I totally missed writing an update at the beginning of February…  The children and I headed off on a trip to the city, and to visit family, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  Home again and (almost) back on track!

AT HOME: January was spent catching up on jobs, preparing for our holiday and planning for the year…  Once we returned in mid-February there was more catching up to do, and then all the extra jobs I didn’t see before I left that were suddenly very important!  So far we’ve cleaned the shed, two double kitchen cupboards and lots of wardrobes.  I’d still love to do more cleaning and decluttering as time and energy permits.  Coming back from time away helps me see home in a different light.

Thanks to all who’ve called and written, concerned about us with the floods here in North Queensland recently.  We moved from Ingham over two years ago now, and are 730m above sea level, so we are high and dry!  Okay, not so dry being the wet tropics, but certainly high enough that we don’t suffer floods.  And wet enough that there are no droughts and no fires.  Very blessed!

AT WORK: Natural Life arrived this week, with some great articles in it.  My favourite was The Dark Side of Schooling by Jim Strickland.  I’m still writing the bi-monthly columns about gardening with kids too.

I am also still posting at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op every three weeks or so, and enjoying writing as part of a team.

Spiral Garden was closed whilst we were away.  I have spent the last two weeks restocking the site and will send out Autumn news and specials this weekend (and post it all on the Spiral Garden blog of course).

My volunteer work has started again, with a LETS Trade Day last weekend.  I’ve been updating the CES site and I’m working on the quarterly newsletter.  Seed Savers met whilst I was away, and have planned the meetings for the year.  I have some paperwork and a newsletter to sort out with the co-ordinator though.

ON THE FARM: Apparently it  whilst we were away.  Almost non-stop for two weeks.  Everything drains really well and the Dad had mowed, so there was little evidence of all this bad weather.

My vegie garden is a little wild, though, with some dead plants and others just going mad.  I really need several hours in there to prune and weed so I can re-plant soon.

In January we planted about 50 more trees but the horses have been into there and squashed and eaten some.  Ouch.  The pigeon pea around the duck enclosure are doing surprisingly well, considering the amount of wind and rain we’ve had.  There’s still time to do more tree planting this wet season, and I have around 20 yet to go into the ground.  And about 20 pineapples to plant as well.

We’re currently harvesting Queensland Blue pumpkins, enough eggs, cherry tomatoes, spinach (of varying kinds), chokos, a few herbs, stir-fry and  salad greens, sprouts in the kitchen and new-season macadamia nuts.  From the forest we’ve enjoyed cherry and yellow guavas.  It’ll be jam and jelly-making season soon enough.  I make enough of several varieties to last a year, using organic sugar and local, homegrown or wild fruit.

The poultry are thriving.  Our muscovy ducks are adult-sized now and had an adopted adult female join them this past week from another farm.  The chicks are growing and will soon be independent.  We’ve sold some of our point-of-lay hens and have half a dozen roosters heading for the freezer when they’re big enough.

HOME ED.: We eased back into some bookwork and routines in January, and created plans and lists of goals.  I bought some new resources too, mainly from Adnil Press.

During the school holiday period there were several parties, trips to town, movies and library activities.  There is always plenty to keep the days full and busy, it seems.

Our holiday was a fantastic ‘excursion’.  We flew by day and by night, drove long distances through an area the children hadn’t seen before, visited marinas, shops, parks, the city, a clock tower, museums and galleries, went on buses and watched movies.

With ATHENs we have been ten pin bowling, and had a printing day.  Art class has started again, with the influence of a local abstract artist teaching the children as well.  Some are still working with the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain course, which is really effective.  We have planned some sport, waterslides, the tea factory tour and a day at the lakes during the remainder of the term.

Another arty project they’ve enjoyed is the painting of murals on a local bus shelter with a local artist friend and others.  The artwork incorporates kids’ designs and local features and is really eye-catching.

In January, Immi and Abby went busking with their violins at our local markets.  They’re really keen to keep up with their lessons this year, learn some duets, and busk regularly.  It pays better than helping Mum out at home!

The kids’ theatre group starts up again in March.  Their play this year is Snow White and everyone is really excited.  I think four of our children would like to be part of the production.

Autumn blessings to you and yours…