.

ON THE FARM: The wet season finally ended for a brief amount of sunshine before the winter drizzle has set in.  It hasn’t been too cold yet - just the odd brisk day or chilly night to contend with.  The gardens are still growing well.  The cherry tomatoes, pumpkin vines and chokos are still alive, so it’s not really winter weather yet!

I stopped milking Lucy as she wouldn’t let down her milk.  So I set her to roam in the large paddocks with Honey and the calves and they’re doing really well.  They come back every day to drink from the trough and when we see them we rush up to brush them and talk to them.  Wags isn’t very friendly, but all the girls love a scratch and cuddle!  Soon the calves will be weaned and I’ll go back to milking Lucy daily.  Might then be time to make some cheese!

I’m only really using the open garden right now.  The greenhouses have gardens I’m resting, re-raising (sunken raised beds) and the usual perennial plants - sweet potato, various greens, herbs, yams, taro, gooseberries, asparagus etc are still growing strong.  We’re mainly harvesting lettuce, Asian greens (including huge Chinese Cabbage), some cherry tomatoes, button squash, etc.  We should have beans and peas on very soon, too.  We’ve had a couple of baskets full of citrus from our young trees, promising good things to come as the orchard and food forest mature.

We’re due to welcome a clutch of chicks this week, and brought home a pair of naked necks today - what funny birds they are!  The ducks have grown big, but there have been signs of a dog trying to dig into their run, which is concerning.

HOME ED.: Our mornings are going quite well, despite shift work, Nana visiting and other distractions.  We’re at least covering all of our basics and will get back into other projects soon.

Recently we went for an excursion to Tarzali Lakes.  Heath had been wanting to go there for years, so it was lovely to see him trying to catch the biggest barramundi!  Felting, picnics and a fire station visit have also filled our Thursday afternoons, in between art and cooking classes.  Next term will see us enjoying some group nature study outings

Brittany received her first certificate through TAFE and is more enthusiastic about her course now.  She passed her written Learner Driver test and is very keen for a lot of lessons!

Gymnastics, singing and Italian are all going really well.  A couple of the kids want to try other sports soon, so we need to keep an eye on when the seasons begin for each of those.

I know it has been awhile between blog posts lately, but thank you to those who still come and read my ramblings!  Comments are still closed due to spam, but feel free to email me.

PS - I’ll add some photos to this post soon!

I have just started writing for pakmag, a Parents & Kids magazine for residents of and visitors to Cairns & surrounding areas.

My bushfoods article is on page 38.  Check it out (you can read the mag online too)!

When: Friday September 3rd to Tuesday September 7th, 2010

Where: Tallebudgera Tourist Park

More info: click here

AT HOME: The renovations have come to a complete standstill again.  I have to admit it isn’t something we enjoy!  The constant rain could either motivate us to get into it, or not.  Apparently not good weather for painting when everything is growing mould in front of our eyes!

AT WORK: As well as the  Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op posts every couple of weeks, I’ve written some articles for other magazines, including a local publication, pakmag.  As the articles are published, I will share links or info here.

LETS is really thriving, and I feel like my vision is coming to fruition this year.  It’s very exciting!

Spiral Garden is still much quieter than last year.  We’ve run ads in different places, and had various promotions going, but it seems that people aren’t spending.  Or I hope if they are spending, they’re spending thoughtfully on gifts etc that are sustainable and will last…

ON THE FARM: We’ve had a late wet season, and I’m tired of rain and mud!

The chickens have no new babies, aren’t laying many eggs and are also tired of the rain, I guess.

The wild dog returned and killed both of our drakes (one young one) and Cloudy.  So now there is only Pepper and the three ducklings left.  Perhaps we shouldn’t keep ducks?  The wild dog never came around for chickens or guinea pigs, but came back for ducks.  There were some other fatalities in the beginning, but once s/he found the ducks, they have been the victims.  We have been unsuccessful with trying to trap it so far.

