Ooops, I’m a little late with this post. And thanks for your patience whilst the site was down for two weeks. For now, I’m back!

AT HOME: Life has been full and busy. We’ve had our share of dramas this month, but can move along now. I also got some major dental work done, and am relieved that it’s over. Nothing much has changed around the house except that there seem to be plenty of cobwebs being built every day by some super-industrious spiders.

I’ve still been menu planning and sticking to the plan. No new recipes to report, though we’re using plenty of old favourites. I’m trying to adjust to a summer menu with this very warm weather upon us. Who feels like cooking on a balmy afternoon? Not me!

AT WORK: Columns for Natural Life are due again, and I was rapt that they have a new special offer for subscribers. Check it out!

I’m pretty sure you’ll read something from me in the next Warm Earth magazine, if you grab a copy. I’ll let you know for sure.

I am still contributing to Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op… And loving reading the other contributions. A shared blog is fantastic! I’m about due for a new post there when the creative spark re-ignites…

Spiral Garden has been very busy during November. Still lots of Christmas stock here to move, so looking forward to more orders. With the Aussie dollar low, it’s a great time for my U.S. customers to buy from Spiral Garden. I’m just so blessed to be able to bring these lovely items to families looking for alternatives to the usual Christmas gift ideas on offer - I love my job!

I’ve been really busy setting up a CES for our LETS group. We have our final meeting of the year tonight and I’m looking forward to it. On Saturday, we have our final Seed Savers meeting.

ON THE FARM: What a difference a month makes!

The guinea pig babies are all grown up already. There were three girls and two boys and we gave one girl to our friend Mirinda. The others are safely in segregated cages of course.

We got ducklings in November and they were small and yellow and fluffy for about five seconds, it seems. I harvest from my garden for them daily - a bucket of green leaves, herbs, weeds and grass. It’s looking tidy in that garden already! One was lost to a hungry crow, but four have grown strong and healthy so far. Can’t wait to find out if they’re boys or girls.

We borrowed an incubator from a LETS friend and these past couple of days have had chicks hatching. Some eggs are up to day 23, so we’re hoping they’re viable… Cheeping eggs are so very cute and exciting.

Trees are growing (and growing, and growing), Rosie the new horse is getting fatter by the day, bees are buzzing and there are plenty of chokos and pumpkins to eat (as well as the usual salads and greens). The rain has started for the wet season, with our first storms, and everything is so very alive!

HOME ED.: ATHENS has been great fun. This week we’re at Malanda Falls and the following week is our final organised meeting of the year. We’re going to Chinatown and the Birds of Prey Show. We’re blessed with no shortage of local attractions to keep us busy.

Brit has been super-busy with rehearsing for, and now performing in Guys and Dolls.

The rest of us have been busily finishing off the year’s projects, trying to keep cool (hello Summer!) and therefore swimming a lot.

Have a glorious Summer break (for us down under!), holiday season, Christmas or anything else you may be celebrating this month… (My baby is five at the end of December!)