Chilli seems to be responding to mineral treatment for the Big Head.  I am not sure yet to what extent he will recover, though.

I am still posting about the cows here.  Having two calves at once is such a joy!  As is having fresh milk again.

We have begun to plant out the garden for winter.  One garden is on its way and I’m cleaning up the other two.  I am harvesting a lot of sweet potato, pumpkin, chokos, etc - all ready for those winter soups and stews!  Most other plants are suffering in the wet weather, so we’re only getting bits and pieces harvested - a few lemons, some herbs, cherry tomatoes, tropical spinaches,  some yellow capsicum and until recently, the odd cucumber.

HOME ED.: I’ve been trying to stick to more of a routine so that our mornings are disrupted less frequently.  For the most part this was working until our recent camp and Dad being home on holidays this week!

Our home ed activities have been fun and varied - music, cooking, camp, a bamboo farm and still a lot to go - felting, an afternoon at the creek, art, the Fire Station and Tarzali Lakes.  There seems to be no limit to wonderful things to see and do in our area.

Brittany is doing well with her TAFE course, but still doesn’t love the style of learning or the content.  She is looking forward to learning to drive.

Gymnastics is still fun, though this term is full of public holidays , meaning lots of missed lessons.  Imogen is doing singing again, and responding really well to the 1:1 classes.  The three older girls have started doing some Italian lessons so that they have more practice with speaking and listening than we can offer here at home.

I hope that you are well and happy and thanks for taking the time to come and read about our days.  Comments are still closed due to spam, but feel free to email me.

AT HOME: We finished painting and re-wiring the sewing room.  Then prompty moved the lounge and TV unit into there so we could begin on the living room areas!  It never ends!  So I haven’t done any decorating of the sewing room, or found a window covering, or got my junk out of the girls’ room.  Yet.

AT WORK: I’m still contributing to  Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op, which is a wonderful experience.

My volunteer work with LETS has been busy, because my main helper is undergoing medical treatment in Brisi for awhile.  We also have some new members, an increase in trading, and more social events to organise.  I’m so, so rapt to see our little LETS group grow!

I haven’t had much time to think about editing and writing work over the summer, though have a few articles in mind…

Spiral Garden has been  fairly quiet.  We’re still sourcing new products though, and welcoming customers from all over the world.  I’m all caught up on ordering and book work, after the Christmas and back-to-school rushes.

ON THE FARM: The wet season has been fairly mild.  A bit of wild weather when cyclones were about, but otherwise not too bad.

Still no honey from our hives, hopefully soon though!

One guinea fowl emerged from the bushes and is living with the chooks.  We have two chickens with babies, and two more bantams waiting for eggs to hatch.  We hope to pick up some naked-neck fertile eggs next weekend.

We have only 3 ducklings left.  Some went to another farm, and a lot of them died due to the weather and a wild dog.  We also lost two mother ducks to a wild dog (and a chicken, and some guinea pigs, and some chicks).  Thankfully it has been 3.5 weeks since the wild dog visited, and we hope it doesn’t ever return.

Immi’s horse Chilli seems to have Big Head (Bran’s Disease).  He has had it a long time and we bought him not realising this.  We’re now treating him with minerals, and hope that he improves, gains some weight and feels good again soon.  No wonder he was so quiet…

The house cow journey continues here.  Lucy was due to calf yesterday…

Sweet Pea the Shetland was put down recently.  So sad to say goodbye…  She was 36 years old and still cheeky.

We have planted about 60 trees over the last few weeks - a lot up in stage 2 of the orchard, and more along the front fences.  It’s amazing how fast some of them grow (the previous plantings, I mean!)

HOME ED.: Our at-home days seem to always be filled with ’stuff’ - visitors, outings, something going on at home.  I am really craving some quiet time to catch up!  The Dad’s shift work doesn’t help at all, because when Dad’s home, the boys only want to be out on the farm with him!  They do their basics and then take off!

This term has been a great one for the home ed group.  We’re hoping for more fine weather soon so we can enjoy a wider variety of outings and activities.

Our family enjoyed a fantastic few days in Cairns here, followed by a trip to Sugarworld on the way home.  The kids really enjoyed “the best holiday ever”!

The girls are doing well with their work at the supermarket, always keen for any extra hours as they race to save up money. Brittany started her TAFE course and whilst it’s something different, she’s not exactly bouncing with enthusiasm over it.  I guess it’s a means to an end - uni entry!

Gymnastics is going really well, and Abby’s thinking of moving on to levels some time.  Singing is enjoyable for Imogen and her confidence has certainly escalated.  There has been minimal music practice around here until the past week or so.

It’s quite amusing to me, as someone who tries to avoid labelling in every day life, to be so enamoured with my Christmas gift of 2009…  It’s a Dymo labeller.  Just your basic version - slot in one of the cartidges (paper, plastic, fabric, etc), type and print!

After hiding it away because of children creating such labels as “Abby’s bottom” and “the bin”, I managed to find many uses for the labels.  Now I can save the masking tape and pen version for the freezer meals and other one-offs.

On my desk

My recipe folders

In the linen cupboard (and below)

In the pantry

In the fridge

This is Immi riding Chilli in the house yard recently.  I like how you can see Rosie hiding in the garden watching them (on the left, in the background).

What are the rules? On any Sunday you can post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that hasn’t been tweaked or altered in any way (cropping is OK). In other words Straight Out Of the Camera.

Also, please link back to Murrieta365.

I think the most influential resource for me in my journey toward a more simple life and living within a (sometimes-very-tight) budget has been Simple Savings.

I almost always post when they’re having a sale, ‘cos it’s a great opportunity to join.  This is the only website I have ever paid membership for (and continue to pay the $17 per year renewal because of the huge amount it saves me through the year)…

“Saving money is not repressive, it is a fun and exciting way to improve your life. Be excited each time you save a dollar. That is one dollar you will never have to earn. Becoming frugal will mean you can do and be things other people can’t because they wasted their money. Becoming frugal will improve your life.

“So let’s see how much progress you can make in 31 days. This month is 31 Tip Challenge Month. Your mission is to find 31 new tips that will improve your life whilst saving you money. Try a new one every day. It is time to liberate yourself and be less dependent on money.

“To help get you going we have dropped the price of the savings Vault from $47 to $31 through out this Challenge. (The discount goes till 9pm, 31st March.) So there is no excuse. (We have a full year guarantee, so if you are disappointed for any reason we will happily give you your money back.) There are 14,000 tips in the Vault. Go to the Vault categories that are relevant to you and make a list of 31 tips to improve your life. Then challenge yourself to do one tip each day for the next month. It will be so much fun! Let’s go for it.”

For more information, check out the Simple Savings site.

Again it has been a long while since I wrote a blog post here, but I do intend to share more in the near future so don’t give up on me yet!

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It has been such a long time since I posted an update…  Life just doesn’t seem to leave much room for blogging lately!

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A couple of times each year, Simple Savings reduces their membership fee.  I always try to post about it so you can take advantage of the offer and start to save money…

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Borrowed from Jen at Rosehips and Spiderwebs.

Watching :: The grass turn green.
Reading :: Eh.  Still the Anastasia series.
Making :: Progress.
Eating :: Ice cream, earlier!
Feeling :: Frustrated sometimes.
Thinking :: About bed.  Zzzzzzzzz.
Hoping :: For a rainbow.
Wondering :: If I’ll make the deadline.
Hearing :: Frogs.
Liking :: Our house cow.
Wanting :: A sleep-in.
Playing :: With my calf.
Wishing :: For more hours in a day.
Enjoying :: Cumquat vodka and lemonade.
Coveting :: Black bamboo.

We’re back on track after a hectic festival weekend and some great visitors.  The days are full and busy, but the blessings are many.

A lot of my energy in October will be directed toward my role as Children’s Festival Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Yungaburra Folk Festival.

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